1DX mk1 over 5D3

I have a 5D3 and shoot sport most of the time, rugby, soccer, hockey etc. These are often shot in low light, terrible conditions at times, no floodlights 10,000 ISO at 16.00 hrs.

Because the 1DX is THE sports camera, I have a strong desire to own one.

However, I am confused as to what it can do for me. The two areas it has, I feel would improve my shooting are the much faster shutter rate and the IQ at high ISO.

What confuses me me, is that I see photos posted from the 1DX that look better than mine with the 5D3, although allegedly the IQ from the 5D3 is superior.

So, does the 1DX produce better shots than the 5D3?

Thank you.

I find the IQ of the 1DX to be a bit better than the 5D3 to start with, and holds up much better after processing if you are having to crop much, as is usually the case with sports.

Not to mention the much better buffer. And the speed of clearing the buffer. I shot a little kids sport event the other day with my 5D3 for kicks and had forgotten just how long it takes to finish writing a burst to the cards. Felt like forever waiting for that red light to go off. The 1DX is done almost as soon as you finish the burst.

Add to all this the ergonomics of the 1D bodies and I would never shoot mostly sports with a 5D3 instead.

Also don't forget when looking at sports photos, the glass can make a huge difference. There is certainly a different look to photos taken with a 400 2.8 on FF compared with a 70-200 on a crop body or with an extender.

Thanks, I too have thought the 1DX has a better IQ than the 5D3, which is something I didn't expect.

Looks like I'm going to find my bit of plastic!

The increased shutter speed will be a big benefit. You're right about the glass, I think I am okay there, I use a 300mm 2.8 II and the 70-200 II mostly. I've been thinking about a wider angle lens for some different shots, I've got a 24 - 105 but was thinking of something wider, not sure what.

I owned a 5d3 and sold it when I acquired a 1DX. For me the better focus acquisition and frame rate make the 1DX a superior sports camera than the 5D3.

I had the 5D3, gripped, for a couple of years and used it for all of my HS sports and some minor league teams with no issues. I later sold it for the 1Dx and it blew me away. Both are great cameras but the X is better in every way already mentioned. Good luck!

Dj Silver wrote in post #18079279
I have a 5D3 and shoot sport most of the time, rugby, soccer, hockey etc. These are often shot in low light, terrible conditions at times, no floodlights 10,000 ISO at 16.00 hrs.

Dj Silver wrote in post #18079279
However, I am confused as to what it can do for me.

5D3 = 6 fps
1DX = 12 fps

Dj Silver wrote in post #18079279
allegedly the IQ from the 5D3 is superior.

That is not true except that the 5D3 has a little bit more resolution; 22MP vs 18MP. We experience resolution mostly in a linear, 1-dimensional way, so the real difference is sqrt(22/18) = 1.1055 = about 10.6% more resolution; something 100 pixels wide on the 1Dx is about 111 pixels wide on the 5D3.

Of course, being newer, the 5D3 may have some firmware features the 1Dx doesn't have.

Dj Silver wrote in post #18080176
Thanks, I too have thought the 1DX has a better IQ than the 5D3, which is something I didn't expect.

The 5D3 may show better base-ISO DR on paper by some calculations, but such calculations ignore the fact that the 5D3 has more banding in the noise, which is much more visible than random 2D noise, but does not show up in simplistic noise measurements. At high ISOs, the 5D3 also has more banding, and at least a 1/2 stop more quantitative read noise.

Thanks again to you guys.

Here is a shot where I missed the 'money shot'. I'm sure if I had been using the 1DX I would have got the shot.
I'm not one who approaches games with a scatter gun but I do like the idea of increasing the chances of nailing a shot.

The spots are midges not dust.

I covered a christening of a 9 month old yesterday with my 5D3 gripped I kept the 1DX as back up in the bag. The 5D3 gives me slightly richer colours but there are a few things that differentiate the two cameras for me.

The 1DX never misses focuss. I missed one yesterday and it shouldn't have done (the 5D3).

The jpegs out of the 5D3 are richer, more depth.

I have the grip set up on the 5D3 identical to the 1DX but the 5D3 just has slightly more sharper angle to the grip and feels very nice to hold for hours on end. The 1DX can start to feel heavy after about four-five hours.

The 1DX is fast, very fast both in frame rate and focussing. It does perform better than the 5D3 with fill flash mostly but that's maybe something I'm particular to. I use all the Canon speedlites.

The 5D3 is quiet. Both in the stard shooting mode and slilent mode. In church tripping a 1-series shutter is akin to slamming a barn door ... I have put off a few lay readers of elderly years in the past with my 1-series.

Both have their place for me and I'm not selling the 5D3 regardless the 1DX is superior in most but not all ways.

LincsRP wrote in post #18083843
The 5D3 is quiet. Both in the stard shooting mode and slilent mode. In church tripping a 1-series shutter is akin to slamming a barn door ...
Both have their place for me and I'm not selling the 5D3 regardless the 1DX is superior in most but not all ways.

My sentiment exactly. The 5D3 would have been sold a long time ago except for the silent shutter, which has been needed during theater performances, music concerts, etc. In all other regards, it simply doesn't compare to my 1D X for the type of photography I shoot (mostly sports).

LincsRP wrote in post #18083843
I covered a christening of a 9 month old yesterday with my 5D3 gripped I kept the 1DX as back up in the bag. The 5D3 gives me slightly richer colours but there are a few things that differentiate the two cameras for me.

The 1DX never misses focus. I missed one yesterday and it shouldn't have done (the 5D3).

The jpegs out of the 5D3 are richer, more depth.

I have the grip set up on the 5D3 identical to the 1DX but the 5D3 just has slightly more sharper angle to the grip and feels very nice to hold for hours on end. The 1DX can start to feel heavy after about four-five hours.

The 1DX is fast, very fast both in frame rate and focussing. It does perform better than the 5D3 with fill flash mostly but that's maybe something I'm particular to. I use all the Canon speedlites.

The 5D3 is quiet. Both in the standard shooting mode and slilent mode. In church tripping a 1-series shutter is akin to slamming a barn door ... I have put off a few lay readers of elderly years in the past with my 1-series.

Both have their place for me and I'm not selling the 5D3 regardless the 1DX is superior in most but not all ways.

Interesting about the focusing of the 1DX. I am the official tog of Bournemouth RFC and no doubt you'll appreciate it's lot of bodies close together, getting the right one is crucial.

Dj Silver wrote in post #18084648
Interesting about the focusing of the 1DX. I am the official tog of Bournemouth RFC and no doubt you'll appreciate it's lot of bodies close together, getting the right one is crucial.

If I was shooting RFC I'd be choosing the 1DX. A 1Div wouldn't be a bad choice tho ... I still use mine perhaps 90% of the time as there's reach with the 1.3 crop.

Thanks again all.

Mind made up, 1DX it is. Need to get the funds together.

You won't regret it.