And We Wait for the Sleeping Giant...

[PureClassA]

Somewhere the lines get blurred between enthusiast and pro. Photography isn't my full time work, but I do a good bit of it when opportunities arise. I do charge fees for most and some work I do in trade. That said, a 1DX is valuable to me for a healthy portion of what I do (dancers). I don't own one, but I rent it once per year when I absolutely need to have it. I MAY purchase a 1DX2 come next year, because I believe it will allow me to expand the amount of dance work I do. 14fps with killer AF is really invaluable there. I think sales over a few years would easily pay for the investment. That being said, I'm probably more exception than rule. There is still a large enough pro-only market for the 1DX regardless. And remember, Canon doesn't produce the 1DX in the same kinds of numbers it does a Rebel or even a 5D III. That makes the shared costs per unit higher and is in part why it has a higher retail price. Even if Canon produced them in numbers similar to a 5 body, the price of each unit might be, say, $6000 instead of $7000 (purely academic numbers here), but then Canon would have a glut of unsold stock because no matter what, the market for such a camera is only so big. Canon is a smart company and will produce according to the market it targets and the price will follow suit to cover costs and generate the profit margins they require.

Its odd out of all the improvements listed and most of them I don't disagree with, that no one has mentioned the current 1Dx's biggest failing. The mirror box/shutter/lube splatter issue. It should go without saying that this will be fixed but given they wouldn't admit there was a problem in the first place will it?

I wish there was a way for us to know, but I'd bet that the vast majority of 1DX cameras are owned by enthusiasts 40 years of age and over... "L" lenses too. That is where Canon's bread gets buttered. Pros are not the hull that keeps Canon afloat. Enthusiasts do that.

Count me in this category. 1DX owner, not a paid "professional", over 40 by ahem, a year or two :, own "L" lenses.

Wanted the equivalent top end bodies/lenses back in the film days but couldn't afford the best. Now, I find a way to get the best . . .

Re the above, I'm in this category too, nearer 50 than 40, almost all of my Lenses are L lenses and I use the camera for a broad range of subjects, not just large aperture work like sport or press work like a lot of pro's will. Shooting relatively regularly at F16 I need the Lube issue to be sorted, having pre-ordered the Mark I, I won't be ordering the Mark II until I know for sure it has.

 

[BokehBox]

ID X M2 Wish List:

24-28MP
15 FPS Raw Burst
4K Video
Up to 120 FPS @ 1,080p Video
No noise up to ISO 1250
Wi-Fi
USB 3.0 Out
4 More Stops Dynamic Range
Bigger Back LCD
Lighter Weight
Better Battery Life
More Focusing Points

That's all 8)

Yes, add for $4995 US

Not so concerned about price if desired functionality is there. I expect it will be around US$6,500 like most previous 1D series DSLR bodies.

 

[wtlloyd]

There has never been a US $6500 1-series body. The 1D was $4500, and the 1Ds $8000.
Always. That didn't change until the 1DX, US $6800.

 

[expatinasia]

Considering how much you can currently pick up a brand new 1D X for, the Mark II is going to have to be something very, very special.

I have every confidence it will be, but everyone that has one knows just how good the camera already is - and unlike some other technology of a similar age, the 1D X Mark I is quite frankly not showing any signs of old age.

 

[FTb-n]

I would like to see:

1. Backlit buttons
2. Built in WiFi
3. Higher usable ISO & better low ISO DR
4. More MPix

Yes! Illuminated buttons would be great.

And a built-in flashlight. I expect industry leading high ISO performance. I want this camera to see in the dark. So, I need a flashlight.

What I'd really like is an easier way to adjust ISO, preferably with a third wheel/dial. It can be a tad awkward to do the thumb on the SET button while rotating the front dial trick while also looking through the viewfinder (although it's easier to do on the 1Dx than on the 5D3). If it can only have the two dials, let me assign one to ISO. Then let me press the AE lock button while dialing the front wheel to change f-stop. Just wishing.

 

[jrista]

More like "And we wait for the sleeping giant that is holding up my future 5D4 in traffic."

I'll never buy a gripped rig and I don't need a $7k camera. But I won't see a 5D4 until this monster is unleashed, so get on with it, Canon.

- A

Couldn't have said it better! Getting tired with the loooong wait on the 5D IV. The 5D III was already late, which puts the 5D IV even farther behind schedule. I really need an FPS boost for my bird and wildlife photography. I don't want to drop back down to a cropped sensor camera, and I have no interest in buying a seven thousand dollar camera. Hope it doesn't take another year...

 

[K]

I would have to agree that the enthusiast market helps to subsidize the pro market. That isn't to say this equipment wouldn't exist. It would, but it would likely cost even more. There's already a hefty "barrier to entry" in the cost.

Canon, to their credit, truly listens to the needs of their professional base when creating pro cameras 1D and 5D series. For this reason, these cameras have great practical features and usability. Not necessarily the best pixel-peeping cutting edge specs for amateurs comparing the most minuscule aspects of sensor quality. Pros don't sit there and say "this sensor has .001 less DR than this sensor, and that sensor has less thermal noise than that sensor"

They care about what gets adequate, industry acceptable results - fast. Cause TIME is money.

I experienced that. I'm not a pro, yet I did do a few gigs for friends. One even that was over 6 hours.

I can clearly state, that the 5D3's ergonomics, particularly the grip - which was in my hand 90% of those over 6 hours - had greater value, by far than just about anything else. Better value than MP, DR, ISO, FPS you name it. Button placement is another factor too. Holding a Nikon that long would have been fatiguing. The Canon allowed me to work longer and more comfortable and FASTER.

This just goes to show how people value things differently based on what they do. And while these super technical discussions about sensors and ultimate IQ in 35mm are fun, in the big picture they are kinda silly. They just aren't that important. Nitpicking what amounts to small differences between brands is not relevant to most pros or beginners. They are relevant to the middle of the road enthusiast who is also a tech nerd.

In a practical sense, upgrading sensor is something that could be done less often. Skipping a body or two. That way, the upgrade is truly a difference that is noticeable and worthy of mention.

 

[Phil Indeblanc]

I do miss my 1Ds I sold years back(for under $1K!). If for 1 reason, I would have to say for the sound of the shutter. The 1D line has the best ever. Any other shutter I have heard since has been a disappointing toy like sound.

Ok, one other thing I miss is simply the build quality. Just stiff as a block of steel dipped in rubber. I would love for a 5D to get a great shutter, and maybe a slight stiffer feel. But sadly I will never be spending anything over $3k range for any pro level 35mm camera. I have had the 1Ds and the 5Dm2, and there is no way I could justify the $4K difference. In fact, if Canon doesn't make some strong moves, I would be joining the group jumping into a Sony A7R2 and just keep shooting with the 5Dm2 along side.

 

[ajfotofilmagem]

I do miss my 1Ds I sold years back(for under $1K!). If for 1 reason, I would have to say for the sound of the shutter. The 1D line has the best ever. Any other shutter I have heard since has been a disappointing toy like sound.

You are feeling homesick for 1D shutter sound?
Just buy another toy with a similar sound.
Maybe a little noisier, but it will sound like a wistful 1D.

Who knows, the asleep Giant will wake up with the noise?

 

[nvsravank]

Ok I thought i only want the 1DX MKII because i have been pining for a 1D series camera since i gave up the 1 V film camera when i moved to buy the Canon 5D in 2005!

While i make enough money from photography to keep my GAS habit happy, 1D series GAS meant i had to curb my enthusiasm for the fine lenses coming out.

And here i was thinking that it was only a WANT of the 1D series, but now you have given me a NEED to covet the 1D series.

It was only the focus point linked spot metering that I would have liked from before. Though not really sure it will help me much in the dance photography that i do most. I tend to fix my exposure in general except that i do need 2 ISO settings for stage with full lights and stage with only the spots.

This button press might be a more important way to get it than the custom settings that i currently use as most times an important pose is at the time of switch and so i cant do the custom settings fast enough!

Maybe a wheel to change ISO might be helpful as well! I dont change the aperture so reuse of hte aperture to use for setting ISO while shooting might work also.

"Small" but killer features that I would like to see:

1. Ability to sync every body not only with each other as you can do now, but also within 1/1000th of a second of the official atomic clock.
2. Two shutter buttons. The second one could be programmed separately. Think of how useful, in fact not merely useful but essential, this would be in the moment, when the quick turns of shutter speed, ISO, and/or aperture dials, quality, drive mode, and even custom settings, are much too slow and error-prone.

These two priceless features would literally save the world for working photographers like me.

Regarding your second feature request. I believe the feature you are looking for already exist (instantly switch between two different camera settings).
This is one of the best little hidden secrets with the 1Dx (actually it´s been around since the 1DmkIII but with limited options)

You can program either the AF-on key or the *-key on the 1Dx so when you hold down the key you activate one pre-defined setting and as soon as you release the key the camera goes back to the original setting.
I shoot sports and use this feature all the time. It is truly a killer feature. I can for instance shoot speedway and when the motorcycles are heading towards me i might want to freeze the action and when they pass me I hold in the button and do a pano with a slow shutter speed or I can program it to switch between normal exposure and heavy under exposure (for a silhouette).

You can program it to change shooting mode, shutter speed, aperture, iso, AF and a bunch of other settings.
There are also other ways to switch between different settings (using the M-fn key and make it switch to a custom setting) but to activate a different setting with the M.fn you need to press the key once and to deactivate the setting you need to press the key again (which is very easy to forget). The ”hold/release” activation instead of the push/push makes all the difference. It is a lot faster and much less error-prone.

 

[scyrene]

I would like to see:

1. Backlit buttons
2. Built in WiFi
3. Higher usable ISO & better low ISO DR
4. More MPix

Yes! Illuminated buttons would be great.

And a built-in flashlight. I expect industry leading high ISO performance. I want this camera to see in the dark. So, I need a flashlight.

What I'd really like is an easier way to adjust ISO, preferably with a third wheel/dial. It can be a tad awkward to do the thumb on the SET button while rotating the front dial trick while also looking through the viewfinder (although it's easier to do on the 1Dx than on the 5D3). If it can only have the two dials, let me assign one to ISO. Then let me press the AE lock button while dialing the front wheel to change f-stop. Just wishing.

I use the button press+top dial, surely that's easier?

 

[Warrenl]

A silent shutter please.........

My 1DX's are to noisy for weddings and dance recitals

 

[IgotGASbadDude]

A silent shutter please.........

My 1DX's are to noisy for weddings and dance recitals

I LOVE the sound of the shutter--sounds just like my 1V HS. Don't change the sound.

But I would very much enjoy a silent shutter that is actually quiet--the 1DX does announce itself when you fire the shutter even in silent mode.

 

[Ozarker]

I would like to see:

1. Backlit buttons
2. Built in WiFi
3. Higher usable ISO & better low ISO DR
4. More MPix

Yes! Illuminated buttons would be great.

And a built-in flashlight. I expect industry leading high ISO performance. I want this camera to see in the dark. So, I need a flashlight.

Haha! No just illuminated buttons (on demand) for those of us who do things in low light like astrophotography, etc. Hate pulling a flashlight out of my pocket to see the buttons.

Of course, a touch screen would solve that problem too. ;D

 

[Rahul]

I would like to see:

1. Backlit buttons
2. Built in WiFi
3. Higher usable ISO & better low ISO DR
4. More MPix

Yes! Illuminated buttons would be great.

And a built-in flashlight.

And an inbuilt coffee maker to boot. It's damn cold where I'm at! ;D ;D

 

[DattaGroover]

I still think Canon lets Nikon have it's 15 minutes of fame with the D5 and then proceed to steal the entire show from there forward.

It will all be done with perfect timing on Canon's part.