Canon G5x II vs G1x III for concert photography

larkhon wrote:

Hello,

I've used both cameras in concerts, but not in the same period. I've actually sold the G1x III for the G5x II as my copy wasn't really sharp enough for landscape compared to some mirrorless kits and thought more reach for concerts would be more useful.

Now, I find that even at f5.6 ISO 3200 some pictures from the G1x III capture the light and colours on the stage better than 1" sensored cameras (I also have the TZ200, and I had various Sony RXs) at much lower ISO. The very few times I manage to smuggle a GM1+35-100mm into a concert, there would also be a clear improvement, although the sensor is not that much bigger (the lens is very good too).

Did anyone have similar experience with 1" compact cameras and bigger cameras/sensors? I'm happy with the clean (thanks to the f1.8-2.8 lens) and sharp pictures, and the G1x III is probably the only fixed lens camera with a sensor that big and lens that long, so the question is should I buy it again?

Thanks for your inputs.

I have a G5x mkI and previously a G7x mkI, G9x mkII. Personally, I find ISO 800, while having visible noise still looks quite good. ISO 1600, 3200 the colours can start looking drab and the noise intrusive. A program like DXO deep prime set to luminance 0 can lightly remove and even out some of that noise to make useable, but softer looking photos. The mediocre lens sets the stage for a lack of super sharp details however. Jpegs ooc and DPP4 look horrid so for shots I actually care about, I'll do my own RAW conversions and post.

I've had informal comparisons against bigger sensors. For one of my dad's big milestone bdays, we had a large dinner and dance. A friend shot a Nikon D5100, 18-55mm F3.5-5.6 on auto. The camera would select ISO 3200-6400 and slower shutters. The out of camera jpegs looks really good in terms of detail and nice colour, not smudgy like cell phones or even messy like ISO 1600 on G5x which I was shooting.  I was more focused on partying and not dedicated shooting. I suppose I could have kept things down at ISO 400-800 if I had slower shutters. Still, I was impressed by the Nikon APS-C.

G5x against my m43 gear. The 16 and 20MP sensors I find look good to ISO 3200 with good noise levels and colour. Then at 6400 blotchy, smudginess starts creeping if in really dark settings, although I do still shoot up there and higher if I need to. Once again DXO can help even things out a bit.

Previously, on my old 7D1, I found I could push those files very hard. Having a later Canon 24MP or even 32MP APS-C, I could see having a lot of post production malleability.

So, I could see the G1x mkIII yielding good results. You've had both so you're in a much better position to make that leap back in.   I've seen a few G1x mkiii float by used. One lately for 385 USD. I was slightly tempted based on having a 24mm weather resistant small body but ultimately passed.