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In the last couple of months, we have seen a number of mirrorless cameras emerge from major camera brands like Canon and Nikon, and some of them become quite sophisticated at what they do. Now, Canon shows a preview of its’ brand new mirrorless camera – PowerShot G1X. The camera looks very similar to other existing G-series models, however it has some different, exciting(?) features. It has a large sensor and a 4x zoom lens (equivalent to 28-112mm). It also has a number of manual controls (that’s something quite common to G-series). Canon says that it will be a perfect companion to a high-end DSLR camera. The price quoted for this camera is around $799. The sensor in G1X is 18.7 x 14mm, so it’s a bit smaller than the one used in DSLR cameras, but bigger than in most compacts. Because the sensor in G1X is just a bit smaller than in DSLRs, we may expect a very high quality images from this camera. G1X is not supposed to replace G12, even though they have a lot in common. It is just a supplement to the line of Canon cameras. An aperture range on G1X is quite good as well – F2.8-5.8. And it’s quite compact in size thanks to fixed lens on the camera. We shall expect some tests from the camera soon. And, because it is a G-series camera, it shoots Raw! Anyone watching the emergence of mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras will have spent much of the last year patiently waiting for Canon and Nikon to show their hands. Nikon clearly decided such cameras didn't need large sensors, and now it appears Canon has concluded they don't need interchangeable lenses. Both these moves make sense for companies wanting dedicated photographers to keep buying DSLRs, but Canon's approach is likely to be of more interest to those enthusiasts. The Canon Powershot G1 X may look like the company's existing G-series compacts, but is a very different prospect. It's a large sensor camera with a flexible 28-112mm-equivalent, 4x zoom lens and extensive manual controls. The company says it sees it as a camera for photographers who already have a high end DSLR such as a 5D Mark II or 7D, but at a price of $799, we think it'll appeal much more widely than that. After repeated waves of cameras aimed at point-and-shoot upgraders, it's heartening to see a camera really living up to the billing of a 'serious compact.' The sensor in the G1 X is 18.7 x 14mm, which means it's 20% smaller than the sensors Canon uses in most of its DSLRs. However it's slightly larger than the Four Thirds size used by Olympus and Panasonic, and more than 4x the area of the Fujifilm X10's sensor. Noticeably, its pixel count is also around 20% lower than Canon's 18MP DSLR chip - supporting its assertion that its design is closely related, with the same underlying pixel design. This can only bode well, given the high quality results that cameras such as the EOS 7D can produce. On top of this the G1 X offers almost all of the extensive external controls that appear on the G12 - a camera that is itself the product of many generations of evolution. The only reservation we have about the G12 is that there's an awful lot of camera for such a small sensor - so the combination of G-series build quality and ergonomics with a sensor to match that capability is extremely promising. The G1 X doesn't replace the G12, but instead supplements it in Canon's lineup, adding a new tier to the G series.
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