Canon G1 X Mark II Comparison Review
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II is a fixed lens compact camera that was revealed to the public in February 2014 and is equipped with an 1.5-inch sensor. It offers a resolution of 13 megapixel.
Is the Canon G1 X Mark II a good camera? The G1X Mark II has a Camera Elo of 1874. This rating puts the G1X Mark II below average of all travel zoom compact cameras. In terms of its sensor size category (APS cameras), the G1X Mark II also ranks below average. Based on its within category standings, the camera earns a 2.5-star performance rating. – Well, the Canon G1 X Mark II is more than 10 years old, and there have been many other good digital cameras released since 2014.
Canon G1 X Mark II |
---|
Fixed lens compact camera |
24-120mm f/2.0-3.9 |
13 MP, 1.5" Sensor |
1080/30p Video |
ISO 100 - 12 800 |
Viewfinder optional |
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots |
Tilting touchscreen |
5.2 shutter flaps per second |
240 shots per battery charge |
116 x 74 x 66 mm, 553 g |
Read on to find out more about the camera's size, sensor, features, reception by expert reviewers, and how it compares to other digital cameras.
Body comparison with a credit card
An illustration of the physical dimensions of the Canon G1 X Mark II vis-à-vis a credit card is provided in the side-by-side display below. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.
The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the Canon G1 X Mark II alongside a set of similar cameras. If you want to review a particular camera pair side-by-side, just move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible comparisons there.
# | Camera Model |
Camera Width |
Camera Height |
Camera Depth |
Camera Weight |
Battery Life |
Weather Sealing |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon G1 X Mark II | 116 mm | 74 mm | 66 mm | 553 g | 240 | n | Feb 2014 | 799 | ebay.com | |
2. | Canon 760D | 132 mm | 101 mm | 78 mm | 565 g | 440 | n | Feb 2015 | 649 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon G5 X | 112 mm | 76 mm | 44 mm | 353 g | 210 | n | Oct 2015 | 799 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon SX60 | 128 mm | 93 mm | 114 mm | 650 g | 340 | n | Sep 2014 | 549 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon G16 | 109 mm | 76 mm | 40 mm | 356 g | 360 | n | Aug 2013 | 549 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon S120 | 100 mm | 59 mm | 29 mm | 217 g | 230 | n | Aug 2013 | 449 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon G1 X | 117 mm | 81 mm | 65 mm | 534 g | 250 | n | Jan 2012 | 799 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon 500D | 129 mm | 98 mm | 62 mm | 520 g | 400 | n | Mar 2009 | 799 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon 450D | 129 mm | 98 mm | 62 mm | 524 g | 500 | n | Jan 2008 | 799 | ebay.com | |
10. | Olympus Stylus 1 | 116 mm | 87 mm | 57 mm | 402 g | 410 | n | Oct 2013 | 699 | ebay.com | |
11. | Panasonic LX100 | 115 mm | 66 mm | 55 mm | 393 g | 300 | n | Sep 2014 | 899 | ebay.com | |
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. | |||||||||||
The listed prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The Canon G1 X Mark II was launched in the US market at a price of $799. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.
Sensor comparison with a 35mm slide
The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tent to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.
The Canon G1 X Mark II features an 1.5-inch sensor and has a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.85. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the Canon G1 X Mark II among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability.
Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.
# | Camera Model |
Sensor Class |
Resolution (MP) |
Horiz. Pixels |
Vert. Pixels |
Video Format |
DXO Portrait |
DXO Landscape |
DXO Sports |
DXO Overall |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon G1 X Mark II | 1.5-inch | 13.0 | 4160 | 3120 | 1080/30p | 21.5 | 10.8 | 581 | 58 | |
2. | Canon 760D | APS-C | 24.0 | 6000 | 4000 | 1080/30p | 22.6 | 12.0 | 915 | 70 | |
3. | Canon G5 X | 1-inch | 20.0 | 5472 | 3648 | 1080/60p | 21.4 | 12.3 | 471 | 62 | |
4. | Canon SX60 | 1/2.3 | 14.2 | 4608 | 3072 | 1080/60p | 19.2 | 10.8 | 127 | 39 | |
5. | Canon G16 | 1/1.7 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60p | 21.0 | 11.7 | 230 | 54 | |
6. | Canon S120 | 1/1.7 | 12.0 | 4000 | 3000 | 1080/60p | 21.3 | 11.9 | 246 | 56 | |
7. | Canon G1 X | 1.5-inch | 14.2 | 4352 | 3264 | 1080/24p | 21.7 | 10.8 | 644 | 60 | |
8. | Canon 500D | APS-C | 15.1 | 4752 | 3168 | 1080/20p | 21.7 | 11.5 | 663 | 63 | |
9. | Canon 450D | APS-C | 12.2 | 4272 | 2848 | none | 21.9 | 10.8 | 692 | 61 | |
10. | Olympus Stylus 1 | 1/1.7 | 11.8 | 3968 | 2976 | 1080/30p | 20.7 | 11.6 | 179 | 51 | |
11. | Panasonic LX100 | Four Thirds | 12.7 | 4112 | 3088 | 4K/30p | 22.3 | 12.5 | 553 | 67 |
Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. The G1X Mark II indeed provides movie recording capabilities. The highest resolution format that the G1X Mark II can use is 1080/30p.
Feature comparison
Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The following tables report on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon G1 X Mark II and comparable cameras.
# | 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 X Mark II | optional | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/4000s | 5.2/s | Y | Y | |
2. | Canon 760D | optical | Y | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/4000s | 5.0/s | Y | n | |
3. | Canon G5 X | 2360 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | swivel | Y | 1/2000s | 5.9/s | Y | Y | |
4. | Canon SX60 | 922 | n | 3.0 / 922 | swivel | n | 1/2000s | 6.4/s | Y | Y | |
5. | Canon G16 | optical | n | 3.0 / 922 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 2.2/s | Y | Y | |
6. | Canon S120 | none | n | 3.0 / 922 | fixed | Y | 1/2000s | 12.1/s | Y | Y | |
7. | Canon G1 X | optical | n | 3.0 / 922 | swivel | n | 1/4000s | 1.9/s | Y | Y | |
8. | Canon 500D | optical | n | 3.0 / 920 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.4/s | Y | n | |
9. | Canon 450D | optical | n | 3.0 / 230 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 3.5/s | Y | n | |
10. | Olympus Stylus 1 | 1440 | n | 3.0 / 1040 | tilting | Y | 1/2000s | 7.0/s | Y | Y | |
11. | Panasonic LX100 | 2764 | n | 3.0 / 921 | fixed | n | 1/4000s | 11.0/s | n | Y | |
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one. |
The LCD screen on the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II is flexibly attached to the body. In particular, the LCD can be tilted vertically to facilitate odd-angle shots in landscape orientation. This tilting design is often preferred, for example, by street photographers to a fully articulated, swivel type of LCD attachment, as it is more unobtrusive during shooting than a screen that flips out to the side.
One convenient feature of the G1X Mark II is the presence of an on-board flash. While this built-in flash is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light to brighten deep shadow areas.
Connection 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 Mark II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.
# | Camera Model |
Hotshoe Port |
Internal Mic / Speaker |
Microphone Port |
Headphone Port |
HDMI Port |
USB Port |
WiFi Support |
NFC Support |
Bluetooth Support |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon G1 X Mark II | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
2. | Canon 760D | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
3. | Canon G5 X | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
4. | Canon SX60 | Y | stereo / mono | Y | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | Y | - | |
5. | Canon G16 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
6. | Canon S120 | - | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
7. | Canon G1 X | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
8. | Canon 500D | Y | mono / mono | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
9. | Canon 450D | Y | - / - | - | - | mini | 2.0 | - | - | - | |
10. | Olympus Stylus 1 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | - | - | |
11. | Panasonic LX100 | Y | stereo / mono | - | - | micro | 2.0 | Y | Y | - |
It is notable that the G1X Mark II offers wifi support. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.
The G1X Mark II has a zoom lens built in (12.5-62.5mm f/2.0-3.9), which, in full frame equivalent terms, provides a focal length range from 24 to 120mm. The camera is, hence, ready to shoot, while remaining more compact in size than an interchangeable lens camera with an optic that offers similar focal length and aperture specifications.
Further information on the features and operation of the G1X Mark II can be found in the free online Canon G1 X Mark II Manual or on the Canon support site.
Expert reviews
While the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the G1X Mark II handle or perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable. This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall rankings 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]).
# | Camera Model |
AP score |
CL score |
DCW score |
DPR score |
EPZ score |
PB score |
Camera Launch |
Launch Price (USD) |
Street Price |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Canon G1 X Mark II | 3/5 | + | .. | 77/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2014 | 799 | ebay.com | |
2. | Canon 760D | 5/5 | + | .. | 77/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Feb 2015 | 649 | ebay.com | |
3. | Canon G5 X | 5/5 | + + | .. | 78/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2015 | 799 | ebay.com | |
4. | Canon SX60 | 3/5 | + + | .. | 75/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Sep 2014 | 549 | ebay.com | |
5. | Canon G16 | 4/5 | + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2013 | 549 | ebay.com | |
6. | Canon S120 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Aug 2013 | 449 | ebay.com | |
7. | Canon G1 X | 5/5 | + | .. | 76/100 | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2012 | 799 | ebay.com | |
8. | Canon 500D | .. | + + | .. | 74/100 | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Mar 2009 | 799 | ebay.com | |
9. | Canon 450D | .. | + + | .. | + + | 4/5 | 4.5/5 | Jan 2008 | 799 | ebay.com | |
10. | Olympus Stylus 1 | .. | + + | .. | .. | 4.5/5 | 4.5/5 | Oct 2013 | 699 | ebay.com | |
11. | Panasonic LX100 | 5/5 | + + | .. | 85/100 | 5/5 | 5/5 | Sep 2014 | 899 | ebay.com | |
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available. |
Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.
Canon G1 X Mark II FAQ
Below are some additional questions and answers concerning some particular features of the G1X Mark II.
What is the technology behind the imaging sensor in the Canon G1 X Mark II?
The camera is build around a CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensor.
Which image processing chip is used in the Canon G1 X Mark II to convert the raw signal into an image file and perform noise reduction and image sharpening?
Canon equipped the G1X Mark II with the DIGIC 6 image processor.
What is the ISO sensitivity range of the Canon G1 X Mark II?
The camera has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800.
Can the Canon G1 X Mark II be equipped with an optional viewfinder?
Yes, Canon provides the EVF-DC1 as an accessory (here on amazon) that can be mounted on the hotshoe.
Does the Canon G1 X Mark II have a selfie-friendly screen?
Yes, the LCD-screen of the G1X Mark II is flexible and can be turned to be front-facing for capturing selfies.
Do I need to purchase an external camera trigger to shoot time-lapse sequences with the Canon G1 X Mark II?
No, the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II has an intervalometer built-in, so that low frequency shooting (for example, flower blooming, sunset, moon rise) can be undertaken without the need to purchase a separate external intervalometer and related software.
Is it difficult to use manual focus lenses with the Canon G1 X Mark II?
The G1X Mark II offers focus peaking as a manual focus aid. This feature works by placing a colored highlight on in-focus zones within the image.
Does the Canon G1 X Mark II feature an autofocus assist light?
Yes, the camera has a lamp built-in that can illuminate the subject and improve autofocus in low-light settings.
What is the fastest shutter speed that can be used with the Canon G1 X Mark II for flash photography?
The G1X Mark II's flash sync speed is 1/4000 sec.
Does the Canon G1 X Mark II support the Ultra High Speed (UHS) bus interface for SD cards?
Yes, the camera can indeed use UHS-I cards (data transfer speed of up to 104 MB/s).
Camera to camera comparisons
In case you are interested in seeing how this camera compares to another one, just use the search menu below. An an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.
- Canon 20D vs Canon G1 X Mark II
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Canon Rebel
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Canon S120
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Leica CL
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Olympus E-450
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Panasonic FZ200
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Panasonic FZ80
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Panasonic GF3
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Panasonic GF7
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Panasonic GX7
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Sony A3000
- Canon G1 X Mark II vs Sony RX10 III
Camera Model | Canon G1 X Mark II | |
---|---|---|
Camera Type | Fixed lens compact camera | |
Camera Lens | 24-120mm f/2.0-3.9 | |
Launch Date | February 2014 | |
Launch Price | USD 799 | |
Sensor Specs | ||
Sensor Technology | CMOS | |
Sensor Format | 1.5" Sensor | |
Sensor Size | 18.7 x 14.0 mm | |
Sensor Area | 262 mm2 | |
Sensor Diagonal | 23.4 mm | |
Crop Factor | 1.85x | |
Sensor Resolution | 13 Megapixels | |
Image Resolution | 4 160 x 3 120 pixels | |
Pixel Pitch | 4.49 μm | |
Pixel Density | 4.96 MP/cm2 | |
Moiré control | Anti-Alias filter | |
Movie Capability | 1080/30p Video | |
ISO Setting | 100 - 12 800 ISO | |
Image Processor | DIGIC 6 | |
DXO Sensor Quality (score) | 58 | |
DXO Color Depth (bits) | 21.5 | |
DXO Dynamic Range (EV) | 10.8 | |
DXO Low Light (ISO) | 581 | |
Screen Specs | ||
Viewfinder Type | Viewfinder optional | |
Top-Level Screen | no Top Display | |
LCD Framing | Live View | |
LCD Size | 3.0 inch | |
LCD Resolution | 1040k dots | |
LCD Attachment | Tilting screen | |
V-logging Friendliness | Front-flip possible | |
Touch Input | Touchscreen | |
Shooting Specs | ||
Focus System | Contrast-detect AF | |
Manual Focusing Aid | Focus Peaking | |
Maximum Shutter Speed | 1/4000s | |
Continuous Shooting | 5.2 shutter flaps/s | |
Silent Shooting | no E-Shutter | |
Time Lapse Photography | Intervalometer Built-in | |
Fill Flash | Built-in Flash | |
Storage Medium | SDXC cards | |
Single or Dual Card Slots | Single card slot | |
UHS card support | UHS-I | |
Connectivity Specs | ||
External Flash | Hotshoe | |
USB Connector | USB 2.0 | |
HDMI Port | mini HDMI | |
Wifi Support | Wifi built-in | |
Near-Field Communication | NFC built-in | |
Body Specs | ||
Battery Type | NB-12L power pack | |
Battery Life (CIPA) | 240 shots per charge | |
Body Dimensions |
116 x 74 x 66 mm (4.6 x 2.9 x 2.6 in) |
|
Camera Weight | 553 g (19.5 oz) |
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