Canon G1 X vs Sony RX10 II

The Canon PowerShot G1 X and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II are two enthusiast cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in January 2012 and June 2015. Both the G1X and the RX10 II are fixed lens compact cameras that are based on an 1.5-inch (G1X) and an one-inch (RX10 II) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 14.2 megapixels, whereas the Sony provides 20 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		Sony RX10 II
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
28-112mm f/2.8-5.8		24-200mm f/2.8
14.2 MP, 1.5" Sensor		20 MP, 1" Sensor
1080/24p Video		4K/30p Video
ISO 100-12,800		ISO 100-12,800 (64 - 25,600)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (2359k dots)
3.0 LCD, 922k dots		3.0 LCD, 1229k dots
no rear screen		Tilting screen (not touch-sensitive)
1.9 shutter flaps per second		14 shutter flaps per second
not weather sealed		Weathersealed body
250 shots per battery charge		400 shots per battery charge
117 x 81 x 65 mm, 534 g		129 x 88 x 102 mm, 813 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot G1 X and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II? 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.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon G1 X and the Sony RX10 II. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony RX10 II is notably larger (20 percent) than the Canon G1 X. Moreover, the RX10 II is substantially heavier (52 percent) than the G1X. It is noteworthy in this context that the RX10 II is splash and dust-proof, while the G1X does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

Concerning battery life, the G1X gets 250 shots out of its NB-10L battery, while the RX10 II can take 400 images on a single charge of its NP-FW50 power pack. The power pack in the RX10 II can be charged via the USB port, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

		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	117 mm	81 mm	65 mm	534 g	250	n	Jan 2012	799
2.		Sony RX10 II	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	400	Y	Jun 2015	1,299
3.		Canon 80D	139 mm	105 mm	79 mm	730 g	960	Y	Feb 2016	1,199
4.		Canon G3 X	123 mm	77 mm	105 mm	733 g	300	Y	Jun 2015	999
5.		Canon G1 X Mark II	116 mm	74 mm	66 mm	553 g	240	n	Feb 2014	799
6.		Canon G16	109 mm	76 mm	40 mm	356 g	360	n	Aug 2013	549
7.		Canon S120	100 mm	59 mm	29 mm	217 g	230	n	Aug 2013	449
8.		Canon SX50	123 mm	87 mm	106 mm	595 g	315	n	Sep 2012	429
9.		Canon T4i	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	575 g	440	n	Jun 2012	849
10.		Canon T3	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	495 g	700	n	Feb 2011	449
11.		Canon T1i	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	520 g	400	n	Mar 2009	799
12.		Canon XSi	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	524 g	500	n	Jan 2008	799
13.		Leica V-LUX 4	125 mm	87 mm	110 mm	588 g	540	n	Sep 2012	949
14.		Leica V-LUX 3	124 mm	81 mm	95 mm	540 g	410	n	Dec 2011	949
15.		Sony RX10 III	133 mm	94 mm	127 mm	1051 g	420	Y	Mar 2016	1,499
16.		Sony RX100 IV	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	298 g	280	n	Jun 2015	999
17.		Sony RX10	129 mm	88 mm	102 mm	813 g	420	Y	Oct 2013	1,299
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The G1X was launched at a markedly lower price (by 38 percent) than the RX10 II, which puts it into a different market segment. 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

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors 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. 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 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 Sony RX10 II an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the RX10 II is 56 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.85 and 2.7. The sensor in the G1X has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the RX10 II offers a 3:2 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the RX10 II offers a higher resolution of 20 megapixels, compared with 14.2 MP of the G1X. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 2.41μm versus 4.30μm for the G1X). However, it should be noted that the RX10 II is much more recent (by 3 years and 5 months) than the G1X, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Sony RX10 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the RX10 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.4 x 18.2 inches or 69.5 x 46.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 21.9 x 14.6 inches or 55.6 x 37.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.2 x 12.2 inches or 46.3 x 30.9 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 64-25600.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under consideration, the RX10 II has a markedly higher DXO score than the G1X (overall score 10 points higher), which will translate into better image quality. The advantage is based on 1.3 bits higher color depth, 1.8 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.3 stops of reduced low light sensitivity. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		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	3264	1080/24p	21.7	10.8	644	60
2.		Sony RX10 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.0	12.6	531	70
3.		Canon 80D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/60p	23.6	13.2	1135	79
4.		Canon G3 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.4	12.3	521	63
5.		Canon G1 X Mark II	1.5-inch	13.0	4160	3120	1080/30p	21.5	10.8	581	58
6.		Canon G16	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.0	11.7	230	54
7.		Canon S120	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.3	11.9	246	56
8.		Canon SX50	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/24p	20.3	11.2	179	47
9.		Canon T4i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
10.		Canon T3	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	720/30p	21.9	11.0	755	62
11.		Canon T1i	APS-C	15.1	4752	3168	1080/20p	21.7	11.5	663	63
12.		Canon XSi	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	none	21.9	10.8	692	61
13.		Leica V-LUX 4	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
14.		Leica V-LUX 3	1/2.3	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
15.		Sony RX10 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	23.1	12.6	472	70
16.		Sony RX100 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.6	591	70
17.		Sony RX10	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.9	12.6	474	69

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the RX10 II provides a better video resolution than the G1X. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the Canon is limited to 1080/24p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the RX10 II has an electronic viewfinder (2359k dots), while the G1X has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon G1 X and Sony RX10 II along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon G1 X	optical	n	3.0	922	Swivel	n	1/4000s	1.9	Y	Y
2.		Sony RX10 II	2359	Y	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	14.0	Y	Y
3.		Canon 80D	optical	Y	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/8000s	7.0	Y	n
4.		Canon G3 X	optional	n	3.2	1620	tilting	Y	1/2000s	5.9	Y	Y
5.		Canon G1 X Mark II	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	5.2	Y	Y
6.		Canon G16	optical	n	3.0	922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.2	Y	Y
7.		Canon S120	none	n	3.0	922	fixed	Y	1/2000s	12.1	Y	Y
8.		Canon SX50	202	n	3.0	461	swivel	n	1/2000s	2.2	Y	Y
9.		Canon T4i	optical	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0	Y	n
10.		Canon T3	optical	n	2.7	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
11.		Canon T1i	optical	n	3.0	920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.4	Y	n
12.		Canon XSi	optical	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5	Y	n
13.		Leica V-LUX 4	1312	n	3.0	460	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
14.		Leica V-LUX 3	202	n	3.0	460	swivel	n	1/2000s	12.0	Y	Y
15.		Sony RX10 III	2359	Y	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	14.0	Y	Y
16.		Sony RX100 IV	2359	n	3.0	1228	tilting	n	1/2000s	16.0	Y	Y
17.		Sony RX10	1440	Y	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/3200s	10.0	Y	Y

One feature that is present on the RX10 II, but is missing on the G1X is a top-level LCD. While being, of course, smaller than the rear screen, the control panel conveys some of the essential shooting information and can be convenient for quick and easy settings verification.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the RX10 II is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

Both the G1X and the RX10 II have zoom lenses built in. The G1X has a 28-112mm f/2.8-5.8 optic and the RX10 II offers a 24-200mm f/2.8-2.8 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Sony provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the Canon. Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.

The G1X writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the RX10 II uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. The RX10 II supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the G1X cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon G1 X	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Sony RX10 II	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon 80D	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon G3 X	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon G1 X Mark II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Canon G16	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Canon S120	-	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Canon SX50	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Canon T4i	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Canon T3	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon T1i	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon XSi	Y	-	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Leica V-LUX 4	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Leica V-LUX 3	Y	stereo	-	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Sony RX10 III	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
16.		Sony RX100 IV	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
17.		Sony RX10	Y	stereo	mono	Y	Y	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the RX10 II offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the G1X does not provide wifi capability.

Both the G1X and the RX10 II have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The G1X was replaced by the Canon G1X Mark II, while the RX10 II was followed by the Sony RX10 III. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon G1 X and the Sony RX10 II? Which camera is better? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.

Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot G1 X:

• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/4000s vs 1/3200s) to freeze action.
• More compact: Is smaller (117x81mm vs 129x88mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 279g or 34 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (38 percent cheaper at launch).
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in January 2012).

Advantages of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (20 vs 14.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 21%.
• Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (10 points) in the DXO overall evaluation.
• Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.3 bits more color depth).
• More dynamic range: Captures a broader range of light and dark details (1.8 EV of extra DR).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/24p).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 922k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (14 vs 1.9 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
• More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (400 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
• Easier travel charging: Can be conveniently charged via its USB port.
• Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More modern: Reflects 3 years and 5 months of technical progress since the G1X launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the RX10 II is the clear winner of the contest (21 : 7 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon G1 X and the Sony RX10 II place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the G1X and the RX10 II in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon G1 X	5/5	+	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	799
2.		Sony RX10 II	5/5	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	1,299
3.		Canon 80D	4/5	+ +	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	1,199
4.		Canon G3 X	3.5/5	+	..	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2015	999
5.		Canon G1 X Mark II	3/5	+	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	799
6.		Canon G16	4/5	+	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	549
7.		Canon S120	..	+ +	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	449
8.		Canon SX50	3/5	+ +	72/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2012	429
9.		Canon T4i	4/5	+ +	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	849
10.		Canon T3	..	80/100	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	449
11.		Canon T1i	..	+ +	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2009	799
12.		Canon XSi	..	+ +	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2008	799
13.		Leica V-LUX 4	..	..	..	..	..	Sep 2012	949
14.		Leica V-LUX 3	..	..	..	..	..	Dec 2011	949
15.		Sony RX10 III	5/5	+	84/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2016	1,499
16.		Sony RX100 IV	4.5/5	+ +	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	999
17.		Sony RX10	5/5	+	80/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	1,299
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. 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. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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Specifications: Canon G1 X vs Sony RX10 II

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.

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