Canon officially unveiled this week the new EOS-1D X Mark II advanced amateur/professional DSLR offering a 20.2-megapixel full-frame (35mm equivalently sized) CMOS sensor and the ability to shoot DCI 4K Ultra-HD video at frame rates of up-to-60p. The camera also has the ability to take 8.8MP still frame grabs from video footage.
The news follows Nikon’s CES 2016 introductions of the D5 and D500 DSLRs, which brought 4K Ultra HD video recording to mainstream DSLRs from a top-two camera manufacturer, and gives the No. 1 DSLR camera brand a 4K UHD recording model in something other than an advanced professional cinema product. It also further cements the credibility of 4K UHD as the next mainstream high-resolution video format for consumers and professionals, alike.
The EOS-1DX Mark II, which will sell for $5,999 for the body only when it ships in April, also includes Dual DIGIC 6+ processors, up to 51,200 native ISO (409,600 expanded) and a continuous still shooting rate of 14 fps, or 16 fps with mirror lock-up.
Canon will add a kit with the EOS-1D X Mark II, a 64GB CFast card and CFast Card reader for a $6,299 suggested retail price.
Read more on the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II after the jump:
The camera’s continuous shooting mode allows capturing as many JPEG images as the memory card is able to fit. The feature works on CFast cards only, although Canon provides a second slot for CF cards as well.
The EOS-1D X Mark II introduces a new and improved 61-point autofocus system, with all AF points selectable by the user (and up to 41 cross-type points depending on the lens in use). Each of the 61 AF dots supports an f/8 max aperture, elevating its usefulness for nature and wildlife shooters.
Other key features of the camera include: a 3.2-inch 1.62m-dot touchscreen LCD monitor; dual pixel CMOS AF and movie servo AF; built-in GPS, optional Wi-Fi transmitter; and a magnesium alloy body.
In addition to capturing 4K Ultra HD video at up 60p, Canon said the 1D X Mark II supports wide dynamic range and reduced color noise (compared to earlier models) throughout the standard ISO speed range of 100 – 51,200.
In another first for the EOS-1D series, the EOS-1D X Mark II features a 360,000-pixel RGB+IR metering sensor with enhanced precision and performance, improving facial recognition and tracking. Canon said it has also added an advanced AE system that can detect and compensate for flickering light sources such as sodium vapor lamps that are often used in gymnasiums and swimming pools. When enabled, the system automatically adjusts shutter release timing to reduce adverse lighting effects on exposure. The feature will even work in continuous shooting mode.
Best Selling Soundbars and 5.1 Surround Systems
For video shooting, the camera supports Full HD video at up to 120p, in addition to the aforementioned 4K UHD 60p option. The new 4K frame grab feature allows users to isolate a frame from recorded 4K video to create an 8.8 megapixel still JPEG image in-camera. Canon said that when combined with the EOS-1D X Mark II’s high-sensitivity full-frame CMOS sensor, the Full HD 120p frame rate capability will allow videographers to produce high quality slow motion video in extremely low light. The camera also features a headphone jack for real-time audio monitoring.
The EOS-1D X Mark II camera’s touch-screen LCD allows videographers to select the camera’s AF point before and during video recording with Dual Pixel CMOS AF, providing responsive, accurate and quiet “camcorder-like video autofocus” in a DSLR, Canon said.
The new EOS-1D X Mark II camera also has a built-in GPS receiver with compass for geo-tagging images with data including: latitude, longitude, elevation and direction. Canon pointe out this can be useful to sports photographers, among other, who need to sync a multiple-camera setup, or sync the camera’s time to the atomic clock.
The camera’s Intelligent Viewfinder II feature can be illuminated in red for improved visibility, when shooting in dark locations. AF sensitivity in low light has been doubled from EV -2 to EV -3 at the center AF point when the camera is set to One-Shot AF, enabling the camera to autofocus in extremely dark shooting conditions such as a moonlit nightscape.
Canon said it will also offer a host of accessories to support the EOS-1D X Mark II including: the LP-E19 battery pack ($169); WFT-E8A Wireless File Transmitter ($589); EC-C6 focusing screen ($39.95); DC-E19 coupler ($249); LC-E19 battery charger ($399); AC-E19 AC coupler ($399) and the DR-E17 DC coupler ($49.95).
By Greg Tarr
Have a question for the HD Guru? HD GURU|Email
Copyright ©2016 HD Guru Inc. All rights reserved. HD GURU is a registered trademark.
Stay connected