Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III

The PowerShot G1 X Mark III is a fixed-lens bridge camera from 2016. The lens is built in, so you carry one unit rather than a body plus separate glass.

That design suits photographers who want a single camera for everyday shooting. A 20MP 1-inch sensor pairs with 49 autofocus points and a 12 fps maximum burst, and the electronic viewfinder gives an eye-level view.

Carrying it takes some commitment. The body measures 138 x 102 x 135 mm and weighs 915 g, so it fills a small bag rather than a pocket. The 3-inch flip touchscreen makes handling friendlier despite the bulk.

Stills begin with a 20MP 1-inch CMOS sensor. The ISO range runs from 100 to 25600, which on paper spans bright outdoor light through dim interiors. How the settings perform, especially at the top of the range, is best judged from real samples rather than the numbers alone.

The autofocus system offers 49 points, and the maximum burst rate is 12 fps. Because that figure is a maximum, it does not promise a sustained run in every mode. The fastest shutter speed is 1/4000 s, quick enough to freeze motion when the light allows.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, which helps handheld frames stay sharp at slower shutter speeds. It steadies your hands rather than a moving subject, so it works alongside the fast shutter instead of replacing it.

Because the lens is fixed, framing flexibility is limited to whatever the built-in optics provide. There is no mount to swap lenses on, so the reach and aperture you have at purchase are what you keep.

Video is supported, with 4K as the maximum resolution and 60 fps as the maximum frame rate. The supplied figures do not confirm those as one combined mode, so it pays to check the exact settings for the clip you want before a shoot.

In-body stabilisation reduces camera shake, the kind that shows up plainly in handheld footage. It counteracts shake from your hands rather than movement of the subject, so it does not replace a fast shutter for motion.

A built-in timelapse function lets you shoot interval sequences without extra intervalometer gear, which is handy for clouds, traffic or a setting sun.

Files are recorded as MPEG-4, XAVC S or MOV, three formats the camera can write.

Composition and review run through a 3-inch TFT LCD with 1,040,000 dots, and live view is on hand when you want it. The screen flips out for low or overhead angles and responds to touch, so settings can be changed quickly.

For eye-level work there is an electronic viewfinder with 2,360,000 dots. That dot count gives a detailed view for judging focus and composition, an alternative to the rear screen.

Lighting options are flexible for a fixed-lens camera. A built-in flash handles casual fill light, an external flash can be fitted when more power is needed, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built in for wireless connections.

Two absences are worth planning around. There is no weather sealing, so keep it out of heavy rain and dust, and no GPS, so the camera does not add location tags to files.

Recording goes to a single slot that takes SD, SDHC and SDXC cards, including UHS-I types. With one slot, you need to plan capacity and offload rather than rely on a second card.

The DMW-BLC12 battery is rated for 350 shots. The rating's test conditions are not specified here, so treat the figure as a guide rather than a promise, since screen, viewfinder and wireless use can change endurance.

There is no USB charging, so the battery cannot be topped up over a cable while out. For longer days, carrying a charged spare is more practical than counting on a power bank.