Canon EOS-1D X Official: $6.8k 18MP DSLR Due March 2012

Canon has revealed its latest DSLR, the Canon EOS-1D X, an 18-megapixel camera packing dual DIGIC 5+ processors and Full HD video recording. Weatherproof and targeting professional photographers, the EOS-1D X replaces Canon's existing EOS-1Ds Mark III and EOS-1D Mark IV DSLRs, adding 61-Point High Density Reticular AF, 14-bit A/D data conversion and 12fps continuous shooting at full resolution (in JPEG mode).

There's also a new Multiple Exposure feature, which captures up to nine shots and combines them into a composite image with the best elements of each, all in-camera. It's also possible to use the same system with a previously-taken RAW image file. Phase detection AF and face-detection are both supported, and exposure is controlled using a huge 252 zones for general metering or 35 zones for low-light metering.

The regular ISO range is 100 to 51,200, but the EOS-1D X offers ISO 50 and 102,400 at H1 and 204,800 at H2 for specialist use. Canon has reworked the UI, including shifting some of the physical controls around and streamlining the menus; for instance, the AF functions now get their own tabs.

Connectivity includes an integrated gigabit ethernet port, HDMI, dual CF card slots, USB and audio input. However there are also two new accessory dongles, the Canon WFT-E6A Wireless File Transmitter for adding a WiFi b/g/n connection to the camera for wirelessly offloading new images, and the Canon GP-E1 GPS Receiver, which adds latitude, longitude, elevation, UTC and camera direction information to each shot.

The Canon EOS-1D X will go on sale in March 2012, priced at $6,800. The Wireless File Transmitter will arrive at the same time, at around $600, while the GPS Receiver will follow on in April 2012, priced at around $300.