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- > Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera Review
The Canon PowerShot G1 X is not a DSLR - why is it included in this site's Canon Digital SLR Camera Reviews category?
That statement is indeed correct - the G1 X is not a DSLR, but ...
the size of the sensor in this camera is expected to bring the G1 X's image quality in line with the DSLRs that I typically review.
When it becomes available (expected in Feb 2012), I intend to complete a full Canon PowerShot G1 X review -
taking an especially close look at the image quality this large-sensored, pro-grade point and shoot camera can deliver.
I'm expecting this camera to become my choice for shooting when I can't have a DSLR with me - or when I want a second camera or a backup camera when two DSLRs will not work.
I own several Canon PowerShot models including a G9, S90 and SX10 IS.
While these are all adequate cameras for their intended markets, none have the image quality I am typically looking for when shooting seriously.
The big reason for their lower image quality is their relatively tiny sensors.
And the big news with the Canon PowerShot G1 X is that it has a near-APS-C-sized CMOS sensor.
The size difference is very apparent in the comparison below.
The larger CMOS sensor is going to produce very-noticeably-higher image quality than the G12 predecessor.
I'm expecting image quality very close to that of the APS-C DSLRs - as long as the lens performs well.
The lens quality is my biggest question as I know that Canon can produce excellent sensors and the pipeline to support them.
Noticeable in the above graphic is that Canon stayed with the 4:3 aspect ratio of the previous G-series cameras.
I personally prefer the 3:2 ratio for my compositions, but a 4:3 aspect ratio makes better use of the round image circle provided by most lenses.
Cropping to 3:2 is of course an easy option.
Here is another look at the sensor comparison:
| Model | FOVCF | Sensor | Pixel Size | Pixels/Megapixels | Viewfinder | DLA* | ||
| Canon PowerShot G1 X | 1.9x | 18.7 x 14.0mm | 4.3µm | 4352 x 3264 | 14.3 | f/6.9 | ||
| Canon PowerShot G12 | 4.7x | 7.4 x 5.6mm | 2.7µm | 3648 x 2048 | 10.0 | f/4.3 | ||
| Canon PowerShot G9 | 4.7x | 7.6 x 5.7mm | 2.5µm | 4000 x 3000 | 12.1 | f/4.0 | ||
| Canon EOS Rebel T3i / 600D | 1.6x | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 4.3µm | 5184 x 3456 | 18.0 | .85x | 95% | f/6.8 |
| Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D | 1.6x | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 4.3µm | 5184 x 3456 | 18.0 | .87x | 95% | f/6.8 |
| Canon EOS Rebel T1i / 500D | 1.6x | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 4.7µm | 4752 x 3168 | 15.1 | .87x | 95% | f/7.5 |
| Canon EOS Rebel T3 / 1100D | 1.6x | 22.2 x 14.7mm | 5.2µm | 4272 x 2848 | 12.0 | .85x | 95% | f/8.3 |
| Canon EOS Rebel XSi / 450D | 1.6x | 22.2 x 14.8mm | 5.2µm | 4272 x 2848 | 12.2 | .87x | 95% | f/8.3 |
| Canon EOS Rebel XS / 1000D | 1.6x | 22.2 x 14.8mm | 5.7µm | 3888 x 2592 | 10.1 | .81x | 95% | f/9.1 |
| Canon EOS Rebel XTi / 400D | 1.6x | 22.2 x 14.8mm | 5.7µm | 3888 x 2592 | 10.1 | .80x | 95% | f/9.1 |
| Canon EOS Rebel XT / 350D | 1.6x | 22.2 x 14.8mm | 6.4µm | 3456 x 2304 | 8.0 | .80x | 95% | f/10.2 |
| Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel | 1.6x | 22.7 x 15.1mm | 7.4µm | 3088 x 2056 | 6.3 | .80x | 95% | f/11.8 |
| Canon EOS 60D | 1.6x | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 4.3µm | 5184 x 3456 | 18.0 | .95x | 96% | f/6.9 |
| Canon EOS 50D | 1.6x | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 4.7µm | 4752 x 3168 | 15.1 | .95x | 95% | f/7.5 |
| Canon EOS 40D | 1.6x | 22.2 x 14.8mm | 5.7µm | 3888 x 2592 | 10.1 | .95x | 95% | f/9.1 |
| Canon EOS 30D | 1.6x | 22.5 x 15.0mm | 6.4µm | 3504 x 2336 | 8.2 | .90x | 95% | f/10.2 |
| Canon EOS 20D | 1.6x | 22.5 x 15.0mm | 6.4µm | 3504 x 2336 | 8.2 | .90x | 95% | f/10.2 |
| Canon EOS 10D | 1.6x | 22.7 x 15.1mm | 7.4µm | 3088 x 2056 | 6.3 | .88x | 95% | f/11.8 |
| Canon EOS 7D | 1.6x | 22.3 x 14.9mm | 4.3µm | 5184 x 3456 | 18.0 | 1.0x | 100% | f/6.9 |
| Canon EOS 5D Mark III | 1.0x | 36.0 x 24.0mm | 6.25µm | 5760 x 3840 | 22.3 | .71x | 100% | f/10.1 |
| Canon EOS 5D Mark II | 1.0x | 36.0 x 24.0mm | 6.4µm | 5616 x 3744 | 21.1 | .71x | 98% | f/10.2 |
| Canon EOS 5D | 1.0x | 35.8 x 23.9mm | 8.2µm | 4368 x 2912 | 12.8 | .71x | 96% | f/13.2 |
| Canon EOS 1D X | 1.0x | 36.0 x 24.0mm | 6.9µm | 5184 x 3456 | 18.1 | .76x | 100% | f/11.0 |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark IV | 1.3x | 27.9 x 18.6mm | 5.7µm | 4896 x 3264 | 16.1 | .76x | 100% | f/9.1 |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark III | 1.3x | 28.1 x 18.7mm | 7.2µm | 3888 x 2592 | 10.1 | .76x | 100% | f/11.5 |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark II N | 1.3x | 28.7 x 19.1mm | 8.2µm | 3520 x 2336 | 8.2 | .72x | 100% | f/13.2 |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark II | 1.3x | 28.7 x 19.1mm | 8.2µm | 3520 x 2336 | 8.2 | .72x | 100% | f/13.2 |
| Canon EOS 1DS Mark III | 1.0x | 36.0 x 24.0mm | 6.4µm | 5632 x 3750 | 21.1 | .76x | 100% | f/10.2 |
| Canon EOS 1DS Mark II | 1.0x | 36.0 x 24.0mm | 7.2µm | 4992 x 3328 | 16.6 | .70x | 100% | f/11.5 |
* DLA (Diffraction Limited Aperture) is the result of a mathematical formula that approximates the
aperture where diffraction begins to visibly affect image sharpness at the pixel level.
Diffraction at the DLA is only barely visible when viewed at full-size (100%, 1 pixel = 1 pixel) on a display or output to a very large print.
As sensor pixel density increases, the narrowest aperture we can use to get perfectly pixel sharp images gets wider.
DLA does not mean that narrower apertures should not be used - it is simply the point where image sharpness begins to be compromised for increased DOF and longer exposures.
And, higher resolution sensors generally continue to deliver more detail well beyond the DLA than lower resolution sensors -
until the "Diffraction Cutoff Frequency" is reached (a much narrower aperture).
The progression from sharp the soft is not an abrupt one - and the change from immediately prior models to new models is usually not dramatic.
Check out this specific
diffraction comparison example
using the ISO 12233 chart comparison tool.
The mouseover feature will show you the degradation at f/11 compared to f/5.6.
| Model | Body Dimensions | Weight | |
| Canon PowerShot G1 X | 4.6 x 3.2 x 2.6" | (116.7 x 80.5 x 64.7mm) | 17.3 oz (492g) |
| Canon PowerShot G12 | 4.4 x 3.0 x 1.9" | (112.1 x 76.2 x 48.3mm) | 12.4 oz (351g) |
| Canon PowerShot G9 | 4.2 x 2.8 x 1.7" | (106.4 x 71.9 x 42.5mm) | 11.3 oz (320g) |
| Canon EOS Rebel T3i / 600D | 5.2 x 3.9 x 3.1" | (133.1 x 99.5 x 79.7mm) | 18.2 oz (515g) |
| Canon EOS Rebel T2i / 550D | 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4" | (128.8 x 97.5 x 61.9mm) | 18.7 oz (530g) |
| Canon EOS Rebel T1i / 500D | 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4" | (128.8 x 97.5 x 61.9mm) | 16.9 oz (480g) |
| Canon EOS Rebel T3 / 1100D | 5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1" | (129.9 x 99.7 x 77.9mm) | 17.4 oz (495g) |
| Canon EOS Rebel XSi / 450D | 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4" | (128.8 x 97.5 x 61.9mm) | 16.8 oz (475g) |
| Canon EOS Rebel XS / 1000D | 5.0 x 3.8 x 2.4" | (126.1 x 97.5 x 61.9mm) | 15.9 oz (450g) |
| Canon EOS Rebel XTi / 400D | 5.0 x 3.7 x 2.6" | (127 x 94 x 65mm) | 18.0 oz (510g) |
| Canon EOS Rebel XT / 350D | 5.0 x 3.7 x 2.6" | (127 x 94 x 64mm) | 17.1 oz (485g) |
| Canon EOS 60D | 5.7 x 4.2 x 3.1" | (144.5 x 105.8 x 78.6mm) | 23.8 oz (675g) |
| Canon EOS 50D | 5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9" | (145.5 x 107.8 x 73.5mm) | 25.7 oz (730g) |
| Canon EOS 40D | 5.7 x 4.4 x 2.9" | (145.5 x 112 x 73.5mm) | 26.1 oz (740g) |
| Canon EOS 30D | 5.7 x 4.2 x 2.9" | (144 x 105.5 x 73.5mm) | 24.7 oz (700g) |
| Canon EOS 20D | 5.6 x 4.2 x 2.8" | (144 x 106 x 72mm) | 24.2 oz (685g) |
| Canon EOS 7D | 5.8 x 4.4 x 2.9" | (148.2 x 110.7 x 73.5mm) | 28.9 oz (820g) |
| Canon EOS 5D Mark III | 6.0 x 4.6 x 3.0" | (152 x 116.4 x 76.4mm) | 30.3 oz (860g) |
| Canon EOS 5D Mark II | 6.0 x 4.5 x 3.0" | (152 x 113.5 x 75mm) | 28.6 oz (810g) |
| Canon EOS 5D | 6.0 x 4.4 x 3.0" | (152 x 113 x 75mm) | 28.6 oz (810g) |
| Canon EOS 1D X | 6.2 x 6.4 x 3.3" | (158 x 163.6 x 82.7mm) | 47.3 oz (1340g) |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark IV | 6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1" | (156 x 157 x 80mm) | 41.6 oz (1180g) |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark III | 6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1" | (156 x 157 x 80mm) | 40.7 oz (1155g) |
| Canon EOS 1D Mark II N | 6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1" | (156 x 158 x 80 mm) | 43.2 oz (1225g) |
| Canon EOS 1DS Mark III | 6.1 x 6.3 x 3.1" | (156 x 159.6 x 79.9mm) | 42.5 oz (1205g) |
| Canon EOS 1DS Mark II | 6.1 x 6.2 x 3.1" | (156 x 158 x 80 mm) | 42.9 oz (1215g) |
Click on the labels below the above image to compare the various DSLR camera models.
Canon PowerShot G1 X at Adorama
Canon PowerShot G1 X at Amazon.com
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Canon PowerShot G1 X UK Press Release
CPN: Canon unveils revolutionary large sensor PowerShot G1 X compact
CPN: The PowerShot G1 X compact explained
CPN: PowerShot G1 X on film: photojournalist Gary Knight on Canon’s flagship compact
G1 X Preview at B&H
G1 X at the Canon Camera Museum
- Reviews
- > Canon Digital SLR Camera Reviews
- > Canon PowerShot G1 X Digital Camera Review
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