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Canon G1 X vs Sony RX1 Comparison

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Canon G1 X

14 MP | 1.5″ (18.7 x 14 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon G1 X
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Sony RX1

24 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Sony RX1
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Canon G1 X vs Sony RX1 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing G1 X and RX1, two Large Sensor Compact cameras from Canon and Sony. Canon G1 X was introduced to market in March 2012 and Sony RX1 was launched in February 2013. There is only 11 months difference between G1 X and RX1 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon G1 X and Sony RX1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon G1 X Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-03-29
  • 14MP - 1.5-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • 28-112 mm F2.8-5.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • Optical (tunnel) viewfinder
  • 2.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 534g. 117 x 81 x 65 mm

Sony RX1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-02-19
  • 24MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 35 mm f2.00 Prime Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 5.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 482g. 113 x 65 x 70 mm

Canon G1 X was replaced by Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II vs Canon PowerShot G1 X
Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon G1 X and Sony RX1 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot G1 X over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
In-built Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Viewfinder
Optical vs Electronic (Optional) Better framing and control
Focal Length - Wide
28mm vs 35mm 7 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
112mm vs 35mm 77 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
4x vs 1x more flexible focal coverage
Flash Coverage
7.0m vs 6.0m 1m longer range
Built-in ND Filter
3.0-stops vs No Use larger aperture under strong light
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
CHECK G1 X PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 over Canon PowerShot G1 X
Sensor Resolution
24 MP vs 14 MP 71% more pixels
Max ISO
25.600 vs 12.800 100% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
25 vs 9 16 more focus points
LCD Resolution
1.229k dots vs 920k dots 33% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
5.0fps vs 2.0fps 3 fps faster
Battery Life
270 shots vs 250 shots 20 more frames with a single charge
Weight
482 g vs 534 g 52 g lighter
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Max Aperture - Wide
2.00 vs 2.80 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.00 vs 5.80 faster lens at tele
Color Depth
25.1 vs 21.7 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
14.3 vs 10.8 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
2534 vs 644 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area
35.50µm2 vs 18.44µm2 92% larger pixel area
CHECK RX1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot G1 X and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs Yes Better for flash photography
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
920k dots vs 1.229k dots High resolution screens
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
AE Bracketing
Yes vs Yes Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot G1 X and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Canon G1 X vs Sony RX1: 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 and Sony RX1 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon G1 X has external dimensions of 117 x 81 x 65 mm (4.61 x 3.19 x 2.56″) and weighs 534 g (1.18 lb / 18.84 oz) (including batteries). Sony RX1 has external dimensions of 113 x 65 x 70 mm (4.45 x 2.56 x 2.76″) and weighs 482 g (1.06 lb / 17.00 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon G1 X and Sony RX1. Sony RX1 is 4mm narrower and 16mm shorter than Canon G1 X but it is also 5mm thicker.

Canon G1 X vs Sony RX1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon G1 X and Sony RX1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon G1 X and Sony RX1.
Canon G1 X vs Sony RX1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Canon G1 X and Sony RX1 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony RX1 is 52g lighter than the Canon G1 X but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

G1 X
RX1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

G1 X
RX1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot G1 X nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon G1 X and Sony RX1's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

On the other hand, Canon G1 X sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over the head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. Sony RX1's LCD screen is a fixed type which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to G1 X.
Canon G1 X vs Sony RX1: Sensor Comparison

Canon G1 X has a 14.0MP 1.5-inch (18.7 x 14 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 5 processor. On the other hand, Sony RX1 has a 24.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Sony RX1's sensor provides 10MP more than Canon G1 X'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.

Below you can see the G1 X and RX1 sensor size comparison.

Canon G1 X vs Sony RX1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon G1 X and Sony RX1 Cameras


As seen above, Sony RX1 has a 3.3x Larger sensor area than Canon G1 X. 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.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Canon G1 X and Sony RX1 sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that RX1 has a better overall score of 93, 33 points higher compared to G1 X's score of 60.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Canon G1 X 60 21.7 bits 10.8 Evs 644 ISO
Sony RX1 93 25.1 bits 14.3 Evs 2534 ISO
Canon G1 X vs Sony RX1 Lens Specs Comparison

Canon G1 X features a 28-112 mm F2.8-5.8 4x zoom lens whereas Sony RX1 features a 35 mm F2.0-22.0 Prime lens.

It is not easy to compare a prime lens with a zoom lens. Canon G1 X's zoom lens provides a great flexibility compared to Sony RX1's 35mm fixed focal length lens. On the other hand, RX1's prime lens makes it a specialized camera. You compromise the flexibility of a zoom in order to enjoy the high image quality and unique rendering of this fast lens. On the tele end, Canon G1 X has 77mm longer reach than the Sony RX1. However, with a max aperture of f2.00, Sony RX1 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G1 X
RX1
Widest - Canon G1 X II
Average
Telezoom

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G1 X
RX1
Longest - Panasonic ZS200
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G1 X
RX1
Fastest - Leica X (Typ 113)
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G1 X
RX1
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Canon G1 X and Sony RX1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon G1 X and Sony RX1 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 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX1 for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Large 1.5″ (18.7 x 14 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Optional External Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon G1 X for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Sony RX1 for Street Photography

GOOD
Large 1.5″ (18.7 x 14 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
Optional External Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Canon G1 X for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Sony RX1 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
112 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
25 Focus Points
Good Low Light ISO
Optional External Viewfinder
Average Continuous Shooting: 5.0fps
No Image Stabilization
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 270 shots
35 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Canon G1 X for Daily Photography

GOOD

Sony RX1 for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
Large 1.5″ (18.7 x 14 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
4.0X Optical Zoom
534g
Body Thickness 65mm
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
482g
Body Thickness 70mm
Read the details

Canon G1 X for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony RX1 for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
Large 1.5″ (18.7 x 14 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Canon G1 X vs Sony RX1: 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 and Sony RX1, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 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 and Sony RX1 scores compare:

Canon G1 X
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #37 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #333 out of 1244 in all Cameras
Sony RX1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #14 out of 61 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #202 out of 1244 in all Cameras

Sony RX1 scores higher than the Canon G1 X thanks to its better general imaging quality, compact size and higher value for the money. On the other hand, Canon G1 X has some extra features which may become a game changer if you have some specific requirements.
We recommend you to read our detailed Pro's and Con's section and see if any Pro of Canon G1 X is a must-have for you. If not, choose the Sony RX1.

Canon G1 X
Canon G1 X
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Sony RX1
Sony RX1
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Sony RX1 vs Canon G1 X Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot G1 X Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX1
Brand Canon Sony
Announced 2012-03-29 2013-02-19
Body Type Large sensor compact Large sensor compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size 1.5-inch Full frame
Dimensions 18.7 x 14 mm 35.8 x 23.8 mm
Area 261.80mm2 852.04mm2
Megapixels 14 megapixels 24 megapixels
Max Resolution 4352 x 3264 6000 x 4000
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,800 ISO 25,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 100 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 9 25
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-112 mm (4x) 35 mm (1x)
Max Aperture F2.8-5.8 F2.0-22.0
Macro Focus Range 20cm n/a
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 920k dots 1,229k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) Electronic and Optical (optional)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 7.00 m (via hot shoe EX series Speedlites, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX) 6.00 m
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/4000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 2.0 fps 5.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 534g 482g
Dimensions 117 x 81 x 65mm 113 x 65 x 70mm
Battery Life 250 shots 270 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 60 93
DxO Color Depth 21.7 25.1
DxO Dynamic Range 10.8 14.3
DxO Low Light ISO 644 2534
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