CES 2012: Chuck Westfall Talks PowerShot G1 X Live Tonight

[Canon Rumors]

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From Imaging Resource Excited by the possibilities of Canon’s first large-sensor fixed-lens camera? Got a question left unanswered after reading our  preview? Now, you’ve a chance to ask it for yourself! We’ll be conducting a Q&A session with   Chuck Westfall, Technical Advisor with the Professional Engineering &  Solutions Division at Canon U.S.A., Inc., live from the show floor at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. The session takes place on Monday, January 9th 2012, at 6:15PM Pacific time (that’s 9:15PM Eastern time; click here to convert for other time zones.)

If you’d like to get a jump on the question-asking (or if  you won’t be around when the event goes live), tweet your question to @ir_lab,  and mention G1X in the text somewhere, and we’ll try to get to your questions  during the active session Monday.

The live Q&A will take place at the URL below.

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/G1X/G1XA.HTM#live-qa

Preorder the G1 X at B&H for $799

cr

[jhpeterson]

Chuck, any chance we'll see this come out with faster glass? I would think, between the APS-C sensor size and modest (4x) zoom range, it could have been kept at f:2.8, or even faster. Perhaps an update on my Canonet 17, or something along the lines of the Powershot Pro 1 from a few generations back? (I had one, the L glass was a nice touch, too!) Maybe one that took a couple interchangeable lenses, one wide (say 14, 15 to 30-35) and one tele (to 60, 70 or so)? Or, even dedicated fixed-lens cameras, one short, one long?

[Edwin Herdman]

Unless you want this camera to get substantially bigger, that's about as fast as the lens will get without trading away focal length.  However that is still an interesting question.

My questions would be - where are the transition points for aperture, i.e. how long does it get before sliding off f/2.8?

What are the autofocus capabilities like, including near-macro performance?  (Leaving this one open-ended because there is plenty to state beyond the specs sheet.)

Also, how will the ring lite and twin flash units attach and are there any limitations in their use compared to on a DSLR?

Congratulations to CR on the CES invite by the way.

I'm pretty pleased with this design, even though it's not for me (leaving aside the pro features of the 7D line and prime lenses or fast zooms), partly because like jhpeterson it's not really fast enough for some of my uses especially at its long end, and also isn't long enough either.  The price is high though - but it compares very favorably with the announced price of the Fujifilm X-Pro 1 (however, that camera has a considerably larger sensor, on par with DSLRs; this one does not).

[jhpeterson]

Unless you want this camera to get substantially bigger, that's about as fast as the lens will get without trading away focal length.

Actually, I wouldn't mind if it were a little larger, say, the size of my old Canonet 17. And, while we're at it, let's have bigger buttons, dials, knobs, too! (It seems most camera makers have gone the way of the cell phones, where everything is made so small that they run into, sometimes past, the limits of usability.) Maybe put the zoom control on the lens (CW for tele/CCW to go wide?) to free up some space. Could put exposure compensation there, too.
It must be my engineering background coming back to haunt me, or, perhaps I should have become an industrial designer rather than photographer. Now, if Canon wants me to consult with them on their next project... I'm more than willing.

[Ryusui]

Actually, I wouldn't mind if it were a little larger, say, the size of my old Canonet 17. And, while we're at it, let's have bigger buttons, dials, knobs, too! (It seems most camera makers have gone the way of the cell phones, where everything is made so small that they run into, sometimes past, the limits of usability.) Maybe put the zoom control on the lens (CW for tele/CCW to go wide?) to free up some space. Could put exposure compensation there, too.
It must be my engineering background coming back to haunt me, or, perhaps I should have become an industrial designer rather than photographer. Now, if Canon wants me to consult with them on their next project... I'm more than willing.

I believe the G1 X is bigger than the Canonet; at least in overall surface area.  The G1 X at 116.7 x 80.5 x 64.7mm where the Canonet QL17 is 140 x 79 x 37mm.  I don't have a QL17 for reference, so I'm only going by what I find online for dimensions.
When you figure that the G1 X is less than an inch in all dimensions than the T3i (approximately 0.6 x 0.7 x 0.6) then it might just be worth it to instead get an entry-level DSLR for the additional functions and features.  Especially for the price.

[EYEONE]

Chuck, any chance we'll see this come out with faster glass? I would think, between the APS-C sensor size and modest (4x) zoom range, it could have been kept at f:2.8, or even faster. Perhaps an update on my Canonet 17, or something along the lines of the Powershot Pro 1 from a few generations back? (I had one, the L glass was a nice touch, too!) Maybe one that took a couple interchangeable lenses, one wide (say 14, 15 to 30-35) and one tele (to 60, 70 or so)? Or, even dedicated fixed-lens cameras, one short, one long?

Are you kidding? Have you ever picked up a 17-55mm f2.8? It weighs a pound and a half. The G1x would weight a huge amount with a 4x fixed aperture lense with a sensor that big.

[kidnaper]

Did anyone watch the Q&A? I'm wondering if anything was said that would make me jump on this. Amazonhttp://tinyurl.com/7lm4dwy just put it up for pre-order and I kind of don't want to play the same waiting game that happened with (and caused me, in part, to never get) the s100.

[rumorzmonger]

Are you kidding? Have you ever picked up a 17-55mm f2.8? It weighs a pound and a half. The G1x would weight a huge amount with a 4x fixed aperture lense with a sensor that big.

It's not an SLR, so it doesn't need the big, bulky retrofocus-design SLR lenses.

[EYEONE]

Are you kidding? Have you ever picked up a 17-55mm f2.8? It weighs a pound and a half. The G1x would weight a huge amount with a 4x fixed aperture lense with a sensor that big.

It's not an SLR, so it doesn't need the big, bulky retrofocus-design SLR lenses.

It wouldn't be that big no, but it would be very huge. Considering the G series barely fits into the 'compact' definition anyway. It is disappointing to see "f5.8" on a lens and I'm not saying I'm happy with it. I just think it's acceptable considering what the 'G' is. I would prefer a fixed f4 or just a 3x zoom or something. But I think wanting a f2.8, 4x zoom on a compact with a very large sensor is unreasonable.

[Rocky]

Are you kidding? Have you ever picked up a 17-55mm f2.8? It weighs a pound and a half. The G1x would weight a huge amount with a 4x fixed aperture lense with a sensor that big.

It's not an SLR, so it doesn't need the big, bulky retrofocus-design SLR lenses.

Just look at the mirroless  zoom lenses for APS-C sensors, they are as big as the DSLR lenses. Also look at the size of any P & S lenses. the are BIG for their focal length and f number. Believe it or not, they are retrofocus design to keep a larger incident angle of light ray to the corner of the sensor for even exposure across the sensor.