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 $729. 

Here is the summary of review by ImagingResource:"For several years now I've waited in anticipation, wondering how much longer Canon could ignore the burgeoning compact system camera market, and finally make a splash with a mirrorless model of its own. The Canon PowerShot G1 X is not that camera, but it's exciting for much the same reason that those very first mirrorless models were: It's a brand-new approach from a well-established and respected name in the industry, and it offers a worthwhile size advantage over most competing designs. (It actually goes a bit better even than current compact system cameras as well, when you bear in mind the lens and sensor sizes.) To my mind, the G1 X offers appeal for two distinct markets. Photographers looking to supplement their existing interchangeable-lens camera will likely find it interesting because it's a bit smaller and more travel-friendly, but doesn't sacrifice on image quality with a postage-stamp sized imager, and still makes shallow depth-of-field effects attainable. 

At the same time, consumers looking to step up from a point and shoot camera to something more capable may find it attractive as an alternative to an SLR or mirrorless camera, if they don't feel the need for an interchangeable-lens design. Unfortunately, the Canon G1 X is also reminiscent of the early mirrorless cameras in another way. It feels like a first-generation product, one that's not yet had sufficient life for the design to be honed and refined. Once the edges are taken off, a followup will very likely shine. 

In fact, in the right situation and for the right photographer it already offers an attractive proposition, even bearing in mind the drawbacks. There are definitely some things I'd like to see Canon work on, however. For one thing, it seems like there's a fair opportunity to reduce the size and weight of the G1 X still further, and thereby offer a clearer advantage over SLR and CSC cameras. Although the chunky body is fairly satisfying in terms of control layout (with the exception of the easily-bumped exposure compensation dial, anyway), it just doesn't feel small enough. A prime candidate for space saving is the viewfinder: it's small and inaccurate enough that I found it of very little use, and I'd rather have seen some height shaved off the design, instead.

The Canon G1 X can also feel frustratingly slow, something that leads to missed shots when unexpected opportunities crop up, especially if you're trying to shoot active subjects like kids or pets. It's macro performance could be better, and its battery life is a rather below par. Were those quirks resolved, it'd be so much easier to recommend as a camera for the step-up shooter. Many mirrorless and SLR camera buyers will never change their lens anyway, and for them an integrated design like the G1 X could well be a smarter solution. As is, though, I think it represents a better option for somebody who already has a capable SLR or CSC, which they can rely on for those times when the G1 X isn't up to the job. 

The shortcomings will likely prove too frustrating for the inexperienced shooter who doesn't have another large-sensor camera option they can rely upon. The image quality is undeniably in a different class to most fixed-lens cameras, however. Not just that, but as a large-sensor, fixed-lens compact camera with a zoom, the G1 X stands in a class of its own: it genuinely offers something completely different to any other camera on the market. And honestly, quirks or not, I had a lot of fun shooting with it, and found it rewarded my patience with a lot of shots I really liked. I'd have missed a lot of those shots with an SLR or mirrorless camera because the added bulk would've seen them left at home on my desk. Sure, I could probably have gotten something resembling them with a typical compact camera, but the pictures wouldn't have been anywhere near as easy on my eye as those from a large-sensor camera. For that, I think that the Canon G1 X deserves a Dave's Pick, even if some of it's failings mean it's not the ideal camera for everyone."

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