G5X original vs G7X family & G3X

I`ve had enough of my old RX100 (Mk1) falling to bits (having to take it apart to reconnect dodgy connections) and the lens being both slow and soft at the long end , also no EVF . but its done well - I had a G1X Mk1 8 years up til its demise last year but Prior to the RX100 I had an S90 and before that a whole boatload of Canon G, S series & Ixus compacts going back to the end ot the 90s so re-looking at the 1" sensor models ..

I know 1; - the G5X "Mk1" and the G7X family share the same lens, and its caveats (poor at the wide end, gets better as you zoom and all that) , 2:- that the 1st gen models are a bit sluggish , the G7X Mk1 seemed less responsive than my ancient G1X at the time anyway 3:- I know the G5X Mk2 is where its at but I hated the pop up EVF on the RX100 MK3 I briefly had and sold (and dug the tatty Mk1 out of the drawer again) and the MK2 is very expensive and lacks the M series Ergos and grip of the Mk1 ..

So How does the G5X original stack up against the G7X family as far as responsiveness overall is concerned (Hopefully quicker than the G7X orig at launch) , I`m not after continuous tracking or anything but a cam which is like molasses shot to shot drives me nuts .. same , how about the G3X .. I Know the sensor from the Sonys, I shoot RAW exclusively and use capture one . the Orig G5X is attractive as it has a fixed EVF, EOS-M5 ergos and is only a lump on top bigger than an RX100

Thanks

AdamT wrote:

I`ve had enough of my old RX100 (Mk1) falling to bits (having to take it apart to reconnect dodgy connections) and the lens being both slow and soft at the long end , also no EVF . but its done well - I had a G1X Mk1 8 years up til its demise last year but Prior to the RX100 I had an S90 and before that a whole boatload of Canon G, S series & Ixus compacts going back to the end ot the 90s so re-looking at the 1" sensor models ..

I know 1; - the G5X "Mk1" and the G7X family share the same lens, and its caveats (poor at the wide end, gets better as you zoom and all that) , 2:- that the 1st gen models are a bit sluggish , the G7X Mk1 seemed less responsive than my ancient G1X at the time anyway 3:- I know the G5X Mk2 is where its at but I hated the pop up EVF on the RX100 MK3 I briefly had and sold (and dug the tatty Mk1 out of the drawer again) and the MK2 is very expensive and lacks the M series Ergos and grip of the Mk1 ..

So How does the G5X original stack up against the G7X family as far as responsiveness overall is concerned (Hopefully quicker than the G7X orig at launch) , I`m not after continuous tracking or anything but a cam which is like molasses shot to shot drives me nuts .. same , how about the G3X .. I Know the sensor from the Sonys, I shoot RAW exclusively and use capture one . the Orig G5X is attractive as it has a fixed EVF, EOS-M5 ergos and is only a lump on top bigger than an RX100

Thanks

I don't know the answer but just get the latest and start shooting.  

I can only speak about the G3X. Many folks like to write it off because it is too slow, no built in view finder etc. But for me, given its 24-600 zoom in a reasonably small footprint which good IQ overall it fits my needs for an all in one camera. It won’t fit in your pants pocket or shirt pocket but I don’t need something that small. I do recommend having the external viewfinder, though I rarely need to use it. But it is handy for the times you do want to use it. For me it is all the camera I need and I have been into photography since the 1960’s when I was on my middle school yearbook committee and we shared an old Pentax SLR to take photos around school. But the truth is that there are many cameras to choose from and they are all great in their own way depending upon your needs. My needs are travel and landscapes and general photography. I don’t care about high speed action which the G3X is not good at. And the G3X’s closest competitor is the Sonny RX10IV which is significantly bigger and heavier due to its faster lens. Hope this helps.

Agapeman wrote:

I can only speak about the G3X. Many folks like to write it off because it is too slow, no built in view finder etc. But for me, given its 24-600 zoom in a reasonably small footprint which good IQ overall it fits my needs for an all in one camera.

I kinda got this impression about the G3X and from what I`ve seen, the lens is a lot better than the panasonics , even the big FZ1000 .. the issue is the current price new or  used for the aged tech - combined with at least £150 (for a used DC1) on top for the IMO necessary EVF .. it`s a shame they never gave the G3X the same Mk2/3 CPU updates which the G7X received and updated it with a built in EVF

AdamT wrote:

So How does the G5X original stack up against the G7X family as far as responsiveness overall is concerned (Hopefully quicker than the G7X orig at launch) , I`m not after continuous tracking or anything but a cam which is like molasses shot to shot drives me nuts .. same , how about the G3X .. I Know the sensor from the Sonys, I shoot RAW exclusively and use capture one . the Orig G5X is attractive as it has a fixed EVF, EOS-M5 ergos and is only a lump on top bigger than an RX100

I had both the G7x mkI and the G5x mkI. I didn't feel there was any significant difference in the AF speed nor the shot to shot for RAW. It is listed at 1fps and it does feel like that.

I like the design and had hoped for a mkii in the same or slightly improved body. Alas no.

My uncle has a LX10 which I'm keen to borrow and test the AF speed. The newer Sonys look quite responsive.

I had both the G7x mkI and the G5x mkI. I didn't feel there was any significant difference in the AF speed nor the shot to shot for RAW. It is listed at 1fps and it does feel like that.

Unless they improved things in firmware at some stage , it`ll drive me nuts then , I tested the G7X at launch and it seemed more sluggish in operation than my ancient G1X origjnal

My uncle has a LX10 which I'm keen to borrow and test the AF speed. The newer Sonys look quite responsive.

Even the first RX100 is responsive but the lens on the Mk1 and MK2 need F5.6 to get good throughout, the fast lens of the Mk3/4/5 is way too short (and still soft at the long end) and the 24-200 models comically expensive

I`d still try a G3X at the right price for its size to zoom ratio, slow or otherwise but it looks like a G7X mk2 or 3 is the answer and lose the EVF, I`m simply not paying RX100 MK6  / G5X Mk2 money for a pocket camera

I`m Trying a G7X Mk1, ordered a slightly scruffy one with stuck lens cover from a UK camera shop on the cheap to give it a go , I know how to fix the stuck cover blades and as long as the lens isn`t decentered (Blurry down one side) , it`ll give me a camera with a better (at least at the long end) and way faster lens than my even tattier RX100 Mk1 . I know I found the G7X Mk1 slow in operation in early 2015 on a quick test but apart from setting the ISO , RAW and focus point , i didn`t have much time to set it up and the G1X Mk1 I was comparing it to was no slouch operationally  as it was basically a 650D in live view mode stuffed into a G series style body with the sensor cropped down to 14Mp

Congratulations on your acquisition and choice. May it serve your needs and enjoyment of photography.

I was in the camera store the other day looking at the RX100 VI and the G5X Mark II side by side, and my definite impression is that the Canon's II EVF magnification was higher (better) than on the Sony.

My feeling is that the Sony EVF is suitable for occasional use only, while the G5X Mark II EVF was big enough for regular use.

G7X Mk1 came, unstuck the lens cover blades and took some test shots at F1.8-F2.8 and F4 ..... the lens looks like a good copy , no decentering . I`ve got a new-age S90 - I liked my S90 had it years

24mm F1.8 looks fine as a RAW toilet-roll semi-fisheye image uncorrected but falls apart at the edges the more you correct the distortion (thankfully I`m using Capture one so can choose to correct or not or by how much) . there`s a lot more distortion than the RX100-III at the wide end .. good bit is that you get about 20/22mm so long as you don`t mind a bendy 16:9 image . gets more from the top and bottom as 4:3 or Square too so can be actually a benefit as a multiaspect sensor shame the Selectable aspect ratios in camera don`t make use of this ..... the lens gets better at F2.8 for across the frame consistency and is bang on at F4 ........ the RX100-IIIs lens isn`t fantastic at F1.8 either and the RX100 MK1`s is pretty awful .

100mm is bang on at F2.8 across the frame - a lot sharper at full zoom than any of the RX100 models including the V 3/4/5 or the 6 even at half zoom - the MK3 never got that sharp at infinity at 70mm . I`ll treat this as an F4 and be there camera but F2.8 works too, big benefit from my RX100 Mk1 ..

It`s not a fast camera shot to shot by any means but more than usable for my walkabout duties and the touch screen is of course superb - you need a very recent Sony to get one at all and it does bugger all when you do .... I like the clicky dial , but rather have had a command dial where the very stiff Exposure Comp dial is (which is also backwards like the G1X mk1 was) and use the ring for exposure comp , nowt`s perfect , like the Vid button being confiurable too .

it`ll do nicely

Enjoy Adam 

AdamT wrote:

G7X Mk1 came, unstuck the lens cover blades and took some test shots at F1.8-F2.8 and F4 ..... the lens looks like a good copy , no decentering . I`ve got a new-age S90 - I liked my S90 had it years

24mm F1.8 looks fine as a RAW toilet-roll semi-fisheye image uncorrected but falls apart at the edges the more you correct the distortion (thankfully I`m using Capture one so can choose to correct or not or by how much) . there`s a lot more distortion than the RX100-III at the wide end .. good bit is that you get about 20/22mm so long as you don`t mind a bendy 16:9 image . gets more from the top and bottom as 4:3 or Square too so can be actually a benefit as a multiaspect sensor shame the Selectable aspect ratios in camera don`t make use of this ..... the lens gets better at F2.8 for across the frame consistency and is bang on at F4 ........ the RX100-IIIs lens isn`t fantastic at F1.8 either and the RX100 MK1`s is pretty awful .

100mm is bang on at F2.8 across the frame - a lot sharper at full zoom than any of the RX100 models including the V 3/4/5 or the 6 even at half zoom - the MK3 never got that sharp at infinity at 70mm . I`ll treat this as an F4 and be there camera but F2.8 works too, big benefit from my RX100 Mk1 ..

It`s not a fast camera shot to shot by any means but more than usable for my walkabout duties and the touch screen is of course superb - you need a very recent Sony to get one at all and it does bugger all when you do .... I like the clicky dial , but rather have had a command dial where the very stiff Exposure Comp dial is (which is also backwards like the G1X mk1 was) and use the ring for exposure comp , nowt`s perfect , like the Vid button being confiurable too .

it`ll do nicely

Sue Anne Rush wrote:

Enjoy Adam

Thanks Sue Ann

AdamT, after having this camera for a while, how would you compare the overall IQ to your old G1 X? I'm in the market for a smallish all-in-one camera for general purposes, travel etc.

The sensor despite being 1" is definitely better than the old 650D one in the G1X and 20Mp extends the advantage

I value lens quality pretty highly, and cross-frame sharpness in particular, and the G1X always seems like one of the best options in this regard

The wide end of the G7X is very distorted natively , its almost a 22mm semi fisheye at the full wide so in camera JPG or Lightroom auto correction makes the edges soft (its OK uncorrected) .. I shoot exclusively in RAW in Capture one so have full control over the amount of Distortion correction needed and use the extra area for multi aspect ratio and use as little correction as I need ......

as you zoom the lens gets better and better, past 35mm it`s superb edge to edge with little distortion even at F2.8 stands up at 100mm !! . it`s a lot better than the G1X optic at 100mm, infinitely better than the RX00 Mk1 there and I`d say better than the RX100 Mk6/7 halfway through its zoom and faster too .

I never use JPG, the engine in the G7X mk1 is crude like the G1X was , it hasn`t the fine detail options available on the later canons such as the EOS-M50 (which I guess the Mk3 G7X or even Mk2 will have, you`ll have to check ) but some find this OK , at high ISOs even with the NR on lowest, ISO3200 is like a Phone where the M50 was a LOT better so guessing the G7X Mk3 will be too , as I say I never use JPG so not the best to comment here ,

if you leave the Lens at F4 , it`s superb throughout (Caveats of the 24mm end excepted) and even at F2.8 throughout is very usable too , the IS is far more effective than any RX100 model I`ve used including the Mk5 and Mk6 , the touchscreen superb including focus point moving (Suggest the Mk2 onwards for a snappier performance) , handling is fine too

I had always thought the G7X and G5X series were much the same

the G5X Mk1 uses the G7X lens - the G5X Mk2 is an RX100 Mk5 clone complete with the irritating flip up & pull out EVF but with a fast and sorted 24-120 lens which is the best optically but at a Sony-esque crazy price beyond what I`d pay for a compact

I`d check the samples on the DPR review - download some RAWs to see the lens distortion but here are a couple of mine ----- Click Original to see full size..

Test Examples at F4 .......... RAW Capture one some Dist correction added no CA corr at 24mm - nothing added at 100mm . see how sharp the lens is at 100mm !! - even at F2.8 - last sample ..

And Finally - what the lens at the wide end looks like Uncorrected ..

Agree. Fun to use and produces very nice images.

Pap