Last Updated on 09/23/2019 by Mark Beckenbach
The Canon 1DX MK III is going to be a massive release, but will it be the final nail in the DSLR coffin.
2020 is going to be a gigantic year for camera manufacturers because of the Olympics. Nikon has stated they are working on the new Nikon D6, and the Sony A9 II seems to be taking shape nicely as well. That just leaves Canon. Canon’s last pro body camera, the 1Dx Mk II was released three years ago: to say it is due an update is an understatement. If recent reports are reliable the Canon 1DX MK III will grace us with it’s DSLR presence soon, but will it be the last DSLR from Canon? Let’s talk about this after the break!
A recent report from the guys and gals over at Canon Rumors has suggested that Canon’s monster DSLR will be hitting stores just in time for the 2020 Olympics. This should come as no surprise to anyone. Canon and Nikon have been making significant releases in conjunction with the Olympics for years. The Olympics give them a great platform to get their latest and greatest into the hands of professional sports shooters. Could this be the last time that those photographers get handed a DSLR version of the 1DX though?
The supposed spec sheet of the Canon 1DX MK III is very impressive. If the noise is true, it will give the upcoming Nikon D6 and possibly even the Sony A9 II a serious run for their money. The Canon 1DX MK II will apparently feature Dual CFExpress card slots, 6K recording capabilities, a new Digic processor, and a much more powerful sensor than the 20 Megapixel one found in the 1DX Mk II, IBIS. This all sounds great, and if true, we have no doubt it will last years for pros out in the field.
Again though, the question is, will this be the last DSLR we see from Canon? I have to be honest here and say no, I don’t believe it will be. We have been seeing reports about Canon working on IBIS for both Mirrorless and DSLR cameras for months. Creating a whole new IBIS system to be used in just one new potential DSLR seems a little extreme. This tells me we will likely see more DSLR’s from Canon in the future that will co-exist alongside their Mirrorless counterparts. This only rings true if the noise about DSLR IBIS implementation is real.
There’s simply too much to leave on the table when it comes to ditching DSLR cameras. A considerable percentage of photographers haven’t yet warmed to the idea of Mirrorless. The technology is still in its infancy, and a lot of working professionals are waiting for all of the kinks to be ironed out before they make the switch.
As we’ve seen with the 90D, Canon still plans to dabble with DSLR’s. There’s no reason to believe they are going to ditch the technology anytime soon. Until Canon and Nikon make their RF and Z lens libraries significantly more substantial, the desire to jump to the new platforms will not increase. The Canon 1DX MK III might signify the last professional body DSLR from Canon, but it will not be the absolute last DSLR they make. What do you think about the Canon 1DX MK III? Lets us know in the comment section below.
