Canon G1X vs Pentax K-1 II

Cameras
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Canon G1X vs Pentax K-1 II

1.5 inch 261.8mm²
14.3 megapixels
28.00mm - 112.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G1X Review.
See real-world photos taken with the G1X.

35mm 861.6mm²
36.4 megapixels
ISO 100 - 819,200

Go in depth with our full Pentax K-1 II Review.
How does it shoot? Pentax K-1 II in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the K-1 II.
Compare Pentax K-1 II image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Pentax K-1 II conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon G1X Mark II
Compare G1X vs G1X Mark II
Compare Canon G1X Mark II vs Pentax K-1 II

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Differences

Canon G1X advantages over Pentax K-1 II

Tilt-swivel screen
Tilt-swivel vs tilt-only
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
Internal flash
Internal flash vs None
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Thinner
64 mm vs 85 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
543g vs 1010g
Lighter weight
Longer exposure
60 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Bigger RAW buffer
Unlimited vs 17 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Pentax K-1 II advantages over Canon G1X

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
35mm vs 1.5 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
High resolution composite
Yes vs No
Combine multiple shots to form a super hi-res version
Fast startup
~1.40 vs 1.9 sec
Faster startup lets you catch the moment
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
Built-in GPS
GPS vs None
Geotag your photos
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

670 vs 250 shots
Capture more photos
Top deck display
Yes vs No
Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
External Mic Jack
Jack vs No jack
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Newer
6 years vs 12 years old
Newer cameras often support more advanced features
Less shutter lag
0.10 vs 0.70 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)
More pixels
36.4 vs 14.3 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Shoots 60p video
Yes vs No
A faster framerate can give you more editing options
Dual card slots
Yes vs No
Gives you more storage flexibility
Headphone jack
Yes vs No
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Bigger JPEG buffer
77 vs 6 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
4.6 fps vs 1.1 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/4000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light
Higher extended ISO
819200 vs 12800 ISO
Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

Rear display
Both provide
Review photos on the back of the camera
Eye-level viewfinder
Both provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Hot shoe
Both provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities

Common Weaknesses

Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

User reviews

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Adorama
Read G1X User Reviews

Amazon
Adorama
Read K-1 II User Reviews

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Kit with 28-105mm Lens

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Review Excerpt

Large-sensor image quality. Sharp lens with useful zoom range. Tilt/swivel LCD. Twin dials. Smaller than competing interchangeable-lens cameras with a similar lens. Lots of photographer-friendly features.
Not as small as you might hope. Mediocre burst shooting and autofocus speed. Far too easy to accidentally change exposure compensation. Viewfinder is of surprisingly little use. Battery life could be better.
Read our Canon G1X Review

Excellent build and comfortable handling; Bright, roomy viewfinder and articulated LCD; Great image quality; Good performance for the class; In-camera stabilization, GPS and Wi-Fi; Incredibly feature-rich design.
Bulkier than APS-C DSLRs; Top ISOs are for the spec sheet, not the real world; JPEGs are a bit punchy by default; Slow startup; Below-average battery life; Only a relatively modest update to the K-1.
Read our Pentax K-1 II Review

The Competition

Compared to Sigma DP1 Merrill

Canon G1X

Sigma DP1 Merrill

$576
1.5 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$849
APS-C

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon G1X vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Pentax K-1 II

Sigma DP1 Merrill

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$849
APS-C

Thinner
Lighter weight

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Sigma DP1 Merrill

Compared to Sigma dp2 Quattro

Canon G1X

Sigma dp2 Quattro

$576
1.5 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
Eye-level viewfinder

$899
APS-C

Larger sensor
Less shutter lag

Compare Canon G1X vs Sigma dp2 Quattro

Pentax K-1 II

Sigma dp2 Quattro

$1747
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$899
APS-C

Less expensive
Higher max flash sync

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Sigma dp2 Quattro

Compared to Pentax K-1

Canon G1X

Pentax K-1

$576
1.5 inch

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

$1800
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon G1X vs Pentax K-1

Pentax K-1 II

Pentax K-1

$1747
35mm

Higher extended ISO

$1800
35mm

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Pentax K-1

Compared to Nikon D850

Canon G1X

Nikon D850

$576
1.5 inch

Tilt-swivel screen
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2664
35mm

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon G1X vs Nikon D850

Pentax K-1 II

Nikon D850

$1747
35mm

Less expensive
In-Camera Image Stabilization

$2664
35mm

Shoot 4K video
Touchscreen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Nikon D850

Compared to Canon G1X Mark III

Canon G1X

Canon G1X Mark III

$576
1.5 inch

Bigger pixels
More telephoto lens reach

$999
APS-C

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Canon G1X vs Canon G1X Mark III

Pentax K-1 II

Canon G1X Mark III

$1747
35mm

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

$999
APS-C

Less expensive
Tilt-swivel screen

Compare Pentax K-1 II vs Canon G1X Mark III

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