The G1 X handles high-ISO-sensitivity shots with aplomb.
Lori Grunin
I've been reviewing hardware and software, devising testing methodology and handed out buying advice for what seems like forever; I'm currently absorbed by computers and gaming hardware, but previously spent many years concentrating on cameras. I've also volunteered with a cat rescue for over 15 years doing adoptions, designing marketing materials, managing volunteers and, of course, photographing cats.
The G1 X does produce very good JPEGs up through ISO 1600, which is excellent for this class of camera. Though decent raw-processing software isn't yet available, given Canon's history I'd say that you probably won't be able to eke better performance out of the raw versions, just different trade-offs.
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JPEG quality, ISO 400
Just an example of the midrange ISO sensitivity quality at macro distances.
(1/60 sec, F4.5, ISO 100, spot metering AWB, approx 44mm)
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JPEG quality, ISO 800
This photo is a little softer than I'd like, though it's still pretty good for ISO 800.
(1/60 sec, F4.0, ISO 800, evaluative metering, AWB, 28mm)
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Noise, ISO 3200
Even ISO 3200 JPEG shots can be quite usable. You can see a little color noise (look at the whites of his eyes) and clipping in the shadows, but the edges and color look pretty good and there's none of that mushy watercolor effect produced by overcompression in the luminance channel.
(1/30 sec, F2.8, ISO 3200, spot metering, AWB, 28mm)
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G1 X vs. X100, ISO 3200
There's a lot of factors that go into high-ISO-sensitivity image quality. Here, I suspect that the X100 delivers better results not just because of the size of the sensor--it's bigger--but because it has a brighter, faster lens.
The cheaper Olympus E-PL3 displays more color noise in its JPEGs than the G1 X. But the beauty of the ILC is that you can always buy a better lens and improve the results a bit; you can't do that with the G1 X.
(1/60 sec, F5.6, ISO 100, evaluative metering, AWB, approx 79mm)
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Handheld NightScene mode
This was shot using the G1 X's Handheld NightScene mode, which combines 3 shots for a reasonably exposed night shot. On one hand, it's kind of mushy; on the other, it's equivalent to ISO 12800. One thing to watch out for is motion; those blobs in the lower right of the photo are a couple of people walking through the scene.
(1/20 sec, F5.6, ISO 12800, evaluative metering, AWB, approx 99mm)
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Bokeh
Like a lot of fixed-lens cameras, the out-of-focus highlights look more processed than organic aperture, but it's not bad.
(1/30 sec, F5.0, ISO 100, evaluative metering, AWB, approx 57mm)
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Distortion
While the lens is slow, it has a reasonable amount of barrel distortion at its widest. However in the middle of the range, the edge-to-edge sharpness isn't as good as I'd like it to be (not shown).
(1/30 sec, F6.3, ISO 100, spot metering AWB, 28mm)
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Miniature effect
An example of the camera's faux tilt/shift effect.
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Toy camera effect
Canon's Toy Camera effect allows you to select from three sets of color tones: warm, standard, and cool.
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Monochrome
You can choose from three monochrome color schemes, black and white, cool (cyanotype), and sepia. You can't control the contrast, though, and I wasn't thrilled with the odd infrared-look of the background.
