What Firmware Can Do For You: That’s The Difference Between The EOS 1D C and EOS 1D X
Want this camera for half the price? It may be possible…
This will not make happy many people, and for some it will be utterly irritating. In an interview with EOSHD a Canon Europe product manager said that the main difference between the EOS-1D X ($6,799 – click here for specs) and the EOS 1D C ($12,999 – click here for specs) is…a piece of software.
Canon confirmed me today the 1D C 4K DSLR is a 1D X with a firmware update. Identical hardware. [...] I also had a impromptu talk to a Canon Europe product manager who was very open and honest about Canon’s approach with this camera.
The 1D C is a 1D X with a 4K firmware update. Canon’s man told me that the only hardware change was to do with the flash sync jack (or one of the other jacks if my exact memory fails me). So essentially the 1D X hardware – sensor, processor, everything – is capable of 4K video, 100%, no heat or bandwidth issues either.
The first thing that jumps into mind is if it is possible to upgrade the EOS 1D X to a 4K cam through a firmware update. Nope!
Although technically possible, not surprisingly Canon replied that this wouldn’t be happening
There is an issue with European tax laws:
The tax issue is that the 1D C is classed as a video camera, at a much higher import tax tarrif to the 1D X. Any firmware update that would turn a 1D X into a 1D C would not go down well with the tax people.
So, if I got it right…: The EOS 1D C is the same hardware as the EOS 1D X for twice the price. I wonder how long it will take for some skilled hacker to bring all the EOS 1D C features on the EOS 1D X. 
[via EOSHD]
FreeUsFromCanon
8 months ago |The first thing that jumps into mind is if it is possible to upgrade the EOS 1D X to a 4K cam through a firmware update. Nope!………
O REALLY IF THAT’S THE CASE WATCH THE HACKERS GO TO WORK! WHAT ASSHOLES! AN EXTRA 6K FOR LITERALLY NOTHING MAN IT MAKES YOU THINK WHAT OTHER SECRETS THESE COMPANY’S HAVE PURPOSEFULLY HOLDING BACK HARDWARE WITH SOFTWARE LIMITATIONS!
Jong Hui
8 months ago |suprise suprise.. canon is screwing its customers.. who had thought that.
it´s not as if this is anything new.
the 6D is in fact a 60D with only one cross sesnor .. and the FF sensor does not cost 1000$ more.
canonparaman
8 months ago |THE Difference Between The EOS 1D C and EOS 1D X
is a
LEICA i will by.
CANON IS OUT they are in 2008
we have 2012 no country for old trash
30 years CANON ARE ENOUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
Norbert
8 months ago |this is why the 6D should only cost 1299 euro… shame on you canon!!
Sean
8 months ago |How about we get the Euro A-holes to stop with this stupid video camera tax that is messing everything up?
What’s the point in a video camera tax?
Itai
8 months ago |While I have nothing to do with Canon, I did work for nine years on video processing software and I can tell you that the firmware needed to process 4K video on a camera platform probably cost millions to Canon.
Yes, it’s just bits on a firmware chip now but if Canon was not planning in billing it to someone, they wouldn’t have spend the money developing it. As with the components, it does not cost thousands to build the camera but it takes millions to build the factories to make them and each buyer is paying for the materials plus part of the factory, development costs and firmware too.
bibi
8 months ago |+1
Heikki
8 months ago |This is exactly how all markets work. The cheaper stuff is always just software limited to a high degree, and you pay more to get the software unlocked, no physical changes. From the cheapest beginner cameras to the most expensive professional laser scanners in the hundreds of thousands. It’s unintuitive to the customer, but how the world has worked for ages.
It’s such a matter-of-a-fact stuff to big manufacturers like Canon that they don’t see why they possibly should try to hide it.