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Canon G1 X Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Canon G1 X

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    Main Features

    • 14MP - 1.5-inch CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 100 - 12800
    • 28-112 mm F2.8-5.8 Zoom Lens
    • Optical Image Stabilization
    • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
    • Optical (tunnel) viewfinder
    • 2 fps continuous shooting
    • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video
    • 534g. 117 x 81 x 65 mm
    • Replaced by Canon G1 X II
    CHECK PRICE
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    Canon G1 X Overview

    First introduced in March 2012 , Canon PowerShot G1 X is a 14.0MP Large Sensor Compact camera with a 1.5-inch (18.7 x 14 mm ) sized CMOS sensor, built-in Image Stabilization, Fully articulated screen and 28-112 mm F2.8-5.8 lens. Canon later replaced G1 X with G1 X MII. Follow the link to read our in-depth comparison of these cameras:
    Compare Canon PowerShot G1 X vs Canon G1 X II

    Canon G1 X Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Video
    8. Other Features
    9. Lens
    10. Photography Type Scores
    11. Alternatives
    12. Popular Comparisons
    13. Frequently Asked Questions
    14. Detailed Specifications

    Canon G1 X has an Overall Score of 60/100 and ranked #35 out of 61 in Large Sensor Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #307 out of 1223 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.



    Canon G1 X Physical Specs
    Canon G1 X weighs 534 g (1.18 lb / 18.84 oz) and has external dimensions of 117 x 81 x 65 mm (4.61 x 3.19 x 2.56″). Considering that the average weight of Large Sensor Compact type cameras is 401g, Canon G1 X is a significantly heavy camera for its class. With a thickness of 65mm, it has an average thickness.
    Weight Comparison

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    Canon G1 X
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    Canon G1 X
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Canon G1 X with the dimensions:

    Canon G1 X Body Size Dimensions
    Front and Top View External Dimensions and Size of Canon G1 X Camera Body

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Canon G1 X, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Canon G1 X Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Canon G1 X Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery


    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Canon G1 X with its main competitors:

    Canon G1 X Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs G1 X Thickness vs G1 X
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G1 X II
    Compare
    553g 19g heavier 66mm 1mm thicker
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G16
    Compare
    356g 178g lighter 40mm 25mm thinner
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G12
    Compare
    401g 133g lighter 48mm 17mm thinner
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G15
    Compare
    352g 182g lighter 40mm 25mm thinner
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Sony RX100
    Compare
    240g 294g lighter 36mm 29mm thinner
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G1 X III
    Compare
    399g 135g lighter 51mm 14mm thinner
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G11
    Compare
    375g 159g lighter 48mm 17mm thinner
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Sony RX100 III
    Compare
    290g 244g lighter 41mm 24mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Canon G1 X doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Canon G1 X Sensor and Photography Features

    Canon G1 X has a 14.0MP 1.5-inch (18.7 x 14 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 5 processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4352 x 3264 pixels with aspect ratios of 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. G1 X has a native ISO range of 100 - 12800 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Canon G1 X is the highest resolution 1.5 inch Sensor camera in our database. The closest competitor in this class is Canon G1 X II with its 13.0MP sensor. Check the comparison of Canon G1 X vs Canon G1 X II or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Canon G1 X DxOMark Sensor Scores

    DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Canon G1 X sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 60 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Canon G1 X here.

    Let's look at how the size of the Canon G1 X's 1.5-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Canon G1 X Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Canon G1 X Sensor Size with other standard sensors

    Canon G1 X Lens

    Canon G1 X features a 28-112 mm F2.8-5.8 4x zoom lens. Lens has a good wide angle capability starting at 28mm, and 112mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is also well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

    Wide Coverage

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    G1 X
    Widest - Canon G1 X II
    Average
    Telezoom

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    G1 X
    Longest - Panasonic ZS200
    Average

    With a max aperture of f2.80, this lens is fast on wide end, but max aperture of f5.80 at tele end makes is really slow at longer focal lengths.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    G1 X
    Fastest - Panasonic LX10
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    G1 X
    Fastest - Leica Q
    Average

    G1 X is also equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds. Canon G1 X's lens also has a Manual Focus Mode.



    Canon G1 X LCD and Viewfinder

    Canon G1 X has a Fully Articulated 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 920k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    For those of you who loves shooting selfies, self or group photos, Canon G1 X will make your life easier with its Selfie friendly screen. Another group of users who will take advantage of G1 X's LCD screen are Vloggers and any video creators who are working in a single-person setup.


    G1 X has a built-in Optical (tunnel) viewfinder, making it easier to shoot in direct sunlight and in other situations where it might be difficult to view the LCD monitor.

    Canon G1 X Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    You can connect G1 X to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Battery

    Canon G1 X is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 250 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Large Sensor Compact type cameras is 303 shots, Canon G1 X has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend G1 X owners to buy some extra batteries.

    Battery Life Comparison in Large Sensor Compact Cameras

    Canon G1 X
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Leica X Vario with its 450shots is the model with longest battery life among Large Sensor Compact cameras. Check the comparison of Canon G1 X vs Leica X Vario or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

    Canon G1 X Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G1 X II
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 240shots Yes No Yes
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G16
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 360shots Yes No No
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G12
    Compare
    1280 x 720 370shots No No No
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G15
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 350shots No No No
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Sony RX100
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 330shots No No Yes
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G1 X III
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 200shots Yes Yes Yes
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Canon G11
    Compare
    640 x 480 shots No No No
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Camera Sony RX100 III
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 320shots Yes No Yes

    Canon G1 X Video Features

    With Canon G1 X, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 24 fps and save in and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Canon G1 X will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

    G1 X has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Stereo speaker.
    Canon G1 X doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Large Sensor Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III or Sony ZV-1 in a similar price range.

    Canon G1 X Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Canon G1 X can shoot continuously at max speed of 2 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

    Flash

    G1 X has a built-in flash, and it also has a flash shoe to mount your external flashes too.

    Focusing

    Canon G1 X features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

    Canon G1 X also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Canon G1 X PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Canon G1 X review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Image Stabilization
    Articulating Screen
    External Flash Shoe
    Full HD Video
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    RAW Shooting
    Face Detection Focusing
    12.800 Max ISO
    920k dots LCD Resolution
    1/4000s High Shutter Speed
    Manual Focusing
    Manual Exposure
    Fast 2.80 Lens at Wide
    Good Low Light ISO - 644
    AE Bracketing
    3.0-stops Built-in ND Filter
    Selfie & Vlogger Friendly LCD Screen
    Report a correction

    Buy Canon G1 X from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Touch Screen
    Low Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
    Only 9 Focus Points
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
    Low Battery Life: 250 shots
    Heavy Body: 534
    No Environmental Sealing
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
    Report a correction
    What type of Photography is Canon G1 X Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Canon G1 X in 5 different photography areas.

    Canon G1 X for Portrait Photography

    Canon G1 X has a score of 57 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    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 of how we scored Canon G1 X for Portrait Photography

    Canon G1 X for Street Photography

    Canon G1 X has a score of 86 for Street Photography which makes it an EXCELLENT candidate for this type of photography.
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    Manual Focus Mode
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Fully Articulated LCD Screen
    Image Stabilization
    Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
    28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    RAW shooting capability
    Small Body
    Large 1.5″ (18.7 x 14 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Canon G1 X for Street Photography

    Canon G1 X for Sports Photography

    Canon G1 X has a score of 42 for Sports Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Sports is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list.
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    Optical Built-in Viewfinder
    External Flash Shoe
    Image Stabilization
    RAW shooting capability
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
    Environmental Sealings
    9 Focus Points
    Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
    112 mm Tele Lens
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80

    Read the details of how we scored Canon G1 X for Sports Photography

    Canon G1 X for Daily Photography

    Canon G1 X has a score of 74 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    Large 1.5″ (18.7 x 14 mm) sensor
    RAW shooting capability
    4.0X Optical Zoom
    534g
    Body Thickness 65mm

    Read the details of how we scored Canon G1 X for Daily Photography

    Canon G1 X for Landscape Photography

    Canon G1 X has a score of 39 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theG1 X.
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Manual Focus Mode
    28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
    RAW shooting capability
    Large 1.5″ (18.7 x 14 mm) sensor
    Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Canon G1 X for Landscape Photography
    Canon G1 X Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Canon G1 X compares with other Large Sensor Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Canon G1 X alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Canon G1 X

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Canon G1 X amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Canon G1 X II
    Canon G1 X II
    Compare
    Canon G16
    Canon G16
    Compare
    Canon G12
    Canon G12
    Compare
    Canon G15
    Canon G15
    Compare
    Sony RX100
    Sony RX100
    Compare
    Canon G1 X III
    Canon G1 X III
    Compare
    Canon G11
    Canon G11
    Compare
    Sony RX100 III
    Sony RX100 III
    Compare

    Canon G1 X Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Canon G1 X with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Canon G1 X's price range.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Canon G1 X
    Does the Canon G1 X have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Canon G1 X have RAW support?
    Does the Canon G1 X have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Canon G1 X have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Canon G1 X?
    What is the Sensor Size of Canon G1 X?
    is the Canon G1 X a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Canon G1 X have Touch Screen?
    Does the Canon G1 X have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Canon G1 X?
    What is the Weight of Canon G1 X?
    What are the Dimensions of Canon G1 X?
    Canon PowerShot G1 X Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Canon
    Model Canon PowerShot G1 X
    Announced 2012-03-29
    Body Type Large sensor compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 28-112 mm (4x)
    Max Aperture F2.8-5.8
    Macro Focus Range 20cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fully Articulated
    Screen Technology TFT PureColor II LCD
    Screen Size 3"
    Screen Resolution 920k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Optical (tunnel)
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 60s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/4000s
    Continuous Shooting 2.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 7.00 m (via hot shoe EX series Speedlites, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX, Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX)
    Flash Modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Fill-in
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score 60
    DxO Color Depth 21.7
    DxO Dynamic Range 10.8
    DxO Low Light ISO 644
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size 1.5-inch
    Sensor Dimensions 18.7 x 14 mm
    Sensor Area 261.80mm2
    Sensor Resolution 14 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4352 x 3264
    Max Native ISO 12,800
    Min Native ISO 100
    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
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats H.264
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 534g
    Physical Dimensions 117 x 81 x 65mm
    Battery Life 250 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model NB-10L
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, custom)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/SDXC
    Storage Slots 1


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