G1 X

i have a feeling i'm going to end up selling my 40d to fund this. i think i rather have a dslr and a portable "p&s" than a backup dslr that gets used maybe a handful times a year.

RetroBlader wrote in post #13708282
I assume you beta-tested the G1X.

Since the G1X is no longer under wrap, are you able to share the images you took with it, or do you have to wait until the G1X starts shipping?

Anyway, Chuck Westfall said the G1X's AF (still contrast detection) is slightly faster than that of the S95. Can you comment on:
- its speed (compared to the 5D2 in LiveView but also any m4/3 if you have experience with them)
- capability (e.g. how often is the AF illumination needed, does it get fooled easily, etc)

Thanks in advance!

I never signed any agreement not to, but I don't think it's in my best interest to post any such images on the net. I fully expected the battery compartment to be glued together but it wasn't. Maybe that was just a slip. I don't get to play with these things because I'm a great photographer (which, ironically, I am - ahem) but because I work at the biggest photography store in Scandinavia. Anyway, still hoping to try out the 1Dx next time it crosses the border (didn't even get to see it last (first) time it did) so I'm sure you understand? Anyway, net should be full of them by now.

I always shoot high ISO in really dark situations when I get the chance to test a camera. It's something that has always irritated me to no end with even bigger test sites shoot these kind of tests in nice and bright light. x100 is awesome at this, and so is the gx1, expect similar results.

I do own the 5D mkII but use LW very sparsely. I don't have any real experience with m4/3 but from the times I've played around with any of them I think the AF have come across as good and responsive (?). I can't really give a good answer on how often AF illumination is needed or gets easily fooled, that's not something I've really thoroughly tested and it would just be speculative if I tried to construct an opinion on this now (I don't have access to this little brick anymore). But in short AF on G1x is the best contrast-AF I've ever used overall. Sure beats the x100, heheh!

/D

B&H has my preorder. My G9 will have a big brother. I see this as, possibly, the best cycling-kayaking-hiking camera for when weight is everything.

BobsYourUncle wrote in post #13716343
While those high ISO shots are impressive, lets see how they look under a real test in low light.

Did you actually look at the dpreview samples? Plenty of high ISO/slow shutter speed shots there, that look pretty good to me. I'd say the camera will be an absolute ripper.

Wow, this camera has really gotten my attention. This is just absolutely perfect for a holiday camera to take along with you. Add to that camera the underwater housing and a good arm and strobe, and it is a perfect underwater solution for those tropical destinations, or for trips that are bound to get stuff "wet". I already have the G9, G11 and the S100 ... but looking at the sensor sizes, this will camera would really be hard to overlook. The G9 and G11 were really amazing cameras, but at high ISO or when you try to print larger sizes, you can see where things can improve. Recently I was testing the S100 and was quite pleased with how far low ISO performance has improved. But the G1X seems to be a dramatic upgrade to the G series, although the S100 will always be required where size really matters.

i would have loved Manual Zoom like the X10 but this camera is absolutely a winner!

speedync wrote in post #13724370
Did you actually look at the dpreview samples? Plenty of high ISO/slow shutter speed shots there, that look pretty good to me. I'd say the camera will be an absolute ripper.

Yes, I did look at all the samples.

But the fact remains that the real test is in low light situations. There is a difference in results. Agreed, the shots look pretty good but they were taken in daylight.

It's not just about shutter speed and ISO

I think it should perfom much like the T3i. It has the same sensor practically speaking however slightly smaller

I wish I had this camera now, leaving for Hawaii Friday and I could give it a good workout

BobsYourUncle wrote in post #13727580
Yes, I did look at all the samples.

But the fact remains that the real test is in low light situations. There is a difference in results. Agreed, the shots look pretty good but they were taken in daylight.

It's not just about shutter speed and ISO

Okay, I'll bite. What are these other low light situations that require something different than high ISO, slow shutter speed, or combinations of the 2? Looking at the dpreview samples, none of the low light shots were taken at rediculous apertures of F22 or higher.

speedync wrote in post #13729092
Okay, I'll bite. What are these other low light situations that require something different than high ISO, slow shutter speed, or combinations of the 2? Looking at the dpreview samples, none of the low light shots were taken at rediculous apertures of F22 or higher.

These shots were all taken in daylight. A better representation of the results would be to shoot at dusk when most of the natural daylight is gone, or even indoors under artificial light. It is not needed to shoot high ISO in broad daylight. Better results can be achieved at much lower ISO.

speedync wrote in post #13729092
What are these other low light situations that require something different than high ISO, slow shutter speed, or combinations of the 2? Looking at the dpreview samples, none of the low light shots were taken at rediculous apertures of F22 or higher.

BobsYourUncle wrote in post #13729137
These shots were all taken in daylight. A better representation of the results would be to shoot at dusk when most of the natural daylight is gone, or even indoors under artificial light.

I think what BobsYourUncle is saying is that if you were taking a photo for your own use (i.e. not testing a camera), under the same light you would have used a lower ISO.

I think the "darkest" sample in the Lenstip collection was the one of the rooster-shaped ornament (middle photo in the bottom row): http://pliki.optyczne.​pl/G1_X_przykl/IMG_070​2.JPG

It was taken at ISO12800, using 1/80 at F4.5. It was taken at 29mm, which has the angle-of-view of about 54mm. Even assuming only two stops of stabilization (the G1x is supposedly capable of 4 stops), one can shoot at 1/15 and still get sharp photos.

So, in "real life use", I would have taken the shot at F4.5 (which is already the maximum aperture at this focal length according to DPreview), but at 1/15 and ISO2500 (or 1/20 and ISO3200).


Anyway, instead of using a subjective descriptor like "dark" or "dusk" which means different things to different people, it will be more objective if we convert the ambient light level to Exposure Value (EV).

The conditions BobsYourUncle referred to ("dusk when most of the natural daylight is gone" and "indoors under artificial light") are both in the EV 5-7 range.

If my calculation is correct, the rooster shot was taken at EV 9, which is much brighter (4x to 16x brigher, to be exact).

BobsYourUncle wrote in post #13729137
These shots were all taken in daylight. A better representation of the results would be to shoot at dusk when most of the natural daylight is gone, or even indoors under artificial light. It is not needed to shoot high ISO in broad daylight. Better results can be achieved at much lower ISO.

I agree. It is akin to testing a flashlight on a broad daylight, sure it works great, but was it even needed? Also, as far as I know, there are OOC jpegs so they mean nothing to me. I'd like to see the actual raw file. Although I have do doubt it will be awesome.

Glad they finally brought us a real sensor... Very cool.

I think the ISO images will be similar to what you can expect to see on a 600D. If so, then that would be a really major achievement. This would be the first time that a P&S can compete with a DSLR when it comes to low light performance. The idea of using a much larger sensor on a P&S has always been something I wished for and it is great to see it being offered now. This is something the G series should have done a long time ago, as it is much larger than an S100 form factor, yet it never really had anything compelling to show over the S series that would make the additional bulk worthwhile. This seems to have changed now.