Upgrade Guide
Canon Canon EOS 90D→Canon EOS-1D X Mark III
Is it worth upgrading? Spec analysis, key improvements, and our verdict.
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Worthwhile
Clear improvements over the Canon EOS 90D. Whether it justifies the cost depends on which upgrades matter most to your shooting.
What's new in the EOS-1D X Mark III
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Burst rate16fps mechanical, 20fps live view vs 10fps mechanical
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Battery life~2850 shots (CIPA) vs ~1300 shots (CIPA with OVF)
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Generation1 year newer (2020 vs 2019)
Unchanged or similar
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Resolution20MP (down from 32MP — optimised for low light)
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StabilisationIBIS not present in new body
Suitability by genre
| Genre | Canon EOS 90D | EOS-1D X Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sports & Action | +1.0 | ||
| Wildlife | — | ||
| Portrait | -1.0 | ||
| Landscape | — | ||
| Travel | — | ||
| Vlogging & Video | +3.0 | ||
| Wedding & Events | — | ||
| Street | — |
Full spec comparison
| Spec | Canon EOS 90D | EOS-1D X Mark III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | £849 | £3,500 | |
| Released | 2019 | 2020 | ↑ |
| Sensor | 32.5MP APS-C CMOS (Dual Pixel AF) | 20.1MP full-frame CMOS | |
| Resolution | 32MP | 20MP | ↓ |
| Video | 4K/30p (1.6× crop), FHD/120p | 5.5K RAW, 4K 60fps (crop), 4K 60fps (full-frame via firmware) | |
| Autofocus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF (live view), 45-point phase-detect (OVF) | 191-point all cross-type OVF AF; 525-point Dual Pixel CMOS AF (Live View) | |
| Stabilisation | None (no IBIS) | — | |
| Burst Rate | 10fps mechanical | 16fps mechanical, 20fps live view | ↑ |
| Battery Life | ~1300 shots (CIPA with OVF) | ~2850 shots (CIPA) | ↑ |
| Weight | 701g body only | 1250g (body only) | ↓ |
| Weather Sealed | Yes | Yes | |
| Viewfinder | Optical pentaprism, 100% coverage, 0.95× magnification | OVF 0.76× magnification, 100% coverage | |
| Screen | 3.0" vari-angle touchscreen | 3.2" fully articulating touchscreen, 4.15M dots | |
| Mount | Canon EF / EF-S | Canon EF | |
| Memory Cards | Dual SD UHS-II slots | Dual CFexpress Type B slots |
Compare side-by-side
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