Got an email today from a dealer offering a preorder on the new G1X, a point and shoot with a 4:1 zoom, optical finder and the ability to shoot raw. It sounds like a great walk around camera to me, as an old time Leica user.
It's $200 more than the Fuji, but the bigger sensor is appealing. On the other hand, the lens is slower. I also wonder if it trips and fires as quickly as an slr, or is plagued by the usual point and shoot time parallax.
These days I mostly use Nikons and am unfamiliar with Canon .
What's your take on this camera and how it compares with the FUJI?
I don't know anything about the G1X - except for what I read.
If you are looking for something that packs a lot of punch and is easy to carry around, I can highly recommend the Canon S100.
I cannot express how highly I think of this camera which does about everything you could want. It has built in GPS, HDR and panorama. It shoots raw. The only thing it doesn't do is scratch your back. It is much smaller then a pack of cigarettes and does very well in low light.
Go to a camera shop and try one.
The only thing is that the manual is delivered on a CD and cost about $ 12.00 to print out.
The camera companies think they are saving money by antagonizing the consumer.
I don't really classify the G-series cameras (or the Fuji X-series) as point-and-shoot cameras. They have a full compliment of automatic and manual adjustments, eye-level viewfinders (Not SLR equivalent, but better than arms-length LCD displays.), etc.
I haven't had a chance to look at a G1 X, but I've used the G9 and it didn't have the slow response I've experienced when shooting other people's P&S cameras, and I don't expect the G1 X to be any different.
I don't know anything about the G1X - except for what I read.
If you are looking for something that packs a lot of punch and is easy to carry around, I can highly recommend the Canon S100.
I cannot express how highly I think of this camera which does about everything you could want. It has built in GPS, HDR and panorama. It shoots raw. The only thing it doesn't do is scratch your back. It is much smaller then a pack of cigarettes and does very well in low light.
Go to a camera shop and try one.
The only thing is that the manual is delivered on a CD and cost about $ 12.00 to print out.
The camera companies think they are saving money by antagonizing the consumer....Show more →
I don't have the S100, but I do have the S95 and I can tell you it IS NOT EVERYTHING I CAN WANT. It has a long shutter lag, no viewfinder, no external flash hot shoe, poor low light performance, and the IQ is decent when the light is decent.
I think the OP was looking for something that's a step up from a good point and shoot.
There is an interesting Q&A with Chuck Westfall here. Regarding the responsiveness, it uses the same contrast detect AF that the G12 does but has a faster Digic 5 processor that may improve performance a bit. It won't be as responsive as a phase detect DSLR. Westfall states that the Digic 5 processor yields processed jpeg noise levels slightly better than the 7D while DxO rates the raw sensor slightly below the 7D. Other pre-production feed back that I've read indicates we should expect kit lens sharpness but that the lens shows little CA or distortion. My expectation is that it will have better IQ than a G12 at low ISO and much better at high. DPR has sample images that are worth looking at.
The G1X will be released early April, so its not out yet. It has a larger sensor than the micro 4/3, but uses the 4:3 aspect ratio. The optical view finder, from reviews, is not that good, but all else is suppose to be great. It does have full manual controls like an SLR and takes RAW shots.
Although the Fuji X10 has many features, it still leaves much to be desired. I would personally wait for the Canon G1X in April.
I have the G12 and like it a lot for the way I use it. Just keep in mind that its view finder is nearly useless. From the preview seen so far it looks like it will be the same on the G1X
papageno wrote:
Got an email today from a dealer offering a preorder on the new G1X, a point and shoot with a 4:1 zoom, optical finder and the ability to shoot raw. It sounds like a great walk around camera to me, as an old time Leica user.
It's $200 more than the Fuji, but the bigger sensor is appealing. On the other hand, the lens is slower. I also wonder if it trips and fires as quickly as an slr, or is plagued by the usual point and shoot time parallax.
These days I mostly use Nikons and am unfamiliar with Canon .
What's your take on this camera and how it compares with the FUJI?
You will probably need to hold and operate both before deciding. The larger sensor in G1X should give it about a 2-stop advantage over the x10 sensor. However the G1X lens is slower by 1 stop on wide end and a bit more than 2-stops on the long end. So that eliminates a lot of the sensor advantage for most of the range. And of course a lot depends on the quality of the lens as well and we don't know much about that aspect for either of the cameras. Plus how they compare in terms of speed of operation is also going to be a consideration.
Also G1x is larger than G12 which in itself is also not a small camera by any means. X10 is also not as small as other 'compacts' but it should still be pretty small compared to G1x.
Personally I would be more inclined towards XZ-1, LX-5 or X10 over the G1X at this point.
I considered the X10 and spend time playing with one. Very nice feel in the hand: solid, logical controls and a real looker. The images seemed a notch up from my S90 in terms of IQ but I wanted a little more. Ended up with a E-P3 and pancake and have been very pleased with the IQ, especially at ISO 800 and 1600 where my S90 really fell short. Terrible menu system but the important things like FEC, EC, ISO and aperture are assigned to physical buttons and dials. I really like the option of using other lenses although I only have two lenses at the moment.
rsg_1 wrote:
The G1X will be released early April, so its not out yet.
Canon's press release estimated a February availability, but Amazon is estimating March shipments for pre-orders. Hopefully we'll get some hands-on reviews this month.
The long-awaited firmware to address the horrendous blooming issue on the X10 has been released and all indications are that the issue has barely been mitigated at all. I'm relieved my intuition compelled me to return mine during the grace period. No matter how good the picture quality, you would always be constrained by the limitations the blooming imposes. I really can't imagine Canon releasing any camera, including the G1X with such a hardware flaw.
I had a G10 and really liked it but when I bought an S95, I rarely used it and finally sold it. The S95 is so much more compact and portable. The G1X looks interesting. One thing about G viewfinders though, they're really not that good. I only used the one on the G10 in really bright sunlight when the screen was hard to see.
Thanks---she still complains about washing clothes made from leafs, but what can you do....
I should point out that what I want is specifically an eye level camera with good available light capability and zip shutter lag.
On the Fuji, it seems like sensor size would turn out to be a quality issue at higher ISOs. I have no idea if the blooming phenomenon would be visible or a real pain...
Apparently the Canon viewfinder is really marginal (which is critical to me; I wear specs) and I don't like the lens speed at anything beyond the widest settings.
papageno wrote:
I should point out that what I want is specifically an eye level camera with good available light capability and zip shutter lag.
Apparently the Canon viewfinder is really marginal (which is critical to me; I wear specs) and I don't like the lens speed at anything beyond the widest settings.
Sounds like you wouldn't be happy with the new G. I don't think its up to your specs yet.
Jeff Nolten wrote:
Canon's press release estimated a February availability, but Amazon is estimating March shipments for pre-orders. Hopefully we'll get some hands-on reviews this month.
March 31st.
Most of us won't have it until Monday April 3rd, 2012.
I've use various G series canons from the G2 up to my current G11 and found them good cameras but not a patch on the canon SLRs.
I had a hands on with the G1x a couple of weeks ago and got some jpegs and RAW files (which I currently can't read). from the camera
The Jpegs at 400ASA were quite impressive compared to the G11. I would recommend waiting till the cameras are available and then try them out and see what you think.
Personally I'll be trading the G11 in for a G1x as my backup / take anywhere camera.
John
Thanks for the info John. Please share more hands on impressions if you wish.
I have really enjoyed my Gs as an alternative to my SLRs. They've weighed about a pound (US), take a polarizer filter (with adapter), external flash, and Canon offers an underwater housing good to 30 meters. The G1X will weight about 1.2 lbs and probably have a larger UW housing but otherwise similar in handling. Because of the larger sensor, it may require a 250D filter to equal the macro of the previous Gs. And its going to cost more money. But DxO's sensor test and sample imagery indicate it may serve as a great 2nd body when the DSLR has a specialized lens on it. I look forward to seeing the full reviews.
