Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II
Announced February 12, 2014
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Good
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II serves as a significant upgrade over its predecessor, offering impressive image quality and a versatile f/2 lens within a robust body. That said, it remains a bulky, expensive option that lacks a built-in viewfinder and struggles with limited video functionality and sluggish RAW performance.
Weighted from 24 reviewer scores
Pros
- High-quality lens with a bright f/2 aperture and flexible zoom range
- Strong image quality and solid low-light performance
- Responsive tilting touchscreen and customizable controls
- Improved autofocus speed and macro capability
- Sturdy build quality with dual grip options
Cons
- Expensive pricing compounded by the lack of a built-in viewfinder
- Bulky and heavy design that is not pocket-friendly
- Limited and poor-quality video recording features
- Short battery life and inability to swap batteries on a tripod
- Slow burst performance when shooting RAW files
- Launch price $799.99 (USD)
- Sensor 12.8MP 1-inch CMOS
- Video 1080p 30p
What the Reviewers Say
All 24 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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- DPReview 77/100
The PowerShot G1 X Mark II is an enthusiast compact whose fast lens and large sensor allow it to produce impressive photos in both bright and low light. [...] That said, there are numerous improvements that could be made, especially in terms of dynamic range and responsiveness.
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While it's not leaps and bounds better than its predecessor and is still relatively large and heavy, it shows improvements in some important areas [...]
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[I]t’s too big to be truly compact and just not classy enough to compete with similarly-sized models.
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At the beginning of this review I questioned whether the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II is a better camera than the G1 X, and I’m glad to report it is.
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It's not a perfect camera by any stretch and although it's vastly improved over the original G1X, that's not saying much because I really didn't like the original G1X.
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The Canon Powershot G1 X Mark II is a noticeable upgrade to the original G1 X, with a brighter lens with an improved zoom range, from 24mm to 120mm.
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[T]he Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II is a smaller, lighter and more full-featured update of the original G1 X camera [...] with the faster, longer lens, improved AF system, wi-fi/NFC connectivity and dual lens control rings in particular making the upgrade worthwhile.
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The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II fixes just about every fault of the original G1 X, but it's got some stiff competition for your dollar.
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By keeping the same sensor but basically rebuilding the rest of the camera's key components around it, Canon has produced something which could potentially worry the likes of Sony and Fuji – it will be interesting to see how sales figures shape up.
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[Y]ou have to say that it continues to miss the mark of what PowerShot G-series purchasers would require from a flagship model.
- Digital Trends 8/10
Just as we gave props for ISO handling, Canon gets an overall cheer for the newly designed PowerShot G1 X Mark II.
- CNET 7.4/10
At this price, it’s hard to make the call, but overall you’re probably better off comparison shopping a little.
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[F]or the money there are cameras are better looking, have decent video quality, more desirable, but if all you want is a machine that is good at taking still images then this is certainly worth considering.
- Photo Review 8.5/10
Like previous model, the Mark II will suit photographers who want a walk-around camera when they don’t want to lug a lot of equipment about.
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It's still a camera largely for the imaging elite, but it's an undeniably impressive bit of kit. [...] But you'll need deep pockets if you want to fork out for the electronic viewfinder accessory as the G1 X II is expensive.
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The pitch for this camera of DSLR-like performance yet compact portability, is that same one that most rivals make for their similarly priced compact system cameras upon which the lens in use can be swapped.
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The Canon G1 X Mark II’s high price means it’s certainly not for everyone. Still, with such outstanding image quality, nippy performance, dependable controls and a handsome – if rather heavy – pocketable design, it has to be five stars.
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Just like its predecessor, the Canon G1 X Mk II is one of the most powerful compact cameras on the planet.
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The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II is Canon's answer to the features, performance, and image quality that will keep the point and shoot category alive and well in the age of smartphones.
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Altogether this is a high quality camera. Image quality is very high and the camera is packed with features and I am sure it will sell very good.
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With the introduction of the PowerShot G1X Mark II back in February of this year, Canon is looking to get back on track and reaffirm its place at the top of the heap in the enthusiast compact camera segment.
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On the whole, the image quality is impressive, some of the flaws notwithstanding.
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Now this is definitely a big step forward from the original G1 X, which actually received mixed reviews. I would say I would give much better ratings to the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II.
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Yes, the picture quality is good, but honestly I wish that the sensor would have 14, 16 or 18 megapixel because then I would have more detailed picture.
