Review preview
For some time now I’ve contributed occasional articles to the Warehouse Express blog site where I’ve discussed topics as diverse as looking after your copyright on social media sites, the changing face of photography since 1945, fast flash synchronization, and using flip-out screens on compact cameras.
The flip-out screen article was inspired by my having bought a Canon G11 which has one such flippy-outie screen. Warehouse Express asked if, being something of a G-series fan, I would be interested in writing a review of the G1 X, Canon’s new, beefier version of the G-series cameras. How could I refuse? So they sent me one.
Having played with the G1 X for over a week now, I have to say… well you’ll have to read the finished article to know what I think of the camera and see the pictures I’ve taken with it, but I’ll give you some insight into how the review process is going.
My review copy of the Canon G1 X
I was a little daunted at first when I realised I was actually going to have to go out and take pictures with this camera, preferably ones I’d be proud to show and which would demonstrate its capabilities. I mean I’m always happy to take pictures, but I don’t like reviews that don’t really push the equipment or show interesting photos. Colour charts and pictures of buildings on a sunny day don’t really do it for me.
As luck would have it, the day after the camera arrived so did some heavy rain and local flooding (don’t worry, no houses flooded). I grabbed the G1 X leaving all other cameras at home on purpose and headed out to the affected part of town. The camera was going to have to sink or swim! Well, not literally; I don’t think buoyancy tests are a normal test for a digital camera.
Since then I’ve shot portraits, events, street scenes and I’m hoping to test the camera in the most difficult of lighting conditions, the Frome farmers’ market at Standerwick, which has been a long-term photographic project for me.
With a bit of luck I’ll have a total of about 3 or 4 weeks to really try this thing out, and once I’ve processed the images and written up the review I should think the finished article will go live on the Warehouse Express blog pages pretty swiftly.
Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to make a big song and dance about my first product review. I won’t let you miss it.
Until then, I will offer this sneaky peek at the picture set since the picture below has already been released for editorial use via Alamy Live News.
First outing I had with the G1 X was a bit of a weather event
Great review. Like the lighthearted tone and I want one now for those days when you don’t want to be lugging a chunky SLR around!
Ross, I’m sure the boss will buy you one 😉
Look forward to your comments on this one… its on my wishlist, the only things so far I find daunting are the rubbish viewfinder and the lack of macro/closeup… but the latter isn’t as important to me as it would be if it were to be my only camera.
Funnily enough, I quite like the viewfinder for certain things and it certainly makes picture taking a slightly edgy affair 😀
Very interested to hear what you think. I used one for a few days myself and I liked almost everything about it once I had got over the disappointment that the zoom button is still by the shutter release and not around the lens like it is on the superb S95 and S100 compacts that Canon make. The video quality is great on the G1X too. I do, however, have a long list of niggles for Canon to sort in time for a G2X – starting with the zoom control…
Thanks, Neil I’m sure you’ll know when my thoughts go live 😉
It would be interesting to compare niggles at some point!
I’ve been looking at a compact for sometime, as my 5Dii doesn’t quite cut it, no matter how much I convince myself that carrying only one lens is ‘going light’!
The G series are certainly appealing, being familiar interfaces, and shooting RAW, but I’ve been very tempted by the Fuji X1xx range. At the end of the day when it comes to getting a smaller camera, I seem to always be put off by the lure of more glass for the SLR! I may never commit…
Hi Alistair, and thanks for commenting.
I bought the G11 as a carry-around camera with more control than a bog-standard compact, and while I’m pleased with some of the photos I’ve shot with it, it’s not SLR standard and that’s always the trade-off.
The Fuji cameras look really tempting, but came out after I’d bought the G11 and apart from the X10 are considerably more expensive than the G11.
I wish you well in your quest!
Looking forward to reading the finished review Tim. I have a G9 which goes everywhere with me. When it finally gives up the ghost (or gets passed on to one of my son’s) I’ll probably get myself one.
Yes, the G9 is a good ‘un. In fact the G10 got hammered for having too many pixels, so they brought the count back down for the G11 which I bought 🙂
For the Fuji maybe-wannabes… I have an X100 and I love it. Its viewfinder is magic and its low light performance is as good as my K-5. I’d have an XPro-1 were it not for the lack of diopter adjustment on the viewfinder. No idea what Fuji was thinking there.