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Archive 2012 · Canon G1 X

Gingerbaker
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Canon G1 X

Ok, I have waited two weeks and no one has started a thread here on the Canon G1X.

No, it does not have interchangeable lenses, or a great viewfinder, or a fast or particularly wide lens. And it is slow as molasses.

But, you know what? It has a brand new sensor in between 4/3 and APS-C in size, Digic 5 processor, and what appears to be a heck of a sharp lens with very good IS, and its high-ISO jpg output, at least, looks very promising.

This camera, I must say, has some real appeal for me. I have a DSLR kit. I'm not looking to start building a whole new parallel kit. This camera looks like what a lot of folks have been looking for: a simple, jacket-pocketable, no-hassle,walkaround camera with a decent zoom range that offers image quality that is truly comparable, if not possibly superior to many a DSLR.

Preview samples look really very good, here:
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canong1x/page6.asp

First standardized review discussed (IQ, resolution supposedly compares favorably to the NEX-5N) here:
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1010&thread=40430788

There is another video floating around somewhere - I can't seem to find it - a hands-on review by a pro photographer who likes its IQ and its discretion.

Jan 29, 2012 at 09:54 AM

Jman13
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Canon G1 X

I'm sure the image quality will be outstanding. Canon makes great sensors, and this one's pretty big. Should be fantastic IQ. The problem is, it's big, but doesn't offer interchangeable lenses and is very expensive.

I mean, the Panasonic GX1 or Sony NEX-5N are both significantly smaller. Attach a pancake lens, and it's still smaller.

http://camerasize.com/compare/#257,183

Jan 29, 2012 at 10:18 AM

kosmoskatten
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Canon G1 X

The Canon G1X is even uglier than my Ricoh GXR.

Still, it is a promising product and I hope it will sell enough for Canon to keep coming up with interesting products like this one. As a travel camera I am sure it will find some happy users. It is a little bit bulky, but I haven't seen it in the flesh so it might look bulkier on photos.

What is it they are saying? The camera adds five pounds?

I applaud the effort to make an all-round camera with a large-ish sensor. More of that please.

Jan 29, 2012 at 10:31 AM

DaveOls
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Canon G1 X

I'm glad that Canon is coming out with this camera. I'm just disappointed that it's not a Nikon and interchangeable lenses. If I were to buy this kind of camera it would be between this Canon and the Fuji X1pro. The price of the latter is a little too steep though. I've heard that Fuji makes very high quality IQ lenses.

DaveOls

Jan 29, 2012 at 10:33 AM

Gingerbaker
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Canon G1 X

Jman13 wrote:
I'm sure the image quality will be outstanding. Canon makes great sensors, and this one's pretty big. Should be fantastic IQ. The problem is, it's big, but doesn't offer interchangeable lenses and is very expensive.

I mean, the Panasonic GX1 or Sony NEX-5N are both significantly smaller. Attach a pancake lens, and it's still smaller.

http://camerasize.com/compare/#257,183

I know, believe me I know, they are smaller! Man, I have been going around that helical dialectic for months now, watching all the new cams come out.

It's funny - I have all the kit I need, but I would like to have a pocketable cam, too. It's wonderful that we are getting choices galore in small cams with large sensors, and the NEX cams are very tempting.

But, no matter which one of the 4/3 or NEX we look at, they are all going to be too large for a shirt pocket. And while a NEX with a pancake would be a bit smaller than a G1 X, they are both easily jacket-pocketable. I'm not even sure I want something really small - I am used to the substantial size of of my Canon 5D. The problem is that I like having the versatility of the zoom - I don't want to be restricted to a single focal length all the time. And I don't want to build up another stable of lenses. Which makes absolute and complete sense to do with an interchangeable system!

It would also work out to be a lot more expensive than the admittedly heart attack-producing list price of the G1 X.

I guess what makes the G1 X tempting to me is its non-upgradability!

It is a standalone solution to a lot of problems. I won't be tempted to buy another lens solution, and would have the ... hmmm... freedom if you will, to simply concentrate on wringing as much from the one tool as possible.

The question is, I guess, just how much will this one tool address my personal needs? I'm a deliberate shooter, I take my time, so the camera's lack of speed doesn't bother me. That won't do for a lot of people, though. If I'm going to be shooting sports or moving subjects, I would be using the dslr kit. This would be a casual landscape, cityscape, event camera and for a deliberate shooter like me, I am wondering if it brings enough to the table.

From what I have read, I think it does. Despite the slow lens, the combination of good high-ISO performance and great IS may well make this a really good low light cam. Plus, I am already a Canon shooter, and can use my Canon off-cam flash with this unit.

Maybe its just nostalgia on my part. I started digital photography with a 2 MP Fuji 2800 zoom, which had no manual controls whatsoever, and had only ISO 100. I miss that little cam, though, and one of the things that I miss about it was that there was no "kit". There was just the cam, just the one cam. The lens retracts, the cam goes back in the pocket. Life is simple.

Jan 29, 2012 at 12:25 PM

carstenw
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Canon G1 X

IMO the G1X is neither fish nor fowl, and may fall between the cracks of people who don't see why they should more than for a P&S and people who are fed up with their P&S and want to make a serious step up. I am sure they will sell some, but I doubt it will be a hit, like the X100 was.

Jan 29, 2012 at 02:08 PM

kwalsh
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Canon G1 X

While I doubt I'll buy one it is an interesting camera. What I wonder about is the responsiveness, early indications from DPR were that it was not any more snappy than the G12 or other cameras in that category. So the IQ will be very good I'm sure, but if it is still a clunky compact when shooting I'm not sure it will fare well compared to the J1/V1, recent EPs, or GX/GF cameras for usability in a lot of situations. We'll have to wait for some more reviews to see I guess.

Anyway, I think it is very impressive what all they have packed into this camera. But I kind of agree with Carsten - neither fish nor fowl. If this is Canon's answer to mirrorless it is a non-answer, but it looks like a great upgrade path for their G series (and I do see those cameras out and about a fair bit). Give it a second iteration with fast focus and shooting and it will be a very compelling solution for those who never intend to buy another lens.

Ken

Jan 29, 2012 at 02:38 PM

sebboh
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Canon G1 X

it's not anything i'm interested but it seems like a good niche that should be filled – small all in one camera with a large sensor and a zoom. my problem with it is the same as my problem with the g series in general. it's to friggin big! might as well use a rebel. it could be so much smaller too (as panasonic and sony have shown).

also, i agree with henrik – it's extremely ugly. it's got all the style and class of architecture in the 70's or stereos in the 80's.

Jan 29, 2012 at 04:48 PM

h00ligan
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Canon G1 X

My guess is pensioners will love it.

Jan 29, 2012 at 07:22 PM

Gunzorro
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Canon G1 X

I guess I'm a pensioner!

And I guess I'm the only one here on Alt that likes it, so far.

Depending on whether Canon unveils a 5DX in the next month or so, I'll probably buy this new P&S. It's a big step up from my G10 in IQ and technology and will be the class-leading P&S, possibly trumping M43 in IQ. That's plenty good enough for me. I already love the G6 and more recently the G10 for their versatility and convenience, so I have no fear of loving the G1X even more. Much more convenient than a M43 or Nex with the same focal range.

Ugly? Hmmm? I dunno. I don't exactly buy or use cameras based on their looks. But I suppose some of you never used the likes of the Zeiss Ikonta B? Pretty clunky and ugly, but nice photos. This will take "better" photos for my purposes and be much more compact than my 1D models.

I'm not trying to step on the toes of M43 or Nex users, and neither is this camera from what I can tell.

Jan 29, 2012 at 07:52 PM

kosmoskatten
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Canon G1 X

I like it.

I don't love it, but I like it and I welcome the effort.

Jan 30, 2012 at 12:00 PM

michael49
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Canon G1 X

Gingerbaker wrote:
....
I guess what makes the G1 X tempting to me is its non-upgradability!

Jan 30, 2012 at 12:59 PM

Gingerbaker
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Canon G1 X

michael49 wrote:
That's why I bought the Fuji X10.

That's a cool little camera, and I have a soft spot in my heart for Fuji. I love their colors and skin tone.

It seems to me, after looking at samples, that the X10 has raised the bar a bit for smaller-sensor cams. I was tempted, I can tell you.

For the increment in cash and camera size, though, I think I would hold out for the G1 X. No, wait, that sounds too much like I am going to go out and actually buy one! I'll probably just sit on my hands and watch the parade go by, like I have been doing for the past 5 years. ;D But you never know.

I am pretty spoiled now with a big sensor with big pixels. I don't think I could go back to a true small sensor cam. I truly appreciate that extra little bit of fine detail and the smoother images. That's a nice way of saying that I am probably anal retentive about it. The sensor in the G1X is a LOT bigger than the X10. The sample images from the X10 are very, very good for a compact sensor. But the sample images from the G1 X made me go "Wow!". They look very close to the files from my 5D. Close enough, I think, anyway.

Edited on Jan 30, 2012 at 02:41 PM · View previous versions

Jan 30, 2012 at 02:18 PM

prashant
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Canon G1 X

how much is difference in sensor size between x10 and x1pro?

Jan 30, 2012 at 02:26 PM

Bifurcator
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Canon G1 X

Hehehehe, let's see... just from the posts here we have the following pros and cons:

pros:

non-upgradability (yes, actually listed as a pro),
good high-ISO performance and
great IS,
niche that should be filled,
Good IQ,
for pensioners,
step up from G10,
trumps M43 in IQ,
more compact than 1D ( What isn’t?),
sample images are “Wow!”,
no interchangeable lenses,
Canon off-cam flash-ability

cons:

big, huge, and big!
expensive,
ugly, extremely ugly,
not Nikon,
lack of speed,
fed up with P&S,
not any more snappier than G12,
a clunky compact,
not an answer to mirrorlesses,
for pensioners,
no interchangeable lenses,
slow lens

Ya gotta love it...

Jan 30, 2012 at 02:46 PM

PB_James
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Canon G1 X

kwalsh wrote:
While I doubt I'll buy one it is an interesting camera. What I wonder about is the responsiveness, early indications from DPR were that it was not any more snappy than the G12 or other cameras in that category. So the IQ will be very good I'm sure, but if it is still a clunky compact when shooting I'm not sure it will fare well compared to the J1/V1, recent EPs, or GX/GF cameras for usability in a lot of situations. We'll have to wait for some more reviews to see I guess.

I had a chace to try it at CES...and I was not particularly impressed. It handles exactly like a slightly larger G12, the zoom might actually be a touch slower, AF about the same. The viewfinder is still worthless (Fuji X10's viewfinder is much more usable). The lens get very slow, very quickly as it zooms towards telephoto. All in all, I wasn't taken by it. Give it a manual zoom (a la Fuji X10), maybe a 24-85mm f/2.8-4.5 or faster lens, and an EVF or better optical finder, and then you might start to get me interested.

IMO, the gains in ISO performance are mostly negated by the slow lens. In this sense, it is more akin to the S90/95, decently bright wide open, but horrid at the telephoto end (for their sensor sizes).

Jan 30, 2012 at 02:59 PM

FlyPenFly
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Canon G1 X

I never understood why people were so into the G Canon series to begin with but obviously there's a huge market for it since it's the most successful in it's segment. Personally I preferred the LX series with it's smaller size and faster/wider lens.

It'll be an interesting question if those users will pay double for a G Canon with a bigger sensor. I have a feeling most of those people don't even understand sensor size.

Jan 30, 2012 at 04:33 PM

Pixel Perfect
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Canon G1 X

The big news about the G1X is the sensor and this will be the basis of their new mirrorless camera. I can't wait for the RAW images to come out to test, but already the jpg's are showing excellent IQ even at ISO 6400. I have little interest in a G1X mainly due to the VF being so atrociously bad and having no EVF option, but I'm sure I'd be happy with the IQ. But I'm hitching my saddle to the mirrorless brigade and OM-D or NX-20 or Pentax are really what I'm waiting for details about before deciding.

Jan 30, 2012 at 04:43 PM

Gingerbaker
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Canon G1 X

prashant wrote:
how much is difference in sensor size between x10 and x1pro?

The Fuji X10 sensor is 8.8mm x 6.6 mm = 58.1 sq. mm

The Canon G1 x sensor is 18.7mm x 14mm = 261.8 sq mm, or 4.5 times larger

Jan 30, 2012 at 05:39 PM

Gingerbaker
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p.1 #20 · p.1 #20 · Canon G1 X

Pixel Perfect wrote:
The big news about the G1X is the sensor and this will be the basis of their new mirrorless camera. I can't wait for the RAW images to come out to test, but already the jpg's are showing excellent IQ even at ISO 6400. I have little interest in a G1X mainly due to the VF being so atrociously bad and having no EVF option, but I'm sure I'd be happy with the IQ. But I'm hitching my saddle to the mirrorless brigade and OM-D or NX-20 or Pentax are really what I'm waiting for details about before deciding.

Yup. Definitely not an ideal interface. But...

As I mentioned above, there is a video floating around which is a hands-on review/mini documentary of a pro photographer who has been testing one. The camera has a gorgeous 920,000 dot swiveling screen, which he pulls down to horizontal. And then he holds the cam down by his waist, and looks down at the screen, cradling the camera much like the old box reflex film cams of yore. It appeared to be a very non-intimidating way of getting intimate shots of people.

Might be a cool and effective way to take shots?

Jan 30, 2012 at 05:50 PM

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