Canon EOS 1D X Mark II Review | 108 Data compared

The DPReview analysis of the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II highlights a 20.2-megapixel, high-speed flagship DSLR with significantly improved dynamic range and a robust 14 fps shooting rate, driven by a new sensor design. Key advantages include class-leading 4K/60p video with Dual Pixel autofocus, a virtually unlimited Raw buffer via CFast 2.0, and an upgraded 61-point autofocus system. Conversely, the review identifies limitations, including a very heavy, bulky design, complex AF tracking that can be inconsistent, and a mixed card slot configuration. Video-specific drawbacks include the absence of log gamma (C-Log), limited video shooting tools, and an HDMI output restricted to 1080p, despite the 4K recording capability.

The Canon 1DX Mark II is a highly durable, professional flagship DSLR designed specifically for sports, wildlife, and action photography. Built around a 20.2-megapixel full-frame sensor and dual DIGIC 6+ processors, it offers a distinct balance between image detail and high ISO performance, allowing clean shooting up to ISO 25,600 with class-leading dynamic range. Its standout features include a blazing fast 14fps burst rate, an improved 61-point autofocus system with f/8 support at all points, and robust tracking capabilities that excel in the field. Furthermore, it introduces 4K DCI video capture up to 60p alongside Dual Pixel CMOS AF for smooth live-view focusing, making it a powerful hybrid tool wrapped in a heavily weather-sealed magnesium alloy chassis. Despite these stellar performance traits, the camera comes with notable downsides, primarily its heavy, bulky ergonomics and steep price tag. The workflow is complicated by a mismatched dual card slot configuration that requires using both standard CF and newer CFast 2.0 cards. On the video front, the high-quality 4K footage relies on a Motion JPEG codec that yields massive file sizes and demands...

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II is a premier, weather-sealed professional DSLR designed for high-speed sports, media, and wildlife photography, featuring 14 fps (16 fps in Live View) shooting and excellent 20.2 MP image quality, notes The-Digital-Picture.com. Key strengths include superb high ISO performance up to 32,000, robust build quality with an integrated grip, and a highly reliable 61-point AF system. Critiques, however, center on the unusable, noisy results at the extreme 409,600 ISO expansion setting and the significantly restricted touchscreen functionality, which is limited strictly to Live View. The review also cites the inconvenience of requiring two different card formats (CF and CFast 2.0) to achieve maximum performance.

The Shutterbug review highlights the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II as a specialized, durable full-frame DSLR built for high-speed action, sports, and wildlife photography. Key advantages include its 14 fps continuous shooting with 20.2-megapixel resolution, an advanced 61-point AF system, 4K video capability at 60fps, and robust weatherproofing. Shutterbug.com Conversely, the review notes the camera’s heavy, bulky construction can be cumbersome, and its highly specialized, speed-focused design makes it a niche tool rather than a general-purpose camera. Despite these drawbacks, it represents a top-tier choice for professionals demanding extreme speed and reliability.

In this first part of the review from EOSHD, filmmaker Andrew Reid highlights the Canon 1D X Mark II as a revolutionary hybrid camera that outperforms competitive setups like the Sony A7S II. The review heavily praises Canon's superior, flattering color science for realistic skin tones, which avoids the cold, clinical look typical of Sony sensors. Another standout feature is the full-frame integration of Dual Pixel Autofocus, which delivers predictable, highly reliable focus tracking in almost any lighting condition. Furthermore, the camera excels as an all-in-one professional tool capable of delivering high-performance RAW stills alongside professional video processing. Its physical infrastructure is equally impressive, featuring a durable, weather-sealed pro-level build, a snappy touchscreen interface, minimal rolling shutter distortion, and substantial battery longevity. Despite the glowing recommendation, the review outlines several notable downsides to the camera system. Its hefty $6,000 retail price tag places it strictly out of reach for consumer budgets, leaving a gap where Canon's more affordable bodies lack competitive video features. On the technical side, the 4K video recording mode imposes a 1.3x sensor crop, and the utilization...

The Canon 1D X Mark II is an excellent full-frame DSLR camera built for action shooters, event videographers, and independent filmmakers who need beautiful DCI 4K video up to 60 frames per second (fps) or HD video up to 120 fps. Reviewers found its image quality to be fantastic, noting that its crisp 1:1 pixel sampling rate eliminates major moire issues and significantly improves rolling shutter artifacts compared to older models. Additionally, the camera boasts highly responsive touchscreen autofocus, exceptional three-hour continuous battery life when shooting 4K, and solid low-light performance where noise only begins to creep in at ISO 800. However, the camera has notable downsides, starting with its steep $6,000 retail price tag. It records 4K video at a massive 800 Mb/s bitrate, which results in huge file sizes that can fill a 128GB CFast 2.0 card in just 21 minutes, adding high memory card costs to the overall setup. The physical build is also quite heavy at over 3.3 pounds, creating an awkward, forward-falling balance depending on which EF lens is attached. Finally, the camera lacks a...

The ePHOTOzine verdict rates the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II as a top-tier professional DSLR, highlighting its blistering 14fps shooting speed (16fps in Live View) and excellent image quality with improved high ISO performance. It is praised for 4K 50/60p video capabilities and advanced autofocus, establishing it as a versatile tool for sports and action photographers. Key, however, are its significant size and weight (1340g), representing a bulky, heavy-duty build that may be cumbersome for some users. Additionally, the high cost and specialized performance make it overkill for general photography, notes ePHOTOzine.

(Part 1) The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II serves as a highly capable secondary body for action and wildlife photography, delivering exceptional image quality and rich color depth even when shooting at higher ISO settings. A standout advantage is its compatibility with fast CFast 2.0 cards, which provides a virtually unlimited RAW buffer and eliminates the standard 170-frame restriction. Furthermore, the dynamic range allows for impressive exposure recovery; shadow areas can be pushed up to three stops in post-processing without introducing visible noise or color degradation. Photographers will also benefit from the repositioned remote release socket, which no longer interferes with standard camera L-brackets, and the welcome return of red AF point illumination in the viewfinder. Despite these performance benefits, the camera suffers from several functional omissions and technical flaws. Canon left out useful built-in features found in its other models, such as an intervalometer, a bulb timer, and menu-based exposure bracketing. Tethered shooting is severely hindered by a critical USB sleep bug that permanently breaks the computer connection if the computer falls asleep, requiring a full camera power cycle...

Based on Helen Bartlett's professional review of the pre-production Canon 1D X Mark II, the flagship camera stands out as a highly durable workhorse perfectly suited for unpredictable, fast-moving location family and children's photography. Among its prominent advantages, the camera boasts exceptional weather sealing and solid build quality, which effectively shields it from environmental hazards like mud and liquid. Its high ISO capabilities are a significant upgrade, offering pristine, highly detailed RAW images at ISO 6400 that allow for extensive highlight recovery and large-scale printing, while remaining remarkably usable for double-page album spreads and fine retouching even at ISO 16,000. Additionally, the camera excels with an incredibly fast and accurate autofocus system that easily tracks erratic subjects like children bouncing on beds, a continuous burst mode of 14 frames per second that "seems to go on forever," and a newly duplicated joystick that makes shooting vertically much more intuitive. Despite these significant advancements, the reviewer highlights a few drawbacks. The most prominent con is the camera's high financial cost, which becomes particularly steep for professionals who need to purchase a...

Ken Rockwell’s review highlights the Canon 1DX Mark II as an industrial-grade, 20.2-megapixel, 14-fps workhorse optimized for professional sports, offering a deep buffer and a vastly improved, self-illuminated, intelligent viewfinder. Key advantages include massive battery life, 4K video capability, and in-camera flicker detection for challenging lighting. Conversely, the camera is noted for its high price tag, substantial, "tank-like" weight, and lower resolution compared to specialized landscape cameras. Rockwell emphasizes that while its 20.2 MP sensor is ideal for speed, photographers seeking maximum resolution should look toward the Canon 5DS/R instead.

However, the camera does present several notable cons and design limitations. While the native ISO tops out at 51,200 (expandable to 409,600), low-light imagery over ISO 6400 is considered too noisy for standard use, rendering the high-end ISO expansion practically useless for high-quality wildlife shots. The dual storage design uses two entirely different card formats—one standard CompactFlash (CF) and one high-speed CFast slot—forcing users to purchase significantly more expensive CFast 2.0 media to unlock full burst capabilities. Additionally, battery performance remains unchanged despite a new LP-E19 battery pack, and the maximum burst rate heavily degrades to as low as 10 fps under freezing arctic temperatures. Finally, the integrated GPS housing makes the camera body slightly taller, yet it lacks a built-in flash, a missing feature that the reviewer highlights as a missed opportunity for a quick and convenient fill-light source out in the field.

The DPReview and Backscatter assessment identifies the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II as a premier, high-performance DSLR for hybrid underwater shooters, boasting superior 4K/60p video capabilities and best-in-class manual white balance for accurate blue tones. Key advantages include exceptional low-light ISO performance for deep depth-of-field shooting and a 14fps burst rate for action, paired with the ability to extract 8MP stills from video. However, the system is hindered by an inaccurate autofocus tracking system during macro shooting and requires expensive, high-capacity CFast 2.0 cards to handle massive file sizes. Further limitations include a 1.3x 4K crop factor, high cost, and a large physical footprint that requires bulky housing.

The Photo Review Australia review evaluates the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II as a high-performance 20.2-megapixel "workhorse" DSLR, boasting up to 16 fps shooting in Live View and robust, weather-sealed construction. Key pros include an upgraded 61-point AF system, excellent low-light performance up to ISO 6400, and professional-standard DCI 4K video recording at 60p with Dual Pixel CMOS AF. Conversely, the review notes significant cons, primarily the high cost, heavy weight, and large form factor suitable only for professional workflows. Further limitations include the lack of dual, matching memory card slots for efficient backups and limited touch functionality that does not support full menu navigation.

The Canon EOS-1D X Mark II is a professional-grade DSLR featuring a 20.2MP full-frame sensor and dual DIGIC 6+ processors, capable of 14fps continuous shooting (16fps in Live View). Key strengths include exceptional noise performance, a massive buffer for CFast 2.0 cards, and robust 4K 60/50p video capability. Conversely, the camera is noted for being heavy with a loud shutter and lacking built-in Wi-Fi. Furthermore, the 3.2-inch LCD has severely restricted touchscreen functionality, limited primarily to focusing, rather than navigation or image playback.

The PCMag review highlights the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II as a top-tier, durable flagship DSLR designed for high-speed performance, featuring a 14fps burst rate, dual card slots (CFast 2.0 and CompactFlash), and a robust 20MP full-frame sensor. Its strengths include a 61-point autofocus system, excellent high-ISO noise reduction, built-in GPS, and 4K video capability with Dual Pixel AF for smooth tracking. Conversely, the review notes drawbacks such as cropped 4K video recording, limited 1080p-only clean HDMI output, and the omission of built-in Wi-Fi. Further cons include limited 3.2-inch touch LCD functionality and shorter battery life compared to the Nikon D5 competitor.

The Imaging Resource Field Test Part I for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II highlights exceptional sports photography performance, driven by a 20.2-megapixel sensor and dual DIGIC 6+ processors achieving up to 14 fps, or 16 fps in Live View. A major strength is the advanced autofocus system, which delivers superb precision and tracking, particularly when utilizing customizable AF cases for erratic subjects. However, the review notes that laboratory testing fell slightly short of the advertised 16 fps in Live View, maxing out at roughly 14.3 fps. Furthermore, using older CompactFlash cards instead of required CFast 2.0 media results in significant buffer clearing times, and the rear LCD screen's touchscreen functionality is limited to specific live-view tasks, failing to offer full menu navigation.