The lack of Wi-Fi, HDR capability, a full touch LCD with automatic brightness control (as in the 5D series), short battery life and failure to reduce size and weight are disappointing. The card slots arrangement is strange, both cards fronts should have faced in the same direction when inserting and the Slot 1 selected for the CFast card instead of the old Compact Flash. The improvements in image quality and autofocus performance in my opinion, are minimal compared to the previous model, not to mention the competition. And the dual battery charger; why not a charger for a single battery or having an option for buying one? In these days of flying, any reduction in size and weight makes the gear easy to carry and accepted as a carry-on v.s. a check-in---international airlines are limiting carry-ons to just one not to exceed to 9 kilos.
Ergonomically the camera's undersized control buttons make it difficult to use with gloves in cold weather, and the failure to provided illuminated ones make them hard to see at nighttime (Yes Canon, there is nightime photography). When using long telephotos handheld or on a tripod, the 3 control buttons on the top left of the camera are hard to operate and should have been positioned as in the 5D series or 7DII for ease of use and conformity of design. This change would also have resulted in a cleaner top deck look and reduction in control buttons for the 1DxII. The remote control terminal at the bottom of the handgrip should have been moved to the front left as in the current 5DIV, its present location interferes when handholding the 1DxII when devices are attached.
Most camera manufacturers release professional gear having the best technologies that then trickles down into cheaper models; Canon has this reversed. As an example, touch screen has now moved up to the 5DIV; it could have been incorporated into the 1DxII. This stingy marketing strategy of small incremental improvements causes Canon sales; the reason why I am not purchasing a 5DIV and may skip the 1DxIII too.
