This page works best with JavaScript. Disabling it will result in some disabled or missing features. You can still see all customer reviews for the product.
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
on November 10, 2015
First off this is a strange looking camera. My guess is that you'll either love it or hate it. Personally, I think it's so ugly that it's cute.
I've been looking for a coat pocketable camera that will give me good quality files. I've tried to like the Sony RX100 cameras. They are certainly small and make good photos, yet I hate the lack of external controls. Canon has put enough controls on the outside of the camera that I don't have to drop into the menu system to change settings. As a Fuji user I'm used to old style controls and the G5 X comes close enough to duplicating that. I don't feel too limited. The controls are small but well thought out and not horribly cramped. Honestly, I doubt that anybody could do better with this size body.
I've shot the battery down five times now in a variety of situations. BTW, that's one negative. The battery is only good for about 200 shots, maybe a bit more. I bought one extra and will get a couple more third party ones from Wasabi, which I've had good luck with.
Printed at 11x17 inches the photos look good, much better than expected. I printed the same image taken with my Fuji, a Nikon D600 and the G5 X. Up too 800 ISO, and that size, there's not a huge difference in the prints. The Canon doesn't quite offer the subtle gradations or detail, but for most situations it's more than good enough. I think thats excellent for such a small camera. I won't replace my Fuji with it, but can have the Canon with me all the time. It's perfect for travel or street photography.
Autofocus is not speedy, but not bad. The viewfinder is a bit small, but no smaller than the Canon Rebel. It's certainly usable. The image it offers is crisp, has good color and is not too contrasty. The screen on the back is good and has touch focus, which I find I use a lot. I didn't realize that the lens lacked filter threads, that's a downside, but if I'm going to bother with filters, I'll likely use my bigger cameras. I haven't tried so see how many frames per second it shoots, because I don't shoot that way. This isn't a sports camera anyway.
All cameras are compromises. Canon made some good choices with this one.
I've been looking for a coat pocketable camera that will give me good quality files. I've tried to like the Sony RX100 cameras. They are certainly small and make good photos, yet I hate the lack of external controls. Canon has put enough controls on the outside of the camera that I don't have to drop into the menu system to change settings. As a Fuji user I'm used to old style controls and the G5 X comes close enough to duplicating that. I don't feel too limited. The controls are small but well thought out and not horribly cramped. Honestly, I doubt that anybody could do better with this size body.
I've shot the battery down five times now in a variety of situations. BTW, that's one negative. The battery is only good for about 200 shots, maybe a bit more. I bought one extra and will get a couple more third party ones from Wasabi, which I've had good luck with.
Printed at 11x17 inches the photos look good, much better than expected. I printed the same image taken with my Fuji, a Nikon D600 and the G5 X. Up too 800 ISO, and that size, there's not a huge difference in the prints. The Canon doesn't quite offer the subtle gradations or detail, but for most situations it's more than good enough. I think thats excellent for such a small camera. I won't replace my Fuji with it, but can have the Canon with me all the time. It's perfect for travel or street photography.
Autofocus is not speedy, but not bad. The viewfinder is a bit small, but no smaller than the Canon Rebel. It's certainly usable. The image it offers is crisp, has good color and is not too contrasty. The screen on the back is good and has touch focus, which I find I use a lot. I didn't realize that the lens lacked filter threads, that's a downside, but if I'm going to bother with filters, I'll likely use my bigger cameras. I haven't tried so see how many frames per second it shoots, because I don't shoot that way. This isn't a sports camera anyway.
All cameras are compromises. Canon made some good choices with this one.
on October 31, 2015
A fine small camera. The electronic viewfinder (Finally, Canon!) is a great addition. This plus the 1" sensor makes it a great replacement for my G16. It is a great camera to carry when I do not want to lug big bodies and heavy glass. The focusing is fast and accurate. The exposure is dead on. The controls are well thought out and flexible. The lens id fast and sharp. Images are very good overall. It is a fine little camera.
That said, it is not perfect. The viewfinder feels a little cramped. It is not like a full frame SLR viewfinder. There is no way to attach a filter. Not being able to use a polarizer is a big loss to me. It starts to get noisy at ISO above 1600 (although 3200 is quite usable and 6400 passable). And the lens only goes to the equivalent of 100mm. That is OK but a little short.
In summary, it is a very good small camera. It does not replace my SLRs and big glass. I wish that it was perfect but it is not. That said, it has replaces my G16.
That said, it is not perfect. The viewfinder feels a little cramped. It is not like a full frame SLR viewfinder. There is no way to attach a filter. Not being able to use a polarizer is a big loss to me. It starts to get noisy at ISO above 1600 (although 3200 is quite usable and 6400 passable). And the lens only goes to the equivalent of 100mm. That is OK but a little short.
In summary, it is a very good small camera. It does not replace my SLRs and big glass. I wish that it was perfect but it is not. That said, it has replaces my G16.
on November 25, 2015
I had been waiting to see some complete reviews on this camera and finally just bought it from a local store to test and have decided that I like it enough to keep it. I am an amateur photographer who wanted a camera for traveling without carrying my larger Panasonic Lumix FZ150 around.
Bottom line, the G5X is a good bridge camera. If you are looking for the quality of an SLR, then you will want to go with an SLR and pay the price. If you want a quick and easy point and shoot, you might consider something less expensive, unless you want 20 MP and a bigger sensor, but be warned that you will want to spend time with this camera to get a feel for its' quirks.
The larger sensor does give better pictures, especially in low light, compared to my Lumix. The color depth is very good. There is a noticeable write-time lag between pictures, especially after using the flash, but this may be due to the 20 MP. My old camera only takes 12 MP. The 24mm to 100mm optical lens is good for most applications and the digital multiplier seems pretty good at least out to 8.4x. There is a stop in the zoom at 2x digital before continuing to 4x, which is nice. I don't like using the digital multiplier on any camera. The flash seems to be very good, but I needed to play around with it to determine how to force it to flash. The trick was to switch from full auto mode to "portraits" scene, which allow for forced flash. I am not very good at manual mode, so much of that is lost on me. In the various scene modes, the portrait was very good. The HDR seemed to only be marginally better than the portrait mode. There are a number of artistic effect modes, like fisheye and toy model. I have not used the night sky mode, but considering how good it is in low-light, I would imagine that it might do a decent job. It does not have some of the scenic modes that I am used to seeing, like sports mode, panoramic or flash burst. It does have a continuous mode, but you need good lighting for it. If you use continuous in flash mode, you need to hit the button multiple times and wait for the flash to recharge.
As far as the feel goes, it is a very small camera, but becomes easy to get used to. The controls are in very intuitive and ergonomic locations for its size. The flash can be easily opened and closed with either index finger without hunting for it. The dial on the front works well for the optical range, and the finger toggle on the trigger button works well for all ranges including digital. It is light enough that I could easily see not being bothered by it dangling from my neck while site seeing. It is small enough that I could just barely fit it into my pants front pocket, though that would be rather uncomfortable very quickly. The eyepiece is very nice and one of the reasons why I went with this camera. It shows the full view very clearly and has some nice heads up information options about the camera settings and framing. When making adjustments, the viewfinder and LED both display what the picture will look like with the new settings. The ISO adjustment dial is very easy to use, though it would be awkward to adjust while looking through the viewfinder. It goes at 1/3 increment per click.
I took it to chaperone a dance and was very surprised by how long the charge lasted. Even with the flash used in most pictures, as well as the LED screen, it lasted for around 300 pictures before needing a charge. The hardest part, as mentioned above, was getting it to flash when I wanted. The DJ lights near the stage confused it into not flashing, though away from the stage it was fine. The camera also has difficulty with back-lighting in full-automatic mode. Forcing it to flash or changing the ISO manually seem to be the best options. I foresee rarely using automatic mode, but preferring portrait mode on this camera. The very bright focus light was great even in near darkness of the dance floor or an unlit room. One other note is that the fully automatic mode is rather slow, so moving people can become blurred in indoor lighting situations. I also took pictures in a chapel service without the flash and it did a very decent job from about 40 feet away from the speaker, though large movements blurred.
I did not really test the video capabilities, since I rarely take videos.
Final analysis: I would not have kept this $800 camera unless I liked it. I think that it will be a great addition to my current camera. It is compact enough to be very useful while traveling and it takes great pictures when I am careful how I take them. The low-light capability is the best that I have seen short of an SLR and the flash is really good for its size. It is a little slow in automatic mode, so it would not do well for sports, unless the lighting was exceptionally good. For posed pictures, it is better than my Lumix and is perhaps the best point and shoot that I have seen. I would definitely recommend this camera to friends, especially if they know how to use manual mode and do not mind being limited to 100mm (4.2x) zoom.
Update: I forgot to talk about the wifi. I connected to my iPad with the canon app. It is not the most intuitive application to connect, but once connected, it seemed to work well in controlling the camera, zooming, taking a picture and viewing what was on its card. I was able to download one of the pictures onto my ipad photo library and then email it to myself. The trick to connecting is to start the camera and have it broadcast, then go to the ipad settings and switch networks to the camera network. After you are connected, then you can go to the app and control the camera. Even knowing how it works, it took me a few tries to connect the next time.
Bottom line, the G5X is a good bridge camera. If you are looking for the quality of an SLR, then you will want to go with an SLR and pay the price. If you want a quick and easy point and shoot, you might consider something less expensive, unless you want 20 MP and a bigger sensor, but be warned that you will want to spend time with this camera to get a feel for its' quirks.
The larger sensor does give better pictures, especially in low light, compared to my Lumix. The color depth is very good. There is a noticeable write-time lag between pictures, especially after using the flash, but this may be due to the 20 MP. My old camera only takes 12 MP. The 24mm to 100mm optical lens is good for most applications and the digital multiplier seems pretty good at least out to 8.4x. There is a stop in the zoom at 2x digital before continuing to 4x, which is nice. I don't like using the digital multiplier on any camera. The flash seems to be very good, but I needed to play around with it to determine how to force it to flash. The trick was to switch from full auto mode to "portraits" scene, which allow for forced flash. I am not very good at manual mode, so much of that is lost on me. In the various scene modes, the portrait was very good. The HDR seemed to only be marginally better than the portrait mode. There are a number of artistic effect modes, like fisheye and toy model. I have not used the night sky mode, but considering how good it is in low-light, I would imagine that it might do a decent job. It does not have some of the scenic modes that I am used to seeing, like sports mode, panoramic or flash burst. It does have a continuous mode, but you need good lighting for it. If you use continuous in flash mode, you need to hit the button multiple times and wait for the flash to recharge.
As far as the feel goes, it is a very small camera, but becomes easy to get used to. The controls are in very intuitive and ergonomic locations for its size. The flash can be easily opened and closed with either index finger without hunting for it. The dial on the front works well for the optical range, and the finger toggle on the trigger button works well for all ranges including digital. It is light enough that I could easily see not being bothered by it dangling from my neck while site seeing. It is small enough that I could just barely fit it into my pants front pocket, though that would be rather uncomfortable very quickly. The eyepiece is very nice and one of the reasons why I went with this camera. It shows the full view very clearly and has some nice heads up information options about the camera settings and framing. When making adjustments, the viewfinder and LED both display what the picture will look like with the new settings. The ISO adjustment dial is very easy to use, though it would be awkward to adjust while looking through the viewfinder. It goes at 1/3 increment per click.
I took it to chaperone a dance and was very surprised by how long the charge lasted. Even with the flash used in most pictures, as well as the LED screen, it lasted for around 300 pictures before needing a charge. The hardest part, as mentioned above, was getting it to flash when I wanted. The DJ lights near the stage confused it into not flashing, though away from the stage it was fine. The camera also has difficulty with back-lighting in full-automatic mode. Forcing it to flash or changing the ISO manually seem to be the best options. I foresee rarely using automatic mode, but preferring portrait mode on this camera. The very bright focus light was great even in near darkness of the dance floor or an unlit room. One other note is that the fully automatic mode is rather slow, so moving people can become blurred in indoor lighting situations. I also took pictures in a chapel service without the flash and it did a very decent job from about 40 feet away from the speaker, though large movements blurred.
I did not really test the video capabilities, since I rarely take videos.
Final analysis: I would not have kept this $800 camera unless I liked it. I think that it will be a great addition to my current camera. It is compact enough to be very useful while traveling and it takes great pictures when I am careful how I take them. The low-light capability is the best that I have seen short of an SLR and the flash is really good for its size. It is a little slow in automatic mode, so it would not do well for sports, unless the lighting was exceptionally good. For posed pictures, it is better than my Lumix and is perhaps the best point and shoot that I have seen. I would definitely recommend this camera to friends, especially if they know how to use manual mode and do not mind being limited to 100mm (4.2x) zoom.
Update: I forgot to talk about the wifi. I connected to my iPad with the canon app. It is not the most intuitive application to connect, but once connected, it seemed to work well in controlling the camera, zooming, taking a picture and viewing what was on its card. I was able to download one of the pictures onto my ipad photo library and then email it to myself. The trick to connecting is to start the camera and have it broadcast, then go to the ipad settings and switch networks to the camera network. After you are connected, then you can go to the app and control the camera. Even knowing how it works, it took me a few tries to connect the next time.
on November 13, 2015
I just purchased this camera earlier today after several weeks of researching. Originally I wanted to update my 2004 Nikon DSLR, but I realized I needed a camera that would travel everywhere with me to capture spontaneous moments for Instagram and my blog. So, I started looking into more compact cameras. It came down to this and the Sony RX100 IIII/IV. I chose this one because although it is slightly bigger, it felt better in my hands. I felt like it wasn't going to just slip away from me at any given moment. Plus, the viewfinder is better than the Sony RX100 III/IV and it has a hot shoe. This camera is still small enough to fit in a purse (mine is a pretty small over the shoulder purse) or jacket pocket.
So far I absolutely love the Canon G5 X! The photos, while not DSLR quality, are amazing quality for such a small camera. The bokeh you get from the 1.8 - 2.8 lens is great and was one part of the camera I really wanted. I also love how I have the option to be in complete manual control if I want to, but I must say, Auto mode is very good. My friend who is a photographer, along with my dad who is a photographer are both very impressed with the quality of the images that come from this camera - I'm pretty impressed myself! I love the macro, street and landscape shots I've taken so far with this camera.
The video is also really great. It doesn't have 4K (Sony RX100 IV has it, but only for 3-5 minutes before it overheats, so not a great advantage in my opinion) but the 1080p is great for my needs.
This camera has pretty much everything an entry level DSLR has (except for the ability to change the lens of course) but in a very compact body. This camera is great for a photographer who wants a sidekick to their DSLR for travel or for an "in case of emergency" camera. This camera is also great for those who want a point and shoot, but in my opinion, if you just want a point and shoot then get a cheaper one. The reason this camera is so expensive is because you get a ton of DSLR capabilities in a small camera, something one may not appreciate if they're not educated in basic DSLR photography.
I definitely recommend this camera, Canon did an amazing job and is a direct competitor for the Sony RX 100 III and I'd even say it's a direct competitor to the Sony RX100 IV as well.
So far I absolutely love the Canon G5 X! The photos, while not DSLR quality, are amazing quality for such a small camera. The bokeh you get from the 1.8 - 2.8 lens is great and was one part of the camera I really wanted. I also love how I have the option to be in complete manual control if I want to, but I must say, Auto mode is very good. My friend who is a photographer, along with my dad who is a photographer are both very impressed with the quality of the images that come from this camera - I'm pretty impressed myself! I love the macro, street and landscape shots I've taken so far with this camera.
The video is also really great. It doesn't have 4K (Sony RX100 IV has it, but only for 3-5 minutes before it overheats, so not a great advantage in my opinion) but the 1080p is great for my needs.
This camera has pretty much everything an entry level DSLR has (except for the ability to change the lens of course) but in a very compact body. This camera is great for a photographer who wants a sidekick to their DSLR for travel or for an "in case of emergency" camera. This camera is also great for those who want a point and shoot, but in my opinion, if you just want a point and shoot then get a cheaper one. The reason this camera is so expensive is because you get a ton of DSLR capabilities in a small camera, something one may not appreciate if they're not educated in basic DSLR photography.
I definitely recommend this camera, Canon did an amazing job and is a direct competitor for the Sony RX 100 III and I'd even say it's a direct competitor to the Sony RX100 IV as well.
on October 25, 2015
Just got my G5X today and have taken several pictures using different methods. Canon got it right this time. It is great.....
on December 12, 2015
TL;DR │ The reason you'll buy this is because you're looking for a compact advanced camera ("prosumer"/medium point-and shoot), and still want all the physical buttons. Compared to all the other G-Series offering of Canon, this has an aperture stop of up to f/1.8 (along with G7 X, but G7 X is more compact and "harder" to control manually). It also has a digital viewfinder⁽ⁿ⁰⁾, which I'll discuss below. Lastly, it has a full articulating touch screen.
CONTENTS: Intro │ What I Like │ What I Hate │ Package │ Notes │ Comments │ Verdict
- - - - -
This purchase was unnecessary, as I already have a G15. I am not particularly a fan of long zoom cameras as I tend to take more city and macro shots. I've been wanting to get a G X camera, but the G1 X did not appeal to me despite it's larger sensor. It's just too bulky for a compact camera. This is the reason I didn't get a mirrorless camera, which is in my own personal opinion, pointless (the body is compact, but you still have to haul a bag for the lens).
This camera is awesome. It has quality written all over it with it's almost fully metal body. I love how this thing has an articulating screen yet still managed to be compact and thin. The digital viewfinder is crystal clear and is clearly something that should win you over. Despite having a touch screen, it retains a lot pf physical controls with 3 control dials, a mode dials, a rear dial/5-way button combo, 4 buttons, 1 configurable video button, a phone connect button, and of course, the shutter/zoom (plus the power button). It also has a micro-USB port which can be used for in-camera charging and a mini-HDMI port. As always, it also has a hot-shoe for flash.
WHAT I LIKE │ + │
+ Digital viewfinder.⁽ⁿ⁰⁾
+ Charge via USB. No more removing the battery.
+ Micro-USB. Goodbye mini-USB!
+ A control ring (lens) to set the aperture/shutter settings.⁽ⁿ¹⁾
+ Built-in multi-photo composition. (HDR, background blur, etc.)⁽ⁿ²⁾
+ Multiple scene modes,⁽ⁿ³⁾ and "creative shots".⁽ⁿ⁴⁾
+ Full articulating LCD touch screen.
+ WiFi (208.11 b/g/n at 2.4 GhZ): Ad-Hoc or through network.
+ NFC to initialize ad-hoc WiFi.
+ Accepts SDXC UHS-1
+ Very fast camera
+ Large enough sensor (1")
+ Light, at only 13.3 oz / 377g (including battery).
+ Compact at 4.43 x 3.01 x 1.74 in. / 112.4 x 76.4 x 44.2mm
WHAT I HATE │ × │
× Cannot be outfitted with another lens because of the control ring.
× The control ring is only for aperture stop or shutter speed.⁽ⁿ¹⁾
× Like the control ring, the front dial is only for aperture/shutter.
× Lower than average optical zoom range (4.2x).
× No shortcut/favorite button.
× No dedicated ISO dial.⁽ⁿ⁵⁾
× A bit expensive compared to its brethren.
× Cannot record 4K video.
× No 801.11 AC and 5Ghz on Wifi.
× Though compact, the viewfinder adds bulk.
× You can't change battery/SD while on tripod.
× Though this is a fast camera, I can't seem to find a burst mode.
PACKAGE │ ✓ ✗ │
✓ Canon PowerShot G5 X camera
✓ Sleek black compact box
✓ Battery NB-13L (3.6V 1250mAh 4.5Wh, Li-ion)
✓ Batter charger CB-2LH
✓ Neck Strap NS-DC12
✓ Strap Adapter
✓ Printed materials.
✗ NO micro-USB cable
✗ NO SD Card
✗ NO Garbage
- - - - -
⁽ⁿ⁰⁾ DIGITAL VIEWFINDER AND WHY IT MATTERS
I've had a digital viewfinder back when I had a S3 IS. I jumped to G9, then to G15. Both the G9 and G15 only had optical viewfinders, which is actually more just a novelty feature. Reasons why a viewfinder is important:
▶ Sunny environment reflects too much light on the LCD screen.
▶ Saves on battery life.
▶ You look cooler while taking photos.
And the reason why I prefer digital over optical in general is that I can see the composition/exposure of photo before I take a shot. Plus an optical viewfinder doesn't really work with these types of cameras.
...
NOTES
⁽ⁿ¹⁾ I have mixed feelings with this. Though I am happy that this camera has control ring, it can ONLY be used for aperture stop or shutter speed. It would have been great to use it for manual focus, as I have always wanted. It would have also been great for zoom and ISO control.
⁽ⁿ²⁾ Camera takes successive shots and processes it in the camera. This used to be done in software. In addition to the more common HDR, it also does this for "Handheld NightScene" and "Background Defocus" - the latter of which I find extremely useful.
⁽ⁿ³⁾ Other scene effects include: Self-Portrait, Portrait, Star, Nostalgic, Fish-Eye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Soft Focus, Monochrome, Super Vivid, Poster Effect, and Fireworks.
⁽ⁿ⁴⁾ The creative shots mode takes a bunch of photos, groups them together, and apply special effects. I believe this is good for slideshow showcase in camera.
⁽ⁿ⁵⁾ As someone who prefers to shoot Manual over P/Tv/Av, ISO control is more important to me than the general exposure dial.
···
COMMENTS
This camera will permanently replace my G15, as my main camera. In case you can't tell, I have brand loyalty to Canon. The reason for this is their very optics, and of course, their physical buttons which is in my opinion, superior to others. I am a guy who never believes in getting a DSLR just for personal use. I take better pictures than a LOT of DSLR owners I know. They bought the camera thinking that expensive equals better output. What people have to realize is that it all depends on the composition and correct exposure of the photo - hence, the G-Series type camera. What's so great about these camera is that they have a full manual control. I strongly believe that if you want to get into the DSLR wagon, these cameras are great training machines. I am by no means a professional photographer or a photography guru. I just love taking photos in manual mode.
- - - - -
VERDICT: I recommend this product.
★★★★☆ | 4 stars out of 5. The camera is surprisingly awesome. I thought I'd regret it because I didn't really need it, but overall, I am happy with it. I couldn't give it 5 stars because of the complaints I highlighted above. Some of the things I hate, I already knew before I bought the camera so they didn't really weigh down the rating.
Questions? Hit the comments!
This review is for the Canon PowerShot G5 X Digital Camera (Camera Only).
CONTENTS: Intro │ What I Like │ What I Hate │ Package │ Notes │ Comments │ Verdict
- - - - -
This purchase was unnecessary, as I already have a G15. I am not particularly a fan of long zoom cameras as I tend to take more city and macro shots. I've been wanting to get a G X camera, but the G1 X did not appeal to me despite it's larger sensor. It's just too bulky for a compact camera. This is the reason I didn't get a mirrorless camera, which is in my own personal opinion, pointless (the body is compact, but you still have to haul a bag for the lens).
This camera is awesome. It has quality written all over it with it's almost fully metal body. I love how this thing has an articulating screen yet still managed to be compact and thin. The digital viewfinder is crystal clear and is clearly something that should win you over. Despite having a touch screen, it retains a lot pf physical controls with 3 control dials, a mode dials, a rear dial/5-way button combo, 4 buttons, 1 configurable video button, a phone connect button, and of course, the shutter/zoom (plus the power button). It also has a micro-USB port which can be used for in-camera charging and a mini-HDMI port. As always, it also has a hot-shoe for flash.
WHAT I LIKE │ + │
+ Digital viewfinder.⁽ⁿ⁰⁾
+ Charge via USB. No more removing the battery.
+ Micro-USB. Goodbye mini-USB!
+ A control ring (lens) to set the aperture/shutter settings.⁽ⁿ¹⁾
+ Built-in multi-photo composition. (HDR, background blur, etc.)⁽ⁿ²⁾
+ Multiple scene modes,⁽ⁿ³⁾ and "creative shots".⁽ⁿ⁴⁾
+ Full articulating LCD touch screen.
+ WiFi (208.11 b/g/n at 2.4 GhZ): Ad-Hoc or through network.
+ NFC to initialize ad-hoc WiFi.
+ Accepts SDXC UHS-1
+ Very fast camera
+ Large enough sensor (1")
+ Light, at only 13.3 oz / 377g (including battery).
+ Compact at 4.43 x 3.01 x 1.74 in. / 112.4 x 76.4 x 44.2mm
WHAT I HATE │ × │
× Cannot be outfitted with another lens because of the control ring.
× The control ring is only for aperture stop or shutter speed.⁽ⁿ¹⁾
× Like the control ring, the front dial is only for aperture/shutter.
× Lower than average optical zoom range (4.2x).
× No shortcut/favorite button.
× No dedicated ISO dial.⁽ⁿ⁵⁾
× A bit expensive compared to its brethren.
× Cannot record 4K video.
× No 801.11 AC and 5Ghz on Wifi.
× Though compact, the viewfinder adds bulk.
× You can't change battery/SD while on tripod.
× Though this is a fast camera, I can't seem to find a burst mode.
PACKAGE │ ✓ ✗ │
✓ Canon PowerShot G5 X camera
✓ Sleek black compact box
✓ Battery NB-13L (3.6V 1250mAh 4.5Wh, Li-ion)
✓ Batter charger CB-2LH
✓ Neck Strap NS-DC12
✓ Strap Adapter
✓ Printed materials.
✗ NO micro-USB cable
✗ NO SD Card
✗ NO Garbage
- - - - -
⁽ⁿ⁰⁾ DIGITAL VIEWFINDER AND WHY IT MATTERS
I've had a digital viewfinder back when I had a S3 IS. I jumped to G9, then to G15. Both the G9 and G15 only had optical viewfinders, which is actually more just a novelty feature. Reasons why a viewfinder is important:
▶ Sunny environment reflects too much light on the LCD screen.
▶ Saves on battery life.
▶ You look cooler while taking photos.
And the reason why I prefer digital over optical in general is that I can see the composition/exposure of photo before I take a shot. Plus an optical viewfinder doesn't really work with these types of cameras.
...
NOTES
⁽ⁿ¹⁾ I have mixed feelings with this. Though I am happy that this camera has control ring, it can ONLY be used for aperture stop or shutter speed. It would have been great to use it for manual focus, as I have always wanted. It would have also been great for zoom and ISO control.
⁽ⁿ²⁾ Camera takes successive shots and processes it in the camera. This used to be done in software. In addition to the more common HDR, it also does this for "Handheld NightScene" and "Background Defocus" - the latter of which I find extremely useful.
⁽ⁿ³⁾ Other scene effects include: Self-Portrait, Portrait, Star, Nostalgic, Fish-Eye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Soft Focus, Monochrome, Super Vivid, Poster Effect, and Fireworks.
⁽ⁿ⁴⁾ The creative shots mode takes a bunch of photos, groups them together, and apply special effects. I believe this is good for slideshow showcase in camera.
⁽ⁿ⁵⁾ As someone who prefers to shoot Manual over P/Tv/Av, ISO control is more important to me than the general exposure dial.
···
COMMENTS
This camera will permanently replace my G15, as my main camera. In case you can't tell, I have brand loyalty to Canon. The reason for this is their very optics, and of course, their physical buttons which is in my opinion, superior to others. I am a guy who never believes in getting a DSLR just for personal use. I take better pictures than a LOT of DSLR owners I know. They bought the camera thinking that expensive equals better output. What people have to realize is that it all depends on the composition and correct exposure of the photo - hence, the G-Series type camera. What's so great about these camera is that they have a full manual control. I strongly believe that if you want to get into the DSLR wagon, these cameras are great training machines. I am by no means a professional photographer or a photography guru. I just love taking photos in manual mode.
- - - - -
VERDICT: I recommend this product.
★★★★☆ | 4 stars out of 5. The camera is surprisingly awesome. I thought I'd regret it because I didn't really need it, but overall, I am happy with it. I couldn't give it 5 stars because of the complaints I highlighted above. Some of the things I hate, I already knew before I bought the camera so they didn't really weigh down the rating.
Questions? Hit the comments!
This review is for the Canon PowerShot G5 X Digital Camera (Camera Only).
on November 29, 2015
I purchased this camera after an incredible amount of research comparing DSLRs and other mirrorless cameras along with other cameras of sensors of various sizes. I had many different requirements I was trying to fill including image quality, decent zoom, ease of use, and most importantly, size. My main need was to have a camera to carry in my hydration pack while hiking or mountain biking, with trips lasting up to 6 hours, making every pound and cubic inch of space count. However, I wanted to share this camera with my family because I can't justify buying a camera just for one purpose, so I had to make sure ease of use was also there so anyone could use it for family trips, events, etc. I'm not a photographer at all, so I'll go over each feature this camera specifically had that I liked and why I went for it over other similar cameras.
Size: This thing is small. Little bigger than the G7x and the RX100's, but that's what you pay for with the EVF. It's not pocketable in jeans, especially with the flash/EVF assembly protruding up top, but it will definitely not take much space in my hydration pack or a ladies pocketbook. It could also fit in baggy cargo pants/shorts in the summer. For this reason, it beat out all the DSLR's, even the SL1. I did consider the EOS M3, but its lack of lens selection covering a zoom range similar to this one stopped me from getting it.
Sensor: 1" is obviously better than most compact cameras but it's 1/3 the size of APS-C mirrorless cameras. In looking through G7x images on Flickr (same sensor/lens, G5x is too new to have too many photos), I felt those images were good enough for me. Paired with the extensive customization ont his camera along with the viewfinder, I felt that I could achieve decent enough photos good enough for me. The photos on flickr are actually pretty impressive.
Touchscreen: Maybe it's just me, but I absolutely need a touchscreen to select AF points on any camera, along with the rest of my family who will be using the camera. We're all just too used to it, especially with smartphone camera apps, and scrolling around with a D-pad like on the Sony A6000 or RX100 cameras was something I couldn't imagine me anyone else that'll use the camera doing.
Zoom: This camera has a little extra zoom than the G9x and RX100 III and IV, which was a plus for me. I know the Sony's are slightly sharper especially in corners, but after extensive pixel peeping and huge images on various digi cam review sites, I decided it this camera suited me better for all the reasons in this review. I should mention here that I highly debated the EOS M3, but the lack of a lens that covered the same zoom range of this camera killed it for me. Along with the pop-up flash that would not work for my mom (see below).
No lenses to change: This might be a surprise for some people, but I just wanted a camera that wouldn't even let me waste time and money on other lenses. Plus, we've previously had a NEX5 which became unusable due to various people accidentally popping off the lens resulting in a lens error that Sony wouldn't fix.
Flash location: I like that it's up and center and on top. Vs the RX100 cameras or G7x/G9x. On those, I personally don't mind that the flash pops up exactly where your left finger happens to be, but my mom said whenever she has other people at events take pictures with her past cameras, it just doesn't work out because the flash pops up into their fingers, they push it back in, etc, and mass confusion ensues. On this camera, not only is the flash easy to lift up and out of the way, but there is a handy exposure dial that easily brightens the photo (in portrait/non-auto modes) to not even need flash.
EVF: I know this is a big thing people wanted in the G7x. Well, here it is, along with a $200 bump in price, so take it how you will. I suppose it will be helpful in the sunlight, I'm just not that experienced to know or care too much. If my mom was okay with the pop-up flash, I would've gone with the G7x. I know it's a lot more money, but its worth it if it will actually be useable.
A few cons:
- This camera is pricey, even with the recent mild drop in price. However, it does come out roughly similar to the price of the G7x + the external Canon electronic view finder, so it's reasonable.
- I feel like in all the time since the G7x has been out, canon could have improved the camera more than simply popping an EVF/center flash/hotshoe on the G5x.
- Maybe it's just my unit, but the camera screen randomly turns off for no reason, and it takes a few button presses to wake it up. I've made sure it's not just my fingers activating the proximity sensor for the EVF. A few times, the camera has just turned off during these hiccups. A slight annoyance, seems like it can be fixed in firmware update
Size: This thing is small. Little bigger than the G7x and the RX100's, but that's what you pay for with the EVF. It's not pocketable in jeans, especially with the flash/EVF assembly protruding up top, but it will definitely not take much space in my hydration pack or a ladies pocketbook. It could also fit in baggy cargo pants/shorts in the summer. For this reason, it beat out all the DSLR's, even the SL1. I did consider the EOS M3, but its lack of lens selection covering a zoom range similar to this one stopped me from getting it.
Sensor: 1" is obviously better than most compact cameras but it's 1/3 the size of APS-C mirrorless cameras. In looking through G7x images on Flickr (same sensor/lens, G5x is too new to have too many photos), I felt those images were good enough for me. Paired with the extensive customization ont his camera along with the viewfinder, I felt that I could achieve decent enough photos good enough for me. The photos on flickr are actually pretty impressive.
Touchscreen: Maybe it's just me, but I absolutely need a touchscreen to select AF points on any camera, along with the rest of my family who will be using the camera. We're all just too used to it, especially with smartphone camera apps, and scrolling around with a D-pad like on the Sony A6000 or RX100 cameras was something I couldn't imagine me anyone else that'll use the camera doing.
Zoom: This camera has a little extra zoom than the G9x and RX100 III and IV, which was a plus for me. I know the Sony's are slightly sharper especially in corners, but after extensive pixel peeping and huge images on various digi cam review sites, I decided it this camera suited me better for all the reasons in this review. I should mention here that I highly debated the EOS M3, but the lack of a lens that covered the same zoom range of this camera killed it for me. Along with the pop-up flash that would not work for my mom (see below).
No lenses to change: This might be a surprise for some people, but I just wanted a camera that wouldn't even let me waste time and money on other lenses. Plus, we've previously had a NEX5 which became unusable due to various people accidentally popping off the lens resulting in a lens error that Sony wouldn't fix.
Flash location: I like that it's up and center and on top. Vs the RX100 cameras or G7x/G9x. On those, I personally don't mind that the flash pops up exactly where your left finger happens to be, but my mom said whenever she has other people at events take pictures with her past cameras, it just doesn't work out because the flash pops up into their fingers, they push it back in, etc, and mass confusion ensues. On this camera, not only is the flash easy to lift up and out of the way, but there is a handy exposure dial that easily brightens the photo (in portrait/non-auto modes) to not even need flash.
EVF: I know this is a big thing people wanted in the G7x. Well, here it is, along with a $200 bump in price, so take it how you will. I suppose it will be helpful in the sunlight, I'm just not that experienced to know or care too much. If my mom was okay with the pop-up flash, I would've gone with the G7x. I know it's a lot more money, but its worth it if it will actually be useable.
A few cons:
- This camera is pricey, even with the recent mild drop in price. However, it does come out roughly similar to the price of the G7x + the external Canon electronic view finder, so it's reasonable.
- I feel like in all the time since the G7x has been out, canon could have improved the camera more than simply popping an EVF/center flash/hotshoe on the G5x.
- Maybe it's just my unit, but the camera screen randomly turns off for no reason, and it takes a few button presses to wake it up. I've made sure it's not just my fingers activating the proximity sensor for the EVF. A few times, the camera has just turned off during these hiccups. A slight annoyance, seems like it can be fixed in firmware update
on January 27, 2016
After some nonsense having this sent to me in untimely fashion by the vendor who was fulfilling it for Amazon, I have retired my Canon G11 and am now using the G5X. I prefer the feel of the G11, just fit better in my hand but otherwise it's as nice a product as the G11. In most respects, the settings and use of the G5X is nearly identical to that of the G11, so the transition was seamless. I can't say yet that I've noticed any improvements in the photos, time will tell. Meanwhile, I love the feature set, both what is similar to the G11 (for example, the fully articulating LCD screen, the self-enclosed lens cover, the pocketability, etc.) and what is new (the improved video and the electronic viewfinder which is usable whereas the viewfinder on the G11 was not, better LCD screen resolution). It seems every bit as well made as the G11 which met the challenges posed by a field biologist who travels a fair bit. I am pleased. I knock a star off because Canon set the price too high. Regarding the delay in shipment, Amazon claimed it was in stock when ordered, then imposed a long arrival date, which was itself not met. I tried to cancel the shipment whereupon a unit was magically in transit. Shipping issues seem to be increasing for me and others with Amazon and is making me reconsider my Amazon Prime subscription. My four star rating reflects the product only and does not factor in the mediocre service of Amazon and its vendor. If you want a camera that delivers quality photos but is easily carried on long walks, hikes, travels, this is an excellent choice.
on December 5, 2015
I bought this camera to replace my G15. I was attracted by the larger sensor size and the multi-angle touchscreen LCD, even though I lost a little zoom power. I was also intrigued by the electronic view finder. I would occasionally use my G15 optical viewfinder in a bright situation. After taking a few pictures, I was pleased to see that it took nice pictures. The EVF was pretty nice as well. I liked how it would work if I bring it close to my fact, turning off the LCD, and then then LCD would re-display when I moved the camera away. So far, so good. Then I started reviewing my pictures. Like another reviewer has reported, I would swipe through pictures on the touchscreen, but would experience blackouts. I thought maybe the articulating LCD screen was defective at the hinge or something, so I returned the camera and received a replacement right away (with no hassle- thank you Amazon). I found that the replacement would blink as well when reviewing pictures. I finally realized that if your hand or any other object comes in front of that EVF sensor, the camera thinks you are taking another picture and it disables the LCD --- even in playback mode!!
Yes, you can turn off the EVF by going deep into the menu. But then you have to remember to turn it back on when you want to take pictures again. I don't know about what others do, but I like to check photos after I take them, especially when it's a group of people that won't be together for long and you want to make sure you have a good picture. I don't want to have to go digging into the menu to remember to turn the EVF on or off. It's very irritating to me to have to carefully think about moving my hand so that it doesn't come into range of the EVF sensor. I would expect that Canon would design the EVF to not activate when in playback mode, or else give us a external button to turn it on or off. So, I returned the camera for this reason. Once again, Amazon was great handling the return. I'll probably get the G7X to get the same lens and sensor as the G5X.
Yes, you can turn off the EVF by going deep into the menu. But then you have to remember to turn it back on when you want to take pictures again. I don't know about what others do, but I like to check photos after I take them, especially when it's a group of people that won't be together for long and you want to make sure you have a good picture. I don't want to have to go digging into the menu to remember to turn the EVF on or off. It's very irritating to me to have to carefully think about moving my hand so that it doesn't come into range of the EVF sensor. I would expect that Canon would design the EVF to not activate when in playback mode, or else give us a external button to turn it on or off. So, I returned the camera for this reason. Once again, Amazon was great handling the return. I'll probably get the G7X to get the same lens and sensor as the G5X.
VINE VOICEon February 14, 2016
This is a very exciting product. Manufacturers are realizing that view finders are important across all range of cameras. This was kinda forgotten during the 2000's and early 2010'. Even today many 'enthusiast' cameras still don't have viewfinders or have them as a 2nd thought add-on. You can tell Canon did their homework here on EVF, body styling, controls. Most people either love or hate the look of this camera. But the smart money is usually on miniaturization in all fields of manufacturing. (Also keep in mind this body design does give a nod to the Olympus Stylus 1 and 1s cameras which are worth your time to consider.)
For me this body is like a mini-min-DSLR. Putting the squeeze in size over even micro 4/3 bodies. It just feels great in the hand. The EVF is large and beautiful. Something entire different than the puny boxes you get in something like Sony RX100 series which is just inadequate for anything but emergencies. The menu system is not terrible, but it's a little confusing when some of the outer buttons do things you can't get to from the menus like the scene mode. Menu's are typically an area where cameras can fall over. Either from being too voluminous in their settings (like Sony) or by not being updated in their styling enough through many years (like Panasonic). But overall the ergonomic and control options are very workable.
If you've ever owned a DSLR or other camera with full controls you will find most of the standard features you want here. Of course no 4K video and raw shooting is not deep. Those features would serve you better going with something like LX100. But body styling on LX100 is inferior to the G5X.
Every camera body is made or broken in terms of usability and image quality. What makes up IQ is the lens, the sensor, and the algorithms which process the data. The single largest thing preventing you from getting great images from this camera is the lens. Although when you are looking through the EVF you may think you would get the same look into your images, the evidence is that at least from 24mm-50mm equiv, this lens is very soft, pathetically so.
IF you look at the dpreview sample images from a G5X, especially the one of the guy in front of the colorful graffiti, you will indeed see the guy is not sharp at all. Dpreview wondered if they had a bad copy of this camera but they did get similar images from other Canon cameras using the same lens (such as two other G7X). Check the sample images on dpreview.com
If you look at Cameralabs photos from the G5X posted on Flickr at full rez, you can see some better shots, but still nothing close to Sony, Pany, or Oly on the sharpness side. I've checked other flickr images at high res and most of the G5X ones are mediocre, not really sharp. The G5X images at rvnomad.500px are beautifully saturated, but not sharp. The only decent G5X photos I've seen are the studio shots at imaging-resource.com and studio shots at dpreview.com. I really don't think this is an issue with the 1" sensor. Images from Sony 1" sensors are really sharp for their size with lots of detail. I do not see that same quality from 90% of the images posted that I have viewed. This really is looking like a quality issue with the lens.
The lens sharpness issue is an example of common quality issues in the industry. In Sony land it's common that only 1 out of 3 copies of any Sony APS-C lenses are sharp (even the Zeiss ones). Someone who knows what they are looking for just keep returning copies for replacement until they get a good one (yes, this includes Canon and Nikon glass). Most consumers don't know what kind of quality they could be getting. So when tolerances are off a little and IQ suffers, most people don't notice. If you can get a good copy of G5X with a sharp lens, it can be really impressive.
Overall, any chance this camera had to be your small system DSLR replacement is pretty completely dashed on the rocks of the lens issues with this unit. Canon is way overcharging for this product based on what you can actually do with it. A selling price of $399 to $549 would be more in order with the value and results you get from it.
If you are looking for a great camera in this class then you should check used RX10 or new RX10II. Very solid results with a super EVF. LX100 is also worth a look but handling is not as good. I don't like the RX100 family because the EVF is too small and the line is not stable in quality (many users reporting the early RX100 and RX100II have fewer issues than mark 3 and 4). DMC-GM5 is also worth a look if you want a 'micro 43 with detachable lenses (the Panasonic 12/32 kit lens is quite good).
Update: 2016-FEB-21 - Having done more extensive pixel peeping, I can say there is really NO comparison between results from Sony's 1" camera sensors and the Canon G5 X. The G5X is embarrasingly bad compared to RX10 series or RX100 series. G5X is unsharp and the detail the lens can bring to the sensor is just muddy. Cannot recommend this camera.
If you like this package size generally, the ergonomics, the only camera that pulls this off today, albiet with a 1/1.7" sensor, is the Olympus 1s. Check Robin Wongs blog for some amazing Stylus 1 images.
For me this body is like a mini-min-DSLR. Putting the squeeze in size over even micro 4/3 bodies. It just feels great in the hand. The EVF is large and beautiful. Something entire different than the puny boxes you get in something like Sony RX100 series which is just inadequate for anything but emergencies. The menu system is not terrible, but it's a little confusing when some of the outer buttons do things you can't get to from the menus like the scene mode. Menu's are typically an area where cameras can fall over. Either from being too voluminous in their settings (like Sony) or by not being updated in their styling enough through many years (like Panasonic). But overall the ergonomic and control options are very workable.
If you've ever owned a DSLR or other camera with full controls you will find most of the standard features you want here. Of course no 4K video and raw shooting is not deep. Those features would serve you better going with something like LX100. But body styling on LX100 is inferior to the G5X.
Every camera body is made or broken in terms of usability and image quality. What makes up IQ is the lens, the sensor, and the algorithms which process the data. The single largest thing preventing you from getting great images from this camera is the lens. Although when you are looking through the EVF you may think you would get the same look into your images, the evidence is that at least from 24mm-50mm equiv, this lens is very soft, pathetically so.
IF you look at the dpreview sample images from a G5X, especially the one of the guy in front of the colorful graffiti, you will indeed see the guy is not sharp at all. Dpreview wondered if they had a bad copy of this camera but they did get similar images from other Canon cameras using the same lens (such as two other G7X). Check the sample images on dpreview.com
If you look at Cameralabs photos from the G5X posted on Flickr at full rez, you can see some better shots, but still nothing close to Sony, Pany, or Oly on the sharpness side. I've checked other flickr images at high res and most of the G5X ones are mediocre, not really sharp. The G5X images at rvnomad.500px are beautifully saturated, but not sharp. The only decent G5X photos I've seen are the studio shots at imaging-resource.com and studio shots at dpreview.com. I really don't think this is an issue with the 1" sensor. Images from Sony 1" sensors are really sharp for their size with lots of detail. I do not see that same quality from 90% of the images posted that I have viewed. This really is looking like a quality issue with the lens.
The lens sharpness issue is an example of common quality issues in the industry. In Sony land it's common that only 1 out of 3 copies of any Sony APS-C lenses are sharp (even the Zeiss ones). Someone who knows what they are looking for just keep returning copies for replacement until they get a good one (yes, this includes Canon and Nikon glass). Most consumers don't know what kind of quality they could be getting. So when tolerances are off a little and IQ suffers, most people don't notice. If you can get a good copy of G5X with a sharp lens, it can be really impressive.
Overall, any chance this camera had to be your small system DSLR replacement is pretty completely dashed on the rocks of the lens issues with this unit. Canon is way overcharging for this product based on what you can actually do with it. A selling price of $399 to $549 would be more in order with the value and results you get from it.
If you are looking for a great camera in this class then you should check used RX10 or new RX10II. Very solid results with a super EVF. LX100 is also worth a look but handling is not as good. I don't like the RX100 family because the EVF is too small and the line is not stable in quality (many users reporting the early RX100 and RX100II have fewer issues than mark 3 and 4). DMC-GM5 is also worth a look if you want a 'micro 43 with detachable lenses (the Panasonic 12/32 kit lens is quite good).
Update: 2016-FEB-21 - Having done more extensive pixel peeping, I can say there is really NO comparison between results from Sony's 1" camera sensors and the Canon G5 X. The G5X is embarrasingly bad compared to RX10 series or RX100 series. G5X is unsharp and the detail the lens can bring to the sensor is just muddy. Cannot recommend this camera.
If you like this package size generally, the ergonomics, the only camera that pulls this off today, albiet with a 1/1.7" sensor, is the Olympus 1s. Check Robin Wongs blog for some amazing Stylus 1 images.