Canon G9 X review – All the right ingredients

Photo quality is this camera’s main strength. The 1in sensor and wide-aperture lens capture far more light than most compact cameras, and this has a big bearing on image quality, particularly in dimly lit conditions. The G9 X’s lens delivered crisp details throughout its zoom range, and the digital processing did an excellent job of controlling noise and producing flattering colours.

One complaint is that the camera would sometimes inexplicably push the shutter speed up to 1/1,000s, resulting in unnecessarily raised ISO speeds that increased noise levels. I also found that the spot autofocus sometimes seemed to be determined to focus on the background when shooting small subjects such as flowers. Ultimately, though, there were remarkably few duds across my hundreds of test shots.^ There’s a hint of noise on fine details, but at normal viewing sizes this wide-angle shot is hard to fault. Focus is excellent from edge to edge. (1/1250s, f/4, ISO 125, 28mm equivalent)^ Focus is just as sharp at the long end of the zoom. (1/800s, f/4.9, ISO 125, 84mm equivalent)^ This high-contrast scene is a tough test for lens defects, but there’s no sign of chromatic aberrations or softness towards the edges. (1/1250s, f/4.9, ISO 125, 84mm equivalent)^ A rare moment of sunshine brings out some lovely rich tones that’s reminiscent of Canon EOS output. (1/800s, f/4.9, ISO 125, 84mm equivalent)^ The 1in sensor helps to deliver crisp, clean details and a shallow depth of field in this macro shot. (1/160s, f/4.5, ISO 125, 56mm equivalent)^ The f/2 lens keeps the ISO speed down for wide-angle shots in low light. Skin and hair textures are clean and detailed as a result. (1/30s, f/2, ISO 400, 28mm equivalent)^ Another fine result, this time under artificial household lighting. (1/20s, f/3.2, ISO 1250, 38mm equivalent)^ Setting the ISO speed manually to 3200 raises the shutter speed to avoid motion blur, and image quality is good enough for sharing online. (1/80s, f/3.2, ISO 3200, 38mm equivalent)^ ISO 5000 is a step too far for skin textures. (1/80s, f/3.5, ISO 5000, 44mm equivalent)^ This subject matter is far more forgiving, and the results look perfectly respectable even at ISO 6400. (1/20s, f/4.9, ISO 6400, 84mm equivalent)

Conclusion

I’d have loved to see better battery life, nippier performance and slightly more to grip onto on the front of the camera. However, the concept is so strong that these drawbacks pale into insignificance. This is a camera that no one could complain is too heavy or bulky, it’s reasonably priced and it takes photos that few other compact cameras can match. Its strongest rivals at this price are the Canon G7 X and Sony RX100 II, and it’s a matter of taste whether you prefer the G9 X’s slimmer design or the G7 X and RX100 II’s tilting screens and marginally superior lens specifications. I suspect that the G9 X will be many people’s top choice.