1Dx image quality compared to 6D..

First of all let me say that I know the 1DX is in a different league and not comparable to the 6D....
What I am interested to know is the difference in detail in the image files..
I shoot with a 6D at the moment but have got really interested in wildlife and small birds.. The 6D produces some lovely images but as we all know the AF isn't marvelous for faster moving stuff. I am either going to get a 1Dx or 5DIII, preferably the 1DX..
I am a bit of a pixel peeper and was concerned about the drop in megapixels as the 1DX is 18 MP compared to the 6D at 20.2 MP. If the drop in megapixels makes that much difference maybe the 5DIII might be better for me...
Help and advice is much appreciated...

I shoot with both, and I really don't see any difference in IQ. The 6D has cleaner ISO when cracked up and white balance temps might be a little different (6D looks a bit warmer when set at the same kelvin) but you'll be hard pressed to find any IQ drops within the 2MP difference.

Center AF point on the 6D can keep up and has saved my butt on many occasions when shooting weddings in low light.

At that level all of the full frame cameras are nearly indistinguishable in terms of IQ. It really comes down, to features and controls

Heya,

The 1DX has better ISO, while having all the features of a sports/action camera.

You will not see an appreciable difference below ISO 3200 in image quality, nor going from 20MP to 18MP, you crop most of that 2MP difference out anyways most likely, and it's just not enough to matter.

1DX vs 5D3, so similar, yet the 1DX wins in high ISO. As it should. But they're otherwise so similar in the other areas that you'd be hard pressed to really see a difference.

The key difference between them would be build (1DX favored) and the compromise is size & weight.

I'm curious, however, why you're not considering the 5DS? You get the pixel density advantage for smaller birds (more pixels on the detail of the target), it has the same and better tech as the 5D3 and you will not appcreciate a difference in ISO from the 5D3, 6D and 5DS for birding.

If you live at ISO 12,800 and need 14 FPS, then the 1DX is the camera to get.

If you're not shooting more than 4~5 FPS, shooting at ISO 3200 or less, I'd get the 5DS for birding and the landscape you do.

As you mentioned, you're after detail and pixels, that's going to come by having more pixels on target, so higher resolution is probably the better way to go for you. It has the advanced AF features you'll want, so it's a no brainer to me.

Very best,

gonzogolf wrote in post #17952169
At that level all of the full frame cameras are nearly indistinguishable in terms of IQ. It really comes down, to features and controls

That's what I was hoping.... It's the better AF and fps that I need.
I'd really like the 1Dx, it just depends if I can justify the cost as I only do photography as a hobby..
Thanks for your input..

Thanks.... I hadn't even considered the 5DS but what you say makes total sense. I am not familiar with the AF system in the 5DS or the fps, so I will do some research.. More pixels on target would definitely be the way to go...
Thanks again..

I never used 6d but I used to have 5D3 for years and currently using 1Dx, and IMO, in term of IQ, 5D3 is slightly better and sharper than 1Dx. To be honest I kinda regret replacing my 5D3 with 1Dx. The reason I replaced it was because of nostalgia of having 1D body. I totally missed that .

In term of AF, 5D3 was extremely good, I shoot tons of BIF, and not only big birds, but smaller ones too like Swallows, Red-Winged black bird, etc.

For AF, both cameras are similar, and for BIF, 6 fps is more than enough.

And IMO, 5D3 is COMPARABLE to 1DX except the build quality. Again, this is my opinion and for my style of shooting.

My suggestion is, get the 5D3, it's more than capable of shooting wildlife/birds and landscape and spend the rest of money for better lenses.

5D3 is certainly a very capable and well proven camera and is a strong contender....
Thanks..

6D is a little better than the 1Dx at low ISO, a little worse at the high end. 5D3 is just a touch below them. You'd have to do precision measurements with a test chart to see any visible difference between them in IQ - unless you prefer to shoot JPEG-only, in which case it comes down to the in-camera processing and not the actual sensor.

If you're concerned about thermal noise and banding, the 6D wins, hands down.

http://www.clarkvision​.com …tion-canon-1dx/index.html
http://www.clarkvision​.com …ation-canon-6d/index.html
http://www.clarkvision​.com …on-canon-5diii/index.html

May want to also check out the 7D2.. Look over the thread with wildlife/bird images on that thread. It is also a very capable camera, and may be an excellent pairing with your 6D.

Not interested in a crop sensor...... Thanks anyway.

Why not? The 6D/7D2 combo is pretty sweet.

don1163 wrote in post #17952340
Not interested in a crop sensor...... Thanks anyway.

I use a 1DX and recommend it highly. If conditions are not too challenging then the 6D and 5D3 will reward you with excellent images that are every bit as good. The thing about the 1Dx is that it will get you usable images when most other cameras are struggling/failing.

I love the 6D but, to me, it is a landscape/general photography camera - and very good at it too!

The 5D3 is still probably the ultimate all rounder as it is very competent/good at everything - no mean feat!

The 1DX is the one to get if you simply must get the image under adverse conditions whilst using it to beat off invading Vikings! If that's what you want then it will do the job! The 1DX shows it's superiority in speed and responsiveness - IQ is about the same as the others most of the time.

You discount the 7D2 due to it's crop sensor yet you say that you want to shoot small birds. I would, politely, suggest that you reconsider. Back at the beginning of December 2015 I bought a 7D2 as a backup (to my 1DX) and as a travel camera. I have been very surprised at how good it is - remember I am comparing it to the 1DX. The AF is remarkably good, overall not quite as good as the 1DX, but occasionally better on distant subjects. No the 7D2 is not the high ISO king but 3200 ISO is more than usable and higher if you use NR. The 7D2 does not crop well, certainly nowhere near as well as the 1DX, but then it doesn't have to given it's narrower field of view. It does give more "Reach" but not as much as the crop factor would suggest due to the poorer cropping, though it does give more which is very handy on small birds!

My primary lens is the Canon 800 F5.6 L IS and even this can get a bit short at times! A 7D2 will give you the same field of view from your 500 - and still be an F4 lens, something to be considered.

Overall the 1DX is a better camera, but the 7D2 is very good and much cheaper and with your 500mm it is well worth considering before you decide.
Happy shopping!

panicatnabisco wrote in post #17952159
Center AF point on the 6D can keep up and has saved my butt on many occasions when shooting weddings in low light.

This cannot be stressed enough.

When it comes to low light situations, the 6D has better AF than possibly any other Canon camera.

The 7d2 and other announced bodies match the 6d in low light AF.