Most people don鈥檛 need the $6,000 Canon 1DX Mark II. So why are we reviewing it? Because it鈥檚 the best sports camera ever made. If you鈥檝e ever dreamed of shooting skiing, mountain biking, or any other fast-action outdoor sports, either for a hobby or a living, start saving pennies now.
The standout feature of the 1DX Mark II is its machine gun鈥搇ike, class-leading 14 frames per second (fps). In the field, 14 fps means you will capture every moment and have several good frames to choose from.
Working behind all those images is a 20.2-megapixel full-frame sensor big enough to produce billboard-sized photos. Other nice features: the ability to shoot crisp 4K video at 60 fps; a large, robust body that鈥檚 easy to hold; and a battery that lasts through multiple days of intense shooting (or well over 1,000 images).
The camera also includes a world-class autofocus system with 61 focus points to help you lock onto a moving subject, ensuring your pictures are tack sharp. I tested the camera earlier this fall while shooting a falconer in Wyoming and was consistently amazed at the focus tracking as I panned the fast birds. After focusing on the animal, I was able to follow it and shoot dozens of frames without ever having to refocus.
The 1DX Mark II has respectable, if not crazy impressive, low-light sensitivity, with an ISO range to 51,200. And the files aren鈥檛 huge, like those of some of the other cameras we鈥檝e reviewed.
But that鈥檚 fine. This camera isn鈥檛 designed to shoot night skies. It鈥檚 designed to capture fast-paced action.
For a little extra proof of why this camera is the best in the industry, watch your NFL games carefully this weekend. You鈥檒l see lots of pro photographers along the sidelines using the 1DX Mark II to shoot the images that will appear next week on the front pages of your favorite sports magazines.
Finally, if you鈥檙e interested in this camera but don鈥檛 want to shell out $6,000 immediately, think about renting one first from a place like .