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Archive 20111D-X: My Hands-on Review
p.1 #11D-X: My Hands-on Review
I got to handle 3 seperate 1D-X models today, at Canon Pro Solutions, for a decent bit of time. However, we were not allowed to insert our own memory cards, and so I have no sample images to share - the door was taped over. I'm approaching this from the viewpoint of a 1Ds3 person, not a 1DIV person.
My thoughts are as follows, in no particular order. Hopefully they should prove interesting to some people.
- Feel: The feel in either orientation is fantastic, the buttons are very natural and the addition of a second joystick for portrait orientation is excellent. The dedicated live-view button is a nice touch, there's also a quick menu button of questionable worth. The near-lens mount customisable button is suprisingly usable, I was expecting to dislike it but it functions quite well.
- Autofocus: A complete joy. My opportunities to try tracking with servo were limited, but the autofocus seemed to fit my two main criteria: be fast and lock accurately. Point selection is great including expansion to surrounding points in either cross or square box type. Servo seemed to be perfectly accurate to me, but there was no fast motion near me to test. Their presentation made a big deal over the new servo algorithms & design, and I've no reason to doubt.
- Metering: A quick test of pointing the cameras into varied lighting conditions says that the new 250 odd zone system seems to be bang on, at worst about 1/3 or 2/3 stops off, no complaints whatsoever.
- Viewfinder: The electronic level & overlay displays are fantastic! I really love it. The old FEL button is now M. Fn1 instead, which by default is electronic level. Unfortunately, the customising of M. Fn 1 & 2 are limited - for example you can't set them to bring up WB Shift, which is something I use a lot. I forgot to check if they allow you to set MLU using them or not though.
- ISO Performance: Unsurpringly, at ISO 204,800 there is noise. I am judging this from the max magnified view on the back of the LCD, and no, it is not clean. It is not clean at iso 50,000 either, but markedly better. I did a fair bit of testing at iso 800-1600, and honestly, it does seem remarkably clean.
- Menu system: Excellent, I really like it. You can hold down info for an explanation of everything on the fly, and it's clear and well organised.
- Drive speed: 14fps brings a funny smile to your lips. You have to enable it via a menu, then you can select it via the normal drive button - there's no need to set MLU each time or anything like that. It works, though you lose the ability to shoot RAW & the viewfinder is black, even though it comes back afterwards. It will focus for the first frame, but after that focus and exposure are locked. With regards to the buffer, I have no idea what speed of CF card was in there, but I held down the shutter and it went and went and went. I didn't bother making a formal test of it, because of my next point.
- Banding. We were explicitly told that one of the 2 models on the table in the demo presentation had a significant banding problem. The key reason we weren't allowed to use our own CF cards yet is simple: the camera is NOT finished yet. These are very early samples, and there is a good reason it's 5 months until they're for sale - they have a lot to clear up. They will do open days for cps people to make an evaluation shoot later on, when the camera is ready.
All in, in terms of features, it's damn near perfect. The only things I could wish for were perhaps a 0.78x viewfinder and inbuilt flash ettl radio triggering ala pocketwizard. To those like me who rarely shoot above ISO 800 and 5fps is enough yet print large, and are uncomfortable with the resolution: Frankly we are in a minority. I can't tell you if the images coming out of it interpolated to 21mpix at iso 200 beat the 1Ds3, or make any evaluation of the image quality because the camera isn't finished. For that we have to wait and see. All I can tell you is about the features, which are simply excellent.
Addendum: I couldn't help but overhear a conversation between two Canon employees, and there were comments strongly hinting about something during the presentation regarding the November announcement. I really don't think it's my place to give out information that wasn't explicitly given to me, but I think a decent number of people are going to be rather happy.
^^ Added edit: A disclaimer: This may be completely wrong, and I may be misinterpreting things. I don't want to give too much weight to this at the expense of detracting from the main focus of the 1D-X.
Edited on Oct 25, 2011 at 12:37 PM · View previous versions
My thoughts are as follows, in no particular order. Hopefully they should prove interesting to some people.
- Feel: The feel in either orientation is fantastic, the buttons are very natural and the addition of a second joystick for portrait orientation is excellent. The dedicated live-view button is a nice touch, there's also a quick menu button of questionable worth. The near-lens mount customisable button is suprisingly usable, I was expecting to dislike it but it functions quite well.
- Autofocus: A complete joy. My opportunities to try tracking with servo were limited, but the autofocus seemed to fit my two main criteria: be fast and lock accurately. Point selection is great including expansion to surrounding points in either cross or square box type. Servo seemed to be perfectly accurate to me, but there was no fast motion near me to test. Their presentation made a big deal over the new servo algorithms & design, and I've no reason to doubt.
- Metering: A quick test of pointing the cameras into varied lighting conditions says that the new 250 odd zone system seems to be bang on, at worst about 1/3 or 2/3 stops off, no complaints whatsoever.
- Viewfinder: The electronic level & overlay displays are fantastic! I really love it. The old FEL button is now M. Fn1 instead, which by default is electronic level. Unfortunately, the customising of M. Fn 1 & 2 are limited - for example you can't set them to bring up WB Shift, which is something I use a lot. I forgot to check if they allow you to set MLU using them or not though.
- ISO Performance: Unsurpringly, at ISO 204,800 there is noise. I am judging this from the max magnified view on the back of the LCD, and no, it is not clean. It is not clean at iso 50,000 either, but markedly better. I did a fair bit of testing at iso 800-1600, and honestly, it does seem remarkably clean.
- Menu system: Excellent, I really like it. You can hold down info for an explanation of everything on the fly, and it's clear and well organised.
- Drive speed: 14fps brings a funny smile to your lips. You have to enable it via a menu, then you can select it via the normal drive button - there's no need to set MLU each time or anything like that. It works, though you lose the ability to shoot RAW & the viewfinder is black, even though it comes back afterwards. It will focus for the first frame, but after that focus and exposure are locked. With regards to the buffer, I have no idea what speed of CF card was in there, but I held down the shutter and it went and went and went. I didn't bother making a formal test of it, because of my next point.
- Banding. We were explicitly told that one of the 2 models on the table in the demo presentation had a significant banding problem. The key reason we weren't allowed to use our own CF cards yet is simple: the camera is NOT finished yet. These are very early samples, and there is a good reason it's 5 months until they're for sale - they have a lot to clear up. They will do open days for cps people to make an evaluation shoot later on, when the camera is ready.
All in, in terms of features, it's damn near perfect. The only things I could wish for were perhaps a 0.78x viewfinder and inbuilt flash ettl radio triggering ala pocketwizard. To those like me who rarely shoot above ISO 800 and 5fps is enough yet print large, and are uncomfortable with the resolution: Frankly we are in a minority. I can't tell you if the images coming out of it interpolated to 21mpix at iso 200 beat the 1Ds3, or make any evaluation of the image quality because the camera isn't finished. For that we have to wait and see. All I can tell you is about the features, which are simply excellent.
Addendum: I couldn't help but overhear a conversation between two Canon employees, and there were comments strongly hinting about something during the presentation regarding the November announcement. I really don't think it's my place to give out information that wasn't explicitly given to me, but I think a decent number of people are going to be rather happy.
^^ Added edit: A disclaimer: This may be completely wrong, and I may be misinterpreting things. I don't want to give too much weight to this at the expense of detracting from the main focus of the 1D-X.
Edited on Oct 25, 2011 at 12:37 PM · View previous versions
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:06 PM
p.1 #21D-X: My Hands-on Review
Good news. Thanks! Well written, well analyzed.
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:10 PM
p.1 #31D-X: My Hands-on Review
Danielkl wrote:
Addendum: I couldn't help but overhear a conversation between two Canon employees, and there were comments strongly hinting about something during the presentation regarding the November announcement. I really don't think it's my place to give out information that wasn't explicitly given to me, but I think a decent number of people are going to be rather happy.
Ooooh, now there's a teaser!
Addendum: I couldn't help but overhear a conversation between two Canon employees, and there were comments strongly hinting about something during the presentation regarding the November announcement. I really don't think it's my place to give out information that wasn't explicitly given to me, but I think a decent number of people are going to be rather happy.
Ooooh, now there's a teaser!
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:27 PM
p.1 #41D-X: My Hands-on Review
Thank you for sharing your hands-on review!
The teaser is really nice as well. Probably a 5D3, video, crazy-high megapixel body. Hopefully improved AF too! Both traditional AF and contrast-AF for video.
The teaser is really nice as well. Probably a 5D3, video, crazy-high megapixel body.
Hopefully improved AF too! Both traditional AF and contrast-AF for video. Oct 25, 2011 at 12:29 PM
p.1 #51D-X: My Hands-on Review
I'm eager to be on the waiting list for november
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:33 PM
p.1 #61D-X: My Hands-on Review
Good summary of the features. Clear separation of IQ issues Vs product features. The AF sounds excellent. I think you will find with electronic first curtain for Live View silent shooting that MLU will become obsolete. Until the 1DX this feature was only on the non 1D bodies!
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:36 PM
p.1 #71D-X: My Hands-on Review
Monito wrote:
Good news. Thanks! Well written, well analyzed.
Yes it is, but we must recognize that Daniel had it easy for there was a physical real-life camera in his hands to play with.
That can not even begin to compare in difficulty of evaluating-reviewing the camera based on its feature description alone.
Good news. Thanks! Well written, well analyzed.
Yes it is, but we must recognize that Daniel had it easy for there was a physical real-life camera in his hands to play with.
That can not even begin to compare in difficulty of evaluating-reviewing the camera based on its feature description alone.
Oct 25, 2011 at 12:55 PM
p.1 #81D-X: My Hands-on Review
PetKal wrote:
That can not even begin to compare in difficulty of evaluating-reviewing the camera based on its feature description alone.
What do you mean? Ken Rockwell does it all the time with Nikon gear...
That can not even begin to compare in difficulty of evaluating-reviewing the camera based on its feature description alone.
What do you mean? Ken Rockwell does it all the time with Nikon gear...
Oct 25, 2011 at 01:00 PM
p.1 #91D-X: My Hands-on Review
molson wrote:
What do you mean? Ken Rockwell does it all the time with Nikon gear...
A very bright and camera technolgy savvy man he must be.
PetKal wrote
That can not even begin to compare in difficulty of evaluating-reviewing the camera based on its feature description alone.A very bright and camera technolgy savvy man he must be.
Oct 25, 2011 at 01:06 PM
p.1 #101D-X: My Hands-on Review
Thank you very much.
And after all that your addendum: ... a decent number of people are going to be rather happy ...
November was next week, right?
And after all that your addendum: ... a decent number of people are going to be rather happy ...
November was next week, right?
Oct 25, 2011 at 01:08 PM
p.1 #121D-X: My Hands-on Review
if this body has built-in radio controller (such as PocketWizard) to be paired with new 580ex-radio... my dream come true. and AF on video
Oct 25, 2011 at 01:31 PM
p.1 #131D-X: My Hands-on Review
I see some of the 7D features are included into the 1dx - button assignments, electronic leveler and dedicated LV button. Or does the 1dIV already have these?
Oct 25, 2011 at 01:50 PM
p.1 #141D-X: My Hands-on Review
Ghost wrote:
I see some of the 7D features are included into the 1dx - button assignments, electronic leveler and dedicated LV button. Or does the 1dIV already have these?
Nope the 1D mkiv doesnt have the electronic level or dedicated live view button. I use the set button for live view. It may be default, I cant remember. Button assignments it does have. I find the 7D to be ergonomically brilliant to use, far more than the 1Dmk iv so using the 7D ergonomics as the basis for the 1Dx is genius, or just logic, in my book.
I see some of the 7D features are included into the 1dx - button assignments, electronic leveler and dedicated LV button. Or does the 1dIV already have these?
Nope the 1D mkiv doesnt have the electronic level or dedicated live view button. I use the set button for live view. It may be default, I cant remember. Button assignments it does have. I find the 7D to be ergonomically brilliant to use, far more than the 1Dmk iv so using the 7D ergonomics as the basis for the 1Dx is genius, or just logic, in my book.
Oct 25, 2011 at 03:43 PM
p.1 #151D-X: My Hands-on Review
Danielkl wrote:
I got to handle 3 seperate 1D-X models today, at Canon Pro Solutions, for a decent bit of time. However, we were not allowed to insert our own memory cards, and so I have no sample images to share - the door was taped over. I'm approaching this from the viewpoint of a 1Ds3 person, not a 1DIV person.
My thoughts are as follows, in no particular order. Hopefully they should prove interesting to some people.
- Feel: The feel in either orientation is fantastic, the buttons are very natural and the addition of a second joystick for portrait orientation is excellent....Show more →
Did they have a 1D IV for comparison. I was wondering how much more it weighs. It'd be a damn shame to see it weigh in the same as the old 1D II with it's NiMH battery.
I got to handle 3 seperate 1D-X models today, at Canon Pro Solutions, for a decent bit of time. However, we were not allowed to insert our own memory cards, and so I have no sample images to share - the door was taped over. I'm approaching this from the viewpoint of a 1Ds3 person, not a 1DIV person.
My thoughts are as follows, in no particular order. Hopefully they should prove interesting to some people.
- Feel: The feel in either orientation is fantastic, the buttons are very natural and the addition of a second joystick for portrait orientation is excellent....Show more →
Did they have a 1D IV for comparison. I was wondering how much more it weighs. It'd be a damn shame to see it weigh in the same as the old 1D II with it's NiMH battery.
Oct 25, 2011 at 04:04 PM
p.1 #161D-X: My Hands-on Review
Thanks for a very informative review. I was soooo hoping to get there tomorrow but it's a plane ride away and as well as the expense, I just can't justify the time.
Oct 25, 2011 at 04:14 PM
p.1 #171D-X: My Hands-on Review
This is very informative. Thank you.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
Happy shooting,
Yakim.
Oct 25, 2011 at 05:14 PM
p.1 #181D-X: My Hands-on Review
Sheldon N wrote:
Ooooh, now there's a teaser!
Must be something pretty sweet here... 3D/5D3
Danielkl wrote
Addendum: I couldn't help but overhear a conversation between two Canon employees, and there were comments strongly hinting about something during the presentation regarding the November announcement. I really don't think it's my place to give out information that wasn't explicitly given to me, but I think a decent number of people are going to be rather happy.Must be something pretty sweet here... 3D/5D3
Oct 25, 2011 at 06:32 PM
p.1 #191D-X: My Hands-on Review
I strongly believe that we could see another consolidation of product lines in the making:
1Ds(x) and 5D(x)
This seems to be the next logical step for Canon to make and if I were a betting man I would specifically expect it to be announced in a November 3 press release.
How is that for a "teaser?"
1Ds(x) and 5D(x)
This seems to be the next logical step for Canon to make and if I were a betting man I would specifically expect it to be announced in a November 3 press release.
How is that for a "teaser?"
Oct 25, 2011 at 07:25 PM
p.1 #201D-X: My Hands-on Review
Danielkl wrote:
The old FEL button is now M. Fn1 instead, which by default is electronic level. Unfortunately, the customising of M. Fn 1 & 2 are limited
Can FEL/M Fn. 1 operate multispot metering as on the old cameras? (I don't know whether it was fixed in the Mk IV, but the Mk III cameras could have done with an option to use spot metering for this exposure when FEL was pressed for multispot - just like the OM-4).
The old FEL button is now M. Fn1 instead, which by default is electronic level. Unfortunately, the customising of M. Fn 1 & 2 are limited
Can FEL/M Fn. 1 operate multispot metering as on the old cameras? (I don't know whether it was fixed in the Mk IV, but the Mk III cameras could have done with an option to use spot metering for this exposure when FEL was pressed for multispot - just like the OM-4).
Oct 25, 2011 at 11:56 PM