Canon G1 X 14.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 4X Wide-Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Lens Full 1080p HD Video and 3.0-inch Vari-Angle LCD
Canon G1 X 14.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 4X Wide-Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Lens Full 1080p HD Video and 3.0-inch Vari-Angle LCD
- Make sure this fits by entering your model number.
- Intelligent IS optimizes image stabilization
- 4x Optical Zoom 28mm Ultra Wide-Angle lens with Optical Image Stabalizer
- Canon's newest HS SYSTEM with a 1.5-inch, 14.3 MP High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor with DIGIC 5 Image Processor (up to 12,800 ISO)
- 1080p Full HD video in stereo sound
Brand : Canon
Category : Electronics,Camera & Photo,Digital Cameras,Point & Shoot Digital Cameras
Rating : 3.8
Review Count : 184
Canon G1 X 14.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 4X Wide-Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Lens Full 1080p HD Video and 3.0-inch Vari-Angle LCD
- The media could not be loaded. This is not a \'perfect\' camera (what is?). It is not the nicest-looking (best styled) compact camera (in my opinion, the best looking are the Fujifilm X100 12.3 MP APS-C CMOS EXR Digital Camera with 23mm Fujinon Lens and 2.8-Inch LCD and the Leica M9 18MP Digital Range Finder Camera (Black, Body Only) . Nor is it the most prestigious. And it is definitely NOT a replacement or a substitute for a DSLR camera.If it is not any of these things, then what is it?It is, in my opinion, simply the best designed, the best performing, and the most advanced compact digital camera on the market today and is, again in my opinion, the very finest such camera yet made.Many people, such as myself, do not want an interchangeable-lens camera for various reasons (including the expense, the inconvenience, and necessity to carry about a rather large array of camera equipment).Yet some of those people, including myself, want an advanced, highly capable, camera with a high-quality lens, a large sensor, and the ability to take pictures under many varied conditions (including low-light without flash) and have those pictures turn out exactly the way they\'d like. In other words, they want pictures the equal of those produced by most DSLRs - and they (and I) want to be able to achieve this quality \'in-camera\' rather than having to use computer software afterwards.There is really no technical reason why such a camera couldn\'t have been made before but it appears that this one is the first that can actually achieve that goal.As a preamble, I encourage you to read EVERY review of this camera which appears on Amazon, as well as all of the comments thereto. Plus I also suggest that you read reviews on other sites (including the \'professional\' reviews). After all, this is a very expensive camera and you want to make certain that you have obtained every bit of information available to you before you buy it.Here on Amazon you will see almost as many \'con\' reviews and comments as \'pro\' ones.Some writers feel it is too expensive for what you get. Some writers feel it has too many disadvantages, one way or another. Many of the writers, very obviously, do not truly know how to use it. And there are some people who just don\'t like it.Some reviewers have purchased the camera and returned it after just a short period of ownership. Frankly, I believe that they did not learn to properly use it. This is a very advanced camera and learning it will take a lot of time. A couple of weeks won\'t do.There are also a few reviewers here who, while praising the camera for its abilities, are nevertheless somewhat negative in tone; these appear to be written by people who own DSLR cameras and are looking for a more convenient alternate to be used at certain times.Unfortunately, it appears to me (and I could be wrong of course) that they want a compact fixed-lens camera which has EXACTLY the same types of design, features, and, especially, controls of their interchangeable-lens camera.It \'ain\'t\' going to happen!I do want to say that all of these people\'s opinions are, of course, just as valid as mine and are to be respected (and you\'ll surely want to consider them) - but I disagree with them all.To begin with, this is a very sophisticated and complicated instrument. In order to derive the maximum benefit from its capabilities, you must be very familiar with the technical fundamentals of photography - or be willing to learn them. Otherwise, if you\'re not going to teach yourself to use it to its maximum advantage, why pay $800.00 for this camera? If you don\'t want to take the time to learn these things, feeling perhaps that the effort in obtaining this knowledge is too time-consuming for you personally, or if you just want to take ordinary snapshots and don\'t really need the capabilities of an advanced camera, in my opinion, you could and should buy a much less expensive one which will suit your needs.This camera would definitely not be for you and I say that without meaning to be disrespectful to anyone.If you\'re still interested, however, I want to tell you right now that this is a VERY long review and, while I do apologize for its length, I hope you will read all of it to understand what I personally like in a camera, why I particularly like and recommend this one, and why I feel that it is worth every penny I paid for it.Ten years ago, I bought a Canon PowerShot G2 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom which, at the time, was one of the best cameras available. It had many good features; it had a nice, bright f/2.0 - 2.5 maximum aperture across its 3:1 zoom ratio but it also had some disadvantages. For example, the smallest f-stop was only f/8 - this, to me, was unsatisfactory (I had not seen that particular specification listed anywhere; had I known about that minimum f-stop, I might not have bought the camera!). In addition, the maximum shutter speed was only 1/1000 second and the ISO range was from 50 to only 400. In other words, this camera did not offer a high dynamic range. As a result of these disadvantages, I missed a number of pictures I would have liked to have had. In addition, it had only 4.0 mega-pixels; though high at the time I bought it, today only cell-phones offer that little.Since that time I have been looking for something better but I had no luck until now. Every camera I saw (including other models in the Canon PowerShot G line) had various disadvantages which precluded my consideration of them.I want a fixed-zoom-lens camera with a wide range of ISO settings (the equivalent of slow-to-fast films), the ability to take good, noise-free (\"grain-free\") pictures at high ISOs (sensitivities) so I can take low-light pictures without using flash, a relatively fast lens which can also stop down to at least f/16, and the ability to take pictures in a wide range of shooting modes (automatic, manual, etc). In other words, I want a camera which has most of the capabilities of a DSLR but without the need to change lenses.When I read about the Fujifilm X-100, it seemed to be very good but it is clearly out of my price range (as is the Leica - but I can always dream). In addition, though it has a large APS-C-sized sensor (the same as in DSLRs and even larger than the G1 X) and its lens is fast (f/2.0), it is fixed focal length only (no zoom) and it has only a 12.3 mega-pixel sensor (a relatively low figure at its price by today\'s standards) and, while, if the camera were in my price range, I could accept all of that, most importantly, according to \"Popular Photography\'s,\" test results, its measured noise figures are mediocre, even at only moderately high ISO settings. I am afraid that that is something I do not want to accept.There are several Sony cameras which have good noise figures at high ISOs but they have too many other disadvantages, at least for me, to consider them. In addition, though I\'m sure that this is not representative, I personally know TWO people whose expensive Sony cameras \'died\' shortly after the warranty expired - and Sony would do nothing for them. Please note that I\'m sure this is an anomaly - I own many Sony products though not cameras - and I have never had problems with any of them; nonetheless, though I\'m certain that most Sony camera owners are completely satisfied, these people\'s experiences has left a sour taste in my mouth for Sony\'s cameras.The Fujifilm X10 12 MP EXR CMOS Digital Camera with f2.0-f2.8 4x Optical Zoom Lens and 2.8-Inch LCD, which was introduced recently, IS in my price range and, as soon as I saw it, I put it into my Amazon Wish List.However, when \"Popular Photography\" reviewed it in the March 2012 issue and I saw the rather dismal high-ISO noise figures listed for the camera, fast lens or no, I immediately removed it from my Wish List. (I have been reading \"Popular Photography\" for over fifty years now and I have learned to trust their test figures implicitly.)Please note that I am sure that the X10 is a fine camera and will please all who buy it but it does not fulfill my requirements. (However, you should keep in mind that the Fujifilm X10 does cost two hundred dollars less than the Canon G1 X.)I first heard about this new Canon G1 X 14.1 MP CMOS Digital Camera with 4x Wide-Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Lens Full 1080p HD Video and 3.0-inch Vari-Angle LCD in January of this year and last month I received an email from \"Popular Photography\" about their test results (which now appear in the April 2012 issue).As soon as I saw their test results figures (and read the entire review to which the email linked), I immediately pre-ordered the camera from Amazon! This is the first camera in ten years to induce me to part with \'coin of the realm\' and buy it.You can find all three of these reviews online at \"Popular Photography\'s\" site if you wish to read them.Of course, when I ordered the camera, I had no idea whether or not I would really like it. I was taking a chance.But now that I actually have the G1 X, I can only say that I am VERY pleased with it, as pleased as possible.Among its other attributes, its lens stops down to f/16, something I have sorely missed for the past ten years. Do you know the old photographer\'s trick? On a bright sunny day set the aperture to f/16 and then set the shutter speed to the speed of the \'film\' [the ISO rating you have chosen]. Set the focus either to Infinity or to ten feet [depending on the nature of your main subject]. Exposure will be perfect and everything will be sharp. On cloudy days, set the aperture to f/11, and so forth. The wider the aperture, of course, the more critical focusing becomes. (I always recommend \'bracketing\' your shots, both for focus and exposure; it\'s easy to do with this camera, either automatically or, my own preference, manually.)This camera, with its relatively large, relatively fast lens (at the wide angle setting; the range is f/2.8 to f/16), its wide range of shutter speeds (60 seconds to 1/4000 of a second), and its ability to create superb pictures even when using a high ISO setting, thus offers a VERY high dynamic range. This means that you will be able to take pictures in just about any lighting condition (and without using flash if that is your preference, as it is mine) and the pictures will turn out exactly the way you want them.I have uploaded some pictures along with the information about the parameters. Other people have uploaded even better pictures than mine and I hope you will look at all of them. You will see just what this camera can achieve under many varied conditions.I have also uploaded a (rather pathetic - sorry about that) 1-minute video which, bad as it is, does show the image capabilities of this camera under some trying conditions (and, if you see any noise, it is solely due to the fact that I had to compress the original video to conform to Amazon\'s requirements; there is absolutely NO noise in the original video).And in the still images, I see hardly any \'noise\' (\'grain\') no matter under what conditions I take a picture. While the lens is not as fast as I should like (f/2.8 [moderately fast - but I really wish it were f/2.0] at its wide-angle setting to f/5.8 [very slow - and I really wish it were faster] at its maximum telephoto setting), the fact that you can easily use high ISO settings (the range is ISO 100 to ISO 12,800) with little or no loss of image quality (unlike the Fujifilm models) MORE THAN MAKES UP for the lack of lens brightness (and, as a trade-off, slower lenses can produce sharper pictures as focus is not as critical as it is with fast lenses).In other words, you can use a sensitivity rating of ISO 6400 (and sometimes, depending upon the nature of the subject, even ISO 12,800) with hardly any visible noise in the picture! As far as I know, there is no other compact camera on the market which can achieve that!Why does this camera have this capability while other competitors do not? It is because of the sensor size in it. Its sensor is 1.5 inches (the Fujifilm X-10\'s sensor s only 2/3 inch), it has 14.1 mega-pixels, plus it has Canon\'s very advanced design for noise reduction (which, by the way, is user-adjustable). A 1.5 inch sensor is almost the same size as the APS-C-sized sensors used in most DSLR cameras. I believe that no other compact fixed-zoom-lens camera has such a large sensor.Naturally a larger sensor requires a larger (and heavier) lens yet Canon has managed to design the lens to a fairly reasonable size and weight (and the camera\'s overall weight is also quite reasonable - plus it is well-balanced).This absolutely first-rate lens (there can be no other description for it) has a 4:1 zoom range; this may be an inadequate zoom range for some people (especially those who favor \'superzooms\') but note that, everything else being equal, the lower the zoom ratio the sharper the lens (\"prime\" lenses being the sharpest of all) and the lower the zoom ratio, the lower the lens distortion. This lens\'s zoom ratio is certainly adequate for me!And it\'s the large sensor and the large sharp lens which allow for the truly superb pictures this camera produces.A large sensor coupled with a relatively large lens has another major advantage: the ability to make excellent closeup \'portrait\' photos (which allow the main subject to be in sharp focus while the background is blurred). Yes, this can be done with post-processing software but here it can be done in-camera. DSLRs can do this routinely but few compact cameras can. (You can also get the same results using fully manual aperture/shutter settings and manual focus.)As with most other digital cameras, there are various scene settings (Kids & Pets, Fireworks, Sports, etc.) which I have not yet used but which will probably come in handy at various times.Multiple facial recognition (as well as red-eye reduction, both prevention before and fixing after taking a flash picture) is also offered as is blink indication. Regarding flash (which I myself use only rarely and then I use only the built-in flash), the camera does have a \'hot-shoe\' so that, with an optional bracket, very sophisticated flash attachments (Canon Speedlights for example) can be used.In addition, the built-in flash can be physically lowered into the body when you\'re not using it, a nice touch. In the \'P\' Program setting, I leave the flash in the \'on\' position but with the flash body lowered into the camera so it won\'t fire. Then, when I occasionally do wish to use flash, all I have to do is to raise the flash body and it\'s ready to go.Naturally burst shooting is present and it appears to be very sophisticated. Automatic bracketing is another feature and, using the available HDR setting, three images can be combined automatically to allow for a high dynamic range (note that the subject must not move; this is primarily for landscapes or cityscapes).This camera has a myriad of possible adjustments; to obtain maximum benefit from them will frankly require a long learning curve (I have just scratched the surface!).However - and this is a BIG however - right out of the box you can use its Auto setting and probably 95+% of your pictures will come out fine (and they will be of far higher quality than almost all other compact fixed-lens cameras and on a par with any produced by DSLRs). If and when you desire to be a bit more creative (in camera), well you can \'play\' with the menu adjustments and set the camera to do what you like. (And you need not worry about messing up the settings: there is a quick Reset All option which sets everything back to factory defaults.)Just as on a DSLR, there are options to take pictures in several ways: fully automatically; aperture-priority (you set the lens opening, the camera decides the shutter speed); shutter-priority (you set the shutter speed and the camera decides the aperture); and full manual (you set everything). (This is what I use most of the time.) Note that the camera will show you \"correct\" settings (what it thinks is correct) and you can reset your settings to what the camera has decided or you can ignore that altogether.This model also features a terrific articulating LCD screen. So did my G2 but its size (about an inch diagonal) and its brightness were severely wanting. Not so with this G1 X; the LCD screen is big and bright and I have to tell you that it is my opinion that an articulating LCD screen is the only way to go. The advantages of having one of these becomes very apparent as you use it. As a matter of fact, I would not, under any circumstances, purchase an expensive camera which did not have one.Do you like to shoot in RAW (or RAW + JPEG) mode? It\'s easy with this camera (and fast too if you have a fast-writing card) and you do NOT need to use Canon\'s software to process and edit RAW images. [You can view a picture I took in RAW mode and adjusted via software - both done very quickly - in the uploaded photo section.]Are there any possible disadvantages? Sure there are! Automatic focusing in low-light situations is perhaps very slightly slower than I should like but, in fact, I use manual focus for the most part (I use manual aperture and shutter settings most of the time too) and the auto focus is not nearly as slow as some people suggest; obviously it is much faster in bright conditions but it seems adequately fast in most low-light situations too. I know that some people would rather have the ability to turn a lens ring to manually adjust focus (I would too) but such an option is probably not possible at this time with a lens such as this one. In any case, as I have been manually focusing via a menu option for the last ten years, this is no problem for me. (And outdoors I use the \'trick\' I mentioned so I generally do not need to focus the lens at all. This \'trick\' can be used for high-speed outdoor sports photography.)I also wish there were a \"Bulb\" setting for long exposures but, unfortunately, this camera does not support that. (Truth to tell, in my well over 50 years of taking pictures, I have used the \"Bulb\" setting only two or three times and that was with 35mm film cameras.)Some people have commented on the fact that the optical viewfinder does not display any information (even about focusing, as in true rangefinder cameras) as well as the fact that, at the wide-angle setting, the necessarily large lens obscures the lower left portion (the lens disappears when setting it to telephoto). Though they are correct, and this is one of the few really valid complaints about this camera, at least for me, this is not too significant: I use the optical viewfinder rarely, only when I am taking pictures outdoors under very bright light (and the 3-inch LCD on this camera is so bright - so far I have used it only at its default brightness, 50% - that it may not even be necessary to use the optical viewfinder as often as I did with my older G2, if at all). Nonetheless, the camera really should have an EVF rather than an optical viewfinder. As we\'re unlikely to see any more reasonably-priced true rangefinder cameras, I believe that the day of the optical viewfinder has passed.So if an optical viewfinder is of major importance to you, you may wish to look elsewhere. However, the mediocrity of this feature is not enough to sway my opinion or enjoyment of the camera.One disadvantage of this particular large lens and large sensor is that it cannot focus very closely (7 inches is about as close as you can get). If you do a LOT of Macro shooting, and do not wish to buy auxiliary lenses, this may not be the camera for you. I only rarely wish to use Macro so this is not a disadvantage for me personally. [But see my uploaded Macro picture of an Iris flower within the \"View and share related images\" section; if you know what you\'re doing, you can indeed take ultra-closeups with the G1 X.]I have to say that, though it is acceptable, I generally do not care for a \'press and click on\' (or \'center-pinch\') type of lens cap, much preferring the old-fashioned kind which just slips on (of course I want a cord attachment; this one has it). The internal mechanism of \'press and click on\' types can break if not handled carefully. Just my opinion.And regarding the lens, WHY OH WHY do manufacturers of advanced compact cameras NOT put filter threads within their lenses? Canon makes you buy a Canon FADC58C 58mm Filter Adapter for G1 X which, like the adapter I had to use on my G2, is cumbersome and a plain pain to have to use every time you want to attach a filter. You must remove the lens surround ring (and put it somewhere), attach the filter adapter, and then attach the filter. You can\'t leave this Canon filter adapter mounted full-time because the lens cap won\'t work with it. So, when you\'re done shooting using a filter, you must reverse the procedure by retrieving the surround ring, removing the filter and the filter adapter, and then reattaching the surround ring in order to use the lens cap. This is BRILLIANT(?!?) design! [But please see my May 6 update about an inexpensive and complete remedy for this.]However you can see that these \'disadvantages\' are QUITE minor (they could be called \'nit-picking\') and have no bearing whatsoever on the quality of the pictures you will get or even the ease of taking them.This Canon has many individual and well-designed physical controls (thus minimizing the necessity for using menu options when actually taking pictures) yet very strangely this model does not offer one additional button (which it should have): it would have been nice had Canon included a white balance button to quickly adjust the setting. But the camera does have an \'assignable\' button and I assigned white balance to it (so that takes care of that problem!). And, if a situation requires you to change the assignable button, even temporarily, to something else, that is quick and easy to do.The rest of the controls are, again in my opinion, exemplary in design.Of course, in the final analysis the question is: how good are the pictures? I have to say that, based on my own use of the camera, they are, in a word, SUPERB. If you look at the pictures (and the video) I and others have posted here, you can judge for yourself.Color in the \'standard\' setting is positively beautiful, vivid and accurate. And, for certain circumstances, there are many color adjustments available (assuming you are shooting JPEG; if shooting RAW, you adjust the color via your RAW processing program). Black-and-White photos are luminous; I can think of no other word to describe them. Sepia-toned pictures are also very, very beautiful.If one were to try to compare pictures made with this model with similar ones made with much more expensive DSLRs, and one did it \'blind\' (in other words he/she did not know which photos were made with which camera), I do not think anyone could distinguish between them. That\'s how high in quality pictures taken with this camera are.I hope that you have found this somewhat lengthy review to be of some value to you (sorry, there\'s still some more to go!). I have tried to explain my thought processes in the decision to replace my ten-year-old G2 (which I\'m still keeping, however) with this new one (which is a much more advanced, sophisticated, and capable model) and, if your wishes are similar to mine, then I am certain that you will be as pleased with the G1 X as I am.I have a couple of small \'point-and-shoots:\' the Fujifilm FinePix T300 14 MP Digital Camera with Fujinon 10x Wide Angle Optical Zoom Lens (Black) and the Kodak Easyshare Touch M5370 16 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom, HD Video Capture and 3.0-Inch Capacitive Touchscreen LCD (Silver) . For what they are they are nice, and my wife and I take them along wherever we go.But, regarding quality of pictures produced, they\'re not even in the same ballpark as this Canon model. (I gave them 5-stars each but that is within their category, the only fair way, I think, to rate a product.)And you can, if you wish when you first obtain it, just set this camera to its full Auto setting and it will be as easy and as quick as any of those \'point-and-shoots\' and, of course, the pictures will be vastly superior. I suggest that you start off that way and, as you become more familiar with it, you\'ll want to start trying some of the more advanced features. You will never \'outgrow\' this camera. Obviously, if you have someone else take a picture, you would merely set the camera to Auto.And as further proof of ease of use (with the caveat that you know what you\'re doing!), please note that I took all of the pictures (and the video) after just a couple of hours of \'playing\' with the camera and WITHOUT reading the instruction manual. Of course operation is rather straightforward and it\'s quite similar to that of my PowerShot G2. If you have ever used any advanced compact digital camera (including Superzooms, etc.), you should have no difficulty with this one. If you have never used such a camera, the voluminous (242 page) instruction manual found on the included CD-ROM will answer any and all of your questions about this particular camera.My 10-year old Canon PowerShot G2 featured construction of the absolute highest quality; it is still functioning as it did when new (and it still looks new!). This new Canon PowerShot G1 X appears to be constructed with the same integrity (and its body is made of metal, not plastic).In conclusion, it is my belief that, with this camera, no matter what you do or how \"poor\" a photographer you are (and I\'m afraid I\'m one of the most mediocre, at least aesthetically-speaking), you just can\'t help but get really fine pictures, something you can\'t always say with many other models.If you are in the market for a camera such as this, I recommend that, after you investigate this one carefully, if it appeals to you, just buy it.Is it expensive? It most certainly is! But (assuming you have sufficient financial resources), the question to ask is do you get good value for money? In my opinion, the answer is a most resounding \'yes!\'However, if, for some reason, you do not like it, and, if you have bought it from Amazon (something I strongly recommend), you merely contact them and they will arrange it such that you can return the camera at no cost to you (and you\'ll get a refund quickly!). Just make certain that you have given the camera a fair chance over an appropriately lengthy (as necessary) period of intensive study and experimentation.This camera or even this type of camera (essentially very expensive \'point-and-shoot\' cameras, albeit extremely advanced) is not for everyone. It\'s not even for the majority of people. But I believe that there are enough people who would rather have this type than a DSLR such that Canon will sell a significant number of them. The fact that this camera seems to be in relatively short supply confirms my thoughts.As I stated at the beginning of this review, I and some other people desire an advanced, highly capable, camera with a high-quality fixed-zoom-lens, a large sensor, and the ability to take pictures under many varied conditions (including low-light without flash) and have those pictures turn out exactly as desired (and at the same, or at the very least practically the same, high image quality as those which can be obtained with much more expensive DSLRs). In my opinion, this one is IT!Thus I give this camera my highest possible recommendation and, if you buy one, I hope you like it as much as I do.Thank you for reading all of this (perhaps the \"War and Peace\" of camera reviews?) and for considering my opinions.Lawrence H. Bulk==================================================================================================================================Update: May 6, 2012Back when I bought that PowerShot G2, Canon included a 32 MB \'starter\' Compact Flash card. No such luck with this one. Canon included NO card - plus the camera has NO internal memory. That means that you MUST buy a card at the same time you buy the camera; I bought two (I always like backups) SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB, SDHC, UHS-1 Flash Memory Card SDSDXPA-016G-X46,Black , a very good one - and it writes and reads very fast; the 16 GB size is sufficient for me as I download pictures to my computer (and back them up to external hard drives) at least once a day (and with two cards, I have plenty of capacity).There are some other accessories I recommend that you buy (in addition to an SD card): this Power 2000 PT72 Replacement Recharger for Canon NB-10L Battery or P2K ACD-347 and two (2) Power2000 1200Mah Lithium Battery Replacement For Canon NB-10L Battery (For Canon SX40 HS Camera) . (Why two spare batteries? Because, while this camera is not a \'battery hog,\' nonetheless, its battery does not last quite as long as I should like. Anyway, that is my recommendation.) Fortunately, neither of these two accessories are expensive.I bought this COSMOS ® Brown Leather Case Cover Bag For Canon Powershot G1X Digital Camera DC G1 X + Cosmos cable tie which, at the time, was the only non-OEM case being offered by Amazon. While its price is good, Amazon now has other cases (which look almost the same as mine) for much less money; you\'ll want to investigate them.==================================================================================================================================Update: June 8, 2014While still an excellent camera, this unit has now been superseded in my estimation by the Fujifilm X-S1 12MP EXR CMOS Digital Camera with Fujinon F2.8 to F5.6 Telephoto Lens and Ultra-Smooth 26x Manual Zoom (24-624mm) .Though the Fujifilm does not have nearly as large a sensor nor the ISO range that the Canon does, and thus cannot produce such wonderful low-light high-ISO photographs as can the Canon, overall, at least for the kind of photos I take, it is a far superior camera. Its versatility and ease-of-use make it my \"go-to\" camera. On our last vacation, I did not even bother to take the Canon along, relying completely on the Fujifilm for still pictures. And believe me, the quality of the photos it produced requires no apologies. Having many dedicated settings buttons, as opposed to the Canon\'s menu-driven ones (buttons are faster and easier to use in the field), and having a very high zoom-ratio lens (of very high quality) as opposed to the limited zoom range on the Canon, trump the Canon\'s advantages, in my opinion.In addition, the Fujifilm is much less expensive. I strongly suggest that anyone reading this carefully investigate the Fujifilm X-S1 Digital Camera.
- Remember the Kodak Pocket Instamatic 20 camera? That was my first camera. Or the wondrous Polaroid SX70! I loved that camera. When digital came around, with the infinite pre and post processing available along with being able to take multiple test pictures without the cost of film...there was no choice but to change over.Over time this reviewer has had many portable cameras, most of them Canons, including a Canon Pro90, PowerShot A650, PowerShot G6 and G10, and now a G1X. Additionally, this reviewer also has a first gen 5D and a 50D. Each of these cameras had or has its advantages at the time it was purchased.When the G1X was introduced early in 2012, it cost $800. While praised for image quality (especially in unassisted low light) and innovative sensor tech in a smaller package, comments like \"designed by engineers but not for consumers\" alongside \"Canon has created its own market segment\" distorted an already crowded market. Many reviewers rightly balked at the price vs value range. The G1X, even at $750, is in some company making the choices among 4/3, smaller and larger DLSR\'s, and today the Sony RX100 II, much more difficult.The G1X has image quality and Canon\'s operating system on its side. It also has high quality construction that comes with some heft and size, not really \"pocketable\" but certainly portable; which some users will find reassuring along with providing a bit more hand hold.Thinking about other options included the now acclaimed, Sony RX100-2 with 20 MP, a deceptively small form containing lots of features, and with excellent low light capabilities. For this photographer, the Sony was just too small, without a fully articulated view screen, and without a good way to use filters (sticky attachable adapters do not work for this user). That choice would have been much harder if the price for the G1X was still the original price of $750 (the current price of the Sony RX100-2), but at $600 for the G1X, the price was right. Another option, the new (and more expensive) Canon Rebel SL1, which is really not all that compact, especially with more than a pancake lens. Or the G15 or G16, both great with the right size and feel, but without articulating screens, and really--just not quite the low light capability that this photographer needs.Being able to take higher quality pictures indoors (conventions, festivals, etc) with a discreet camera, no flash, and the necessary ISO was an objective in the current choice of a G1X. The G10, while capable, was irritating in the significant increase of grain when jumping over ISO 400, to capture stills of slowly moving people in crowds. And for those reviewers who think the G1X shoots slow, it is a vast improvement over the G10 in a continuous shot mode. The other things that draw attention are being able to take HDR exposures and macro capabilities (more on macro further down).This reviewer decided at the time to continue with a G10 and wait. TODAY--the G1X costs $600 here on Amazon. The wait was over, the cost vs value ratio is well within the mark, even with the Sony RX100 II drawing attention.For those familiar with the Canon menu and operating system, the G10 and G1X are nearly identical. Canon\'s menu system translates well across their entire line, is intuitive for most users, and makes some complaints about \"no actual included paper manual\" a bit dated. (This user has the downloaded PDF manual on a virtual drive for viewing if necessary on a phone, tablet, or computer). Personal familiarity with how the Canon works in the process of taking a picture, pushed this photographer away from other choices that certainly presented some intriguing options. The G1X is strictly button oriented for navigation (no touch screen). A minor complaint for this user was the dual use of the back dial which sometimes would be pressed during turning, moving to a different parameter than the one being adjusted. A lighter hand helped.Across the spectrum of shoot modes there were no surprises. Additional scene modes, while interesting, and perhaps even used by the average consumer, will probably be used sparingly with all the possibilities of post processing available on the software side. While there is an HDR picture mode (takes the shots and processed them), the multiple exposure route with post processing software is the one this user prefers for more flexibility. Another reviewer indicated that these multiple exposure modes should take all three pictures with one press of the button. That is a great idea, and one I wish I had on my Canon 50D.Macro is a mixed bag. This reviewer joins the complaints about auto focus distances, inability to properly focus at times, the continuous yellow \"not focused\" warning telling you to back up a little more. Macro shots are possible, and it is possible to take good macros if you spend time with the composition. Fast \"catch the bee on the flower\" shots are more difficult. Forcing the G1X into macro mode helps. Canon says go to manual focus... sure that works if you are imaging unmoving subjects.... But not much of a workaround. The best workaround is to use an additional macro front loaded lens which can be inexpensive or expensive depending on your budget (see next paragraph about adaptors).This leads to the other major reason to purchase the Canon G1X... the ability to easily use add-on filters. No, Canon did not provide a direct way to put 58mm filter on the front lens (which they should have), but for less than $10 you can buy an adapter. Some adapters work better than others, but so far over the choices of plastic (which almost seem to snap on rather than screw on) to metal (more secure), this user has not had any filters hit the ground. The second best part was that with a variety of mid end Canon lenses that already used 58 mm sizing, this user did not have to buy a bunch of new filters. For those macro shots (AND a wide angle) Amazon has an easy to try (RE: inexpensive) option...(although it does have a pesky plastic adapter included...) SaveOn Professional HD Wide Angle Lens w/ Adapter + Macro Close-Up Filter Set + Complete Lens Cleaning Kit w/ Microfiber Cleaning Cloth for Canon PowerShot G1X Digital Cameras What about picture quality? Indoors, under artificial light at 800-1600 ISO, and no flash, the ability to capture and produce great pictures significantly exceeds the G10. Lower grain, higher details with cropping, lower movement artifacts all were observed, but not directly \"measured\". For those who like \"measurement\" and quantification of such things, some samples may indicate better low light performance under a number of circumstance than higher MP \"portable\" cameras. See some direct comparisons under the easily found DPreview for the Sony RX100 M2, along with a variety of other possible comparable cameras.Searching for a suitable camera case? Prefer smaller? Thought it important to pass along the results of personal research, along with actual purchase and use of these same cases... Here are two options: Lowepro Apex 60 AW -Black This Lowepro Apex 60 option will just fit the G1X (without a filter attached AND the inner divider cut out--easy to do). This slightly larger Case Logic case Case Logic SLMC-200 Compact Systems Camera Case (Black) will allow you to drop your camera and one filter (in a slip with adapter attached) into the case (with no cutting). There are of course a variety of larger bags and cases.The G1X is not the most perfect portable camera. It is not pocketable. It is heavy and (maybe) bulky compared to alternatives. The macro mode makes users unhappy. It is not a high speed demon like every other Canon DLSR. It is not the \"latest thing\". BUT, the G1X does take awesome pictures even at high ISO. The G1X is a tank, well built, easily held, and easy to navigate on the fly. The best part is the price is *now* right at $600-$650... the perfect price point for this high end portable. 4.5/5.0 rounded up.
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