Canon PowerShot G1 X Announced

[riogrande100]

Canon released a compact with a bigger sensor then M43 with the same technology as the EOS. This could be the sensor Canon uses for its mirrorless camera system in the future. As they did with Digic 5 debuting in compacts before DSLR, they may test the sensor with this camera before releasing full blown mirrorless system!

So the current crop looks around 1.7 to 1.8 which means new lenses for the system, but also an option to mount EF lenses!

 

[unfocused]

I admit I'm really a bit surprised by this. I wasn't expecting a sensor that large. Perhaps Canon has decided to saddle-up and ride the image quality horse instead of the more megapixels pony.

I was seriously considering the Fuji X-10 as a carry-around alternative to my 7D. Now, I have to re-think that.

Of course there are trade-offs and one can quibble with some of the decisions Canon made (I'd like to see the focal lengths for the f-stop changes), but overall, this sounds pretty intriguing. It meets my top requirement – a viewfinder.

Now I can't wait to see what magic they work with the next APS-C sensor in the 7D.

 

[TysonRobichaud]

While I think this is exactly what the evolution of the G series should be, I still feel it has a few of the same shortcomings namely a slow-ish lens and slightly high price point and still leaves room for a true MILC competitor in their lineup. That said, for what it is and the spot in the lineup it aims to fit (assuming their not assuming it will satisfy those looking for a compact system cam), it looks great. A larger than micro 4/3 sensor with 4x zoom should certainly satisfy those wanting a good compact camera and can live with f/2.8 and aren't looking to a more diverse offering by way of lens compatibility, et al. I won't be buying one, but I'm sure they'll sell plenty of these. I still feel that Canon need to address the compact interchangeable system cams as they're a quickly growing segment taking users from the crossover crowd, entry level dSLR group and enthusiast demographic.

my further thought on a Canon mirrorless are here:
http://tysonrobichaudphotography.wordpress.com/2011/12/19/mirrorless-mania-or-just-another-brick-in-the-wall/


Two different markets serving two different sets of needs. I see the super G as more a bandaid as the compact/P&S market quickly shrinks due in large part to camera phones and the like on one end, and the new compact (and comparably priced) compact systems on the other, as opposed to a revolutionary stopgap. It looks to be a killer replacement for the G12, but at $800 will it sell well enough against the NEX, NX and m4/3 cams? It'll be interesting to see I guess.

 

[Rocky]

It will be interest top see if Canon has solved the SLOW AF problem. Even the $325 LX5 is twicw as fast as the $425 S100.

 

[CarebbianTraveler]

Hold on, am i reading this right?

Every one happy with a Canon release?
No dissenting warriors? No one gonna jump ship because Fuji and Sony are doing it better?
No parts missed, no massive features missed that makes you wonder what Canon have being all this time?

I was tempted to get one originally, but now i'm not so sure.
All those happy people can only mean it's flawed in some way yet to be discovered! 8)

I'm just impressed by the sensor size and the resulting image quality, but that's all...

pro:
- Huge sensor
- Only 4x zoom -> Good corner image quality
- Has an underwater case
- Full manual controls

contra:
- Probably too big for my pockets
- Full HD video only at 24fps?
- Only 28mm wide angle
- 4:3 aspect ratio -> I prefer 3:2 as the SLRs
- Slow frame rate
- It's an ugly brick (Ok, this could be a "pro" in terms of stealing)

For me, the only reason to buy it would be to get a cheap and small underwater camera with DSLR quality. But I would miss the 24mm wide angle, which is especially useful underwater. Let's see what other cameras are released until my next trip to the caribs.

 

[Bengt Nyman]

Who needs another compromise compact pretending to deliver pro level IQ.
Where is the Canon 5D Mark III ?
Where is the first Canon mirror-less, full frame camera with a Sony quality EVF ?

 

[Justin]

A few downsides. Otherwise a respectable spec list. (Amazing potential with that sensor).

28mm wide end; not so wide.
Slow max apperture; although a 28mm f/2.8 upclose should be able to produce some decent subject isolation.
Dopey viewfinder.
FPS

Next to the GX1 it looks pretty big and chunky. But to be fair to get the same zoom range on a 4/3 rig you'd need two lenses or a super zoom that would make the rig huge.

Overall this is a compelling release. I'd like to see a lower price; maybe $599 and I'd get one just to see if I would use it or not.

 

[traveller]

Whilst I'm impressed with what Canon has managed to squeeze into a body that is little larger than the old small sensor G-series, am I the only one that wished they'd gone the whole hog and put an interchangeable lens mount on it? That would have given them the option of a compact motorised kit zoom (GX1 style), or pancake primes and telephoto zooms.

I wonder if this is Canon's first 'Fuji X100' type step which may convince them to produce a compact system camera in future...

 

[jbooba]

hi,
not sure wholl buy this cam from canon. my sister who wants to step up from a SX210 is aiming at the SX40. as it concerns me i would be goin for the S100. in others words:

what i like: the tech behind the cam (digic/cmos), the old school look (could have been more like the fuji)
what i dislike: why not finally EF-S with new EF-S lenses 15mm, 30mm? 800€? cmon canon

dont understand why canon isnt pushing EF-S further - even their new C300 can handle EF-S lenses. i love my 60mm, and i refuse the sigma 30mm. (tho im using a few old nikkors)

just my 2 cents.

JB

 

[EYEONE]

I think Canon did well. I like that they put a large sensor on there and it looks pretty good. I have to say, it makes more sense than an EVIL I think because, as someone already said, do people really buy the lenses for the EVILs? I've seen several NEX cameras and such around and they are all just using the kit. Heck, most DSLR owners just use the kit. It seems like EVILs have the right idea by trying to make a small, high quality camera but they latch onto the wrong feature to base it on. Bigger sensor > Interchangeable lenses.

I do hate to see the ISO dial go though. I'd really love one of those on a DSLR actually.

 

[dickgrafixstop]

too big - too slow - too expensive - too late!

 

[Dave92F1]

Hold on, am i reading this right?

Every one happy with a Canon release?
No dissenting warriors? No one gonna jump ship because Fuji and Sony are doing it better?
No parts missed, no massive features missed that makes you wonder what Canon have being all this time?

Well, I'm a little disappointed. It's bigger than the G12, which was already at the upper limit of acceptable size for me. And I expected the GPS and high-frame-rate video features from the S100, which aren't there. OK, maybe that sensor can't do the high-rate video, but surely they could find room for the S100's GPS in there.

Personally, I'd have preferred a smaller body with a sensor midway between what they did and the G11/G12 (something like Nikon's 1 inch sensor).

But I do understand their thinking - it's a spec war, now about sensor size instead of megapixels.

On the plus side, the big sensor is nice to have, and they kept the flippy screen (love those!) and made it bigger and with more pixels on it.

I have a G11; I'm tempted to see if I can get a real bargain on a G12 as they're closed out, and then wait for the G2X in another 18 months.

I think I'll wait for the reviews and then decide.

 

[Caps18]

Well, I'm a little disappointed. It's bigger than the G12, which was already at the upper limit of acceptable size for me. And I expected the GPS and high-frame-rate video features from the S100, which aren't there. OK, maybe that sensor can't do the high-rate video, but surely they could find room for the S100's GPS in there.

Personally, I'd have preferred a smaller body with a sensor midway between what they did and the G11/G12 (something like Nikon's 1 inch sensor).

But I do understand their thinking - it's a spec war, now about sensor size instead of megapixels.

On the plus side, the big sensor is nice to have, and they kept the flippy screen (love those!) and made it bigger and with more pixels on it.

I have a G11; I'm tempted to see if I can get a real bargain on a G12 as they're closed out, and then wait for the G2X in another 18 months.

I think I'll wait for the reviews and then decide.

GPS should be standard in every camera...but battery life and having it function indoors can be problematic.

But, I would have liked to see them create an Elph version of this camera. Keep the sensor and lens, but remove the optical viewfinder and flip screen to reduce size.

If I ever go traveling again, I will have to seriously consider getting a smaller camera than my 5Dm2. And there are the concerts and other events where DSLRs aren't allowed that this type of camera would be better than my iPhone.

 

[Loswr]

Next question is how much bigger is it to the G12.

0.2" taller, 0.2" wider, 0.6" thicker.

If it grows by those dimensions again, it'll be the size of a Rebel. Heck, as it is the G1X weighs the same as the T3.

 

[Jnewton]

Larger sensor means better quality. Good step in the right direction. I've been carrying around a G11 for a couple of years now and it does OK, but this larger sensor has got my interest. I wonder if you can tether this thing or not.

I'd still like to see something about the size of the M9 that has interchangeable lenses and an articulating back, that's using a full size sensor. I'm kind of old school and like prime lenses. My favorite is the 20mm on my F1. Yes I still shoot film as well as digital.

 

[jhpeterson]

If can read it correctly on the picture of the G1X, it is 15.1-60.4mm f2.8-5.8. You can see it on the frontside of the lens.

I could see if it was 2.8 the entire range where it could be a useful addition, but that's WAY too slow for my liking!
Just bumping up the ISO isn't going to give the same results, certainly not the look one gets with even moderately fast (say f:2.8 or 4) glass on a DSLR. I was hoping Canon might take a page from the M series Leicas here. One would think that with the smaller (than full-frame) sensor size and conservative (4x) zoom range, that's not asking too much!

 

[Flake]

HOW MUCH !!!!!!!!

Yet again Canon replace a model with something costing nearly twice as much! This seems to be a deliberate marketing policy what next a 5D MkIII costing £3000 / $5000?

 

[LifeAfter]

What a pity - no wide angel, at least it could have 24mm

PANASONIC Lumix DMC-LX5: 24-90mm, f2-3.3
Canon PowerShot G1 X: 28-112mm, f2.8-5.6

 

[LifeAfter]

Comparing to Panasonic LX5 24mm wide and f2.0, the price is just TOO high

 

[Dave92F1]

Next question is how much bigger is it to the G12.

0.2" taller, 0.2" wider, 0.6" thicker.

If it grows by those dimensions again, it'll be the size of a Rebel. Heck, as it is the G1X weighs the same as the T3.

It's not quite that bad. The G1X is 534 g, compared to the T3i at 570 g, without a lens.

Those numbers are from this comparison:

http://www.dpreview.com/products/compare/side-by-side?products=canon_g11&products=canon_g12&products=canon_g1x&products=canon_eos600d

Which, indirectly, points out that Canon deliberately crippled the G1X video. The T3i (with basically the same sensor and the previous model of the DIGIC processor) does 1080p/30 (vs /24 for the G1X) and 720p/60 (vs /30 for the G1X).

Maybe this is something that can be fixed if Magic Lantern gets ported to the G1X.