Canon has given its enthusiast PowerShot line a boost with the introduction of the PowerShot G1 X Mark III.
The direct replacement to the three-year-old PowerShot G1 X Mark II, the new model updates its predecessor’s 1.5in 12.8MP sensor with a 24.2MP APS-C alternative, one that’s said to be similar to the one inside the EOS 80D. And, as with that camera, phase-detect AF pixels have been included on the sensor to provide Canon's Dual Pixel CMOS AF technology.
This is the first time we’ve seen Dual Pixel CMOS AF inside a Canon compact camera, and the company claims that it allows the model to bring subjects to focus in as little as 0.09sec.
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Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III Specs
- 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor
- DIGIC 7 processing engine
- 14bit Raw shooting with in-camera Raw processing
- 24-72mm f/2.8-5.6 lens (35mm equiv)
- 3-stop ND filter
- Lens Control ring
- ISO 100-25,600
- Full HD video up to 60p
- Time-lapse recording
- Dual Pixel CMOS AF system
- Touch and Drag AF
- 9fps (7fps with C-AF)
- 2.36million-dot EVF with Organic EL panel
- 3in Vari-angle touchscreen LCD with 1.04million dots
- Wi-Fi, Dynamic NFC and Bluetooth
- Weather-sealed body
- Approx. 200-shot battery life (up to 250 in Eco mode)
- USB charging
- SD/SDHC/SDXC (inc. UHS 1 memory card slot)
- 115 x 77.9 x 51.4mm
- Approx. 398g (including battery and memory card)
The camera also inherits the same DIGIC 7 processing engine that has previously been included in the EOS 200D, EOS 6D Mark II and EOS M100 among others, and this allows for 14bit Raw capture in addition to JPEG.
In addition to the sensor, the new camera also updates its predecessor’s 24-120mm f/2.0-3.9 (35mm. equiv) lens. In its place there's a 15-45mm f/2.8-5.6 lens, which offers a focal range equivalent to 24-72mm in 35mm terms.
Said to have been designed specifically for the sensor inside the PowerShot G1 X Mark III, the optic features nine elements arranged over eight groups, with three double-sided aspherical lenses and a single-sided aspherical lens among these.
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Canon has also furnished the lens with a nine-bladed aperture for circular bokeh and a three-stop ND filter, while the minimum focusing distance of 10cm allows for close-up shooting shooting.
There’s also a four-stop image stabilisation system on board, while 5-axis Advanced Dynamic IS may be called upon for video recording. Videos themselves are recorded to Full HD resolution at up to 60p, rather than the 4K standard that is now available on many cameras around this price point.
Canon has crafted the new camera to be 14.8mm thinner and approximately 16 percent smaller than the previous PowerShot G1 X Mark II, and has guarded the body from the elements with weather sealing, in addition to general dust and moisture protection.
The company also points out that the camera is the only APS-C model it offers that can be used with an optional waterproof casing, for the benefit of those that need to take it underwater.
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Breaking away somewhat from the design of the Mark II, the body incorporates a 2.36million-dot EVF to give it a profile more akin to that of the PowerShot G5 X. A hot shoe has also been included in the top plate, which allows for flashguns to be used.
There’s also a 1.04million-dot touchscreen that boasts the same Vari-angle design as many previous EOS models. This allows it to be pulled out from the body to a range of positions, even all the way around the face forwards.
Wi-Fi, NFC and Bluetooth are all on board, and it’s even possible to wake the camera from its standby mode using a smartphone connected via Bluetooth. Other options include a panoramic mode, time-lapse capture, and the ability to charge the camera’s battery through its USB port.
Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III price and release date
The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III will be available from November 2017 with an SRP of £1149/US$1299/€1399. Canon Australia has said that prices in the country are to be set by retailers themselves, but one currently has the camera on pre-order for AU$1,799.95.
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