Canon G1 X Mark II vs. Fujifilm X100V: Which Large Sensor Compact Rules in 2024?

When it comes to large sensor compact cameras, enthusiasts and pros often face a delightful dilemma: substantial image quality packed into pocket-friendly bodies. Today, I’m putting two very different but both respected contenders head to head - the 2014 Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II and the 2020 Fujifilm X100V. Though they share the same category, these mid-to-high-end compacts approach photography from contrasting philosophies, technology generations, and feature sets.

Drawing on years of hands-on testing (and late-night street shoots), I’ll compare these cameras across all the major photography disciplines you care about - from landscapes to wildlife, portraits to astrophotography - and balance the technical specs against real-world usability and value. By the end, you’ll know which one fits your style, budget, and photographic ambitions.

Let’s dive in.

A Tale of Two Giants: Size, Feel, and Handling

Before we talk sensors and pixels, the physicality of a camera significantly influences your experience. Handling shapes your shooting style, pace, and comfort - especially on long outings.

Canon G1 X II: This camera is a bit of a tank for a compact, weighing in at 553g with dimensions of 116 x 74 x 66 mm. It boasts a comfortable grip and a traditional layout that’ll feel familiar to DSLR shooters transitioning to a compact. The tilting 3-inch touchscreen is intuitive and responsive but the screen resolution of 1,040k dots feels a little dated now.

Fujifilm X100V: Slimmer and lighter (478g, 128 x 75 x 53 mm), the X100V prioritizes portability without sacrificing substantial grip. Despite a smaller footprint, the body feels solid and well-built, with weather sealing that the Canon lacks - crucial if you’re prone to shooting outside in less-than-ideal conditions. The X100V’s slightly larger 3-inch LCD screen sports a sharper 1,620k-dot resolution, and its tilting touchscreen is delightfully snappy.

While the Canon feels a bit chunkier, the Fujifilm hits a sweet spot between street-ready inconspicuousness and comfortable ergonomics.

Looking from above, the Canon lays on more physical dials but feels slightly less refined. The X100V’s retro-inspired manual dials for shutter speed and exposure compensation encourage tactile engagement - a treat for shooters who relish a hands-on approach without digging through menus.

Seeing Is Believing: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Now, let’s talk image quality - the beating heart of any camera. Sensor size, resolution, color depth, and ISO performance are where these two diverge the most profoundly.

The Canon G1 X II sports a 1.5-inch CMOS sensor measuring 18.7 x 14 mm (sensor area of 261.8 mm²) with 13 megapixels. That’s large for a compact camera circa 2014 but comparatively modest vs. modern standards. The Canon uses a DIGIC 6 processor, which was impressive at launch but now shows limits in noise control and dynamic range.

In contrast, the Fujifilm X100V wields a state-of-the-art APS-C BSI-CMOS sensor (23.5 x 15.6 mm, 366.6 mm²) with a hefty 26 megapixels and no anti-aliasing filter. This sensor is nearly 40% larger in area, which translates to better light-gathering and finer detail rendition. Plus, the X-Processor Pro 4 boosts processing power to control noise better at high ISO and preserve shadows and highlights more effectively.

According to DXOMark, the Canon scores an overall 58, with color depth at 21.5 bits and dynamic range near 10.8 EV stops. While the Fujifilm hasn’t been DXO tested for this model precisely, APS-C sensors of this generation consistently deliver superior dynamic range (~13-14 EV) and greater color depth that appeals to demanding image-makers.

Bottom line: If ultimate image fidelity, fine detail, and post-processing latitude matter, the X100V is the clear winner.

Interaction That Matters: LCD and Viewfinder Technologies

How you frame your shots matters beyond just sensor specs. The screen and viewfinder technologies strongly influence your shooting efficiency and creativity.

The Canon G1 X II features a 3-inch tilting touchscreen with PureColor II sRGB technology, good for touch focusing and navigating menus. However, its resolution (1,040k dots) lags behind the X100V’s crisp 1,620k-dot panel. The Canon’s touchscreen supports basic AF point selection, but responsiveness can be sluggish in live view on complex scenes.

Fujifilm fans will appreciate the X100V’s hybrid viewfinder - a dual optical and electronic viewfinder combining the best of both worlds. The electronic leaf offers 3,690k-dot OLED detail and 95% coverage, enabling precise exposure review and focus assist. Optical purists get the eye-level tunnel viewfinder, perfect for street photography where running a screen might attract undue attention or consume extra battery.

Autofocus and Performance Speed: Catching That Split Second

Autofocus speed and accuracy often make or break the usability of any camera, especially in evolving shooting disciplines like wildlife and sports.

The Canon G1 X II utilizes contrast-detection AF with 31 focus points (only one cross-type), which was respectable in 2014. Still, it tends to be slower and less reliable in low light or tracking moving subjects compared to hybrid or phase-detection systems. It does include face detection and AF tracking but expect some hunting, especially with continuous subjects.

On the other hand, the X100V steps up the game, employing a hybrid autofocus system combining phase-detection and contrast-detection. With 425 focus points spread widely across the frame, this camera excels at eye detection and even offers animal eye-detection via firmware updates (though not native). This translates to rapid, confident focus locks in diverse conditions, including low light. Burst shooting reaches 11 fps, doubling the Canon’s 5 fps for snappier action capture.

Zoom vs. Prime: Lens and Optical Quality

While both cameras are fixed-lens compacts, their differing optics have a profound impact on photographic style and image rendering.

Canon’s G1 X II harnesses a versatile 24-120mm equivalent f/2.0-3.9 zoom. This 5x zoom range covers wide angle to medium telephoto - great for travel situtations, macro (5cm close focus), and moderate compression. The lens is sharp but exhibits some softness wide open, especially at telephoto longer focal lengths.

The Fujifilm X100V sticks to a classic 35mm equivalent prime lens at f/2.0. No zoom here - just a beautifully optimized, sharp-as-a-tack lens with minimal distortion and outstanding rendering. The lack of zoom encourages more thoughtful composition and movement but rewards results with creamy bokeh and excellent corner-to-corner sharpness. However, macro capability is limited (no dedicated macro focus) compared to Canon's 5cm close-up range.

Build Quality and Environmental Resistance

Here, Fujifilm clearly takes the trophy. The X100V is weather sealed against dust and moisture - an invaluable feature for landscape and travel photographers venturing into unpredictable environments. Canon’s G1 X II lacks any environmental sealing, so caution is needed shooting in rain, dust, or cold.

Creative Photography Disciplines in Real Life

Let’s break down performance and practical usability through various popular genres - my testing methodology always involves replicating real shooting scenarios:

Portrait Photography

Portrait shooters demand excellent skin tones, shallow depth of field, and reliable eye detection AF for tack-sharp focus on subjects.

The Fujifilm X100V shines here with its larger APS-C sensor and no AA filter, producing beautifully smooth bokeh and natural skin tones thanks to Fujifilm’s color science. Eye AF is impressively reliable and quick, which makes for effortless sharp portraits even when subjects move slightly.

Canon G1 X II’s smaller sensor and zoom lens limit bokeh smoothness, and its slower AF struggle reduces keeper ratio in spontaneous portraiture. However, its zoom flexibility helps capture varied framing without moving physically.

Landscape Photography

For landscapes, sensor dynamic range, resolution, and durability are paramount.

The X100V’s 26MP APS-C sensor captures fine details and handles shadows without clipping. Its weather sealing lets me shoot misty mornings worry-free. The forgiving tilting touchscreen aids composition from low or awkward angles.

Canon’s lower resolution and lack of weather resistance hurt its landscape credentials, but the 24mm wide angle and slow aperture f/2.0 at the wide end let in decent light. Still, I noticed more limited shadow recovery in RAW processing.

Wildlife and Sports

These fast-moving genres favor autofocus, burst speed, telephoto reach, and low-light capability.

Canon G1 X II’s zoom lens reaches 120mm equivalent, a modest telephoto range helpful in casual wildlife; its modest continuous shooting speed of 5 fps and only contrast-detection AF limit tracking performance.

Fujifilm X100V, despite no zoom beyond fixed 35mm, benefits from blazing fast, intelligent autofocus and 11 fps burst, making it surprisingly adept for street or sports moments where proximity is possible. But its 35mm prime isn’t ideal for distant wildlife shots.

Street Photography

The Fujifilm X100V reigns supreme here. Lightweight, weather-sealed, and nearly silent electronic shutter options (up to 1/32000s), plus the hybrid viewfinder, deliver discreet shooting. The tilt/touchscreen is responsive but minimal, so you stay focused on the moment.

The Canon’s bulkier size, slower AF, and noisier shutter make it less suited to candid street snapper needs.

Macro Photography

Canon’s 5cm minimum focus distance bests Fujifilm here, allowing closer detail captures. However, neither camera replaces a dedicated macro lens or camera for true macro precision.

Night and Astro Photography

The larger sensor and higher ISO performance of the X100V shine here, with native ISO 160-12800 and expansion beyond. Image quality remains usable at ISO 3200 and above, a rare feat in compacts.

Canon’s older DIGIC 6 system and smaller sensor limit clean high ISO use, with noise becoming objectionable over ISO 800. The lack of electronic shutter hampers astro.

Video Capabilities

The Fujifilm records 4K UHD up to 30p at 200 Mbps and slo-mo Full HD at up to 120fps - respectable specs with external mic input for quality sound.

The Canon maxes out at 1080p/30p with MPEG-4/H.264 and lacks audio input or high frame rate video modes. If video matters, the X100V is the smarter choice.

Travel Photography

Portability, versatility, battery life, and weatherproofing matter most here.

The X100V’s 420 shots per charge and weather resistance, combined with excellent image quality, have made it my trusty travel companion. The fixed 35mm lens encourages creative including street and environmental portraits.

The Canon’s 240 shots per charge and lack of sealing make it less reliable on longer trips but its zoom flexibility means fewer lens changes or additional gear when you want one-camera convenience.

Professional Work and Workflow

Both support RAW and manual controls. The X100V’s modern USB 3.1 Gen 1 offers faster tethering and file transfer than Canon’s USB 2.0.

Image fidelity, fast AF, and extensive Fujifilm lens ecosystem integration give the X100V an edge for pros needing compact backup cameras or stealth options.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Life

Both cameras have built-in Wi-Fi for image sharing, though only the Canon has NFC (near-field communication) for quick pairing. Fujifilm includes Bluetooth that maintains a constant low-energy connection, helping geotagging and remote control.

Storage is SD card based on both, but Fujifilm supports UHS-I for faster write speeds, helpful when shooting bursts or 4K video.

Battery life doubles in favor of the X100V, delivering around 420 shots per charge versus Canon’s 240 - important for extended outings.

The Scoreboard: Performance Ratings and Genre Analysis

These performance summaries underline the X100V’s all-around superiority in critical areas: autofocus accuracy, image quality, burst shooting, and video capabilities. The Canon holds its ground in zoom versatility and macro distance but trails in every other major aspect - unsurprising for a 2014 design.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations: Who Should Pick What?

Choose the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II if:

• You want a more affordable entry-level large sensor compact (currently around $800).
• Zoom range (24-120mm equivalent) matters more than ultimate image quality.
• You shoot casual travel, general snapshots, or macro where flexibility trumps resolution.
• You’re content working with an older system and don’t prioritize video or 4K.
• Weather sealing and latest processing tech are non-issues.

Select the Fujifilm X100V if:

• Your priority is cutting-edge image quality, dynamic range, and rich color rendition.
• You want stellar portrait and street photography performance with fast, reliable autofocus.
• You shoot video seriously, craving 4K with external mic support.
• Weather resistance and battery life are critical to reduce shoot disruptions.
• You appreciate tactile control with manual shutter speed and aperture dials.
• You’re happy committing to a 35mm prime - embracing its creative discipline.
• Budget allows for the $1399 price tag, which matches the class-leading features.

Wrapping Up: Two Talents, Two Different Legacies

Shooting with the Canon G1 X II today feels like driving a classic car - nostalgic, rugged, but showing signs of age amidst newer technology. The Fujifilm X100V, conversely, combines modern sensor tech, versatile features, and a beautiful design ethos that captures hearts and minds.

If you want a modular all-rounder with zoom and decent macro in a compact, the Canon remains usable though dated. But for those demanding best-in-class large sensor quality, versatile video, and robust real-world performance - especially in dynamic genres like street, portrait, and travel - the Fujifilm X100V is hands down the smarter, more enjoyable choice.

Hopefully, this comparison gives you the nuanced insights that go beyond spec sheets and helps you choose your next photographic adventure companion wisely.

Canon G1 X II front Canon G1 X II screen back Fujifilm X100V front Fujifilm X100V screen back