Canon 1DX Mark II Image Quality ComparisonBelow are crops from our laboratory Still Life target comparing Canon 1DX Mark II image quality to its predecessor, the 1DX, as well as to its closest competitor, the Nikon D5. We've also included the Canon 7D Mark II and Nikon D500, since they offer the top frame rates currently available from pro-level Canon and Nikon APS-C DSLRs (10 fps), as well as the Samsung NX1, which is capable of 15 fps.NOTE: These images are from best quality JPEGs straight out of the camera, at default settings including noise reduction and using the camera's actual base ISO (not extended ISO settings). All cameras in this comparison were shot with our very sharp reference lenses. Clicking any crop will take you to a carrier page where you can click once again to access the full resolution image as delivered straight from the camera. For those interested in working with the RAW files involved, click these links to visit each camera's respective sample image thumbnail page:, and - links to the RAW files appear beneath those for the JPEG images, wherever we have them. And remember, you can always go to our world-renowned to compare the Canon 1DX Mark II to any camera we've ever tested! Canon 1D X Mark II vs Canon 1D X at Base ISO.
Despite some shortcomings the Nikkor AF-S 16-85mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR DX is still one of the best standard zooms available for Nikon crop cameras. It is very sharp throughout the range although there could be a little less field curvature (curved focus field) at 16mm. Photography-on-the.net Digital Photography Forums is the website for photographers and all who love great photos, camera and post processing techniques, gear talk, discussion and sharing. Professionals, hobbyists, newbies and those who don't even own a camera - all are welcome regardless of skill, favourite brand, gear, gender or age.
Nikon D5 at ISO 100Image quality from these two rivals is actually fairly close, with the Nikon producing an ever-so-slightly crisper image in some areas, thanks to a slightly tighter sharpening radius and higher contrast, while the 1DX II appears sharper in others. Interestingly, the 1DX II shows a slightly higher amount of aliasing artifacts, which indicates it has a fairly weak AA filter. Colors from the Nikon are a touch warmer as well, but otherwise image quality is quite comparable here at base ISO.Canon 1D X Mark II vs Nikon D500 at Base ISO. Samsung NX1 at ISO 100We decided to include the Samsung NX1 in this comparison because it is able to shoot at 15 frames per second and it has one of the best performing APS-C sensors to date.
The resolution advantage of the 28-megapixel Samsung NX1 is easy to see here at ISO 100, as well as are much stronger aliasing artifacts, though sharpening halos are a little less obtrusive than the Canon's. Noise levels are similar, no doubt due to stronger noise reduction given the 1DX Mark II's pixel pitch is about 80% larger than the NX1's, but color and saturation are better from the Canon.Canon 1D X Mark II vs Canon 1D X at ISO 1600. Samsung NX1 at ISO 3200The Samsung NX1 is working hard to keep noise under control here at 3200, but it can only do so much with a noisier sensor. The Canon 1DX II clearly outperforms it here in all respects, except in high-contrast areas.Canon 1D X Mark II vs. Canon 1D X, Canon 7D Mark II, Nikon D5, Nikon D500, Samsung NX1Canon1D X Mark IIISO 100ISO 3200ISO 6400Canon1D XISO 100ISO 3200ISO 6400Canon7D Mark IIISO 100ISO 3200ISO 6400NikonD5ISO 100ISO 3200ISO 6400NikonD500ISO 100ISO 3200ISO 6400SamsungNX1ISO 100ISO 3200ISO 6400Detail comparison. High-contrast detail is also important, pushing the camera in different ways, so we like to look at it, too.
Here, all cameras in this group do well at base ISO, though the higher-resolution Samsung NX1 is able to resolve more detail, though its contrast is the lowest. As expected, the full-frame models hold up the best as ISO rises. The 1DX Mark II does do a bit better than its predecessor, but nothing to write home about. The Nikons offer the highest contrast of the group, with surprisingly little difference between the full-frame D5 and sub-frame D500. The 7D Mark II trails the pack at higher ISOs, in both detail and contrast.Canon 1DX Mark II Print Quality AnalysisHigh-quality prints up to 30 x 40 inches at ISO 50-400; Nice 8 x 10 inch prints all the way up to ISO 25,600; and a 4 x 6 inch print just squeaks by at ISO 102,400.ISO 50/100/200/400 prints all look practically identical and altogether quite excellent up to a whopping 30 x 40 inches and beyond.
Despite its 20-megapixel sensor, the Canon 1DX II is capable of making impressively large prints. At 30 x 40 inches, slight pixelation is visible upon close inspection, but at a normal viewing distance for prints of this size, they look great. Colors are very rich in this range of ISOs, as expected. We saw an ever-so-slight softening of very minute details in the ISO 400 30 x 40 inch print, but not to a degree as to impact print size, in our eyes.ISO 800 images show just a hint more noise, but it's mostly confined to the shadows - and even then, it's very minimal. Prints up to a sizable 24 x 36 inches are still very good, with lovely fine detail.ISO 1600 prints look very similar to ISO 800 ones, with only a bit more shadow noise.
Fine details are still crisp, and colors are vibrant and saturated. As such, we're happy to call the print size at 24 x 36 inches here as well, as the subtle increase in noise does not impact print quality all that much.ISO 3200 images begin to display a slight drop in detail due to noise, though not to a very significant degree. The noise itself is increasingly visible in the shadows. Still, the camera is able to make nice, large prints up to 20 x 30 inches.ISO 6400 prints show a bit too much noise for us to confidently call them at 16 x 20 inches, so we're playing it safe at 13 x 19 inches. A 16 x 20 inch print could certainly be used for less critical applications.ISO 12,800 images display stronger, more visible noise, but detail overall, up to an 11 x 14 inch print, looks very good.
Again, for less critical applications, you might be able to get away with bumping the print size up by one.ISO 25,600 prints top out at 8 x 10 inches, as noise has become quite strong reducing fine detail at larger sizes.ISO 51,200 images appear surprisingly clean when you stop at 5 x 7 inch prints. Noise, otherwise, is very much an issue at this ISO level, however colors still appear quite vibrant in our test prints.ISO 102,400 prints are very noisy, but the 1DX II manages a usable 4 x 6 inch print. Any larger, noise and a lack of fine detail are very problematic.ISO 204,800/409,600 images, while perhaps useful if you simply need to 'get the shot,' are just too noisy and lacking in fine detail for print making.The Canon 1DX Mark II manages a fantastic showing in our print department, despite packing a modest 20-megapixel full-frame sensor that's obviously designed for speed rather than resolution. It certainly won't get any awards for sheer resolving power, considering the 36-50-megapixel full-frame cameras out there today, but it nevertheless manages some surprisingly large prints - up to at least 30 x 40 inches - at up to ISO 400. As ISO sensitivity rises, the 1DX II remains thoroughly impressive, even managing a nice 11 x 14 inch print all the way up to ISO 12,800.
Even when the ISO reaches six digits, the Canon 1DX II is able to make a usable print, a 4 x 6 at ISO 102,400. However, the top two ISOs beyond this should be avoided for prints, as they are just too noisy.