Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III
Canon’s G1 X Mark III is, as the name implies, the third iteration in the company’s range-topping large-sensor enthusiast compact series. However, what the name doesn’t make clear is that it’s a significant departure from its predecessors, in terms of both size and capability.
Rather than mimicking one of the older G series modes, as the original G1 X did, the Mark III most closely resembles the 1″-sensored G5 X: a small, thin body with lots of direct control and a centrally mounted electronic viewfinder. Unlike that model, it’s sealed, to be weather resistant.
Sensor size difference
Unlike the G5 X, though, the G1 X III does not use a 1″-type sensor. Despite being packaged in a smaller body than its immediate predecessor, Canon has managed to fit a larger sensor into the camera. It’s a full APS-C-sized sensor or, at least, the Canon 1.6x crop version of that format. This makes it 27% larger than the chip in the G1 X I and 36% larger than the region of its sensor the Mark II could use.
This means, in equivalent terms, the new camera will receive over 1/3EV more total light, when shot at the same f-number and shutter speed. However, equivalence only tells us about the potential for one system to out-perform another. The actual difference depends on the specific technology used…
Sensor performance
And, from our experience with Canon’s 24MP Dual Pixel sensor, we know it’ll perform pretty well: better at high ISO sensitivities than the chip in the older G1 X models and with less noise at low ISO, giving more flexible files with greater usable dynamic range.
And that’s before we consider the additional utility of its Dual Pixel design: the ability to provide depth-aware phase detection autofocus across most of the frame. So long as the camera can drive its focus fast enough, this should provide the ability to track subjects pretty convincingly, compared to the older G1 X models and most competitors.
Video spec
The other thing that Dual Pixel’s depth awareness brings is decisive autofocus while shooting video. This means that getting the camera to track a subject, or ‘rack’ focus smoothly between two points is as simple as tapping on the screen.
The G1 X Mark III gets a slight tweak over its predecessor, in that it can now shoot 60p video footage, rather than topping out at 30p. This either allows smoother capture of fast motion or the ability to shoot slow-motion (by filming at 60p and outputting via video editing software at 24p).
The G1 X III also has a built-in 3EV ND filter, meaning that you can shoot video at its wider apertures, even in bright light.
Sadly, every Canon we’ve seen using this chip produces slightly blurry video with a little less detail than the nominal resolution would imply. Even if the G1 X Mark III somehow manages to improve on previous models, the increasingly pressing question remains: ‘whither 4K, Canon?’
Lens range
The main means by which Canon has managed to make the G1 X III smaller than its predecessor is the inclusion of a shorter and slower zoom lens. Whereas the Mark II was able to include a 24-120mm equivalent zoom, the Mark III offers a more modest 24-72mm equivalent. It means doing without the classic 85-100ish millimeter equivalent focal lengths that are especially well suited to portraiture, but the 24-70mm range is a widely used and well-respected range.
However, while the F2.8-5.6 maximum aperture range of the Mark III might sound like a big step down from the more impressive sounding F2.0-3.9 of its precursor, the practical differences is smaller than this would seem to imply. The larger sensor (and hence lower crop factor) of the G1 X III means its F4.5-9.0 equivalent range isn’t as different from the F3.8-7.5 equivalent of the Mark II as the actual F-numbers make it appear.
Compared to the G1 X Mark II
The G1 X Mark I was one of the first large sensor enthusiast zoom compacts, meaning that it defined expectations of what could be achieved. Indeed, we were impressed – back in early 2012 – that Canon had fitted such a large sensor and flexible lens range into a camera so close in size to its small-sensor forebears, such as the G12.
The G1 X III may have a shorter, slower zoom than its predecessor, but it’s a much smaller camera and one that should have continuous focus performance to do justice to its 7 frame per second shooting. And, with an in-lens leaf shutter, it can flash sync at up to 1/2000th of a second, which its Rebel siblings can’t come close to.
Compared to the competition
However, just six months later, ‘what’s possible’ got redefined again. In July 2012, Sony unveiled the DSC-RX100, a 1″ sensor camera with a 28-100mm equivalent zoom in a truly minuscule body.
So, whereas the G1 X had no peers when it was launched, the Mark III, with its 24-72mm F4.5-9.0 equivalent zoom will have to compete with the cheaper, 24 frame per second capable RX100 V with its 24-70mm F4.9-7.6 equiv. lens and highly capable AF.
In addition to this potential for slightly better image quality, the RX100 V can also shoot impressive 4K video and, despite its much smaller form factor, promises slightly better battery life (a CIPA rating of 220 shots per charge, rather than 200). As always in reality you’re likely to get more than this number from both cameras, but these are pretty modest figures.
Impressively small, steeply priced
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is an interesting-looking camera. It’s an impressively small camera with a useful zoom and all the benefits that the company’s Dual Pixel sensor should bring.
However, against the likes of Sony’s RX100 series, Panasonic’s LX10/15 and Canon’s own G5 X and G7 X II models, it will inevitably struggle to set a new bar for enthusiast zoom compacts, in the way its progenitor did.
It’s also an expensive camera: $ 1299 makes the G1 X Mark III one of the priciest compacts on the market. But the prospect of a compact camera with Canon JPEG color, Dual Pixel focus and extensive control is something we look forward to testing.
Articles: Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
