The Canon EOS-1D X DSLR is designed to appeal to all photographers, whether they are looking for a high-resolution or high-speed camera. An 18.1 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor, 61-point AF sensor, and up to 14 frames per second (fps) shooting speed have been combined to produce the most advanced EOS digital camera to date. With its advanced Full HD EOS Movie shooting capabilities it will also find favour with videographers who shoot a wide range of subjects.

Who is it for?

Combining the benefits of a full-frame, high-resolution CMOS sensor with up to 14fps shooting speed means the EOS-1D X is the perfect camera for whatever your assignment requires – whether it's high resolution landscapes, commercial work, or shooting high-speed sports around the world. The rugged and weather-sealed EOS-1 series body makes the EOS-1D X a perfect workhorse camera for long, hard assignments in tough conditions. The ISO range, which runs to ISO 51,200 in the standard settings, makes it ideal for any photographer working in low light. The camera's advanced Full HD EOS Movie shooting functions will find favour with anyone working with multimedia or shooting short or movie-length films.

Key features

• 18.1 Megapixel, full-frame CMOS sensor
• Up to 14fps continuous shooting speed
• ISO range of 100 to 51,200, expandable up to 204,800 and down to 50
• Dual "DIGIC 5+" processors
• 61-point AF system with up to 41 cross-type points
• Zone, Spot and AF Point Expansion focusing modes
• 1920x1080p full HD EOS Movie shooting at 24, 25 and 30 frames per second
• 1280x720p HD shooting at 50 or 60 frames per second
• Intra-frame and inter frame compression options for video
• 100,000-pixel RGB AE sensor with 252 metering zones
• Dedicated DIGIC 4 processor for exposure metering calculations
• 100% viewfinder with 0.76x magnification
• Ergonomically improved controls
• Built-in RJ-45 ethernet LAN port
• Dedicated WFT-E6 WiFi unit
• Dedicated GP-E1 GPS unit

The EOS-1D X features a newly designed, high-precision focusing system with 61 AF points, up to 41 of which will function as cross-type points. When shooting with f/2.8 lenses or faster, a vertical line of five AF points in the middle of the frame function as Dual cross-type points with their sensors arranged in an 'X' as well as a conventional horizontally and vertically arranged AF points, like an '+', provide increased focusing precision. Introducing Zone AF, Spot AF and AF point expansion focus modes, as first seen on the EOS 7D, allows you to tailor the focus point selection method to your subject.

To improve the focus tracking of moving subjects, the camera also makes use of the 100,000-pixel RGB exposure sensor. Because the sensor can detect both colours and faces within the scene, it is able to provide this information to the AF microcomputer, thereby tracking subjects by using more than just contrast change information.

The AF algorithm has been developed further. By taking feedback from professional photographers shooting a wide range of subjects with the EOS-1D Mark IV, the new AI Servo AF III algorithm offers faster, more stable focus tracking.

For the first time in a full-frame Canon CMOS sensor, the EOS-1D X features gapless microlenses. These microlenses direct the light into the pixel wells below. Gapless lenses mean that no light is lost between each pixel as all the light falling on the sensor is funnelled into the pixels below. This improves light gathering capacity and increases the signal-to-noise ratio. Combined with the power of the Dual "DIGIC 5+" image processors, the ISO performance is improved greatly compared to the EOS-1D Mark IV and the standard ISO range has been extended by two stops to 51,200, with ISO expansion allowing access to up to ISO 204,800.

Designed not just for high-resolution, full-frame imaging, but also for capturing fleeting moments in high-speed activities, the EOS-1D X is able to shoot at up to 14fps in One-Shot AF with the mirror locked up. This is a first in a digital camera and is possible because of the Dual "DIGIC 5+" processors and the redesigned mirror and shutter drive system. In normal shooting, with full AI Servo AF tracking enabled, the EOS-1D X is can fire at up to 12fps (*) to ensure that you don't miss any of the action, no matter how fast it becomes.

Allowing photographers to tailor the camera to suit their subjects and way of working is important because everyone interacts with their camera differently. To make this possible, the EOS-1D X features 31 Custom Functions including a Custom Control option that, like on the EOS 7D, allows you to map different functions to the main buttons and dials on the camera body. Also included for the first time on an EOS camera, a capacitive touch-pad, called the Silent Control function, is located inside the Quick Control Dial on the rear of the camera. This allows videographers to adjust settings silently during filming.

Like every other current EOS DSLR model in the range, the EOS-1D X features Full HD Movie recording. It provides the ability to shoot at 1920x1080p in 24fps, 25fps or 30ps and at 1280x720p in 50fps or 60fps. With either auto or full manual control over both exposure and audio levels it provides both newcomers to video and professionals alike with a powerful tool for shooting movies. In a first for the EOS range, the audio levels can be monitored with level meters on the screen during filming and the Silent Control function can be used to adjust the recording level on the fly.

(*) Unless the battery has less than 50% charge.

AF system

With a completely re-designed AF system, the 61-point sensor in the EOS-1D X offers consistent focusing performance with all subjects in light levels down to EV -2. With up to 41 cross-type AF points and a dual-zigzag line arrangement for all 61 points, focus accuracy and speed is improved. In combination with the evolved AI Servo III AF algorithm, the new system is also more stable in use. To ensure setting up the system to suit the subject is as easy as possible, a new AF Configuration tool is provided within the camera menu to give details of each setting and example usage.

CMOS Sensor

Canon develops and manufactures its own CMOS sensors in-house. Canon pioneered the use of CMOS sensors in DSLR cameras due to the performance advantages they offer in terms of speed and low power consumption. The CMOS sensor in the EOS-1D X is the first in a new generation of full-frame sensors with gapless microlenses for greater light gathering ability. 

The photodiode construction is also new. It features an improved photoelectric conversion rate providing higher light sensitivity, which combined with the improved transistors inside the pixels gives a better signal-to-noise ratio and hence access to the higher ISO settings with reduced image noise.

DIGIC processing

The high-end Dual "DIGIC 5+" processors found in the EOS-1D X are three times faster than the already powerful DIGIC 5 processors. In fact, there is still a DIGIC 4 processor (the main processor found in the EOS 5D Mark II) within the EOS-1D X that is dedicated solely to the camera's exposure metering system.

The benefits of the Dual "DIGIC 5+" processors are great. With more processing power, they are able to perform more complex image processing for better image quality, as well as adding new features such as multiple exposure shooting, lens chromatic aberration correction, compression options for HD Movie shooting and UDMA and memory card compatibility.

100,000-pixel RGB AE metering sensor

Recording light is the essence of what a camera does. But in order to record light correctly, it must first be able to measure the light in a scene accurately. The EOS-1D X's metering system features an all-new 100,000-pixel RGB sensor that's able to measure not only light levels but can also detect the colour of a scene for even greater metering accuracy, whatever the colour of the subject is. This colour and face detection data is also used by the camera's autofocus system to improve focus tracking accuracy as the camera can identify a subject by its colour and contrast, rather than relying on contrast alone.