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| The G1X3 is a good street camera |
This assessment follows my standard schedule which you can read about here.
Overall impression The G1X has most of the elements required for good ergonomic capability but several of these are not implemented as well as they could be.
Setup Phase of use
The main menu system has a reasonably coherent structure. However there are several like items scattered about the submenus and some unlike items located together. Video items are not separated from stills items.
Canon needs to revamp the whole menu system for greater coherence putting like items together in subheadings readily understood by the user.
There is a My Menu which is well implemented and which can readily be populated by items selected by the user.
Menu resume operates by default which is handy for returning to oft used items.
The graphical user interface is clear and easily read. Navigation is easy.
Setup score 11/15
Prepare Phase of use
The camera is fairly easy to configure for changing conditions.
The Q/Set button gives quick access to often needed items.
Others are quickly available via the dials the function of which is configurable by the user and the up and left buttons.
There are a few quirks. There is no dedicated back button for focus. The functions of the * button and shutter button are linked in ways which are not always clear from the instructions.
Prepare Phase score 12/15
Capture Phase, Holding
With more ergonomic design the G1X3 could have been much better here. The mini handle provides a limited hold on the device. Shutter button height is low in relation to overall height, restricting finger purchase on the small handle.
The front control dial is oddly placed requiring a little move away by the right middle finger so the right index finger can turn it.
This arrangement is completely unlike any of Canon’s EOS DSLR and some EOS M models which have a much more workable front dial position behind the shutter button which is on a proper anatomical handle.
The thumb support is adequate.
Holding score 10/20
Capture Phase, Viewing
This is implemented better than any other compact.
There is a good quality, easy to see EVF well positioned above the lens axis with a nice eyepiece and rubber eyecup set well back from the monitor for easy viewing. Unfortunately EVF color/contrast are not adjustable. Anything vaguely red appears a lurid orange in the EVF.
EVF display brightness and configuration are adjustable to user preference. EVF blackout after each shot is brief (my guesstimate about 0.2 sec)
The monitor is fully articulated and is of good quality with a well implemented touch screen capability.
Unfortunately the monitor cannot be configured to look like the EVF. You are stuck with camera data superimposed over the lower part of the preview image, making this data sometimes difficult to read.
Viewing score 15/20
Capture Phase, Operating
Primary and secondary exposure and focus parameters can be adjusted while viewing through the EVF with a low level of disruption to grip security. Some disruption to the right hand grip is required to operate the front control dial.
The rear dial does not move as easily or securely as the similar module on some other cameras I have used such as the Panasonic LX100 and Sony RX100(4)..
The camera is decently easy to control in any of the shooting modes.
The touch screen function is well implemented especially for moving the AF frame when viewing through the EVF.
I found the * button very difficult to locate by feel so I dropped a little dab of epoxy resin on it with a toothpick. Now I can find it easily by feel.
I find the lens cap really irritating. As supplied the finger lugs are inadequate, making the cap difficult to grip. I raised their profile with some polyester resin which fixed that problem. But the cap is still sometimes difficult to remove as the grooves appear to get stuck, requiring a bit of a wrestle to get the cap off.
Operating score 15/25
Review Phase
All the basic functions listed in the review schedule are enabled. The user can scroll from one review image to the next at the same level of zoom and at the same location on the frame.
Many functions can be performed in review phase.
Review score 5/5
Total score 68/100
Comment
This is the best ergonomic score to date for a compact camera. However I have to say the competition thus far has been decidedly unimpressive.
Canon could easily improve this score considerably with a redesign within the envelope of the dimensions of the G1X3.