One of the most exciting cameras that debuted in 2012 was Canon'south PowerShot G1 X. It featured a 1.five" sensor (which is only xx% smaller than APS-C), 28-112mm lens (albeit a moderately slow i), fully articulating LCD, and optical viewfinder (a rarity at the time). The outcome was one of the kickoff semi-pocketable cameras to offer paradigm quality that rivaled that of interchangeable lens cameras. The G1 X was far from perfect: the lens' maximum aperture range of F2.eight-5.8 wasn't dandy, AF performance and minimum focus altitude were disappointing, continuous shooting rates were poor, and battery life was downright lousy.

With the 'Mark Ii' version of the PowerShot G1 Ten, Canon has addressed many of the shortcomings of its predecessor. For a start, the G1 X II has a faster lens that covers a wider focal range and can shoot much closer to a field of study. It as well promises a faster, more sophisticated AF system, improved continuous shooting, dual control dials around the lens, and Wi-Fi with NFC. The LCD has as well been redesigned: it at present tilts upward 180° and down 45° - instead of flipping out to the side - and touch functionality has been added, as well. The camera is likewise significantly smaller than its forebear, at present looking more like an over-grown S-series, rather than an out-sized G12. Something that got sacrificed in all this was the optical viewfinder, but fear non, you can purchase a tilting XGA EVF for $300.

Canon PowerShot G1 Ten Marker II key features

  • 12.8 megapixel 1.5"-blazon CMOS sensor
  • Digic six processor
  • 24-120mm equivalent F2.0-three.9 lens with optical IS
  • Dual (customizable) control rings
  • Tilting 3", 1.04M dot touchscreen LCD
  • 5.two fps continuous shooting
  • Maintains same angle-of-view at iv:3 and 3:two
  • Wi-Fi with NFC with remote control via smartphone
  • 1080/30p video recording
  • Optional XGA electronic viewfinder

The big story remains the G1 10 II's 1.5"-type sensor which is around 5.six times larger than the one found in Canon's ain PowerShot G16. The result is notwithstanding a off-white fleck smaller than the APS-C-sized sensors used in Catechism's DSLRs, only and so the camera is quite a bit smaller, too. It's interesting to compare the EOS-M, which is like in body size, to the G1 X II: the congenital-in lens and smaller sensor allow the PowerShot to remain much smaller than the 'K' would exist, were there an equivalent lens bachelor.

While the total pixel count of 15 million is the same equally on the G1 X, the G1 X Mark Ii only uses around 13 million (versus 14.three).

The G1 Ten Mark 2'south pixel dimensions show that it's cropping from a sensor that'due south larger than the imaging expanse, allowing it to offer the same bending-of-view for both the iii:2 and 4:iii aspect ratios - something that the original G1 X could not do.

The 18.7 x 12.4 mm sensor size that Canon has been quoting appears to refer to the 3:two ingather area - the sensor itself is the same size as the one in the original G1 X. To discover out more, read our original first await article.

Some other significant change on the G1 X II is in the lens section. Gone is the comparatively ho-hum 28-112 equiv. F2.eight-5.eight lens on the G1 Ten - replaced by a much more appealing 24-120mm equivalent F2.0-iii.9 lens. The use of a smaller sensor expanse means these numbers aren't directly comparable, only the new lens is certainly brighter. Where the minimum focus distance on the G1 Ten was an unhelpful 20cm (and 40cm in well-nigh modes), the new lens can be just 5cm away from its subject. Catechism has also improved the autofocus organization, and claims that the G1 Ten has the 'the fastest in Canon compact camera history.'

The combination of the camera's fast lens and 1.5" sensor pays big dividends, equally illustrated below:

The in a higher place chart shows the changes in 35mm equivalent discontinuity as the equivalent focal length increases. This chart allows you to see the effect of the different discontinuity and lens ranges, taking into business relationship the different sensor sizes. The G1 10 Ii starts off very well, and bumps into three other cameras (the original G1 X, Sony Cyber-shot RX100 2, and Catechism Rebel with kit lens) at 28mm. That doesn't last long, every bit the G1 10 quickly pulls away from all simply the Insubordinate until you reach 50mm, at which bespeak the G1 X Marker II is in a class by itself.

And then what does this all mean? But put, it ways that the G1 Ten II allows for shallower depth-of-field than the cameras that are 'above information technology' on the nautical chart. One could also make the supposition that the G1 X Mark Two has the potential for better low lite performance than the other cameras shown.

Getting back to new features: the LCD has been redesigned and can flip up by 180 degrees (you know, for selfies) and down by 45 degrees. Information technology'due south also impact-enabled, which allows for all of the controls that you'd look from such a feature. All the same, this is a step backwards from the hinged, fully articulated screen on the original G1 X, that made it much more than flexible.

While the optical viewfinder from the G1 X is gone (and to be honest, it wasn't very good), Canon offers an XGA (1024 x768 pixel) EVF that attaches to a special connector on the hot shoe and tin tilt upward 90 degrees. The bad news is that the EVF costs $300.

One final feature of note shouldn't be surprising in this day and age, and that's Wi-Fi. You can control the camera remotely and send photos to social networking sites, deject storage, or a calculator. NFC (near-field advice) is also supported, which allows you to pair the camera with compatible smartphones past borer them together.

Specs Compared

Equally y'all've probably gathered by now, there are quite a few differences betwixt the G1 X Mark II and its predecessor. The nautical chart below lists the more significant ones:

PowerShot G1 X PowerShot G1 X Marker 2
Effective resolution 14.3 megapixel 12.8 megapixel
Processor Digic five Digic half-dozen
Multi-aspect No Yes (iii:2, four:three)
Lens focal range 28-112mm equiv. 24-120mm equiv.
Lens maximum aperture F2.8-v.8 F2.0-3.9
Minimum focus distance (Normal mode) 40cm (W), 1.3m (T) 5cm (Due west), 40cm (T)
Minimum focus distance (Macro mode) 20cm (W), 85cm (T) 5cm (Due west), 40cm (T)
Control rings None (front command dial) 2
LCD pattern Fully articulating Tilting (180 up/45 down)
Touchscreen No Yes
Viewfinder Optical No (optional EVF)
Continuous shooting 2 fps 5 fps
Max video resolution 1080/24p 1080/30p
Wi-Fi No Yes (with NFC)
Bombardment life (CIPA) 250 shots 240 shots

With the exception of battery life and caste of LCD motion (and, for some people, the optical viewfinder), the G1 Ten 2 has much more than impressive specs than its predecessor. Yous can run across the cosmetic changes on the Body & Design folio.

Accessories

There's no shortage of extras available for the G1 X Mark Ii. The most notable are the electronic viewfinder and custom grip.

The EVF-DC1 ($299) is an XGA electronic viewfinder with ii.36 million dots (a 1024x 768 pixel display). Equally shown to a higher place, the viewfinder can tilt upward by ninety degrees. Information technology has a congenital-in heart sensor, or you can plow information technology on via the push on its left side. While the resolution of the viewfinder is quite high, the refresh charge per unit isn't almost as nice as the main LCD.

There will be some people who decry the loss of the G1 X's built-in viewfinder just, given how pocket-size and imprecise it was, nosotros feel the option to include of a considerably better finder (or not, if you don't want to spend the extra), is a reasonable alternative. It does, of class, hateful that you demand to spend more money to get a camera with a viewfinder, but that effective price increment over the G1 Ten also gains the faster, more than versatile lens, smaller form factor and all the photographic camera's other improvements.

Standard grip Custom grip

Those with big easily may find the G1 10 Mark II'southward grip a fleck defective. Canon offers the GR-DC1A custom grip ($29), which is more substantial. Switching the grip out only involves removing a pair of screws, swapping the pieces, and then screwing the new one back in.

Other accessories include an underwater housing (WP-DC53), 58mm filter adapter (FA-DC58E), lens hood (LH-DC80), and remote shutter release (RS-60E3).