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Canon G1 X vs T5

The Canon PowerShot G1 X and the Canon EOS Rebel T5 (labelled Canon 1200D in some countries) are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2012 and February 2014. The G1X is a fixed lens compact, while the T5 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on an 1.5-inch (G1X) and an APS-C (T5) sensor. The G1X has a resolution of 14.2 megapixels, whereas the T5 provides 17.9 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon G1 X
versus
Canon T5
Canon G1 X   Canon T5
Fixed lens compact camera Digital single lens reflex
28-112mm f/2.8-5.8 Canon EF mount lenses
14.2 MP – 1.5" sensor 17.9 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/24p Video 1080/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800 ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800)
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 922k dots 3.0" LCD – 460k dots
Swivel screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
1.9 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
250 shots per battery charge500 shots per battery charge
117 x 81 x 65 mm, 534 g 130 x 100 x 78 mm, 480 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot G1 X and the Canon EOS Rebel T5? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The physical size and weight of the Canon G1 X and the Canon T5 are illustrated in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon G1 X vs Canon T5
Compare G1X versus T5 top
Comparison G1X or T5 rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon T5 is notably larger (37 percent) than the Canon G1 X. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the G1X nor the T5 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the G1X has a lens built in, whereas the T5 is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup. You can compare the optics available for the T5 and their specifications in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

Concerning battery life, the G1X gets 250 shots out of its Canon NB-10L battery, while the T5 can take 500 images on a single charge of its Canon LP-E10 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon G1 X 117 mm 81 mm 65 mm 534 g 250 n Jan 2012 US$ 799ebay.com
2.
 
Canon T5 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 480 g 500 n Feb 2014 US$ 449ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 116 mm 74 mm 66 mm 553 g 240 n Feb 2014 US$ 799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G16 109 mm 76 mm 40 mm 356 g 360 n Aug 2013 US$ 549ebay.com
5.
 
Canon S120 100 mm 59 mm 29 mm 217 g 230 n Aug 2013 US$ 449ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SL1 117 mm 91 mm 69 mm 407 g 380 n Mar 2013 US$ 549ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX50 123 mm 87 mm 106 mm 595 g 315 n Sep 2012 US$ 429ebay.com
8.
 
Canon T1i 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 520 g 400 n Mar 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
9.
 
Canon T3 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 495 g 700 n Feb 2011 US$ 449ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T4i 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 US$ 849ebay.com
11.
 
Canon T5i 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 580 g 440 n Mar 2013 US$ 649ebay.com
12.
 
Canon T6 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 485 g 500 n Mar 2016 US$ 449ebay.com
13.
 
Canon T100 129 mm 102 mm 77 mm 436 g 500 n Feb 2018 US$ 399 amazon.com
14.
 
Canon XSi 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 524 g 500 n Jan 2008 US$ 799ebay.com
15.
 
Leica V-LUX 3 124 mm 81 mm 95 mm 540 g 410 n Dec 2011 US$ 949ebay.com
16.
 
Leica V-LUX 4 125 mm 87 mm 110 mm 588 g 540 n Sep 2012 US$ 949ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon G1 X features an 1.5-inch sensor and the Canon T5 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the T5 is 27 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.85 and 1.6. The sensor in the G1X has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the T5 offers a 3:2 aspect.

In terms of chip-set technology, the G1X uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 5) than the T5 (DIGIC 4), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon G1 X and Canon T5 sensor measures

With 17.9MP, the T5 offers a higher resolution than the G1X (14.2MP), but the T5 nevertheless has marginally larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.31μm versus 4.30μm for the G1X) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the T5 is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 1 month) than the G1X, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units.

The resolution advantage of the Canon T5 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the T5 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 17.3 inches or 65.8 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 13.8 inches or 52.7 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 11.5 inches or 43.9 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon G1 X are 21.8 x 16.3 inches or 55.3 x 41.5 cm for good quality, 17.4 x 13.1 inches or 44.2 x 33.2 cm for very good quality, and 14.5 x 10.9 inches or 36.8 x 27.6 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot G1 X has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Canon EOS Rebel T5 are ISO 100 to ISO 6400, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-12800.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

G1X versus T5 MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon G1 X 1.5-inch 14.2 4352 32641080/24p21.710.864460
2.
 
Canon T5 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.372463
3.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II 1.5-inch 13.0 4160 31201080/30p21.510.858158
4.
 
Canon G16 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/60p21.011.723054
5.
 
Canon S120 1/1.7 12.0 4000 30001080/60p21.311.924656
6.
 
Canon SL1 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.811.384363
7.
 
Canon SX50 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/24p20.311.217947
8.
 
Canon T1i APS-C 15.1 4752 31681080/20p21.711.566363
9.
 
Canon T3 APS-C 12.2 4272 2848720/30p21.911.075562
10.
 
Canon T4i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
11.
 
Canon T5i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.268161
12.
 
Canon T6 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.778166
13.
 
Canon T100 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.469563
14.
 
Canon XSi APS-C 12.2 4272 2848none21.910.869261
15.
 
Leica V-LUX 3 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p19.711.043042
16.
 
Leica V-LUX 4 1/2.3 12.0 4000 30001080/60p19.811.150143
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the T5 provides a faster frame rate than the G1X. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/30p, while the G1X is limited to 1080/24p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The G1X and the T5 are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon G1 X, the Canon T5, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon G1 Xoptical n3.0 / 922 swivel n 1/4000s 1.9/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon T5optical n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIoptional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 5.2/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon G16optical n3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/4000s 2.2/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon S120none n3.0 / 922 fixed Y 1/2000s 12.1/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon SL1optical n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.9/s Y n
7.
 
Canon SX50202 n3.0 / 461 swivel n 1/2000s 2.2/s Y Y
8.
 
Canon T1ioptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.4/s Y n
9.
 
Canon T3optical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon T4ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon T5ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
12.
 
Canon T6optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
13.
 
Canon T100optical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
14.
 
Canon XSioptical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
15.
 
Leica V-LUX 3202 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/2000s 12.0/s Y Y
16.
 
Leica V-LUX 41312 n3.0 / 460 swivel n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
The G1X has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the T5 does not have a selfie-screen.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the G1X and the T5 write their files to SDXC cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot G1 X and Canon EOS Rebel T5 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon G1 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Canon T5Ymono / mono--mini2.0---
3.
 
Canon G1 X Mark IIYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon G16Ystereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
5.
 
Canon S120-stereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
6.
 
Canon SL1Ymono / monoY-mini2.0---
7.
 
Canon SX50Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
8.
 
Canon T1iYmono / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Canon T3Ystereo / mono--mini2.0---
10.
 
Canon T4iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
11.
 
Canon T5iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
12.
 
Canon T6Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
13.
 
Canon T100Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
14.
 
Canon XSiY- / ---mini2.0---
15.
 
Leica V-LUX 3Ystereo / ---mini2.0---
16.
 
Leica V-LUX 4Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0---

Both the G1X and the T5 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The G1X was replaced by the Canon G1X Mark II, while the T5 was followed by the Canon T6. Further information on the features and operation of the G1X and T5 can be found, respectively, in the Canon G1 X Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon T5 Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon G1 X and the Canon T5? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot G1 X:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 5 vs DIGIC 4).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (922k vs 460k dots).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a swivel screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the T5 requires a separate lens.
  • More compact: Is smaller (117x81mm vs 130x100mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2012).


Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS Rebel T5:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (17.9 vs 14.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 15%.
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/30p versus 1080/24p).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3 vs 1.9 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More flexible: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (500 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 1 month of technical progress since the G1X launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G1X emerges as the winner of the contest (8 : 6 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional sports photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a street photog, and a person interested in family portraits has distinct needs from a landscape shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

G1X 08:06 T5

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon G1 X and the Canon T5 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the G1X or the T5. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon G1 X5/5+..76/1004/54.5/5 Jan 2012 US$ 799ebay.com
2.
 
Canon T53/5+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2014 US$ 449ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G1 X Mark II3/5+..77/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2014 US$ 799ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G164/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2013 US$ 549ebay.com
5.
 
Canon S120..+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Aug 2013 US$ 449ebay.com
6.
 
Canon SL14/5+..78/1004/54/5 Mar 2013 US$ 549ebay.com
7.
 
Canon SX503/5+ +..72/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2012 US$ 429ebay.com
8.
 
Canon T1i..+ +..74/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 US$ 799ebay.com
9.
 
Canon T3..80/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2011 US$ 449ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T4i4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 US$ 849ebay.com
11.
 
Canon T5i......76/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2013 US$ 649ebay.com
12.
 
Canon T64/5o4/573/1004/54/5 Mar 2016 US$ 449ebay.com
13.
 
Canon T100..o3/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 US$ 399 amazon.com
14.
 
Canon XSi..+ +..+ +4/54.5/5 Jan 2008 US$ 799ebay.com
15.
 
Leica V-LUX 3............ Dec 2011 US$ 949ebay.com
16.
 
Leica V-LUX 4............ Sep 2012 US$ 949ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just make a corresponding selection in the search boxes below. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Canon G1 X vs Canon T5

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon G1 X Canon T5
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens 28-112mm f/2.8-5.8 Canon EF mount lenses
    Launch Date January 2012 February 2014
    Launch Price USD 799 USD 449
    Sensor Specs Canon G1 X Canon T5
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format 1.5" Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 18.7 x 14.0 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Sensor Area 261.8 mm2 332.27 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 23.4 mm 26.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.85x 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 14.2 Megapixels 17.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 4352 x 3264 pixels 5184 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.30 μm 4.31 μm
    Pixel Density 5.43 MP/cm2 5.39 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/24p Video 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 12,800 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    ISO Boost no Enhancement 100 - 12,800 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 5 DIGIC 4
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 60 63
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.7 21.9
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 10.8 11.3
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 644 724
    Screen Specs Canon G1 X Canon T5
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 74% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.50x
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 922k dots 460k dots
    LCD Attachment Swivel screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon G1 X Canon T5
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 1.9 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Canon G1 X Canon T5
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon G1 X Canon T5
    Battery Type Canon NB-10L Canon LP-E10
    Battery Life (CIPA)250 shots per charge500 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 117 x 81 x 65 mm
    (4.6 x 3.2 x 2.6 in)
    130 x 100 x 78 mm
    (5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1 in)
    Camera Weight 534 g (18.8 oz) 480 g (16.9 oz)
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