Canon EOS-1D X Mark III Sensor DxOMarked, Clearly Behind Competition

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III sensor was tested in DxOMark’s lab, and figures suggest it’s performance is behind the competition.

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III has an overall score of 83. That’s less than the Nikon D850 (100) or the Sony a7R IV (99). Note that Nikon features a Sony-made sensor in the D850. To compare the 1DxIII with another sport oriented camera, the Sony a9 II, you can see the a9 II scores significantly better with 93. The EOS-1D X Mark III score is even behind the EOS-1D X Mark II (88).

We are firmly convinced that pure sensor performance figures do not describe a camera as a whole and are just one aspect of a camera. Never the less, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III having a sensor score that’s so much lower than the competition is something that at least Canon’s marketing department should be worried about.

DxOMark’s conclusion:

Sports journalism is a highly competitive field and requires a camera that can keep pace with the action unfolding in front of the lens. The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III has been designed with that one goal in mind. Although we at DXOMARK test only sensor performance and no other features, at face value it’s an incredibly fast DSLR with not only blazing AF speed, incredible continuous shooting rates and a prodigious buffer, but also an equally impressive sensor. Admittedly, it’s not quite at the cutting edge in our metrics for sensor performance, but there’s far more to it than that.

Like the Nikon D5 and the Sony a9 II, such cameras are highly specific and a niche purchase. If you’re already a Canon user with a significant investment in lenses and other dedicated system accessories, then there’s not enough difference here in sensor dynamics to get you switch brands. If you’re new to the market, there’s a lot to consider, but even then the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is still more than a worthy contender for your hard-earned cash.

Read the review at DxOMark…

More Canon EOS-1D X Mark III coverage is listed here.