Canon PowerShot G1 X: Large-Format Sensor, Fixed Lens

Canon apparently still has no plans to launch into the interchangeable lens compact market. However, with the mirrorless compact sector growing fast, the firm couldn't really turn its back on the profitable market in-between compacts and SLR cameras. Canon has therefore come up with a solution—the PowerShot G1 X—a compact with a large-format sensor but with a zoom lens that's firmly fixed in place.

Is this a new variation on the hybrid compact, a souped-up G12, or a mini-EOS without the interchangeable lenses? The Canon G1 X doesn't really fall into any existing product category. In fact, as a compact with a large-format sensor but a fixed lens, it's the first of a kind—it's not quite an interchangeable lens compact and it's not quite an expert compact (it's much bulkier). Similarly, it's a little different from the Fuji X100, as the zoom lens aperture is nothing out of the ordinary.

The first original thing about this camera is its sensor—a 1.5-inch 14-Megapixel sensor with a surface area of 14 x 18.7 mm. That gives the sensor a native four-thirds format, bringing it closer to compact cameras, but the pixel density of 6 Mpx/cm² is nearer that of the latest APS sensors (5.5 Mpx/cm² in Canon's EOS 18 Mpx and 6.5 Mpx/cm² in Sony's Alpha 77). Logically, then, there's a Full HD video mode at 24 fps with stereo sound and a separate video record button. The GX 1 has a RAW mode too (14 bits) and a burst mode of up to 4.5 fps for six photos or 2 fps in continuous mode.

The second unusual thing about the GX 1 is that while compacts with large-format sensors tend to favour fast, fixed-focal-length lenses, this camera has a 4x zoom (28-112 mm). As a result, lens aperture is nothing special, at f/2.8 for the shortest focal length and f/5.8 for telephoto. Like in regular compact cameras, the zoom lens is electronic and retracts into the camera body when you switch the G1 X off. It's therefore reminiscent of the Panasonic 14-42 mm X lens for micro four-thirds cameras.

The rest of the camera is rather less original, however. In terms of build, it looks a bit like the G12, but it's boxier and a fair bit bulkier. Unfortunately, the viewfinder looks to be the same as in the G12 too—which is no match for the viewfinders in the Fuji X10, the Fuji X100 and the Sony NEX-7 (rumour has it that we'll soon be seeing another model with an interesting viewfinder—watch this space). The swivel screen is a little bigger than the G12 display, at 3" and 920,000 dots.

Lined up as a serious alternative to the Fuji X100 (with an added zoom) or the Panasonic GX1 + 14-42 mm X (but with a viewfinder and a slightly bigger sensor), the G1 X should launch for around $800 (UK pricing TBC), which is as much as an EOS 600D with kit lens.