EOS 5D Mark III vs. EOS 1D X - Differences?

[Mickw]

Hi all, had my hands on both, lucky me. 1D is as usual 1D pro quality build and will last a pro forever. 5D is, well, like my 7D i suppose. Anyway, what i can tell you is i had my paws on the 1DX for 10 mins going through sub menues and having a talk to the rep. I own a 1DS3 and can tell you the x feels similay, very nice to handle and just feels more solid than the 5. Image wise i know nothing, but i can tell you i was shown the x's new focusing system and was totally blown away by what i saw. Makes my camera feel very dated, which i suppose it is. Its design is very focused on sport/wildlife, anything that moves and needs instant tracking. Its so adjustable to your own specification you can set it for any condition, one setting perhaps indoor track and field, another outdoor sport at night, maybe bird in flight on dull days. Whatever rocks your boat its adjustable for. And get this, they made the menus so easy to access, so quick to set up. Canon have really done the buisness. As for image quality, even the rep hadnt seen anything other than A4 JPEG but said that at ISO 12800 all that could be seen is a tiny bit of noise.

So when you compare 5D3 to 1DX just remember, and here ill use cars, ones a really nice BMW, reliable, quality, handles great, available to all. The others a Bugatti Veyron, all the former and a whole lot more.Is it worth the extra money? Well, if like me you take shots in rain, snow, ice, sand, may drop stuff, do wildlife and sport and need that tough as hell ultra adjustable camera, then yes. If you want a camera that isnt so tough and dont do a lot of sport/wildlife then id stick with the 5.

[HDNitehawk]

So when you compare 5D3 to 1DX just remember, and here ill use cars, ones a really nice BMW, reliable, quality, handles great, available to all. The others a Bugatti Veyron, all the former and a whole lot more.Is it worth the extra money?

It might be a hard comparison to draw. I am not sure how many pro photogs would own a Bugatti Veyron and could relay to us a firsthand comparison. But I suppose if you could afford one and actually owned a Bugatti Veyron you could just buy both cameras and just throw the one you didn’t like away. (or just give the extra camera to the wife / gf, after all she needs a camera to).

[w349]

I've hit the same dilemma as you, John, after Canon have thrown the curveball of making the 5D III significantly better than I was anticipating. Naturally I have both on pre-order for now, and have at least a month (probably a bit longer ) to decide which to cancel. To be honest, either camera will meet my needs. It's a body that will likely stay with you/me for 3 - 4 years, which is currently leaning me toward the 1D X at the moment.

Something that is a minor annoyance but worth putting into the table... no compatibility with the inexpensive infrared remote for the 1D X. Something I use more than occasionally for family shots and also macro work.

[neuroanatomist]

Something that is a minor annoyance but worth putting into the table... no compatibility with the inexpensive infrared remote for the 1D X. Something I use more than occasionally for family shots and also macro work.

It is indeed an annoyance, but not a new one - the 1-series bodies don't have the capability to be triggered by an IR remote. I suppose Canon figures if you can shell out for the 1-series, you can shell out for the LC-5 remote trigger. The money is only one issue there...the other is that the remote end of the LC-5 is quite large, too big to be tucked out of sight in a closed hand during the image capture.

Fortunately, I've got a solution that is less costly and significantly smaller on the remote side - the $100 PocketWizard CM-N3-ACC cable attached to a FlexTT5 will trigger the 1D X from a handheld MiniTT1.

[Dr Croubie]

It is indeed an annoyance, but not a new one - the 1-series bodies don't have the capability to be triggered by an IR remote. I suppose Canon figures if you can shell out for the 1-series, you can shell out for the LC-1 remote trigger. The money is only one issue there...the other is that the remote end of the LC-5 is quite large, too big to be tucked out of sight in a closed hand during the image capture.

You did say you were getting the 600EX if you were getting the 1DX, i thought i read that you can trigger the camera shutter using the radio link from a distance (but then, i think you'd need another 600EX or the st-e3-rt, both of which are a bit harder to conceal in your hand, but if it's radio you can trigger it from behind your back and don't have to use the '2-second-hide' like with rc-6)

[Black_Dog]

Simple. I primarily shoot weddings so I would rather have the 5DIII for the higher resolution and lower cost. If I were a sports photographer and needed the speed or a war correspondent in needed of bomb proof durability, I'd get the 1DX.

[Kayaker72]

....or a war correspondent in needed of bomb proof durability, I'd get the 1DX.

That is easy. John/Neuro is the father of two young girls....1DX it is!

[neuroanatomist]

Indeed. Why is running under the tripod legs such a fun game for toddlers?!?

[ahab1372]

Indeed. Why is running under the tripod legs such a fun game for toddlers?!?

LOL, I guess because it is a very convenient height for them. Kids just love to be under things, no matter what. When our daughter was younger, she was constantly under the dining table, chairs etc. A tripod would have been very tempting, too.
+1 for the 1Dx, or a heavier tripod

[clemmb]

Indeed. Why is running under the tripod legs such a fun game for toddlers?!?

When my son was two I had a Bogen I could sit on and it would hold me so I thought it ok for him to use for his teepee but somehow he broke it
He's 22 now so I fagave him.