Photography News Issue 53

Camera test 54

Photography News | Issue 53 | photographynews.co.uk

CanonPowerShot G1 XMark III Over twenty cameras in and Canon’s popular compact PowerShot G-series now has its first premium compact with an APS-C sensor. We put it to the test to see if the wait has been worth it

Specs

Price

£1149

Sensor 24.2-megapixels Sensor format APS-C CMOS, 6000x4000pixels ISO range 100-25,600 in 0.3EV steps Shutter range 30secs 1/2000sec plus B (depends onmode) Drivemodes With AF, 7fps, fixed AF up to 9fps Metering system Evaluative, spot, centre-weighted average Exposuremodes PASM, smart auto, hybrid auto, scene mode Exposure compensation +/-3EV in 0.3EV steps, autoexposure bracketing +/-2EV in 0.3EV steps Monitor Vari-angle 3in touch screen LCD with 1040k dots Viewfinder EVF showing 100% approx with 2360k dots Focusing 49 (fixed 7x7 grid), single point, 9-zone AF (3x3 grid). Touch and drag AF Video Full HD up to 29mins 59secs Connectivity Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, HDMI-C, micro USB Other key features Internal flash with three power levels Storagemedia 1xSD/SDHC/SDXC card Dimensions 115x77.9x51.4mm Weight 399g Lens 15-45mm f/2.8-5.6 (24-72mm 35mm format equivalent) with adaptive intelligent IS Construction Nine elements in eight groups including three double-sided aspherical and one single-sided aspherical lens Zoomrange Optical 3x, ZoomPlus 6x, digital 4x, combined 12x Contact Canon.co.uk Dual Pixel CMOS AF, phase detection pixels on sensor Focus points

Words and images byWill Cheung

Canon’s of compacts was always well specified and boasted features that appealed to photographers of all levels, but especially Canon DSLR users. One thing, though, was missing and that was an APS-C sensor, and until science finds a way, a larger sensor will always outperform a smaller one. An APS-C sensor is 1.7x bigger than a one-inch one, so there are going be clear performance benefits, especially with respect to high ISO noise and fine detail rendition. The G1 X Mark III is a solid camera with dust and moisture protection. It is also compact – about 16% smaller than its predecessor and weighs 399g – and while it’s not a camera that will fit into a shirt/blouse pocket, it’s fine in a man/handbag and will fit in the pocket of a typical outdoor walking jacket. Despite its svelte proportions, the G1 Mark III houses a three- inch vari-angle monitor and that dominates the camera back. The monitor itself swings out, and can be rotated to face forward as well as offer great low-down or above head height shooting. You can, if you prefer, turn it round to protect the monitor or to give a film shooting experience. It has touch sensitivity for menu setting, shooting and image review. As far as flexibility goes, the monitor deserves full marks. The camera front is dominated by the integral 3x zoom, which gives a focal length equivalent of 24mm to 72mm, so it’s a standard premium range

zoom. Its maximum apertures vary from f/2.8 to f/5.6 at the 72mm end. The modest maximum aperture at the long end is disappointing, but probably a trade-off with the camera’s overall small size. Turn the camera on, the lens extends out about 3cm and you’re ready to shoot. Start-up time is quick, under 0.5sec for the camera to be ready to shoot. Adjusting the zoom is done with the collar lever around the shutter release. It works fine, but you might prefer greater control in which case there is an option. Around the lens is a smoothly rotating barrel that can have a function assigned to it, and you can have it as a zoom control – it actually can be assigned to 10 different functions. I prefer to have a manual rather than a motorised zoom, so set the lens barrel to give a seamless zoom. A stepped zoom is an option and here the lens stops at fivepreset focal lengths, each shown in the monitor/ EVF at their 35mm equivalent

settings. Controlling the zoom manually and steplessly works well enough although there is a slight lag, so its responsiveness could be better. The lens’s front element is quite exposed and I managed to smear fingerprints on it during normal use on more than one occasion. A skylight protection filter is recommended (the lens has a 37mm filter thread). For lens performance comments, please see the accompanying panel. Just to cover the camera’s key controls there’s a lockable exposure mode dial at the left end of the body, and an exposure compensation button that is not lockable at the other. There’s a click-stopped command dial on the front, and then we move to the back panel which is home to a host of controls, including a command dial and the menu button. The front and rear command dials and three buttons, including movie record button, can be

You can, if you prefer, turn it

around to protect the monitor or to give a film shooting experience

Above The Canon Power Shot G1 X Mark III is a reasonably compact compact, but it’s not going to fit a shirt pocket. Its small size is helped by an integral zoom that has a modest maximum aperture at its long setting – 72mm equivalent in the 35mm format.