Canon 1D X – all about the new HDSLR powerhorse!

by Sebastian WöberOctober 18^th, 2011

We wished for a 5D mark 3 and what we got is a fullframe 1D that takes video in an HDSLR to a whole new level. In other words it’s a 5Dmk3 in a 1D shape. Nice!

The EOS-1D X takes all of the current features and puts them into one camera as well as improving various aspects of the movie shooting for both better usability and better incorporation into professional workflows.

See much more after the jump:

Video features:
– 1920×1080 at 24, 25 and 30fps, as well as 1280×720
– at 50 and 60fps
– manual audio levels (also during recording)
– ISO range for movie shooting runs from ISO 100 to
– 51,200 (surely a new low-light king)
– 2 compression options “IPB” or “ALL-I” (all intra-frames)
– The EOS-1D X still records movies using the H.264
– codec but it is the compression type within this codec
– that has been changed (!!!).
– ALL-I means every frame for itself!
– no more 12 minute clip length, clips can now be up to
– 30 minutes. (clips over 4GB will continue in new file)
– SMPTE Timecode!!! (Nice nice) (Rec. Run, Freerun
– and 2 more modes)
– live audio level meter on the rear screen during filming
– and the ability to adjust the audio recording level during
– filming.
– “silent control” audio level adjustment through
– dedicated button.
– 29.97fps and 59.94fps non drop frame for NTSC land
– no more .THM files. –> thumbnails are now metadata
– inside the actual video.
– improved (?) moiré and line skipping performance
– it looks like still 8bit (biggest booh)

The first type of compression available is IPB. The B in IPB stands for Bi-directional compression. With IPB differential compression is carried out by predicting the content of future frames, with reference to both previously captured frames and subsequent frames. Like the IPP compression method used in previous EOS DSLRs, some data is stored in a Group Of Pictures (GOP), meaning that frame-by-frame editing will result in lower image quality. When using IPB editing video in-camera to trim clips can only be done in one-second increments.

The second method of compression is designed for users working in high-end editing systems or those looking for the very highest quality. This compression is called ALL-I. ALL-I stands for ‘Intra-coded Frame’ and it differs from IPB and IPP because all frames captured are treated as Intra-frames or key frames. Although each frame is still compressed, there is no further compression as each frame is seen as an individual image.

And on the side this camera even shoots photos! 14 frames per second 18.1 megapixels to be precise with a very fast DIGIC V+ processor in mirror lockup.

Below is a summary image sent via e-mail by Canon.

The camera will cost $6,800 and come out in March of 2012.

And here is the full press release on the Canon site.

And here is a beautiful video trailer for the camera alongside some other video clips (in low quality:( )

Canon, that’s impressive, give us that in a video camera and some 1080p50 please!