Moving dials
At the front the G1 X gets a deeper, texturised handgrip that feels comfortable and safe, and loses the built-in flash window, now replaced by a pop-up flash unit located on the top plate, where the exposure compensation used to be. Having made space for the flash, the top plate loses the ISO dial around the mode dial, which is swapped for the exposure compensation dial.
The new pop-up flash means a rejig of controls on the top plate
The ISO control is relocated to the back – as the up button of the four-way controller – necessitating a three step process to change settings: a far cry from the G12’s instantaneous ISO dial. The rear of the two models remains very similar, with the G1 X acquiring a direct movie-recording button instead of the asterix aperture/shutter speed button of the G12.
The vary-angle LCD screen – tiltable 180 degrees forward and 90 backwards – and the viewfinder also see an improvement compared to the G12. The LCD screen is 0.2 inches larger and has twice the definition of its elder sibling while the viewfinder slightly expands in size and coverage – around 80% - despite remaining nothing more than an emergency tool for composition, not least because part of the image is physically blocked by the lens.
Interchangeable lenses? Meh
The menu layout and operation of the camera is virtually the same of other Powershots with the Func/Set button calling up a quick and well organised set of on-screen menus to change the parameters of the most frequently used functions. The G1 X features an unusually high level of customisation for a compact. Not only can the front and rear dial swap their aperture/shutter speed function but in semi-manual and automatic modes they can be assigned to a number of user-defined functions.
Other custom options include a Shortcut button that can be assigned to virtually any setting, a MyMenu option and two custom modes on the mode dial.
The new sensor size, pixel density and resolution of the G1 X deliver by far the best image quality seen in a compact. Colours are consistent and natural and there is plenty of detail resolution. Another useful by-product of the larger sensor size is the ability to produce shallower depth of field results, with great benefits for portrait and still life.
The G1 X’s metering and White Balance systems greatly impressed me, as I saw the camera handling even the trickiest of lighting with commendable accuracy. ISO and low-light performance are first class too. Images are virtually noise-free all the way to ISO 3200 with some well-controlled deterioration thereafter – a better claim than some DSLRs.
Next page: Sample Shots
COMMENTS
Re: "Once the novelty of an interchangeable lens compact has worn off"
I think that either you missed the poin that the author was trying to make, or I missed your point :)
I have a 5D, and three Sigma EXDG lenses for various uses, as my main camera and I am really very happy with it.
But... I go on special trips with it, or I set it up for photo shoots at home. It is not something that I can carry arround with me constantly.
Compact cameras on the other hand can be carried around with me, but the quality of the sensors is terrible. Good for web use or snaps but when you get up to poster sized prints you start to see too many artifacts (for me anyway - these things are subjective). And of course you have no control over the shot - it's point and click, exactly what it was designed for - and what my other half likes about their camera.
The new range of CSC provide a nice inbetween step. Small enough to be caried, versatile enough to make some nice shots. Well some of them at least (the Sony NEX range with their larger sensors look interesting, as does the Panasonic range. The Nikon on the other hand produces the same artifacts as the standard compact camera from the shots I have seen as it also uses an extremely small sensor).
But... Do you need the hassle of interchangable lenses on the CSC ranges in order to get the control or quality? If I can get a handbag sized camera with a good lens, sensor and manual controls do I care that I only have the one that it came with? 120mm seems a little short for some of the shots I like to take, but I wonder if I couldlive with it...
Re: "Once the novelty of an interchangeable lens compact has worn off"
Based on anecdotal evidence (ie friends who have bought them), I think the G-series is largely sold to people who like taking pictures and want to do it "more seriously" but are scared off buying a DSLR by the perceived "complexity" (or to some extent the cost). This is in contrast to EVIL which tends to be bought by people who would have bought a DSLR before EVIL existed but prefer the form-factor. That is a market which Canon does not serve at present.
I do agree about the S-series though. Awesome cameras - true compacts but with full exposure control and the ability to shoot RAW. The sensor size means quality will never be as good as a DSLR but then a DSLR will never be as good as medium format for the same reason - photography is always about compromises.
As a recent CSC purchaser...
...I say No to the final question in the article. One big reason is that compacts with the quality of CSCs seem to be more expensive than the CSCs for some reason. Also, even as a beginner, being able to select a brighter pancake lens instead of the zoom means I can take photos I wouldn't otherwise be able to.
As ever, it's horses for courses and I suspect that the (no longer very) new formats will at the very least force manufacturers to think more creatively about what they offer customers.
Lens scratches?
Does the lens cover still scratch the lens? [As it has done on several previous iterations of the G-series]
And do Canon still deny there's a problem [in spite of numerous internet articles about it] and refuse to repair affected cameras?
I think I'm the opposite. I thought this was the camera for me. The carry around when you don't want the SLR option. But the speed is the killer. Not the fps, but the focussing speed. Reminds me of other cameras I have that just don't make the grade - G9 being an example, although this would stomp all over it for ISO capability. Perhaps they'll update in a year or two to sort this issue. Until then I'm guessing it's a CSC or nothing.
