• 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.0 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 112.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • 28.00mm - 84.00mm (35mm eq.)

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Differences

Pentax MX-1 advantages over Canon G9X

  • In-camera panoramas
    Yes vs No
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • More telephoto lens reach
    112 mm vs 84 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 290 vs 220 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/8000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon G9X advantages over Pentax MX-1

  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    1 inch vs 1/1.7 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 2.41 vs 1.90 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Touchscreen
    Touch vs No touch
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Wi-Fi vs None
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • Higher effective ISO
    495 vs 208 iso
    Take photos in low light with less noise
  • Thinner
    30 mm vs 51 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    206g vs 399g
    Lighter weight
  • More pixels
    20.2 vs 12.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    6.5 fps vs 4.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Both provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • RAW file ability
    Both provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Manual focus
    Both provide
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Integrated ND filter
    Both provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Canon G9X (Silver)
  • Canon G9X (Silver)
  • Canon G9X (Black)
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Review Excerpt

  • Good image quality for a compact camera in its class; Sharp, bright f/1.8-2.5 lens with 4x optical zoom; Cool retro-styled design with brass top and bottom plates; Tilting LCD; Exposure compensation dial; Speedy and accurate autofocus; Full HD video recording.

  • Image detail starts dropping off noticeably above ISO 800, and noise becomes problematic at ISO 3200 and beyond; Sluggish cycle times and burst performance; Issues with purple fringing in some shooting scenarios; Heavier and larger than other cameras in its class.

  • Read our Pentax MX-1 Express Review

  • Smallest 1-inch sensor camera available; Slips in a pants pocket almost unnoticed; Bright lens at wide-angle; Great image quality; Swift 6.5 fps JPEG burst shooting; Intuitive touch-screen control; In-camera Wi-Fi gets images onto your phone easily

  • Limited 3x zoom range; Tighter wide-angle than competitors; JPEG buffer limited to 10 frames; very slow bracketing / raw burst shooting; Touch-screen menus take lots of tapping; Poor battery life

  • Read our Canon G9X Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus XZ-2

Pentax MX-1
Olympus XZ-2
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Shoots 60p video
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Touchscreen
  • Hot shoe

Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Olympus XZ-2

Canon G9X
Olympus XZ-2
  • $369
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $470
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen

Compare Canon G9X vs Olympus XZ-2

Compared to Canon G15

Pentax MX-1
Canon G15
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Canon G15

Canon G9X
Canon G15
  • $369
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $650
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon G15

Compared to Canon S110

Pentax MX-1
Canon S110
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $249
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Slower slow-motion

Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Canon S110

Canon G9X
Canon S110
  • $369
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $249
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Shoots 24p video

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon S110

Compared to Canon G16

Pentax MX-1
Canon G16
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Slower slow-motion

Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Canon G16

Canon G9X
Canon G16
  • $369
  • 1 inch
  • Larger sensor
  • Less expensive
  • $499
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • Eye-level viewfinder
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon G16

Compared to Canon G9X Mark II

Pentax MX-1
Canon G9X Mark II
  • $399
  • 1/1.7 inch
  • In-camera panoramas
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $449
  • 1 inch
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor

Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Canon G9X Mark II

Canon G9X
Canon G9X Mark II
  • $369
  • 1 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger RAW buffer
  • $449
  • 1 inch
  • Fast startup
  • Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon G9X Mark II

Compare Other Cameras?