| Customer Reviews Collected from usa.canon.com |
Canon - PowerShot G1 X Mark II 12.8-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Average Customer Rating:
4.4
Rating breakdown 12 reviews
5 Stars
8
4 Stars
1
3 Stars
3
2 Stars
0
1 Star
0
60%of customers recommend this product.
(
3 out of
5)
Customer Reviews for Canon - PowerShot G1 X Mark II 12.8-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
Customer Rating
3
A Good Travel/Back Up Camera
on October 13, 2015
Posted by: GMak
from Seattle, WA
Canon G1X MkII
..
I've had this several months now, and shot about 1,000 frames over 5 states and 4 countries. My review is based on using it as a high-end "carry camera", i.e., for business/pleasure travel and local events, when you want decent IQ but can't take a big DSLR.
..
So, the Good, the Not So Good, and the Bad…
..
First, THE GOOD:
IMAGE QUALITY is very good and with a 1" sensor, is much better than other cameras with smaller sensors. Images are crisp and sharp (at least at less than full-aperture.) This is what you are paying for in a camera like this.
..
STURDY, WELL-BUILT: The camera is well made, sturdy, and feels good in the hands. I use a grip strap (the kind that attaches to the side and underside) for extra security and balance. It has a hotshot, which should be standard for this kind of higher-end camera. More on the integrated pop-up flash later.
..
- BATTERY LIFE: if you keep it on econ mode, and have a short shut-off setting, the battery life is quite acceptable. This was nothing that I found bothersome. Certainly not as good as the old G12, but just fine.
..
- TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL: Very nice! You get used to this very quickly and find yourself trying to do it on your other cameras. Especially useful for quickly selecting the focus point in a shot. Great feature and makes focusing quick and easy.
..
- TILT SCREEN: This is not the 360˚ rotating flip out screen of the G12 and other models. However, I did not get into a situation where I wished I had or thought I needed the older style screen. Yes, it would be nice, but this is quite workable. Only a few times when holding the camera above my head, I could have used a little more "angle" than the 45˚ max provided. But it was quite workable. Also, using the flip out screen horizontally to mimic the old rage finder cameras brings the G1 X MKII to waist level, and I found myself shooting like a street photographer with a twin-lens Rolliflex. It gives your shots a different dimension, and certainly is less intimidating that wielding a big gun at eye-level. The 180˚ vertical flip is good for composing self-timer shots. A little awkward, but very workable.
..
- HI-RES VIDEO AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON: very quick and convenient to start shooting video with a dedicated video button.
..
Next, the NOT SO GOOD BUT LIVEABLE:
- POP-UP FLASH is convenient, but weak, and certainly does nothing to prevent red-eye. In fact, I found absolutely no difference in red-eye reduction with any of my family and friends who normally have red eyes from flashes in photographs. So, the off-to-the-side positioning to reduce red-eye is totally ineffective. Moreover, now you have an uneven lighting problem. This is noticeable in close ups where the right end of the frame (flash is left) is darker. In wider angle distance shots, depending on ambient light, it can be just as noticeable.
..
- DELAYED CONTROL RESPONSE: this has been reported before, and I'll just confirm it. This camera has got some confusing "push-here-turn-there" controls that are further confounding when they are not responsive and you then move on to push some other combination thinking you've got it wrong. It's overly complicated and buttons are easy to confuse. When you're shooting, you want to make adjustments fast. This camera does not lend itself to that.
..
- SHORT CUT BUTTON IS NO SHORT CUT: inexplicably, there are limited menu items to assign to the short-cut button, and some of those options you wonder why you'd ever want to assign it to a frequently-used short cut button…?!
..
- DITTO for the "MY MENU" options. A bewildering selection of weird options to choose for a custom (i.e., frequently used) menu.
..
- LENS DISTORTION AT THE EDGES AT WIDE ANGLE AND OPEN APERTURE is noticeable. You need to shoot at least f4 or better, 5.6 if shooting wide-angle. This is noticeable in group shots. The people at the end will appear fatter or wider.
..
- LIMITED LONG EXPOSURE SHUTTER SPEED - This camera that limits exposure to 1" except in Manual mode. One second isn't very long, especially for tripod shots.
..
Finally, the BAD:
NO VIEWFINDER: Sorry, but this is not a minor issue. The LCD screen is impossible to see in the sunlight or bright outdoors. No amount of LCD brightness can compensate. Composing pictures through this screen is a guess. This was very frustrating.
..
- NO GPS. The "workaround" that's advised requires the integration of your smartphone and a wifi-setting, then uploading the data into your camera pictures, that is after you've set up the wi-fi network and paired the devices….Can't say I would ever bother with this - or have time to bother with it!
..
This definitely is a travel camera/back up camera for those who know how to use a camera and are familiar with Canon's system. (Although lack of a GPS is a negative for travel photography to some degree.) The sensor is a big one (1") and has a very good IQ as a result. This is a good compromise between not wanting or being able to lug a big DSLR around and yet not having good photo opps wasted with a smart phone or tiny-sensor point-and-shoot camera. It has a hot shoe so you can use an off-camera flash, which is a big plus. This then is a good choice among several other choices out there. But this is not a beginner's camera either in price or in the ability to shoot around its shortcomings.
..
I've had this several months now, and shot about 1,000 frames over 5 states and 4 countries. My review is based on using it as a high-end "carry camera", i.e., for business/pleasure travel and local events, when you want decent IQ but can't take a big DSLR.
..
So, the Good, the Not So Good, and the Bad…
..
First, THE GOOD:
IMAGE QUALITY is very good and with a 1" sensor, is much better than other cameras with smaller sensors. Images are crisp and sharp (at least at less than full-aperture.) This is what you are paying for in a camera like this.
..
STURDY, WELL-BUILT: The camera is well made, sturdy, and feels good in the hands. I use a grip strap (the kind that attaches to the side and underside) for extra security and balance. It has a hotshot, which should be standard for this kind of higher-end camera. More on the integrated pop-up flash later.
..
- BATTERY LIFE: if you keep it on econ mode, and have a short shut-off setting, the battery life is quite acceptable. This was nothing that I found bothersome. Certainly not as good as the old G12, but just fine.
..
- TOUCH SCREEN CONTROL: Very nice! You get used to this very quickly and find yourself trying to do it on your other cameras. Especially useful for quickly selecting the focus point in a shot. Great feature and makes focusing quick and easy.
..
- TILT SCREEN: This is not the 360˚ rotating flip out screen of the G12 and other models. However, I did not get into a situation where I wished I had or thought I needed the older style screen. Yes, it would be nice, but this is quite workable. Only a few times when holding the camera above my head, I could have used a little more "angle" than the 45˚ max provided. But it was quite workable. Also, using the flip out screen horizontally to mimic the old rage finder cameras brings the G1 X MKII to waist level, and I found myself shooting like a street photographer with a twin-lens Rolliflex. It gives your shots a different dimension, and certainly is less intimidating that wielding a big gun at eye-level. The 180˚ vertical flip is good for composing self-timer shots. A little awkward, but very workable.
..
- HI-RES VIDEO AT THE TOUCH OF A BUTTON: very quick and convenient to start shooting video with a dedicated video button.
..
Next, the NOT SO GOOD BUT LIVEABLE:
- POP-UP FLASH is convenient, but weak, and certainly does nothing to prevent red-eye. In fact, I found absolutely no difference in red-eye reduction with any of my family and friends who normally have red eyes from flashes in photographs. So, the off-to-the-side positioning to reduce red-eye is totally ineffective. Moreover, now you have an uneven lighting problem. This is noticeable in close ups where the right end of the frame (flash is left) is darker. In wider angle distance shots, depending on ambient light, it can be just as noticeable.
..
- DELAYED CONTROL RESPONSE: this has been reported before, and I'll just confirm it. This camera has got some confusing "push-here-turn-there" controls that are further confounding when they are not responsive and you then move on to push some other combination thinking you've got it wrong. It's overly complicated and buttons are easy to confuse. When you're shooting, you want to make adjustments fast. This camera does not lend itself to that.
..
- SHORT CUT BUTTON IS NO SHORT CUT: inexplicably, there are limited menu items to assign to the short-cut button, and some of those options you wonder why you'd ever want to assign it to a frequently-used short cut button…?!
..
- DITTO for the "MY MENU" options. A bewildering selection of weird options to choose for a custom (i.e., frequently used) menu.
..
- LENS DISTORTION AT THE EDGES AT WIDE ANGLE AND OPEN APERTURE is noticeable. You need to shoot at least f4 or better, 5.6 if shooting wide-angle. This is noticeable in group shots. The people at the end will appear fatter or wider.
..
- LIMITED LONG EXPOSURE SHUTTER SPEED - This camera that limits exposure to 1" except in Manual mode. One second isn't very long, especially for tripod shots.
..
Finally, the BAD:
NO VIEWFINDER: Sorry, but this is not a minor issue. The LCD screen is impossible to see in the sunlight or bright outdoors. No amount of LCD brightness can compensate. Composing pictures through this screen is a guess. This was very frustrating.
..
- NO GPS. The "workaround" that's advised requires the integration of your smartphone and a wifi-setting, then uploading the data into your camera pictures, that is after you've set up the wi-fi network and paired the devices….Can't say I would ever bother with this - or have time to bother with it!
..
This definitely is a travel camera/back up camera for those who know how to use a camera and are familiar with Canon's system. (Although lack of a GPS is a negative for travel photography to some degree.) The sensor is a big one (1") and has a very good IQ as a result. This is a good compromise between not wanting or being able to lug a big DSLR around and yet not having good photo opps wasted with a smart phone or tiny-sensor point-and-shoot camera. It has a hot shoe so you can use an off-camera flash, which is a big plus. This then is a good choice among several other choices out there. But this is not a beginner's camera either in price or in the ability to shoot around its shortcomings.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
3
Should last more than 2 years
on July 10, 2019
Posted by: hrowan
from Maine
Was pleased with the quality of photos I was able to capture with this camera, nice to find a large sensor in a point-and-shoot, but incredibly disappointed that in less than 2 years the the shutter won't close rending the camera entirely un-usable. Spending hundreds to get it fixed doesn't seem to make sense, half again the cost of the camera. Had done TONS of research before purchasing this and spent not a small amount to get what I thought was a good camera that would last at *least* a few years. Expected better from Canon.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
OUtstanding camera
on March 14, 2015
Posted by: Tanguy
from Detroit Michigan
Excellent camera for such a small package. Perfect companion for traveling
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
3
i returned it
on August 1, 2017
Posted by: janno25
from New York, NY, United States
I bought it, but the zoom is not great. Going to end up buying cheaper camera with more zoom.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com