New G Series cameras!

[rks]

These look interesting: G-whizz: Canon unveils PowerShot G5 X and compact-sized G9 X with 20MP 1"-type sensors: Digital Photography Review

especially the G5X, it looks like a 7x with the ability to have a hot shoe activated flash, this is really interesting. Actually what I'd really like to see if someone do a housing where you have a built in super low power flash that is activated by the hot shoe to optically trip the external strobes, that way you're not burning the battery in the camera to fire external strobes, and you have a fast recycle time, but I'm guessing that will just never happen.

 

[tursiops]

This seems unnecessary. If you have a hotshot on the camera, it can electrically trip an external flash. why go from electric to optical and back to electric? My old G9 had a hotshoe and was in an Ikelite housing; the bulkhead connector then tripped an Ikelite flash directly. Worked fine.

 

[DavidFL]

for fans of electrically/electronic wired eTTL....this (the G5X) is a step up from by G-15 because of the 1" sensor size, later DIGIC processor, and more/better video modes. Can't tell much from the first announcement about the built in macro / close focus capability of the lens though.

 

[tursiops]

I agree; the G5X is a step up, assuming the macro/close capability is there.

 

[rob1967]

These look interesting: G-whizz: Canon unveils PowerShot G5 X and compact-sized G9 X with 20MP 1"-type sensors: Digital Photography Reviewespecially the G5X, it looks like a 7x with the ability to have a hot shoe activated flash, this is really interesting. Actually what I'd really like to see if someone do a housing where you have a built in super low power flash that is activated by the hot shoe to optically trip the external strobes, that way you're not burning the battery in the camera to fire external strobes, and you have a fast recycle time, but I'm guessing that will just never happen.

You guessed wrong because it has already happened! Nauticam has several versions of an LED Optical flash trigger, but it is only for certain cameras without a pop-up flash. Nauticam Optical Flash Trigger for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic | Bluewater Photo & Video

Obviously the housing has to be designed to make room for the flash trigger.

The G5X and G9X are welcome additions to the Canon compact line-up. It will be interesting to see which one will be best for underwater. They all have the same sensor and processor, so image quality should be very similar to the G7X. The G5X also has the same lens as the G7X (4.2 x zoom, 24-100mm equivalent), so it appears the macro capabilities are the same. According to the specs they can both focus as close as 5 cm which is pretty darn good.The G5X has a built-in pop-up flash as well as a hot shoe, so it remains to be seen if manufacturers will build housings with room for an external flash or LED trigger. The other big addition to the G5X is an EVF. This may be useful topside on sunny days, but underwater, I am not sure if it is as useful, unless most of your diving is confined to shallow waters on sunny days.

Actually, I think it is the G9X that may have the potential to be as good or slightly better than the G7X underwater. It will be about $100 cheaper, a bit more compact, and again with same sensor and likely same image quality. The lens is advertised as also being able to focus as close to 5 cm. However, since the lens is only a 3x zoom (28-84mm equivalent), even though it is not quite as long and wide, this might actually be an advantage for underwater, because if there is less travel in the length of the lens barrel with zooming, this may allow for a shorter port on the housing. If the lens is closer to the end of the port throughout the zoom range, this is an advantage in terms of mounting accessory wet lenses and maintaining full wide angle of view. So as compared to the G7X, this may eliminate the need to swap to a shorter port to get full wide angle.

Anyway, it is nice to see Canon stepping up with 2 more choices in their high-end compact line-up. It will be interesting to see how the housing manufacturers respond. Right now the G7X is still #1 for compact Canon underwater because most of the major manufacturers have already come out with a housing for it.

 

[rks]

You guessed wrong because it has already happened! Nauticam has several versions of an LED Optical flash trigger, but it is only for certain cameras without a pop-up flash. Nauticam Optical Flash Trigger for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Panasonic | Bluewater Photo & Video Obviously the housing has to be designed to make room for the flash trigger.

Except no TTL which kind of defeats the purpose in my book I actually have never had an issue with wired TTL on my G15, using CHDK which will allow manual mode with TTL and it works quite well, my ideal housing would be something like the nauticam with the vacuum sensor to check for leaks, and TTL Flash control for my IKELITE strobes. The reason for wanting the external unit is a lot of this stuff seems to be going optical only, and I don't like optical strobes because of the need to take a second battery pack for most cameras (I hate opening my housing on the boat, maybe I'm superstitious but the only flood I ever had happened after I opened on a boat, I prefer doing it in my hotel room where it's clean and dry), and also I hate waiting for the recycle on the camera.

 

[timz]

for fans of electrically/electronic wired eTTL....this (the G5X) is a step up from by G-15 because of the 1" sensor size, later DIGIC processor, and more/better video modes. Can't tell much from the first announcement about the built in macro / close focus capability of the lens though.

Hey Dave,

Good to see you. How is it going?? Remember I was telling you that I was waiting for the G17 during the dinner when we met at Boulder CO??

The G17 might not happen. Maybe it's time to move on.

 

[AlMitch]

The G9X in terms of lens should be better for WA wet lenses. And its smaller. And its cheaper.
BUT WHY WHY WHY has Canon gone for such a simplistic touch screen driven interface rather than the normal controls as on the S100 series or G16?????
Not sure how you would be able to use this effectively underwater.

 

[rob1967]

The G9X in terms of lens should be better for WA wet lenses. And its smaller. And its cheaper.
BUT WHY WHY WHY has Canon gone for such a simplistic touch screen driven interface rather than the normal controls as on the S100 series or G16?????
Not sure how you would be able to use this effectively underwater.

Good point, the G9X has only a single control dial around the front lens. However, it is likely that all the important settings (ISO, shutter speed, aperture) could be controlled with it, just not as conveniently as if each function has it's own control dial. (I'm shooting a Canon EOS M which also has only a single control wheel, so I am used to using it for adjusting all exposure settings). Mind you, the fact that it is at the front and not the back might be a bit more inconvenient.

The G5X on the other hand has not only a control dial around the lens, but an extra control dial on the front, plus the control wheel on the back, for a total of at least 3 control dials, so it would likely be easier to control in manual mode. (The G7X in comparison lacks the extra control dial on the front. However I don't think this is critical, 2 control dials should be enough for most people).

 

[MrEvanJ1]

It would be great if Fantasea made a housing for the g5x. This could be a very satisfying camera to use for full manual shooting the way the earlier g series cameras were. With a powerful diopter like the nauticam CMC it could be a formidable macro shooter (despite the limited zoom).
Will be very interested to see if any housing designs make the inon s100 zm80 lens effective for WA as it did with the g15/16 which had the same 35mm eq. focal length on the wide end as this new camera.