Hands-on with new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III
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Canon’s new PowerShot G1 X Mark III combines a 24MP APS-C sensor and hybrid autofocus system in a pricey but impressively compact body. Canon has been showing it to us at the Photo Plus Expo show in New York, and we’ve compiled some first impressions of how it handles.
Hands-on with new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III
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As should be obvious from this photograph, the G1 X Mark III is very small indeed, for an APS-C format camera. Despite being barely larger than the 1″ format PowerShot G5 X, the G1 X Mark III’s sensor and Dual Pixel autofocus system are lifted directly from the company’s latest APS-C DSLRs.
Unlike the G5 X or Canon’s Rebel-series DSLRs though, the G1 X Mark III offers weather-sealing. We didn’t get the chance to soak it with water yet, but just from initial impressions of this late pre-production sample, build quality seems excellent (which it should, for a compact camera at this price).
Hands-on with new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III
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A front control dial isn’t in quite the same position as it is in Canon’s DSLRs, but it works in exactly the same way. Our model for these shots has pretty small hands, but even with my big banana fingers, the G1 X Mark III is comfortable to hold and the manual controls are (by and large) easy to find by touch.
The 24-72mm F2.8-5.6 sacrifices brightness and zoom range for size, but covers a useful range for everyday photography. Despite the relatively slow aperture at 70mm, autofocus is fast and impressively positive, even in the very dim conditions of a show floor meeting room. Obviously this is highly anecdotal, and we’re keen to put the autofocus system to the test properly as soon as possible.
Hands-on with new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III
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The G1 X Mark III handles more or less exactly like the G5 X, which in turn handles more or less like a miniaturized Canon DSLR (witness the exposure mode dial on the upper left and EOS Speedlite-compatible hotshoe), but with some differences. There’s no top-plate mounted LCD screen obviously, and the triple dial arrangement (one around the lens, one on the front grip, and one on the rear) is different, but for a user of any recent Rebel-series DSLR, the G1 X Mark III should be pretty easy to get to grips with.
The dedicated +/- 3EV exposure compensation dial on the upper right of the top-plate will be familiar to users of other recent PowerShots.
Hands-on with new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III
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From the rear, the G1 X Mark III is dominated by a 3″ fully-articulating touch-screen, with all the bells and whistles that we’d expect: generous on-screen informational icons, live histogram, and an electronic level, as well as menu access and touch-to-focus. Overall performance seems very snappy, with no noticeable delays in menu or touch operations. The one exception to the generally nicely-sized control points, by the way, is the rather fiddly rear dial (just to the right of the screen).
Hands-on with new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III
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The G1 X Mark III’s screen is fully-articulating, and supplemented by a high-quality OLED 2.36 million-dot electronic viewfinder. As well as stills, the G1 X Mark III can shoot full HD video at up to 60p. Still no 4K, though. Maybe next year.
In terms of continuous stills shooting performance, the G1 X Mark III maxes out at a creditable 7 fps.
Hands-on with new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III
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Obviously, to make the G1 X Mark III as compact as it is, Canon has had to make some compromises. As well as the relatively restricted 24-70mm lens range, the battery is pretty anaemic, offering a CIPA rated life of around 200 shots. We’d expect better endurance in normal use, shooting more stills than video and with limited use of flash, but regardless – best to budget for at least one spare battery.
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III will be available next month for $ 1299. Optional accessories include a dedicated lens hood ($ 59), underwater housing ($ 499) and leather case ($ 99).
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)