Canon Canon G1X III: Finally, a huge step forward for the G X series ...

[MiguelATF]

Still, performance is hard to believe if you look at the size of the camera - and the lens is very, very good indeed. It's truely pocketable, and it's also a real one-handed camera, peculiar, but very nice in use. I'd actually love a GR with an EVF and an updated sensor - but if that ever happens, noone knows.

M.

Yep. I agree with you 1000 per cent on that one. I used and truly enjoyed and shot with both a GR - and its Nikon cousin, the Coolpix A - for some time - and I acquired and used the clip-on 28mm FOV viewfinders for both - but neither clip-on viewfinder ever truly satisfied my secret cravings for a good quality EVF which I could actually use for composing, framing, shooting and - on occasion - for truly detailed (focus peaking, anyone?) manual focusing in certain circumstances.

And the updated sensor would merely be icing on the overall (compact) cake. Although, obviously, EVF's do add a slight bit of bulk to a Camera's overall dimensions - and probably would make the GR (or the Coolpix A) less of a jeans-pocketable compact, and more of a larger-coat-pocket pocketable one.

But I seriously doubt whether Ricoh has any intention of ever coming out with such an update, and Nikon has long since abandoned the Coolpix A. Which leaves one with the G1x V.iii ... hmmmm. Someone (a fan, I believe) once opined that the newer G1x Mark III may in fact be a spiritual upgrade to Ricoh's earlier compact line - the GX100 and GX200 - and in fact suggested that the newer G1x comes closer to being a GX300 than any other currently available quality compact cameras.

I wonder if they were right? Damn...I may just have to buy one, to find out

 

[MoonMind]

I wonder if they were right? Damn...I may just have to buy one, to find out

In case you do, just one little tip: Lose the pathetic lens cap - I got myself a good (i.e. solid, coated) protective filter and haven't looked back since. It speeds up deploy time, stops you fiddling with the less-than-cleverly designed cap and makes using the camera in wet weather easier (cleaning off a flat, hard-coated filter is less of an issue than cleaning off a front element). If you prefer a cap, the flat Olympus ones (37mm diameter) are much, much better in use - I have a couple of them kicking around from kit lenses and the like; looks odd, though.

M.

 

[MiguelATF]

In case you do, just one little tip: Lose the pathetic lens cap - I got myself a good (i.e. solid, coated) protective filter and haven't looked back since. It speeds up deploy time, stops you fiddling with the less-than-cleverly designed cap and makes using the camera in wet weather easier (cleaning off a flat, hard-coated filter is less of an issue than cleaning off a front element). If you prefer a cap, the flat Olympus ones (37mm diameter) are much, much better in use - I have a couple of them kicking around from kit lenses and the like; looks odd, though.

M.

Thank you, again, Matt, for the practical advice re: lens caps. In point of fact, I have just gone ahead and metaphorically pulled the trigger on a lightly-used G1x3 from a good seller (a real photographer) at a decent price. And - surprise of surprises! - he (the seller) is including a JJC auto-opening (and self-retaining) lens cap because like yourself, he didn't have a very high opinion of the original. But, also, I checked and it turns out I do happen to have an old flat Olympus 37mm diameter lens cap floating around on my shelf of photographic odds & ends - so I will try that one out as well.

I look forwards to putting the camera through its paces in the near future and will report back to you - but in the interim period, your comments have been illuminating and seriously helpful so - ¡muchas gracias! mille merci! and a serious thank-you : - )

 

[MiguelATF]

One more cool little G1x tidbit - a short (3 and a half minute) documentary-style commercial by Canon - featuring one of the great contemporary living photojournalists, Alex Majoli, of Magnum Photos, who is currently shooting with a G1x Mark III!

Here is a link to the video - The Essence of Sicily • Alex Majoli • Magnum Photos

Alex Majoli has been a photographer whose work I have followed - and admired - for years and years. Many years ago, when he was on assignment in Iraq during the War, his photographic tools of choice were a pair of Olympus point-and-shoot cameras (first the C-5060 and later the C-8080) which he used to take some amazing series of photographs. At the time, he talked eloquently about how using smaller, less intimidating cameras - as opposed to the Leicas or Nikons all the other photojournalists relied upon - allowed him to work in a more inconspicuous way.

Now, years later, he is still a fan of smaller, handheld cameras - and his current tool of choice, as you can see in this short video, is...the G1x3. Which, of course, I love --- because what's good enough for Alex Majoli...is more than 'good enough' for me

 

[MiguelATF]

The first photos from my newly-acquired and lightly used G1x3 --- and based on what I'm seeing, I think this camera may be a keeper. In fact, I will go one step further and venture a radical opinion - in terms of small, semi-pocketable cameras --- this may be the long-hoped for replacement for my former favorite small zoom-equipped camera - the Lumix LX7 - as well as my former pocketable wide-angle powerhouses, the Ricoh GR (1st Gen) and the Coolpix A (both of which I enjoyed, marveled at their optical qualities, and - confession follows - never really quite bonded with).

First picture is simply a close-up of scissors and glasses, on a table -

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The next the obligatory self-portrait in a mirror, a ritual I do with all new cameras for reasons I have never really quite analyzed yet -

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Last but not least, the headlight of my Vespa scooter with some of my garden in the background -

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I was shooting in Aperture priority, all were taken with the lens at its widest setting, 15mm (the equivalent of a 24mm FOV) and wide open at f/2.8. What's interesting, to me at least, is image-quality-vis-a-vis-ISO relationship. The first shot, of scissors, was taken at ISO 5000 (1/60 of a second exposure); the 2nd, the mirror self-portrait, at ISO 2000 (also 1/60 of a second); whereas the final exterior shot was taken at ISO 100 (1/400 of a sec). All were lightly processed, in Lightroom and VSCO.

The camera is surprisingly compact, not for jeans pockets but definitely a jacket pocket. Hard to say what it's made out of exactly but it feels incredibly solid (which, arguably, it should, since Canon claims it is weatherproof/waterproof). And - saving the best for the last - the EVF, while it looks physically small on the camera, is actually an excellent one - and feels (a subjective impression) larger than the one on my late GX7.

This is one cool small photographic machine.

 

[rayvonn]

Good stuff Miguel, but I will always prefer the images that you got out of your Pany 20mm.

 

[MiguelATF]

Good stuff Miguel, but I will always prefer the images that you got out of your Pany 20mm.

Thanks for saying so. And, yes, I have gotten some fine images out of the tiny Panny. Though, to put things in context, the Panasonic 20mm lens has an equivalent Field of View (FOV) to a 40mm classic lens - i.e. just in between the 'classic' 35mm wide-angle view, and the 'standard' 50mm view. Compare that to the Canon lens, wide open --- which, believe it or not, has a much, much wider FOV - equivalent to a classic 24mm lens! which in modern terms qualifies it almost as an ultra-wide lens. And definitely just a shade wider than the 28mm FOV lenses which so many great Ricoh GR and Coolpix A shooters have popularized in the last few years. So --- my Panny 20mm lens almost seems like a closer, portrait lens - versus the wideness of the lens on my new Canon.

But they are different beasts. However I've always been a fan of wider lenses; back in the day when I was an analog-only shooter with a small array of old Pentaxes, I shot frequently with both 35mm and 24mm wide-angles --- so having the wide end of a zoom give me this quality ... is both surprising, and sweet

 

[MoonMind]

Very nice first set, Miguel I'm looking forward to your further findings and explorations. For me, the G1X III has superceded the still impressive LX100; I've simply not shot with it since acquiring the Canon (except for some test shots); the GR is a slightly different beast because is even more inconspicuos - the GR has actually made me retire the Canon S95 I've enjoyed quite a bit, though I hardly ever used its zoom, effectively treating it as a sort of mini-GR (an oxymoron, to be sure). The Canon's APS-C sensor together with the solid performance of the zoom is still quite unique. Canon puts quite a bit of correction into the JPEGs, though - which is fine, but since I'm a RAW shooter, I sometimes stumble over the quite pronounced distortion you get on the wide end (but of which you see hardly anything in the JPEGs - they are very, very good indeed).

I keep being impressed by the little camera; I'm already closing in on the first 1000 frames, and I'm *not* someone who's into spraying and praying.

M.

 

[john m flores]

Nice Vespa! And nice shots too!

 

[MiguelATF]

Nice Vespa! And nice shots too!

Thanks, John! The Vespa is a pristine 2007 which I recently acquired - the GTV model which was inspired by the original, late 1940's Vespa models which had the headlight down on the front fender - aka "Faro basso" (literal translation: Lowdown Headlight). Hands down the best scooter I've ever ridden (and I've ridden and owned a few!)

 

[MiguelATF]

A few more quick shots from my ongoing adventure with the G1x3 which so far has quite a few pluses and not really any minuses to speak of.

First an enormous Elk, outside a local restaurant in the tiny southern Oregon town of Merlin, alongside the Rogue River.

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The next shot was also taken in the same small town, an old Ford truck for sale --

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Third and last, in the neighboring city of Grants Pass, a large Bear sculpture sitting on the sidewalk, advertising some festive occasion or other -

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I know that Canon lenses have both their fans and their nay-sayers; some speak in glowing terms of 'Canon Colors' (whatever that means, I'm not really sure), while others aren't fond of Canon's rendering palettes. I'm not technically savvy enough to even begin to guess what all that ('Canon Colours') is all about - but I will say that the G1x is, for lack of a better term, truly fun to shoot with. I'm using the EVF a lot and part of me is wondering why I spent so long shooting with other small compacts without good built-in EVF's: there's something about being able to focus precisely with the eyepiece up to your eye...

 

[bluzcity]

You buzzards are making me consider one of these

 

[MoonMind]

It's definitely more compact and cheaper than a Z6 with 24-70mm f/4

M.

 

[MiguelATF]

One aspect about the G1x3 which can't really be appreciated by reading reviews is how it feels, in the hand - much heavier than I expected for such a compact camera. My old Nikon Coolpix A had a similar solid, well-built feeling to it - the old metaphor "built like a tank" comes to mind - and the G1x3 feels even more so. This may have something to do with the weather-sealing of the body - or with some other engineering factors I can't begin to imagine - but it's a confidence-inspiring feeling to hold something that feels so well made.

I've had a handful of other pocketable or semi-pocketable try-to-take-with-me-everywhere-I-go small cameras but the (honest) truth is that a lot of them stayed in my pockets more than I used them. The G1x seems to be living more on my wrist (thanks to a very comfortable and solid handmade wrist strap from Tyson Robichaud's nautistraps company if you'll pardon the shameless and unsolicited plug).

 

[MiguelATF]

Since most of my shooting is RAW - with some light processing, usually through Lightroom, with occasional Nik or VSCO plug-ins, I tend to work with an image until it seems right to me, more of a subjective process than an organized 'workflow' or batch-processing approach. But that said, so far at least, the way this camera's combination of lens + sensor + possibly Canon's new DIGIC 7 internal processing engine - seem to produce digitial negatives with colors that speak to me.

Including this latest image that I took this morning - of a Turkey Toy (in a local 'nature store') which seemed designed for thoughtful adults as much as for wayward children -

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Some reviewers have panned the G1x3's lens for being too 'soft' or too 'slow'. Maybe those criticisms are valid for some people, but the way I see and try to photograph things...this lens is right up there with the good ones.

 

[nippa]

The test shots that I took quickly when I was handed a copy to try out certainly seemed soft on my computer.
But looking at your shots , Miguel , and reading Matt's comments about the old LX100has me thinking again ; I've held off ordering an LX100m2.
I may buy a Canon yet!

 

[MoonMind]

I think the lens is commendably sharp for what it is - true, there are sharper lenses, but at least it's a dependable performer. It's easy to add a touch of sharpness in post to "get there" if things are slightly soft, but AF is quick and reliable, and lens quality is really good. I've had more issues with images from the LX100 wide open (except for uncorrected distortion - the G1X III shows quite a bit at the wide end, it's less obvious with the LX100), softer corners and more CA/outlining. But to be honest, the lens is much less of a differentiator than I would have though possible. The LX100's lens appears spectacular, but then turns out to be somewhat pedestrian (which doesn't have to be a bad thing - because it means you get workable results, not peculiar ones you just have to swallow), the G1X III is decidedly less highly spec'd, but turns out to be very nice indeed. As I am bound to have mentioned already, I had no reservations whatsoever mixing images from the G1X III with ones that came from the M10 with Leica glass.

Here's one from today - just a grab shot like many this compact camera makes possible because it's just there. Minimal treatment (as usual - for files from the G1X III - with Polarr).

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That's wide open, the wide end of the zoom. I could have taken the same shot with the LX100, but I would have had to stop down for comparable (though not equal) definition.

(I didn't notice the rather annoying dark plane trail on the upper left while shooting ... but since I didn't have a lot of time to spare, I would have to accept it anyway - or not take the shot).

M.

 

[MiguelATF]

I think the lens is commendably sharp for what it is - true, there are sharper lenses, but at least it's a dependable performer. It's easy to add a touch of sharpness in post to "get there" if things are slightly soft, but AF is quick and reliable, and lens quality is really good. I've had more issues with images from the LX100 wide open (except for uncorrected distortion - the G1X III shows quite a bit at the wide end, it's less obvious with the LX100), softer corners and more CA/outlining. But to be honest, the lens is much less of a differentiator than I would have though possible. The LX100's lens appears spectacular, but then turns out to be somewhat pedestrian (which doesn't have to be a bad thing - because it means you get workable results, not peculiar ones you just have to swallow), the G1X III is decidedly less highly spec'd, but turns out to be very nice indeed. As I am bound to have mentioned already, I had no reservations whatsoever mixing images from the G1X III with ones that came from the M10 with Leica glass.

Here's one from today - just a grab shot like many this compact camera makes possible because it's just there. Minimal treatment (as usual - for files from the G1X III - with Polarr).
View attachment 186562

That's wide open, the wide end of the zoom. I could have taken the same shot with the LX100, but I would have had to stop down for comparable (though not equal) definition.

(I didn't notice the rather annoying dark plane trail on the upper left while shooting ... but since I didn't have a lot of time to spare, I would have to accept it anyway - or not take the shot).

M.

Nice light, Matt. It’s a fine lens...as I am discovering. Among its other virtues, it is a good general-purpose landscape tool - as this shot from a scooter ride near my home in rural Oregon demonstrates.

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[MoonMind]

Nice light, Matt. It’s a fine lens...as I am discovering. Among its other virtues, it is a good general-purpose landscape tool - as this shot from a scooter ride near my home in rural Oregon demonstrates.

View attachment 186612

Agreed on the landscape lens - though the wide end is less ideal for architecture from the perspective of a RAW shooter (who usually doesn't use LR/ACR) because of pretty heavy distortion. But it's sharp and pleasing even then, and the JPEGs are exceptionally well corrected IMO. So it's no real problem, just something to be aware of. But it explains why it did work so well in Scotland as opposed to a few more recent city walks; sometimes, the shots work, sometimes they don't.

M.

 

[donlaw]

The last Canon camera I used was the S95. My daughter still has it, but unfortunately has sidelined it for her iPhone 8.
After reading Miguel and Matt's comments in this thread, I am considering this as replacement for my Coolpix A.
That camera is getting a bit old and has a problem with internal dust which has now settled onto the sensor.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and photos on this camera.