Canon G3 X Field Test: A powerful lens and a proven sensor, but not without a few flaws

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posted Wednesday, August 26, 2015 at 4:24 PM EDT

We've got another Field Test for you today from our favorite Maine-based nature and wildlife photographer, Jeremy Gray -- the Canon G3 X. Although he's traditionally been a DSLR guy, the Canon G3 X, with its relatively large sensor and hugely versatile 24-600mm-equivalent optical zoom lens, looks to be an interesting proposition for a photographer like Jeremy, who often hauls wide-angle lenses as well as very long and heavy supertelephoto ones.

For others, just the amount of zoom range offered combined with a 1-inch-type 20.2MP sensor (a sensor much larger than those found in your typical superzoom), makes the Canon G3 X a tempting camera for those looking for improved image quality and more advanced DSLR-like shooting controls and ergonomics. Plus, with Canon rugged-izing this new PowerShot with dust- and weather-sealing to the same standard as their enthusiast-level EOS 70D DSLR, the G3 X is ready and able to take on mother nature (to an extent, of course).

485mm equivalent (178mm), f/5.6, 1/500s, ISO 400, -1/3 exposure compensation

But enough talk. Sure, the Canon G3 X looks great and sounds amazings on paper, er, on screen, but how does this rather DSLR-esque superzoom camera handle in the real world? While it may share a similar, if not identical sensor to the uber-popular Sony RX10-series and Panasonic FZ1000 cameras, the G3 X stands apart with a much longer zoom lens. Does it have the image quality, performance and lens quality to take on these two large-sensor superzoom behemoths?

Read on in our Canon G3 X Field Test to find out! If you haven't done so already, take time to familarize yourself with the G3 X with our in-depth Technical Info and Walkaround tour. Also, be sure to take a browse through our lab test shots as well as the full selection of Jeremy's gallery photos.

Stay tuned as we head into the final stages of our Canon G3 X review, with image quality comparisons, print quality analysis and our final review conclusion coming along in short order.