Should I buy a 1dx

[ALBATIM]

Hi there,

Newbie here so apologies if this has already been asked before! Anyway, I've been using a 5d III for a year now and am looking to step up a gear tot eh 1DX. However, this is going to be a huge one time investment and I don't want to get one then find out that the successor will be on the market in a few months. Do folks think it's better to hold off time maybe Easter?

Cheers,
Tim

 

[AcutancePhotography]

You should buy a 1Dx (I don't like using the term upgrade) if

1. You can afford it
2. You feel that the 1Dx can provide you with an added value worth the price
3. You feel that your current 5D3 no longer meeets your requirements
4. You have determined that no other camera than the 1Dx can meet your requirements

If the answer is not yes to ALL of these questions, you should not get a 1Dx

As to the question whether you should buy a 1Dx now or wait for a fictional new model; the best time to buy a camera system is always 2-3 years in the future. ;D

If you wait for the next model, would you then be worried that you should wait for the second model? There is ALWAYS a newer model coming out. One could spend one's photographic life waiting for the "next model".

Don't do that. Get the camera that meets your needs now. Only get a new camera if your existing camera is what is holding you back.

The decision to get a new camera should never be based on the fact that there is a new camera out there.

Good luck with it. I can't imagine what you are shooting where the 5D3 is holding you back. That 5D3 is one sweet camera system.

How are your lenses?

 

[Hjalmarg1]

It is difficult to see that the 5d3 is holding you back unless you need higher shutter rate. Spend your money in lenses instead

 

[Deleted member 109687]

I just had a quick look on his website and he does shoot sports so possibly he does want the higher frame rate and processing.

 

[gsealy]

It is difficult to see that the 5d3 is holding you back unless you need higher shutter rate. Spend your money in lenses instead

I agree. The 1dx is targeted to athletic or fast moving events in which the focus has to be fast and with a high FPS. I have gone to golf tournaments and there are bunches of professional guys using that camera to take literally thousands of pictures of the players as they go about their round. It sounds like a machine gun going off. Out of all those pictures the best of the best make their way into the media outlets. (You can also assume the same thing happens at NFL and college games.) Those guys get paid if they produce photos, so the camera has to do its job every time.

The question then is do you need that kind of performance? Maybe a higher quality lens will give you a better return. One good thing about a lens is that as long as Canon supports the EF/EF-S mounts, the lens will not become obsolete.

 

[Dylan777]

With current rebate, I'm tempted for 2nd 1DX. Yes, the current X is that good

I'm sure X II could be better. However, this is CanonRumors site. There is no warranty X II will come anytime soon.

 

[pmc400]

Yes, especially if it's to shoot primarily sports that need the higher fps.

 

[Canon_Shooter]

Get the 1DX is a solid camera and is sizable better in the field than a 5Dmk III or other in my experience.

show us it when you get it.

 

[Besisika]

Most probably you know already the main answer.
It depends on what you do, if you have the fund.
The more we know about why the 5D3 is not enough the better we can suggest.
I made my move from 5D3 to 1DX because of boxing and ever since my 5D3 is used may be once in a month or two unless I am shooting video when I need both.
My next move would be a full frame with DPAF and 4K if comes to the market whenever it will be. Otherwise there is no need as I have never met any situation that 1DX couldn't handle in what I do.

 

[Jane]

Hard to give advice when we don't know what lenses you have and how much fast action you shoot. I have both the 1DX and the 5DIII. I love them both. I don't go on a wildlife trip or birding without the 1DX but I just spent 3 weeks traveling to historic and cultural places and left the 1DX behind. I didn't need the weight or the fps.

 

[BL]

Hi there,

Newbie here so apologies if this has already been asked before! Anyway, I've been using a 5d III for a year now and am looking to step up a gear tot eh 1DX. However, this is going to be a huge one time investment and I don't want to get one then find out that the successor will be on the market in a few months. Do folks think it's better to hold off time maybe Easter?

Cheers,
Tim

What sort of upgrade is going from 5D3 to 1Dx going to give you? Think in terms of what is it your gear does not let you accomplish and then start from there. Or if you are just trying to relieve GAS pressure, then by all means haha

I went from 5D classic to 1Dx, so yes, that was an upgrade in pretty much every way measurable.

 

[woodyslave]

Hi Guys!

I'm also thinking about an upgrade from my 5d III to a 1D x.

Actually I'm shooting most sport - till now the 5D was really good and it was enough for me.
Now i would have the money to buy a 1d X - but the thing really is - spending so much for a camera that will be replaced within the next couple of month?

... such a damm hard decision!!!

Now the winter is coming closer and a better fps rate would be amazing ...

 

[AcutancePhotography]

Now i would have the money to buy a 1d X - but the thing really is - spending so much for a camera that will be replaced within the next couple of month?

... such a damm hard decision!!!

Shouldn't be so hard of a decision.

Does the 1DX give you the functionality you need/desire? If yes, why why care what the next future model can do? The 1DX gives you what you want. Buy it if you can afford it.

If, on the other hand, the 1DX does not give you what you need/desire and you feel that the next model after the 1DX will give you what you want, then wait for the next model.

Don't fall into the trap that a newer model of a camera will necessarly be a greater value to your individual type of photography. That's what the Canon marketing department wants you to think.

Don't think that a newer model "replaces" the previous model. That, again, comes from the Marketing department. Previous camera models don't suddenly stop when a newer model comes out.

Since there will always be a future model coming out, when do you stop? Canon wants you to never stop. It all depends on how much of your money you wish to give to Canon.

I purchased my "new" camera about a year ago. The model I purchased was already about a year or so old. I don't like buying cameras as soon as the model comes out. I prefer to let other photographers beta test the new models for me.

Since then there have been two models released that offer "improvements" to the old beater camera I just bought. But the camera I bought is good for my individual type of photography and I am most happy with it.

If I had waited for the "next model" to come out, I still would not have gotten a camera.

Instead, I purchased the camera I felt was the best for my individual type of photography, at that time, regardless of what other types of photographers might choose, and I have been shooting with it. I will continue to shoot with this "old" camera until it is the camera that is holding me back and not the Nut behind the view finder (I gotta get that fixed one of these days).

Trying to keep up with the latest model of camera is folly to me. Unless you not only have a lot of money but also care more about having the latest model. Neither of those apply to me.

Good luck with your decision. You have to make the decision that is right for you. Just don't make the decision that is right for someone else.

 

[HurtinMinorKey]

One good thing about Canon's history of modest upgrades is that you can be relatively assured a 1DX mk II won't completely obsolete a mk I. It's one of the reasons Canon bodies have a pretty solid resale value.

 

[woodyslave]

.. you're absolutely right - i should use that camera what fits the best to me.

I'm doing sports photography and it is always nice to have a faster camera, a better image-quality or a better iso/noise .. whatever.

Arrrggghh... could someone tell me what to do - it would be sooooo much money for a camera. OMG.

 

[AcutancePhotography]

Arrrggghh... could someone tell me what to do - it would be sooooo much money for a camera. OMG.

Stay with the 5D3.

Save your pennies and in about 5 years or so, look at what else has come out.

 

[bgosselin]

I've been asking myself the same question. I have the 5Dmk3

I shoot sport as well.

Reason why I didn't switch to 1Dx

I do crop often. 18mpx vs 22mpx can make a difference.
I don't mind the focus system of my 5Dmk3. Sure 1Dx would be better but I have plenty of pictures to choose from.

I think I would go for an extra body. It could always be usefull.

I like the idea of having a crop body to get more reach.

My decision would be between the 7D mark II or a 1D mark iv

The 1D mark iv did come down in price because of the 7D mark II introduction.

Would use my 5D mark 3 for indoor sports or late at night.

My crop body camera would do nicely for outdoor sport with good lighting.

 

[Canon1]

I mean no offense here with this comment at all.

If you have to post to a forum "Should I buy..." the answer is no... there is no urgent need to go out and spend.

However, if this will not satisfy your need desire to acquire new gear... next best advice is to go out and rent one. After you try it out for a bit, you will have more clarity with your dilemma.

 

[Besisika]

I don't mind the focus system of my 5Dmk3. Sure 1Dx would be better but I have plenty of pictures to choose from.

Then, I don't see the reason for the upgrade.

I am not a full time pro, nor a technical photographer and hope that someone more technical will correct what I am saying for your benefit.
To me, the main advantage 1DX gave me was more power and I assume this is because of the battery.
My lenses work better, my focus is faster, buffer is bigger and I can shoot raw on both cards. I usually shoot 5-6 in one burst.
When I got it, I made a wrong assumption that it is just a higher frame rate version of the 5D so I used it the same way. Wrong, only the menu are the same. Everything else is different.

Let's be honest; $6000 is a lot of money, whether you make money out of it or not. So if it is just GAS, knock your head on the stone to wake you up for good. If you have the money and the reason for upgrade, why hesitate?
I see two or three reasons for someone with 5D III to upgrade
1 - you don't have enough keeper to deliver to your customer (or for your need)
2 - almost there is not acceptable, it has to be precisely there, and very often
3 - cold and need more power.

1 - See photo below; I pan with a very slow shutter. The keeper rate is 2-3%, which means you shoot 2000 photos and you end up with 40-50 good photos. I tried this with 5D III 3 years ago and I came back home with 5 or 6 photos. This year, I had around 100 keepers.
2 - boxing is a good example; there is a lot of movement on that head. With 5D III I came back home with 2 or 3 good hit, and a hundred of almost there and that frustrated me big time. Now I have around 50 for every evening fight. That is worst my time.
3 - I leave in Canada, I chimp when shooting with a viewfinder, I use live view a lot as well. I need bigger and stronger battery than what the 5D III's can deliver.
And finally, I am not a JPEG shooter. I shoot raw at all time and I need back up. I couldn't do that with 5D III, no problem with 1DX. I use two Lexar 64G 1066X and they are enough all the time, unless I am shooting a video as well.
I decided to pull up the trigger when the 5D III gave me an error during a fight and I realized that I need a back up, so why buy the same? I decided for something bigger.

The only thing that good in the 5D III that 1DX doesn't have is the silent shooting. That is the only reason I use the 5D nowadays; when I shoot a goalball (a play for the hearing impaired athletes), or a wedding reception in a church.

What I miss on the 1DX? Dual Pixel auto focus and 4K, if you need any of those, then definitely wait.
Why do I need the first? When shooting on the ground, I use an external display (Currently I am using Swivi but causes me irregularity), and autofocus using live view is very weak on 1DX. I have to endure the pain when manual focus is not an option (but I use that more often). The DPAF of the 70D would be really, really nice.
See the second picture as an example of how I use it that way.

OASIS_00002 by Besisika, on Flickr

Zombie Walk_015 by Besisika, on Flickr

 

[bgosselin]

Then, I don't see the reason for the upgrade.

I'm not the original poster.

I was just giving my personal reflexion conclusion.

I'm not a pro. Just an expensive hobby of mine.

I mainly shoot my kids soccer games and gymnastic competition. I share my pictures with other parents and post them on the club website.

I shoot jpeg most of the time. I shoot raw only if I'm in low light condition.

My equipement is already overkill for what I do. But I have fun.

Not sure what the original poster occupation is. Not sure if he is a full time pro. I'm sure the 1Dx is a fantastic camera. I reach the conclusion it's not for me now. But like everyone else. Everytime I get one in my hands and press the sutter button. That 12fps sound just make me smile. A lot.

I love that runner's picture.