CANON PowerShot G1X mark II

Second generation high-end compact digital camera

A review and photo examples of the PowerShot G1X mark II.

Gallery

Review

Overview
Usage
Differences

1．Overview

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark-II (G1X2) was released in 2014 and is a lens-integrated digital camera with a 1.5-inch sensor, which is larger than the sensor size of Four Thirds and Micro Four Thirds cameras.

It is the second generation camera in the top-class G series of the PowerShot series, and has a 1.5-inch sensor, a 24mm-120mm 5x zoom lens, an add-on EVF, and a pixel count of 13.1 million pixels at 4:3.

It uses the DIGIC 6 image processing engine, and the lens configuration is 11 groups and 14 elements, including one double-sided aspherical lens and two double-sided aspherical UA lenses, with multi-layer coating. The lens is equipped with an optical image stabilization mechanism (IS) with a correction effect of about 3.5 stops, and the minimum shooting distance is 5 cm in macro mode at the wide-angle end and 40 cm at the telephoto end. The front of the lens is equipped with a lens protection shutter that opens and closes automatically.

Images are compatible with Raw format with the CR2 extension and JPG. The maximum resolution is 4160 x 3120 pixels in 4:3 RAW mode. Videos can be recorded at a maximum resolution of 1920 x 1080 (24 fps).

The hood is a dedicated bayonet-type LH-DC80, and the FA-DC58E is required to attach a 58mm diameter filter. These two options are mutually exclusive and cannot be used simultaneously.

The battery is an NB-12L with the following specifications:

Selected products	PowerShot G1 X Mark II / N100
Product Type	Lithium-ion rechargeable battery
Nominal Voltage	DC 3.6V
Nominal Capacity	1910mAh
Nominal Power Capacity	6.8WAh
Charging time	3 hours 5 minutes*
Charge/discharge cycles	300 times
Operating temperature	0-40℃
Size	34.4×48.5×10.4mm
Weight	35g

*When charging with the CB-2LG battery charger

The price of the camera body was open, and the price at the time of release was just over 90,000 yen.

2．Usage

The G1X Mark-II is Canon’s second-generation high-end compact camera, which has resolved the complaints about the G1X but still leaves some areas to be desired. The lack of a viewfinder makes it closer to the size of a compact digital camera than the G1X. The exterior of the body is plastic, but the surface treatment gives it a relatively high-quality feel.

This is the last camera to have a 1.5-inch sensor, and the G5, G7, and G9 series have 1-inch sensors. The new models are few in stock and new prices are stable at a high price, so if you prefer a camera with a large sensor size, you can choose the first G1 series and this Mark-II, which is relatively reasonably priced.

However, there are some doubts about the camera’s operability, so it will be a deciding factor as to whether you can tolerate the quirks or not and whether you can continue to use this camera. Fortunately, although there are complaints about the operability so far, it is a valuable large sensor camera that is useful for everyday snapshots.

The large 1.5-inch sensor has improved basic image quality and high sensitivity characteristics compared to the previous G1X. The focal length of the zoom lens is 24mm to 120mm, and the 24mm wide-angle end does not feel insufficient for most subjects, and the 120mm telephoto end is almost never insufficient. Regarding the focal length, it is highly rated for completely eliminating the complaints about the G1X. Another good point about this camera is that the maximum aperture is F2 to F3.9, which is bright.

Lens distortion is properly corrected from the wide-angle end, and there is no noticeable distortion even when shooting square objects. It is good that the lens can get as close as 5cm, which is the minimum shooting distance at the wide-angle end. However, the minimum shooting distance cannot be used seamlessly, and it is troublesome to have to change the camera settings to macro mode when taking macro shots.

The rear LCD is a vertical tilt type that can be tilted 180 degrees up and 45 degrees down, which is unfortunate that the freedom of the vari-angle is lost. The frame of the tilt LCD is delicate and lacks rigidity, and it sometimes feels like it is about to break when using it. Dropping it is out of the question, but if you were to drop it with the frame unfolded, the frame would undoubtedly be distorted.
The LCD is large at 3 inches, and the 1.04 million dot resolution gives you the display performance to visually check the focus position, so there is no complaint.

The EVF is external (EVF-DC1, EVF-DC2), and when attached to the camera, as is common to all add-on EVF cameras, it does not feel integrated with the camera and it is inevitable that the camera becomes larger. Naturally, when an EVF is attached, it does not fit well in a camera bag, so it is preferable to have an integrated EVF. The best mounting method for compact cameras is to have the EVF integrated into the body at the top left of the camera, as in the Sony NEX series and α6×00 series.
Like the G1X Mark III, the EVF is built-in, but the EVF’s bold design, like the pentaprism of a SLR camera, does not suit a compact camera.

I own the EVF-DC2, and since the AF is reasonably accurate if you use the camera calmly, and you can check the focus position on the rear LCD, there is almost no problem without the EVF in normal shooting scenes, so I only attach the EVF when I take it outside during the day.

Operation has been improved compared to the G1X, but the most disappointing thing is the restriction on the function assignment of the two rings on the lens barrel.
Of the two rings, I would like to use the smooth ring, which has no click feeling, to operate the zoom, but I cannot assign zoom operation to the smooth ring.
As an alternative, I assign the step zoom, which switches in stages from 24, 28, 35, 50, 85, 100, and 120 to the step ring with a click feeling. Still, it would be nice if the function assignment to the two rings was more flexible.

Regarding exposure compensation, when using MF mode, the double ring on the lens barrel is used for focus and zoom, and it is operated with the planar ring next to the LCD. This surface ring is not very user-friendly, so it would be more convenient if the camera had a dedicated exposure compensation dial on the camera’s front panel, like the G1X.

The design concept of the G1X2 may have made it impossible to place a dial on the front panel, but a sub-dial embedded in the body like the EOS R would be easier to use than a surface ring.

It can’t be helped that the buttons are cramped due to the small body, but I feel the camera should reconsider the location of the MF button. It’s easy to see that the AF/MF switch is on the fixed part at the base of the lens barrel, like Sigma’s slightly older lenses.

As for operation, it feels like there is a pause between turning the power on and being able to shoot. The AF speed is not that fast, and the focusing accuracy is average. It’s fine for taking pictures calmly, but in sudden situations it can’t follow the human imagination.
Unlike the high-resolution cameras of the late 2000s, where you have to wait 5 seconds for Raw shooting, the 13MP RAW + highest quality JPEG recording is finished before you know it, proving the superiority of the DIGIC6 image processing system.

The NB-12L battery is proprietary to Canon, and was only used in the G1X2 and the PowerShot N100, a camera that didn’t sell very well. You can find compatible products made overseas, but they cost around 3,000 yen, so they’re not cheap. Rather than taking the risk of using an overseas battery, it’s better to choose the genuine product, which costs around 6,000 yen.

The battery life isn’t that good, and if you don’t have a spare battery, you’ll run out of battery midway through.

3．Differences

The following text is the same for both the G1X and G1X Mark II.

The G1X series has three models, the first G1X, the G1X mark II (G1X2), and the G1X mark III (G1X3), but each camera has a different concept. Below is a subjective summary.

The G1X is a high-performance camera that is an extension of a compact digital camera.
The G1X2 is a sub-camera that is conscious of a compact mirrorless camera.
The G1X3 is a lens-integrated camera that can handle everything on its own.

The body design is G1X > G1X2 > G1X3, and I prefer the G1X the most.

In terms of operability and performance, the order is G1X2 > G1X = G1X3, and the reason the G1X3 is rated low is because the telephoto end of the lens is not enough at 72mm.

The minimum shooting distance is G1X2 = 5cm, G1X3 = 10cm, G1X = 20cm, and the G1X3 is probably due to the larger sensor size, but in terms of specifications it is a step back.

As a user, I am not happy that the battery model numbers are different for all three models. Although the three models are from different eras, I would like the battery size and capacity specifications to be decided with an eye to the future so that batteries of the same model number can be used for the same series.

There are also questions about the filter attachment method for the G1X and G1X2, as the two cameras require a hood and an exclusive filter adapter in order to attach a filter. It is problematic that the filters and hoods are exclusive, and these hoods and adapters are dedicated to each camera, and it would be difficult to use them after the camera is no longer on sale.に入手するのはかなり面倒なことになっている。

	G1X	G1X Mark II
Hood	LH-DC70	LH-DC80
Filter Adapter	FA-DC58C	FA-DC58E

With a camera of this class, many users will likely use PL filters or ND filters, so it would have been nice if the lens barrel had been pre-threaded so that standard filters could be screwed in. This has been improved slightly in the latest G1X Mark-III.

I have put my ideal G1X Mark IV on the far right side of the table below, but I would like to conclude this article by hoping that they will make a G1X Mark IV that is an improvement over the G1X Mark II.

Specification and Competitor

Items	G1X	G1X mark II	G1X mark III	G1X mark IV (My Hope)
Focal length (35mm equivalent)	28 – 112 mm (4x)	24 – 120 mm (5x)	24 – 72 mm (3x)	24 – 120 mm (5x)
Actual focal length	15.1 – 60.4 mm	12.5 – 62.5 mm	15.0 – 45.0 mm	12.5 – 62.5 mm
Shooting distance	20cm～∞	5 cm～∞	10 cm～∞	5 cm～∞
Maximum aperture	F2.8〜F5.8	F2.0〜F4	F2.8〜F5.6	F2〜F2.8
Lens barrier	–	Exists	–	–
Filter options	FA-DC58C 58mm	FA-DC58E 58mm	– 37mm screw	55mm screw
Lens hood	LH-DC70	LH-DC80	LH-DC110 49mm filter can be attached	–
Number of pixels	14.3 megapixels	12.8 megapixels (aspect ratio 3:2)	24.2 megapixels	14.3 megapixels
Sensor Type	CMOS	←	←	←
Sensor Size	1.5	←	APS-C	1.5
Image Stabilizer	Lens shift method	←	←	←
View Finder	Real image zoom viewfinder Diopter adjustment range: -3.0 – +1.0 m-1 (dpt) Field of view: 77%	Add-on EVF 0.48 type 2.36 million dots	Built-in EVF 0.39 type 2.36 million dots	Built-in EVF 0.39 type 2.36 million dots
Rear LCD Specifications	3.0(TFT) Vari-angle	3.0(TFT) Up/Down Tilt	3.0(TFT) Vari-angle	3.0(TFT) Vari-angle
Rear LCD resolution	922,000 dots	1.04 million dots	←	1.04 million dots
Image Processing Engine	DIGIC5	DIGIC6	DIGIC7	–
Battery	NB-10L	NB-12L	NB-13L	–
Recorded media	SD memory card SDHC memory card SDHC memory card	←	←	←
WIFI	–	Exists	Exists	←
Size Width x Height x Depth	116.7 x 80.5 x 64.7	116.3 x 74.0 x 66.2 (no evf)	115.0 x 77.9 x 51.4	116.7 x 80.5 x 64.7
Weight (g) : Main unit only *: Battery + media	492 * 534 **	516 * 553 **	375 * 399 **	450 * 490 **
Release date	2012.3.9	2014.3.13	2017.11.30	?
Body color	Black	←	←	←