The BenQ G1 originally interested us due to the compact size, bright lens, and swivel screen, and seemingly high specification and manual controls. However, the extremely slow focus speed and shot to shot time, as well as the slow switch on time makes it very difficult to recommend. ...

It's a unique package for the price, but the BenQ is more of an enthusiastic pretender than a genuine high-end compact.

It may not be saying much in a world of stiff competition, but the BenQ G1 is probably the best digital camera we’ve seen from the brand to date. It features all the attributes we’d expect to find on a pocket snapshot in 2012 – one touch Full HD video recording, stereo sound, digital filter effects – and combines them with features we’d normally only expect to find on bridge cameras or premium compacts, such as its rotating LCD and bright f/1.8 lens. ...