Noise comparison: G1 X vs G12

The guys at cameralabs.com made a ISO noise comparison using a studio shot. Results are interesting while not really surprising: it is known that Canon’s new toy performs rather well at high ISO settings (yes, I know: you all are aware the G1 X sports a sensor near the size of an APS-C). But we are all curios to see high ISO shots of the G1 X, aren’t we? ;-)
The basic settings for the test is described as follows:

To compare noise levels under real-life conditions I shot this scene with the Canon PowerShot G1 X and its ‘predecessor’, the PowerShot G12 within a few moments of each other using their best quality JPEG settings at each of their ISO sensitivity settings.

Both cameras were set to f4 in Aperture Priority and the lenses adjusted to deliver the same field of view. The ISO sensitivity was set manually, apart from in the final row of crops where the G1 X was set to Handheld Night Scene and the G12 to Low Light mode. Note in the crops below, the G1 X was using its default Standard Noise Reduction setting.

Check the review clicking here

For pre-ordering in the USA check the following links: Amazon US (click here) free shipping, Adorama (click here) free shipping, B&H (click here) free shipping, J&R (click here). Readers from outside the US can start to check the following links to see if pre-ordering is possible: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA. The G1 X is now too. Check these offers with the necessary awareness.

More G1 X Sample Pics and Review

You may wonder why I am posting so much sample pics posted in forums. I will tell you. While sample pics shot by professionals (studio samples etc) are a valuable resource to judge a camera’s performance, I am very often curious to see what normal people (i.e. people like you and me) can do with a camera. It often gives me some good hints about what you can obtain from camera in everyday’s use, how well the build-in software performs, and so on.

That’s why I have three more forum posts with G1 X sample pics (at different ISO settings): click here and click here and click here to see them.

There are also a new review for you to check. It is in German (click here), and they have also a fairly large amount of pics, both of the cam itself and sample pics (click here).

Enjoy watching and reading!

For pre-ordering in the USA check the following links: Amazon US (click here) free shipping, Adorama (click here) free shipping, B&H (click here) free shipping, J&R (click here). Readers from outside the US can start to check the following links to see if pre-ordering is possible: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA. The G1 X is now too. Check these offers with the necessary awareness.

More G1 X samples and reviews

So, while we are waiting to know what’s going on with the 5DMk2 successor, the G1 X started to hit the shelfs in Asia and US (according to forum posts). Moreover, Canon Asia has the manuals ready for download (click here). Cool!

Having people buying the G1 X means having people that posts pics in forums (click here, and here for ISO 1600 pics). If you prefer a more professional approach, DPreview posted some studio test samples at different ISO settings (click here).

And there are obviously appearing more and more reviews. Let’s start with Cnet’s review (there is also a video) final verdict:

The good: The Canon PowerShot G1 X delivers excellent photo quality and a nice shooting design.
The bad: Two flaws stand out: the camera’s underperforming lens and sluggish shooting speed.
The bottom line: A big camera capable of shooting some lovely photographs, the Canon PowerShot G1 X’s slow lens disappoints given its high price.

Next, Engadget’s review. They write…:

If you demand that an $800 camera contributes to your photography with “extras” like high ISO, interchangeable lenses or exceptional macro prowess, then the G1 X has rivals that are perhaps more worthy of your consideration. However, having used the G1 X heavily for a few days, we can look past its weaknesses — even its underwhleming battery life and uninformative OVF — and admit we’ve become quite attached to it. Our affection has everything to do with the large sensor, fast lens and the overall physicality of the camera — its design, feel, and the accessibility of its controls. If you want a tool for capturing high-impact images, and not necessarily for adding impact to your images, then the G1 X ought to suit you fine.

Another review I want to list can be found at photographyblog.com. They conclude that:

[…] if you want an all-in-one fixed-lens camera that offers a tried and trusted user interface, excellent image quality, full HD video and a versatile screen, the Canon Powershot G1 X is easy to recommend.

Another interesting video is DigitalRev’s hands-on review of the G1 X:

For pre-ordering in the USA check the following links: Amazon US (click here) free shipping, Adorama (click here) free shipping, B&H (click here) free shipping, J&R (click here). Readers from outside the US can start to check the following links to see if pre-ordering is possible: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA. The G1 X is now too. Check these offers with the necessary awareness.

 

Canon 5D Mk II vs Sony NEX 5N – Guess the cam looking at the pics

This is a very interesting post by our friend Chris Gampat from thephoblographer.com.

He went to a concert with both cams and shot some pics (click here to read the post). Have a look at the images and guess which cam was used to shot the pics. Chris writes:

Recently at a concert in Brooklyn, I took the Sony NEX 5n and 50mm f1.8 along for a ride. Since I needed my 5D Mk II and 85mm f1.8 that day as well, they just happened to be on me at the time. During the concert, I got curious about their performance against one another and shot the following two photos. Can you discern which is which?

Both images were shot from approximately the same area and I tried to capture essentially the same scene. They were exposed with the same settings and focused on the same spot (ISO 800, 1/100th at f2.) Amazingly, the NEX 5n’s LCD showed me a much better image than the 5D Mk II’s LCD showed me. When brought into Lightroom 4 though, the truth came out: the images looked remarkably similar.

Well I did! Not easy as you may think.
:-)

Images have not been edited or post-processed, except for having been reduced in size.

Canon 5D Mk II: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA 85mm f/1.8 USM: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA

 

Canon G1 X still life lab images at different ISO settings

Imaging Resource has published a preview of the Canon G1 X (click here), and some very interesting test shots done in a lab setting (click here). RAW and JPG files are available. For each ISO setting three shots are available, each with a different noise reduction level. IMHO the images with high ISO settings are anything but bad. Check it for yourself: these are the direct links to the images with noise reduction level 2:

ISO 100 JPG (click here) – ISO 100 RAW (click here)
ISO 200 JPG (click here) – ISO 200 RAW (click here)
ISO 400 JPG (click here) – ISO 400 RAW (click here)
ISO 800 JPG (click here) – ISO 800 RAW (click here)
ISO 1600 JPG (click here) – ISO 1600 RAW (click here) 
ISO 3200 JPG (click here) – ISO 3200 RAW (click here)
ISO 6400 JPG (click here) – ISO 6400 RAW (click here)
ISO 12800 JPG (click here) – ISO 12800 RAW (click here)

For pre-ordering in the USA check the following links: Amazon US (click here) free shipping, Adorama (click here) free shipping, B&H (click here) free shipping, J&R (click here).
Readers from outside the US can start to check the following links to see if pre-ordering is possible: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA