G9X or ?

Hi

Have a question I would like some advice on. I presently have a Canon G12 and was looking at updating it to a G9x. It's to be used as a walk around camera instead of just using my mobile phone. My main camera is a Sony A6000. Or should I just update my phone or is there a better option .

Thanks in advance for any tips on the topic. I had posted this is beginners questions but had no takers.

I ask myself this question occasionally.   So far I haven't picked one up, I suppose because my S110 is still doing fine for me.   The G9X is very compact and light just like my S110.   Reviews say the lens is a little soft at the edge of the image at 28 mm focal length.  From the pictures I see, I don't think it is that big a deal.

I always like the reviews over at www.cameralabs.com.    Their experience always matches mine pretty closely.

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Canon_PowerShot_G9X/verdict.shtml

I had G9X (recently sold it), and when iPhone 7 Plus came out, I went to an Apple store, and took pictures using both cameras and compare them right there. I had to use the iPhone and G9X LCD to view the photos, but the difference was obvious; G9X image was sharper and the colors better, and overall, MUCH MUCH pleasant to the eyes.

It's true G9X lens is a bit soft. I have Sony RX100 M3 as well, and I can tell the difference. I posted comparison pictures on the forum a while ago, and many people actually seem to prefer the G9X images mostly due to colors. And unless you view the pictures full screen on a large monitor, you cannot really tell the sharpness difference. You might want to wait for G9X M2, though. G7X and G7X M2 use the same lens and same sensor, but different processors, and the M2 improves the contrast and high ISO performance, and produces even better colors. A couple of people posted comparison pictures on this forum a few weeks ago, and you can see G7X M2 pictures are sharper and has better contrast, and colors are even better than G7X (you can see the improvement in DPR Studio Comparison pictures as well). I expect G9X M2 to have a similar improvement over the original G9X.

Mikan, why did you get rid of your G9X in the end?

millmeister wrote:

Mikan, why did you get rid of your G9X in the end?

I also have another 1 inch sensor camera, Sony RX100 M3, and although I enjoyed them both, I could not justify keeping them both. It was hard to let it go and I debated over and over, but at the end, it found a good new owner, so I am happy about it after all.

Although nobody asked, since I compared the two cameras in my previous reply, I thought I'd share these in case anybody find them interesting. They compare Sony and Canon auto white balance and noise. In short, Canon G9X AWB is more accurate in Incandescent, and Sony RX100 M3 has less noise at high ISO. (I'm sure G9X M2 will perform better than the original, in terms of high ISO noise, due to the new processor.)

I used both cameras to take pictures of the same scene at their widest focal lengths. I used Aperture mode. As some of you already know, RX100 series has unchangeable 1/30 max shutter speed, whereas Canon's max shutter speed is more (but not perfectly) configurable. Anyway that's the reason for different shutter speeds. Auto ISO picked 800 for both of them. I usually use up to ISO 1600 with 1 inch sensor cameras, so 800 is good enough for this comparison.

Sony on the left, Canon on the right.

Auto ISO. RAW, without any modification. Canon WB is more realistic.

Adjusted the white balance, using the white paper as a reference. Sony looks better now. Not much change in Canon, which means its auto WB was already very good.

Closeup. No noise reduction applied. Sony looks better. Canon is very noisy.

Basic adjustment in Lightroom. NR, sharpness, shadow/highlight, etc applied to Sony. Then I copied the same adjustment setting to Canon.

Closeup after adjustment. Sony is still quite a bit better in terms of noise.

To the OP. I also have a6000 as my main camera, and find RX100 M3 perfectly complement it; unbelieavably good IQ (though of course there is a limitation due to smaller sensor), similar menu item, etc. Sony menu is terrible, but you are already used to the a6000 menu, so that's probably not a problem. Canon UI is better and more user friendly, though. And touch screen is lovely, especially for touch-to-focus. You might want to consider G7X M2 as well, its IQ has improved quite a bit. I am seriously considering exchanging my RX100 M3 with G7X M2, mainly for the touch screen and longer tele, and the lens remains brighter as you zoom up.

Thanks all for your help and advice on this topic. Looks as though I will be buying the G9x or 11 depending on when its released as I would like it before I travel to Vietnam in a couple of weeks. If not I will go with the G9x, as I said its a walk around camera and photos are for Face book and memories probably won't  print to many. Thanks again to those who took the time to reply. The size of the Canon G9x is what I like the most any more ideas or suggestion's always appreciated.

Cheers

Jagom

Well the Mk II is now shipping in the UK. Will get mine tomorrow and will hopefully post some thoughts when I've had the chance to play with it. Coming from an ancient S90 it will hopefully fit the bill (I dabbled with a Ricoh GR last year but didn't get on with it at all - the auto white balance was an absolute disaster).

Thomaxs wrote:

May I please chip in on this post please. I'm looking at getting either the Canon or Sony but am having trouble deciding. I have put a post in beginers questions if you are interested.

Cheers.

I had/have the 100 M 3. Fedex lost it, so no know if I will have it a day.

But now I am in Asia and need desperately a replacement for my holiday pics here.

To see what the RX 100 can do follow my links. Most are shot with the RX 100, some (portraits) with the Canon EOS 650.

Now my problem is the RX 100 can maybe found by fedex. I was extremely happy with it, best smaller camera I ever had. I would go for the G 9, ir G 7, so I not will have 2 RX 100, if they find it back.  But..... G 7 has maybe bit better zoom capability (better   for portraits), the G 9 not and is just more pocket-able, but BOTH not have a viewfinder.

As I not see so well close any more, that means having my spectacles with me everywhere, which is not always confident, so I am afraid, I have not much options.

And even with that slight handicap, and with glasses on, in bright islands sunlight, not see much on a screen....

Really happy with it so far but have not had a chance to analyse the image output in great detail. Unfortunately my version of Lightroom can't manage CR2 files so I need to update or use the Adobe DNG converter. Just need the time to do it.

Initial thoughts:

• Form factor is great. It fits my existing Lowepro case that I'd been using for my S90
• Touch screen will take some time getting used to. I do miss having a tactile button to scroll through photos
• Wifi transfer seems a little clunky 
• Menu system is excellent and I the Q button is really useful for quickly accessing settings
• Scene modes look interesting. Have been playing around with the Grainy B/W setting
• I'm currently using a really old SD card so can't comment on speed / continuous shooting
• The jpegs that I have transferred to my phone look great but until I'm able to analyse the raw files properly in Lightroom, I won't be able to give a definitive opinion on IQ. This is the most important point after all! Will try and post some images when we get some sunshine in the UK.

Some recent photos from my G9Xii. Jpeg only unfortunately - Lightroom currently unable to process the RAW files.

Nice pics. Cant see any pro reviews of the g9x II online yet.

The g9x does have very soft corners at its wide setting (aparently all cameras in this class do). You can only notice it in some scenes though.

I would upgrade if it had a sharper lens and closer macro focus, unless this update makes a big difference with just the new processor.

I just recently upgraded from the G15 to the G7X II. The G12 is only marginally larger than the G15, so I think I know what you will experience sizewise. I loved the G15 and wouldn't have wanted anything smaller. I'm 6"2" and have never ever accused me of having dainty hands. The G9X or G9X II would be much too small for my taste. While the G7X II is somewhat shorter in height than the G15 (15mm shorter), I've gotten use to the difference. But if you're happy with the smaller form, by all means go with the G9X II.

Fitmiss wrote:

I currently have an S95 and wonder if it is worth it to buy the G9X II. I'd get a 1" sensor and double the pixels but wouldl loose on the range a bit (105 to 84).

Not that much, as I explained there https://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/59035519