Canon unveils The Master Compact – the revolutionary PowerShot G1 X

[Alvin]

Press Release:
Canon unveils The Master Compact – the revolutionary PowerShot G1 X

http://www.dpreview.com/news/2012/01...nonG1X_Preview

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

wow this looks good!

The G1 X's sensor is 20% smaller than in most Canon DSLRs, but that still makes it 16% larger than Four Thirds, more than twice the size of the sensor in Nikon's 1 cameras and over six times the size of the sensors in previous Canon G-series compacts.

First Impressions and Summary

The Powershot G1 X is a particularly interesting addition to the compact camera marketplace. With its large sensor and 28-112mm equivalent zoom range, it promises image quality that's entirely competitive with an APS-C DSLR or mirrorless interchangeable lens camera used with a typical 18-55mm or 14-42mm kit zoom, but with greater compositional flexibility. Along with its wide range of external controls, articulated LCD and optical finder, this means it should not only be an ideal second camera for SLR enthusiasts, but a compelling alternative to entry-level SLRs in its own right (especially as most are only ever used with their original kit zoom).


The large sensor also means its image quality should surpass other compact cameras, particularly in low light, although those with fast zooms (notably the Fujifilm X10 and Olympus XZ-1) may well run it very close. Indeed with previous G-series models our main criticism has been that there always seemed to be an awful lot of camera to deliver what was ultimately small-sensor image quality - the G1 X addresses this by providing a sensor that's about six times the area, for only a relatively modest increase in bulk.


Overall, the G1 X the kind of enthusiast-orientated camera that we can't help but find exciting - in amongst the plethora of identikit compacts released around the same time, it's refreshing to see Canon trying something genuinely different. We're certainly looking forward to getting it into our testing studio, to see if it lives up to expectations.

(From DP Review as well)

[Creeper]

Darn, this looks like a great "little" camera

[ABDurbs]

Compact ??? The S95 or S100 is a compact. Still a very nice camera.

[Chris Gibbons]

I will miss the exposure compensation dial that I have on my G11. The manual controls are the very best thing about the G Series, IMHO. Will the pop-up flash compensate - I have my doubts. Of equal interest, will the OVF be any better than the current absolutely useless one? That might be a fair trade for the left hand dial.....

[Henk Coetzee]

Compact ??? The S95 or S100 is a compact. Still a very nice camera.

My feelings exactly. I would almost go so far as to say that the distinction in the forum between DSLR and Compact is becoming less and less relevant. Somehow, we are equating image quality with the presence of a mirror box while a whole bunch of major camera manufacturers have got over this obsession with mechanical bits flapping around inside the camera.

Then there's the FF/APS-H/APS-C/mft/all the others distinction, where we conveniently ignore the fact that there is nothing magical about a 24mmx36mm sensor size. It exists because 35mm movie film which was designed for an 18mmx24mm frame size was conveniently available when Oskar Barnack designed the original Leica. Bigger sensors - and there are bigger sensors available - generally give better IQ (all other things being equal), but cost more.

The range of cameras and camera systems available seems to be expanding. The G1X is a large sensor, fixed lens camera, with all its advantages and disadvantages. It has a bigger sensor than the Nikon v1, which in turn has a larger sensor than the Pentax Q, both of which have interchangeable lenses, while the Fujifilm X100 and Sigma DPs have bigger sensors but fixed lenses. All in all we are spoiled for choice.

Any suggestions on how we can rename these two sections of the forum?

[BenBotha]

High ISO samples:

http://www.focus-numerique.com/test-...onique-12.html

[Nicholas de Kock]

Awesomeness! The Canon G1X is first compact camera I want to buy! It's the perfect happy snappy holiday/family camera in my opinion, I hate lugging my 60D along on holiday this is perfect. I'm glad they went with a fixed lens and the sensor size is a great compromise.