Canon EOS-1D X And EOS 5D Mark III Get Camera Of The Year Awards

Camera of the year

Both the Canon EOS-1D X (specs & price) and the Canon EOS 5D Mark III (specs & price) got a camera of the year award.

Digitalcamerainfo chose the EOS-1D X as the camera of the year, because:

While there were only a couple high-end cameras brought to market in 2011, this year saw the eventual release of some incredible full-frame models from each of the major players. With some fantastic mid-range bodies also seeing the light of day, the Canon 1D X had stiff competition for our top spot once it finally was released to the public. Despite the delay, the 1D X bested all comers in our lab tests, producing the highest overall score of the year. While it's certainly too big, too expensive, and simply too much for most people, the Canon 1D X is, hands-down, the best camera from 2012

Read digitalcamerainfo's EOS-1D X review here. Canon EOS-1D X price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

Scott Bourne and the staff at photofocus chose the EOS 5D Mark III as the camera of the year:

This year our team tested many cameras and one really stood out. It was the Canon 5D MK III. […] The 5D MK III is fast both in response time and frames-per-second (up to 6 fps.) It has much better chromatic aberration correction and it’s low-light performance is second to none. It has up to seven frame HDR/bracketing.

The biggest improvement in the 5D MK III is in the auto focus. The camera’s 61-point AF system has 41 cross-type sensors and is miles ahead of its competition and only a hair slower than its big brother the Canon 1DX which in my opinion, has the best DSLR AF system in the world. […]

Ultimately for our team, the selection boiled down to amazing low-light performance, super fast and accurate AF, premium build quality, and incredible DSLR film capabilities. If we had a nit it’s the price, but nothing is perfect.

Camera of the year

Canon EOS 5D Mark III price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

 

Canon EOS-1D X DXOMarks Published

To whom it concerns, DXOMark published the scores of the Canon EOS-1D X. Although these figures will start the usual discussions, be aware that this is a purely engineering measure. It tells something about a sensor, seldom the whole story and never the real world performance of a camera. But these are just my two cents.

Canon EOS-1D X price and availability check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via CR]

Canon EOS-1D C vs EOS-1D X – More Than Just Firmware

Some time ago we reported a news saying that the only difference between the Canon EOS-1D X ($6,799 – click here for specs) and the Canon EOS 1D C ($12,999 – click here for specs) was the firmware and that the two cameras had the same hardware. Exactly the same hardware, and $7000 more to pay for the EOS-1D C and its Cinema features (4k recording). The information we reported (source: EOSHD) came from a Canon Europe product manager

Canon confirmed me today the 1D C 4K DSLR is a 1D X with a firmware update. Identical hardware. […] I also had a impromptu talk to a Canon Europe product manager who was very open and honest about Canon’s approach with this camera

The 1D C is a 1D X with a 4K firmware update. Canon’s man told me that the only hardware change was to do with the flash sync jack (or one of the other jacks if my exact memory fails me). So essentially the 1D X hardware – sensor, processor, everything – is capable of 4K video, 100%, no heat or bandwidth issues either.

But things are not as they appeared. Canon Rumors investigated further and it seems there is more than just firmware that differentiates the EOS-1D C from the EOS-1D X. While it wasn’t possible (so far) to find someone who agreed to open his or hers EOS-1D C and have a look inside, some more information came in about the EOS 1D C internals, saying that, yes, the CPU, the image sensor and the auto-focus system are the same as in the EOS 1D X, but there is «reworked circuitry and design to dissipate heat for the 4K recording». I guess the info came from someone at Canon. Sounds plausible, but does this legitimate the $7000 price difference between the two cameras? We will know for sure as soon as someone will open the camera. It’s a pity that Canon doesn’t release an official statement about this issue.

One of the reasons for the higher price tag of the EOS-1D C are taxes. In Europe, for instance, there are much higher import taxes to pay for the EOS-1D C than for the EOS-1D X. The reason is: the 1D C is classified as a video camera, hence the different tax tarrifs. Have you ever questioned why there is a 29 minutes limit for clips you record with your DSLR? For exactly the same reason. If a camera can record clips longer than 30 minutes it would be classified as a video camera and get a higer price because of the taxes.

Canon EOS-1D X price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

 

Canon EOS-1D X DXOMark Leaked (?)

Canon EOS-1S High Megapixel DSLR

Not only camera specs and images are leaking now and then, but eventually also the mighty DXOMarks are handled as genuine rumors. And here they are: Canon EOS-1D X DXOMark leaked. For what ever this score is worth in real life, here are the (supposedly) leaked scores for the Canon EOS-1D X, yet not published on dxomark.com:

  • DxO score: 90
  • DR: 12.8
  • Color depth: 24.9 bits
  • ISO: 3296

Let’s make it short: below the Nikon D600 and D800.

[via CR]