Canon announces the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III in January 2020 with a hefty price tag. However, it stopped short of announcing the availability date. Finally, after more than a month, the news is out.
The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III has a 20.1 megapixel 35mm full-frame CMOS sensor and the new DIGIC X image processor.
I think these few features are the most interesting in this camera.
- 4K UHD and 4K DCI movie recording at 60p/50p, and supports Canon Log 4:2:2 10-bit in-camera recording
- In-camera recording of 5.5K RAW movies with simultaneous MP4 files
- Built-in Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi with FTP. Supports 5Ghz wireless LAN and compatible with 2×2 MIMO when used with WFT-E9
The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is currently available in Singapore at S$9,768. Check out the Press Release for full details.
Press Release
Canon Announces the EOS-1D X Mark III, Built for Uncompromised Photo and Video Performance
The first full-frame Canon camera to feature 4K video without cropping, the EOS-1D X Mark III impresses with a host of new features.
SINGAPORE, 7 January 2020 – Canon today announced the release of the EOS-1D X Mark III, built to meet the needs and demands of professionals who require the best from their equipment.
With a powerful 20.1 megapixel 35mm full frame CMOS sensor and the new DIGIC X image processor, the EOS-1D X Mark III delivers top-notch image quality in a wide range of shooting situations.
With the ability to capture high-resolution images at up to 20 frames per second (fps) and high-definition video up-to-4K 60P featuring Canon’s proprietary Dual Pixel CMOS Autofocus (AF) technology, the EOS-1D X Mark III is a workhorse for any professional image creator.
“Those familiar with the EOS-1D X Mark II associate it with imaging excellence. We sought to take that to the next level with the EOS-1D X Mark III,” said Edwin Teoh, Head of Marketing, Singapore Operations, Canon Singapore. “The EOS-1D X Mark III comes equipped with new capabilities that empower exceptional speed and performance, including a newly-developed high-res AF sensor that makes this camera a powerful and versatile one that professionals can trust.”
Some of the EOS-1D X Mark III’s features include:
- A newly developed 20.1 megapixel 35mm full frame CMOS sensor
- Continuous shooting speeds of up to 16 fps (viewfinder shooting) and up to 20 fps (Live View) with AF/AE tracking
- DIGIC X image processor with CFexpress media (dual slots), which allows a burst rate of approx. 1000 shots (RAW + JPEG)
- New AF sensor combined with AI Servo AF IV1 delivers significant improvement in AF speed and tracking performance
- 4K UHD and 4K DCI movie recording at 60p/50p, and supports Canon Log 4:2:2 10-bit in-camera recording
- In-camera recording of 5.5K RAW movies with simultaneous MP4 files
- Built-in Bluetooth, GPS and Wi-Fi with FTP. Supports 5Ghz wireless LAN and compatible with 2×2 MIMO when used with WFT-E9
The Ultimate EOS Camera: Unparalleled Speed and Performance
Equipped with a newly-developed high-res AF sensor that adopts a square pixel design, there is an increase in pixel density for both vertical and horizontal directions. This pixel miniaturization increases the pixel density by 28 times, resulting in a significant increase of AF points from 61 points (EOS-1D X Mark II) to 191 points (for optical viewfinder shooting) in the EOS-1D X Mark III. Processing speed of the new AF sensor is 40x faster than the EOS-1D X Mark II, resulting in significant improvement in subject recognition and tracking performance.
With the increased number of pixels, minute variations in distance to the subject in focus can be accurately detected. This brings about a dramatic improvement in AF accuracy. All 191 AF points support exposure of up to f/8 over the entire AF area, with 65 cross-type AF points at f/8. This makes
the EOS-1D X Mark III great for use with extenders, especially for wildlife or sports photographers.
By reducing noise in the CMOS sensors and improving noise reduction with the DIGIC X, the upper limit of normal ISO speed has been increased from one stop to 102,400. Image quality in the ISO 6400-12800 range, which is frequently used by sports and news photographers, is also improved with better noise control. A dedicated DIGIC 8 processor has been employed for AF management and control of the 400,000 pixel RGB+IR metering sensor.
The newly developed 16-point low pass filter helps to reduce moiré and colour distortion, as well as improve image resolution. Gaussian filter features have been incorporated within the EOS-1D X Mark III’s low pass filter to better suit high-resolution lenses.
A brand-new feature of the EOS-1D X Mark III is the HDR PQ HEIF, a 10-bit recording standard (for stills) that differs from conventional high-definition standards, which use high-resolution and low-noise approaches. The new standard aims to reproduce an image that is close to what is seen in reality compared to conventional image rendering methods, making images look sharper in detail.
HEIF files can be easily converted to JPEG (HDR PQ-quality) format, either in the camera itself or on another device using Digital Photo Professional. HEIF images have a similar “feel” to those shot with HDR PQ, and slightly different from photos shot and saved directly as conventional JPEG files.
This feature eliminates the need for RAW development retouching and gamma adjustment process, which was necessary in the past for photos containing strong contrast or lighter tones in neutral-coloured areas.
The EOS-1D X Mark III also features a new “Clarity” setting as one of the image adjustment options. This setting is particularly useful when users want to maintain a soft appearance with the subject’s skin, or when they want greater clarity to emphasise qualities such as the hardness of metal or
details presented in a scenic view.
Burst shooting on the EOS-1D X Mark III has been increased to a maximum of 16 fps (approx.) to help the photographer capture decisive moments. One of the issues faced during high burst shooting is the experience of “blackout” because the mirror (retracted when one shot is taken) fails to properly capture a new image for the viewfinder to display. To minimise this problem, the EOS-1D X Mark III uses a new mirror system with a high-speed mechanism to retract and reset the mirror, combined with an optical system that displays images in real time. This greatly improves the camera’s ability to track moving subjects through the viewfinder.
For Live View shooting, the EOS-1D X Mark III is capable of high-speed burst shooting at up to 20 fps (approx.) for both RAW and RAW + JPEG recording. Focus and exposure can also be maintained via AF/AE tracking. The effective AF area during Live View burst is broader than what is available during viewfinder shooting, with tracking up to 525 segments. Even when the electronic shutter is chosen for photo shooting, the EOS-1D X Mark III can perform high-speed burst shooting at up to 20 fps. Additionally, the EOS-1D X Mark III also has the ability to focus extremely well in low light situations (as low as EV-6).
Eye Detection AF and head detection routines help to precisely identify the intended subject when using the EOS-1D X Mark III. The accuracy and stability of human detection functions have been greatly improved, and coupled with the miniaturized AF area division (up to 525 segments), the camera provides excellent tracking performance and focusing accuracy, even for fast moving subjects. When shooting human subjects, the camera will detect and focus on the subject’s eye.
Even during burst shooting at a speed of up to 20 fps, the camera maintains its fix on the subject’s eye, allowing the photographer to achieve highly accurate focus. Up to 3,869 AF positions can be manually selected to fine tune focusing.
In the viewfinder shooting mode, the new AI Servo AF IV provides higher predictive accuracy and stability by employing Canon’s most advanced AF algorithm. In challenging shooting conditions such as when the subject is moving away from the camera, the EOS-1D X Mark III is able to maintain highly accurate focus, allowing photographers to capture impressive shots of the desired subject.
New Dual CFexpress Media Format and 4K Video Recording Without Cropping
The EOS-1D X Mark III is equipped with dual CFexpress card slots with CFexpress being a new recording media positioned to be the leading format for high-speed transfer data. The ultra-fast transfer speed of CFexpress media, coupled with the camera’s extended buffer memory, allows the
EOS-1D X Mark III to achieve an astounding continuous burst rate of 1,000 shots (RAW). This translates to five times more compared to the EOS-1DX Mark II. With the EOS-1D X Mark II, a photographer could shoot at 14 fps for 12 seconds until the buffer is filled, but with the EOS-1D X Mark III, the duration can last for a minute at 16 fps.
The EOS-1D X Mark III is also the first Canon full-frame camera to feature 4K video without cropping, with the camera supporting movie recording in both the 4K UHD (3840 x 2160, 16:9) standard established by the ITU and is suitable for broadcast content production. It additionally supports the
4K DCI (4096 x 2160, 17:9) standard established by the Digital Cinema Initiative (a group of movie production companies).The EOS-1D X Mark III is equipped with Canon Log whose performance has been proven in CINEMA EOS SYSTEM. Canon Log supports H.265 HEVC encoding, which ensures wide gradation, vivid colour range and small file size.
The HDMI 4K 60p output/Canon Log 10-bit output can be used to transmit 4K movie data to another device for display or external recording. The EOS-1D X Mark III also supports Canon Log YCbCr 4:2:2 10-bit video output and ITU-R BT.2020 colour gamut output. These features make it possible to capture movie images with excellent dynamic range and vivid colour. In-camera 5.5K 60p RAW movie is also available on the EOS-1D X Mark III. The RAW movie’s high resolution, gradation, and editing capabilities allow users to shoot HDR clips, high-contrast scenes, and scenes that require advanced editing. High-speed movie shooting at 120p/100p for FHD is also possible with the EOS- 1D X Mark III.
Most of the AF functions used to shoot Live View still photos can also be used for movies. Users can easily switch between movie and still photo shooting with the same operational “feel”. The camera ensures that each function behaves in the same way even though Live View photo shooting has a different subject detection scheme from that of viewfinder shooting. This allows users who are accustomed to AF shooting through the viewfinder to use AF functions effectively when shooting
movies.
Enhanced Network Functions and Transfer Speeds
The EOS-1D X Mark III is also equipped with built-in GPS receiver with logging function. This makes it easier and more efficient for news photographers or nature and landscape photographers to maintain a log of shooting locations and manage files. The EOS-1D X Mark III supports up to
SuperSpeed Plus USB (USB 3.1 Gen 2) transfer speed. When connected to a PC with a compatible cable, data transfer speed is faster than that of the EOS-1D X Mark II (SuperSpeed USB, USB 3.0).
The EOS-1D X Mark III now comes with built-in Wi-Fi with FTP functions. This greatly enhances photographers’ workflow in the field as they can quickly transfer images conveniently without any additional add-on devices. If a longer range and faster transfer speed is needed, the new WFT-E9 which comes with dual antennas compatible with Dual Band (2.4GHz/5GHz) and MIMO is available as an accessory for EOS-1D X Mark III.
In terms of durability, the EOS-1D X Mark III has a projected shutter life of 500,000 cycles. The main structural parts of the camera are made of magnesium alloy for lightweight and high rigidity. The EOS-1D X Mark III is also water and dust resistant. The AF-ON button now doubles up as a smart controller, which incorporates an optical sensor to detect the finger’s movement. It allows the user to quickly select the AF point easily without releasing the AF-ON button. A new high-definition LCD panel with approximately 2.1 million dots (EOS-1D X Mark II: approximately 1.62 million dots) provides a clear, distinct display – menu and playback operations can be handled using the touch screen.
There are also illuminated buttons on the EOS-1D X Mark III for easier menu and playback operations in dark conditions. The improved viewfinder is able to display key elements (other than the AF frame) in red. This makes it easy to view information even in very dark or extremely bright conditions. The display of other viewfinder elements/information does not impair AF operation.
Robotic Camera System
Along with EOS-1D X Mark III, Canon has launched a Robotic camera system (CR-S700R), a remote control solution for capturing still images using interchangeable lens cameras, via intuitive remote operation. The system consists of a Robotic camera head for Pan/Tilt/Roll/Zoom operation, and an IP Camera Controller (CR-G100) for managing wired connection with camera and PC, as well as its remote operations. By using the optional Camera Remote Application (CR-A100), photographers can manage Live View display and remote release of multiple robotic camera systems and cameras.
Pricing and Availability
The EOS-1D X Mark III is now available at all Canon authorised dealers at the following recommended retail price:
Model Recommended, Retail Price
EOS-1D X Mark III, $9,768
Product Specifications
About Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Canon is a global leader in photographic and digital imaging solutions. Canon Singapore Pte. Ltd. is the headquarters for South & Southeast Asia driving sales, marketing and service strategies.
Besides handling the domestic market, the company covers 22 other countries and regions including subsidiaries in India, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. The parent company Canon Inc. has a global network of more than 300 companies and employs close to 200,000 people worldwide. Canon is guided by its kyosei philosophy that focuses on living and working together for the common good.