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Am I the only one who perceives a massive IQ advantage for the G1X III over 1-inch models?

Started Jul 27, 2020 | Discussions thread
Jon_T
Jon_T Veteran Member • Posts: 6,393
Re: Am I the only one who perceives a massive IQ advantage for the G1X III over 1-inch models?

Swerky wrote:

Haven't owned any cameras with 1" sensor. But I did own the LX100 II which has a micro 4/3 sensor. A cropped one as a matter of fact. The biggest advantage is at high iso. With the G1X III I can go to iso 4000 no worries. ....

Well of course at the 'same' ISO a good APS-C should out perform the smaller 4/3rds sensor; especially when 100% Pixel Peeping images.

However at the same focal length the GX1 III going to be 1 to 2 stops slower at lens max aperture; i.e., with same lighting conditions with LX100 II at 1600 ISO the GX1 III will need 3200 ISO (24mm EFL f/1.7 vs f/2.8) - 6400 ISO (f/2.8 vs f/5.6).

Below are G1X III and LX100 LL JPG images I downloaded from the DPR Studio Scene Comparison tool HERE (with the low light simulation) to do a side-by- side comparison,

1-Stop Difference: GiX III 3200 ISO — LX100 1600 ISO

2-Stop Difference: G1X III 6400 ISO — LX100 1600 ISO

I have the 80D and the LX100 I. Been pondering past couple of months reading over reviews for the G1X III, and the LX100 II as to getting the G1X III or the LX100 II.

I've read over dozen reviews on each camera, downloaded several dozen JPG+RAW for each camera, and PP RAW images to do my own comparisons,

... The limit on the LX100 II is 1600 really. ...

JPG or RAW images?

Fairly well known that the Achilles' heel of Panasonic compact cameras is the in-camera JPG noise-reduction/ lens corrections. To get the optimum IQ you NEED to shoot RAW.

DxO PhotoLabs Elite Suite provides superior noise reductions and lens corrections compared to the in-camera JPG PP.

Below are some of the DPR's LX100 II low light/ high ISO RAW sample images I downloaded/ PP. (EXIF Data in image)

LX100 II 75mm EFL, f/2.8, 6400 ISO — • — G1X III @ f/5.6 = 12800 ISO

3200 ISO

1600 ISO - Low Light Option

3200 ISO Low Light Option

At 100% pixel peeping one can easily get nick picky, but with normal viewing on display, HD TV, or print 11" x 14" or less images would be fine.

IMO there's far more to a good "photograph" than edge- to-edge tack sharp; e.g., viewing Ansel Adams photographs close up with a magnifying glass.

I ended up getting the LX100 II as a update to my ordinal LX100.

IMO the LX100/ II somewhat of a 'niche' camera that will be most liked by those (like myself) that learned 'photography' using manual operation 35mm film cameras, and enjoy having the manual settings.

The other plus for (myself) the LX100 II's $200 discount. A new G1X III with two extra batteries would be $300 more.

Bottom line, it all depends how one uses the camera, and how image are to be used.

If one mostly uses images to view on a display, HD TV, and/ or share online, very unlikely one will be see difference between a G1X III image or good quality 1"-type sensor image at lower ISO's.

Cheers,
Jon

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