Canon has confirmed that its EOS-1D X, an 18.1MP full-frame DSLR, will not go on sale until the end of April, due to ‘development delays’.

Aimed at professional sports and studio photographers, the EOS-1D X was originally expected to go on sale in March.

A Canon UK spokesperson told AP: ‘At the time of the [press] launch in October 2011, our guide was a sales start date of March 2012.

‘However, due to development delays, we have announced a confirmed sales start for the end of April 2012.’

The spokesperson added: ‘I am not able to comment on the details of the development delays.’

Billed as ‘the filmmaker’s DSLR’, the EOS-1D X can record Full HD (1920x1080p) video, with exposure, focusing and frame rate controllable manually.

The newcomer boasts a top equivalent ISO sensitivity of 20,4800 and a ‘two-stop improvement in noise performance’, using dual ‘Digic 5+’ image processors claimed to be up to three times faster than the current Digic 5.

Full-resolution shooting is possible at 12 frames per second, according to Canon.

The EOS-1D X will cost £5,299, the company has confirmed.

The EOS-1D X is expected to go head-to-head with Nikon?s flagship DSLR, the D4, some orders of which will be delayed until March from a previously stated February availability.

Canon EOS-1D X