Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera latest specs - Announcement first week of February

Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera

* * *  Check out the videos on this amazing Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera  * * *

I am still on my Patagonia Photo Tour in South America. You can follow my trip on Facebook and Twitter. Will return home next week just in time for the official announcement of the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II.

The following is the latest specifications on the much anticipated camera. As usual, Canon has apparently chosen not to introduce their latest DIGIC 7 processor on their top-of-the-line DSLR. The new processor will probably make its first appearance on a PowerShot camera, just like the DIGIC 6.
At first glance, the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II specifications may not look as flashy as the new Nikon D5, especially the AF points and ISO numbers but I caution my readers not to just compare numbers since the Nikon figures are primarily designed to catch the eyes of photographic magazine writers and make a splash.

Once the new camera arrives, I will take it on a few real world photo shoots around the globe and put it through some rigorous tests. I expect it to be evolutionary better than the EOS-1D X, which I have picked as the best full frame DSLR for sports and wildlife photography four years in a row.
You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com 

Latest specs on Canon EOS-1D X Mark II camera :

• 20.2MP CMOS sensor. Dynamic range improvement 
• Dual pixel CMOS AF 
• Dual DIGIC6 + processor 
• ISO 100-51200 (expanded in 409600) 
• Continuous shooting of 14 frames / sec. 16 frames / second in the live view mode 
• New mirror drive system that enables high-speed continuous shooting 
• Continuous shooting The number of storable RAW at 170 frames (at 16 frames / sec.). Unlimited in JPEG 
• 61-point AF system, which range is expanded. 41-point cross-type 
• AF is -3EV correspondence 
• With lighting AF point red
• AI AF accuracy and motion tracking has improved Servo AF III +
• 360000 dot photometric sensor. EOS iSA. EOS iTR
• 0.76 times the viewfinder magnification. 100% field of view
• Video 4K 60fps. Full HD120fps. 4K video can be recorded in internal CFast2.0 media
• Movie Servo AF
• LCD monitor 3.2 inches, 1.62 million dots. Touch panel.
• Camera digital lens Optimizer (DLO). Lens aberration correction. Diffraction correction
• CFast2.0 and compact flash of dual card slot
• GPS built-in
• 2-axis electronic level
• USB3.0 terminal, HDMI terminal
• W-FI option (WFT-E8A)
• The size of 158mm x 167.6mm x 82.6mm
• Weight 1340g
• List price - about $6,000 in the USA

Trick Or Treat - Canon EOS-1DX vs EOS-1DX2

Canon EOS-1D X full frame camera

* * *  I'm off on a Polar Bear Photo Tour. Will connect if possible  * * *

The current EOS-1D X camera has been my pick as the best full frame DSLR camera for sports and wildlife photography three years in a row. According to the latest information I have received, the long awaited EOS-1D X Mark II model will most probably be equipped with 4K video. The expected delivery date will be end of Q1, 2016. Should one wait for the new model or buy the current camera? I expect the replacement model to be priced just below $7,000.

Of course, not everyone needs and wants the latest and greatest equipment. The current EOS-1D X is an excellent camera and during Halloween, the factory refurbished camera is selling for $3,603 at the Canon Store (save 15% by using coupon code JACKOLANTERN when checking out) and comes with one year warranty from Canon.

As my readers know, I do not accept any ads or commission from any company and I am NOT endorsing the Canon Store but before you recoil at buying refurbished equipment, read my earlier post on buying and selling used gear. This is more of a treat than a trick for those who want to trade up to the top-of-the-line full frame camera. You can see my equipment bag and works on MichaelDanielHo.com.

Wildlife Photography - Photo Tour in South Africa

* * *  Read the latest post on my South African photo tour  * * *

I will be off on a safari photo shoot in South Africa. My journey takes me to Kruger National Park and several neighboring game reserves. Kruger is one of the largest national parks in Africa, with an area of about 7,600 square miles. That is larger than a few states in the New England region of the U.S. The reserves south of Kruger National Park, especially the area of Sabi Sand and Mala Mala are famous for its populations of Leopards and Cheetahs.

The park and surrounding reserves are excellent places to capture 'Big Five' images of Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos and Cape Buffaloes plus Giraffes, Zebras, Cheetahs, Hippos and many more. There are also hundreds of species of birds to marvel and photograph for the ornithologist in many of us.

The area is characterized as ‘savanna bushveld’ with 6 different landscape types : acacia woodland, open woodland, mopane woodland, combretum woodland, mixed combretum woodland and mixed veld. The critically endangered African wild dog is also a regular visitor to the Reserve. The larger and rarer antelopes such as Roan, Eland and Tsessebe may also be seen but their numbers are still critically low.

In the last few years, I have been keeping things simple and down sizing the equipment I bring on wildlife photo shoots. My safari equipment bag will have the EOS-7D Mk II , EOS-1D X , EF 400mm f/4 DO IS II , EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II , EF 16-35mm f/2.8L II , EF 1.4x III Extender and the usual accessories of filters, spare memory cards and batteries.

While I am away, the big, once-every-five-year, Canon EXPO 2015 will be taking place in New York and Paris. Sorry I have to miss this event and the Canon EOS-5D Mk IV and EOS-1D X Mk II may be mentioned during the show. I will try and make a few blog posts and keep you abreast of any breaking photography news. time and energy permitting. In the meantime, you can visit my website MichaelDanielHo.com to see more wildlife photos from my previous trips.

The World's Sharpest Super Telephoto Zoom Lens?

Subsequent to this article written in 2013, I have taken this lens on worldwide photo shoots and it keeps on impressing me every time I use it. Visit MichaelDanielHo.com to see the latest wildlife images taken with this amazing piece of glass. 

Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM extender 1.4x lens

I have taken delivery of the Canon EF 200-400mm f/4L IS USM Extender 1.4x lens and went out for some test shots. The lens is, in one word, Impressive! I dropped in on the zoo over the weekend. It was hot and after lugging the lens and tripod around for a whole day, I was tired and sweaty. On my way out, I came across the Chimpanzee exhibit. From a distance, these two really bored Chimps caught my eye because they looked like they were in worse shape than me. I took the camera off the tripod and fired off a few shots.

What, Me Bored?

Bad Hair Day

The above photos were taken with the EF 200-400mm and the EOS-1D X camera. The Chimp shot was taken handheld from about 100 feet away, @ f/4, 400mm, IS Mode 1, AI Servo. The Victoria Crowned Crane was also taken handheld from about 40 feet with the built-in 1.4x extender switched on, @ f/5.6 400mm, IS Mode 1, AI Servo. The image quality of the 100% crop photos are especially impressive. Can you imagine if I had use the tripod? You can read my reviews of the lens and camera on my website. Keep checking back for more photos and reviews as I return from my wildlife photo shoots.

MichaelDanielHo.com