It is the flagship of Canon's G series. The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III is a high-end compact camera reminiscent of the Canon EOS M5 in appearance and features. In fact, despite its small size, it equips the same 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor that we have seen in other models of the company. In addition, it has a Dual Pixel focus system and DIGIC 7 image processor. That is to say, up to here, we could think that we are talking about any Canon EOS model.
However, the PowerShot G1X Mark III is a compact camera. That is, the objective is included and cannot be changed . Specifically, it has a 15-45mm lens (35mm equivalent: 24-72mm) with f / 2.8-f / 5.6 aperture. There is no shortage of the optical viewfinder, a large folding screen and wireless connectivity.
In short, this is a camera that offers many of the features of SLR and mirrorless, but with a size that almost fits in your pocket . The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III has an official price of 1,280 euros. We have had the opportunity to try it for a few days and we will tell you what we think.
Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III Datasheet
| Sensor | 24.2 Megapixel APS-C CMOS | |
| Image processor | DIGIC 7 | |
| objective | 15 - 45mm (35mm equivalent: 24 - 72mm), 3x Optical zoom, f / 2.8 - f / 5.6 | |
| Focus | Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, Maximum of 49 AF points | |
| ISO sensitivity | ISO 100 - 25,600 | |
| Continuous shooting | Up to 7fps with Servo AF, up to 9fps with Fixed AF | |
| Viewfinder | EVF (0.39 type), approx. 2,360,000 pixels, OLED type | |
| screen | 7.5 cm (3 ”) vari-angle touchscreen LCD (TFT) with reinforced glass. 3: 2 format. Approx. 1,040,000 pixels. Electrostatic capacitive type | |
| Video | Up to 1080p at 60 fps, maximum duration 29 min 59 sec | |
| Connectivity | HDMI micro connector, Remote release connector, Dedicated Hi-Speed USB connector, Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11b / g / n), Bluetooth | |
| Battery | Rechargeable lithium-ion battery NB-13L, up to 200 shots | |
| Storage | SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS Speed Class 1 compliant) | |
| Others | Flash | |
| Availability | Available | |
| Price | 1,280 euros |
Design and handling
As we anticipated at the beginning, the design of the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III is familiar to us. The resemblance to the Canon PowerShot G5X and the EOS range is more than evident. And the truth is that Canon has succeeded. We are facing a very compact camera, but it includes everything you need .
At the top we have, on the left, the mode dial. On the right we have an exposure compensation dial, the zoom lever and the power button. The latter is quite small and if we have large hands it is sometimes difficult to squeeze . Have we ever had to repeat the button press to turn the camera on or off.
On the front we have a third dial to modify the speed when shooting in manual mode. This is located vertically and the truth is that it is quite comfortable to handle .
At the rear we have the usual controls. The crosshead on the lower-end models has been replaced by a wheel, much more practical . At the top we have the video record button, in red.
The connectors are all located on the right side of the camera. Under a cover we have a microUSB, a microHDMI and the connector for the remote trigger. However, the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III does not have an external microphone jack . Something that would not have been bad at all, considering its price. Under this cover we have the WiFi button.
Image gallery design
Such a compact design has to make some compromises. In addition to the lens, which we will talk about later, the gap for the battery has also been reduced . It is located in the lower area and the same hole is shared for the battery and the memory card. The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III's battery is quite small. It offers a range of about 200 shots, enough for most users of this type of camera.
In short, it is a camera that is easy to handle and that we can safely carry in our bag or pocket (as long as we wear baggy pants).
Viewfinder and screen
The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III equips an OLED-type EVF viewfinder . It offers a resolution of 2,360,000 pixels and a coverage of approximately 100%. It is not the best viewfinder on the market, but it fulfills perfectly to be a compact camera. It is true that, if we look at the price, perhaps we could ask for something more, but it is not a problem.
On the other hand, we have a 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen LCD (TFT) . This screen is covered with reinforced glass, has a 3: 2 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1,040,000 pixels. The screen also offers approximately 100% coverage.
Picture quality
Let's first go over the technical data of the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III. It has a 24.2 megapixel APS-C sensor . It is the same sensor that we find in cameras like the Canon EOS 80D. With this model it also shares the DIGIC 7 processor .
The use of an APS-C sensor allows the image quality that the camera achieves to be very high. In fact, this camera ranks well above most compact cameras on the market .
However, the incorporation of this sensor means that it has had to be "cropped" on the lens. The PowerShot G1X Mark III equips a lens equivalent to 24-72 millimeters in universal pitch (15-45 mm in the real focal points of the camera), with an aperture of f / 2.8-5.6 .
Compared to the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II, the zoom is reduced from 5x to 3x . In addition, some luminosity is lost , since the lens of its predecessor was f / 2.0-3.9.
Gallery of photos taken with the camera
These differences are compensated, to a greater or lesser extent, by the larger sensor. The images are very sharp, with good color rendering and quite detailed .
As for the lens, it has a more than acceptable sharpness and focuses quickly . Although we have missed a little more zoom, it meets without problems for most situations.
The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II is capable of burst shooting up to 7 photos per second . This will allow us to capture moving scenes with relative ease. Logically it is not a camera designed for sports photographers, but for an average user it is more than enough.
Like the SLR models, it marks a maximum ISO of ISO 25600 . In practice, we can use up to 6400 ISO without too many noise problems. At ISO 12800 we will already have enough noise, although this could be reduced using the corresponding software. And, as usual, the maximum value is almost anecdotal.
25600 ISO
As for video, the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II is capable of recording in Full HD up to 60fps . Even on this fairly high-priced camera, Canon has shut out 4K recording. However, it seems that the company has finally assumed that users want to be able to record at this resolution and has included it in its new Canon EOS M50.
Connectivity and autonomy
In the design section we have already talked about the physical connectors that the camera includes. We have an HDMI micro connector to connect the camera directly to the TV. We also have a remote trigger connection and a Micro USB port.
However, we do not have an external microphone jack . Considering the characteristics of the camera, we think that it is quite a serious fault of Canon not to include it. Its sensor and recording capacity could be enough for, for example, YouTubers or professionals who need a very portable camera. However, not including a mic jack takes away a lot of points.
On the other hand, the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II has WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity . Through the CameraConnect application we can send the photographs to the mobile or place location information on them using the GPS of the smartphone.
Also very interesting is the possibility of using the terminal as a remote trigger . We can configure all the parameters of the camera and take pictures from the mobile.
Conclusions and price
We have said it several times during the analysis, but it is the best definition we can make of it. The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II is a mixture of a reflex camera and a mirrorless camera packed into a very compact body . It is a camera designed for amateurs or semi-professionals who want to always carry a camera that offers higher quality than their mobile phones.
And the thing is that we have, in a camera that we can carry in our bag, an APS-C sensor , the same processor that “big” cameras equip and a good electronic viewfinder. All this with the possibility of shooting at 7 fps, recording FHD video at 60fps and with WiFi connectivity. We miss 4K video recording, but it may not be too important for most.
What is your big problem? The price. The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II has an official price on the Canon website of 1,280 euros . It is an excessive price for a compact camera, despite the quality it offers. We must bear in mind that, for that price, we have many mirrorless already available in the market. It is true that these need a little more space to transport them, but they offer us interchangeable lenses.
However, the Canon PowerShot G1X Mark II is perfect for any user who wants a camera to always carry it with or "pass" complicating with interchangeable lenses . Its image quality will not disappoint anyone.