Photography News Issue 30

Photography News Issue 30 absolutephoto.com

Preview

First look Canon EOS-1D XMark II It looks like an update to the EOS-1D X, but there’s more than subtle tweaks here. The Mark II is the fastest and most powerful DSLR yet from Canon, read on to see how it shapes up and turn to page 86 to find out how two users rate it

Specs

Price £5199 body only Sensor 20.2-megapixel, 35.9x23.9mm CMOS, 5472x3648 pixels Image processor Dual DIGIC 6+ Shutter range 30secs-1/8000sec, plus B Drivemodes One shot, AI servo AF Metering system 360,000 pixel RGB+IR metering sensor with 216 zones offering evaluative, partial (6.2%), spot, AF point linked spot, multi-spot and centre-weighted metering Exposuremodes Program AE, shutter-priority AE, aperture-priority AE, manual, bulb, custom x3 Exposure compensation +/-5 stops in ⅓ or ½ stop increments, AEB +/-3 stops in ⅓ or ½ stop increments Monitor 3.2in touchscreen Clear View LCD II with approx 1620k dots ISO range 100-51,200, expandable to 50 and 409,600 AF system/points 61 points – max of 41 cross-type AF points including 5 dual cross- type at f/2.8 and 21 cross-type at f/8. Number of cross-type points depends on the lens in use. AFworking range -3 To 18EV Depth-of-field preview Yes Flash sync 1/250sec Flash exposure compensation +/-3 stops in ⅓ increments with EX tracking for unlimited JPEGs and 170 images with CFast 2.0 card. Max 16fps in Live View mode with mirror locked up and exposure and AF locked in the first frame Video 4K (4096x2160 pixels) at 60p and 30p, Full HD (1920x1080 pixels) at 120p, 60p, 30p, 25p and 24p. Max duration of 29mins, 59secs Dimensions (wxhxd) 158x167.6x82.6mm Weight 1340g (body only) Contact canon.co.uk series Speedlites Max frame rate Approx 14fps with full AF/AE

Written by Roger Payne

For the past seven years, Canon and Nikon have been indulging in a very slow game of flagship DSLR tennis. In 2009, Nikon served up the D3s, with Canon then volleying the EOS-1D Mark IV back a matter of days after. The rally continued three years later when the Nikon D4 and Canon EOS-1D X hit the shelves and now, in 2016, shots have been fired again; first by Nikon with the D5 and now by Canon with the EOS- 1D X Mark II. While there’s little point in comparing the two models – chances are you’ll be a Nikon or Canon user with no intention to swap – it’s interesting to note how the two companies are refining their respective technologies to produce sharper, faster and – ultimately – better cameras. And Canon’s latest tweaks appear to have produced a DSLR that’s likely to moisten the palms of many. If you refer to the comparison panel (page 91) you’ll see that major changes from the EOS-1D X may, at first, appear quite subtle. But in much the same way that squeezing extra horsepower into an already high-performing supercar can involve extensive alterations to multiple components, finding extra frames-per-second and a more precise AF system is not simply a question of bolting in a new piece

of tech. These things take time, and in the years between the original 1D X being introduced and the Mark II version getting set to make its debut in May, Canon has clearly been keeping its designers busy. Sensor refinements So let’s start with the full-frame sensor, which on paper simply has a few more megapixels – 20.2 compared to 18.1 on the 1D X. But, in the spirit of the rest of the camera, there’s much more to it than that. Technically speaking, the dynamic range on the sensor remains unchanged, but now there’s reduced read and fixed pattern noise across the ISO range. The benefit of this comes in post-production where you can boost shadow areas without them becoming full of noise. So, if you tend to underexpose as a rule, or shoot in high contrast conditions, you should be able to recover shadow detail more easily. While post-production will help you get more from the shadows, there are some additional functions working hard to help you get better results straight from the camera and they could cut down your computer time. The original 1D X had peripheral brightness and chromatic aberration corrections to help iron out lens related issues

Canon’s latest tweaks appear to have produced a DSLR that’s likely to moisten the palms of many

in-camera and these have now been embellished with the distortion correction function from the EOS 7D Mark II and a new diffraction correction that should combat the drop in image quality when using smaller apertures. Lens correction functions that were previously only available through DPP – Canon’s proprietary Raw converter – have now been incorporated into the camera and can be applied either as JPEGs are shot or through in- camera Raw processing. In fact, it’s notable the amount of effort that’s been put into producing good JPEGs from the 1D X Mark II, which is presumably in response to many photo agencies now making it their file format of choice. Given this, it’s no surprise to see the Fine Detail Picture Style plucked from the EOS 5DS and 5DS R, which emphasises detail and gradation of tones; the new option of Ambience Priority white-balance, which

more easily eliminates the warmth from tungsten lighting; and Flicker detection that counteracts the subtle variances in light levels when shooting under artificial light. On a different note, but still sensor related, photographers who use the 1D X Mark II for extended times in hostile environments may also want to make use of the hot pixel remapping function, which is integrated into the sensor cleaning system options. This isn’t designed to cut down visits to your local Canon service centre, more to deal with the issue if you’re thousands of miles away from one. Use the camera for prolonged periods in hot climates and there is the chance the sensor could develop a hot pixel or two. With this function, you can remap the sensor to remove them so your shots aren’t affected. Look at it as the photographic equivalent of a run flat tyre. … continue reading on page 90.