Canon PowerShot G1 X vs Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III: The Ultimate Large Sensor Compact Showdown

As a photographer with over 15 years of hands-on experience testing cameras across genres from macro to wildlife, I know how crucial it is to pick a camera not just on specs but on real-world performance and suitability. Today, I’m diving deep into two notable large sensor compacts from Canon: the PowerShot G1 X (2012) and the PowerShot G7 X Mark III (2019). Though both profess to serve enthusiasts who want portability without sacrificing image quality, their designs, sensor tech, and features target subtly different user needs.

This article will provide clear, in-depth comparisons based on direct experience, covering everything from sensor performance to autofocus, video capabilities, and how they fare across photographic genres. Whether you’re a traveling portraitist, a budding vlogger, or a professional seeking a reliable pocket camera, this guide will help you decide which Canon compact fits your workflow best.

First Look and Handling: Size, Build, and Ergonomics Matter

One of the first things that strikes you about these two cameras is their physical size and heft, which can be a deal-breaker depending on your shooting style.

Canon G1 X:

• Considerably larger and chunkier at 117 x 81 x 65 mm, weighing 534g.
• Designed to feel more like a traditional DSLR in the hand with a substantial grip, making it easy to hold for longer shoots.
• Solid build; though not weather sealed, it feels robust and dependable.

Canon G7 X Mark III:

• Compact and pocket-friendly - 105 x 61 x 41 mm and 304g.
• Rounded edges and a sleeker body prioritize portability, ideal if you want an everyday carry camera that won’t weigh down your bag.
• Less grip, which can affect hand stability with larger lenses or in adverse conditions.

From personal testing, I found the G1 X’s bulk to be a boon in steadying shots for macro and landscape work, while the G7 X III’s slim physique is perfect for street and travel photography where discretion is valued.

Top-Deck Controls and Screen Articulation

Controls influence how quickly you can adjust settings on the fly - a huge plus for engagement and responsiveness.

• The G1 X sports dedicated dials for exposure modes and manual controls, with an articulated fully articulating LCD screen (TFT PureColor II LCD, 3") that flips out and rotates. This is tremendously helpful for tricky angles and macro work.
• The G7 X Mark III offers a tilting touchscreen (3", higher resolution) that flips up 180°, tailored for vloggers and selfies, but it lacks any electronic viewfinder, pushing you to rely on the LCD. Its control layout is minimalistic, emphasizing touchscreen use more than physical dial engagement.

In practice, I appreciated the G1 X for more deliberate shooting where tactile dials matter; the G7 X III serves those who want instant access via touch plus selfie-friendly tilting.

Sensors and Image Quality: Size Isn’t Everything, But Close

The heart of any camera is its sensor - a vital determinant of image quality, dynamic range, and low light prowess.

The Canon G1 X’s sensor is nearly 2.5 times larger in surface area than the G7 X Mark III’s, which helps immensely in gathering light and delivering richer colors and better dynamic range. This sensor size is closer to APS-C territory, which is unusual and prestigious in a compact.

The G7 X Mark III’s 1" BSI-CMOS sensor incorporates backside illumination technology to improve low-light capture despite smaller size. Its higher resolution (20MP) offers more cropping flexibility but may introduce slightly more noise at full ISO compared to the G1 X.

In my testing across identical low-light scenes and controlled studio conditions:

• The G1 X delivers better color depth and tonality, with reported DxOMark color depth of 21.7 bits and dynamic range of 10.8 stops - luxuries rare for compacts.
• The G7 X III, while excellent for its class, shows more noise when pushing ISO beyond 3200, though its processor optimization helps keep noise manageable up to ISO 6400.

If ultimate image quality and smoother gradation are your priorities and you don’t mind the larger form, the G1 X pulls ahead. For sharper detail enabled by 20MP and modern sensor processing with decent noise control, the G7 X Mark III shines.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: How You Frame Your Shot

A camera’s rear screen and viewfinder design affect shooting comfort and accuracy, especially outdoors or in bright light.

• Canon G1 X: Features a 3” fully articulated 920k-dot TFT LCD, great for composing at awkward angles, but no electronic viewfinder (EVF), instead an optical tunnel viewfinder with limited coverage. Great for situations where you want to stabilize your camera against your face but miss focus magnification and live histograms you get from an EVF.
• Canon G7 X Mark III: Has a tilt-only 3” touchscreen with 1,040k-dot resolution that flips up for vlogging and selfies. It lacks any kind of viewfinder, so you must compose entirely on the LCD screen. It includes touch-to-focus for swift operation.

Based on hands-on use, I found the G7 X III’s touchscreen intuitive for quick shooting and video but struggled outdoors in bright sunlight without a viewfinder. The G1 X’s articulated screen is more flexible for photography, but the absence of an EVF makes subjective framing harder in very bright scenes.

Autofocus, Burst Rates and Shooting Speed

Autofocus (AF) is a decisive factor in sports, wildlife, and action photography. Frame rate determines how much action you can capture in rapid sequences.

The original G1 X’s AF system, with 9 contrast-detection points, is comparatively slow by today’s standards and can feel sluggish tracking moving subjects. Continuous shooting at 2 fps further limits its practicality for sports or wildlife.

The G7 X Mark III, with vastly improved processor (DIGIC 8), offers continuous shooting at 30 fps for JPEGs (limited buffer), which is exceptional for its class. Its hybrid AF with touch and face detection is quick and responsive, though still contrast-based and not on par with phase-detection systems in DSLRs or mirrorless cameras.

In my use for street and sports photography, I favored the G7 X III’s responsiveness and burst speed, which can reliably capture fleeting moments and fast-paced subjects. The G1 X is better suited to slower, deliberate composition.

Lens Quality and Focal Reach: Versatile or Specialized?

Lens specs matter beyond focal lengths - aperture range and minimum focus distance define creative flexibility.

The G1 X’s 28-112 mm equivalent lens, though slower at f/5.8 at telephoto, has a longer minimum focus distance at 20cm, limiting macro capabilities. Its relatively fast wide-angle f/2.8 aperture allows decent low light and background separation in portraits.

The G7 X III’s lens covers a slightly wider range starting at 24mm and a bright maximum aperture of f/1.8, holding f/2.8 at telephoto - a major advantage for low-light shooting and shallow depth-of-field effects. Its close focusing at 5cm is excellent for macro or detail work.

From my test shots, the G7 X III’s lens yields creamier bokeh and more subject isolation in portraits and macro shots. The G1 X’s longer focal length is more suited to moderate telephoto landscapes or tight framing.

Real-World Photography: How Do They Perform Across Genres?

Now let’s break down how these cameras respond in specific photography disciplines, drawn from extensive practical shooting sessions.

Canon G1 X front Canon G1 X screen back Canon G7 X MIII front Canon G7 X MIII screen back

Portraits: Skin Tone and Bokeh Quality

• G1 X: Larger sensor size gives smoother gradation and natural skin tones. Optical image stabilization helps with hand-held portraiture. Bokeh is acceptable but aperture limits at telephoto restrict creamy background blur.
• G7 X III: Brighter lens aperture delivers better bokeh and background separation. The 20MP detail ensures sharp eyes, supported by fast face detection AF on the touchscreen.

Winner for portraits: G7 X Mark III, thanks to superior bokeh and quick live-face AF.

Landscape: Dynamic Range and Image Resolution

• G1 X: Bigger sensor and slightly larger pixel pitch produce cleaner images with higher dynamic range - excellent for bright highlights and shadow detail in landscapes. The articulated screen also helps compose tricky scenes.
• G7 X III: Higher resolution adds cropping flexibility, but smaller sensor results in slightly more noise in shadows.

Winner for landscapes: G1 X, favors image quality in static, high-detail photography.

Wildlife and Action: Autofocus and Burst

• G1 X: Slow contrast AF and 2fps continuous shooting limit wildlife and sports use dramatically.
• G7 X III: Fast AF, 30fps burst, and touch AF make it surprisingly competent at capturing fast movement, but lens reach is limited compared to DSLR telephotos.

Winner for wildlife/sports: G7 X Mark III, more agility despite smaller sensor.

Street and Travel Photography: Discretion and Portability

• G1 X: Larger and heavier, less discreet. Articulating LCD aids in shooting from the hip or unusual angles.
• G7 X III: Slim size, selfie-friendly screen, and touchscreen operation ideal for street candid shooting and travel.

Winner for street and travel: G7 X Mark III, clearly more user-friendly for on-the-go capture.

Macro Photography: Magnification and Focus Control

• G1 X: Minimum focus distance limits tight close-ups; manual focus is precise thanks to dials.
• G7 X III: Excellent 5cm macro focusing and touch focus support vastly improve macro shooting.

Winner for macro: G7 X Mark III, more practical and flexible.

Night / Astro Photography: ISO Performance and Exposure

• G1 X: Larger sensor performs better in low light with less noise at higher ISO; however, shorter max shutter speed (max 1/4000s) limits long exposures.
• G7 X III: Superior max shutter speeds, including electronic silent shutter to 1/25600s facilitate long exposures such as stars. Better video noise handling too.

Winner for night/astro: Tie, depends on shooting style; G1 X better raw image quality, G7 X III better shutter speed control.

Video and Vlogging

• G1 X: Video limited to 1080p at 24fps with no microphone input, making it less ideal for modern vlogging.
• G7 X III: 4K UHD video at 30fps, built-in microphone input, and tilting selfie screen make this a compact video powerhouse.

Winner for video/vlogging: G7 X Mark III hands down.

Technical Insights: Build Quality, Storage, and Connectivity

Both cameras lack weather sealing, which is common in large sensor compacts but important to remember for outdoor shooters.

Battery life:

• G1 X offers 250 shots per charge;
• G7 X III slightly lower at 235 shots.

Both use proprietary battery packs, with SD/SDHC/SDXC storage.

Connectivity:

• G1 X lacks wireless connectivity entirely.
• G7 X III offers built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth - essential for instant sharing and remote control.

Interface:

• G7 X III’s touchscreen enables faster menu navigation versus the G1 X’s button and dial system, which some photographers prefer for precision.

Price-to-Performance and Who Should Buy Which

At current used/new market prices around $650 (G1 X) and $750 (G7 X III), here’s the best use-case recommendation:

Summary of Comparative Scores

Based on extensive testing metrics and personal evaluations:

The G7 X Mark III leads in speed, controls, video, and AF; the G1 X excels in raw image quality and dynamic range.

Closing Thoughts: Which Canon Large Sensor Compact Should You Buy?

Having rigorously tested and compared both these cameras across technical benchmarks and real-life scenarios, my verdict is clear:

• Choose the Canon PowerShot G1 X if your priority is still photography and you want image quality closer to an APS-C sensor compact. It shines in studios, landscapes, and deliberate portraiture despite bulkier size and slower operation.
• Opt for the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III if you want versatile travel convenience, cutting-edge video, rapid autofocus, and excellent pocket portability. It’s also better suited for street photography and vlogging.

Neither camera is weather-sealed, so be mindful of shooting conditions. Both have strengths and compromises. The key is matching that to your intended uses - a camera is a tool, not a trophy.

Thanks for reading my detailed comparison. I hope it helps you make the best-informed purchase suited to your shooting style and budget!

All evaluations here are based on hands-on testing over multiple weeks under varying conditions, using RAW and JPEG workflows, alongside industry benchmark data. For more photography gear advice and testing insights, be sure to explore my other reviews.