Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera Review

Updated: March 12, 2012

A premium compact camera with a huge 1.5″ sensor and excellent photo quality. If Canon could improve performance, they’d have a knockout on their hands. Even so, the G1 X is still well worth looking at.

4 stars
(4 out of 5)

if you’ve got $800 burning a hole in your pocket and want a semi-compact camera with D-SLR image quality, then look no further than the Canon PowerShot G1 X. It’s not for action photography (due to its sluggish focusing and burst modes) nor is it great for close-ups, but for virtually every other situation, the G1 X delivers. I’m hopeful that Canon’s next large sensor camera will have a faster lens, snappier performance, and improved battery life, but for now, the G1 X is easily good enough for me to recommend.

Read full review @ Digital Camera Resource Page

Pros

Excellent photo quality, with low noise until highest ISOs
Solid build quality, with lots of dials and direct buttons
Optical image stabilization
Super high resolution 3-inch rotating LCD display
Optical viewfinder is always a nice touch
Full manual controls, including RAW support
Smart Auto mode picks a scene mode (and the proper IS setting) for you
Tons of scene modes and Creative Filters
Dynamic range correction and HDR features improve image contrast
Customizable button, menu, and spots on mode dial
Handy electronic level
Built-in neutral density filter
Redeye not an issue — if it does become one, a removal tool is available in playback mode
Records Full HD (1080/24p) video with stereo sound, use of optical zoom
Very expandable, with optional external flash, lens hood and filters, underwater housing, and wired remote

Cons

Expensive
Likes to clip highlights
Lens on the slow side at telephoto end
AF performance needs improvement
Long minimum focus distances mean frequent switching between normal and macro AF when subjects are close
Design annoyances: bulky body, lens visible through viewfinder, can’t access memory card slot when using tripod
Movies are a bit choppy due to 24 fps frame rate — no manual controls available
Unremarkable burst mode
Below average battery life
Full manual on CD-ROM