A Canon lover and a non lover G5X short review

Canon lover review: G5X better than Leica!

Non lover:

I liked my S90 very much. Slippery though.

Liked my S95 very much.

I even liked my AE-1 a lot back at MIT.

I liked my G12 and my G15.

I even used a Canon flash 270EX on my G12 and G15.

And the most brilliant flash of all time that works with every camera ever made, the tiny matchbook sized Canon HF-DC1

Now the G5X vs the LX100: the LX100 indoors in low light does not focus well at all. The LX100 misfocuses. Outdoors in good light the LX100 is fine. The G5X indoors focuses better than the LX100. It is a good performer in low indoor light. But the G5X is not designed to be a low light super star.

My compact low light superstars are my Nikon Coolpix A (AP-S 28mm f2.8), my Ricoh GR, my Olympus PL7 (with its glorious VF-4 EVF) and the amazing Panasonic 20mm f1.7 prime, my tiny smaller than S95 Pana GM1 with the 20mm 1.7. Those give you clean ISO 1600 and even clean ISO 3200. The small Pana 12-32mm stabilizes the panas but it is a slow lens.

The EVF of the G5X is fantastic. Smooth and clear. Much better than the Sony RX100III/IV, better than the LX100. (Not as good as the larger Oly VF-4 though)

The G5X and G7X give you clean ISO 1600 at 1.8 but not at 3200. And clean ISO 800 at 2.8.

Now the G5X was not built to be a stellar low light indoor camera. If it bounced its little flash like the GM1 I would like it more. The 270EX flash looks balanced on it.

The G5X and G7X low light indoor pictures have a milky film to them. A lot of color punch. I can see that is all published Dpreview pictures. Perhaps a little softness that aging faces would welcome and erase some wrinkles. The Sony RX100III has more saturated colors, not the Sony is not excellent for skin tones like the Canons.

Bottom line, just like the LX100, the G5X and G7X have the THE lens. They are vacation superstars. That 1.8-2.8 lens. For no work at all the G7X can bounce its flash with the rubber band secret. Canon should bounce it. People do not like to be flashed in the eyes. Some 4 small panasonics bounce their flash and that works great at ISO 800 for small groups of say 5 people.

Canon: if you want to make a ton of money copy the Nikon A or the Ricoh GR and give it a 35mm f2. Or a ton more money with a 35-50mm f2.4. Bounce the flash.

Do I like the G5X? Yes. The G7X too but the wheel clicks too loud, would bother the Church service of quiet places.

Personally I have taken some 100,000 pictures into my iPhoto. 10,000 of family. 80,000 at zoos. I like to take low light indoors with a prime. Outdoors at events i like the Olympus Stylus 1 28-200 F2.8 with medium to good light. If focuses fast and has good IQ even at 6PM.

I think the G5X is brilliant for vacations. And for outdoors every day.

I think the G5X is very handsome.

The G6X can be even better: 4K, same lens or even slightly heavier 1.7 - 2.8. Bounce flash.

I am not a photographer, I am a camera collector.

Nice review, man. I think it's understandable re your opinion of low light performance, i.e. your coming from Stylus and primes. 3200 is very usable, though a bit soft depending on light IMUO.

The Olympus Stylus 1 is 28-300mm f2.8.  It needs medium to good light.  Great for zoos and fast sport events.

Right, the Stylus 1/1.7". Sorry, I meant the Coolpix mentioned earlier. In comparison to these primes, its understandable.

I am impressed with the AF on the G5X.  Most low light pictures with the LX100 were OOF.  The G5X does much better, it is focusing great in low light.

I played with the Vivid G5X setting and got much more vivid colors on the G5X.

Skin tones are more pleasant with the G5X.  The LX100 skin tones are not good, as Panasonic jpegs are seldom good.  The Canon G5x is yielding great skin tones.

I am liking the G5X more and more.