The PowerShot G5 X from Canon is an advanced compact camera with a large image sensor and a fast zoom lens. It pairs a 20.2MP 1-inch CMOS sensor with a short zoom lens. “Combined with the DIGIC 6 image processor, the Canon HS SYSTEM provides improved low-light performance, faster response times, and Full HD 1080p/60 video recording capabilities.
Its optical zoom lens, with an equivalent focal length range of 24-100mm, matches the variety of the camera’s photography capabilities. Moreover, with an aperture range of f/1.8-2.8, photographers can manage depth of focus and operate in low-light circumstances.
Canon PowerShot G5 X
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A high-resolution 2.36 million-dot electronic viewfinder and a 3.0-megapixel camera are included. “For monitoring and image review, a 1.04m-dot multi-angle LCD is available, and built-in Wi-Fi with Nwi-flows you to wirelessly share imagery with a smartphone, tablet, or the Connect Station CS100.
The G5 X is built around a powerful sensor and processor combo, providing excellent photographic capabilities, valuable shooting control, and sharing features.
The G5 X has been equipped with many physical controls, including an exposure compensation dial, a front dial, a control ring, and a control dial, all designed to make it easier to customize various shooting settings.
A hot shoe has been included in the design for use with an optional external flash. The camera is also compatible with the optional RS-60E3 remote shutter release, allowing wired remote shooting.
Body & Design
The Canon PowerShot G5 X has a metal body with a robust feel and is constructed sturdily. Its dimensions are 112.4 x 76.4 x 44.2 mm, and its weight, with the battery and memory card, is 377 grams.
The G5 X has exterior controls with precisely the correct amount of stiffness and resistance and is large enough to be readily and quickly accessible even when the action is intense. This gives the impression that the product was exceptionally nicely manufactured. When not in use, the Canon PowerShot G5 X may be conveniently stowed away in an oversized jacket pocket or a compact camera bag.
Even while taking RAW photographs, the Canon PowerShot G5 X’s big multi-aspect CMOS sensor, which has 20.2 megapixels, can record images in the 3:2, 4:3, 16:9, or 1:1 aspect ratios while preserving the same field of view. This capability allows the camera to take pictures in various aspect ratios.
The one-inch sensor ought to add up to higher image quality, particularly in low-light conditions, more depth-of-field, and broader dynamic range, all of which are qualities that your standard tiny cameras fail to offer.
Even if adjusting the ISO speed on the G5 X is a rather complicated process, the exposure compensation slider on top of the camera is incredibly convenient. Additionally, the G5 X comes equipped with a high-quality OLED optical viewfinder with a resolution of 2,360K dots and is a joy to employ in practice.
The comprehensive user guide is still only included in a CD, a significant drawback for such a feature-packed camera regarding creative potential. Furthermore, only a very brief written guide on getting started is provided in the package, giving the impression that this was an afterthought. In addition, Canon has recently decided to make its software available exclusively for download on its website.
The 4.2x dominates the unassuming front plate of the Canon PowerShot G5 X, 24-100mm zoom lens, and to the right is a bulb for the built-in self-timer/autofocus assist lamp. Both of these features are located on the same side of the camera. Note that no thread for attaching filters is included in the package. Because the G5 X consists of a front control dial similar to the ones used on EOS DSLR cameras, adjusting the aperture and switching to full Manual shooting mode is straightforward.
Altering the aperture and shutter speed requires a combination of the control ring and the rear navigation wheel. Each of these controls may be customized to fit how you carry out your daily tasks.
The rear navigation wheel on the back seat was a little bit too narrow for us to operate correctly and swiftly. In addition, the ring around the lens may be customized to perform various functions, such as adjusting the ISO speed, focusing, aperture, or shutter speed.
The Canon PowerShot G5 X has a small handgrip that has a rubberized surface, which makes it simple to steady the camera. Additionally, there is a little textured pad at the rear for your right thumb to rest on. Both of these features make it easier to take stable photos.
The shooting mode dial, a small pop-up flash, a springy raised nipple-style shutter release button encircled by a rocker switch for controlling the optically stabilized 4.2x zoom, and below this, a small, recessed on/off button are all located on the top-plate of the G5 X camera.
The fact that the lens is image stabilized, as stated by Canon, provides a four-stop advantage when shooting handheld. At the same time, the Intelligent IS system analyzes the focal length, focal distance, and type of camera movement and applies the most appropriate mode from seven possible settings. Additionally, the Hybrid IS system makes shooting macros easier than before by counteracting both shift and angular movements.
The Canon PowerShot G5 X may be powered on for around a second. At this point, the back LCD begins blinking to indicate that it is operational. The optical zoom lens concurrently extends from its stowed position within the body to its widest-angle position.
It begins at an equivalent of 24mm, which makes it highly helpful for shooting landscapes, groups of people, or achieving the image you need in cramped locations. Furthermore, the lens in the G5 X boasts exceptionally bright apertures that vary from f/1.8 at the wide-angle end of the zoom range to f/2.8 at the complete telephoto end. Additionally, the lens has nine aperture blades for improved bokeh effects.
The function menu has an option for a 3-stop neutral density filter, which may be turned on or off depending on the circumstances. Additionally, the horizontal Electronic Level and the RGB histogram can be set to assist with the composition and exposure, respectively.
The G5 X possesses an excellent continuous shooting mode, which, when combined with Tracking AF, enables the camera to capture high-quality images of both slowly and quickly moving subjects. You can shoot continuously at 3.2 frames per second with autofocus tracking or 5.9 frames per second with JPEG capture using the Canon PowerShot G5 X. JPEG capture locks the focus point at the first frame.
In addition to a user-customizable setting, a smattering of scene modes (a total of eight), Creative Effects and Creative Shot modes, and finally, a video mode, which is activated via the one-touch movie record button on the rear of the camera, the shooting mode dial includes settings for automatic capture, hybrid auto-capture, program capture, shutter priority capture, aperture priority capture, and manual capture.
You can change the aperture, shutter speed, and ISO on the Canon PowerShot, and it also has a manual focus peaking. The Canon PowerShot can record high-definition video in 1080p format with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels at 60, 30, 25, or 24 frames per second. You can access the creative filters and optical zoom when recording video with the G5 X. The stereo sound is produced by a pair of tiny microphones positioned above the lens barrel.
The Creative Filters photography mode gives you ten distinct alternatives to liven up your photographs. The High Dynamic Range option is perhaps the most helpful. It will automatically take three exposures of the same scene at different settings and combine them in-camera to generate a single image with a more extensive range of tonal gradations. Note that to prevent camera shake, you will need to set the G5 X on a tripod or another firm surface.
We were grateful for the versatility of the swiveling LCD panel, which allowed us to experiment with novel and previously brutal ways of framing the image. The LCD monitor has a screen size of three inches, an aspect ratio of three to two, and a high resolution of one million, four hundred thousand dots.
Touch focusing and shooting is a feature available on the Canon PowerShot G5 X, and it is turned on by default. To disable it, go to the main menu and modify the setting for the Touch Shutter option. After that, the screen transforms into a touch-focus screen that will lock onto the subject wherever you touch it. Pressing the Display button will center the AF point on the topic you touched.
During playing, the touchscreen may be used to modify the magnification of a picture by spreading and pinching two fingers. It can also navigate between images by swiping from side to side, similar to how a smartphone works. In addition, you have the option of customizing the touch sensitivity of the LCD to your preferences by selecting either the Standard or High setting.
On the back of the G5 X is a button that allows for a speedy connection to a smartphone or tablet that has been associated with it. For example, you may share photographs using the Up button on the navigation pad. At the same time, they are being played back, thanks to the wireless features of the G5 X. Simply entering a nickname for the camera causes a further five icons to display, each of which may link the G5 X to a different camera, a smartphone, a computer, a printer, or the Internet.
Although the setup for each scenario is relatively straightforward, you will still need a fundamental comprehension of the dynamic protocols. In addition, it is essential to note that to connect the G5 X to an iOS or Android device, you will first need to download and install the free Canon CameraWindow software.
The wi-fi functiwi-fity of the G5 X is also used to tag your images with GPS data recorded by your smartphone (latitude, longitude, altitude, and shooting time) using the Canon CameraWindow app. This effectively replaces a more conventional built-in GPS that would have been included in the camera.
In our experience, GPS is more convenient to build directly into the camera rather than synchronizing it with a separate device. Because of this, the G5 X does not compete well with other cameras on the market that offer this functionality; however, it does avoid the problem of negatively impacting the camera’s battery life.
You can connect it to a compatible Internet-enabled device or another NFC-enabled camera by simply tapping them together thanks to the G5 X’s NFC (Near Field Communication) technology, the same technology used for mobile payments. This technology is the same technology that is used for mobile payments.
Moving to the back of the device, we discover buttons labeled AEL and Focus Area. Below these are buttons labeled Playback and Menu. When you press the Menu button, three submenus appear on the screen: the first is the Shooting menu, which is where features such as the AF assist beam and blink detection modes can be toggled on and off; the second is the Setup menu; which is where good options and LCD brightness can be adjusted; and the third is a ‘My Menu’ option for frequently used features. Pressing the Menu button brings up these three submenus.
The four-way selection or control pad is just above these two controls. It allows the user to pick the ISO speed, choose from the several onboard flash settings, toggle between the One Shot and Continuous AF modes, and activate the normal or the 5cm macro focus modes.
The 31-point autofocus technology of the G5 X can focus remarkably rapidly for a compact camera, regardless of the lighting conditions, whether they are bright or dim, and at both ends of the zoom range, with a minor delay of around 0.15 seconds.
The Q/Set button, typical of Canon’s G-series cameras, may be found in the middle of the control ring; when you press this button in the middle while in any of the capture modes, an L-shaped toolbar familiar to Canon camera users appears on the screen. In addition, pull-out toolbars emerge with further possibilities from the range when you rest on a specific setting.
When viewed from the rear of the camera, the right-hand side of the device houses covered ports for a remote socket, HDMI out, and a combination USB 2.0/AV out connection.
A lithium-ion battery is required for power, and SD, SDHC, or SDXC cards are needed for picture storage. The bottom of the device has a standard metal screw thread for attaching a tripod and a sliding cover for the compartment containing the battery. However, the battery life is low, with just about 200 photos possible from a fully charged battery.
Image Quality
The SuperFine JPEG option at 20 megapixels was used to capture each sample photographs in this study. This setting results in an image that is around 8 megabytes in size on average.
The Canon PowerShot G5 X is capable of producing photographs of exceptionally high quality. Images were captured without any noise from ISO 125–800, but there was noticeable noise at ISO 1600. Although ISO 3200 and 6400 exhibit more noticeable noise, they are still quite acceptable; the fastest level of ISO 12800 should be avoided if possible.
Chromatic aberrations were handled competently by the Canon PowerShot G5 X, with slight purple fringing effects occurring primarily in high-contrast conditions and often at the frame’s corners.
Although there is significant vignetting at 24 millimeters, the built-in flash performed admirably inside, preventing red-eye and providing enough exposure overall. In addition, the night snapshot turned out well thanks to the camera’s maximum shutter speed of 30 seconds and its Bulb mode, allowing for sufficiently lengthy exposures takendark.
When shooting in low-light settings with the camera held by hand or utilizing the telephoto end of the zoom range, anti-shake performs well. Likewise, the macro performance is relatively strong, letting you focus on the topic from a distance as near as 5 centimeters.
The pictures came from the Canon PowerShot G5 X with the default sharpening setting. For the best results, you should perform additional sharpening in an application such as Adobe Photoshop; alternatively, you can adjust the ground directly in the camera. As a result, the pictures were a little soft when they were first taken.
Canon PowerShot G5 X Specs
| Body type | Large sensor compact |
|---|---|
| Max resolution | 5472 x 3648 |
| Other resolutions | 5472 x 3080, 4864 x 3648, 4320 x 2880, 4320 x 2432, 3840 x 2880, 2304 x 1536, 2048 x 1536, 1920 x 1080, 720 x 480, 720 x 408, 640 x 480 |
| Image ratio w:h | 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 |
| Effective pixels | 20 megapixels |
| Sensor photo detectors | 21 megapixels |
| Sensor size | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) |
| Sensor type | BSI-CMOS |
| Processor | DIGIC 6 |
| ISO | Auto, 125-12800 |
| White balance presets | 7 |
| Custom white balance | Yes |
| Image stabilization | Optical |
| Uncompressed format | RAW |
| JPEG quality levels | Superfine, fine |
| Focal length (Equiv.) | 24–100 mm |
| Optical zoom | 4.2× |
| Maximum aperture | F1.8–2.8 |
| Autofocus | Contrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View. |
| Digital zoom | Yes (4x) |
| Manual focus | Yes |
| Normal focus range | 5 cm (1.97″) |
| Macro focus range | 5 cm (1.97″) |
| Articulated LCD | Fully articulated |
| Screen size | 3″ |
| Screen dots | 1,040,000 |
| Touch screen | Yes |
| Screen type | TFT LCD |
| Live view | Yes |
| Viewfinder type | Electronic |
| Viewfinder coverage | 100% |
| Viewfinder resolution | 2,360,000 |
| Minimum shutter speed | 30 sec |
| Maximum shutter speed | 1/2000 sec |
| Aperture priority | Yes |
| Shutter priority | Yes |
| Manual exposure mode | Yes |
| Subject/scene modes | Yes |
| Built-in flash | Yes |
| Flash Range | 7.00 m (at Auto ISO) |
| External flash | Yes |
| Flash modes | Auto, on, slow synchro, off |
| Continuous drive | 5.9 fps |
| Self-timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom) |
| Metering modes | MultiCenter-weighted spot |
| Exposure compensation | ±3 (at 1/3 EV steps) |
| WB Bracketing | No |
| Resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p) |
| Format | MPEG-4, H.264 |
| Videography notes | It also has a star time-lapse. the miniature effect, and digest modes |
| Microphone | Stereo |
| Speaker | Mono |
| Storage types | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| HDMI | Yes (micro-HDMI) |
| Microphone port | No |
| Headphone port | No |
| Wireless | Built-In |
| Wireless notes | 802.11b/g/n with NFC |
| Remote control | Yes (via cable or smartphone) |
| Environmentally sealed | No |
| Battery | Battery Pack |
| Battery description | NB-13L lithium-ion battery and charger |
| Battery Life (CIPA) | 210 |
| Weight (inc. batteries) | 353 g (0.78 lb / 12.45 oz) |
| Dimensions | 112 x 76 x 44 mm (4.41 x 2.99 x 1.73″) |
| Orientation sensor | Yes |
| Timelapse recording | Yes (star time-lapse) |
| GPS | None |
Final Verdict
It has an excellent built-in viewfinder, a fast lens, a wealth of options for shooting stills and video, excellent image quality, quick autofocusing, intuitive and configurable handling, and sturdy construction. The Canon PowerShot G5 X is a perfect compact camera for enthusiast photographers. It offers all of these features and more.
Although the 4.2x optical zoom lens and the absence of 4K video recording could make it less appealing to certain people, the new G5 X is, in our opinion, the most well-balanced model among the G3 X, G5 X, and G9 X series of cameras.
Because of the 1-inch sensor at the core of the G5 X, the camera’s image quality, comparable to that of its brothers, is exceptional for a tiny camera. If you’ve ever desired photographs from a fixed-lens camera that seems like those taken by a DSLR, then the G5 X is the camera for you. Its fast f/1.8-2.8 lens creates excellent bokeh when shooting wide-open at both ends of the zoom range, giving it the appearance of a DSLR.
It’s true that it still can’t compete with a DSLR or an APS-C equipped compact system camera at the higher ISO rates, but the ISO range of 100-1600 is useable, and you can use 3200 as a backup, which is not something you can say about a lot of compacts.
The Canon PowerShot G5 X again does most things right regarding build quality and handling. It has a reassuringly well-built chassis and a profusion of settings, including the lens control ring that can be customized to the user’s preferences.
Command dial and exposure compensation dial are valuable features, as are the swiveling touchscreen LCD, pop-up flash, and 31-point autofocus system.
To summarize, Canon’s PowerShot G5 X is the most robust prosumer pocket camera recently introduced. It possesses a multitude of positives and only a few flaws, which positions it as a genuine contender in the serious small market…
Canon PowerShot G5 X Price
Canon PowerShot G5 X FAQs
How old is the Canon PowerShot G5 X?
As of October 2022, the Canon PowerShot G5 X will be approximately six years old, as it was first introduced in October 2015.
Is Canon PowerShot G5 X best for photography?
The question of whether or not it is the finest camera for photography is a highly subjective one that is determined by the preferences and requirements of the photographer.
However, given that it is a high-end compact camera with sophisticated features and excellent picture quality, many photographers may find it an option that suits their needs.