Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III Canon - Review 🏆

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III is Canon's flagship compact camera that combines an APS-C sensor in a small, portable body. It features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor and DIGIC 7 image processor, which allows for high-quality image capture and fast performance. Key specs include:

• 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor
• DIGIC 7 image processor
• 3x zoom lens (24-72mm equivalent) with optical image stabilization
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF with 49 focus points
• Up to 9 fps continuous shooting
• Full HD 1080p video at 60 fps
• 3" tilting touchscreen LCD
• Built-in electronic viewfinder
• WiFi, NFC, and Bluetooth built-in
• Dust and water resistant construction

The G1X Mark III packs many of the capabilities of a DSLR into a compact point-and-shoot body. Its versatile zoom lens, fast autofocus system, and strong image quality make it a great choice for enthusiasts looking for a highly capable compact camera.

Design & Build Quality

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III has a compact and lightweight design despite its APS-C sensor and built-in zoom lens. It measures 4.5 x 3.0 x 1.8 inches and weighs 14.1 ounces, making it easy to carry around.

The body is made of a combination of metal alloy and polycarbonate resin. It feels sturdy and durable in the hand. The contoured grip provides a secure hold and the textured finish helps prevent slippage. Buttons and dials are thoughtfully placed for easy access.

The compact form factor still allows for a good amount of external controls. There are dials to adjust exposure compensation, ISO, and shooting modes. The lens control ring can be customized. Overall, the design provides an intuitive user experience.

The G1X Mark III is dust and moisture resistant, with seals to protect the lens, buttons, and ports. This makes it suitable for outdoor use in less than ideal conditions. However, it's not fully weatherproof so care should still be taken.

For those looking for a unique and portable option, the Canon PowerShot ZOOM Essential Kit may be of interest. This monocular-style camera offers a compact and ergonomic design, making it ideal for capturing distant subjects with remarkable clarity. It features a 3-step zoom, optical image stabilization, and is capable of both still and video capture. The kit includes essential accessories to enhance your photography experience, ensuring you are well-equipped for your next adventure.

Image Sensor & Processor

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III features a 24.2-megapixel APS-C CMOS sensor, which is larger than the 1-inch sensors found in most other compact cameras. This allows it to capture more light and produce images with lower noise, especially in low light conditions.

It is paired with Canon's latest DIGIC 7 image processor, which provides fast performance and excellent image quality. The DIGIC 7 delivers improved high ISO noise reduction, greater dynamic range, and better detail in both highlights and shadows. It also enables fast continuous shooting up to 9 fps, quick autofocus, and the ability to record full HD 1080p video up to 60fps.

The large sensor resolution allows photographers to capture detailed 24MP images and provides more flexibility for cropping images later if needed. Overall, the sensor and processor combination enables DSLR-like image quality in a much more compact camera body.

Another exceptional option is the Canon EOS M200 MILC. This camera also features a 24.1-megapixel APS-C sensor along with the DIGIC 8 processor, providing outstanding image quality and performance. The M200 offers 4K video recording, fast autofocus with eye detection, and a compact, travel-friendly design. It is an excellent choice for those seeking a blend of convenience and high image quality, making it ideal for both amateur and seasoned photographers. The intuitive touchscreen interface and built-in Wi-Fi/Bluetooth add to its user-friendly appeal.

Lens

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III is equipped with a 24-72mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.8-5.6 IS zoom lens. This provides a flexible zoom range that covers wide-angle to short telephoto, making it versatile for landscapes, street photography, portraits and more.

The relatively fast f/2.8 maximum aperture at 24mm is useful for shooting in low light conditions or creating shallow depth of field effects. However, the aperture narrows to f/5.6 at the telephoto end, which is fairly slow.

The lens incorporates Canon's latest 5-axis optical image stabilization system. This counteracts camera shake to enable sharp handheld shots at slower shutter speeds, with up to 4 stops of compensation. Image stabilization is always active and can't be turned off.

Overall, the lens provides good optical quality across the frame, with minimal distortion. Images are sharp and detailed from edge to edge. The image stabilization works well to reduce blur from camera shake. The zoom range is quite useful for a variety of shooting scenarios.

Autofocus & Shooting Speed

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III features Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF system, which provides fast and accurate autofocus performance. It has 49 AF points that cover 80% of the image area, making it easy to track and focus on moving subjects.

For shooting still subjects, the AF is very fast and accurate even in low light conditions. The camera can lock focus in just 0.09 seconds. Continuous AF is also quite good when shooting video.

In terms of drive modes, the G1X Mark III offers single shot, continuous high-speed, and continuous low-speed options. Continuous high-speed can shoot up to 9fps with AF-locking on the first frame, or 7fps with continuous AF. This allows you to capture fast action sequences with ease.

The buffer depth is decent but not amazing. You can capture around 22 RAW files or 29 JPEGs in a burst before the shooting rate slows down. This is suitable for short bursts but not for extended high-speed sequences.

Overall, the autofocus system and shooting speeds are very responsive and allow you to capture fleeting moments reliably. The fast AF and burst rates make this camera well-suited for shooting moving subjects like people or wildlife.

Video Recording

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III can record high-quality video up to Full HD 1080p resolution at up to 60 fps. It uses the MP4 format with the efficient H.264 codec, allowing you to capture smooth, detailed footage that looks great when played back.

The G1X Mark III provides both NTSC and PAL frame rates for versatility across global broadcasting standards. Slow motion video can be recorded at up to 120 fps in 720p resolution. The camera has a dedicated movie mode button for quick access to video recording.

Overall, the G1X Mark III performs admirably for video capture alongside its stellar still image quality. It's a great choice for vloggers, travel videographers, or anyone wanting full-featured 4K video recording in a compact camera body. The Dual Pixel AF system also allows for fast, accurate autofocus during video recording.

Display & Viewfinder

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III comes equipped with a 3-inch vari-angle touchscreen LCD with 1.04 million dots resolution. The screen can tilt up 180 degrees and down 45 degrees, allowing you to easily compose shots from high and low angles. It's bright, sharp, and has good color reproduction.

The camera also has a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) with 2.36 million dot resolution and a magnification ratio of approximately 1.0x. The EVF provides a clear and detailed view, making it easy to compose shots in bright sunlight when the rear LCD becomes harder to see. It's one of the better EVFs found on a compact camera. Overall, both the rear LCD and EVF on the G1X Mark III provide a great viewing experience.

Connectivity & Wireless

The Canon PowerShot G1X Mark III offers robust connectivity options for transferring photos and videos as well as remote shooting capabilities.

In terms of ports, the camera has a Micro-USB 2.0 port which can be used for charging as well as data transfer. A Mini HDMI (Type C) port allows you to connect the camera directly to an HDTV for image and video playback.

For wireless connectivity, the G1X Mark III has built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth connectivity. This allows you to wirelessly transfer images to smartphones, tablets and computers via the Canon Camera Connect app. You can also use the wireless connectivity to remotely control and shoot with the camera using your mobile device. The camera's Bluetooth connectivity provides an always-on connection with your phone for easy image transfers without having to re-pair each time.

The camera also supports wireless printing to PictBridge-compatible wireless printers. Overall, the wireless connectivity options on the G1X Mark III allow you to easily share images as well as control the camera remotely. The constant Bluetooth connection also makes wireless transfers quick and convenient.

Battery Life

The Canon G1X Mark III is powered by a NB-13L lithium-ion battery pack. It offers a CIPA rating of up to 200 shots per charge when using the rear LCD screen, or up to 250 shots per charge when using the electronic viewfinder.

In real-world use, battery life can vary quite a bit depending on your specific shooting habits. The camera does have some battery-saving features like Eco mode to help extend battery life if needed. Heavy use of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity can also drain the battery faster.

Overall, the battery life is fairly average for a camera in this class. Carrying a spare battery is recommended for all-day outings or travel. The battery is charged via USB, so you can top it up from a portable power bank in a pinch. While not best-in-class, the G1X Mark III's battery performance should suffice for casual users.

Pros & Cons

The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is a capable camera with a good balance of features and performance. Here are some of the main pros and cons:

Pros

• Large 1.0-inch CMOS sensor provides excellent image quality
• DSLR-like design and controls offer an advanced shooting experience
• 24-72mm equivalent zoom lens provides a versatile focal range
• Dual Pixel CMOS AF delivers fast and accurate autofocus
• Good low light performance up to ISO 12800
• Full HD 1080p video recording at 60 fps
• Vari-angle touchscreen LCD simplifies operation
• Built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF) aids outdoor viewing
• WiFi, NFC, and Bluetooth allow easy wireless connectivity
• Compact size and weight compared to a DSLR

Cons

• More expensive than some comparable advanced compacts
• Fixed lens may be limiting for some photographers
• Lens is relatively slow with a maximum aperture range of f/2.8-5.6
• No external mic input for videos
• Below average battery life (Up to 200 shots per charge)
• No built-in flash (external flash included)
• No support for 4K video recording