Canon 14.3 Megapixels PowerShot G1 X Compact

Canon announced the 14.3 Megapixels PowerShot G1 X compact camera. The camera measures 18.7 x 14mm and the large 1.5-inch CMOS sensor has a 4:3 aspect ratio that is marginally bigger than a typical FourThirds imager. Utilizing Ultra high refractive index Aspherical (UA) elements and precision glass moulding technology, the fixed-mount lens of the Canon G1 X offers a 35mm equivalent zoom range of 28-112mm with an aperture of f/2.8 to f/16. It offers full manual control with shooting mode and exposure compensation dials for quick and intuitive access to a range of settings, and supports 14-bit raw capture for smooth gradations.  

The DIGIC 5 processor enables the PowerShot G1 X to utilize the High-Speed Burst HQ2 feature allowing photographers to shoot images at high speeds at full resolution to capture the perfect moving shot. Additionally, to ensure images are crisp and clear, advanced noise reduction and a smarter multi-area White Balance can be utilized to achieve accurate color reproduction for a balanced image. Other highlights include an optical viewfinder, 3.0-inch vari-angle LCD with 922,000 dots, built-in Speedlite, flash hot shoe, High Dynamic Range mode and Full HD movie recording capabilities. 

The Canon PowerShot G1 X camera is listed for $799.99 and it is currently selling at around $709. Here is the summary of review by Phoblographer:"If you can get past the usability problems, this camera actually produces really nice images. The lens, although not particularly fast at either end of the zoom range, is pretty sharp edge-to-edge, and contrast and color reproduction are both excellent. Dynamic range is also great, which is to be expected from a sensor almost the size of APS-C. The auto white balance in the G1 X tends towards producing cooler images, with the occasional shot edging a little too far into the blue. 

Nothing serious, but definitely something to keep in mind particularly when shooting this camera indoors, where the AWB seems to overcorrect for incandescent lighting. High ISO performance is great for this class of camera, which is to be expected from a sensor of this size. I was able to get consistently usable images from ISO 3200, with even some from ISO 6400. Things fall apart quickly at ISO 12,800 but that is to be expected. Noise reduction doesn't seem to be too severe, and it is able to retain details fairly well. It seems the Fuji X100 may have a slight edge over the G1 X in noise performance, but then again, the sensor is also larger and lower resolution as well (12mp on APS-C vs 14mp in the G1 X). 

Image stabilization is built into the lens of this camera, and it seems to work quite well. When shooting at relatively slow shutter speeds, I didn't have any issues producing a clear image. It's also very noticeable in video mode, and helps smooth out a lot of jerky motion when shooting video while walking. Video quality isn't anything special though, despite shooting 1080p @ 24fps. The rolling shutter effect is quite prevalent, and the video seems to be lacking the sharpness and color that you get with the still images out of this camera. 

I'm not a videographer, so I can't comment much, but overall I see much better video out of cameras like the Olympus E-P3 or the Sony NEX-C3.The G1 X is puzzling, but I am beginning to feel that it was rushed to get a slice of the mirrorless sales. It's really just larger sensor crammed into a slightly sleeker G12, with very few tweaks to make it a truly competitive camera. I really wanted to like the G1 X. I wanted to believe that Canon had created a viable answer to the market's mirrorless demand. Unfortunately, I think they've done the worst they could do: built a dud. I can't for the life of me figure out where this camera fits in. At $799 USD, it's nearly twice the price of the Canon T3 kit, but offers so much less and is inherently much more frustrating to use.

The only thing you gain is size (or lack thereof), but for that price, there are so many other great small options, particularly in the micro four thirds lines. Heck, even the Fuji X10 is $200 cheaper, offers a fantastic sensor, a faster lens, and a significantly better viewfinder. Canon's rush to the market, or their fear of cannibalizing entry-level DSLR sales has left them with a product that doesn't seem to keep up with an already quick moving segment. Better luck next time, Canon."

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