Head
Canon G1X
[9Aug21] Quite by impulse, I bought a 2012, 14.3MP Canon G1X Mk1 a few days ago, having seen a minty example offered inexpensively on MPB. This was part of an experiment of downsizing my pixel count as I rarely print anything larger than 5x7 or publish other than online, combined with a need for bigger controls and lighter weight for health reasons. This makes old (not-very-) "compacts" attractive and the G1X was "the biggest compact digital camera ever from Canon. It's bigger because it uses the largest sensor ever crammed into a compact digital camera by Canon, a healthy 14 x 18.7mm (1.85x crop factor) CMOS chip" (Rockwell, 2012). DPReview stated, "After repeated waves of cameras aimed at point-and-shoot upgraders, it's heartening to see a camera really living up to the billing of a 'serious compact'" (Rehm at al., 2012).
Two a priori negatives of the model are 1. no filter ring and 2. a primitive viewfinder.
The filter problem is fixed by the £30 Canon FA DC 58 C Filter Adapter, or a Chinese knockoff, in my case a £3.89 Yunir FA-DC58C Black Alloy Lens Filter Adapter Ring Durable Ultra Slim Camera Photo Accessory for Canon Powershot G1X 58mm Filter. Why Canon insists on this consumer-mugging policy is a mystery to me as the annoyance caused to customers must be of higher negative value than the few extra Canon sales. My SX-70 was similarly hobbled.
I had a 58mm UV filter and lens cap to hand.
Welta Symbol ?
img: Etsy
I need a viewfinder because of the state of my eyes (this ruled out the 2014 12.8MP G1X mk.2 because while it included many improvements on the mk.1 it does not have a viewfinder, just a slot for the £300 (at launch) tilting XGA EVF); the 2017 24MP mk.3 has a viewfinder but is too expensive at £719 Exc used on MPB).
Mind you, Rockwell describes the mk.1 viewfinder as "a tiny optical peephole" (ibid.). It came as a bit of a surprise when I first saw it, reminding me of the sort of view you get with the glass bobble on a 1930s folding 120 camera, see left — I have one like that in a cupboard upstairs somewhere, but this picture is from Etsy (the seller describes it as a Welta Symbol, I'm not sure it is). OK, I exaggerate, but not wildly.
We'll get to the infrared bit soon.
My next buy was a copy of Busch's guide to the camera (2013) - Amazon £15; World of Books £35, mine for £6 post free on eBay. A fine book, as are all this series for someone new to a particular camera. I came upon two rather similar sections on IR, here they are. Busch told me two important things:
Congratulations-you have won the Infrared Lottery! What I mean by that is, by your wise choice of purchasing a PowerShot Gl X, you have acquired one of the modern digital cameras that is capable of using infrared light to take some very interesting and unusual-looking photographs. Not every digital camera can take infrared photographs in this way. Many cameras nowadays have an infrared-blocking filter built into them, so they can't take advantage of the exotic-looking properties of infrared images. Busch p. 222
Even though an IR filter seems virtually black to the human eye, and will obscure your image on the LCD, the Gl X is perfect for infrared photography, because you can view, unhindered, through the camera's optical viewfinder. Busch p.249
So that's worth the price of entry alone.
Cokin IR kit
img: Wex
Pixco R72
img: eBay
Next a filter. I was ready to venture the £50 needed for a Hoya R72, but the supply of that particular size seems to have run out at the moment. Cokin have a P-mount circular version or a square resin version. The circular one comes in a kit, £34 at Wex plus £16 for the lens adaptor (£24 + £13 on Amazon) - I have 3 of the Cokin P-mounts already, but none with a 58mm. I'm not sure I trust the Cokin system with light leaks. While I'm waiting for Hoya to restock, I found a Pixco R72 720nm on eBay for £9.50, post free, so that's on the way. The Hoya filters below 720nm, hence the name. I have encountered some adverse comments on the Cokin's qualities. Neewer have a 4 filter set at £29 on Amazon covering IR720, IR760, IR850 and IR950 that might be worth a look. Urth (once Gobe) is £59. There are others.
Here are some links
- Smashing Tips
- Lifepixel DIY
- three
Busch also wrote Digital Infrared Pro Secrets (2007). It's old and, according the the Amazon reviews, basic rather than Pro, but that's probably not a bad thing in my case. There was a well-priced copy at BetterWorld.
I'll wait to see how I get on with the camera before buying spare batteries.