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Canon has outdone itself with the launch of its new flagship camera, the Canon EOS 1D X. After years of long-term research and development, ridicule from the competition, and patient outcries from fans, Canon has finally brought out a worthy successor to the 1D line of cameras.

Having so much to offer in terms of innovation and advance features, it is pretty obvious why Canon believes the 1D X is the one to the name and the professional DSLR range it represents to even greater heights.

With an expected launch date around March 2011 and an estimated price tag of US$6,800 (according to various tech-news sites), local camera enthusiasts are expecting a similar price tag when it shows up on Malaysian shores.

According to Simon Wong, Director of Imaging Communication Products Division of Canon Marketing Malaysia, the local Canon office will be setting up a special ordering system, which will be based on a direct-to-customer platform, for the 1D X when it is closer to the launch date.

Such exclusivity makes sense since the 1D X has been built from ground-up to be the camera platform to develop and deploy powerful and distinctive camera innovations.

Being the sort of DSLR that has many firsts, the 1D X is certainly one-of-a-kind professional camera that has the privelage of being unmatched, or so Canon claims.

Using three image processors - a dual DIGIC 5+ system for the main sensor and one DIGIC 4 that is solely dedicated for the metering and focus functions - provides the 1D X with extreme ISO capabilities (maxed at 51,200 with an additional two stops that can raise the ceiling cap to 204,800). Such a high ISO rate will allow for photo-taking in very low-light conditions.

Enhancing this further is the 18-megapixels that the improved CMOS sensor operates on, which many believes is a step-back from current technology as the models the 1D X is replacing, the 1Ds Mk III and 1D Mk IV, have sensors with larger megapixels that operate on finer pixel values.

That is not the case as the reduction in megapixels and larger pixel value, according to Canon, improves the photo-taking performance of the 1D X.

When combined with Canon´s proprietory technology, such as built-in gapless microlenses, 61-Point High Density Reticular AF system, and increased shooting speeds of up to 14fps at 18-megapixels (JPEG mode only) and 12fps for RAW, the 1D X more than makes up for the "lack in sensor requirements".

Other DSLR firsts include multiple exposure modes, HD video system that offer longer recording modes, dual CF card slots, a gigabit ethernet port, and lightweight carbon fibre shutter blades that offer a lifespan of 400,000 cycles.

Having so many new bells and whistles in the 1D X justifies Canon´s long delay to announce a whole new DSLR platform. While fans wait for these technologies to trickle down into consumer range SLRs, the ball has now moved out of Canon´s court as they wait to see what the competition will be bringing out to market.