Canon has just announced their latest in the Powershot line – the Canon G1x Mark III, available this November. In a major upgrade for the point-and-shoot mainstay, the Gix MKIII comes with the same sensor as the Canon 80D – a 24.2-megapixel APS-C sensor with dual pixel autofocus. They somehow managed to get that into the new frame, which is 150 grams lighter than the G1X Mark II, but with some nice new features, like an electronic viewfinder with a 2.36-million dot OLED screen, and a 3-inch LCD touchscreen that flips out and around 270 degrees.
The G1X Mark III can shoot 7 frames per second with continuous AF or 9 fps without, which isn’t anything special, but more than enough for a point-and-shoot camera. It has the obligatory Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC, as well. ISO goes anywhere from 100-25,600 – more than enough for everyday low light shooting. For some reason, Canon decided to go with a 24-72mm, f2.8-5.6 zoom lens, when the The G1X Mark II had faster, more flexible 24-120mm, f2.0-3.9; perhaps they are hoping the new processor and sensor will make up for it, but who knows.
Sadly, there is no 4k video recording on the MK III. You can still shoot in 1080p up to 60 FPS, but getting 4k at this price point just isn’t going to happen. Better pony up for one of their flagship DSLR’s – or someone else’s mirrorless camera – if that’s the case.
What does it all add up to? A very capable point-and-shoot that kind of blurs the line between that and a DSLR. You’ll never have the same capability and features of a DSLR, but for those of us who just want to get out and shoot without knowing too much about our cameras, this is a good way to get started.
Canon G1X Mark III Features
- 24.2MP APS-C CMOS Sensor
- DIGIC 7 Image Processor
- 24-72mm zoom lens
- Shoots up to 9 fps Continuous Shooting
- Electronic Viewfinder
- 3.0″ Touchscreen LCD
- Full HD 1080p video
- 30/60 FPS
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF
- Image stabilization
- ISO 25600
- Built-In Wi-Fi with NFC, Bluetooth
- Dust- and Water-Resistant Construction