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Canon 1D C

 
Canon EOS-1D C front
 
  • 18MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 1500g - 158 x 164 x 83mm
  • Introduced April 2012
  • Read full specs
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Size Comparison
  • FAQ
Portability
50
Imaging
64
Features
79
Overall
70

Canon 1D C overview

Canon 1D C is Canon's Pro DSLR digital camera originally announced on April of 2012. It includes a 18 MegaPixel, CMOS Full frame size sensor with a maximum resolution of 5184 x 3456.

The 1D C places at #7 out of 35 in Pro DSLR cameras & all-around #168 out of 1465 for cameras in our list. Remember to try our Advanced camera filter to get camera results based on your personalized requirements.

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Here is a diagram of multiple criteria used in the scoring system.

Canon 1D C history

The Canon 1D C has a history of related cameras. Listed below, you can see all previous and more recent models alongside important features.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Canon-EOS-1D-X-Mark-III front thumbnailCanon 1D X III
1D C vs 1D X III
20MPFull frame20.0 fps2020
Canon-EOS-1D-X-Mark-II front thumbnailCanon 1D X II
1D C vs 1D X II
20MPFull frame16.0 fps2016
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Canon-EOS-1D-C front thumbnailCanon 1D C18MPFull frame14.0 fps2012
Canon-EOS-1D-X front thumbnailCanon 1D X
1D C vs 1D X
18MPFull frame14.0 fps2011
Canon-EOS-1Ds-Mark-III front thumbnailCanon 1Ds MIII
1D C vs 1Ds MIII
21MPFull frame5.0 fps2008
Canon-EOS-1Ds-Mark-II front thumbnailCanon 1Ds MII
1D C vs 1Ds MII
17MPFull frame4.0 fps2005
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Canon-EOS-1Ds front thumbnailCanon 1Ds
1D C vs 1Ds
11MPFull frame3.0 fps2002

Canon 1D C Pros and Cons

Here is a selection of good and bad points of the Canon 1D C based on features that are oftentimes viewed as necessary in a digital camera.

decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
has double storage slots
has HDMI port
has manual focus
has microphone port
has phase detect AF
high res video (4096 x 2160 pixels)
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
includes Top screen
saves RAW formats
screen has good resolution (1,040 thousand dot)
screen size is decent (3.2 inch)
sensor size is large (Full frame)
supports face detect focusing
supports tracking focus
swap lenses (Canon EF mount)
very good high ISO (51,200)
very good min ISO (100)
weather sealing
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
fixed screen
lack of headphone port
lack of image stabilization
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Canon 1D C Sensor features

The Canon 1D C features the Dual Digic 5+ processor chip. The measurement of the sensor in the Canon 1D C is 36mm x 24mm (Full frame). The 864 mm² sensor is able to resolve 5184 x 3456 pixels using aspect ratios of 3:2.

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The CMOS sensor has 18 megapixels and features a standard ISO range of 100 - 51200. The ISO can be expanded digitally to a maximum of 204800. RAW format is saved so the user has more margin for error.

The graphic below displays the 1D C's sensor size compared to other popular sizes. The 1D C sensor has a crop factor of 1 and is pointed out in green.

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To get an understanding of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Canon 1D C dimensions

Canon 1D C weighs 3.31 lb (1,500 grams / 52.91 ounces) & the dimensions of the camera is 158mm x 164mm x 83mm (6.2" x 6.5" x 3.3"). The weight of normal Pro DSLR camera is 1,280 grams so the Canon 1D C is more heavy as compared to various rivals.

Photography Glossary

Listed below is a pic of the Canon 1D C beside a soda so you can get a sense of its size.

Canon EOS-1D C dimensions scale

The top view here will provide the button layout on the 1D C.

Canon EOS-1D C topview buttons dials

Canon 1D C Lens features

The 1D C works with the Canon EF mount and has 306 lenses on the market today. Here is a few of the lenses we have in our collection that will fit the 1D C.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Sigma-70-200mm-F2.8-EX-DG-OS-HSM-Canon-EF lensSigma 70-200mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM70-200mmf/2.8 1430g
Tamron-SP-24-70mm-F2.8-Di-VC-USD-G2-Canon-EF lensTamron SP 24-70mm F2.8 Di VC USD G224-70mmf/2.8 905g
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Tamron-AF-28-300mm-F3.5-6.3-XR-Di-VC-LD-Aspherical-IF-Macro-Canon-EF lensTamron AF 28-300mm F3.5-6.3 XR Di VC LD Aspherical IF Macro28-300mmf/3.5-6.3 555g
Canon-EF-70-200mm-f2.8L-USM lensCanon EF 70-200mm f2.8L USM70-200mmf/2.8 1310g
Sigma-8-16mm-F4.5-5.6-DC-HSM-Canon-EF lensSigma 8-16mm F4.5-5.6 DC HSM8-16mmf/4.5-5.6 555g
Tamron-SP-AF-60mm-F2-Di-II-LD-IF-Macro-Canon-EF lensTamron SP AF 60mm F2 Di II LD IF Macro60mmf/2.0 400g
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Voigtlander-20mm-F3.5-Color-Skopar-SL-II-Canon-EF lensVoigtlander 20mm F3.5 Color Skopar SL II20mmf/3.5 205g
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Canon 1D C Connectivity

The 1D C has the following connectivity:

  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes
  • GPS Yes

Cameras that have NFC and / or Bluetooth compatibility can easily be used wirelessly through smartphones. You will be able to copy files and sometimes alter camera settings with no need to connect directly with the camera.

Several apps also stream a Liveview and click the shutter whenever you aren't near the camera. If the camera has a HDMI port, it could be connected to an external screen. Virtually all cameras will allow you to recharge the battery through the USB port.

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Canon 1D C Video features

The maximum video resolution in the Canon 1D C is 4096 x 2160 and you can record in MPEG-4, H.264 and Motion JPEG file format. 2160p is a superb resolution for video. You can downsample to Full HD in order to get better video. Be wary of the substantial file sizes and ensure you have high quality SD cards with good write speeds. While the body has a microphone socket, it is sadly lacking a headphone socket so you will not have the option to check your sound levels.

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Canon 1D C Weather Sealing

Canon 1D C provides weather sealing making it a fantastic option for use in tough places. This is particularly beneficial in case you are unsure about the elements you may face in outdoor photography.

Canon 1D C Screen and Viewfinder

The Canon 1D C includes a 3.2 inch fixed display having a resolution of 1,040 thousand dots.

Please note that the display screen has no touch support. The 1D C also has a Top screen allowing you to quickly look at your settings.

Canon EOS-1D C screen and viewfinder Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The View Finder details for Canon 1D C are as follows:

  • ViewFinder Optical (pentaprism)
  • ViewFinder Coverage 100%
  • ViewFinder Magnification 0.76x

Viewfinders can be really helpful in bright outdoor situations which might make the camera screen washed out and hard to see.

Canon 1D C Shutter features

Canon 1D C is able to shoot continuously at 14.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/8000 sec.

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Canon 1D C Flash and Hot shoe features

Canon 1D C has external flash ability but with no inbuilt flash. The highest flash sync speed is 1/250 sec.

Canon 1D C Autofocus features

Canon 1D C has both Phase Detect Auto Focus as well as Contrast Based Auto Focus. Phase Detection focusing is more snappier & exact as compared to Contrast Based focusing. The camera includes Face detection which is handy for people photography.

The AF system includes 61 focus points to choose from. It also comes with Tracking Auto Focus for subjects that move. Canon 1D C features manual focusing in case it is needed in low light occasions or you require more precise focusing control.

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Canon 1D C Battery life

The general Pro DSLR camera battery life is 2438. Nikon D3X has got the highest possible (4400) battery life in this range of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Pro DSLR cameras that have the strongest battery life:

ModelVisualizeBattery LifeRAWNFCBluetooth
Nikon-D3 front thumbnailNikon D3
1D C vs D3
4300 yesnono
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Nikon-D5 front thumbnailNikon D5
1D C vs D5
3780 yesnono
Nikon-D6 front thumbnailNikon D6
1D C vs D6
3580 yesnoyes

Canon 1D C for specific types of photography

The following illustration provides a overview of the Canon 1D C for specific types of photography. To understand more, browse to the specific section below.

Canon 1D C Portrait photography factors

The Canon 1D C gets a score of 78 which is impressive, meaning that it is a fantastic pick to use for portraits. Taking portraits favors heavily to sensor specs, RAW support & flexibility to work with off-camera flash.

Photography Glossary
focusing manually
decent MP (18 megapixels)
big sensor size (Full frame)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files

Canon 1D C as a Street photography camera

Coming in at a decent rating of 58, the Canon 1D C is reasonably adequate to use in street photography. A good street photography camera has a good balance of picture quality plus portability.

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sensor size is great (Full frame)
supports RAW formats
environment proofing
good ISO range (51,200)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization

Canon 1D C as a Sports photography camera

A nice sports photography points tally of 74 suggests the Canon 1D C is a fine option for photographing sports. A camera really should have excellent autofocus and continuous shooting for sports photography.

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high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
resolution is good (18MP)
great sensor size (Full frame)
includes tracking focus
environment proof
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization

Canon 1D C Travel photography highlights

Portability is pretty critical when picking a camera for travel. In general, the Canon 1D C gets a modest 59 as a travelling camera which is reasonably acceptable for your vacations.

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weather sealing
MP count good (18 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly

Landscape photography with Canon 1D C

If you are looking to pick a camera for landscape pictures, the most significant aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Canon 1D C and it's very good score of 75 for a landscape camera is a good option among its competitors.

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focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Canon EF mount)
screen size is good (3.2")
MP count good (18 megapixels)
sensor size is big (Full frame)
good ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather proof
has dual storage slots
no image stabilization

Canon 1D C Vlogging details

A vlogging camera should really have a articulating display, microphone port and preferably image stabilization. Taking everything into account, the Canon 1D C is just not good as a vlog camera as it receives a low score of 28.

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has face detection focusing
great video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
has external mic port
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization

Canon 1D C Alternatives

If you are in the market for replacements to the 1D C, here is a number of the top ranked cameras that fall into the class of Pro DSLR.

The line graph listed below will give you a bird's eye view of the 1D C vs it's top ranked rivals shown earlier.

There are a bunch of cameras you may take into account as alternate options. To browse through a full comparison, click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Canon
Model type
Canon EOS-1D C
Class
Pro DSLR
Introduced
2012-04-12
Body design
Large SLR
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Processor Chip
Dual Digic 5+
Sensor size
Full frame
Sensor measurements
36 x 24mm
Sensor area
864.0mm²
Sensor resolution
18 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
3:2
Highest resolution
5184 x 3456
RAW images
Highest native ISO
51200
Highest boosted ISO
204800
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points
61
Cross type focus points
41
Lens
Lens mount type
Canon EF
Total lenses
250
Crop factor
1
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3.2 inch
Resolution of screen
1,040 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech
Clear View II TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage
100%
Viewfinder magnification
0.76x
DXO scores
DXO All around rating
not tested
DXO Color Depth rating
not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating
not tested
DXO Low light rating
not tested
Features
Slowest shutter speed
30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed
1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed
14.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation
Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance
no built-in flash
Flash options
E-TTL II Auto Flash, Metered Manual
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync
1/250 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions
4096 x 2160 (24 fps), 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25, 24 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 50 fps), 640 x 480 (60, 50 fps)
Highest video resolution
4096x2160
Video file format
MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
none
GPS
Optional
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
1500 gr (3.31 lb)
Physical dimensions
158 x 164 x 83mm (6.2" x 6.5" x 3.3")
Other
Battery ID
LP-E4N
Self timer
Yes (2 or 10 sec, remote)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage
Compact Flash (Type I or II), UDMA compatible
Storage slots
Two
Launch price
$6,499