Canon G1X Mark II vs Sony A1

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon G1X Mark II vs Sony A1

Leave Feedback

1.5 inch 233.8mm²
13.1 megapixels
24.00mm - 120.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G1X Mark II Review.
How does it shoot? Canon G1X Mark II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the G1X Mark II.
Compare Canon G1X Mark II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon G1X Mark II conclusion.

35mm 861.6mm²
50.1 megapixels
ISO 100 - 32,000

Go in depth with our full Sony A1 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the A1.
Compare Sony A1 image quality against competitors.

Buy From

Differences

Canon G1X Mark II advantages over Sony A1

Less expensive
$599 vs $4998
Save money for lenses or accessories
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Lighter weight
563g vs 737g
Lighter weight
Has anti-aliasing filter
Filter vs No Filter
Reduces unsightly moiré in photos
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger JPEG buffer
Unlimited vs 165 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
Unlimited vs 155 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Sony A1 advantages over Canon G1X Mark II

Larger sensor
35mm vs 1.5 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Shoot 4K video
No vs 1080p
Make sure you have a fast computer
Built-in Bluetooth
Yes vs No
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Yes vs No
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

530 vs 240 shots
Capture more photos
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Newer
4 years vs 11 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
More pixels
50.1 vs 13.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Lacks anti-aliasing filter
No Filter vs Filter
Enjoy sharper photos
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Faster JPEG shooting
30.0 fps vs 5.3 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
20.0 fps vs 1.4 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/32000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
102400 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
Touchscreen
Both provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Tiltable Screen
Both provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Both provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
Top deck display
Neither provide
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera

User reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read A1 User Reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Canon G1X Mark II

Canon G1X Mark II

All G1X Mark II Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Sony A1

Body Only

All A1 Deals

Review Excerpt

Wider, longer, faster lens than predecessor, with good overall optical quality; Faster AF performance; Closer macro shooting; Built-in Wi-Fi and NFC with remote shooting; Decent JPEG burst performance; Excellent build quality.
Localized flare issue when wide open; No real net improvement in image quality over predecessor; Slow burst mode when shooting RAW files; Poor battery life; Video quality is so-so (not like Canon DSLRs).
Read our Canon G1X Mark II Review

We haven’t finished our review of the Sony A1, but we have extensive sample photos and a hands-on report.
Read our Sony A1 Shooter's Report

The Competition

Compared to Panasonic LX100

Canon G1X Mark II

Panasonic LX100

$599
1.5 inch

Touchscreen
Tiltable Screen

$598
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Panasonic LX100

Sony A1

Panasonic LX100

$5498
35mm

Larger sensor
Touchscreen

$598
4/3

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A1 vs Panasonic LX100

Compared to Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

Canon G1X Mark II

Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

$599
1.5 inch

Less expensive
Touchscreen

$875
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

Sony A1

Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

$5498
35mm

Larger sensor
Touchscreen

$875
4/3

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A1 vs Leica D-LUX (Typ 109)

Compared to Panasonic LX100 II

Canon G1X Mark II

Panasonic LX100 II

$599
1.5 inch

Less expensive
Bigger pixels

$898
4/3

Eye-level viewfinder
Shoot 4K video

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Panasonic LX100 II

Sony A1

Panasonic LX100 II

$5498
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$898
4/3

Less expensive
In-camera panoramas

Compare Sony A1 vs Panasonic LX100 II

Compared to Sony A7R IV

Canon G1X Mark II

Sony A7R IV

$599
1.5 inch

Less expensive
Internal flash

$3120
35mm

Larger sensor
Eye-level viewfinder

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Sony A7R IV

Sony A1

Sony A7R IV

$5498
35mm

Slower slow-motion
Longer video battery life

$3120
35mm

Less expensive
High resolution composite

Compare Sony A1 vs Sony A7R IV

Compared to Canon R5

Canon G1X Mark II

Canon R5

$599
1.5 inch

Less expensive
NFC

$3349
35mm

Larger sensor
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Canon R5

Sony A1

Canon R5

$5498
35mm

Slower slow-motion
NFC

$3349
35mm

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Sony A1 vs Canon R5

Compare Other Cameras?