Folks,
I'll be accused of being a Canon AND Ikelite FanBoy but have to weigh in here. I feel my photos and years of experience give me a fair perspective on digital SLRs and the new Canon G1X.
People house a SLR because they want super sharp lenses and AF speed. Plus bigger sensor dynamic range, blah blah blah. They're willing to haul a little more weight and bulk and spend more $$$$$ to get these results.
First, quit comparing the Canon G1X to a G11 / G12 or even a 4:3 sensor camera
The Canon G1X sensor is MUCH larger and will deliver results.
I have PJ (photo journalist) friends who related yes, they had some Canon 1DS MKIII problems but to say something is relatable to a whole brand is ludicrous. Just like the "Bad copy / Good Copy" BS all over Fred Miranda, Dpreview and other sites where people only "test" their cameras, lenses, etc. shooting brick walls and never go shoot photos. If this was as big a problem as people babble on about the companies would have been out of business ages ago.
YES, it did happen with the Canon 1DS MK III, so don't think I'm not understanding of those frustrated users
It's simply that MILLIONS of Canon and Nikon and Sony and whoever's brand cameras are being used every day by people getting in focus photos. 99% of bad photos I see are due to FOE. Failure due to Operator Error
The add on lenses (WA and especially external MACRO) many housing mfrs. will develop will get around the 7.9" minimum focus (for MACRO shooting) just like many are doing already with the Sony NEX series lenses and housings.
The Sony cameras along with some of the Olympus models produce good quality images, the Sony with APS-C sensor especially. I've played with them quite a bit.......
My decision to not buy one has been due to these reasons:
* NEW interchangeable lenses with many of the good ones costing as much as SLR lenses. (I currently have a Canon 60D with a few lenses.)
* MENU set ups that are still no where near as simple as Canon (I admit to my laziness in wanting to "re-think" when learning a new camera)
* Flash systems that are all over the board from add on miniscule units to pop up ones (that have worked with Fiber optic solutions from housing to strobes in S-TTL type modes. Not bad automatic and when dialed in equal to TTL through a hot shoe and corded system like Ikelite's.) Again, having to change from what I have used and works well was a deciding factor............
The reason I think the Canon G1X will be a hit is for those who simply don't want to use a larger SLR system it will deliver great photos in a smaller package. Plus travel easier, etc.
YES, we're all waiting on tests with production models to show if focus speed has improved due to DIGIC V. I'd be surprised if it equals even a Canon Rebel T3i but who knows? I know lots of shooters with slower focussing P&S models that get good results from practicing with their camera and diving more.
As mentioned I agree Ikelite will probably house it with their TTL circuitry to DS Substrobes. I was a bit surprised Ikelite didn't jump in on housing the EVIL Mirrorless cameras, too. (I say this as a dealer and USER of Ikelite housings and strobes.) But now think they made the right decision due to the numbers of other brands sold worldwide and the teensy numbers of UW shooters.
Small P&S and Canon, Nikon and other mid-sized cameras sell in HUGE volumes. So you have to pick what models will sell best and support those.........
We'll just have to wait and see but I'll bet even at the opening price of $799.00 Canon will sell every G1X they can make.
And I'm pretty sure UW shooters will be some of those folks
YMMV
dhaas
www.haasimages.com