CAD
Canon G1X II is out, Sony RX100 / II killer ?
Canon just announced their successor model for the large sensor compact, the G1X Mark II.
The Canon G1X was not such a popular camera for underwater mainly due to lens restrictions. The G1X was not so good on the wide side (standard 28mm equivalent lens) and was not so good on the macro side with a far minimum focusing distance that was hard to work with (20cm above water).
The G1X mark II comes with a brand new lens , very similar to that of the Canon S120 and now offers a wide 24mm focal range and a focusing distance of 5cm which is definitely something you could work with but still not as good as their G series lens which boasts a 1cm focusing distance.
Considering the above specs and adding to the fact that this camera has a 1.5″ sensor which is basically the largest sensor among point and shoots, we expect a very bright future to this camera.
It is very clear that this camera will be a direct competition to the Sony RX100 II so let me outline a short comparison:
| Sony Cyber-shot RX100 II | Canon Powershot G1X II | |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) CMOS | 1.5″ 18.7×14.0mm |
| Effective Pixels | 20 megapixels | 13.1 MP |
| Screen Resolution (Dots) | 1,229K | 1,040k dots |
| Screen Size | 3″ | 3″ |
| Weight | 281 g (0.62 lb / 9.91 oz) | 558 g |
| ISO | 160-25600 | 80-12800 |
| Focal Length / Aperture | 28-100 mm F1.8-F4.9 | 24-120 mm F2.0-F3.9 |
| Optical Zoom | 3.6x | 5x |
| Internal Flash | TTL in All Modes, No Manual Flash Level | TTL in Auto/P/S/A Modes, Manual in M |
| Max Shutter Speed | 1/2000 sec | 1/4000 sec |
| Macro Focus Range | 5 cm (1.97″) | 5 cm (1.97″) |
| Video Resolution | 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) | 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
| Dimensions | 102 x 58 x 38 mm (4 x 2.29 x 1.51″) | 116x74x66 mm |
We are confident this camera will be brilliant for underwater photography and as such Ikelite, Nauticam, Recsea and maybe even Aquatica and Sea and Sea will surely release an underwater housing for it.
One thing’s for sure , any housing that’s announced will be quickly shown here and shipped shortly after.
- Flex Arms vs. Ball and Joint Arms – January 23, 2024
- Which underwater light should I get for my Olympus Tough TG-7 or TG-6? – January 9, 2024
- OM System EM10 IV vs Canon R100 vs Canon R10 – November 24, 2023
9 comments
Nice camera, great specs, but still no TTL in the manual mode. Canon would be on top if TTL in manual mode offered. The Sony still has TTL in manual.
That’s true Jimmy and the Sony has no manual flash mode so nothing is quite perfect. We wish that one day Canon/Nikon/Sony will think about the underwater market and release a model with all the features we like. Olympus is actually doing that quite well.
Hi,
Thanks for sharing the review 🙂
i am planning to buy a canon for underwater snaps (diving down to 18m) but still hesitating between the G16 and the G1X Mark II. I am mostly concerned about the colors ( which one brings better the red part of the spectrum and easier to set up for underwater pictures )
I am planning to buy the canon housing that goes with (WP-DC 52/DC53), do you think that kind of housing support adding filters?
overall which one would you recommend for me?
thanks 🙂
cheers
Hi!
Glad you found it helpful. 🙂
It is not an easy choosing between those two great cameras.
Each has its pros and cons. In general the G16 actually has better advanced features such as longer exposure, high speed movies, wider aperture, better macro capabilities and more.
The G1X II however features a bigger sensor which means better quality and low light capability, and also has a better wide angle.
The price difference is quite major between them which directs many customers to the G16. I would strongly recommend the Fantasea housing on the G16 which is very good value for money. If you get the G16 – go for the Fantasea housing. If you get the G1X II get the Ikelite housing which is considered better than the Canon housings in accessory support and many other features.
Cheers!
I want to buy ikelite housing for g1x mark ii. Could i take pictures (in manual mode), with the TTL Ikelite strobe? Does the ikelite housing for the g1x ii, works with double tray? What are the necessary accecories for wide angle and macro lens? How easy is to change lens underwater? Can i easily change aperture and speed (in manual mode) with one thumb, like i used to do with the G9 Ikelite housing?
Hi Dimitris,
I will get back to you by email with answers to your questions.
Tal
Hi,
I am thinking to get a compact camera for diving.
At the moment, which camera is the best?
I was thinking rx100v, is it better than cannon?
Help help help.
Thanks a lot
At the moment which compact camera is the best? Need help
Hi Shao,
At the moment the Sony RX100 V and Canon G7X Mark II are the market leaders. In my opinion, the Sony is better.
Read my full review on it here: http://www.housingcamera.com/blog/product-reviews/underwater-review-sony-rx100-v-fantasea-housing
I’ll be happy to answer any further questions! Shoot me an email at ran@housingcamera.com.