CANON POWERSHOT G5 X

By Unsealed 4X4 5 Min Read

A perfect little travelling companion. The G5 X is a great compact that packs some punch!

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For the past few trips we’ve done on Pat Callinan’s 4X4 Adventures we have been playing around with this little camera; and we are impressed. In fact, it has been nearly impossible to peel it out of Pat’s hands and it has become a running joke – he has threatened to sack us all and replace us (two cinematographers and one stills shooter) with the Canon G5 X.

 

Jokes aside though, this is great little camera that we have all enjoyed using. Not only for the end results but also for the feel of it. Pat has enjoyed the camera from more of a no-fuss point-and-shoot viewpoint, we have been using the manual controls as well. No matter what your skill level, this camera is fun and easy to use.

 

The Nitty Gritty

Featuring a 20.2MP one-inch sensor, 24-100mm lens and 1080 (HD) video it sits fairly well in line with its competitors. Being a compact, the f1.8-f2.8 lens is non-interchangeable. Sitting atop the class-leading electronic viewfinder (which is very nice to use, well positioned, vibrant and clear) is a hot-shoe mount for extra flash lighting – a nice touch, which makes this compact a good choice for those looking for more versatility. The in-built flash is not motorised; you have to physically open it if required.

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Image stabilisation is a given these days, and the G5 X does not miss out – with intelligent five-axis optical stabilisation. The moveable three-inch rear touch screen makes menu navigation and difficult shots easy; placing the camera on the ground we were able to angle the screen upward, compose the shot and achieve good results. Likewise, holding the camera overhead, we were able to do the same … not to mention the ability to easily take selfies.

 

The actual feel of the camera is a standout for us. Most compacts are awkward and unnatural to hold due to their small size. The addition of the front hand grip on the G5 X is an absolute winner, and together with intuitive easy-to-reach controls it makes using the camera very comfortable. While the G5 X is capable of 4.6 frames per second in burst mode, the actual buffering time in between shots is a little slow. Capturing continual fast-paced action is not the camera’s strong point.

 

Being able to capture good images is what really matters and the G5 X does that well. In-camera rendering produced good quality jpeg files. Shooting in RAW format we discovered that post-production (using Adobe Lightroom) revealed no nasty issues. Low-light (high-ISO) shots were easily recovered as were all other parameters. Sensor and lens quality are both good, and on-par with expectations.

 

Video performance is pleasing. Although not offering 4K video, we found it produced good results in all conditions. Focus, even in low light, was easily achieved. For those looking for creative modes, there are plenty to choose from. While we did not explore all of the options, we found many interesting effects; enough to satisfy the most psychedelic social media poster.

 

Summary

The Canon Powershot G5 X is a very nice camera that produces great results. The standout attribute is the overall experience and ease-of-use. For somebody looking for a compact travel companion this is a great choice; whether you’re a novice or a more experienced operator. The only downside is the slightly slow in-camera processing.

 

What we liked:

  • Feel and grip
  • Easy to use
  • Hot-shoe mount
  • Creative modes
  • Low-light performance
  • Price
  • Three-inch pivoting touch screen

 

What we Disliked:

  • Battery life
  • Average processing speed

 

For more information visit: canon.com.au

 


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