Just Posted: Canon PowerShot G1 X review

I am weighing up buying one for street use, maybe some camera designer will come up with the ultimate street shooter, something discreet, the flippy screen is handy, the tuff body is a boon, the slow focusing is a no,no. the big sensor makes the effort rewarding, but yea a small fast to use street shooter, thats what i would like.

dpreview: "... and comfortable rubber grips"
sorry mates! I don't buy it.
it looks to me almost as impossible to hold the G1X with one hand by the grip as it is to hold the G12, which, by the way, is impossible. and this is a big set-back for me, because a camera with tilting screen can't hang on your neck, because the strap hangs in between the screen and your eyes. and if you can't hold in one hand by the grip, so how do you hold it?
this is just a lousy ergonomy.

It's tempting as I get very tired of carrying my D90 and backpack full of equipment. However, the lens is just too slow for me. Never could deal with the slow kit 3.5-5.6 lenses...this is of that ilk. A shorter zoom range and faster glass might well get my attention.

Forgot to add that I looked at this camera when my local dealer first got them in and it just reinforced my opinion of the slow lens. The demo camera had difficulty focusing on items within the shop which were at normal room lighting levels. Eventually it would get them in focus, but it took too long to be useful for my kind of photography.

OK folks! Time to lighten up. The pros and cons of the G1 X have been covered ad nauseam and some of the posters here are just being trolls. That might have been intentional or it might not. If the following page doesn't make you smile please be advised that you are part of the problem, not part of the solution.
http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2012/03/hammerforum-com

No sightings of the camera to my knowledge at Estadio Algarve this past weekend, though frankly the camera would be poorly suited for such a venue since the action requires quick glass with long reach and rapid AF.

I'd have thought though that its size and image quality would make it popular for candids and/or crowd shots. It could be the camera is too new, nobody spent any time looking for it specifically, or the colleagues that'd considered it for their kit share my apprehension due to the AF problems.

Next round is at the end of the month, giving all the enthusiasts ample time to shell out... $800 USD for the G1X and the venue is near the lake at San Roque, so there are plenty of still shots to be had I suppose that won't have to rely on AF speed or lens reach. I'd welcome a revue of the camera's utility from anyone attending the event (or even non-world ch. events for that matter).

I’ve used this camera for a few weeks.

I absolutely love it.

Excellent Image quality. Beats any other compact or 4/3 I have used, and gives many DLSR’s a run for their money.

Excellent handling with full spread of manual controls right where I need them.

Fantastic low light performance: useable shots throughout ISO range, combined with great image stabilisation, means you will still be taking natural portraits with well-lit backgrounds when other compacts and 4/3’s will be making their subjects look like pasty red-eyed 2D cut-outs with their built-in flash.

This seems like a perfect landscape camera for those willing to live with this specific aperture / lens combination, and lack of a good viewfinder. Personally, the CSC cameras have a lot more to offer in terms of AF, fast lenses, and EVF's that I'd still go that route...the senor is marginally larger than MFT options and you gain a lot more image quality in low light being able to add an f/1.8 lens.

Depth of field control is still limited compared to large sensor PLUS large aperture. This camera seems to tick the boxes but ultimately doesn't add up to a compelling option for me.

This camera reminds me of the S1is. When that camera was first introduced, it satisfied a demand in the market that no other model did as well. But it was a slow camera with very basic features. Then a little later, they came out with the S2is. They added a little more zoom, more megapixels, stereo microphones, simultaneous capture of video & stills, a larger LCD, and a few other things. But that was enough to convince me to upgrade. I'll bet that's their plan for this camera. Make it good enough that people will buy it, but don't make it too good. You've gotta keep them coming' back for more! But the competition is fierce now, so I don't think that philosophy's going to work as well anymore. Some brands are putting their all into their designs, and that's what I like.

When my Nikon DSLR and all the lenses and filters in a flipside 300 backpack is a pain to carry, this is the one camera that I would “choose” to have in a pocket.

I owned 3 G Series Canons and they were great all round cameras, but I think that the fixed retractable lens design are flawed because the dust gets in a bit to easily. If you use this camera outdoors, I recommend you pay the extra $150.00 or so for an extended warranty.I'm now using a weather sealed interchangable lens and camera system and wish I had done it earlier.

Brilliant example of confusion.
Close to APS but no 4.3...
Close to G12 in size but not a G series...
With a rather dark lens along with a lot of rathers..!

A large-sensor-fixed-lens-mirrorless camera doesn't make sense in my opinion due to the fast evolution of the mirrorless system. mirrorless cameras of today are much much better of mirrorless cameras of two years ago.
It's better to buy a decent interchangable lens mirrorles camera today and a couple of excellent lenses. Two short years from now you can upgrade to a much better mirrorless camera and already have the lenses. But if you buy the G1X today, what will you do with it in 2014?
The question is: don't Canon and Nikon understand that in a couple of years the mirrorless cameras quality will match the best DSLR ?

this should be called "Powershot PRO 2" or "Powershot PRO G" instead of G1X

In regards to the "Silver Award" given to the Canon G1 X by DP Review in its test review...check out this link:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/news/2012/03/21/canon-g1-x-exhibits-light-leak-or-internal-reflection-in-certain-conditions

Note that if you search DP Review for "Canon PowerShot G1 X light leak", you'll come up with NO links or discussions of the problem...what the hell is going on at DP Review? Is it run by Canon fanboyz?

There are many in this forum who wish for a zoom lens starting at 24mm/f2.0 on the G1X. The fact is, if Canon were to choose a 24mm/f2.0 on the G1x, they would probably also use the 1/1.7" sensor from the S100 in order to maintain a sensible size. The image quality for the G1X would then be very close to the S100, just like the G12/S95 pair. So, for those who want a 24mm/f2.0 lens and do not give a hood about the sensor size, then why not consider the S100?

I was a bit disappointed that the G 1X didn't come with a "real" instruction book, just a PDF. I like to carry around the instructions with me as I learn a new camera.

So, I took the PDF and transferred it to both my iPhone and my iPad as an iBook. Having it on my iPhone will be very helpful since I have my phone with me all the time.

If you want to know how to do this here's a link that shows you: http://www.simplehelp.net/2010/06/22/how-to-add-pdf-files-to-read-in-ibooks-on-your-ipad-ipod-touch-or-iphone/

I do not see this camera as a compelling one in the current market. It struggles to "bridge" the gap between the larger sensor higher quality images and the compactness and versatility of smaller cameras.

Basically it is trying to be small enough to be pocketable and maybe it is but it compromises too much on Focus speed (this is just from the review and frankly it is probably not that bad) and distance (which instead is a big disadvantage at least in my applications).

In the "bridge" market I prefer the M43 offering which has lots of flexibility, kit options that are smaller and lighter, and similar or better image quality (thanks to the interchangeable lenses). And some recent compact cameras like the S95/S100, Oly XZ1, Nikon P series are not far off in image quality at low ISO (but with distinct advantages over the G1x).
Canon is just under pressure in this market segment and trying a new approach (this is the only Canon revolution for now).

Not recognizing the revolutionary design of the lens for me is the major shortfall of the review. That is disappointing because I was always under the impression that for the reviewers here, photographic elements of a camera are way more important than gimmicks like in camera filters or video capabilities. If you look at the lens, Canon has not only delivered high quality glass but also really taken it to the limits of what can be done given size restraints and also probably price point. There are only two other cameras that I had considered prior to he announcement of the G1X: The Fuji x100 and the Sony NEX 7. What made me go for the G1X is the lens! It is tiny, yet has a very acceptable zoom range and still starts at 2.8 and ends at 5.8 which is normal for most kit lenses (for camera with comparable sensor size). Thus I strongly believe that dpreview should revisit their review.

I think the G1 X is likely fail auto focus in low light (I ran into this problem with Sam NX200). Indoors, try AF at max aperture, which should AF okay and then keep zooming in and retrying AF at some intervals. It is likely the AF will run out of the needed light at some F stop. DPR did not catch this on NX200 and will talk around it on G1 X.

G1X was designed to get a large sensor compact camera with a usable zoom range. The form factor is intentionally to be the smallest possible (or smallish). There are consequences of this form factor: The collapsible lens' distortion is high and thus image must be corrected during processing. Further, this processing slows possibly down the fps rate.
This lens design (be unobtrusive and collapsible) cannot cope well with close range photography, therefore the continuous switch back and forth to macro. Also the AF is sluggish (large sensor, narrow DOF, much AF work). So what you guys damn about this camera is coming from its being too small. I mean too small for the sensor size and for it was intended to be flat and bricklike. All in all the final achievement by Canon is outstanding considering the predefined selfconstraints.
Here comes the multimillion dollar question: Who set the objectives right: Canon with G1X or Nikon with the ONE system? Sales figures will tell.

Bought the G1X camera March 2. On march 6, purchased Adobe creative suites 5.5 design standard to upgrade CS 4 version for the raw converter for the G1X. If you search Adobe Photoshop CS5/ Extend: camera Raw support page (google) you will see that the G1X is in the supported camera list. This is a lie. The problem is this the latest version of raw conversion for CS Photoshop 5.5 is camera raw 6.6 which doesn't support this camera. In theory, it will come out in the next raw conversion v 6.7. There is a beta version of that raw converter available through Adobe labs. I have contacted Canon and informed them of this misrepresentation and called Adobe daily and am in an escalated case with Adobe, which is smoke and mirrors and gone nowhere. The Rock and the hard spot is is pretty simple. 1) Adobe will not make a backwards compatible raw converter to CS 4 and 2) the 5.5 version advertising the G1X raw as a supported platform is a lie. In the meantime they are Beta testing CS6 and Raw 7.

Now you guys forced me to decide. I’m gonna make! How it will be the best camera ever? Well: It will be a full frame, will fit in the palm of your hand, weighs three ounces, focal length of 6 mm to 1200 mm. The features will be limited only by your thinking: Everything you can think and desire the camera will do perfectly. I mean it will be led only and just by your mind! Will have so much resolution that you will have doubts if it is a reflection of reality that you have in your hand or the reality itself. Finally it will cost you a dollar. Something still to criticize?

Still nothing can match the Olympus XZ-1 for recording those precious pictures of your paper clip collection.

Just think of all the incredible photos all of us could have taken with the various cameras we own and love if we were out taking pics instead of rehashing the pros and cons of this camera.

I have decided to wait on a faster model, meaning, operationally and lens-wise.

Dan comment: "The G1X is a sloooooooow camera"
You take a wonderful picture show it to a friend and he says: Oh what a pity ,such a wanderful picture mas it was taken with a slow camera.
Aren't you ll mixing things?
Ok it has a poor macro! Ok it is slow continuos shooting, ok bla bla bla, BUT IT TAKES WNDERFUL PICTUES WITH VERY VERY GOOD RESOLUTION! I repeat better than any M43, an even must of DSLR. It is enough to me! I CARE ABOUT IQ! You try elsewhere.

This G1X would be perfect with a brighter lense and Fuji colours.
So I still have to wait unfortunately.
I don't understand why they did not put a brighter lense to this camera like Fuji has done on X10.
Maybe there will be further models with large sensors AND bright lenses this summer. So long, I will wait ..

This camera has many flaws. The review tells you all about them (don't just look at the score!). Still, it may be the best choice for some people. For example if you are traveling and only want to bring _one_ relatively compact camera and no additional lenses and still want high image quality.

Your alternatives:

- Panasonic GX1 (or any other m4/3-cam) + Pancake Zoom 14-42.
As compact and _almost_ as versatile (but nor quite!) as the G1X. Unfortunately, the lens is crap!

- Any m4/3-system or other mirrorless cam with "normal" zoom.
All the lenses are more bulgy _and_ slower.

- Any m4/3-system or other mirror less cam with pancake prime.
Certainly very good IQ but sacrificing versatility.

- Any "high end" small sensor compact (such as X10, S100, XZ1...).
This would certainly work in many situations but you still have the limitations of the smaller sensor.

To all the people complaining about the "slow lens" of the G1X:
Please show me a zoom lens that
- covers a m4/3- or larger sensor
- has a a zoom range, which is as versatile as the G1X's (3x or preferably 4x zoom range starting at wide angle)
- is faster than the G1X's lens
- is as compact as the G1X's lens
(- and of course costs less than a G1X ;) )

Finally got to try one and still can't figure out why would anyone buy one.

Burst rate, AF and zoom feels really slow. The ring around the lens doesn't do anything though I couldn't help trying to twist it. So how do you manually focus? It's tricky! Makes the slow AF a bigger problems since the work around (MF) isn't so easy. The focus distance is annoyingly far too.

Feels nice too hold with good controls, but it's quite chunky and heavy; much more than a mirrorless+pancake. It would be uncomfortable to put the G1X in a pocket. Actually, I had my E-PL2+20/1.7 with me and it's more portable. IQ is good but in the same neighbourhood as current m4/3, but you're stuck w/ the mediocre lens.

Anyway, an m4/3 or NEX is a better buy even if you don't intend to buy another lens. Save yourself $300 and get an E-PM1. Or, if you need a swivel LCD and a VF, get the G3, which is $200 cheaper and LCD is even touch sensitive. Also, the EVF so much better. Both are more responsive than the G1X too.

Uh-oh! You know what happens whenever DPReview gives something a good score!

Remember this for next time, DPReview. If you can't complain enough about something, don't say anything at all. That's the advice of 90% of people on here.

When a great Sony camera comes out, say it's just a Sony and can't compete and no real pros or even enthusiasts use Sony, so the company shouldn't even bother. Then, when a Canon comes out, say how Sony is so far ahead, and Canon has fallen behind and Canon is as good as dead. Then, when a Nikon comes out, say how their product is too expensive for anyone to buy, and nobody would even think about buying it anyway because doesn't have enough features to warrant upgrading over the previous version.

Stick with that, and you're sure to have the people here in the comments section love you again!

Poor howardroark .... it must suck to have spent $800 on a P&S whose lens cover is attached with a tiny string.

LMAO.

Another quirky camera, like the Fuji X-Pro1, with some unacceptable flaws. $800 for this compact fixed lens camera?

And it got a Silver award?! Silver must be cheap these days.

When a company doesn't want to cripple its DSLR sales, even sales of the lowest and cheapest model they offer, they design an obviously compromised product that was supposed to be an answer to something.
To me, it looks a lot more like another iteration of the old paradigm: if one doesn't have a proper, or honest answer to a question, or simply avoids the right answer by protecting some "higher interests", all one can go through is to raise more and more questions.

In law it's called perjury and it's punishable.
In camera business it's called a mirrorless camera business model of a big DSLR maker.

The trouble with a camera that ticks all the boxes, is that they don't do anything really well. And this camera ticks a lot of boxes. Big sensor, lots of external controls, good flip out screen, optical view finder, bright lens, reasonable zoom range, well built, compact.

Those are the ticked boxes. But when it come time to own it, you find a few shortcomings that are going to niggle at you. You start by taking some portraits of your kids and find at a good portrait focal length that you only have F5, so the images, though sharp enough don't quite have that pop that you were expecting given the sensor size.

Then you take it to your kids football game and the shadows across the field late in the day combined with the limited zoom and slower aperture don't make a good combination.