 |
| The G1X3 is a good street camera |
This
assessment follows my standard schedule which you can
read about here.
Overall
impression The G1X has
most of the elements required for good ergonomic capability but several of
these are not implemented as well as they could be.
Setup
Phase of use
The main menu system has a reasonably coherent structure. However there
are several like items scattered about the submenus and some unlike items
located together. Video items are not separated from stills items.
Canon needs to revamp the whole menu system for
greater coherence putting like items together in subheadings readily understood
by the user.
There is a My Menu which is well implemented and which
can readily be populated by items selected by the user.
Menu resume operates by default which is handy for
returning to oft used items.
The graphical user interface is clear and easily read.
Navigation is easy.
Setup
score 11/15
Prepare
Phase of use
The camera is fairly easy to configure for changing
conditions.
The Q/Set button gives quick access to often needed
items.
Others are quickly available via the dials the
function of which is configurable by the user and the up and left buttons.
There are a few quirks. There is no dedicated back
button for focus. The functions of the * button and shutter button are linked
in ways which are not always clear from the instructions.
Prepare
Phase score 12/15
Capture
Phase, Holding
With more ergonomic design the G1X3 could have been
much better here. The mini handle provides a limited hold on the device.
Shutter button height is low in relation to overall height, restricting finger
purchase on the small handle.
The front control dial is oddly placed requiring a little move away by the right
middle finger so the right index finger can turn it.
This arrangement is completely unlike any of Canon’s
EOS DSLR and some EOS M models which have a much more workable front dial
position behind the shutter button which is on a proper anatomical handle.
The thumb support is adequate.
Holding
score 10/20
Capture
Phase, Viewing
This is implemented better than any other compact.
There is a good quality, easy to see EVF well
positioned above the lens axis with a nice eyepiece and rubber eyecup set well
back from the monitor for easy viewing. Unfortunately EVF color/contrast are not adjustable. Anything
vaguely red appears a lurid orange in the EVF.
EVF display brightness and configuration are
adjustable to user preference. EVF blackout after each shot is brief (my
guesstimate about 0.2 sec)
The monitor is fully articulated and is of good
quality with a well implemented touch screen capability.
Unfortunately the monitor cannot be configured to look
like the EVF. You are stuck with camera data superimposed over the lower part
of the preview image, making this data sometimes difficult to read.
Viewing
score 15/20
Capture
Phase, Operating
Primary and secondary exposure and focus parameters
can be adjusted while viewing through the EVF with a low level of disruption to grip security.
Some disruption to the right hand grip is required to operate the front control
dial.
The rear dial does not move as easily or securely as the
similar module on some other cameras I have used such as the Panasonic LX100
and Sony RX100(4)..
The camera is decently easy to control in any of the
shooting modes.
The touch screen function is well implemented
especially for moving the AF frame when viewing through the EVF.
I found the * button very difficult to locate by feel
so I dropped a little dab of epoxy resin on it with a toothpick. Now I can find
it easily by feel.
I find the lens cap really irritating. As supplied the
finger lugs are inadequate, making the cap difficult to grip. I raised their
profile with some polyester resin which fixed that problem. But the cap is
still sometimes difficult to remove as the grooves appear to get stuck,
requiring a bit of a wrestle to get the cap off.
Operating
score 15/25
Review
Phase
All the basic functions listed in the review schedule
are enabled. The user can scroll from one review image to the next at the same
level of zoom and at the same location on the frame.
Many functions can be performed in review phase.
Review
score 5/5
Total
score 68/100
Comment
This is the best ergonomic score to date for a compact
camera. However I have to say the competition thus far has been decidedly
unimpressive.
Canon could easily improve this score considerably
with a redesign within the envelope of the dimensions of the G1X3.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDelete