Canon PowerShot G3 X Canon - Review 🏆

The Canon PowerShot G3 X is a compact digital camera that offers advanced capabilities in a portable form factor. Released in 2015, it features a 1-inch 20.2MP CMOS sensor and a 25x optical zoom lens, making it well-suited for everything from wide landscapes to telephoto wildlife shots. Its weather-sealed body provides protection from dust and moisture, while built-in WiFi allows for wireless sharing and remote control. Overall, the G3 X packs DSLR-like image quality and versatility into a take-anywhere design. Its manual controls and accessories make it great for enthusiasts, while more automatic modes help beginners get started. If you're looking for an all-in-one camera that delivers outstanding image quality, the Canon G3 X is a top choice to consider.

Design and Build

The Canon PowerShot G3 X has a robust yet sleek design that feels great in the hand. It measures 4.88 x 3.66 x 4.16 inches and weighs 1.37 pounds. The body is constructed from a combination of high-grade plastic and metal, giving it a premium feel. The textured handgrip provides excellent hold, even when shooting one-handed. The dials and buttons are intuitive and offer direct access to key settings like exposure compensation. Despite the large 1-inch sensor and 25x optical zoom lens, Canon has managed to keep the G3 X impressively compact. It's not pocketable but can easily fit in a jacket pocket or small bag. Overall, the G3 X offers an excellent balance of portability and ruggedness.

In contrast, the Canon PowerShot SX620 HS (White) is designed for ultimate convenience and portability. Weighing just 0.66 pounds and measuring only 4.09 x 2.36 x 1.34 inches, this compact camera is perfect for everyday use. It features a 20.2 MP sensor and an impressive 25x optical zoom, allowing users to capture high-quality images from a distance. The sleek white finish gives it a stylish look, making it a trendy choice for photographers on the go. With built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, sharing photos instantly has never been easier.

Image Sensor

The Canon PowerShot G3 X is equipped with a 1-inch 20.2 megapixel CMOS sensor, which is quite large for a compact camera. The larger sensor size compared to typical point-and-shoot cameras allows it to capture more light and produce images with lower noise, especially in low light conditions.

The 20.2MP resolution provides plenty of detail for large prints or aggressive cropping. It can capture images at up to 5472 x 3648 pixels, with options to shoot in JPEG, RAW, or both. The RAW files provide maximum editing flexibility if needed.

Overall, the sensor delivers excellent image quality for its class. The combination of high resolution, good high ISO performance, and the ability to shoot RAW makes this a very capable imaging sensor for a compact camera.

Lens

The Canon PowerShot G3 X comes equipped with a 25x optical zoom lens that provides an impressive focal length range equivalent to 24-600mm in 35mm format. This allows you to capture wide landscape shots as well as get extremely close to distant subjects.

The lens has a fast maximum aperture range of f/2.8 at the wide end and f/5.6 at the telephoto end. This allows for better low light performance and the ability to achieve shallow depth of field effects.

It also features Intelligent IS image stabilization which compensates for camera shake and allows for sharper handheld shots and videos. There are three different IS modes - Standard, Panning, and Off. Standard mode is suitable for most shooting situations while Panning mode will stabilize only vertical shake when horizontally panning the camera.

Features

The Canon PowerShot G3 X comes equipped with a range of impressive features for a compact camera. It has a high-resolution 3.2" multi-angle touch panel LCD with 1.62 million dots that allows you to capture shots from different angles. The camera also has a built-in electronic viewfinder with 2.36 million dots, providing an excellent alternative to framing shots on the LCD screen.

For low light shooting, the G3 X has an ISO range of 125-12800, expandable to 25600, enabling clear images even in dim conditions. The shutter speed ranges from 1/2000 to 30 seconds, giving you creative control over exposure time for different effects. Fast shutter speeds allow you to freeze action shots, while longer exposures are great for low light scenes or creative blurring of moving subjects.

Additional handy features include built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for wireless transfer of images, a built-in pop-up flash, manual exposure control, and RAW shooting for professional grade post processing. The G3 X is also compatible with a range of Canon accessories like external flash units and remote controllers.

Video Recording

The Canon PowerShot G3 X is capable of shooting full HD 1080p video up to 60 frames per second. It offers both MP4 and AVCHD codec options, allowing you to choose the best format for your needs.

For maximum quality, the AVCHD format allows video to be recorded at 60p with 28 Mbps bit rate. The MP4 format also provides 60p recording but at a lower bit rate of 35 Mbps. Both formats offer 24 and 30 fps options as well.

The PowerShot G3 X utilizes H.264 compression for efficient video files without sacrificing quality. Slow motion modes are available too, enabling 720p video at up to 120 fps for smooth slow motion playback.

Overall, the video capabilities of the G3 X are quite robust for a compact camera. The 1080p resolution, high frame rate options, and choice of MP4 or AVCHD make this a versatile video camera in addition to its photographic strengths. Serious videographers will appreciate the level of control and quality possible with this Canon model.

Connectivity

The Canon PowerShot G3 X has several connectivity options that make it easy to transfer photos and videos.

Ports

The camera has a mini HDMI port that allows you to connect it directly to an HDTV with an HDMI cable. This lets you play back your photos and videos on a big screen. There is also a USB 2.0 port that you can use to connect the camera to your computer. This allows you to transfer files or charge the battery via the USB connection.

Wireless Capabilities

The PowerShot G3 X has built-in WiFi and NFC connectivity. This allows you to wirelessly transfer photos and videos to smartphones, tablets, and computers. You can use the free Canon Camera Connect app for iOS and Android to connect your mobile device to the camera via WiFi. The NFC feature lets you quickly establish a connection just by touching the camera to your NFC-enabled mobile device. Overall, the wireless options make it very convenient to share your photos without having to use any cables.

Battery

The Canon PowerShot G3 X is powered by a rechargeable NB-10L lithium-ion battery pack. This battery provides enough power for up to 300 shots per charge, based on CIPA standards. Charging time is approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes using the included charger.

Battery life is decent but not exceptional. 300 shots per charge is fairly standard for a camera of this type. The charging time is also typical. One downside is that the battery is not removable, so you cannot carry spares. Overall, battery performance is average and in line with similar cameras in this class.

Pros and Cons

The Canon PowerShot G3 X has many strengths as a compact digital camera but also a few downsides to consider.

Pros

• Excellent image quality with a large 1-inch 20MP sensor
• Versatile 25x optical zoom lens with wide 24mm equivalent focal length
• Advanced image stabilization system provides 4.5 stops of shake correction
• Weather-sealed metal body with deep handgrip for secure handling
• Large high-res tilting touchscreen LCD provides flexibility
• Fast continuous shooting at up to 5.9 fps
• Full manual controls and RAW shooting capabilities
• Very good HD video recording up to 1080/60p
• Built-in WiFi and NFC for wireless connectivity
• Approximately 300 shots per charge

Cons

• Fairly large and heavy for a compact camera
• Lens is slower (f/2.8-5.6) than some competitors
• No built-in viewfinder, only external option
• Mediocre battery life
• Lacks built-in ND filter like some other models
• No microphone or headphone jacks for video
• Menus can be confusing

Overall, the G3 X provides excellent image quality and a versatile zoom range in a rugged, well-built body. But it may be bulky for some users and has a few omissions compared to rivals. Still, a great choice for photographers seeking a highly capable compact camera.

Conclusion

The Canon PowerShot G3 X is an impressive compact digital camera overall. It has a robust and weather-sealed body, making it suitable for outdoor use. The 1-inch 20.2MP sensor produces excellent image quality with low noise levels. The 25x optical zoom lens provides a very versatile focal range for everything from landscapes to wildlife.

The camera also has great video capabilities, able to record full HD 1080p video at up to 60fps. Connectivity options like WiFi and NFC allow easy sharing and remote control through smart devices. Battery life is decent at around 300 shots per charge.

Some downsides are the slower maximum burst rate of 5.9 fps, lack of a built-in viewfinder, and high price point. But for photographers looking for a compact camera with excellent image quality, zoom range, and video features, the Canon PowerShot G3 X is a great choice worth considering.

Overall, the G3 X delivers outstanding image quality and versatility in a portable body. It's an excellent compact for enthusiasts and pros needing high performance and advanced controls in a travel-friendly form factor. While not perfect, the plentiful features and image quality make the G3 X a top recommendation for a compact zoom camera.