Pentax MX-1 vs Canon G9X

Cameras
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Pentax MX-1 vs Canon G9X

1/1.7 inch 43.3mm²
12.0 megapixels
28.00mm - 112.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Pentax MX-1 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the MX-1.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.2 megapixels
28.00mm - 84.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G9X Review.
How does it shoot? Canon G9X in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the G9X.
Compare Canon G9X image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon G9X conclusion.

Succeeded by the Canon G9X Mark II
Compare G9X vs G9X Mark II
Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Canon G9X Mark II

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Differences

Pentax MX-1 advantages over Canon G9X

In-camera panoramas
Yes vs No
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
More telephoto lens reach
112 mm vs 84 mm
Capture objects farther away
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

290 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/8000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon G9X advantages over Pentax MX-1

Focus peaking
Peaker vs Non-peaker
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Larger sensor
1 inch vs 1/1.7 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Bigger pixels
~ 2.41 vs 1.90 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
Built-in Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi vs None
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
G9X test data on DxO Mark MX-1 test data on DxO Mark

495 vs 208 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Thinner
30 mm vs 51 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
206g vs 399g
Lighter weight
More pixels
20.2 vs 12.0 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Faster JPEG shooting
6.5 fps vs 4.0 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

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
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Integrated ND filter
Both provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Bulb shutter
Both provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

Common Weaknesses

Eye-level viewfinder
Neither provide
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Hot shoe
Neither provide
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Adorama
Read MX-1 User Reviews

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Adorama
Read G9X User Reviews

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Pentax MX-1

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Buy the Canon G9X

Canon G9X (Silver)

Canon G9X (Silver)
Canon G9X (Black)

Review Excerpt

Good image quality for a compact camera in its class; Sharp, bright f/1.8-2.5 lens with 4x optical zoom; Cool retro-styled design with brass top and bottom plates; Tilting LCD; Exposure compensation dial; Speedy and accurate autofocus; Full HD video recording.
Image detail starts dropping off noticeably above ISO 800, and noise becomes problematic at ISO 3200 and beyond; Sluggish cycle times and burst performance; Issues with purple fringing in some shooting scenarios; Heavier and larger than other cameras in its class.
Read our Pentax MX-1 Express Review

Smallest 1-inch sensor camera available; Slips in a pants pocket almost unnoticed; Bright lens at wide-angle; Great image quality; Swift 6.5 fps JPEG burst shooting; Intuitive touch-screen control; In-camera Wi-Fi gets images onto your phone easily
Limited 3x zoom range; Tighter wide-angle than competitors; JPEG buffer limited to 10 frames; very slow bracketing / raw burst shooting; Touch-screen menus take lots of tapping; Poor battery life
Read our Canon G9X Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus XZ-2

Pentax MX-1

Olympus XZ-2

$1289
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Shoots 60p video

$470
1/1.7 inch

Touchscreen
Hot shoe

Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Olympus XZ-2

Canon G9X

Olympus XZ-2

$369
1 inch

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$470
1/1.7 inch

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Canon G9X vs Olympus XZ-2

Compared to Canon G15

Pentax MX-1

Canon G15

$1289
1/1.7 inch

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

$650
1/1.7 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Canon G15

Canon G9X

Canon G15

$369
1 inch

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$650
1/1.7 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon G15

Compared to Canon S110

Pentax MX-1

Canon S110

$1289
1/1.7 inch

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

$249
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Slower slow-motion

Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Canon S110

Canon G9X

Canon S110

$369
1 inch

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$249
1/1.7 inch

More telephoto lens reach
Shoots 24p video

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon S110

Compared to Canon G16

Pentax MX-1

Canon G16

$1289
1/1.7 inch

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

$499
1/1.7 inch

Focus peaking
Slower slow-motion

Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Canon G16

Canon G9X

Canon G16

$369
1 inch

Larger sensor
Less expensive

$499
1/1.7 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon G16

Compared to Canon G9X Mark II

Pentax MX-1

Canon G9X Mark II

$1289
1/1.7 inch

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

$449
1 inch

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

Compare Pentax MX-1 vs Canon G9X Mark II

Canon G9X

Canon G9X Mark II

$369
1 inch

Less expensive
Bigger RAW buffer

$449
1 inch

Fast startup
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon G9X Mark II

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