Canon PowerShot G1X

80

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G1X

Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
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
Olympus PEN E-P1

35

Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P1

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Canon G1X

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 230k dots
Help
4x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
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
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 60.0 vs 55.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
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
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 12.2 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 21.7 bits vs 21.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Dynamic range More dynamic range 10.8 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 644 ISO vs 536 ISO
Help
The G1X has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor Four thirds 18.7x14.0mm vs Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Help
Around 10% larger sensor
Canon PowerShot G1X Learn more about
the Canon G1X

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P1

Size Smaller 121x70x36 mm vs 117x81x65 mm
Help
2x smaller
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Thickness Thinner 1.4" vs 2.6"
Help
More than 40% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3 fps vs 1.9 fps
Help
Around 60% faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Cheaper $185.00 vs $799.00
Help
The best price we've seen is $614 cheaper (4.3x less)
Weight Slightly lighter 355 g vs 390 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Olympus PEN E-P1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G1X Canon PowerShot G1X
80 vs 35
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-P1 Olympus PEN E-P1
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.

advice

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2
votes
by Lynn-Rhodes this month
Canon G1X vs Nikon P7100

I have a Nikon D300 with a 18-200 mm lens.  I use my camera primarily for (outdoor) vacation/tra...

9 people recommend the Canon G1X:

" I am a Nikon DSLR user like you and I also have P7100 but between the two, I'd have to go with C..."

" Hi Lynn, the G1X definitely has better image quality in low light than the P7100 due to its larg..."

" I would choose Powershot, because technically, it has sensor cmos, good for low light. and it ca..."

One person recommends the Nikon P7100:

" As far as I know, Nikon is better at high-ISO than Canon. I have a Nikon myselft and I've tried..."

3
votes
by Kat-Sandbach last month
Canon G1X

Beginner - although I'm a designer and can compose a beautiful shot, I have no idea about lenses, ...

One person recommends the Canon G1X:

"If your idea of street photography is sniping from further away, then the G1X can reach much farth..."

0
votes
by Ayoungman-Wholikesavacadu 2 days ago
Canon G1X vs Panasonic DMC-LX5

hd video and travel needs to be portable, and good sound for HD video

0
votes
by yitzhak-kohavi last week
Canon G1X vs Canon S100

Tell us more! Are you a beginner or expert? What types of photos do you like to take? What featu...

0
votes
by Neal-Caffrey this month
Canon G1X

I place the most emphasis on image quality, and as a frequent traveller, I always capture the be...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Large sensors Help
G1X:Four thirds 18.7x14.0mm
PEN E-P1:Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
G1X:CMOS
PEN E-P1:NMOS
Longest exposure Very long exposure times Help
60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G1X:10.8 EV
PEN E-P1:10.4 EV
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$372 - $430

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Much shorter exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$739 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Longest exposure Significantly shorter exposures
External flash Doesn't support an external flash

Canon PowerShot G1X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Macro focus Much better macro capability
Size Smaller
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Better image quality
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Longest exposure Significantly shorter max exposures

Olympus PEN E-P1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$260 - $279 with 14-42mm lens

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Size Slightly larger
Olympus PEN E-P2

Olympus PEN E-P2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$480 with 17mm lens

Color depth Better color depth
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
3D Takes 3D photos
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Color depth Worse color depth
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$589 - $600 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth

appearance

Canon PowerShot G1X Olympus PEN E-P1
Canon PowerShot G1X Olympus PEN E-P1
Canon PowerShot G1X Olympus PEN E-P1

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