With excitement many PowerShot G range users new that the popular Canon PowerShot "GXX" Range could not compete against the new generation large sensor Compact System Cameras (CSC). To make it worse, in many cases the CSC camera were carefully positioned in the high end compact segment. Consumers were thus hoping that Canon will do something to improve sensor technology on the future PowerShot G1X range. From the day Olympus launched their excellent high end compact camera, the XZ1, most high end compacts suffered in terms of sales. The reason is that on the one hand, large sensor compacts like the Olympus E-PM1 was staging an excellent alternative to the high end compact user and on the other hand, top performing optics coming from cameras like the Panasonic LX5 and the Olympus XZ1 completely outperformed the outdated optics used in the PowerShot G11/12.

One need to take a closer look at the fast growing CSC market to better understand what the marketing guys at Canon faced when working on the next G series. For example each time I see a iPhone 4S television add I cannot help to wonder how much longer will the traditional compact camera continue to exist. The Compact System Camera which predominantly use the Micro Four-Third sensor, has become a real force plus it has become a lucrative fast growing segment in the camera industry. We saw Nikon reacting by launching its own small sensor type CSC solution. Nikon had obvious expectations of what this new market could do for the brand. Looking at the pricing and the range Nikon probably thought it is a profitable segment and that image quality are not that critical, hence the new "small" sized sensor. Pentax marketing had a similar opinion of the CSC market. It is only those who had been in this segment long enough that really know how competitive and tough the CSC segment is. I cannot help to think of brands like Samsung, Fuji and Leica when thinking of additional aspects this segment pose to the manufacturer and which needs consideration when planning something new like the upgraded PowerShot G series. Lets have a quick look at the actual sensor sizes and just by how much these sensors differ in size.

We saw how difficult it was for the Four-Thirds sensor to establish itself in the market and how much more difficulty it was for the four-thirds sensor to be recognized as a full grown D-SLR sensor. The Nikon SCS sensor is smaller by a similar margin to the Four-Thirds sensor as what the four-thirds sensor is to the APC sized sensor. One could therefore expect IQ improvements moving from the Nikon CSC sized sensor to the micro four-thirds or to the APC sensor. To help you get a better understanding of what these ratios mean in real life, I like to invite you to read the many reviews in the media that discuss these same aspects in literally tens of CSC related reviews over the last seven years.

The traditional APC sized sensor, the four-thirds sensor and the recent smaller sized Nikon CSC sensor, all fits in-between the new PowerShot G1X sensor and the older PowerShot G12 sensor in terms of physical size. Did Canon plan this to reinforce the impact sensor size has on image quality? Did they think that by doing this they could lift the new G1X into a completely new level in terms of image quality? Personally I do not think that was what Canon intended, I think it is more a case of not using an existing format plus the "new" sensor was most probably already available from Canon's laboratories.

By using the existing APC sized sensor in something like a supercharged G12 could degrade the existing APC sized D-SLR market many believe and on the other hand using the four-thirds or Nikon CSC sensor in the new G1X would add credibility to these sensors, a risk to high to take. Was it really a risk? Looking at the sensor in general like we did to this point, it does provide the reader with one side of the equation only and I realize that. In a way it does also help to put things into perspective, sensor size was always used by the media to argue camera performance and image quality. Think of small DR, noise and so many things that were always linked to the "small" four thirds sensor;-) Just think of it, who will be next to receive the new sensor, will it be the D SLR range….no that is too much…..lets go take pictures...

The concern I have with the new PowerShot G1X is that I do not believe the camera will physically benefit or augment the new sensor. If Canon for example rather stayed with the smaller sized Nikon CSC sensor then it would have given both Nikon and Canon more credibility. This would help Canon to keep the physical size of the PowerShot G1X small plus it would have helped Canon to use and design a really top class lens to round of the new PowerShot G1X package. If Canon then later introduced a real new CSC solution, similar to what Samsung has, then they would have had a large sensor high end compact camera solution plus a new APC sized CSC solution. Most interesting would be the fact that then they would have effectively continued to degrade both the four-thirds and the Nikon CSC sensor sizes plus they would have had a real chance at the CSC market.

We have seen that the market is extremely demanding and that drivers like innovation plus good ideas make or break new camera models and new market segments. Speed is also important and its important that manufacturers do the right thing at the right time. If not, they really risk not being a part of a particular segment. We saw these mistakes happen in the past and some of the players still today pay the price for either being late or making incorrect decisions.

The range finder has a new meaning with what Leica did in the past. In addition companies like Fuji added a different View Finder technology and recently launched the X100 and X10 series. Without saying much, how does the new G1X optical view finder compare to these existing players?

I have no doubt that the new G1X will be a great extra large compact camera and its images will most probably be really good. I cannot help thinking that the dynamic range of these images will be awesome, especially if one take into account the sensor size. At the same time I cannot help thinking about the actual size of this new beast. Would the image quality be that much worse using the CSC sensor from Nikon, would that enable a better lens technology and finally what about the horrible OVF we know from G7 days, did anything changed in later models? Think of the new G1X as a street racer, something with only the driver seat, no trimmings, big powerful motor and much performance….

Guys if the prize tag was less than $400 then I would take some time to think about it, if its anything more I will seriously look for something else……. What type of accessories could one expect, add-on or clip-on wide angle adapters plus zoom adapters, leather bag?

Siegfried