Canon PowerShot
G1X
 vs
Nikon 1
V1

Canon PowerShot G1X

74

  
Nikon 1 V1

32

  

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G1X

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Battery life
 Great battery life
700 shots
 
Runner-up

Nikon 1 V1

Reasons to buy the Nikon 1 V1

High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
1,200 fps
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
60 fps
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1300 ms startup delay
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Phase detection video autofocus
fast and accurate
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon G1X
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 700 shots vs 350 shots
Help
 2x more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The G1X's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Overall image quality Better image quality 60.0 vs 54.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Sensor size Larger sensor Four thirds 18.7x14.0mm vs Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 Around 2.5x larger sensor
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Color depth Better color depth 21.7 bits vs 21.3 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 644 ISO vs 346 ISO
Help
 The G1X has a slight edge (0.9 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Canon PowerShot G1X Learn more about
the Canon G1X

Advantages of the Nikon V1
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 1,200 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 60 fps vs 1.9 fps
Help
 More than 31.5x faster continuous shooting
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Size Smaller 113x76x43 mm vs 117x81x65 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Startup delay Less startup delay 1300 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 More than 30% less delay when turning on
Thickness Thinner 1.7" vs 2.6"
Help
 More than 30% thinner
Weight Lighter 294 g vs 390 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $391.66 vs $649.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $257 cheaper (around 40% less)
Nikon 1 V1 Learn more about
the Nikon V1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G1X Canon PowerShot G1X
74 vs 32
Explain scores
Nikon 1 V1 Nikon 1 V1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G1X. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a boutique with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G1X:Tunnel
V1:Digital
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
G1X:1/4000s
V1:1/16000s
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G1X:10.8 EV
V1:11 EV
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the NEX-5N vs the 1 V1
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,565
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the 1 V1
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the 1 V1
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the NEX-7 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the NEX-7 vs the 1 V1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$398
Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the 1 V1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
3D Captures 3D images
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the 1 V1
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$325 - $349
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the 1 V1

Canon PowerShot G1X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$971
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Size Smaller
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PowerShot G1X
Canon PowerShot G15 Quick

Canon PowerShot G15

Pro digicam

$444 - $449
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the PowerShot G1X
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$429 - $450
Zoom Much more zoom
Macro focus Much better macro capability
Aperture Narrower aperture
Size Significantly larger
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the PowerShot G1X

Nikon 1 V1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens
Size Smaller
Built-in flash Built-in flash
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the 1 J1 vs the 1 V1
Nikon 1 V2

Nikon 1 V2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$697 body only

$797 with 10-30mm lens
True resolution Higher true resolution
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Autofocus Slower autofocus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the 1 V2 vs the 1 V1
Nikon 1 J3

Nikon 1 J3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
True resolution Higher true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the 1 J3 vs the 1 V1
Nikon 1 J2

Nikon 1 J2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$321 - $449 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Size Smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the 1 J2 vs the 1 V1
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$324 - $699 with 20-50mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
True resolution Much higher true resolution
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the NX1000 vs the 1 V1

appearance

Canon PowerShot G1X Nikon 1 V1
Canon PowerShot G1X Nikon 1 V1
Canon PowerShot G1X Nikon 1 V1

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:08 PM, April 05, 2012)
This is a hard comparison to make, as the Canon G1X has a fixed lens, while the Nikon V1 is an interchangeable lens camera. Since you can change the lenses on the V1, we are unable to give it a score in that area. We do highlight that above "Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G1X. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a boutique with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens." 
My suggestion is to look past the scores on this one and just look at the advantages of each camera.
 
J Nierentz (8:56 AM, April 05, 2012)
The difference of 84 to 44 results due to the fact that you completely ignore the lens of the Nikon.
For the canon the lens alone gets more than 50 points.
This is not serious!