DPReview.com is closing April 10th - Find out more

Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

Started Oct 24, 2015 | Discussions
jlynchtx
jlynchtx Regular Member • Posts: 193
Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts
10

I received my Canon G9X today from Amazon and I have some initial thoughts.

I have owned the Canon S120 and Canon G7X. I don't currently have either one, so I can't directly compare them side by side. However it does seem like a good cross between the two. S120 pocket-ability with G7X quality in low light.

1. The G9X is slim, but does seem "slightly" thicker than the S120. The textured grip is very comfortable. I like the overall feel in the hand. It also seems VERY light.

2. The lack of a back control dial/ring takes some getting used to. It seems very strange at first just navigating around the menus. You have to change your thinking and use it more like an iPhone or other smartphone. I really wished it had a back control dial. However...

3. Canon has done a good job with the new interface making it much more touch screen friendly. There are several "one" touch buttons on the screoen to change functions with a single press. It really is easy to change Aperture/shutter, exposure comp, ISO, lock exposure, and more. For example...

4. With one touch on the back screen you can switch the dial around the lens to exposure comp. One more touch and it's back to your preferred setting for the dial. You can also just tap the exposure comp or ISO on the screen and then it brings up a larger graphic and you can then change it with the dial around the lens. All in all, it takes getting used to, but it's really not that bad.

5. You can use both the dial around the lens and the zoom lever to navigate around the menus. There is still a "set" button. So you can actually navigate around menus without touching the screen if you want.

6. The Movie button has a ring or "lip" around it which makes it slightly harder to press than the other buttons. I assume this is to make it harder to accidentally press. It's still not as hard to press as my Sony A6000. I would just prefer to leave it alone without the lip around it, but this is a personal preference.

7. The video quality seems good and I don't hear strange auto focusing noises like I always heard with the G7X. Also, the audio quality seems very good. Maybe even better than G7X? But then again, I can't really compare them side by side, it might just be my imagination,

I haven't had it but a few hours, but I am happy with the image and video quality. I think it fulfills my goals of having G7X/RX100 quality, but in a smaller body. This is my backup camera to carry in my pocket and I will use it for both stils and short videos. I liked the S120, but was never happy with the image quality (especially in low light). The only thing I will have to get used to is the lack of a back dial. But with the changes Canon made to the touch screen menu, I think I will be able to handle it fine. I would rather have the small size than the control ring in the back (if I had to choose between the two).

Canon G9 X Canon PowerShot G7 X Canon PowerShot S120 Leica SL (Typ 601)
If you believe there are incorrect tags, please send us this post using our feedback form.
LifeofBryan New Member • Posts: 20
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

Thanks for your initial impressions.

I like what I hear from points 4 and 5. I'm looking forward to seeing it in action. I like that there's quick on screen buttons to switch between modes for the lens dial.

Seems like canon did put some thought into it.

I'm really liking the size of the G9X.

I think it would complement my G3X.

requa
requa Contributing Member • Posts: 860
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

Color me green. I pre-ordered from B&H, but mine is showing as due for delivery on Tuesday according to UPS. Get yours broken in this weekend and let the rest of us know what to be on the lookout for when ours arrive.

By the way, I'm not too surprised you found the touch implementation to be relatively efficient. I used to have an Elph 500 HS which only had a playback button on the back panel with all else controlled by touch. Canon has had plenty of time to work these things out.

Do you have any real world sample images for us? I know many have been looking for some stress testing with high ISO images or other pushing of boundaries to see nhow capable the new small wonder is.

Dan

 requa's gear list:requa's gear list
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Canon G5 X II
damian5000 Senior Member • Posts: 1,948
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

Excellent. Thanks for your thoughts. I just got g7x again, and loving the versatility, but am intrigued by the pocketability and USB in-camera charging of g9x.

 damian5000's gear list:damian5000's gear list
Canon PowerShot G7 X
OpticGlass Contributing Member • Posts: 514
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

Can you take some indoors/outdoors low light, high ISO shots and post them?

dx052 Regular Member • Posts: 119
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts
1

No flip screen on the GX9!!

 dx052's gear list:dx052's gear list
Olympus E-M1 II Olympus 12-40mm F2.8 Pro
mikan
mikan Senior Member • Posts: 1,401
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

Thank you so much for sharing! I've been waiting for a hands-on review for G9X! Like others, I would also love to see some sample pictures, especially in low light.

 mikan's gear list:mikan's gear list
Sony RX100 III Sony a6300 Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS +4 more
Dale Buhanan Veteran Member • Posts: 4,280
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts
1

dx052 wrote:

No flip screen on the GX9!!

Neither is there one on the S120, which this camera upgrades.

-- hide signature --

kind regards
Dale
Moderator Canon Powershot and 7D/XXD forums

 Dale Buhanan's gear list:Dale Buhanan's gear list
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Canon G1 X II Canon EOS 70D Canon PowerShot SD500 Canon PowerShot G5 +35 more
mikan
mikan Senior Member • Posts: 1,401
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts
1

If there was, then the camera would be thicker.

 mikan's gear list:mikan's gear list
Sony RX100 III Sony a6300 Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS +4 more
jlynchtx
OP jlynchtx Regular Member • Posts: 193
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

OpticGlass wrote:

Can you take some indoors/outdoors low light, high ISO shots and post them?

I don't think i will be able to for awhile. Going to be a very busy day for me, if I have time later this weekend, i will try. It's rainy and overcast all weekend though and the pics would not look that good.

jlynchtx
OP jlynchtx Regular Member • Posts: 193
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts
1

mikan wrote:

If there was, then the camera would be thicker.

Yes, the S120 also did not have a touch screen and i accept that because of the ability to pocket the camera. it's a worthwhile trade off to me.

requa
requa Contributing Member • Posts: 860
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

Did your G9 X package include a manual (printed or CD) and software? These are still not available on the Canon USA site.

 requa's gear list:requa's gear list
Olympus Stylus Tough TG-870 Canon G5 X II
Tonkotsu Ramen
Tonkotsu Ramen Senior Member • Posts: 2,380
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

jlynchtx wrote:

mikan wrote:

If there was, then the camera would be thicker.

Yes, the S120 also did not have a touch screen and i accept that because of the ability to pocket the camera. it's a worthwhile trade off to me.

The canon S line started having touch screens with the S110. The S120 also has a touch screen.

Tonkotsu Ramen
Tonkotsu Ramen Senior Member • Posts: 2,380
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

dx052 wrote:

No flip screen on the GX9!!

What is a GX9?

If you mean the G9 X, no, it doesn't. But the G7 X and G5 X have it, get those if you want it. The G9 X is made to be as small as possible.

mikan
mikan Senior Member • Posts: 1,401
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

There is already one review on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B0167Q104K

Interesting comparison with RX100 IV.

 mikan's gear list:mikan's gear list
Sony RX100 III Sony a6300 Sony E 50mm F1.8 OSS Sony E 55-210mm F4.5-6.3 OSS Sony E 16-50mm F3.5-5.6 PZ OSS +4 more
splendic Forum Member • Posts: 57
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts
1

I'd love to know how low a shutter speed you're able to shoot at, handheld, before blurring at both the wide and tele ends.

RX100M2 stabilization was crap, and that's 90% of the reason I'd be trading out for this cam.

Thanks in advance if you have the time to test that out!

 splendic's gear list:splendic's gear list
Sony RX1 Panasonic FZ1000 Sony RX100 IV +1 more
jlynchtx
OP jlynchtx Regular Member • Posts: 193
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

requa wrote:

Did your G9 X package include a manual (printed or CD) and software? These are still not available on the Canon USA site.

Yes, it included the usual manual and software CD (that I never open).

jlynchtx
OP jlynchtx Regular Member • Posts: 193
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

Tonkotsu Ramen wrote:

jlynchtx wrote:

mikan wrote:

If there was, then the camera would be thicker.

Yes, the S120 also did not have a touch screen and i accept that because of the ability to pocket the camera. it's a worthwhile trade off to me.

The canon S line started having touch screens with the S110. The S120 also has a touch screen.

Sorry, I meant to "flip" screen, not touch screen. I do like the touch screen, but I can live without the flip screen to keep the camera thin as possible.

jlynchtx
OP jlynchtx Regular Member • Posts: 193
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

mikan wrote:

There is already one review on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B0167Q104K

Interesting comparison with RX100 IV.

I would agree with his review for the most part. The reviewer specially mentions "Although the camera seems well built, it's not as sturdy as the solid RX100. It doesn't seem like it'll survive falls as well as the RX100 or G7X."

I agree with that to some degree. For whatever reason, it doesn't seem as well built as those two...But not in a bad way or anything, just more plastic was used? it's hard to explain, but I think that's why the camera is much lighter (which I like).

Tonkotsu Ramen
Tonkotsu Ramen Senior Member • Posts: 2,380
Re: Received my Canon G9X - Initial Thoughts

jlynchtx wrote:

mikan wrote:

There is already one review on Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Canon-PowerShot-Digital-Camera-Optical/dp/B0167Q104K

Interesting comparison with RX100 IV.

I would agree with his review for the most part. The reviewer specially mentions "Although the camera seems well built, it's not as sturdy as the solid RX100. It doesn't seem like it'll survive falls as well as the RX100 or G7X."

I agree with that to some degree. For whatever reason, it doesn't seem as well built as those two...But not in a bad way or anything, just more plastic was used? it's hard to explain, but I think that's why the camera is much lighter (which I like).

Is it at least as well built as the Canon S120/S series?

Keyboard shortcuts:
FForum MMy threads