5D Mark III vs 1D X Mark II

 

About two years ago I decided to get a backup camera to pair it with my Canon R6. Because I was shooting using mirrorless cameras for the last 5 to 7 years passing through Sony and then switching to Canon, I thought that it was a good idea to get a DSLR going back to the origins and keeping my photography skills sharp.   

Two years ago I was shooting mainly wildlife and some portrait photography documenting the life of my grandsons. So after scanning the used market I decided to get a Canon 5D Mark III. 

But then everything changed. They decided to practice Karate, and what was portrait photography transitioned to sport photography. I started to use the 5D with a wide-angle lens to compensate for the limitations of having the Canon R6 armed with a 70-200mm lens. The 5D Mark III served me well shooting mainly portraits and the award ceremonies, but it was falling short in shooting the action of the events. After a year shooting as described, I decided that it was time to replace it with something more suitable for sport photography.

AI generated image. 

Upgrading from the Canon EOS 5D Mark III to the Canon EOS-1D X Mark II represents a major shift from a capable full-frame generalist to a heavy-duty, professional flagship engineered explicitly for high-speed sports and action.

For freezing lightning-fast karate strikes, sparring, and tournament forms (kata), this transition brings distinct performance advantages alongside a few practical trade-offs.

Advantages for Karate Shooting

1. Frame Rate and Buffer Depth

• The Upgrade: The 5D Mark III tops out at 6 frames per second with a relatively modest buffer. The 1D X Mark II blasts up to 14 fps (and up to 16 fps in Live View).

• The Karate Impact: Martial arts movements happen in fractions of a second. A spinning hook kick, a sudden blitz, or the exact impact point of a fist can be completely missed at 6 fps. At 14 fps, you capture the entire sequence of a technique, ensuring you secure the peak action frame. Paired with a fast CFast 2.0 card, the 1D X Mark II's buffer handles massive RAW bursts without choking.

2. Autofocus Tracking and Processor Speed

• The Upgrade: Powered by dual DIGIC 6+ processors and a dedicated metering sensor feeding the AF system, the 1D X Mark II provides vastly superior subject tracking compared to the 5D Mark III's aging 61-point system.

• The Karate Impact: Indoor tournament venues often feature chaotic backgrounds, distracting banners, and erratic referee movements. The 1D X Mark II locks onto a fast-moving competitor and tracks them aggressively through rapid shifts in direction and erratic motion, resulting in a much higher percentage of razor-sharp keepers.

3. Build Quality and Shutter Durability

• The Upgrade: The 1-Series flagship features an integrated vertical grip, weather-sealing built for punishing field conditions, and a professional shutter rated for 400,000 actuations (compared to the 5D Mark III’s 150,000 rating).

• The Karate Impact: High-volume tournament shooting can rack up thousands of frames in a single weekend. The robust build handles heavy lenses (like a 70-200mm f/2.8 or 100-400mm) effortlessly, and you won't have to worry about premature shutter wear.

Disadvantages & Practical Trade-Offs

1. Weight and Bulk

• The Drawback: The 5D Mark III is roughly 950g. The 1D X Mark II weighs 1,544g (over 3.4 lbs) with the battery and card loaded.

• The Impact: Carrying a dual-battery flagship body with heavy telephoto glass around a crowded gymnasium or tournament floor all day is physically demanding. It puts significantly more strain on your wrists, neck, and shoulders over long shooting sessions.

2. Battery and Ecosystem Cost

• The Drawback: The 1D X Mark II uses the high-capacity LP-E19 battery, which requires its own specialized, bulky dual-bay charger (LC-E19). It does not use the standard LP-E6/LP-E6N batteries that you likely already own for your 5D Mark III or backup bodies.

• The Impact: You will need to invest in dedicated batteries and a heavy-duty charger, losing the battery cross-compatibility you might currently enjoy.

3. Dual Card Slot Mismatch

• The Drawback: The camera features one CompactFlash (CF) / CFast 2.0 slot and one traditional SD card slot.

• The Impact: To unlock the camera's true high-speed burst potential, you must use high-performance CFast 2.0 cards, which require a separate card reader and represent an additional equipment investment.

Summary Verdict

Feature	Canon 5D Mark III	Canon 1D X Mark II
Max Frame Rate	6 fps	14 fps
Shutter Lifespan	150,000 cycles	400,000 cycles
Battery Type	LP-E6 / LP-E6N	LP-E19
Weight	~950 g	~1,544 g
Ergonomics	Standard body (grip optional)	Integrated vertical grip

If your primary focus is capturing fast, unpredictable athletic action where missing a split-second strike means missing the shot, the 1D X Mark II is a massive performance upgrade. However, you must be willing to trade physical portability and battery standardization for that raw speed and professional reliability.

Waiting for a Canon 1D X Mark II

Thanks to the donation and support of the Karate Parents who responded to my request to donate old gear that was no longer being used, I'm trading my Canon 5D Mark III for a Canon 1D X Mark II (around $1000 Used Market).

The Canon 5D Mark III (around $400 Used market) was my backup camera and the one I used for all the wide-angle shots during the 2026 season. It's a camera that was released in 2012, but it is considered a legend among photographers. The colors coming out of this camera are really nice, and for portrait photography, it is hard to find anything better. This is a DSLR; it does not have all the features that you will find in more modern mirrorless cameras, but in the hands of someone who knows that and knows how to work around its limitations, it's a formidable tool.

 

Then, why to change to the Canon 1D X Mark II?

The Canon 1D X Mark II is a camera that was released for the 2016 Olympics and is designed for sports and wildlife photography. It is fast, and its low-light performance is about the same as my main camera, the Canon R6. See above chart. I need a camera that could perform about the same as the R6 to cover the wide-angle shots. Not just for portraits, but capable of getting good action shots with a shutter speed of 1/1000 and in low-light conditions. The 5D Mark III was too "noisy" and too slow for these types of shots.

Keep in mind that Canon is not making any more DSLRs, pushing new users to buy their mirrorless cameras, which are more capable and include features such as eye tracking that make the life of photographers a lot easier. However, the price tag of the Canon R1—which is the replacement for the Canon 1D X series—is $6,000, a price that I can't afford just to have a camera that tracks the eye of the subject, something that with a little bit of effort on my end, I can do with the 1D X.

I'm using MPB for this exchange. This is a place that I have used in the past many times. They offer 6 months of warranty on any used camera that you buy from them.

So here I'm, waiting for the Canon 1D X Mark II. Getting ready for Season 2027.

 

Battery Grip for the Canon R6/R5

I recently bought a battery grip for my Canon R6. While I was taking wildlife pictures, I was never shooting more than a few hundred pictures in a session, so I never felt the need to have more battery power in my camera. Now shooting sports, I end up with 1000 to 2000 pictures by the end of the day and have to change the battery in the middle of the session. A battery grip extends the battery life to cover a full day of shooting. Another reason I got the grip is that I have been shooting more in portrait orientation, and the grip helps in this case by providing a better hold and a set of buttons in that position that feel more comfortable.

One important point is that I bought a 3rd party made grip, Canon price for these grips is from 400 to 500 dollars while the 3rd party is from $70 to $100! Years ago, a Chinese product lacked the quality that you see nowadays. I have tested the grip in my last wildlife photoshoot, and I'm pleased. Here is a picture of the one I got.

This is the replacement for the BG-R20 which is the latest version of the grip compatible with all versions of R6/R5 and the one adding support to the new batteries LP-E6P. This same company sells the old version BG-R10. Something to consider if you decide to buy their grip, go for the R20 instead of the R10. 

Here is a video review of the BG-R10 that may help you in your decision taken process. 

 

The difference between the Canon R1, R5 Mark II and the R3

Jeff Cable, a renowned photographer, had the fortunate opportunity to test the Canon R1 during the Olympic Games. He recently shared an article comparing these three cameras: R1, R3 and R5 Mark II . It’s a must-read for photography enthusiasts. 

 

Here is his conclusion: 

All of these cameras are excellent bodies for any photographer, capturing images at fast burst rates and with excellent focus abilities, but as you can see, they each have their pluses and minuses.

You can find my list of recommended photography gear here.

My Recommended Gear Storefront

 I have put together a list of camera gears and photography relative devices that I would not hesitate to recommend to anyone looking for a purchasing advice. I hope that this page will help you in your decision taking process. The page contain affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps support the maintenance of the blog and my passion for photography. However, please rest assured that my opinions about the products mentioned are not influenced by this compensation. 

The R6 Mark II is currently available at 18% off

The R6 Mark II is currently available at 18% off on Amazon. To me, this looks like a sign that Canon may be releasing the R6 Mark III soon—a rumor that has been circulating for some time.

The Canon R6 Mark II is a great camera that offers outstanding image quality, fast and reliable autofocus, and impressive low-light performance. With its 24.2MP sensor, high-speed continuous shooting (up to 40 fps with electronic shutter), and advanced video features (4K 60p oversampled), it's ideal for both wildlife and hybrid photo/video shooters. It's also known for its excellent in-body image stabilization and ergonomic design.

What would you buy for your current R camera

Suppose you came across some extra cash and decided to buy something for your R-series camera—what would you choose?

Tough question, right?

As for me, what would I buy to pair with my Canon R6 Mark I? Since I spend about 80% of my time shooting wildlife, it makes sense to invest in a lens suited for that purpose. If you want to stick with Canon, there aren’t too many options—so the lens I’d choose is the Canon RF 100-500mm.

To complement this lens, I’d also get the RF 1.4x Extender. You might ask, “If you’re getting the extender, why not just go for the RF 200-800mm?” Well, here’s my reasoning: the RF 100-500mm paired with the 1.4x Extender gives me a range of 140-700mm. I actually prefer that range, especially on the lower end. For the kind of work I do, 140mm works better for me than 200mm.

Now I’m curious—what would you buy?

 

Camera gear that improved my photos

I’m sure everyone has bought a piece of gear that, at least in their mind, improved their photos. For me, it’s the Canon EF 100-400mm L Mark II, which I bought used but in very good condition. What’s that piece of gear for you?

If you want to know which one it is for Duade Paton — a wildlife photographer and influencer with around 100K followers — you can check out the following video.