Hotly anticipated Canon 1DX Mark III announced – 1,000 shot buffer, dual CFexpress and 5.5K internal raw video
Jan 7, 2020
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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It’s the first day of CES 2020 so there are a few new gear announcements today. This time it’s Canon’s turn, with the official announcement and complete specs for the new Canon 1DX Mark III DSLR. The rumours have been coming thick and fast on this one ever since the development announcement in October. A spec sheet was leaked a few days ago, and today we discover if it was accurate.
As Canon’s flagship body for sports and wildlife, the focus of the 1DX Mark III is speed, shooting at up to 16fps with the optical viewfinder or 20fps in live view using either the electronic or mechanical shutter. It also has a huge buffer that can hold 1,000 shots even when shooting raw+jpg to let you keep going for as long as possible without having to wait for files to write out to your memory cards – which are dual CFexpress.
Like its predecessors in the 1DX lineup, it’s a full-size body with a built-in vertical grip and a second set of controls for shooting portrait orientation. Ergonomically, it should feel as familiar as the 1DX Mark II and will be a comfortable upgrade for those getting ready to cover the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
| Sensor | 20.1-megapixel full-frame CMOS |
| Lens Mount | Canon EF |
| Max resolution | 5472 × 3648 pixels |
| File format | RAW, JPG |
| Bit-depth | 14-Bit |
| Stabilisation | Electronic (Video only) |
| Continuous shooting | Up to 16fps or up to 20fps in live view (with mechanical or electronic shutter) |
| 5.5K Video | 5.5K (5472 x 2866) at up to 59.94fps |
| 4K Video | 4K DCI (4096 x 2160) 10-Bit 4:2:2 at up to 59.94fps |
| HD Video | Full HD (1920×1080) at 119.88fps) |
| Focus type | Auto and manual focus |
| AF Points | Phase detect: 191 (151 Cross-Type) |
| Viewfinder | Optical (Pentaprism) |
| LCD | 3.2″ 2.1m-dot touchscreen LCD |
| Internal storage | 2x CFexpress |
| Connectivity | Wired Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth, HDMI, Type-C USB, 3.5mm stereo headphone and microphone jacks, wired remote trigge, WFT-E9 socket. |
| GPS | Built-in GPS, GLONASS, Quazi-Zenith |
| Batttery | Canon LP-E19 |
| Battery life | 2,850 shots with optical viewfinder / 610 shots using live view / 4 hours 40 mins video. |
| Dimensions | 158.0 x 167.6 x 82.6 mm |
| Weight | 1,440g (3.17lb) including battery and memory card |
| Launch price | $6,499 |
To maintain maximum speed, the 1DX Mark III isn’t a super high-resolution camera, housing only a 20.1-megapixel sensor. But for the intended use of a camera like this, it’s more than plenty. The lower resolution also means larger photosites which allow for a native ISO range from ISO100 up to 102400 (50-819200 expanded) for working on lower light situations like dimly lit sports arenas.
The autofocus system has 191 AF points with 155 of them being cross-type. When shooting in live view, the Dual Pixel AF system kicks in providing 3869 manually selectable AF points, with 525 automatic positions. When shooting video, the Movie Servo AF mode offers “smooth and natural focusing” when switching between different subjects at different distances, with touchscreen AF on the LCD.
And speaking of video, that’s where this camera really seems to excel, offering 4K DCI 10-Bit 4:2:2 60fps and 5.5K internal raw video recording. 4K doesn’t have to be cropped, either. It can be if you want it to be 1:1 pixel ratio, but it can also utilise the entire sensor, too. Finally, full-frame 4K video on a Canon DSLR. Surprisingly, 1080p video is only available up to 120fps. Given 4K 60fps and 5.5K raw, I would’ve hoped it would hit 180fps or 240fps in Full HD.
Overall, it offers some nice advantages over the 1DX Mark II, but whether it’s going to be worth upgrading for you will depend on your own needs and whether those advantages benefit you. I imagine we’ll be seeing a lot of these at the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo, though, as well as other major sporting events over the coming months.
The Canon 1DX Mark III is available to pre-order now for $6,499 and is expected to start shipping at the end of February.
John Aldred
John Aldred is a photographer with over 25 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter – and occasional beta tester – of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.
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23 responses to “Hotly anticipated Canon 1DX Mark III announced – 1,000 shot buffer, dual CFexpress and 5.5K internal raw video”
and they hit it with the cripple hammer yet again and left out ibis…dumbing down yet another of the camera’s but that’s nothing new for Canon
but dont canon have that in their lenses though ( their way of getting round it )
No idea I shoot Nikon, at least it has IBIS in both the camera and lens
Technically, IBIS is just a way of getting around lenses that don’t have built-in stabilisation, given that stabilisation in the lens (because it’s tailored specifically to that lens) is arguably better than on the sensor (which kinda has no choice but to be fairly generic).
John Aldred If you are wanting to shoot video, you’re gonna want ibis without a doubt. The lens stabilisation is great for photography. Also, good luck sticking that massive camera on a gimbal.
Actually, if I’m shooting video, IBIS isn’t what I want. I’m on a tripod, a slider or a gimbal, And the 1DX Mark II fits in plenty of gimbals, so there’s no reason why the 1DX Mark III won’t. I’ve got two that would handle this camera.
The 1 DX III has. EBIS instead, go read the specs.
If you think that’s spendy in USD, figure out what it is in CAD + HST = Owch!
$8423.55 CAD , Ontario hst 13% = $9,518.61 dollary doo’s. ? plus you need to buy the CF Express card duo, and maybe an extra battery.
W Douglas LeBlanc And if you’re doing the work that requires this much camera it’s a barely noticeable expense
With no auto focus ?
I’m looking forward to a year after release where all the folks who thought a camera alone would make them successful are selling for major losses
6.k , outta my range
Still RH orientation only, still no HEIF support (come on, guys; is 2020), no word on weather sealing, still putting the lens release button on the light side, up to the hand removing the lens, and still just… black? Can we lock the idea that “serious” equipment needs to always be colourless?
Also, who is shooting sports video and photo simultaneously that they need a photo camera capable of such video features instead of a dedicated video camera, you know, like broadcasters are using??
Basia Kowalska I think it would be awesome if all the camera manufacturers started releasing bodies in colors other than basic black
They basically released this for the sports photographers and journalists covering the Olympics
Right?! Like, of the things I mentioned I definitely don’t think it’s the most pertinent ? but this wider trend (not just in photography) that the only professional colour is black has so many hidden effects on the way we construct and consequently judge professionalism, and it’s kinda really creatively limiting.
As a sports photographer myself, still not happy with it, for all the reasons above ? not that any camera manufacturer is doing it right atm…
One theory… black paint allows the camera to emit heat that possibly builds up from the sensor inside (and the sensor in this will likely produce a lot of heat). Similarly, their white lenses are painted white to repel heat (often because of the specialised glass which is sensitive to temperature variations)
I see your theory and raise you the “natural cooling” of zebra crossings… In theory it sounds logical, in practice it makes no significant difference ?
Re: the first part; black paint absorbs light, therefore making the body hotter, no?
They need to make this monstrosity a bit smaller.
how much for it: an Alfa Giulietta, an Audi, or a Maserati?
Waiting for the D6 ….
Omg a camera company it’s releasing a new camera with new features!! This is such huge news.