TOP 10 NEW AND EXCITING FEATURES FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS

1 - New CMOS sensor allows higher ISO’s to be usable in the field.

2 - Insanely fast 14 fps (16 in live view) continuous shooting for up to 170 RAW frames (vs only 12 FPS up to 38 RAW in 1DX and 10 FPS to 35 RAW in 7DII). Virtually impossible to “buffer out”.

3 - Up to 61 AF-points supported at f/8 max aperture. Use of 2x converter on super telephotos works very well indeed!

4 - AF working range down to EV -3 (vs -2 in 1DX) = better low light performance.

5 - Improved AI Servo III+ predictive AF algorithm

6 - Customizable Quick Control Screen (new to the 1 series)

7 - Built-in GPS is a nice hardware upgrade.

8 - Pro caliber durability - dust and weather resistant DSLR design with shutter rated up to 400,000 cycles

9 - Dual memory card slots (one CF and one CFast)

10 - Silent continuous shooting mode. A nice feature for skittish birds!

 

TOP 5 VIDEO FEATURES FOR NATURE PHOTOGRAPHERS

1 - Direct video switch on body (similar to what has been on 7D/5D for generations)

2 - 4K 60P and Full HD 120P video

3 - Movie Servo AF via Dual Pixel CMOS sensor allows for focussing on moving subjects

4 - 4K Frame Grab for 8.8 mp USABLE still JPEG images from 60 fps capture

5 - Touch screen LCD for focusing in video mode

 

SAMPLE IMAGES - 1DX II and 7D II - CLICK ON IMAGES TO DOWNLOAD

ISO 800-6400 - 1DX II

ISO 800-6400 - 7D II

ISO 6400-51200 - 1DX II

ISO 6400-51200 - 7D II

ISO 1600-12800 - 1DX II

ISO 1600-12800 - 7D II

MORE 1DX II SAMPLE FILES - 100% CROPS

MORE 1DX II SAMPLE FILES - 100% CROPS

ISO 6400 - 25600

ISO 6400 - 51200

ISO 1600

ISO 3200

ISO 6400

ISO 12800

ISO 25600

ISO 51200

RAW IMAGES - CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

RAW IMAGE SETS - CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

THE CANON 1DX MARK II: A BIRD PHOTOGRAPHERS REVIEW:

INTRODUCTION

I am a very practical photographer when it comes to making equipment choices. I make decisions based on what “tools” will allow me to capture better images of the subjects that I covet most – birds.  I am also primarily a field photographer. That is, rarely do I sit in blinds or shoots in controlled scenarios where subject distance is under the control of the photographer. For these reasons effective focal length is the primary concern for me when choosing a camera body. The APS-C camera bodies have always been my choice when it comes to photographing birds – even given their limitations in controlling noise.

The Canon 7D series of cameras have worked great for me over the past 7 years and I have traveled throughout the New World Tropics photographing birds in a wide variety of scenarios. With this said, I will also be the first to admit that there are some major downfalls and limitations when it comes to the ISO performance and dynamic range of these cameras. There is no doubt that noise, dynamic range and overall image quality continues to be the Achilles heel of the APS-C camera.

When I am out photographing birds in the dimly lit rainforest I find myself reluctant to push the ISO past 1600 on the 7D mark II. Meanwhile I’ll see images that were taken on a 1DX shot at ISO speeds 2 or even 3 stops higher that look just as good if not better. I will admit that I am constantly torn as to whether or not I should buy one.

I often think about how amazing it would be to have a camera that was a combo of the best of both worlds. Wouldn’t it be incredible to have a camera that incorporates the reach of a crop body with the ISO capabilities of a full frame camera? My absolute dream camera would be one that had the ISO capabilities of the 1 series bodies but the 1.6 crop factor of the 7D II. Even if it had a dramatically reduced megapixel count. Alas we have to make choices in life and such a camera does not yet exist.

So the real question for me here is whether or not I could accept paying the money for a 1DX II and knowing that most of the time I would be using it with a 2x teleconverter on.  Now that the camera supports all focus points past f/8 is this a better option for overall versatility and image quality?

B&H Photo Video was kind enough to lend me this new camera to test out. Even though I only had the camera for a week or so I tried to get a good feel for it and gather the information required for me (and others thinking about similar equipment decisions) to decide whether or not the steep price tag of this body is worth it. That is - will it lead to better images of the subjects I am after.

I hope that you find a few tidbits of information in this review that will help you make the best decision for your particular needs.

** Note - I wish I would have had a 1DX to compare to the 1DX mark II for this review. Unfortunately I did not. Instead I am largely looking at the features of this new camera and if it is worth the jump from a 7D II.

FEATURES AT A GLANCE

A quick summary of the new 1DX Mark II features:

• Fastest shooting EOS-1D – (14 fps / 16 fps in Live View mode)
• Maximum burst rate of up to 170 RAWs
• New 20.2 Megapixel full-frame CMOS sensor
• Improved AF performance - improved center point focusing sensitivity to -3 EV and compatibility down to f/8.
• 4K video (4096 x 2160) up to 60 fps (59.94), with an 8.8-Megapixel still frame grab in camera.
• Full 1080p HD capture up to 120 fps for slow motion.
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF & Movie Servo AF during video shooting.
• Built-in GPS.
• Durable and rugged magnesium alloy body with dust- and-weather resistance for demanding shooting situations.

IMAGE QUALITY

When it comes to the image quality of Canon’s flagship camera you kind of have to expect the performance to be exceptional. For one thing the 1DX was already pretty incredible!

Unfortunately I didn’t have a 1DX to compare the files against. But I can say that it is pretty crazy what this camera can do at ISO 6400. Even ISO 12800 is VERY usable with proper exposure in the field and good processing technique.

Just for fun I even shot some images at ISO 51200. After processing they look pretty darn good. Would you think the image below was shot that high???

Click to download full rez image.

It will be interesting to see how the new 1DX II compares to the Nikon D5. In the last 5 years or so Nikon has definitely been beating Canon when it comes to dynamic range. Their Sony sensor technology is just incredible. Stay tuned for the DXO sensor scores which I imagine will be out shortly (link at bottom of page).

**Note that I have included several RAW files from this test that are available for download if you would like to form your own conclusions (see links below).

AUTOFOCUS

Much like image quality the new 1DX has a pretty tough act to follow. The original 1DX was VERY good and the new camera is no exception. In my limited testing I felt confident that the camera would be able to find and hold on to birds in flight well. I think it is a safe bet to say this is Canons best auto focussing camera yet!

With that said I didn’t notice a huge difference from my 7D II in this regard. Camera companies always boast new and improved AF capabilities. They are pretty hard things to measure though. What I can say is that the camera is very fast to acquire focus and works as it should. If you are using the 1DX II and you aren’t getting sharp bird in flight shots it probably isn’t the cameras fault!

4 consecutive frames of an Oystercatcher flying past. All on the money!

The camera is also now able to AF down to -3 EV which means that in low light scenarios it will still perform well. Excellent!

Another tangible upgrade is the increased frame rate of the camera which has gone from 12 to 14 frames per second. Frame rate is always a welcome upgrade as wildlife photographers are always looking for more frames that could potentially capture the perfect moment. Furthermore, the 1DX II’s RAW buffer has also been dramatically increased from 38 RAW frames to 170 RAW frames (if using a CFast card). It is virtually impossible to “buffer out” this camera…

The really interesting new feature when it comes to autofocus is that the camera now supports focussing to f/8 with ALL points. This of course means that you can slap a 2x converter on your 600mm f/4 and still have total functionality. Very nice!

So what does this mean for focal length for small birds? How does it stack up against the 7D mark II?

The maximum focal length on the 1DX II is basically 600mm + 2X = 1200mm. I have never found the 2X converter to be particularly usable on the 7DII. So let’s say that we are comparing the 7DII with a 1.4x on = 1344mm. Based on these focal lengths the 7DII would have 12% more magnification. This translates into 25 % more pixels on the subject than the 1DX II.

Or if you want to get mathematical:

• 1344mm2 = 1806336 (600mm + 1.4x on 7DII)
• 1200mm2 = 1,440,000 (600mm + 2x on 1DX)
• 1,806,336 / 1,440,000 = 1.25% more pixels on the subject

Put another way you would have to crop all of your 1DX II images by 25% to achieve the same size as the 7DII. Furthermore you would be shooting at f/8 instead of f/5.6.

You have to also consider that the 2X DEFINITELY slows focus down.

Ultimately while the 1DX II has the capability to overcome the 1 stop difference from f/5.6 to f/8 it does not come without its own challenges.

SIZE IN THE FRAME - 1DX II vs 7D II

CUSTOM CONTROLS AND AUTOFOCUS SETTINGS

As we saw in the 7D II and 5DS the new 1DX Mark II has the ability to customize autofocus settings to several buttons based on how you shoot. Many bird and wildlife photographers for example have long been assigning “back button focus”. Doing so allows the user to allocate the AF-ON button to control the autofocus and the shutter button as the release mechanism. This setting has the advantage of allowing the user to focus, recompose the shot, and then trip the shutter at the pivotal moment without having to re-acquire focus. The 1DX mark II takes such settings a whole lot further. Now the AF-ON and AE Lock buttons on the back of the camera can be assigned specific autofocus capabilities. You can literally configure any autofocus setting to one of these buttons and have two completely different scenarios based upon how and what you shoot.

Below is a quick look at how I have configured my two autofocus buttons:

• AF-ON: Used for subjects that are not moving. One shot focusing and single-point spot focusing. This setup is great for static subjects such as perched birds.
• AE-LOCK: Used for birds in flight or moving subjects where I want to be able track the subject. In this scenario I have the focus points set to the AF point expansion (4 pts). I have also enabled a custom AF scenario that is designed to hold tightly to objects once focus has been acquired (-2,0,0).

OTHER NEW FEATURES

In addition to the features of the new sensor and new autofocus capabilities the 1DX Mark II introduces several other improvements. The camera is said to have better weather sealing, has a higher resolution LCD screen, and the shutter is now rated to 400,000 actuations. The new model also incorporates built in GPS functionality and now offers two memory card slots (one compact flash and one CFast). It also features a new video switch.

Another excellent new feature is the ability to set up a custom quick control menu. This allows you to totally customize the "Q" button to have all your favourite settings at your fingertips.

Finally, a very cool and highly customizable “intelligent” viewfinder is now offered that allows for virtually all of the major camera settings to be immediately available in the viewfinder (as we have seen in the 7D II and 5DS).

INTELLIGENT VIEWFINDER

VIDEO

As should come to no surprise to Canon shooters the new camera is loaded with upgraded video features. Canon has clearly set out to be the industry leader in this realm and the new 1DX II keeps them there!

Probably the most exciting new video feature is the ability to record full 4K video at 60 fps. DSLR cinematographers are jumping up and down I am sure!

The camera is also capable of full HD video at 120 FPS. This is really awesome because you can now capture really good slow motion footage.

Not surprisingly the 1DX II features the dual pixel technology that now allows us to use servo focussing in video mode. In addition you can now use the touch screen to focus exactly where you want as the subject moves around. This is very handy indeed.

Another nice feature is that there is now a switch to quickly switch to video mode (as there has been in the 5D and 7D series for the past 2 generations). This makes it that much easier to quickly switch from stills to video and start recording. I'm glad that they added this to keep all of their cameras consistent.

This ability to capture 4K video has also made it possible to pull still images from the video footage and save them on camera. You can only create jpgs. But they are of VERY impressive quality. For those split second moments you can now just record a video and pull a usable still. You essentially have a 9MP camera that can shoot at 60 FPS. This is pretty incredible!

VIDEO FRAME GRAB FROM 4K (CLICK TO DOWNLOAD)

The above is a frame grab from the 4K video. It is pretty impressive!

The blue line shows the 4K video crop compared to the full frame.

GUIDE TO VIDEO:

Not everyone is interested in video. But personally I really enjoy shooting movie clips of the birds that I photograph so I am always happy to see new and improved functionality in this camera. I think that as the video functionality of digital SLR cameras, and the proliferation of sites like YouTube, continues to advance we will see a lot more people shooting videos as part of their portfolio.

If you are interested in learning more about using the video capabilities of your DSLR check out my guide - Video Simplified.

• Video: A Guide for Nature Photographers

CONCLUSIONS:

PROS

• AF to f/8 with all points. Super important for use with super telephoto and 2x converter!
• Fantastic autofocus and frame rate (14 fps).
• Virtually impossible to fill the buffer (170 RAW)
• New live view/video AF capabilities. Can now track moving subjects while shooting videos.
• New intelligent viewfinder. So much info available and completely customizable.
• Silent continuous mode. Great for skittish birds.
• Hand hold-ability - 4 stops IS + ISO 12,800 = new realms of possibility
• Ability to customize AF settings to several buttons based on how you shoot.
• Custom Quick Control menu is very nice.
• 4K video frame grabs. This could be really cool!
• 120 FPS full HD video. Nice to be able to do better slow motion video.

CONS

• ISO performance and dynamic range can definitely still be improved (based on the Sony sensors).
• Would love to see built in radio transmission to external flash. Why can’t the body itself transmit to an off camera flash unit? I’m sick of flash cables!!!!
• High Cost!

WHO IT’S FOR

• Professional wildlife, sports, wedding photographers and photojournalists.
• Those who want to have the top of the line body in the Canon lineup (whether they need it or not).
• Especially photographers who also need to be at the cutting edge of video features.

WHO IT’S NOT FOR

• Photographers on a budget!
• Landscape photographers would be better served by a 5DSr
• Keep in mind that you could have a 5DS and a 7D II that both use the same batteries and still cost less than a single 1D X. This combination of camera bodies would meet the needs of almost any nature photographer in the world.

As I stated in the introduction I am a very practical photographer. The primary question for me is whether this new camera will allow me to capture better images than I could before with my 7D mark II? Is the upgrade worth $6000 USD to me?

To be perfectly honest it’s a difficult question and as I type this I’m not 100% sure. There is no question that this is an incredible piece of equipment. When I look at my own shooting needs though what scares me is the lack of reach that comes along with a full frame body. I know that 90% of the time I would be using this camera with a 2x teleconverter on. In past renditions of the 1 series bodies the central point focusing capabilities made this option quite unattractive. But now we have all of the focus points available to us. In my testing the camera did perform well with the 2x converter on even in the dark forest. But when it comes to dynamic flight images I have to believe that all that extra glass will certainly slow down the performance of this camera.

I would imagine that I would have a 7D II in my bag for field photography and the 1DX II would be in there for when I was either:

• In a controlled situation (i.e. shooting from a blind or subjects that allow closer approach).
• In a low light scenario where I need the high ISO capabilities (This would be the MAIN reason).
• For flight shooting of birds I can get close enough to (to take advantage of the faster AF and frame rate).
• To set up on a dynamic subject where the 4K video could record 60 FPS and I could pull a usable 8.8 MP still.

So it is a tough call!

I am certainly drooling over the chance to be able to go into the rainforest with a camera capable of shooting usable images at ISO 6400, 8000 and even beyond.

But here’s something to consider. You can now pick up a used 1DX which has virtually the same ISO performance (not fully tested) for under $3,000.

I would love to have all of the AF points active and the 4K video features. But to be honest at this point those two features aren’t worth the extra $3k to me. I could sell one of my 7D II’s for at least $800 and pick up a used 1DX for low light performance, AF capabilities and frame rate. This could be a nice $2,000 upgrade for me.

That might just be what I will do.  But I need some more time to consider. I also want to see more of the data that comes out comparing the sensors of the 1DX vs the 1DX II. If they are similar in terms of noise performance and dynamic range I think I would have a very hard time pulling the trigger on the new body. If the new 1DX shows a stop of ISO improvement and dynamic range over the old 1DX then i just might be convinced to go for it!

What I can say for the time being is that this camera is a fantastic tool for image making.

Remember that a camera body is just a tool. At the end of the day learning how to use the camera, to understand light, to learn about the behaviour of your subjects and to improve your post processing skills will all lead to better images than a new camera will.

So get out there and enjoy the experience of being a wildlife photographer and of being out in nature! After all that is really what it is all about.

VIDEO REVIEW

VIDEO - AUTOFOCUS SETTINGS (SAME AS 7D II)

OTHER USEFUL LINKS:

PLEASE FOLLOW ME ON YOUR FAVOURITE SOCIAL MEDIA:

GEAR GUIDE:

• Gear Recommendations

GUIDE TO POST PROCESSING:

• Post Processing: A Guide for Nature Photographers

GUIDE TO VIDEO:

• Video: A Guide for Nature Photographers

CANON DIGITAL LEARNING CENTER:

• 1DX Mark II Resources
• 1DX Mark II Highlight Videos

DxO SENSOR SCORES:

• Canon 1DX vs 1DX Mark II vs Nikon D5