Canon G1 X Mark II vs Contax N Digital

The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II and the Contax N Digital are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2014 and February 2002. The G1X Mark II is a fixed lens compact, while the N Digital is a DSLR. The cameras are based on an 1.5-inch (G1X Mark II) and a full frame (N Digital) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 13 megapixels, whereas the Contax provides 6.1 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon G1 X Mark II		Contax N Digital
Fixed lens compact camera		Digital single lens reflex
24-120mm f/2.0-3.9		Contax N mount lenses
13 MP – 1.5" sensor		6.1 MP – Full Frame sensor
1080/30p Video		no Video
ISO 100-12,800		ISO 50-1,600
Viewfinder optional		Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots		2.0" LCD – 200k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
5.2 shutter flaps per second		4 shutter flaps per second
240 shots per battery charge		100 shots per battery charge
116 x 74 x 66 mm, 553 g		152 x 138 x 80 mm, 990 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II and the Contax N Digital? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon G1 X Mark II and the Contax N Digital is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Contax N Digital is considerably larger (144 percent) than the Canon G1 X Mark II. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the G1X Mark II nor the N Digital are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete and possibly misleading, as the G1X Mark II has a lens built in, whereas the N Digital is an interchangeable lens camera that requires a separate lens. Attaching the latter will add extra weight and bulk to the setup.

As can be seen in the images above, the N Digital has a battery grip built in. This facilitates image-taking in portrait orientation and gives it additional battery power.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon G1 X Mark II	116 mm	74 mm	66 mm	553 g	240	n	Feb 2014	US$ 799	ebay.com
2.		Contax N Digital	152 mm	138 mm	80 mm	990 g	100	n	Feb 2002	US$ 7 399	ebay.com
3.		Canon 10D	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	850 g	500	n	Feb 2003	US$ 1 999	ebay.com
4.		Canon D60	150 mm	107 mm	75 mm	855 g	620	n	Feb 2002	US$ 2 999	ebay.com
5.		Canon G1 X	117 mm	81 mm	65 mm	534 g	250	n	Jan 2012	US$ 799	ebay.com
6.		Canon G5 X	112 mm	76 mm	44 mm	353 g	210	n	Oct 2015	US$ 799	ebay.com
7.		Canon G16	109 mm	76 mm	40 mm	356 g	360	n	Aug 2013	US$ 549	ebay.com
8.		Canon S120	100 mm	59 mm	29 mm	217 g	230	n	Aug 2013	US$ 449	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX60	128 mm	93 mm	114 mm	650 g	340	n	Sep 2014	US$ 549	ebay.com
10.		Canon T1i	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	520 g	400	n	Mar 2009	US$ 799	ebay.com
11.		Canon T6s	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	565 g	440	n	Feb 2015	US$ 649	ebay.com
12.		Canon XSi	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	524 g	500	n	Jan 2008	US$ 799	ebay.com
13.		Leica M9	139 mm	80 mm	37 mm	585 g	550	n	Sep 2009	US$ 7 999	ebay.com
14.		Leica M10	139 mm	80 mm	39 mm	660 g	210	Y	Jan 2017	US$ 6 599	ebay.com
15.		Leica SL	147 mm	104 mm	39 mm	847 g	400	Y	Oct 2015	US$ 7 449	ebay.com
16.		Olympus Stylus 1	116 mm	87 mm	57 mm	402 g	410	n	Oct 2013	US$ 699	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic LX100	115 mm	66 mm	55 mm	393 g	300	n	Sep 2014	US$ 899	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The G1X Mark II was launched at a lower price than the N Digital, despite having a lens built in. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon G1 X Mark II features an 1.5-inch sensor and the Contax N Digital a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the N Digital is 230 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.85 and 1.0. The sensor in the G1X Mark II has a native 4:3 aspect ratio, while the one in the N Digital offers a 3:2 aspect.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Canon G1 X Mark II offers a higher resolution of 13 megapixels, compared with 6.1 MP of the Contax N Digital. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.49μm versus 11.90μm for the N Digital). However, it should be noted that the G1X Mark II is much more recent (by 11 years and 11 months) than the N Digital, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently.

The resolution advantage of the Canon G1 X Mark II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the G1X Mark II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 20.8 x 15.6 inches or 52.8 x 39.6 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 16.6 x 12.5 inches or 42.3 x 31.7 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 13.9 x 10.4 inches or 35.2 x 26.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Contax N Digital are 15.2 x 10 inches or 38.6 x 25.5 cm for good quality, 12.2 x 8 inches or 30.9 x 20.4 cm for very good quality, and 10.1 x 6.7 inches or 25.7 x 17 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Contax N Digital are ISO 50 to ISO 1600 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the G1X Mark II is build around a CMOS sensor, while the N Digital uses a CCD imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon G1 X Mark II	1.5-inch	13.0	4160	3120	1080/30p	21.5	10.8	581	58
2.		Contax N Digital	Full Frame	6.1	3040	2008	none	21.5	10.5	1283	59
3.		Canon 10D	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	21.1	10.9	571	57
4.		Canon D60	APS-C	6.3	3072	2048	none	20.3	9.8	301	47
5.		Canon G1 X	1.5-inch	14.2	4352	3264	1080/24p	21.7	10.8	644	60
6.		Canon G5 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.4	12.3	471	62
7.		Canon G16	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.0	11.7	230	54
8.		Canon S120	1/1.7	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60p	21.3	11.9	246	56
9.		Canon SX60	1/2.3	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	19.2	10.8	127	39
10.		Canon T1i	APS-C	15.1	4752	3168	1080/20p	21.7	11.5	663	63
11.		Canon T6s	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	12.0	915	70
12.		Canon XSi	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	none	21.9	10.8	692	61
13.		Leica M9	Full Frame	18.1	5212	3472	none	22.5	11.7	884	69
14.		Leica M10	Full Frame	23.8	5952	3992	none	24.4	13.2	2133	86
15.		Leica SL	Full Frame	24.0	6000	4000	4K/30p	25.0	13.4	1821	88
16.		Olympus Stylus 1	1/1.7	11.8	3968	2976	1080/30p	20.7	11.6	179	51
17.		Panasonic LX100	Four Thirds	12.7	4112	3088	4K/30p	22.3	12.5	553	67
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. The G1X Mark II indeed provides movie recording capabilities, while the N Digital does not. The highest resolution format that the G1X Mark II can use is 1080/30p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the N Digital has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the G1X Mark II relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the G1X Mark II can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the EVF-DC1. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon G1 X Mark II and Contax N Digital along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon G1 X Mark II	optional	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	5.2/s	Y	Y
2.		Contax N Digital	optical	Y	2.0 / 200	fixed	n	1/8000s	4.0/s	n	n
3.		Canon 10D	optical	Y	1.8 / 118	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
4.		Canon D60	optical	Y	1.8 / 114	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
5.		Canon G1 X	optical	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/4000s	1.9/s	Y	Y
6.		Canon G5 X	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/2000s	5.9/s	Y	Y
7.		Canon G16	optical	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.2/s	Y	Y
8.		Canon S120	none	n	3.0 / 922	fixed	Y	1/2000s	12.1/s	Y	Y
9.		Canon SX60	922	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/2000s	6.4/s	Y	Y
10.		Canon T1i	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.4/s	Y	n
11.		Canon T6s	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
12.		Canon XSi	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
13.		Leica M9	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.0/s	n	n
14.		Leica M10	optical	n	3.0 / 1037	fixed	n	1/4000s	5.0/s	n	n
15.		Leica SL	4400	Y	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/8000s	11.0/s	n	n
16.		Olympus Stylus 1	1440	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	7.0/s	Y	Y
17.		Panasonic LX100	2764	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	11.0/s	n	Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The G1X Mark II has one, while the N Digital does not. While the built-in flash of the G1X Mark II is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The Canon G1 X Mark II has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The G1X Mark II writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the N Digital uses Compact Flash cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II and Contax N Digital and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon G1 X Mark II	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
2.		Contax N Digital	Y	- / -	-	-	-	FW	-	-	-
3.		Canon 10D	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
4.		Canon D60	Y	- / -	-	-	-	1.1	-	-	-
5.		Canon G1 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon G5 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon G16	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
8.		Canon S120	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
9.		Canon SX60	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Canon T1i	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon T6s	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Canon XSi	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Leica M9	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Leica M10	Y	- / -	-	-	-	-	Y	-	-
15.		Leica SL	Y	stereo / mono	Y	Y	full	3.0	Y	-	-
16.		Olympus Stylus 1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
17.		Panasonic LX100	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the G1X Mark II offers wifi support, while the N Digital does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Contax N Digital (unlike the G1X Mark II) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Both the G1X Mark II and the N Digital have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The G1X Mark II was replaced by the Canon G1 X Mark III, while the N Digital does not have a direct successor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Contax websites.

Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon G1 X Mark II and the Contax N Digital? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Reasons to prefer the Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (13 vs 6.1MP) with a 43% higher linear resolution.
• Broader imaging potential: Can record not only still images but also 1080/30p movies.
• Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.0" vs 2.0") for image review and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1040k vs 200k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (5.2 vs 4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• Ready to shoot: Comes with a built-in lens, while the N Digital requires a separate lens.
• More compact: Is smaller (116x74mm vs 152x138mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter even though it comes with a built-in lens (unlike the N Digital).
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (240 versus 100) on a single battery charge.
• Sharper images: Has hand-shake reducing image stabilization built-in.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• More affordable: Was introduced at a lower price, despite coming with a built-in lens.
• More modern: Reflects 11 years and 11 months of technical progress since the N Digital launch.

Arguments in favor of the Contax N Digital:

• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
• Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
• More flexible: Makes it possible to change lenses and thus to use specialty optics.
• More portrait friendly: Features an integrated vertical grip for easier portrait shooting.
• Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in February 2002).

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G1X Mark II is the clear winner of the match-up (19 : 7 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon G1 X Mark II and the Contax N Digital place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the G1X Mark II or the N Digital. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The table below provides a synthesis of the camera assessments of some of the best known photo-gear review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Canon G1 X Mark II	3/5	+	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	US$ 799	ebay.com
2.		Contax N Digital	..	..	..	..	..	..	Feb 2002	US$ 7 399	ebay.com
3.		Canon 10D	..	..	..	+ +	..	..	Feb 2003	US$ 1 999	ebay.com
4.		Canon D60	..	..	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2002	US$ 2 999	ebay.com
5.		Canon G1 X	5/5	+	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	US$ 799	ebay.com
6.		Canon G5 X	5/5	+ +	..	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	US$ 799	ebay.com
7.		Canon G16	4/5	+	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	US$ 549	ebay.com
8.		Canon S120	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2013	US$ 449	ebay.com
9.		Canon SX60	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	US$ 549	ebay.com
10.		Canon T1i	..	+ +	..	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2009	US$ 799	ebay.com
11.		Canon T6s	5/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	US$ 649	ebay.com
12.		Canon XSi	..	+ +	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2008	US$ 799	ebay.com
13.		Leica M9	..	..	..	..	4.5/5	..	Sep 2009	US$ 7 999	ebay.com
14.		Leica M10	4.5/5	..	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	US$ 6 599	ebay.com
15.		Leica SL	4/5	..	4/5	84/100	4.5/5	4/5	Oct 2015	US$ 7 449	ebay.com
16.		Olympus Stylus 1	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2013	US$ 699	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic LX100	5/5	+ +	..	85/100	5/5	5/5	Sep 2014	US$ 899	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Care should be taken when interpreting the review scores above, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Hence, a score should always be seen in the context of the camera's market launch date and its price, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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