Canon PowerShot G1 X Review

Main Features

14MP - 1.5" 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

1920 x 1080 video resolution

534g. 117 x 81 x 65 mm

Replaced by Canon G1 X II

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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" (18.7 x 14 mm ) sized CMOS sensor. 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 has an Overall Score of 64/100 and ranked #30 out of 55 in Large Sensor Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #261 out of 1175 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Canon G1 X Type 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 Compared to other Compact Cameras

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

1920 x 1080 Max Video Resolution

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

Built-in ND Filter

Selfie Friendly LCD Screen

Buy Canon G1 X from 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

Canon G1 X Sensor and Photography Features

Canon G1 X has a 14.0MP 1.5" (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.

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" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

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 400g, 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:

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.

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Canon G1 X with its main competitors:

Canon G1 X Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Sensor	Weight	vs G1 X	Thickness	vs G1 X
Canon G1 X II	13.0MP - 1.5"	553g	19g heavier	66mm	1mm thicker
Canon G16	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	356g	178g lighter	40mm	25mm thinner
Panasonic LX100	13.0MP - Four Thirds	393g	141g lighter	55mm	10mm thinner
Canon G7 X	20.0MP - 1"	304g	230g lighter	40mm	25mm thinner
Sony RX100 II	20.0MP - 1"	281g	253g lighter	38mm	27mm thinner
Sony RX100	20.0MP - 1"	240g	294g lighter	36mm	29mm thinner
Canon G5 X	20.0MP - 1"	353g	181g lighter	44mm	21mm thinner
Canon G15	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	352g	182g lighter	40mm	25mm thinner

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 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 Other Features

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 self portraits or group photos, Canon G1 X will make your life easier with its Selfie friendly screen.

G1 X has a built-in Optical (tunnel) viewfinder.

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.

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 Fujifilm XF10 or Fujifilm X70 in a similar price range.

Connectivity and Storage

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 305 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 G1 X II >>Compare to G1 X	1920 x 1080	240shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon G16 >>Compare to G1 X	1920 x 1080	360shots	Yes	No	No
Panasonic LX100 >>Compare to G1 X	3840 x 2160	300shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon G7 X >>Compare to G1 X	1920 x 1080	210shots	Yes	No	Yes
Sony RX100 II >>Compare to G1 X	1920 x 1080	350shots	Yes	No	Yes
Sony RX100 >>Compare to G1 X	1920 x 1080	330shots	No	No	Yes
Canon G5 X >>Compare to G1 X	1920 x 1080	210shots	Yes	No	Yes
Canon G15 >>Compare to G1 X	1920 x 1080	350shots	No	No	No

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. This first spider web graph shows how the G1 X compares with the average Large Sensor Compact camera.
Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

Canon G1 X for Portrait Photography

Canon G1 X has a score of 70 for Portrait Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Portrait Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 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 88 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 45 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

4X 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 54 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list.

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. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of G1 X and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

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

Compare

Canon G16

Compare

Panasonic LX100

Compare

Canon G7 X

Compare

Sony RX100 II

Compare

Sony RX100

Compare

Canon G5 X

Compare

Canon G15

Compare

Canon G1 X Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

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

Sony A7

Compare

Olympus E-M10 II

Compare

Olympus E-M1

Compare

Panasonic GX85

Compare

Sony A6300

Compare

Canon M50

Compare

Canon M5

Compare

Samsung NX30

Compare

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?

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 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"
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