The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is the latest in a long line of enthusiast-focused compact cameras, designed for photographers looking for something to complement their DSLR, or for those looking for a versatile alternative to a DSLR in a relatively compact body.
The original PowerShot G1 was launched in 2000, and for a while that camera and its successors were the obvious choice when it came to choosing an enthusiast compact.
But with rivals like the RX100 series from Sony, the LX range from Panasonic and Fujifilm's X100 line, Canon's flagship PowerShot compact has struggled to stand out from the crowd in recent years. And it would be fair to say the outgoing G1 X Mark II, with its unique 1.5-inch sensor, missed the mark, so Canon is throwing everything at the G1 X Mark III.
Features
- APS-C CMOS Sensor, 24.2MP
- 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen, 1,040,000 dots
- 1080p video capture
Where the G1 X Mark II used a 1.5-inch sensor, the G1 X Mark III uses a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS chip that's some 36% larger; it's nearly identical to the one in Canon's EOS 80D DSLR, delivering an ISO range from 100 to 25,600.
This is hooked up to Canon's latest DIGIC 7 image processor, allowing the PowerShot G1 X Mark III to not only handle data that much quicker than the older model, but promising to reduce the need to edit images thanks to an Auto Lighting Optimizer and Diffraction Correction.
The G1 X Mark III sports a slightly more modest zoom range than the older model, at 24-72mm compared to 24-120mm, and has a f/2.8-5.6 aperture range. It also offers a close-focusing distance of just 10cm, while the lens features a nine-bladed aperture, which Canon says will produce pleasing background blur.
To minimize blur caused by camera shake, the PowerShot G1 X Mark III features a dual-sensing image stabilization system that can compensate for movement by up to four stops.
There's also five-axis Advanced Dynamic IS for video recording. While we're touching on video, the PowerShot G1 X Mark III can shoot 1080p video at up to 60p – there's no 4K video capture here.
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III also gets a panoramic sweep mode, allowing you to capture a 67MP image (24,064 x 2800 for horizontal shots, 16,000 x 4200 for vertical images), with the camera automatically stitching the panorama as you pan the camera.
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III features a built-in EVF – something that was missing from the Mark II – with a 2.36 million dot 0.39x Organic EL display, while there's a 3.0-inch vari-angle touchscreen display with a resolution of 1.04 million dots, identical to the screens on the latest EOS DSLRs, such as the EOS Rebel T7i / 800D.
There's Wi-Fi, NFC and always-on Bluetooth connectivity to enable you to remotely transfer images from your camera to a compatible smart device. Canon's Camera Connect app also lets you wake the camera from its slumber (provided you haven't turned the camera fully off), as well as browse photos and operate the camera remotely.
Build and handling
- 14.8mm thinner and 16% smaller than G1 X Mark II
- Similar weather protection to EOS 80D
- Weighs 399g
The design of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is quite a shift from the Mark II, more closely resembling that of the PowerShot G5 X, and it's all the better for it.
The G1 X Mark II never felt that satisfying to hold, and felt unnecessarily cumbersome. The Mark III feels much better in the hand – despite squeezing in a larger sensor the camera is some 16% smaller and 14.8mm thinner, while the fit and finish are a noticeable improvement over the older model. There's a tiny built-in flash above lens, while the PowerShot G1 X Mark III is even dust- and drip-proof, with Canon stating that it offers similar weather sealing to the EOS 80D.
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III is in actual fact only a bit bigger than the G5 X
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III is in actual fact only a bit bigger than the Powershot G5 X – you'd be hard pushed to tell their silhouettes apart. Despite its diminutive proportions though, it still provides a pleasingly secure purchase thanks to the sculptured front grip and pronounced thumb rest. The textured grip has a nice tactile feel as well, which adds to the overall satisfying feel of the camera.
The controls are sensibly positioned, with the front command dial and top plate exposure compensation dial falling under the fingers nicely, while Canon has designed the shutter release to match those of high-end EOS cameras. There's now a single click-less control ring round the front of the lens as well, which can be assigned to functions such as manual focusing, or be used to zoom the lens, though we found the rocker switch positioned round the shutter button quicker to use for the latter.
Autofocus
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF
- Touch-and-drag AF
- 49 AF points on a 7 x 7 grid
Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF has impressed us for Live View photography on its latest range of EOS DSLRs like the EOS Rebel T7i / EOS 800D, so it's no surprise to see it make an appearance in the PowerShot G1 X Mark III.
Featuring 49 AF points arranged in a 7 x 7 grid, the system provides good coverage across the frame, although not quite edge to edge. Focusing is swift, with Canon stating 0.09 secs to acquire focus, while there's also the ability to touch and drag the AF area via the rear screen (even when using the EVF).
We found autofocus performance to be very good on the whole. Focusing is quick in good light, and while speed drops a bit when light levels fall, it still seemed to focus happily in most instances.
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III can do a solid job at tracking moving subjects as well, though it's not quite a match for the RX100 V's sophisticated AF system. We found it behaves better when the subject you're following contrasts more with the background, but it's still a capable performer.
Performance
- 7fps burst shooting (9fps with focus lock)
- Polished interface
- 200-shot battery life
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III can shoot at a pretty rapid 7fps, while if you need even more speed you have the option of shooting at 9fps, provided you're prepared to have focus locked at the first shot. This doesn't quite match the blistering 24fps offered by the Sony RX100 V, but it's a decent burst speed that should be up to the job for most of the scenarios the G1 X Mark III is intended for.
Buffer performance is also pretty respectable, with the camera capable of capturing 24 JPEGs or 19 raw files before it slows up – again, that's nothing like the RX100 V's 150 JPEG shots, but it should satisfy most potential users.
The touchscreen interface has to be one of the best around – it’s easy to use, and really responsive
The viewfinder is nice and crisp, while the rear display doesn't disappoint. The gapless design means viewing angles are excellent, while the touchscreen interface has to be one of the best around – it's easy to use, and really responsive.
The image stabilization system works very well – we found it was certainly possible to achieve nice, sharp shots with shutter speeds much slower than we'd otherwise be comfortable with.
The PowerShot G1 X Mark III uses real-time metering from the sensor, and offers Evaluative, Centre-weighted and Spot metering options, with the evaluative system doing a sound job under most lighting conditions.
Battery life is pretty limited on the G1 X Mark III, however, at just 200 shots. This is a little less than the likes of the RX100 V's 220-shot battery life (which isn't that impressive to start with), so you'll definitely want to consider additional batteries if you're going to be out for the day or weekend.
Image quality
- ISO100-25,600
- Panoramic shot mode
- +/-3 EV exposure compensation in 1/3 or 1/2-stop increments
With the Powershot G1 X Mark III using a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor that's almost identical to the EOS 80D's, there are no nasty surprises when it comes to image quality.
Detail rendition appears very good, while noise is also handled well. Results from ISO100 to 1600 appear very good, with pleasing color reproduction. While shots taken at ISO3200 and 6400 display some signs of luminance (grain-like noise), it's very fine in structure, while there are some minor hints of chroma (color) noise creeping in.
Overall though, these don't impact on images enough to make it become an issue. Above those settings files start displaying more pronounced luminance and chroma noise, causing detail and color saturation to suffer. While we'd avoid using ISO25,600 where possible, it's still possible to get a satisfactory shot.
Lens performance is good – at 24mm it's nice and sharp at the centre wide-open at f/2.8, though when zoomed in to 72mm you'll need to stop down a little bit beyond the maximum f/5.6 maximum aperture to improve sharpness. Distortion is well-controlled in camera, while it was hard to spot any noticeable vignetting.
Verdict
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is certainly a big improvement over the undercooked G1 X Mark II. The fact that Canon has managed to engineer a camera this size with a large APS-C sensor is very impressive – and even more impressive is the fact that this is the first APS-C format compact camera to feature a zoom lens, making it something quite unique.
The sticking point might be the asking price, especially when you compare this camera to DSLR or mirrorless rivals. However, if you're set on a premium all-in-one compact camera, the G1 X Mark III doesn't look that bad when you compare it to similarly priced rivals. The fabulous Fujifilm X100F costs more, but doesn't offer a zoom lens, while the slightly more affordable Sony RX100 V offers a longer zoom and snappier performance, but with a smaller 1-inch sensor.
All things considered, Canon may have hit the sweet spot for enthusiast photographers looking for a compact partner for their DSLR kit, or for those looking for a versatile and neat all-in-one solution that delivers DSLR-quality images.