Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III Review
Introduction
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is a new premium compact camera that replaces the three-year-old Mark II model. The weather sealed G1 X Mark III has a larger APS-C sensor offering 24 megapixels and a Dual Pixel CMOS AF system that can auto-focus in 0.09 seconds, an ISO range of 100 to 25,600, a 3x optical lens (24-72mm) with f/2.8-5.6 aperture, 4-stops of image stabilisation, Full HD 60p movies, a DIGIC 7 processor, a tilting LCD touchscreen, a built-in electronic viewfinder, a pop-up flash, and Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and Dynamic NFC connectivity. The Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III is available in black priced at £1149 / €1399 / $1299.
Ease of Use
The G1 X Mark III is the smallest ever PowerShot G1-series camera, yet it features the largest ever sensor, namely an APS-C sensor that's more commonly found in Canon's EOS range of DSLRs. There are only a handful of compact cameras that have such a large sensor - the Ricoh GR springs to mind, which has a 16-megapixel APS-C sensor. Unlike the G1 X Mark III, though, which has a 3x zoom lens, the Ricoh GR utlilises a fixed 28mm lens (which some users might actually prefer).
Measuring 115 x 78 x 51mm and weighing 399g including the battery and memory card, the new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is substantially smaller and lighter than the Mark II model that it replaces. It's very similar in size to the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX100 camera, but that camera has a smaller Micro Four Thirds sensor. As mentioned, the APS-C sensor in the G1 X Mark III should deliver better image quality, especially in low-light, plus greater depth-of-field and enhanced dynamic range, all the things that most compact cameras struggle to deliver, and key reasons why people choose mirrorless or DSLR cameras instead.
Featuring a mixed metal and plastic construction, the G1 X Mark III feels very well made indeed, although perhaps not as bomb-proof as the previous model. The control layout feels similar to other G-series Canons, in particular the G5X, so if you've used any of those cameras before, you'll quickly be able to get up to speed with this latest version. The biggest change since the Mark II G1 X is the very welcome inclusion of a centrally-located electronic viewfinder. Whereas the previous model had no viewfinder at all out-of-the-box (there was just a pricey EVF-DC1 add-on viewfinder instead), forcing you to shoot with it at arm's length, the G1 X Mark III has a really good Organic LED EVF with 2.36million dots, which goes some way to explaining the significant increase in the asking price. There’s also an eye-sensor for automatically detecting when it has been lifted to your eye, making it a very fluid movement akin to using a DSLR.
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| Front of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III |
Another significant change is the adoption of a 3x zoom lens, which offers an effective zoom range of 24-72mm, compared to the Mark II's 24-120mm lens, a natural consequence of using the larger APS-C sensor. With an aperture range of f/2.8-5.6, it's not the quickest lens, especially at the telephoto settings, where using f/5.6 in combination with an APS-C sensor might not quite deliver the completely defocused background look that you're after. The lens does have 9 rounded aperture blades, though, which should at least ensure that the bokeh looks nice.
Happily, the G1 X III once again has a dedicated exposure compensation dial on top of the camera body, something that was removed from the previous model, although setting the ISO speed still requires using the menu system (unless you assign it to the lens control dial instead of the zoom function). In conjunction with the new front control dial which is operated by your right forefinger, the rear control wheel, and the lens control ring, using the core photography features of the G1 X III is a largely enjoyable and intuitive experience, which given the overall size of the camera is no mean feat on the part of the Canon engineers.
From the front the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III's very much looks like a DSLR that's been shrunk in the wash, with the 3x zoom lens surrounded by the lens control ring, a new front control dial, a generously sized handgrip that can effectively be held with three fingers with a similarly textured small pad at the back for your right thumb to rest on, and a tiny port for the built-in self-timer/AF assist lamp. Above the lens is a small pop-up flash that can be manually raised, and behind that a dedicated flash hotshoe, the same found on the company's DSLR cameras. Completing the top-middle of the camera is the EVF that we've already discussed above, complete with a dioptre control dial for glasses wearers.
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| Front of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III |
You can use a combination of the smooth, clickless lens control ring front dial and rear navigation wheel to change the aperture and shutter speed, each of which can be configured to suit your particular way of working, and impressively for each of the PASM shooting modes. The lens control ring also provides the additional ability to make fine adjustments when manually focusing and can be used to fine-tune the focus distance after AF is achieved. The third main configurable control is the navigation wheel on the rear, which given its tiny size is surprisingly easy to use.
From left to right the G1 X Mark III's top-plate houses the shooting mode dial, the pop-up flash and flash hotshoe, a springy raised nipple-style shutter release button surrounded by a rocker switch for operating the optically stabilised 3x zoom, the small recessed on/off button, and the exposure compensation dial (+-3EV). The fact that the lens is image stabilised provides a four-stop advantage when shooting handheld, which goes some way to making up for the slow F/5.6 maximum aperture when using the telephoto end of the zoom range.
The G1X III has the very latest DIGIC 7 processor, so it's quick to power up and ready itself for shooting in less than a second, the rear LCD blinking into life and the 3x optical zoom lens simultaneously extending from storage within the body to its maximum wide-angle setting. As a further aid to landscape fans, a 3-stop neutral density filter option is provided among the function menu options, to be turned on or off as required, and a horizontal Electronic Level and RGB histogram can be enabled to help with composition and exposure.
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| Rear of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III |
The shooting mode dial features settings for Auto capture, Hybrid Auto, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual, along with two user customisable settings, a smattering of scene modes (15 in all), and a video mode. The Canon PowerShot can still only shoot 1080p HD, though, rather than the almost-standard 4K quality, although it is now at a maximum of 60fps, rather than 30fps. Canon have not included a microphone socket either, which means that the G1 X Mark III is therefore not the best camera for vlogging or serious video work, a real shame given the sensor size. The G1 X Mark III does offer stereo sound courtesy of tiny microphones positioned either side of the flash hotshoe and the 3x optical zoom can be used when filming.
The G1 X Mark III also has an improved continuous shooting mode, which in conjunction with Tracking AF makes it well-suited to both slow and fast moving subjects. The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III can capture up to 24 full-resolution JPEG shots at 9fps with the focus point locked at the first frame, or more usefully you can shoot continuously at 7fps with AF tracking for up to 29 full-resolution JPEGs.
We appreciated the flexibility presented by the tilting LCD screen in terms of trying out unusual framing angles. It can be titled forward through 180° for easier selfies and backwards through 45° in order to shoot over the heads of a crowd. The LCD is a 3 inch monitor with a resolution of 1040K dots, the same as the previous model, but it can now be rotated about its axis or folded screen-in to the body for added protection, as on the original G1 X.
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| Tilting LCD Screen |
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III has a touch focus/shoot option which is on by default. To switch it off, change the Touch Shutter option in the main menu. This then becomes a touch focus screen which will lock onto the subject where-ever you touched, with a press of the Display button centering the AF point. In playback the touchscreen can be used to change the magnification of an image by spreading and pinching two fingers, and switch between images by swiping from side to side, just like on a smartphone. You can also adjust the LCD's touch sensitivity to your liking with Standard and High settings available.
Although you can use the AF point selection button to enter the AF selection options, the easiest way to set AF point is to use the touch screen, simply tapping where you want the AF point to be. You can use the touch screen to do this in conjunction with the viewfinder if you want, by selecting “Touch and drag AF settings” in the main menu. A great feature is that you can use the whole screen to do this, or you can apportion a section of the screen, for example the bottom right to allowing you to change the AF point - this is particularly handy if you find that your nose or face is accidentally moving the AF point when you don’t want it to.
On the right-hand flank of the camera is a new button for quickly connecting to a previously paired smartphone or tablet. The G1 X Mark III's wi-fi capabilities allow you to share images during playback via the Up button on the navigation pad. Simply enter a nickname for the camera and five more icons then appear, connecting the G1 X Mark III to another camera, a smartphone, a computer, a printer and the internet respectively. Setup is relatively straight-forward for each scenario, although you'll need a basic understanding of the protocols involved. Note that you need to install the dedicated and free Canon CameraWindow app to connect the G1 X Mark III to an iOS or Android device.
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| Top of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III |
The G1 X Mark III's wi-fi functionality is also employed to tag your images with GPS data recorded by your smartphone ( latitude, longitude, altitude and shooting time) via the Canon CameraWindow app, which effectively replaces a more conventional built-in GPS system. We actually prefer having GPS built-in to the camera rather than having to sync it with an additional device, so in this regard the G1 X Mark III doesn't compare well with rivals that offer this feature, although it does side-step the issue of negatively affecting battery life. The G1 X Mk III also features NFC (Near Field Communication) technology (the same technology that's used for mobile payments), which allows you to connect it to a compatible internet enabled device or another NFC-enabled camera by simply tapping them together.
For the first time on a G-series camera there’s also bluetooth connectivity. You can use this as a low-power alternative to Wi-Fi to control the camera. It’s also easier and quicker to set up and use than connecting to the camera’s Wi-Fi network. Once you’re connected to the camera via Bluetooth, you can also use the Canon Camera Connect app (free download for iOS and Android) to activate Wi-Fi settings directly, which you’ll need to do to browse images and download images onto your phone.
Located to the top-right of the LCD screen is the one-touch movie record button, which as its name suggests instantly begins recording a movie at the current quality and creative settings. Underneath that is a new button for locking the exposure, alongside which is a button for setting the position and size of the AF point during shooting. The G1 X Mark III focuses very quickly indeed in either good light or bad and at both ends of the zoom range, with only a slight delay of around 0.1 second, which is commendably almost as fast as a DSLR or compact system camera.
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| The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III In-hand |
Underneath this pair of controls is the four-way selection or control pad, with, at points north, east, south and west a means of selecting the continuous shooting options, choosing from the on-board flash settings, toggling between the various display settings, and activating normal or 10cm macro focus modes. At its centre is the Q/Set button that is again consistent with the Canon G-series. Press this button at its centre when in any of the capture modes and left and right toolbars that will be familiar to Canon users appear on the screen, offering a toolbar at the bottom of the screen with further options from the range when you come to rest on a particular setting.
At the bottom right hand corner of the backplate are a further pairing of buttons for image playback and accessing the main menu. A press of the Menu button brings up a trio of folders on screen, the first the Shooting menu where the likes of the AF assist beam and blink detection modes can be turned on or off, the second the Setup menu where sound options and LCD brightness can be tweaked, and the third being a 'My Menu' option for commonly used functions.
On the right hand flank of the camera - viewed from the back - we find covered ports for HDMI out, an optional remote shutter release cable plus combined USB/AV out connection. On the bottom is a familiar metal screw thread for a tripod and a sliding cover for the compartment that houses the lithium-ion battery needed for power and the SD, SDHC or SDXC cards needed for image storage. Battery life is a little worse than the previous model, at around only 200 shots from a full charge, so you'll need to budget for at least one spare battery or use the new ECO mode that extends battery life back up to the 240 shots that the G1 X II offered. A new feature is the ability to recharge the camera through the USB port’s smartphone charger or USB compatible battery packs, useful if you're travelling without convenient access to a powerpoint.
Image Quality
All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 24 megapixel SuperFine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 10Mb.
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III produces excellent quality still images. It recorded noise-free images at ISO 100-800, with some noise starting to show at ISO 1600. ISO 3200 and 6400 show more obvious noise but still remain perfectly usable, and even the fastest settings of ISO 12800 and 25600 don't suffer too badly.
The G1 X Mark III handled chromatic aberrations very well, with limited purple fringing effects appearing only in high contrast situations and generally at the edges of the frame. The built-in flash worked well indoors, with no red-eye and good overall exposure, although there's some noticeable vignetting at 24mm. The night photograph was excellent, with the maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds and the Bulb mode being long enough for most after-dark shots.
Anti-shake works very well when hand-holding the G1 X Mark III in low-light conditions or when using the telephoto end of the zoom range. Macro performance is adequate, allowing you to focus as close as 10cm away from the subject. The images were a little soft straight out of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III at the default sharpening setting and ideally require some further sharpening in an application like Adobe Photoshop, or you can change the in-camera setting.
The range of Picture Controls make it easy to change the look of your JPEG images, while the Auto Lighting Optimizer and Highlight Tone Priority modes help to etract more detail from the shadow and highlight areas.
Noise
There are 9 ISO settings available on the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting for both JPEG and RAW formats.
| JPEG | RAW |
ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
ISO 100 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 200 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 400 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 800 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 1600 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
ISO 3200 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 6400 (100% Crop) |
ISO 6400 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 12800 (100% Crop) |
ISO 12800 (100% Crop) |
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ISO 25600 (100% Crop) |
ISO 25600 (100% Crop) |
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File Quality
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III has 2 different JPEG file quality settings available, including Fine and Normal, with Fine being the higher quality option. Here are two 100% crops which show the quality of the two options.
| Fine (6.94Mb) (100% Crop) | Normal (4.23Mb) (100% Crop) |
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| RAW (30.7Mb) (100% Crop) | |
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Focal Range
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III's 3x zoom lens offers a fairly versatile focal range, as illustrated by these examples:
24mm |
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72mm |
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Sharpening
Here are two 100% crops which have been Saved as Web - Quality 50 in Photoshop. The right-hand image has had some sharpening applied in Photoshop. The out-of-the camera images are a little soft at the default sharpening setting. You can change the in-camera sharpening level if you don't like the default look.
Original (100% Crop) |
Sharpened (100% Crop) |
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Chromatic Aberrations
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III handled chromatic aberrations well during the review, with fairly limited purple fringing present around the edges of objects in high-contrast situations, as shown in the examples below.
Chromatic Aberrations 1 (100% Crop) |
Chromatic Aberrations 2 (100% Crop) |
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Macro
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III has a fairly good macro mode that allows you to focus on a subject that is 10cm away from the camera.
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Flash
The flash settings on the Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III are Auto, On, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Slow Synchro and Off. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.
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Flash Off - Wide Angle (24mm) |
Flash On - Wide Angle (24mm) |
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Flash Off - Telephoto (72mm) |
Flash On - Telephoto (72mm) |
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And here are some portrait shots. As you can see, neither the Flash On or the Red-eye-Reduction settings caused any red-eye.
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Flash On |
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Red-eye Reduction |
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Night
The Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds and there's a Bulb mode for even longer exposures, which is great news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds at ISO 100.
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Night |
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Anti Shake
The Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III has an anti-shake mechanism, which allows you to take sharp photos at slower shutter speeds than other digital cameras. To test this, we took 2 handheld shots of the same subject with the same settings. The first shot was taken with anti shake turned off, the second with it turned on.
| Shutter Speed / Focal Length | Anti-Shake Off (100% Crop) | Anti-Shake On (100% Crop) |
| 1/15th sec / 24mm | |
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| 1/5th sec / 72mm | |
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Picture Controls
Canon's Picture Controls are preset combinations of different sharpness, contrast, saturation and colour tone settings. The available Picture Controls are shown below in the following series, which demonstrates the differences. You can tweak these Picture Controls to your liking, and there are also User Defined styles so that you can create your own look.
| Standard | Portrait |
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| Landscape | Fine Detail |
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| Neutral | Faithful |
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Monochrome |
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Auto Lighting Optimizer
Auto Lighting Optimizer performs in-camera processing to even out the contrast and correct brightness. There are 4 different settings - Off, Low, Standard and Strong.
| Off | Low |
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| Standard | Strong |
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Highlight Tone Priority
Highlight Tone Priority can be enabled from the Camera/5 menu. Use of this function improves highlight detail by expanding the camera's dynamic range in the highlights. As you can see from these examples, Highlight Tone Priority reduced the extent of highlight blow-out considerably.
Off |
On |
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Sample Images
This is a selection of sample images from the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III camera, which were all taken using the 24 megapixel Fine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.
1/4s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
45mm
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1/10s · f/5.6 · ISO 200
45mm
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1/20s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
45mm
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1/30s · f/5.6 · ISO 800
45mm
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1/60s · f/5.6 · ISO 1600
45mm
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1/125s · f/5.6 · ISO 3200
45mm
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1/250s · f/5.6 · ISO 6400
45mm
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1/500s · f/5.6 · ISO 12800
45mm
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1/1250s · f/5.6 · ISO 25600
45mm
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300/10s · f/8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/60s · f/2.8 · ISO 500
15mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 3200
45mm
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1/60s · f/2.8 · ISO 640
15mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 2000
45mm
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1/160s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 800
39.23mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 125
45mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
43.4mm
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1/250s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
45mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
45mm
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1/250s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/500s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
45mm
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1/320s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/500s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
45mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 200
45mm
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1/250s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/80s · f/8 · ISO 250
23.3mm
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1/250s · f/8 · ISO 100
32.82mm
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1/80s · f/11 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/80s · f/11 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/250s · f/11 · ISO 100
45mm
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1/320s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/250s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/125s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/60s · f/8 · ISO 160
15mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
30.82mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 1600
45mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 1600
45mm
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1/125s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/250s · f/5 · ISO 100
31.39mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 160
45mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 1250
45mm
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1/60s · f/2.8 · ISO 200
15mm
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1/160s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 1000
43.4mm
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1/60s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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Sample RAW Images
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Canon RAW (CR2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).
1/4s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
45mm
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1/10s · f/5.6 · ISO 200
45mm
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1/20s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
45mm
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1/30s · f/5.6 · ISO 800
45mm
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1/60s · f/5.6 · ISO 1600
45mm
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1/125s · f/5.6 · ISO 3200
45mm
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1/250s · f/5.6 · ISO 6400
45mm
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1/500s · f/5.6 · ISO 12800
45mm
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1/1250s · f/5.6 · ISO 25600
45mm
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300/10s · f/8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/60s · f/2.8 · ISO 500
15mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 3200
45mm
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1/60s · f/2.8 · ISO 640
15mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 2000
45mm
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1/160s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 800
39.23mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 125
45mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
43.4mm
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1/250s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
45mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 400
45mm
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1/250s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/500s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
45mm
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1/320s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/500s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
45mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 200
45mm
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1/250s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/80s · f/8 · ISO 250
23.3mm
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1/250s · f/8 · ISO 100
32.82mm
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1/80s · f/11 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/80s · f/11 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/250s · f/11 · ISO 100
45mm
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1/320s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/250s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/125s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/60s · f/8 · ISO 160
15mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 100
30.82mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 1600
45mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 1600
45mm
Download original
1/125s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/250s · f/5 · ISO 100
31.39mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 160
45mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 1250
45mm
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1/60s · f/2.8 · ISO 200
15mm
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1/160s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
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1/160s · f/5.6 · ISO 1000
43.4mm
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1/60s · f/2.8 · ISO 100
15mm
Download original
Sample Movie & Video
This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 50 frames per second. Please note that this 15 second movie is 64.9Mb in size.
Product Images
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Conclusion
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is the smallest G-series camera to date, yet remarkably it has the largest image sensor of any G-series camera ever released, featuring the same APS-C sensor with Dual Pixel CMOS AF system as the EOS 80D and M5 cameras and therefore offering DSLR-like levels of image quality from what is after all a pocketable compact camera. There are a few notable drawbacks, though, with the increase in sensor size necessitating a shorter, slower lens, the puzzling continued lack of 4K video shooting, and also a significant increase in price compared to the previous model - £1149 / €1399 / $1299 is an awful lot to ask for a compact camera with a slow-ish 3x lens. Still, if you want a relatively tiny camera with a fixed lens that can deliver DSLR-like image quality, the new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III should certainly be on your short-list.
Canon must have read our review of the G1 X Mark II, because all of the things that we felt were missing - the exposure compensation dial, vari-angle LCD screen and optical viewfinder - have all made a welcome return in the Mark III. We also like the fact that the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is weather-proof and can be powered via a USB compatible battery pack, instantly making it more appealing for frequent travellers, while the combination of front and rear control dials and the single lens control ring make it a snip to quickly set the main camera parameters. We've always been fans of Canon's user interface on its DSLRs, and also now on the PowerShot G1 X Mark III.
In summary, the new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III can be summed up in one word - premium. It's a premium compact camera that offers premium image quality and handling, albeit with a premium price tag to match.
| Ratings (out of 5) | |
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| Design | 4.5 |
| Features | 4.5 |
| Ease-of-use | 4.5 |
| Image quality | 4.5 |
| Value for money | 3 |
Main Rivals
Listed below are some of the rivals of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III.
Canon PowerShot G3 X
The Canon PowerShot G3 X is a prosumer super-zoom camera with a 1-inch image sensor and 25x zoom lens. The G3 X also offers built-in wi-fi/NFC connectivity, 1080p HD video at 60fps with stereo sound, a 3.2 inch tilting touchscreen LCD, lens control ring, RAW files and a full range of manual shooting modes. Read our Canon PowerShot G3 X review to find out if this is the best superzoom camera that money can buy...
Canon PowerShot G5 X
The Canon PowerShot G5 X is a prosumer compact camera with a 1-inch image sensor and 4.2x zoom lens. The G5 X also offers built-in wi-fi/NFC connectivity, 1080p HD video at 60fps with stereo sound, a 3 inch swivelling touchscreen LCD, lens control ring, RAW files and a full range of manual shooting modes. Read our Canon PowerShot G5 X review to find out if this is the best prosumer compact camera that money can buy...
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II
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Ricoh GR II
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Review Roundup
Reviews of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III from around the web.
ephotozine.com »
The Canon Powershot G1 X Mark III is Canon’s large sensor compact camera, with a 24 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, 3x optical zoom lens, 3inch vari-angle touch-screen, electronic viewfinder (EVF), FullHD video recording, and built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth. Has Canon made a true miniature DSLR in the size of a compact camera?
Read the full review »
Specifications
Image Sensor
Type
APS-C CMOS
Effective Pixels
Approx. 24.2 M
Aspect Ratio
3:2
Colour Filter Type
Primary Colour
Image Processor
Type
DIGIC 7
Lens
Focal Length
15 – 45 mm (35 mm equivalent: 24 – 72 mm)
Zoom
Optical 3x
ZoomPlus 6x
Digital Approx. 4x (with Digital Tele-Converter Approx. 1.6x or 2.0x 1)
Combined Approx. 12x
Maximum f/number
f/2.8 - f/5.6
Construction
9 elements in 8 groups (3 double-sided aspherical lenses and 1 single-sided aspherical lens)
Image Stabilisation
Yes (lens shift-type). Adaptive Intelligent IS , max. approx. 4-stop stabilisation 2
Movie: 5-axis Advanced Dynamic IS
Focusing
Type
Dual Pixel CMOS AF System. Phase detection pixels built onto imaging sensor 3
AF System/ Points
Maximum 49 AF points (Fixed location on 7x7 grid) via camera automatic selection 4
Freely position 1 AF point/ 1 AF Zone (9 points, 3x3 grid) via manual selection 5
AF Modes
Single, Continuous, Servo AF/AE 6, Touch AF
AF Point Selection
AF area size customisable.
Touchscreen LCD active and Touch and Drag AF available when EVF is in use.
AF Lock
Yes, via customisable buttons
AF Assist Beam
Yes
Manual Focus
Yes, plus MF Peaking & AF + MF
Focus Bracketing
Yes
Closest Focusing Distance
10 cm (Wide) from front of lens
30 cm (Tele) from front of lens
Exposure Control
Metering modes
Real-time metering from the image sensor
(1) Evaluative metering (linked to Face Detection AF frame)
(2) Center weighted average metering
(3) Spot metering
AE Lock
Yes, via customisable buttons
Exposure Compensation
+/- 3 EV in 1/3 stop increments
ND Filter (3-stop) On/ Auto/ Off 7
AEB
1/3 – 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments (can be used together with manual compensation)
ISO Sensitivity
AUTO, 100, 125, 160, 200, 250, 320, 400, 500, 640, 800, 1000, 1250, 1600, 2000, 2500, 3200, 4000, 5000, 6400, 8000, 10000, 12800, 25600 8
AUTO ISO: 100 - 25600 (possible to set Max. ISO speed and rate of change)
Shutter
Speed
1 – 1/2000 s (factory default)
BULB, 30 – 1/2000 s (total range – varies by shooting mode)
White Balance
Type
TTL
Settings
Auto (including Face Detection WB), Daylight, Shade, Cloudy, Tungsten, White Fluorescent, Flash, Underwater, Colour Temperature (100 K increments)
White balance compensation:
1. Blue/Amber +/-9 levels
2. Magenta/ Green +/-9 levels
White Balance Compensation in Underwater mode
Viewfinder
Viewfinder
EVF (0.39 type), Approx. 2,360,000 dots, OLED type
Viewfinder / Coverage
Approx. 100%
Eyepoint / Dioptre Correction
Approx. 22 mm (from eyepiece lens centre)
-3.0 to +1.0 m-1 dpt (dioptric range)
LCD Monitor
Monitor
Vari-angle 7.5 cm (3.0”) Touchscreen LCD (TFT) with reinforced glass. 3:2 aspect ratio. Approx. 1,040,000 dots. Electrostatic capacitance type.
Coverage
Approx. 100%
Brightness
Adjustable to one of five levels. Quick-bright LCD (Press and hold INFO. Button)
Flash
Modes
Auto, Manual Flash On / Off, Slow Synchro
Slow Sync Speed
Yes. Fastest speed 1/2000 s
Red-Eye Reduction
Yes
Flash Exposure Compensation
+/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments
Flash Exposure Lock
Yes
Manual Power Adjustment
3 levels with internal flash
(Up to 22 selectable levels with Canon Speedlites 9)
Second Curtain Synchronisation
Yes
Built-in Flash Range
50 cm – 9.0 m (W) / 50 cm - 4.5 m (T)
External Flash
E-TTL with EX series Speedlites 11
Shooting
Modes
Smart Auto (58 scenes detected), Hybrid Auto, Program AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE, Manual, Custom 1, Custom 2, SCN (Self-Portrait, Portrait, Smooth Skin, Panoramic Shot, Panning, Star (Star Nightscape, Star Trails, Star Time-Lapse Movie), Handheld Night Scene, Grainy B/W, Soft Focus, Art Bold effect, Water painting effect, Toy camera effect, Miniature effect, HDR, Underwater,. Fireworks), Movie (Standard, Short Clip, Manual, Time-lapse Movie)
Photo Effects
Picture Styles: Auto, Standard, Portrait, Landscape, Fine Detail, Neutral, Faithful, Monochrome, User Defined (x3)
Drive modes
Single, Auto Drive, High-speed continuous, Low-speed continuous, Self-Timer
Continuous Shooting
Fixed AF: Up to approx. 9 shots/s for up to 24 frames in JPEG 12, 19 frames in RAW 13
With AF: Up to approx. 7 shots/s for 29 frames in JPEG 14
RECORDING PIXELS / COMPRESSION
Image Size
RAW: (3:2) 6000 x 4000, (4:3) 5328 x 4000, (16:9) 6000 x 3368, (1:1) 4000 x 4000
JPEG 3:2: (L) 6000 x 4000, (M) 3984 x 2656, (S1) 2976 x 1984, (S2) 2400 x 1600
JPEG 4:3: (L) 5328 x 4000, (M) 3552 x 2664, (S1) 2656 x 1992, (S2) 2112 x 1600
JPEG 16:9: (L) 6000 x 3368, (M) 3984 x 2240, (S1) 2976 x 1680 (S2) 2400 x 1344
JPEG 1:1: (L) 4000 x 4000, (M) 2656 x 2656, (S1) 1984 x 1984, (S2) 1600 x 1600
In-camera RAW processing & Resize available
Panoramic Shot mode:
Horizontal:
Maximum recording pixels: 24064 x 2800
Minimum recording pixels: 6000 x 2800
Vertical:
Maximum recording pixels: 16000 x 4200
Minimum recording pixels: 4200 x 4000
Compression
RAW, Superfine, Fine
Movies
(Full HD) 1920 x 1080, 59.94 / 50 / 29.97 / 25 / 23.98 fps
(HD) 1280 x 720, 29.97 / 25 fps
(VGA) 640 x 480, 29.97 / 25 fps
Movie Length
(Full HD & HD) Up to 4 GB or 29 min 59 s 16
(VGA) Up to 4 GB or 1 hour 17
File Type
Still Image Type
JPEG compression (Exif 2.3 [Exif Print] compliant) / Design rule for Camera File system and DPOF ver. 1.1 compliant), RAW (14bit, Canon original RAW 2nd edition), RAW+JPEG
Movies
MP4 [Video: MPEG-4 AVC / H.264, Audio: MPEG-4 AAC-LC (stereo)]
Direct Print
Canon Printers
Canon SELPHY Compact Photo Printers and Canon Inkjet Printers supporting PictBridge 18
PictBridge
Yes (via USB or Wireless LAN) 19
Other Features
Operating Environment
0 – 40 °C, 10 – 90% humidity
Dust and moisture resistant construction 20
GPS
GPS via mobile (linked to compatible smartphone)
Red-Eye Correction
Yes
My Camera / My Menu
My Menu customisation available
Intelligent Orientation Sensor
Yes
Histogram
Yes, live histogram
Self Timer
Approx. 2, 10 s or Custom
Menu Languages
English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Greek, Norwegian, Portuguese, Russian, Swedish, Spanish, Ukrainian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Simplified Chinese, Chinese (traditional), Japanese, Korean, Thai, Arabic, Romanian, Farsi, Hindi, Malay, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Hebrew
Interface
Computer
Hi-Speed USB dedicated connector (Micro-B compatible)
Other
HDMI Micro Connector
Remote Switch Connector
Computer/Other
Wi-Fi (IEEE802.11b/g/n), (2.4 GHz only), with Dynamic NFC support 21
Bluetooth® (Specification version 4.1, Bluetooth low energy technology) 22
Memory Card
Type
SD, SDHC, SDXC (UHS Speed Class 1 compatible)
Software
Other
CameraWindow DC
Map Utility
Image Transfer Utility
Camera Connect available on iOS and Android devices
Image Manipulation
Digital Photo Professional 4 for RAW development
Power Source
Batteries
Rechargeable Li-ion Battery NB-13L (battery and charger supplied)
Battery life
Approx. 200 shots
Eco mode approx. 250 shots
Approx. 240 min playback
A/C Power Supply
Charging via USB available with Compact Power Adapter CA-DC30E 24 or other typical USB charging methods
Accessories
Cases / Straps
Soft Case DCC-1830
PowerShot Neck Strap NS-100
Neck Strap NS-DC12
PowerShot Accessory Organizer
Waterproof / Weatherproof Case
Waterproof Case (40m) WP-DC56
Waterproof Case Weight WW-DC1
Lenses
Lens Hood LH-DC110
Flash
Canon Speedlites (including 90EX, 220EX, 270EX, 270EX II, 320EX, 430EX, 430EX II, 430EX III-RT, 580EX, 580EX II, 600EX, 600EX-RT, 600EX II-RT, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2, Speedlite Transmitter ST-E3-RT)
Off-Camera Shoe Cord OC-E3, Speedlite Bracket SB-E2
Remote Controller/ Switch
Remote Switch RS-60E3
Timer Remote Controller TC-80N3 25
Power Supply & Battery Chargers
Compact Power Adapter CA-DC30E
Battery Charger CB-2LHE
Other
Interface cable IFC-600PCU
Canon Connect Station CS100
All data is based on Canon standard testing methods (according to CIPA Standards) except where indicated.
Subject to change without notice.
- Depending on the image size selected.
- Values at maximum optical focal length. Cameras whose focal length exceeds 350 mm (35 mm equivalent) are measured at 350 mm.
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF - AF is possible over an area of approx. 80% Vertical x 80% Horizontal of the frame
- Maximum number of AF frame is dependent on selected image aspect ratio
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF - AF is possible over an area of approx. 80% Vertical x 80% Horizontal of the frame
- Some settings limit availability.
- Auto ND Filter not available in Movie Mode.
- ISO sensitivity denotes Recommended Exposure Index
- Not all functions of the flash are supported.
- Level of adjustement is dependent on the Speedlite attached
- Not all functions of the flash are supported.
- Sustained continuous shooting speed is tested based on Canon's testing standard. Function requires compatible SDHC/SDXC UHS Speed Class 1 memory card, total number of frames captured varies depending on shooting subject, settings and brand of memory card
- Under conditions where the flash does not fire.
- Under conditions where the flash does not fire.
- Sustained continuous shooting speed is tested based on Canon's testing standard. Function requires compatible SDHC/SDXC UHS Speed Class 1 memory card, total number of frames captured varies depending on shooting subject, settings and brand of memory card
- The following Speed Class memory cards are required for maximum record time: (HD) 1280 x 720 Speed Class 4 or above. (Full HD) 1920 x 1080 Speed Class 6 or above. (iFrame) 1280 x 720 Speed Class 6 or above.
- Depending on memory card speed / capacity / compression setting.
- Not compatible with following PictBridge compatible SELPHY CP200/ CP220/ CP300/ CP330/ CP400/ CP500/ CP600/ ES1
- Not compatible with following PictBridge compatible SELPHY CP200/ CP220/ CP300/ CP330/ CP400/ CP500/ CP600/ ES1
- To maximize the camera’s dust- and drip- resistance, keep the terminal cover, memory card/battery cover, and all other covers firmly closed.This camera is designed to be dust- and drip- resistant, in order to help prevent sand, dust, dirt, or water that falls on it unexpectedly from getting inside, but it is impossible to prevent dirt, dust, water, or salt from getting inside at all.
- Wi-Fi use may be restricted in certain countries or regions. Wi-Fi support varies by device and region. For more information visit www.canon-europe.com/wirelesscompacts
- Equipped with Bluetooth® low energy technology. The Bluetooth® word mark and logos are registered trademarks owned by the Bluetooth
- Bluetooth connection requires smart device to be equipped with Bluetooth version 4.0 (or later). Also requires smart device to be using operating system iOS 8.4 (or later) or Android 5.0 (or later) as well as latest version of Camera Connect app installed
- Charging via USB requires Interface Cable IFC-600PCU (Sold separately) or similar cable with USB Micro-B to USB type-A connectors. Charging time varies depending on the remaining battery power.
- Reqire Remote Controller Adapter RA-E3
News
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is a new flagship compact camera with an APS-C sized sensor. Replacing the G1 X Mark II, the 24 megapixel G1 X Mark III features a new, precision, 3x optical lens, an APS-C sensor, Dual Pixel CMOS AF, 4-stop Image Stabilisation, Full HD 60p movies and Canon's premium DIGIC 7 processor.
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III will be available from November 2017 for £1149/€1399/$1299.
Canon UK Press Release
Canon unleashes its best ever PowerShot G series camera – the landmark PowerShot G1 X Mark III
United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 16 October 2017 – Canon today announces the latest addition to its PowerShot G range, the flagship PowerShot G1 X Mark III. Replacing the G1 X Mark II, it’s a killer combination of Canon’s EOS DSLR image quality with the handling and compact size of a PowerShot. With a new, precision, 3x optical lens, an APS-C sensor and Canon's premium DIGIC 7 processor, this camera is versatile enough to be used for high-quality street photography, all the way up to documentary-style storytelling.
Superb image quality, rapid speed
Perfect for today's enthusiast photographer seeking DSLR quality in a compact form, this camera’s small size makes it ideal for subtly capturing boundless moments whilst on the move. Leveraging an exceptional sensor, similar to the one seen in the EOS 80D, and with capabilities to shoot in an ISO range of 100 to 25,600, it can flexibly capture quality images in a range of conditions. From high contrast scenes, such as indoor environments where detail, clarity and low image noise are critical, to low contrast scenarios, such as a foggy day, the PowerShot G1 X Mark III can always deliver a superb image. The DIGIC 7 processor provides premium image quality straight from the camera, with a reduced need to edit thanks to Auto Lighting Optimiser and Diffraction Correction, which featured in the EOS-1D X Mark II.
Whether you’re shooting portraits or macro close-ups, the built-in 3x zoom lens boasts a versatile 24 – 72 mm (35 mm equiv.) focal range and a close-focusing distance of just 10 cm, so you can cover an impressive range of photography genres with a single lens. A shallow depth of field is created via the APS-C sensor combined with a large f/2.8 – 5.6 aperture. The PowerShot G1 X Mark III's lens has been meticulously designed for the sensor in the camera and as such, can reduce potentially unwanted image artefacts that can ruin shots, such as glare. The lens’ 9-bladed aperture can also render pleasing background blur and circular ‘bokeh’, minimising busy backgrounds and adding impact to your subject.
With the first inclusion of Dual Pixel CMOS AF in a Canon compact camera, you can focus rapidly on impromptu moments. The 4-stop Image Stabilisation (IS) adapts and steadies the camera in any active shooting environment, such as a carnival or in the crowd at a music festival, and provides additional confidence when shooting in low light. The Dual Pixel CMOS AF delivers precise and rapid focus in just 0.09 seconds, giving the level of responsiveness, speed and confidence needed for capturing a spontaneous shot at a moment’s notice.
Beautiful handling and stable shooting
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III boasts EOS handling in the compact body of a PowerShot model. This camera not only feels good to use, but its features enable a familiar DSLR level of instinctiveness and control, alongside the ability to customise it for your own use. The PowerShot G1 X Mark III comprises a central, built-in Electronic Viewfinder (EVF), which has been optimised to deliver a high-resolution view via a 2.36 million dot Organic EL display. Whether an action shot or a family portrait, with Touch and Drag Auto Focus (AF) you can take control of the shot by intuitively setting an AF point, providing you with the ultimate confidence to comfortably capture a sharp image.
Compact and lightweight, at just 398 grams, the PowerShot G1 X Mark III is 14.8 mm thinner and approximately 16 per cent smaller than the G1X Mark II, which is superb for saving space in your luggage whilst travelling, or as a tiny addition to your kit bag. Those familiar with Canon’s EOS cameras will love the PowerShot G1 X Mark III’s operation and control features. From the Lens Control Ring through to the shutter release, Canon users will feel comfortable and at ease using this camera.
For the more adventurous photographer, the PowerShot G1 X Mark III features weather sealing for durable performance in challenging conditions[i] and as an increased level of protection against dust and moisture. It is Canon’s only digital camera with an APS-C sensor that can be twinned with an optional waterproof casing[ii], to enable the PowerShot G1 X Mark III to be used underwater up to a depth of 40 m (130 feet) - great for creative deep water photography projects.
Expanded creative options, advanced connectivity
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III supports the hassle-free capture of Full HD 60p movies in MP4 with smooth, stable filming underpinned by 5-axis Advanced Dynamic IS and Dual Pixel CMOS AF. Dynamic IS corrects and steadies video footage when shooting on the move, whilst Dual Pixel CMOS AF enables the creation of cinematic ‘focus pulls’. While featuring the familiar time-lapse movie function, for the first time in a Canon compact camera the PowerShot G1 X Mark III also includes a panoramic mode. With the simple push of a button, and horizontal or vertical movement of the camera, you can effortlessly capture amazing, high-quality panoramic images with the greatest detail.
You can enjoy extended shooting time, thanks to the PowerShot G1 X Mark III’s Eco Mode, which enables the battery to last up to 25 per cent longer. Alternatively, you can conveniently recharge the camera on the go through the USB port’s smartphone charger or USB compatible battery packs.
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III is packed with a range of connectivity features, such as Wi-Fi and Dynamic NFC, to easily connect with compatible smart devices through a single tap. The camera can even be woken from standby remotely through a Bluetooth®[iii] enabled smartphone, which acts as a low-powered Bluetooth®[iv] remote. Full manual control, via Wi-Fi, offers a live preview of an image on your smart device, which is perfect for monitoring and capturing wildlife, without disruption, in their natural habitat.
Pricing and availability
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III will be available from November 2017 with an SRP of £1149/€1399.
Image Gallery
Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.
First Impressions
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is a new premium compact camera that boasts a 24.2 megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, ISO range of 100-25600, 7fps burst shooting, Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, 4-stop in-body image stabilisation, an articulating touchscreen and an electronic viewfinder. We've spent some time getting to know the Canon G1 X Mark III, so check out our first impressions of Canon's new flagship compact camera...
Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III - Ease of Use
The Canon G1 X III looks very much like a DSLR camera that's been shrunk in the wash, weighing in at just 398 grams. It has a centrally located electronic viewfinder, swiveling vari-angle LCD touchscreen and a chunky handgrip, all adding to the impression that this is a serious camera for serious photographers.
The G1 X Mark III is also a fast camera, featuring 7fps burst shooting with Full AF/AE tracking for up to 29 JPEG images images in one high-speed burst. Battery life isn't so great, though, only promising to deliver around 200 shots per charge, one of the concessions made to make the camera as small as it is, although the ECO mode does enable the battery to last up to 25 per cent longer.
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III features an electronic viewfinder with approximately 2.36k dots and a 3-inch LCD screen with 1.04k dots, which although not class-leading do make the camera very nice to use. We especially like the fact that the EVF is positioned in the centre of the camera. The LCD screen is also touch sensitive, which can be used for some elements of operation, including operating the auto-focus with Touch and Drag Auto Focus whilst looking through the EVF.
Other DSLR-like features include a control ring that surrounds the lens, a dust- and drip- proof construction, and a tactile shutter release button that mimics the action of Canon's latest EOS DSLRs.
Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III camera.
Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III - Image Quality
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III has a 24 megapixel CMOS sensor that's very similar to the one used in the EOS 80D DSLR, no mean feat considering the diminutive size of the G1 X Mark III. Along with the 3x, 24-72mm zoom lens with 9 aperture blades and the latest Digic 7 processor, this should result in great image quality from what is after all a compact camera.
On the video side, it can record 1080p movies at up to 60fps, which is going to seriously disappoint people looking for 4K recording, especially as Canon have not included a microphone socket either. Despite having a fully-articulated screen, the G1 X Mark III is therefore not the best camera for vlogging or serious video work, a real shame given the the sensor size.
We've only had a limited time with the camera so far, but the early signs on the stills side of things at least are very promising...
Take a look at some sample images and a movie taken with a Beta sample of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III camera.
Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III - Early Verdict
In terms of specification, the Canon G1 X Mark III outperforms its main rivals in many ways, but will it prove to be as mature and reliable as the Sony Cyber-shot RX100, which is now in its fifth generation? And will its lack of serious video support prove to be a thorn in the side of the G1 X Mark III?
In terms of pricing, at £1149 / €1399 / $1199 the Canon G1 X III is the most expensive PowerShot camera ever, and more expensive than the popular market leader, the Sony CyberShot RX100 V.
So what do you think of the new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III? Leave a comment below..
Hands On
Want to see exactly what the new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III camera looks like in the flesh?
Check out our hands-on gallery of photos of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III camera.
A gallery of hands-on photos of the new Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III camera.
Image Gallery
Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.
Preview Images
Ahead of our full review, here are some sample images and a movie taken with a Beta sample of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III camera. The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is a new compact camera aimed at enthusiasts with a 24 megapixel APS-C sensor.
A gallery of JPEG and RAW sample images taken with the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III camera.
Please note that the JPEG images have been resized to to 90% of their original size at Canon's request.
Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III Sample Images
Sample RAW Images
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Canon RAW (CR2) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).
Sample Movie & Video
This is a sample movie at the highest quality setting of 1920x1080 pixels at 25 frames per second. Please note that this 15 second movie is 43.3Mb in size.
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