Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

I have been using this camera for about six weeks and I find it is excellent as a grab and go camera. Wherever I'm going and whatever I'm doing, this camera has been great for taking along for any unplanned photo op that comes up. While not tiny like a point and shoot, it is small, compact and light and easy to carry along in a small shoulder bag, backpack, satchel, etc. It is well balanced and the size is just right for easy handling.

Image quality has been excellent with sharp pictures across focal and aperture ranges. I have mostly been shooting in Raw, but JPEGS have also been quite good. The external controls and menu system make it easy to take full control of image making. The G1X has a quality look and feel to it. The fully articulating LCD is a beauty and very useful for all kinds of creative shots.

The camera does have a few weak points. I miss the excellent macro of my old G11, but I can manage without it. The simple optical viewfinder is pathetic, and it seems a good EVF should be possible and included at this price given what other manufacturers are producing. Shutter responsiveness is also rather slow and is not competitive with CSC offerings.

Overall, I really like the G1X for its simple all in one portability and great image quality. However, improvements I would like to see would be the inclusion of an EVF with info display, quicker focus and shutter response, and a 24mm focal length at the wide end. That would make it a truly perfect grab and go camera.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

(1) Great for people together in side and out
side, photo quality are no big different
with Canon 60D or 7D.
(2) Easy use for less photo experince person.
(3) Allow you feel good for camera size and
color, I mean little pro. ...
(4) Macro function is "very bad", my wife's only
complain.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

I bought this camera to be a compromise of my SLR and Point-and -shoot. I wanted a smaller camera that still shot RAW and maintained exceptional image quality.

In the week that I've used it, I've been very impressed. The image quality is better than my older SLR and the video is awesome.

My only complaint is that lack of zoom (longest focal length is 60mm) and the auto focus can be a bit inaccurate at times. But for a fixed lens it's pretty good.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

The biggest attraction with the G1X is naturally the larger sensor and the fact that it's a CMOS sensor, as opposed to the usual CCD found in point-and-shoots. This holds out the promise of noticeably improved image quality, and the possibility a photographer can use all the camera's features, rather than having to work around its shortcomings.

A quick test of a gray, white and black subject at the main ISO speeds, with high noise reduction on, shows the sensor to produce greatly reduced noise, especially in the high- to very-high range. Where previous point-and-shoots would begin exhibiting noise as low as ISO 200, the G1X holds up remarkably well even at the higher ISOs, and this bodes well for improved image quality, as well as for low-light shooting.

Before talking good and bad points, let's say what this camera is NOT. It's not an SLR in disguise, nor is it intended as an SLR replacement. So comparing its performance to an SLR, and especially complaining about that, seems wrongheaded. But it CAN and should be compared with previously-released point-and-shoots, representing as it does a step forward in that category.

Having said that, here are the things I like about the camera:

1. The large, flip-out LCD view screen; Canon seems to be listening to customers who find this a huge bonus and it's a good thing to continue.

2. Anyone notice that the aperture closes down to F-16 -- two stops more than previous Powershots, including the G-12? This gives the photographer more flexibility with both exposure and Depth of Field. Very nice to have!

3. The shutter speed and F-stop settings are controlled with separate wheels -- more like a pro camera -- rather than one toggle switch. This allows you to work faster when adjusting exposure.

4. The Exposure Compensation dial is on an always-ready dial with a very sure grip -- no need to access a menu.

And here are the things I dislike:

1. The position of -- and lack of protection for -- the video-engage button makes it too easy to accidentally trigger the start of a video. I've done this several times and it wastes space on the memory card. AND it's annoying for someone who doesn't use a still digital camera to shoot videos.

2. The standard lens cap setup -- with the cap tethered to the neck strap -- is a clunky throwback to previous G-series cameras. The cap is necessary for lens protection but swings around awkwardly. Better to remove it and consider a UV filter and filter adapter to protect the lens, since there are no blades to do that automatically. A filter setup could be considered a plus, actually, and more like a pro setup, but then there's the price tag for the adapter plus the filter.

3. I do like the popup flash, but the flash menus need simplification. Too hard to sort through them, as is true of other Powershots.

4. Like many of its predecessors, the macro function on the G1X is disappointing. You can really only get close enough for true "macros" with the lens at a wide focal length, and than may not give the desired framing or Depth of Field. Thus, if you want to shoot close-ups, this is not really the camera of choice. And that's too bad.

Overall, though, there's more to like about this camera than to dislike, and it does represent a groundbreaking step toward improved cameras for people who want decent quality digital shots, say, on vacations, but are loathe to lug around a heavy SLR and several lenses. I can place myself in that category and I'm looking forward to what the G1x can do on my next vacation come this June.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

This is a wonderful camera for the times when using your full sized DSLR just isn't practical, and without sacrificing many of the features you're accustomed to from it's bigger brothers. It's loaded with all of the great features that you've come to love from the G Series.In my opinion, the full sized sensor is the biggest plus with the G1X. That being said, the one big disappointment is the cameras inability to get in real close with the macro feature. Something I used often with my G9, but I'll get over it. Throw the G1X in your backpack and you'll have a nice back up camera that can get some quality images.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

I gave this camera as a gift to my brother for his wedding.
he really enjoy it. Very nice camera, with a lot of great functions in a small
pack.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

I have been shooting a 5D and 5D MK II since each of them came out and was getting tired of lugging around the whole kit when on a travel holiday. So I purchased a G1X with high hopes. I chose to want to believe the rave reviews by pros and semi-pros and ignore some of the complaints about the AF system. As a loyal Canon user, I hoped for the best. Fortunately the G1X was not available in time for my trip, so that I took the 5D MK II and got wonderful photos.

I have specific complaints about the camera after taking about 100 shots.
1. The AF seems sadly out of whack. Even after I figured it out, it was hard to get a correctly focused shot.
2. The close focusing distance is not good.
3. The so-called manual focus isn't really manual. It still relies on using buttons to operate.
4. Although the time delay between focusing and shooting is low for a point and shoot, it still is disconcertingly long.
5. Placement of so many buttons on the back of the camera in close proximity to one another caused me to be continually hitting the menu and various other functions accidently. Not a good thing.

I would really like to know why highly competent photographers like the camera so much. I know others have similar complaints to mine. Are pros able to make the AF system work better?

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

I bought this camera to replace my g11. I use it to take photos for my companies catalog. It is useless at close range. I really just thought my camera was broken but turns out it isnt.
I have the canon s100 as well, its much smaller, and honestly takes better photos, also has a very cool slow motion movie effect that the G1x doesnt have

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

Latest Adobe Camera Raw 6.7 for Photoshop CS5(Adobe Labs - Candidate Release) as of March 5, 2012 will take care of converting the RAW files taken on the G1X Camera. Beware that this download for Adobe Camera RAW 6.7 is still in the testing stages and has not reached the Final Release point. It is working for me with PS CS5. Poor Macro focusing distance is disappointing. Close focusing speed is disappointing. Optical Viewfinder is disappointing. LCD color and clarity is great. Majority of function settings is good to great. 4X Zoom is poor for the price. Battery life is very very poor, especially with use of LCD, and this is evident in the lack of available Canon NB-10L Batteries on the market as of today. Other G1X owners have probably had to purchase 1 or 2 spare batteries for their G1X camera; not a bad idea but the availability is lacking even direct from Canon USA which makes me wonder if this camera is going to survive. Why no printed user manual provided with the camera was a surprise and mystery to me. Very cheap of Canon not to provide a printed user manual with this camera which they have done in the past.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

AGREE, DO NOT listen to the NAYSAYERS. I love the 5DMII, I love the 7D..and the G11 (gives average photo's). I shoot mostly Video, but like to rip off a few pics now and then when the mood is right. And this new g1x doesn't dissapoint. NO, it lacks in a few area's. But geez, for [$]! It's a bargain. My video looks crisp. Pics look so great.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

I have had a PS G10 & I liked it. So I thought I would try this. It is a bit bigger but I love the hand hold on it. Picture quality is good. The macro on it is a little bit disappointing. I mainly got this to carry around instead of my big dslrs. I ordered the water case for it so I am pretty excited about that. The video quality is nice!

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

takes good picture

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

First off don't believe all the expert reviews. I have read a lot of them over the past few months. I believe some of those writers at the review sites haven't even seen one. The G1X is supposedly geared to the more professional market as a backup and more portable and discreet camera with high quality images. With this in mind the operation will of course take some getting used to. I am a photojournalist working in some extreme conditions and this would theoretically be a great fit as I always have to have a camera with me. Upon opening the box, to my surprise and disappointment I found that this [$] camera does not come with an owners manual and we all have to occasionally refer to the manual. It comes with a CD to down load it so while you are dealing with extreme conditions with your new G1X in your BDU side pocket or trying to be discreet you will have to carry your laptop with you for any questions and there are defiantly some. Trust me, just viewing you photos is a challenge in itself. Come on Canon not even an app.I am shooting in Raw which is why I bought this camera. It seems that many of the reviewers have obviously not taken any photos and tried to open them in PhotoShop (CS4) because it can't be done. So much for targeting the pro market. The only way to open them is to use Canon's Digital Photo Professional software. Here is the trick, You either have to download and install all the useless stuff on their CD to get a usable version of DPP (there is no custom installation) or in my case I went to Canon Service and Support site and downloaded an upgrade to the DPP version I already had and was using flawlessly with the Raw images form my 7D. The 7D Raw images open in Bridge and Photo Shop with no problem. You can open the G1X Raw images now with the upgrades DPP and do some very basic editing then using the batch processing, save them in tiff (80mb) to a file and then open them in bridge and Photo Shop to work on them which is a real pain but can be done. If you plan to travel with the G1X , don't plan on using just any coffee house computer etc. The main reason that I will be returning this thing, is that my wife loves to accompany me on location and while she can handle any situation that comes our way, she is not a photographer, but will shoot some great grab shots that I may miss as long as the camera is set to Auto (green) and I can cleanup or crop later as long as the info is there. So another important reason that I wanted this Camera is that I can hand it to my wife and off we go. Not exactly, the G1X will not shoot in Raw while set to auto or any scene modes. This camera is a total disappointment for the niche I hoped to fill . Nice design too. When you look through the viewfinder you see the barrel of the lens in the lower left corner.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

I am 78 yrs old. Years ago I had 4x5 and 8x10 view cameras and my bag was about 70 lbs! Later I got digitals and lenses and the bag was 10 lbs - ponds which started to be heavier and heavier each year... Last month I met a pro photographer in Washington DC who said he has found the "perfect camera". Afer some test I bought the G1X. Is it perfect? For me it is. I travel and photagraph a lot. The G1X has everything I need : all the controls, a nice zoom, and above all a superb quality of images (color balance, crisp images which can be printed up to 24 x 16). The body of the camera fits very well in my hand. For people interested in video, the G1X is outstanding. I only regret that the lens does not have a slightly wider opening (say 24 instead of 28) and finally the eye viewfinder is very bad. . Highly recommended!

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

I use it when I'm traveling light (much of the time), but want photo quality equivalent to my DSLR.

Things I really like:
small size, weight
excellent low light level performance
useful eye level finder for action shots
well selected zoom range
great optics
excellent video performance when needed
a full spectrum from auto to manual operation

Not so great:
I wish the macro capabilities weren't quite as limited. However, I have yet to actually miss a photo because of the macro limits.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

I would only recommend this to a friend if they don't want to use its macro function or other fast or close up focus situations. I used the G10 first and then moved on to G12 and was very happy with both cameras (although G10 did give me a focus problem later in its life with complete motor failure with its zoom/focus drive)... but I was generally happy with having these models, especially the G12 where I was able to capture HD footage. When G1X came out I was very excited to get it because I wanted the Full HD capability as well as having a high quality point and shoot to capture macro shots of run of the mill products. The macro autofocus on this thing is simply horrible. I don't know why others don't have a problem but I've used professional lighting then held an object at arm length distance and moved it in and out and about at different distances and the focus failed on me 1 out of 2 times. That's terrible. I bought this because I didn't want to whip out my DSLR and Macro lens every time I want to shoot some stupid thing close by. The HD footage is good but again, for close ups, the focus is not good even in video. So, you'll have to see what you really will use the camera for. If you need it for close ups then it won't be that good. I had heard about this problem but frankly didn't believe it. It appears that in my experience, there's something is wrong with this camera that was not the case with G12 and G10. I don't know why... maybe the sensor size is screwing up the camera's focus.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

I just received this camera today and have been an extremely loyal avid user of the G9, G10, G11, and G12 series cameras to the point of having two G10's and two G12's still. This is a creative camera for me and largely a macro tool that I use while out and about and this G1X's macro ability is rubbish! It has a range of 7.9 in. as opposed to the 0.4 in. of the G12...seriously I'm dumbfounded to what Canon was thinking when making this enormous leap?!? Surely they had to know the macro ability of these Powershot G series cameras were a BIG part of why so many loved them. Truly disappointed and just saved me $1000.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

The fold-out LCD Screen is very bright, clear, and so very convenient for shooting at odd angles. The size, shape, and weight are great for someone who prefers a smaller, lighter camera with great capability. This is a fantastic find either as a back-up for SLR, or as an "almost-SLR." Image quality and ability to shoot in lower lighting conditions is superb.

On the not so upside, the Auto Focus in Macro mode is not as easy to use as my PowerShot S50, surprisingly. At least, the manual focus is easier.
Occasionally hitting the Macro focus button and have to re-select.
On the more fussy end of my nitpicks: I had read that the front dial and shortcut buttons were user-assignable, but I'm rather disappointed with the selections. If this is important to you, download the User Guide from Canon and make certain that you read up.

Wish the Zoom was a bit higher, but honestly, it's quite good.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

Th G1X is definitely not for everyone. But if you desire highest quality image from a carry-around camera, this is it. Image is phenomenal, I have shot ISO up to 3200 with minor PS noise cleanup. Past 1600, no PS needed at all. My other cameras are 5DMk2 and 7D but cannot lug them around all the time. This fills in perfectly.

Comments about Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera:

It is very complete, no thrills and easy to use camera that offers excellent value return, little if ever noise, excellent color separation and excellent aspheric lens. The sensor if quick and adjusts perfectly to light change. Good video and a screen that tilts, adding to the ease of use in special shooting conditions.