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Canon G1 X III vs Sony A99 II Comparison

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Canon G1 X III

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon G1 X III
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Sony A99 II

42 MP | Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony A99 II
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Canon G1 X III vs Sony A99 II Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Canon G1 X III, which was introduced in October 2017 is a Large Sensor Compact camera with a 24.0MP APS-C sensor whereas Sony A99 II, which was introduced in September 2016 is a Advanced DSLR camera with a 42.0MP Full frame sensor. There is 13 months difference between G1 X III and A99 II so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger G1 X III, especially in sensor tech.

Comparing a DSLR camera to a Fixed Lens camera is not an easy task but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison. Fortunately, you can't go wrong with any of these cameras as we rank them amongst Top 10 cameras in their classes. Canon G1 X III is ranked #6 out of 63 Large Sensor Compact cameras with an overall score of 71 whereas Sony A99 II is ranked #2 out of 92 Advanced DSLR cameras with an overall score of 87.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon G1 X III Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-10-25
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 24-72 mm F2.8-5.6 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3 Fully Articulated Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 9.0 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 399g. 115 x 78 x 51 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II Compare

Sony A99 II Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2016-09-19
  • 42MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 25600 ( expands to 50-102400)
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fully articulated Screen
  • 2359k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 12.0 fps continuous shooting
  • 4K (UHD) - 3840 x 2160 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 849g. 143 x 104 x 76 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony SLT-A99 Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III over Sony Alpha A99 II
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Weight
399 g vs 849 g 450 g lighter
Viewfinder Resolution
2360k dot vs 2359k dot 0% higher resolution
Built-in ND Filter
3.0-stops vs No Use larger aperture under strong light


Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A99 II over Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III
Max Sensor Resolution
42 MP vs 24 MP 75% more pixels
Number of Focus Points
399 vs 49 350 more focus points
LCD Screen Resolution
1.229k dots vs 1.040k dots 18% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
12.0fps vs 9.0fps 3 fps faster
Battery Life
490 shots vs 200 shots 290 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Sensor Pixel Area
20.43µm2 vs 13.84µm2 47% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
3840 x 2160 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing Range
±5 EV vs ±3 EV Wide Bracketing range is useful for HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III and Sony Alpha A99 II
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Bluetooth Connection
Yes vs Yes Connect to other devices via Bluetooth
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Sensor-shift Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Adjustable LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fully articulated Flexible shooting positions
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Yes (Electronic) vs Yes (Electronic) Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Resolution
24 MP vs 42 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 1.229k dots High resolution screens
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs Yes shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs Yes Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection
Yes vs Yes Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Dual-axis Electronic Level
Yes vs Yes Level the camera easily in two axis
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III and Sony Alpha A99 II
Canon G1 X III vs Sony A99 II: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon G1 X III has external dimensions of 115 x 78 x 51 mm (4.53 x 3.07 x 2.01″) and weighs 399 g (0.88 lb / 14.07 oz) (including batteries). Sony A99 II has external dimensions of 143 x 104 x 76 mm (5.63 x 4.09 x 2.99″) and weighs 849 g (1.87 lb / 29.95 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II. Canon G1 X III is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 28mm narrower, 26mm shorter and 25mm thinner than Sony A99 II. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Canon G1 X III has a built-in lens but Sony A99 II doesn't. Once you put a lens on A99 II, its thickness will increase significantly.

Canon G1 X III vs Sony A99 II Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II.
Canon G1 X III vs Sony A99 II Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon G1 X III is significantly lighter (450g ) than the Sony A99 II which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on A99 II, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Both G1 X III and A99 II have weather sealings in their body, making them resistant to water and dust.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.

Canon G1 X III vs Sony A99 II: Sensor Comparison

Canon G1 X III has a 24.0MP APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features DIGIC 7 processor. On the other hand, Sony A99 II has a 42.0MP Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz X processor.

Sony A99 II's sensor provides 18MP more than Canon G1 X III's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

One other difference between these two cameras that is worth mentioning is that Sony A99 II's sensor doesn't have an anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moire occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the G1 X III and A99 II sensor size comparison.

Canon G1 X III vs Sony A99 II Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II Cameras


As seen above, Sony A99 II has a 2.6x Larger sensor area than Canon G1 X III. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon G1 X III for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Sony A99 II for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon G1 X III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony A99 II for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully articulated LCD Screen
Large Body
Read the details

Canon G1 X III for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A99 II for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.0fps
Environmental Sealings
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
72 mm Tele Lens
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 12.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
79 Cross Type Focus sensors
399 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Anti Flicker feature
Read the details

Canon G1 X III for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony A99 II for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
399g
Body Thickness 51mm
3.0X Optical Zoom
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Anti Flicker feature
Large Body
849g
Body Thickness 76mm
Read the details

Canon G1 X III for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A99 II for Landscape Photography

GOOD
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.9 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 42.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Canon G1 X III vs Sony A99 II: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon G1 X III and Sony A99 II scores compare:

Canon G1 X III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #6 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #134 out of 1220 in all Cameras
Sony A99 II
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #2 out of 94 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #21 out of 1220 in all Cameras

Sony A99 II is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon G1 X III in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Canon G1 X III. Otherwise, Sony A99 II is the better camera overall.

Canon G1 X III
Canon G1 X III
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Sony A99 II
Sony A99 II
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Sony A99 II vs Canon G1 X III Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III Sony Alpha A99 II
Brand Canon Sony
Announced 2017-10-25 2016-09-19
Body Type Large sensor compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size APS-C Full frame
Dimensions 22.3 x 14.9 mm 35.9 x 24 mm
Area 332.27mm2 861.60mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 42 megapixels
Max Resolution 6000 x 4000 7952 x 5304
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 25,600 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 102400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 50 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 49 399
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens Focal Range 24-72 mm (3x) no lens
Max Aperture F2.8-5.6 no lens
Macro Focus Range 10cm no lens
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fully articulated
Size 3 3"
Resolution 1,040k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution 2,360k dots 2,359k dots
Viewfinder Coverage 100% 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.78x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Optical Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 9.00 m (at Auto ISO) no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 9.0 fps 12.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 399g 849g
Dimensions 115 x 78 x 51mm 143 x 104 x 76mm
Battery Life 200 shots 490 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 92
DxO Color Depth not tested 25.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 13.4
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 2317
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