Canon 1D Mark II N vs 1DX Mark III

The Canon EOS-1D Mark II N and the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III are two professional cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in August 2005 and January 2020. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are based on an APS-H (1D Mark II N) and a full frame (1DX Mark III) sensor. The 1D Mark II N has a resolution of 8.2 megapixels, whereas the 1DX Mark III provides 20 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon 1D Mark II N		Canon 1D X Mark III
Digital single lens reflex		Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses		Canon EF mount lenses
8.2 MP – APS-H sensor		20 MP – Full Frame sensor
no Video		4K/60p Video
ISO 100-1,600 (50 - 3,200)		ISO 100-102,400 (50 - 819,200)
Optical viewfinder		Optical viewfinder
2.5" LCD – 230k dots		3.2" LCD – 2100k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed touchscreen
8.5 shutter flaps per second		20 shutter flaps per second
Weathersealed body		Weathersealed body
1200 shots per battery charge		2850 shots per battery charge
156 x 158 x 80 mm, 1565 g		158 x 168 x 83 mm, 1440 g

Check 1D Mark II N offers at
ebay.com
Check 1DX Mark III price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS-1D Mark II N and the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon 1D Mark II N and the Canon 1D X Mark III are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon 1D X Mark III is notably larger (8 percent) than the Canon 1D Mark II N. However, the 1DX Mark III is markedly lighter (8 percent) than the 1D Mark II N. In this context, it is worth noting that both cameras are splash and dust-proof and can, hence, be used in inclement weather conditions or harsh environments.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. A larger imaging sensor (as in the 1DX Mark III) will tend to go along with bigger and heavier lenses, while more compact options are available for the smaller-sensor camera (1D Mark II N). You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the 1D Mark II N gets 1200 shots out of its Canon NP-E3 battery, while the 1DX Mark III can take 2850 images on a single charge of its Canon LP-E19 power pack. As can be seen in the images above, both cameras have a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 1D Mark II N	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1565 g	1200	Y	Aug 2005	3,999	ebay.com
2.		Canon 1D X Mark III	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1440 g	2850	Y	Jan 2020	6,499	amazon.com
3.		Canon 1D	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1585 g	500	Y	Sep 2001	6,499	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1D Mark II	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1535 g	1200	Y	Jan 2004	4,499	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1D Mark III	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1155 g	2200	Y	Feb 2007	4,499	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	156 mm	157 mm	80 mm	1230 g	1500	Y	Oct 2009	4,999	ebay.com
7.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	156 mm	158 mm	80 mm	1215 g	1200	Y	Sep 2004	7,999	ebay.com
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	150 mm	160 mm	80 mm	1385 g	1800	Y	Aug 2007	7,999	ebay.com
9.		Canon 1D X	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1551 g	1120	Y	Oct 2011	6,799	ebay.com
10.		Canon 1D X Mark II	158 mm	168 mm	83 mm	1530 g	1210	Y	Feb 2016	5,999	ebay.com
11.		Canon 5D	152 mm	113 mm	75 mm	895 g	400	Y	Aug 2005	3,299	ebay.com
12.		Canon 5D Mark II	152 mm	114 mm	75 mm	850 g	850	Y	Sep 2008	3,499	ebay.com
13.		Canon 5D Mark III	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	950 g	950	Y	Mar 2012	3,499	ebay.com
14.		Canon 5D Mark IV	151 mm	116 mm	76 mm	890 g	900	Y	Aug 2016	3,499	amazon.com
15.		Canon 5DS	152 mm	116 mm	76 mm	930 g	700	Y	Feb 2015	3,699	ebay.com
16.		Canon 6D	145 mm	111 mm	71 mm	770 g	1090	Y	Sep 2012	2,099	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The 1D Mark II N was launched at a markedly lower price (by 38 percent) than the 1DX Mark III, which puts it into a different market segment. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon 1D Mark II N features an APS-H sensor and the Canon 1D X Mark III a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the 1DX Mark III is 58 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.3 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the 1DX Mark III uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC X) than the 1D Mark II N (DIGIC II), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

With 20MP, the 1DX Mark III offers a higher resolution than the 1D Mark II N (8.2MP), but the 1DX Mark III has smaller individual pixels (pixel pitch of 6.57μm versus 8.17μm for the 1D Mark II N). Yet, the 1DX Mark III is a much more recent model (by 14 years and 4 months) than the 1D Mark II N, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 1D X Mark III implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 1DX Mark III for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon 1D Mark II N are 17.5 x 11.7 inches or 44.5 x 29.7 cm for good quality, 14 x 9.3 inches or 35.6 x 23.7 cm for very good quality, and 11.7 x 7.8 inches or 29.7 x 19.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

The 1DX Mark III has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Canon EOS-1D Mark II N has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 1600, which can be extended to ISO 50-3200. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III are ISO 100 to ISO 102400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 50-819200.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the 1DX Mark III offers substantially better image quality than the 1D Mark II N (overall score 25 points higher). The advantage is based on 1.9 bits higher color depth, 3.3 EV in additional dynamic range, and 1.7 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon 1D Mark II N	APS-H	8.2	3504	2336	none	22.3	11.2	975	66
2.		Canon 1D X Mark III	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4K/60p	24.2	14.5	3248	91
3.		Canon 1D	APS-H	4.1	2496	1662	none	..	..	..	..
4.		Canon 1D Mark II	APS-H	8.2	3504	2336	none	22.3	11.1	1003	66
5.		Canon 1D Mark III	APS-H	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.7	11.7	1078	71
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	APS-H	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	22.8	12.0	1320	74
7.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	Full Frame	16.6	4992	3328	none	23.3	11.3	1480	74
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Full Frame	21.0	5616	3744	none	24.0	12.0	1663	80
9.		Canon 1D X	Full Frame	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	23.8	11.8	2786	82
10.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	4K/60p	24.1	13.5	3207	88
11.		Canon 5D	Full Frame	12.7	4368	2912	none	22.9	11.1	1368	71
12.		Canon 5D Mark II	Full Frame	21.0	5616	3744	1080/30p	23.7	11.9	1815	79
13.		Canon 5D Mark III	Full Frame	22.1	5760	3840	1080/30p	24.0	11.7	2293	81
14.		Canon 5D Mark IV	Full Frame	30.1	6720	4480	4K/30p	24.8	13.6	2995	91
15.		Canon 5DS	Full Frame	50.3	8688	5792	1080/30p	24.7	12.4	2381	87
16.		Canon 6D	Full Frame	20.0	5472	3648	1080/30p	23.8	12.1	2340	82

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The 1DX Mark III indeed provides for movie recording, while the 1D Mark II N does not. The highest resolution format that the 1DX Mark III can use is 4K/60p.

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 1D Mark II N and the 1DX Mark III are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (100%), but the viewfinder of the 1DX Mark III has a higher magnification than the one of the 1D Mark II N (0.76x vs 0.55x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 1D Mark II N and Canon 1D X Mark III along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon 1D Mark II N	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.5/s	n	n
2.		Canon 1D X Mark III	optical	Y	3.2 / 2100	fixed	Y	1/8000s	20.0/s	n	n
3.		Canon 1D	optical	Y	2.0 / 120	fixed	n	1/16000s	8.0/s	n	n
4.		Canon 1D Mark II	optical	Y	2.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	8.3/s	n	n
5.		Canon 1D Mark III	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	10.0/s	n	n
7.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	optical	Y	2.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	4.0/s	n	n
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	optical	Y	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
9.		Canon 1D X	optical	Y	3.2 / 1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	14.0/s	n	n
10.		Canon 1D X Mark II	optical	Y	3.2 / 1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	16.0/s	n	n
11.		Canon 5D	optical	Y	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.0/s	n	n
12.		Canon 5D Mark II	optical	Y	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/8000s	3.9/s	n	n
13.		Canon 5D Mark III	optical	Y	3.2 / 1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0/s	n	n
14.		Canon 5D Mark IV	optical	Y	3.2 / 1620	fixed	Y	1/8000s	7.0/s	n	n
15.		Canon 5DS	optical	Y	3.2 / 1040	fixed	n	1/8000s	5.0/s	n	n
16.		Canon 6D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.5/s	n	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The 1DX Mark III has a touchscreen, while the 1D Mark II N has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The Canon 1D X Mark III has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The 1D Mark II N writes its imaging data to Compact Flash or SD cards, while the 1DX Mark III uses CFexpress (type B) cards. Both cameras feature dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS-1D Mark II N and Canon EOS-1D X Mark III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 1D Mark II N	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
2.		Canon 1D X Mark III	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.1	Y	-	Y
3.		Canon 1D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
4.		Canon 1D Mark II	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
5.		Canon 1D Mark III	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	Y	stereo / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	Y	mono / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon 1D X	Y	mono / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon 1D X Mark II	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon 5D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon 5D Mark II	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Canon 5D Mark III	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Canon 5D Mark IV	Y	mono / mono	Y	Y	mini	3.0	Y	Y	-
15.		Canon 5DS	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	3.0	-	-	-
16.		Canon 6D	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-

It is notable that the 1DX Mark III offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 1D Mark II N does not provide wifi capability.

Both cameras feature a PC Sync terminal to control professional strobe lights, which will be appreciated by studio photographers.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the 1DX Mark III has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

The 1DX Mark III is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the 1D Mark II N has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the 1D Mark II N was succeeded by the Canon 1D Mark III. Further information on the features and operation of the 1D Mark II N and 1DX Mark III can be found, respectively, in the Canon 1D Mark II N Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon 1D X Mark III Manual.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon 1D Mark II N better than the Canon 1D X Mark III or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Canon EOS-1D Mark II N:

• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (38 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in August 2005).

Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS-1D X Mark III:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20 vs 8.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 56%.
• Better image quality: Scores substantially higher (25 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.9 bits more color depth).
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (3.3 EV of extra DR).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (1.7 stops ISO advantage).
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC X vs DIGIC II).
• Broader imaging potential: Can capture not only stills but also 4K/60p video.
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.76x vs 0.55x).
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 2.5") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (2100k vs 230k dots).
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (20 vs 8.5 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (2850 versus 1200) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
• Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 1.1).
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
• More modern: Reflects 14 years and 4 months of technical progress since the 1D Mark II N launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 1DX Mark III is the clear winner of the contest (20 : 2 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1D Mark II N and the Canon 1D X Mark III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 1D Mark II N or the 1DX Mark III perform in practice. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 1D Mark II N	..	..	..	..	..	..	Aug 2005	3,999	ebay.com
2.		Canon 1D X Mark III	..	+ +	5/5	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jan 2020	6,499	amazon.com
3.		Canon 1D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2001	6,499	ebay.com
4.		Canon 1D Mark II	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Jan 2004	4,499	ebay.com
5.		Canon 1D Mark III	..	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2007	4,499	ebay.com
6.		Canon 1D Mark IV	5/5	..	..	89/100	..	..	Oct 2009	4,999	ebay.com
7.		Canon 1Ds Mark II	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Sep 2004	7,999	ebay.com
8.		Canon 1Ds Mark III	..	..	..	+ +	4.5/5	..	Aug 2007	7,999	ebay.com
9.		Canon 1D X	5/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2011	6,799	ebay.com
10.		Canon 1D X Mark II	..	..	4.5/5	89/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	5,999	ebay.com
11.		Canon 5D	..	88/100	..	+ +	o	..	Aug 2005	3,299	ebay.com
12.		Canon 5D Mark II	4/5	91/100	..	79/100	4/5	..	Sep 2008	3,499	ebay.com
13.		Canon 5D Mark III	..	+ +	..	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2012	3,499	ebay.com
14.		Canon 5D Mark IV	4.5/5	+ +	4/5	87/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2016	3,499	amazon.com
15.		Canon 5DS	..	+	..	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	3,699	ebay.com
16.		Canon 6D	5/5	+ +	..	83/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	2,099	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

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