A New Canon G1X, Mark II
A few years ago, I purchased a Canon G1X, a large sensor compact camera. Its image quality and portability are highly enjoyable. After I gave it as a gift, I found another one on eBay and purchased it. Recently, I received as a gift the new and improved Canon G1X Mark II. In the last three weeks or so, I have been photographing with it whenever possible. The first round of photographs was around the house, in the garden, and of course a willing subject Pasha, our miniature Schnauzer.
The camera has several improvements and a few other things that need further work. This post is not a review of the camera but about my experiences with it, what features I like, and what features don’t work as well. So, if something is omitted don’t think that it was due to an oversight; I might not use that feature, or there is nothing noteworthy about it from my usage perspective.
Improved Canon G1X Body
The Canon G1X body is now a little smaller, with cleaner lines. The small size also comes with the drawback that holding it is not as comfortable as the original Canon G1X. With the electronic viewfinder attached, the camera may have become a little bigger than the former model. Although the EVF is removable, it is not as convenient as a built-in one. I do like the EVF though, I find shooting with stretched arms looking into the viewing screen a little awkward. Call me a traditionalist but I like holding the camera to my eye. Even with the original Canon G1X, I used its optical viewfinder even though it did not show the full capture.
I like the new rings around the lens barrel, especially the ability to program the assigned functions. The step zoom function was a feature in the original and I was happy to see that I could assign it to one of the rings. However, for some reason I cannot explain, the firmware does not allow me to assign the step zoom function to the inner ring in all shooting modes. That would be a welcome feature if a firmware update could take care of that. I would like to program the ring and forget about it. Now, I need to remember that in some shooting modes that ring does something different.
The built-in flash works fine with an undocumented feature. Since it pops up on an articulated joint, I can gently pull it back to point it upwards or to an in-between angle. I realize that it will lose some power but for some subjects, it will be a very handy feature. Just be careful when you pull it backward!
The picture quality is particularly good, I will share three collections with you below and you will see them for yourselves. At times I have difficulty in getting sharply focused photographs but so far I have attributed that to my ability to hold it steady. I have checked to make sure the Servo Focus was not turned on, it is not. The battery life was documented elsewhere, and I can attest to that, it could be a little longer lasting. I don’t quite understand the reason to change the battery every time a new camera is designed. Why could the camera manufacturers not establish a few standard sizes and stick with that? Oh, well …
While on the subject of standards, I also do not understand why the bottom plate configuration changes that frequently as well. Moving the tripod screw hole screws us up as each new body needing a new Arca-Swiss type plate. There is not even a plate for this camera from any one of the providers, like Really Right Stuff, or Kirk Photo.
The first set will show you a few things from in and around the house, meet Pasha, see the yard, and a few views from our neighborhood
Buttonwood Farms
We went to the Buttonwood Farms where they raise sunflowers for their cattle. It is a nice scene but does not change from year to year. So, I took a few photographs, like the one with a fly on the upper leaf and a group of sunflowers, in a state of confusion, not knowing which direction to turn their heads. But the real find was on the way back when we made a pit stop.
At the gas station were two hot-rod cars restored and beefed up with remarkable restraint. Enjoy the Buick and the Chevy. If you are wondering why I took the window blinds photograph, part of the reason is in the title. The other part is that not everything in life is as tidy as we think they are, the tilt signifies that to me.
Down at Fort Wetherill
Yesterday my friend Jim asked if I wanted to go to Fort Wetherill, a Coast Artillery that has seen several stages of function. Now, the bunkers serve as graffiti galleries with countless art, or junk depending on how you look at it. This was a discovery trip to make sure I can make it from the parking lot to the bunker for a future photo session. That was not a problem, I made it fine to the first bunker, looked around, and inside the dark, at times pitch black rooms. You will see how dark they can be.
Many of the photographs I took there were shot at ISO 3200, the Canon G1X Mark II performed admirably. Then Jim drove to Providence to see the demolition of an old warehouse building on Allens Avenue. We chatted with a couple of foremen and then proceeded to do some scouting in the quaint Pawtuxet Village, which is near our houses. We will have a photo session there next week and we wanted to find suitable locations. Jim, living practically in the Village, has many contacts and will arrange a couple of nice locations for us.
Here are some photographs from this outing. Collectively, these should give you an idea not only of my neighborhood and the places we visit, but also what this little camera can do. It may surprise you to find out. If only Canon could adjust the firmware a bit more …