Canon PowerShot G1X Review

Hi,
I got one 2 months ago.
After familarizing with, I was absolutly bluffed by image quality (RAW, I never shoot JPEG), the resolution, the absence of noise.
Just two negative aspects: bulky and heavy

To me, cameras fall into 3 categories. (1) pocketable, (2) compact, but not pocketable, (3) huge.
To me, pocketable is essential for street photography and some tourist photos. All I need do is always get the best performance camera that is still pocketable, and that inevitably means the largest in that category. The G series filled that bill for me. I have the G9 but no reason to upgrade until the G1X. I was foolish enough to let eager anticipation blind me to the fact that the G1X has crossed into the compact but not pocketable category. Well, one might as well select the camera with the best performance then. The Sony NEX 5N should be a far better choice - larger sensor, sweep panorama, macro (G1X does not do macro, whatever Canon may say), and interchangeable lens.

The simple fact that - in low light - Canon G1X looses to Panasonic GX1 in spite of relying on a considerably larger sensor is a clear indicator that Canon has created a brand-new camera sporting an "old" sensor.
The comparison with a last-generation m4/3 sensor will be even more humiliating for Canon when DXO Mark will have Olympus M5D test available.
Very stupid of Canon, I think: with G1X they have shown they can produce a very large-sensor compact equipped with a good, small zoom-lens. If G1X sensor (and data processing power) were "top notch", all m4/3 EVILS would be easily beaten on all terrains, except flexibility (lens interchangeability). And most users would go for G1X because most don't need interchangeable lenses when they have a nice zoom-lens. As things are, though, I would rather go for a last-generation EVF-equipped m4/3 EVIL camera: either Panasonic G3 or - with a larger budget - Olympus M5D.

My macro does not seem to work on my Canon G1x.  How do I test the camera?

The Fuji is 25% more expensive than the Canon, how are these cameras comparable?  What's next, a comparison between a Canon SX130 and a Nikon D7000? Totally different beasts.  I've got a preorder placed for the G1X to add to my bag as a portable, travel camera when I don't want to use my 7D.  I wanted something with some type of zoom, large, high quality sensor, manual controls, hotshoe, IS, and moderately fast glass... the G1X fits the bill perfectly.  Something I can stick in my jacket pocket while I travel and still get great photos.  The Fuji might be great if you're fine taking shots at one focal length.. I don't think that will work well for travel.

If this camera doesn't provide much more than compact size and DIGIC5 processing, why then the high price? It seems to sport similar (dated) sensor technology of the 7D and a cheap plastic body too?

A rebel T3i kit can be had for about $100 less. Except for the large APS wafer, I would have thought the SLR-mirror- and lens mount mechanics to form rather an expensive portion of the price of a DSLR body, or am I mistaken?  I presume the glass in the G1X is no more special than that found in a standard kit lens?

I absolutely love the concept, though! IMO it makes way more sense than than a CSC! If only it were released at least $100 less, I would have bought one for Christmas if the price dropped to $600!

You wrote that the Canon G1X is "The best compact camera ever made", but you seem to have forgotten the Fuji X100, which is less high, less deep and only slightly wider. If the G1X is to be considered a compact camera, then the Fuji also has to be.

"You have a reflex-quality sensor in camera of the same volume as a G11."
No you don't, the GX1 is much bigger than the G-series.