Buy 1DX now or wait for an upgrade?

[bdunbar79]

So then what does the X mean?

 

[melbournite]

There are many good discussion points about such a purchase.
[list type=decimal]
[*]What do you shoot with now?
[*]Why do you want/need a 1DX?
[*]What do you think a 1DX MkII will have that the 1DX doesn't?
[*]Do you need/want these additional speculative features?
[/list]

If your current camera is letting you down, get the 1DX.
If you want it just because you want it, get the 1DX.
If you don't have a pretty good idea of what a MkII will have that you need over the 1DX, get the 1DX.
If a 1DX can do the job/satisfy the desire you have for a new camera, get the 1DX.

I want a 1DX, I even have the money set aside for one, but I don't need it, so I am in the slightly unusual position of making a conscious decision to wait and see what the MkII brings. Some of the many features I'd really like from the current camera are the medium iso performance, 800-3200 iso; the newer RT flash integration, the better screen, the multiple exposure function, the second joystick etc etc. I could get a couple of 5D MkIII's to get the MP I demand and use, but at this point I am happy to wait.

I want the best camera there is. I am a perfectionist and I always want the best of everything.

If you are a perfectionist, I would wait. As long as there are no shots that you might regret missing between then and now. ;D

 

[privatebydesign]

It means we (Canon) wanted more time to actually come out with a 1Ds MkIII/industry leading top of the line replacement and thought we cold pull a PR stunt and the wool over a few people's eyes.

There was a very good reason Canon and Nikon made two very distinct "pro" bodies, one very much orientated to sports and general shooters, the other orientated towards studio and landscape. Now the D800 has proven that much higher mp can be used effectively by the best glass, you don't replace a 21mp camera with an 18mp camera when your competitor just went from 24mp to 36mp. Even if the high mp Canon is not a 1 series, it doesn't alter the point that the 1DX is looked on as a "sports/general purpose" camera and these tools have typically had a less than three year lifespan.

 

[shutterwideshut]

Who doesn't want a 1DX??? If you can afford it and you've already got the lenses that you want, then buy it by all means. Also start exercising those biceps and neck. I tell you, you'll gonna need it.

Nice one! LMAO!!! ;D ;D ;D

 

[stilscream]

I have a 7d, a 5d3, a 1d4 and now a 1dx. The 1dx does everything those other three do plus more. I am not a pro, but I don't miss the other bodies for 1 second. If you aren't doing a lot of high speed action shots, I would urge you to get a 6d though. I love bif photography which is why I upgraded. I also shoot mostly low light situations. 5d3 is nice, but not fast enough at only 6fps. I might keep the 7d for birds in the wild, with my 600 f4 version 1, but I doubt it. 1d4 is great, but not as user friendly.

 

[celliottuk]

If you want amazing low light performance and a high shutter speed with a full frame sensor, there's nothing out there or on the horizon, that gets close. Buy it today and start being amazed!
But, whilst you are waiting for Mr DHL to arrive, I really suggest a diet of protein drinks, and massive upper body workouts-you are going to need them!

 

[DArora]

If you have to ask, you don't need it.

+1

 

[Rienzphotoz]

If you have to ask, you don't need it.

+1

Just because he does not know when a new upgrade will come out, he does not need it? :

 

[garyknrd]

I just bought a new Mark IV about three months ago now. I was in BKK yesterday and the price of the 1DX was 5,700 ( from Japan ), so over here it is dropping. I am hoping in another 18-24 months I can pick one up for a little more than I paid for the 1D mark IV which was 3600 new ( after my VAT refund ). I am hoping for 4800 new in about two years.
My thinking on the new cameras anyway. I am more interested in the 7D II if it ever hits?

 

[RLPhoto]

If you have to ask, you don't need it.

+1

Just because he does not know when a new upgrade will come out, he does not need it? :

Irrelevant. If you need the camera, you buy the camera.

 

[NostraHistoria]

There are many good discussion points about such a purchase.
[list type=decimal]
[*]What do you shoot with now?
[*]Why do you want/need a 1DX?
[*]What do you think a 1DX MkII will have that the 1DX doesn't?
[*]Do you need/want these additional speculative features?
[/list]

If your current camera is letting you down, get the 1DX.
If you want it just because you want it, get the 1DX.
If you don't have a pretty good idea of what a MkII will have that you need over the 1DX, get the 1DX.
If a 1DX can do the job/satisfy the desire you have for a new camera, get the 1DX.

I want a 1DX, I even have the money set aside for one, but I don't need it, so I am in the slightly unusual position of making a conscious decision to wait and see what the MkII brings. Some of the many features I'd really like from the current camera are the medium iso performance, 800-3200 iso; the newer RT flash integration, the better screen, the multiple exposure function, the second joystick etc etc. I could get a couple of 5D MkIII's to get the MP I demand and use, but at this point I am happy to wait.

I want the best camera there is. I am a perfectionist and I always want the best of everything.

I read an article that compared the 1DX to the model that is slightly cheaper that it, and it said that the only better thing about the cheaper camera was more MPX. Other than that one point, the 1DX was obviously superior in every single way.

As for the "1DX MkII", is it mistyped? I see no "1DX MkII." I guess you just mistyped it.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I thought that a perfectionist doesn't have to have the best gear but instead can achieve the best out of what he has. So, what do you have right now and what're you trying to achieve with 1dx? But if you're trying to get the best, maybe you should look at 1dc instead of 1dx?

I did not know about that model before. 12K is a little too much money. It looks like it is used just for movies though.

 

[pdirestajr]

I'd wait for Canon to release a "real" "flagship" model.

See this thread, you'll "learn" a lot: http://www.canonrumors.com/forum/index.php?topic=13910.0

 

[FatDaddyJones]

You don't need to wait for an upgrade. The Magic Lantern firmware offers the Klingon death ray now, although it's still in the beta testing phase. I believe that it's the function that ML warns you not to use.

 

[wD_Boston]

Interesting, it appears that most posts advising not to buy the 1Dx are coming from those who don't even own one.

camera envy much....

I don't care if he's a pro or a total newb to photography. If you can afford it then by all means buy it. It's your money.

 

[pensive tomato]

Well, not necessarily. Sure, if the OP wants the current Canon flagship camera, then get the 1D X. As others have pointed out, a mkII replacement is not in the horizon judging by previous product cycles; although the mythical high MP 1D body may be announced within a year (nothing but rumors).

Nonetheless, two other considerations come to mind when buying a new camera, OP:

1) What do you shoot currently? What uses do you envision for your new camera?
2) What lenses do you have? Do you have more pressing needs on that front?

Even if the OP has all the money in the world, I get the impression that he/she is looking to make an informed decision.

 

[s2kdriver80]

Call me weird, but in my case, I would opt for the 5D3, even if the 1DX were the same price. I carry around two bodies usually (even on travel/planes) and the extra size would be a liability.

 

[Loswr]

Buy. Or wait...the update to the 1D X should be along in 2-3 years.

Why do say that? Seriously I would like to understand your logic. FOr example the 1Dx is about a year old and based upon history the 1Ds was updated every 3-4 years. Is that correct?

The 1DX is 18 months old, no other 1D has gone more than 36 months apart from the 1Ds MkIII, and the 1DX is NOT a 1Ds MkIII replacement. This gives the 1DX a historical replacement cycle of within the next 18 months.

Maybe. Canon could have totally lied when they stated that the 1Ds and 1D lines were being merged in the 1D X. But they stated that - explicitly.

There was a very good reason Canon and Nikon made two very distinct "pro" bodies, one very much orientated to sports and general shooters, the other orientated towards studio and landscape. Now the D800 has proven that much higher mp can be used effectively by the best glass, you don't replace a 21mp camera with an 18mp camera when your competitor just went from 24mp to 36mp. Even if the high mp Canon is not a 1 series, it doesn't alter the point that the 1DX is looked on as a "sports/general purpose" camera and these tools have typically had a less than three year lifespan.

Exactly. The hypothetical Canon high MP body might be an EOS 3D (or whataver), a non-1-series body. Also, you seem to be starting your clock from the announcement of the 1D X, not it's actual release. The length of time from announcement to release for the high end stuff seems to be growing, not shrinking. So even if the replacement is announced 32 months after the last announcement, the real availability might be 3.5 years or more.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I do think that Canon is putting less emphasis on the 1-series - they're making a great camera, but the consolidation of the two sub-lines is an acknowledgment that while the flagship is important, it's not a major contributor to their dSLR revenue.

 

[NostraHistoria]

Well, not necessarily. Sure, if the OP wants the current Canon flagship camera, then get the 1D X. As others have pointed out, a mkII replacement is not in the horizon judging by previous product cycles; although the mythical high MP 1D body may be announced within a year (nothing but rumors).

Nonetheless, two other considerations come to mind when buying a new camera, OP:

1) What do you shoot currently? What uses do you envision for your new camera?
2) What lenses do you have? Do you have more pressing needs on that front?

Even if the OP has all the money in the world, I get the impression that he/she is looking to make an informed decision.

Right now, I am just taking pictures of books. I want the camera for the best still pictures there are. I went on Sigma's site and saw that pictures there were significantly better than what my camera produces. I want that same quality.

I have a 18-55mm and a 55-250mm. Both Canon. I am pleased with both. I am not a specialist in cameras though.

 

[privatebydesign]

Buy. Or wait...the update to the 1D X should be along in 2-3 years.

Why do say that? Seriously I would like to understand your logic. FOr example the 1Dx is about a year old and based upon history the 1Ds was updated every 3-4 years. Is that correct?

The 1DX is 18 months old, no other 1D has gone more than 36 months apart from the 1Ds MkIII, and the 1DX is NOT a 1Ds MkIII replacement. This gives the 1DX a historical replacement cycle of within the next 18 months.

Maybe. Canon could have totally lied when they stated that the 1Ds and 1D lines were being merged in the 1D X. But they stated that - explicitly.

There was a very good reason Canon and Nikon made two very distinct "pro" bodies, one very much orientated to sports and general shooters, the other orientated towards studio and landscape. Now the D800 has proven that much higher mp can be used effectively by the best glass, you don't replace a 21mp camera with an 18mp camera when your competitor just went from 24mp to 36mp. Even if the high mp Canon is not a 1 series, it doesn't alter the point that the 1DX is looked on as a "sports/general purpose" camera and these tools have typically had a less than three year lifespan.

Exactly. The hypothetical Canon high MP body might be an EOS 3D (or whataver), a non-1-series body. Also, you seem to be starting your clock from the announcement of the 1D X, not it's actual release. The length of time from announcement to release for the high end stuff seems to be growing, not shrinking. So even if the replacement is announced 32 months after the last announcement, the real availability might be 3.5 years or more.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I do think that Canon is putting less emphasis on the 1-series - they're making a great camera, but the consolidation of the two sub-lines is an acknowledgment that while the flagship is important, it's not a major contributor to their dSLR revenue.

We will have to wait and see, of course, but if the high MP camera is a 1DXs, then the current "sport" shooters dream, the 1Dx, would be in line for replacement in about 12-18 months. If the 1DXs is a "3D"/D800 then the 1DX is due for replacement in 12-18 months!

Many things will factor into the equation, most of which we will never know, but if Canon are developing a big MP sensor, and they must be, the majority of the actual body R&D costs are recovered by the 1Dx so the 1DXs shouldn't cost Canon too much money and effort, they wouldn't need to spend huge money developing it or recover huge money in sales. They almost certainly made the 5D MkII to recover R&D costs and lower manufacturing costs of the 1Ds MkIII sensor. If/when Nikon come out with a 1D4x then their hand will be played, they will have to answer, at the moment the 5D MkIII stacks up very well against the D800, but there is a good high end market for these $7-8,000 cameras. Even if Nikon don't come out with a D4x they will come out with a D5, in about 12-18 months.

Heck put a 5D MkIII sensor in a 1Dx, lower the frame rate to 10fps, do the usual 1 series software tweaks and you already have the 1Dx MkII, I'd buy two of them.

 

[NostraHistoria]

As I read more, I think I will wait for an upgrade.