The Canon 1DX Mark III is a powerful DSLR built for difficult and dynamic applications, and a serious upgrade to the 1DX Mark II. Key features include:
20.1MP full-frame CMOS sensor; DIGIC X image processor
EOS iTR AF X 91-point autofocus; dual-pixel CMOS autofocus
Up to 20 fps continuous shooting in live view
DCI 4K and 5.5K RAW video capture
Third Time’s the Charm. While the Canon 1DX Mark II was a refined, almost incremental update to the original 1DX, the 1DX Mark III is a substantial improvement to its predecessor. Its newly designed 20MP full-frame CMOS sensor and DIGIC X image processor give you sharp, detailed images even when you’re shooting in low light, and improved shooting rates and video-capture capabilities. An all-new 191-point autofocus system uses “Deep Learning” to track heads and faces, and it uses Dual Pixel AF in live view for fast subject tracking. CFexpress memory compatibility caters to the improved shooting rates and higher-resolution video capabilities, and you can get twice as many shots per battery charge compared to the Mark II.
20.1MP Full-Frame CMOS Sensor. This redesigned sensor works in tandem with a newly designed low-pass filter and a DIGIC X image processor to give you remarkable image quality, speed, and sensitivity. You get up to 20 fps continuous shooting in live view or 16 fps when using the viewfinder, while the buffer gives you RAW + JPEG bursts of up to 1,000 frame sequences. The ISO 100-102,400 native sensitivity range can be expanded to 50-819,200, making the 1DX III great in a broad range of lighting conditions.
Refined EOS iTR AF X Autofocus System. A redeveloped imaging system deserves a refined autofocus system, and that’s just what you get. The EOS iTR AF X system uses 191 points—155 of which are cross-type—to quickly and accurately acquire focus, while Deep Learning Technology offers even more refined head and facial tracking for subject recognition.
Dual-Pixel CMOS AF. The Mark III also includes Canon’s dual-pixel AF system. Limited to video and live-view shooting, this system uses phase-detection for continuous autofocus and tracking with user-adjustable sensitivity and speed settings. Its 3,869 manually selectable points and 525 automatic positions give you smooth, fast focusing similar to what you’d find on a camcorder, while its Movie Servo AF mode lets you dictate tracking sensitivity, autofocus speed, and face-tracking priority. This camera also offers rack focusing via the touchscreen rear LCD when shooting video.
DCI 4K and 5.5K RAW Video. The Canon EOS-1DX Mark III captures DCI 4K video up to 60p with 10-bit 4:2:2 color, and 12-bit RAW 5.5K video. You can record DCI 4K with either the full sensor area or a cropped portion, and Canon Log Gamma gives you control over color grading. When you’re using the Canon Log setting, this camera can output 10-bit movie footage in ITU-R BT.2020 color, while the HDMI port can output 4K video directly to an external drive. The Mark III also captures Full HD up to 120p (4:2:0/8-bit) for slow-motion playback. Audio is handled by the in-camera stereo mic or externally using the 3.5mm input, with real-time monitoring possible thanks to the 3.5mm headphone jack. In addition to Canon Log Gamma, you also get Movie Digital IS, manual focus peaking, and Focus Guide, although you’ll need an external EVF or video monitor if you want zebra warnings.
Professional Build. Just as you’d expect from a 1D-series camera, the Mark III is built like a tank. The magnesium-alloy body features built-in vertical grip, dust- and weather-sealing, a touch-sensitive Smart Controller, multiple customizable buttons, bright 0.76x optical pentaprism with 100% viewfinder coverage, and a 3.2-inch, 2.1m-dot rear touchscreen LCD. It uses the same LP-E19 battery as its predecessor, but offers up to 2,850 shots per charge compared to the Mark II’s 1,210.
Dual CFexpress Memory Slots. To keep up with the increase in data flow, the Mark III takes advantage of the CFexpress format. You’ll need to use CFexpress cards if you’re looking to get the most out of the Mark III, so Canon has equipped it with dual CFexpress-compatible slots. This means you can record 5.5 RAW footage on one CFexpress card while simultaneously recording high-quality 4K MP4 video on the other.
The 1DX Mark III is, in my opinion, the greatest DSLR camera, period. Unfortunately, it looks as though mirrorless cameras are the beginning of the end of the DSLR wave. But having not fully embrac...
The 1DX Mark III is, in my opinion, the greatest DSLR camera, period. Unfortunately, it looks as though mirrorless cameras are the beginning of the end of the DSLR wave. But having not fully embraced mirrorless cameras in general, I thought the 1DX Mark III was like a breath of fresh air. The Mark III is a direct upgrade from the 1DX Mark II, so I was able to do everything I did in that camera in this one with hardly any learning curve.
The refined autofocus system is insane, and comes complete with a variety of different AF types and templates. It uses a massive 191 autofocus points, which gives you a sharper image in fractions of a second, and the video performance is stellar, with both 4K and 5K RAW capabilities.
Unlike the Mark II, this camera uses CF Express cards, which may be a little frustrating since they require a different card reader than CFlash and CFast cards. But, in short, they’re just simply faster and more durable than those older cards.
Just like its predecessors, the camera body is big, and can get a bit heavy after some shooting time, especially with heavier lenses. This isn’t an issue for me at all, but I can understand why some of the smaller DSLR or mirrorless options may get the most attention among most videographers/photographers. But at this point, I assume most people that have a general sense of Canon and their 1DX line of cameras, can expect these cameras to remain hefty in size and specs.
Lastly, the feature I enjoyed the most was the Autofocus Smart Controller. The AF-ON button can act as a sort of track pad for your thumb. You can simply drag your thumb across its surface to find the AF point placement in both the viewfinder and in Live View mode. I found this to be much more efficient than nudging through the focus points, which can be time consuming given the situation.
I recommend this camera for literally anything. It does everything a great camera is supposed to do, and to me, the 1DX Mark III has solidified itself as arguably one of the most diverse cameras in the game. If you’re looking for a modern one-stop shop camera, and size isn’t a deal breaker, this is the one.
Raw 12-Bit 5.5K (5472 × 2886) at 23.976p/24.00p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p [1800 to 2600 Mb/s]
MP4/H.265 4:2:2 10-Bit DCI 4K (4096 × 2160) at 23.976p/24.00p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p [170 to 1000 Mb/s] UHD 4K (3840 × 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p [170 to 1000 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 × 1080) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [18 to 470 Mb/s]
MP4/H.264 4:2:0 8-Bit DCI 4K (4096 × 2160) at 23.976p/24.00p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p [120 to 940 Mb/s] UHD 4K (3840 × 2160) at 23.976p/25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p [120 to 940 Mb/s] Full HD (1920 × 1080) at 25p/29.97p/50p/59.94p/100p/119.88p [12 to 360 Mb/s]
