It’s not just about speed but also about the confidence that so much performance instills. Comparing the Canon EOS 1D X Mark III to supercars like Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Aston Martins is simple. It’s not just about speed; it’s also about confidence. Everyone doesn’t need to be able to shoot in bursts at 16 frames per second, and you don’t need autofocus that’s smarter and faster than you are all the time.
And here is the problem about the Canon 1D X Mark III: it is engineered for speed, but it is so phenomenally adept overall that its appeal stretches well beyond the target audience of sports and press photographers. It will carry out whatever command you give it, whenever you choose. Simply put, it is the best interchangeable lens camera, regardless of whether it is a reflex or mirrorless model.
It’s both reflex and mirrorless, which is an exciting combination. Even though it is not an actual hybrid design, Canon has gone to great lengths to ensure that its performance in Live View – that is, with the mirror locked up – is on par with everything now available in the mirrorless industry.
Canon EOS 1D X Mark III Build Quality
The Canon EOS-1D X Mark III is a monstrous camera, but surprisingly, it is precisely the same size in all three dimensions as its predecessor, although being 90 grams lighter. Because there are now full-35mm mirrorless cameras that are not substantially smaller or lighter than those that came before them – especially when an optional battery/vertical grip is included – it isn’t easy to imagine that size or weight would be a big concern for potential customers. Handling and ergonomics are more important than anything else, and Canon has made many changes to boost its efficiency.
Canon EOS 1D X Mark III Autofocus
The viewfinder autofocus (AF) system is based on a brand-new sensor that uses an array of smaller square pixels rather than the conventional arrangement of line pairs to enable phase-difference detection measurements. This departure from the traditional understanding of line pairs allows for improved accuracy. There are 100 times more pixels on the autofocus sensor of the Mark III than there were on the autofocus sensor of the Mark II, which results in a total of 191 measurement points, 155 of which are cross-type arrays.
Despite this, there is no change to the frame coverage. Every point may be chosen by hand, and the maximum aperture of the lens it uses is f/8 in every case. Since the system has a sensitivity range that goes down to EV 4.0 and up to EV 21, it can operate normally even in extremely bright environments.
Canon EOS 1D X Mark III Performance
The EOS-1D X Mark III, equipped with a ProGrade Digital CFexpress Type B 325GB memory card, could record a burst of 150 JPEG files in 9.394 seconds, which equates to a shooting speed of 15.96 frames per second. This is as close to the stated 16 fps as it is possible to get without actually reaching that speed. Even more impressive is the fact that this was accomplished while the camera was continuously adjusting its AF and AE settings, and, of course, at 150 frames, the camera was only getting started.
It takes only a moment or two for the data to be written into the memory card. The size of each test file was, on average, 9.45 megabytes, which indicates that 1.42 gigabytes were stored away in the blink of an eye. This takes continuous high-speed photography to a new level, demonstrating very clearly why Canon chose to embrace the CFexpress card format. No matter what you’re shooting, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III will never slow you down since it’s constantly processing data in the background.
Canon EOS 1D X Mark III Image Quality
The 20-megapixel sensor included in the 1D X Mark III is more than capable of competing with the 24-megapixel variety in the Sony A9 II. The only moment we could have used a little more resolution was when we cropped the image to get a closer look at the topic. However, the photographs this new Canon specialist creates are also excellent, and its focusing feature ensures that the characteristics of people’s faces are captured in pin-sharp detail.
At lower ISOs, the best-quality JPEGs appear beautifully crisp, with a wide dynamic range and excellent color fidelity across the spectrum. However, the 10-bit HIEFs go even further, and we suspect they will become the new favorite format of JPEG shooters. This is especially true when images are transmitted directly from the camera during an event.
When editing photographs in post-production, getting the color balance perfect may be an uphill task for many professional photographers, however, Canon’s color science continues to be spot on, and the company’s cameras produce pictures that are almost as good as they seem right out of the camera.
The EOS 1D X Mark III is remarkable in its ability to take still images and record video, which is exceptional for a DSLR camera. To create a hybrid camera that is on par with everything else available in mirrorless cameras, the video recording capabilities and the overall set of features have been carefully considered.
Canon EOS 1D X Mark III Specs
| Body type | Large SLR |
|---|---|
| Body material | Magnesium alloy |
| Sensor | |
| Max resolution | 5472 x 3648 |
| Other resolutions | 4368 x 2912, 3648 x 2432, 2736 x 1824 |
| Image ratio w:h | 3:2 |
| Effective pixels | 20 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 21 megapixels |
| Sensor size | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) |
| Sensor type | CMOS |
| Processor | Digic X |
| Color space | sRGB, Adobe RGB |
| Color filter array | Primary color filter |
| Image | |
| ISO | Auto, 100-102400 (expands to 50-819200) |
| Boosted ISO (minimum) | 50 |
| Boosted ISO (maximum) | 819200 |
| White balance presets | 7 |
| Custom white balance | Yes (5 slots) |
| Image stabilization | No |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| File format | JPEG (Exif v2.31)HEIF (10-bit)Raw / C-Raw (CR3) |
| Optics & Focus | |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Phase DetectMulti-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Number of focus points | 191 |
| Number of cross-type focus points | 155 |
| Lens mount | Canon EF |
| Focal length multiplier | 1× |
| Screen / viewfinder | |
| Articulated LCD | Fixed |
| Screen size | 3.2″ |
| Screen dots | 2,100,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Optical (pentaprism) |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder magnification | 0.76× |
| Photography features | |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/8000 sec |
| Exposure modes | ProgramAperture priorityShutter priorityManual |
| Built-in flash | No |
| External flash | Yes |
| Flash X sync speed | 1/250 sec |
| Drive modes | SingleHigh-speedContinuousLow-speedSilent singleSilent high-speed continuousSilent low-speed continuous |
| Continuous drive | 20.0 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weightedSpotSpot AF-areaPartial |
| Exposure compensation | ±5 (at 1/3 EV, 1/2 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | Yes |
| Videography features | |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264, H.265 |
| Microphone | Mono |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage | |
| Storage types | Dual CFexpress type B |
| Connectivity | |
| USB | USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 GBit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (HDMI mini) |
| Microphone port | Yes |
| Headphone port | Yes |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Remote control | Yes (Wired, wireless, smartphone) |
| Physical | |
| Environmentally sealed | Yes |
| Battery | Built-in |
| Battery description | LP-E19 lithium-ion battery & dual charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 2850 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 1440 g (3.17 lb / 50.79 oz) |
| Dimensions | 158 x 168 x 83 mm (6.22 x 6.61 x 3.27″) |
| Other features | |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes |
| GPS | Built-in |
Canon EOS 1D X Mark III Verdict
Canon has wrung every last bit of performance out of the EOS-1D X Mark III that they possibly could. Everything has been pushed and procrastinated, and as a consequence, the new flagship product of the firm, the EOS D, is genuinely stunning. It is loaded to the gills with features, including a brand-new Smart Controller and an autofocus system that is lightning-quick and incredibly accurate. Support has even been added for a new file format, and there is much more to unpack. Even if you don’t need it, there’s a good chance you’ll still desire it.
