Canon G5X Review

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Basic Specifications
Full model name:	Canon PowerShot G5 X
Resolution:	20.20 Megapixels
Sensor size:	1 inch (13.2mm x 8.8mm)
Lens:	4.20x zoom (24-100mm eq.)
Viewfinder:	EVF / LCD
Native ISO:	125 - 12,800
Extended ISO:	125 - 12,800
Shutter:	1/2000 - 30 sec
Max Aperture:	1.8
Dimensions:	4.4 x 3.0 x 1.7 in. (112 x 76 x 44 mm)
Weight:	13.3 oz (377 g) includes batteries
Availability:	11/2015
Manufacturer:	Canon
Full specs:	Canon G5X specifications

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Canon G5X

G5X Deals

20.20 Megapixels	4.20x zoom	1 inch size sensor

G5X Summary

The Canon G5X proves to be a more user-friendly and enhanced version of the G7X. With many more controls, a vari-angle LCD, an OLED viewfinder, a flash hot shoe, and additional enhancements to the camera body design and layout, the G5X takes what's good about the G7X and puts it in a more photographer-oriented camera body. The 20MP sensor and 31-point AF system deliver good, sharp images across a wide variety of situations. The 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 equivalent lens may not be perfect, but it does capture good images throughout its focal length range. While not as compact as its G7X counterpart, the G5X is an impressive fixed-lens compact camera that provides users plenty of capability and control.

Pros

Photographer-friendly controls; Good OLED viewfinder; Good image quality with sharp detail especially with RAW; Vari-angle touchscreen display.

Cons

Only 31 autofocus points; Subpar continuous shooting performance; Soft corners at wide-angle; Flare issues and fringing shooting wide-open; No 4K video; Poor battery life.

Price and availability

Available since November 2015, the Canon G5X is sold in black for $800 USD, although it can be found for around $750.

Imaging Resource rating

4.0 out of 5.0

Canon G5X Review

by Mike Tomkins, Jeremy Gray, Zig Weidelich, and William Brawley
Overview originally posted: 10/13/2015

Updates:
11/23/2015: Performance test results posted
12/30/2015: Field Test, by Jeremy Gray posted
01/29/2016: Image Quality Comparison and Print Quality posted
02/03/2016: Review Conclusion posted

Think quick, enthusiasts: If you didn't buy the Canon G7X, what would you choose as the single most important reason for your decision? If you said "The lack of a viewfinder", you wouldn't be alone.

While the competing Sony RX100 III and IV both include pop-up electronic finders, and the Panasonic LX100 has an always-ready electronic viewfinder projecting from the top left corner of its rear deck, the Canon G7X was conspicuous in lacking one. That meant you had to shoot at arm's length, hardly the favored posture for experienced shooters.

Now, the Canon G5X is here to rectify that omission. Not only does its angular body sport a built-in viewfinder, it actually places it right over the central axis of the lens, rather than shoe-horning it off to one side as do rivals.

And a glance at the G5X's body, which is absolutely replete with controls, is enough to confirm that a viewfinder isn't the only way that Canon is courting more experienced shooters this time around. With dials front and rear, a lens ring and dedicated exposure compensation dial, this is a camera designed to keep you out of the menu system and in touch with your subjects. A built-in grip should also help make it a more comfortable camera to shoot with than was the G7X.

It's the viewfinder that will grab the headlines, though. Housed in a pentaprism-like hump over the lens, it's based around a 2.36-million dot Organic LED panel. That's the same resolution as the well-received EVF-DC1 viewfinder accessory for the PowerShot G1X Mark II, but since it uses an OLED rather than an LCD panel, it's said to be both brighter and more colorful.

Of course, nothing comes for free, and the downside of the viewfinder and added controls is a much bulkier camera than the Canon G7X. At 0.3 inches wider, 0.4 inches taller and 0.1 inches deeper than the G7X, the Canon G5X is not going to fit in anything smaller than a coat pocket. If you plan to have it in-hand shooting the whole time, though, that may not be such a big concern. It's certainly still far smaller than an interchangeable-lens camera plus a similar lens.

Speaking of the lens, it's the same Canon-branded 4.2x optical zoom unit that was used in the G7X, complete with a 24-100mm equivalent focal range and bright f/1.8-2.8 maximum aperture. Image stabilization is included, as is a nine-bladed, rounded aperture. The lens also features a built-in neutral density filter for extra exposure control in bright environments.

In other respects, too, the imaging pipeline is identical to that of the G7X. The Canon G5X sports the same 20.2-megapixel, backside-illuminated CMOS image sensor as used in the earlier camera, widely reported -- but I don't believe ever officially confirmed -- to be a Sony chip as featured in the RX100 II and RX100 III.

Output from this chip is handled by the same DIGIC 6 image processor as in the G3X and G7X, too. And just as in those cameras, the pairing yields a sensitivity range of ISO 125 to 12,800 equivalents. (That's also the same native sensitivity range as provided by the RX100 III and IV, although Sony's cameras do allow a slight ISO expansion at either end of the range, which the Canon G5X doesn't do.)

Another big difference from the G7X that makes the newer camera much more versatile is the Canon G5X's LCD panel articulation mechanism. Just as in the G7X, the panel itself is a 3.0" high-resolution, 720 x 480 pixel array, but where in the earlier model it only flipped upwards, in the G5X has what Canon calls a vari-angle design.

Essentially, it's a side-mounted tilt/swivel that provides for viewing and framing from a much greater range of angles, all while still providing for selfie shooting as well. And as if that wasn't enough, it's also a touch-screen that serves as an input device.

Fans of throwing a little more light on their subjects will appreciate not only that there's a lift-up flash on top of the viewfinder housing, but also a hot shoe compatible with EX-series Speedlites.

The Canon G5X shown with its unobtrusive lift-up flash on top of the EVF.

You can, of course, shoot movies in-camera, but the Canon G5X won't attempt to rival the Sony RX100 IV in this department, even though it's actually a larger camera: 4K capture isn't possible. Instead, Canon opts for 1080p60 or below. You will, however, be able to control both focus and exposure of your movies manually, should you wish. Both NTSC and PAL frame rates are included, incidentally, so if you want to shoot for relatives overseas the G5X should also support their TVs.

Power is provided by a proprietary NB-13L lithium-ion battery pack, the same battery as the G7X uses. The G5X's battery life is similar, CIPA-rated at only 210 shots per charge using the LCD monitor, and 215 with the EVF, though there is an ECO mode rated at 320 shots.

And for charging, Canon is giving the best of both worlds with a standalone bundled charger that lets you leave a second pack charging while you're out shooting with your camera, while also supporting in-camera USB charging for those who want to pack light. (You'll need to supply your own USB cable, though, as there isn't one included in the box.)

Storage is on standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with support for faster UHS-I types, and both JPEG and raw formats are provided.

Like the G7X, the Canon G5X features both Wi-Fi and NFC wireless connectivity to help get your photos off the camera and onto your smartphone, as well as remotely control the camera. Wired connectivity consists of a USB 2.0 Micro-B port, a Micro HDMI (Type-D) port, and a wired remote jack.

Available since November 2015 and priced at US$800, the Canon G5X is sold only in a black-bodied version.

Canon G5X Field Test

A viewfinder & more features make this a solid compact camera

by Jeremy Gray | 12/30/2015

Introduction
Following 2014's Canon G7X, the Canon PowerShot G5X uses the same image sensor, autofocus system, and processor as the G7X, but makes numerous changes to the camera body that make the G5X more enjoyable to use out in the field. The addition of an electronic viewfinder (a first for a Canon G-series PowerShot camera) and a fully-articulating rear display are particularly nice additions, but there is also a new front grip and more buttons to give photographers additional comfort and control.

Viewfinder and grip make the G5X a nice camera body
The Canon PowerShot G5X is a bit larger than its G7X sibling, but the G5X remains a relatively compact camera. At 13.3 ounces (377 grams), the G5X weighs 2.6 ounces (74 grams) more than the G7X and is 0.3 inches wider, 0.4 inches taller, and 0.1 inches deeper. Where the G5X looks the most different from the G7X is on the top of the camera because unlike the G7X, the G5X has an electronic viewfinder.

Read our Canon G5X Field Test

Canon G5X Image Quality Comparison

Let's compare image quality to competing models

by Zig Weidelich | 01/29/2016

Here we present crops from our laboratory Still Life target comparing Canon G5X image quality with the Canon G7X, Canon G9X, Fuji X30, Panasonic LX100, and Sony RX100 IV. The Canon G7X and G9X are both siblings using the same sensor, and the others are a few competitors to the G5X.

NOTE: These images are best quality JPEGs straight out of the camera, at default settings including noise reduction and using the camera's actual base ISO (not extended ISO settings). Clicking any crop will take you to a carrier page where you can click once again to access the full resolution image as delivered straight from the camera. For those interested in working with the RAW files involved, click these links to visit each camera's respective sample image thumbnail page: Canon G5X, Canon G7X, Canon G9X, Fuji X30, Panasonic LX100, and Sony RX100 IV -- links to the RAW files appear beneath those for the JPEG images, wherever we have them. And remember, you can always go to our world-renowned Comparometer to compare the Canon G5X to any camera we've ever tested.

See our Canon G5X Image Quality Comparison

Canon G5X Print Quality

But how does it do on paper?

by William Brawely | 01/29/2016

Print quality and image quality are similar but not identical, because what you see on a print isn't always the same as what you see on the screen. Our print quality analysis answers the important question: "Just how big can I print my photos at higher ISOs?"

The Canon G5X offers nice performance with prints, especially at lower ISOs. Base ISO and ISO 200 images resolve a lot of detail and display great colors, which allow for large prints up to 24 x 36 inches. Moving up the ISO scale, the noise increases, as expected, but it mostly stays under control thanks to decent noise reduction processing -- but at the expense of some fine detail. At ISO 1600, for example, the G5X still manages a nice 11 x 14 inch print. The camera also manages a rather crisp and clean 8 x 10 at ISO 3200, and manages an acceptable 4 x 6 at ISO 6400. The G5X's top ISO of 12,800 should be avoided for prints if possible, however.

Read our Canon G5X Print Quality Analysis!

Canon G5X Conclusion

Enthusiast-oriented design meets G7X quality & performance

by Jeremy Gray | 02/03/2016

The Canon PowerShot G5X combines the backside-illuminated 20.2-megapixel 1"-type sensor and 24-100mm equivalent lens from the G7X with a newly-designed camera body to create an impressive compact camera that should satisfy more experienced photographers.

A camera body that aims to satisfy experienced photographers
When Canon released the PowerShot G7X in October of 2014, many people lamented the lack of a viewfinder. With the release of the PowerShot G5X this past November, this omission has been addressed with the addition of a 2.36-million-dot OLED EVF. The viewfinder generally performs well, although it was sluggish at times and struggled to keep up with fast action. When using the electronic viewfinder rather than the fully articulating touchscreen display, battery life improves slightly from 210 to 215 shots according to CIPA numbers, but that's still pretty poor. The camera does however provide an 'Eco mode,' which significantly improves battery life to approximately 320 shots when using the LCD.

Read our Canon G5X Conclusion

In the Box

The Canon PowerShot G5X retail box includes (may vary by region):

Canon PowerShot G5 X digital camera
NB-13L Lithium-ion battery pack
CB-2LH battery charger
NS-DC12 neck strap
Strap adapter

Recommended Accessories

Large capacity SDHC/SDXC memory card. We recommend 16GB as a minimum capacity. Speed Class 10 or higher is required for recording Full HD movies.
Extra NB-13L battery pack (~US$50)
Micro-B USB and Micro HDMI cables
Camera case