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| G1X3 original JPG adjusted in Adobe Camera Raw. |
This is a summary of my main review findings of the G1X3.
Target user Based on the price point and the feature set I would say this camera is intended to appeal to enthusiast/expert photographers who enjoy the process of using an advanced camera for taking pictures and anticipate results which will benefit from considerable enlargement and display.
Specifications and features This is the advanced compact with almost everything. Fixed, good quality EVF well positioned over the lens axis, fully articulated monitor, good quality sensor and lens, good touch screen function and a comprehensive set of controls.
It has most of the features you might expect on an advanced camera.
Missing are 4K video and zebras.
But finally a Canon has fitted one of its models with sweep panorama which is welcome.
The camera can follow focus on a moving subject with good accuracy and consistency.
Picture Quality
The sensor is the now well known Canon APS-C (27mm diagonal, 3:2 aspect ratio) model with Canon’s dual pixel autofocus which works well in this model.
The sensor scores 77 (in the EOS 5M) and 79 (in the EOS 80D) at DXO Mark. This is a good but not class leading score for an APS-C size sensor. In fact it scores about the same as the latest Micro Four thirds sensors, although with a few more pixels to work with (24 vs 20).
It makes good pictures in a wide variety of conditions.
Previous iterations of the G1X theme (the Mk1 and 2) suffered from problematic highlight clipping but the G1X3 is not prone to this. Indeed highlight and shadow detail are good. Considerable information can be retrieved from RAW highlights.
The lens is all new, never been seen before in any camera. Some people including me were disappointed with the aperture range. I was hoping for f2.0-4. Canon went for compact size over aperture so the lens is f2.8-5.6.
I have tested the lens on a static chart, a set piece outdoors subject and about 1500 photos in general photography.
My verdict is that the lens is very good to excellent at all focal lengths and apertures. It can be used at the widest aperture at every focal length with no impairment to image quality.
The lens works well against the light with minimal flare.
Chromatic aberration and purple fringing are minimal and easily corrected when present.
Distortion is negligible.
On my tests the lens appears it could be a parfocal, unusual in this type of camera. It appears to stay in focus when zoomed.
The processor JPGs offer a good balance between sharpness and smoothness. Image appearance overall is natural with no serious problems. Photo style parameters need some adjustment from default to reveal fine subject details.
Performance The camera generally responds promptly to all user inputs. It does not impede the picture taking process.
Shot to shot time with RAW+JPG output is 0.6 seconds.
That is good but just by way of comparison it is 50% slower than the LX100 which gives a shot to shot time with RAW+JPG output of 0.4 seconds.
Write to card times are noticeably slow even with a fast card.
EVF blackout time after each single shot is short. I guesstimate it at about 0.2 seconds, not enough to impede the picture taking process.
With Servo AF and Low speed Continuous drive:
With RAW+JPG output the camera shot 17 frames to slowdown at 3.5 fps. Time to write the images to the card was a tediously slow 35 seconds. Most camera functions lock up during this time.
These times are markedly slower than the LX100 or any modern Panasonic camera.
With JPG fine output the camera shot 27 frames to slowdown at 4 fps.
Write to card time was 13 seconds.
The message: For continuous shooting use JPG output.
Note: during continuous shooting what you see in the viewfinder is a playback of a frame already captured, NOT a preview of the next frame.
This means if you are trying to photograph a subject moving across the frame what you see all the time is a picture of where the subject WAS about a quarter of a second ago not where the subject is right now. This leads to framing inaccuracies. This issue is less of a problem if the subject is coming straight at or moving away from the camera.
Single AF using 1 Point AF is very accurate and consistent in a wide variety of conditions and with different types of subject. My pictures indicate a near 100% accuracy for single AF as long as I place the AF frame over an appropriate part of the subject.
As with many other models from other makers the G1X3 will not focus on a subject having only horizontal lines (in landscape orientation). It requires texture or vertical or diagonal lines.
Single AF speed is very good even in low light. Perhaps not quite as super fast as the latest Panasonic and Sony models but very good nevertheless and plenty good enough for a camera of this type.
Exposures are reliably accurate with good highlight and shadow detail.
I will discuss Ergonomicsin a separate post.
Summary:
Best features
* DSLR/MILC level picture quality in a small compact body.
* Very accurate, reliable single shot autofocus using 1 Point AF.
Not so appealing features
* Strange, inconsistent auto ISO behaviour in P Mode with [Rate of change] Standard.
* No dedicated back button focus.
* Design appears to favour style (mini DSLR shape) over functionality.