Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Review

Some of our PowerShot G series reviews, such as the Canon G16 and Canon G3 X, may have previously caught your attention. So, today we will be reviewing the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II.

As photographers, we are all well aware of how crowded the small camera market has become and how difficult it is to introduce a product that would stand out from the crowd and succeed.

It’s also difficult to stand out and innovate when most of today’s cameras already have what the majority of consumers want and when putting anything new into production requires a significant investment of time and money that some businesses do not have.

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Canon PowerShot Digital Camera [G7 X Mark II]

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Last update was on: January 19, 2024 1:06 pm

Even though Canon is a large company and has the resources to pull it off, it appears that the G7X Mark II is more of an evolution than a revolution, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing given that the previous model was already a good camera in its own right and only needed a few things to become a truly professional camera.

Canon concentrated its efforts on enhancing the formula previously demonstrated to be effective. They are working on ironing out all the issues they could uncover in the previous generation and attempting to make it the finest camera Canon has ever produced.

It will be interesting to see if they have been successful, whether the Canon G7X Mark II is a legitimate competitor in the high-end compact camera market, and whether it is comparable to the likes of Sony, Fujifilm, and Panasonic, which have already established themselves as leaders in the same market.

More: Best Memory Cards for Canon G7 X Mark II | Canon G7 X Mark II Bundles

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Digital Camera is an excellent choice regarding photography quality and handling. It is a little point-and-shoot with a vast feature set that makes it stand out. Using a 20.1MP 1 “When operating in low-light circumstances, this camera’s CMOS sensor and DIGIC 7 image processor enable it to produce smooth image quality with reduced noise.

The camera has a maximum ISO of 12800 in Program mode and delivers smooth image quality with reduced noise. Additionally, it can capture still images at a rate of up to 8 frames per second and Full HD 1080p60 video.

A flexible 4.2x zoom lens, with an equivalent focal length range of 24-100mm, complements the sensor and processor combination, providing viewpoints ranging from wide-angle to short-telephoto. A fast maximum aperture of f/1.8-f/2.8 ensures consistent performance across the zoom range and is especially useful when working in low-light circumstances or bright sunlight.

The lens design is encircled by a familiar control ring that allows easy control over settings and a massive 3.0-inch LCD screen with a high resolution. “Using the 1.04m-dot tilting touchscreen LCD, you can naturally compose images from various shooting angles.

Additionally, the G7 X Mark II has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing for wireless image sharing to smartphones and tablets and remote camera control from linked smartphones and tablets.

Body and handling

In addition to being built of high-quality metal, the GX7 Mark II’s body is also incredibly smooth to the touch. In addition, at 319 grams, it is not too hefty when compared to DSLRs such as the Canon 6D. You won’t feel like you’re about to drop the camera when holding it because of its ergonomic design, which means the grip isn’t overly big either. Nothing sticks out about this outfit, but the body is pretty lovely in a simple manner, and that’s what I like about it!

Even if we wish Canon had opted to include more physical controls rather than depending solely on the touchscreen to engage with most of the features, at least the menus are well-designed for touchscreen use.

A shutter button that also serves as an optical zoom lever, a mode dial ring that also fits as an exposure compensation ring underneath it, and the standard four-way joystick with four buttons around it are the controls that are accessible.

And last, there’s the ring surrounding the lens, which can be programmed to do various functions such as manual focus, step zoom, ISO, white balance, aspect ratio, etc.

It also has two alternative functioning modes: one in which a click is made at each stage of its rotation and another in which it rotates smoothly and silently throughout. It would be best to determine which use case scenario will need the employment of any of these rotation types before proceeding.

Besides that, you may assign alternative purposes to the Ring Func. And Movie Record buttons include different exposure metering modes, ISO settings, aspect ratios, white balance, and timers. In addition to that, there is a Quick menu option, which may be customized with up to 12 distinct configurations.

Even while the G7X Mark II does not have many physical buttons, it provides great flexibility when it comes to customizing its functionality. Although the touchscreen is more convenient, there is a decent balance between it and the buttons. In addition, you’ll be pleased to hear that Canon did an excellent job implementing the Wi-Fi feature.

Installing the Canon Camera Connect App on your Android or iOS phone and connecting to it over Wi-Fi (or even NFC if your Android phone allows it) is all required to get started. Everyone will be underwhelmed by the app’s UI, which appears rather rudimentary. Still, it contains all of the essential capabilities, such as remote shooting and picture transmission, as well as control over the camera’s zoom, ISO, and focus.

Finally, Canon only left us with one complaint: the absence of a viewfinder. But, apart from that, we can say that this is a well-balanced camera in terms of its physical design and overall usage.

Performance and autofocus

Canon promises significant improvements in focusing and general performance over the G7X Mark I. Let’s see whether there are any actual changes or if Canon is making things up as they go along. Single AF (single shot) and Servo AF (servo AF) are the two primary AF modes to choose from (Continuous AF). Regarding subject Tracking and identifying faces in your image frame, you have three options: Face Detect + Tracking using One-shot AF, Face Detect + Tracking using Servo AF, and 1-Point using Servo AF. Of course, Face Detect + Tracking using Servo AF is the most advanced option.

When it comes to keeping faces in focus and tracking them across the frame, the first combination works well for general moving things, but it is not as quick or consistent when it comes to people. If your subjects’ faces are essential to keep in focus, the second method is preferable. When the name implies, it works by focusing automatically as you or your subject moves to keep up with the guide.

Only by using the last combination will you be able to achieve continuous autofocus while taking a burst of photographs. While in this mode, the focus accuracy is exceptional, resulting in a hit rate nearly 100 percent of the time. This is a significant advance over Mark I. In contrast, stick to the Face Detect + Tracking One-Shot AF setting if you do not intend to photograph anything that moves. It gives the optimum balance for general-purpose photography.

It is also possible to magnify your vision up to 10 times for more exact focusing when manually focusing on the Mark II, which makes for an enjoyable experience. Using the focused peaking feature is another excellent innovation. It does a decent job of keeping up when it comes to burst rate performance. You may choose between three alternative frame rates: 8 frames per second (without continuous autofocus), 4 and 5.4 frames per second (with continuous AF).

I’m confident that most of you would like the 5.4 frames per second set because it is the most useful. Therefore we will concentrate on that one. When shooting RAW, you get a buffer of around 22 shots; when shooting JPEG, you get a pad of approximately 48 photos. These are acceptable figures, but they are by no means ground-breaking.

Overall, the burst rate performance should be sufficient for everyone but the most demanding sports, action shooters, and gamers. Finally, there’s the issue of battery life. Another element that has been increased over the Mark I is the magazine capacity, which is now roughly 265 rounds instead of 210 bullets. Even though it isn’t the finest performance available, it is near.

You may increase the battery life by using Eco Mode, which attempts to save you more power by turning on the screen more often and shutting off the camera after a prolonged inactivity. If you know you’ll be shooting for a more extended than usual and don’t have any additional batteries, this constructive accessory.

Video Quality

While this specific camera does not appear capable of capturing 4K video, this does not rule out the possibility of it shooting films of high quality. The G7X Mark II can capture video in 1080p at 60, 30, or 24 frames per second.

As you would expect from a Canon camera, the video quality is rather impressive for a 1080p movie at this resolution. Even though there are few imperfections or rolling shutter effects, the image is exceptionally crisp. Dynamic IS is also beneficial in this situation, producing a smoother and more professional-looking film. It combines optical 5-axis stabilization with electrical 5-axis stabilization to get the desired result. It does result in slight cropping of the film, but this isn’t a significant drawback for obtaining such well-stabilized movies in the first place.

A wide range of choices is available when controlling the exposure during the video. You have the option of shooting in either automatic or manual mode. Even while working in the manual, you may make simple adjustments such as changing the ISO, aperture, shutter speed, or exposure compensation by pressing one of the choices on the screen. Canon’s well-designed UI is beneficial since it provides a highly intuitive experience.

Touch AF is also included, performing as expected and tracking the subject around your frame. The fact that it is so exact, with only a minor focus hunting here and there, allows us to confidently proclaim it to be the most excellent point-and-shoot camera. Also included is the ability to employ focus peaking to assist you with manual focus, which is always a great tool to have on hand.

The Auto ISO feature has also been improved. It now only adjusts the ISO setting when you use the exposure correction feature rather than changing the shutter speed and aperture. Unfortunately, the lack of a microphone or headphone connectors is unfortunate, given the nature of this tiny camera, and you will have to rely on the built-in stereo mics for audio recording instead. Fortunately, the integrated ones generate sufficient audio quality for most applications. Thus the vast majority of users should not feel that they are being deprived of a satisfying listening experience.

Canon has introduced an additional function, which is the Hybrid Auto feature, which works in a similar way to the live images feature on Lumia smartphones in that it captures a video clip of the scene you are shooting seconds before you take a photo and then blends the clips into a single movie. You probably won’t use it regularly, but it’s a cute little function.

Despite losing 4K resolution, the G7X Mark II offers a decent video recording experience, despite its lower price. You will obtain high-quality 1080p footage, aided by the numerous manual controls and features that will assist you in creating a better movie for your project.

Image Quality

The images that follow are crops taken from our laboratory Still Life target that compares the image quality of the Canon G7X Mark II to that of its predecessor, the G7X, as well as to that of a variety of compact enthusiast cameras, including the Canon G5X, the Panasonic LX100, the Panasonic ZS100, and the Sony RX100 IV.

Except for the Panasonic LX100, all of the cameras in this comparison employ sensors of the 1″ type. The Panasonic LX100, however, uses most of a Four Thirds sensor.

NOTE: These photographs were captured in the highest possible quality JPEGs from out of the camera. The camera was set to its default settings, including noise reduction, and its natural base ISO was used (not extended ISO settings).

When you select any crop options, you will be sent to a separate page where you may click once more to see the full-quality image as it was sent directly from the camera. Next, click on the following links to get to the example image thumbnail page for each camera if you are interested in dealing with the RAW files involved: Links to the RAW files are located beneath those for the JPEG photographs whenever we have them. This applies to the Canon G7X II, Canon G7X, and Canon G5X cameras and the Panasonic LX100, Panasonic ZS100, and Sony RX100 IV.

More: Best Canon Point and Shoot Camera | Best Point and Shoot Camera | Best Point and Shoot Camera for Travel | Best Budget Vlogging Camera

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Specs

Body typeCompact
Max resolution5472 x 3648
Other resolutions5472 x 3080, 4864 x 3648, 4320 x 2880, 4320 x 2432, 3840 x 2880, 2304 x 1536, 2048 x 1536, 1920 x 1080, 720 x 480, 720 x 408, 640 x 480
Image ratio w:h4:3, 3:2, 16:9
Effective pixels20 megapixels
Sensor photo detectors21 megapixels
Sensor size1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm)
Sensor typeBSI-CMOS
ProcessorDIGIC 7
ISOAuto, 125-12800 (expandable to 25600)
Boosted ISO (maximum)25600
White balance presets8
Custom white balanceYes
Image stabilizationOptical
Uncompressed formatRAW
JPEG quality levelsSuperfine, fine
Focal length (Equiv.)24–100 mm
Optical zoom4.2×
Maximum apertureF1.8–2.8
AutofocusContrast Detect (sensor)Multi-areaCenterSelective single-pointTrackingSingleContinuousTouchFace DetectionLive View.
Digital zoomYes (4x)
Manual focusYes
Normal focus range5 cm (1.97″)
Macro focus range5 cm (1.97″)
Number of focus points31
Articulated LCDTilting
Screen size3″
Screen dots1,040,000
Touch screenYes
Screen typeTFT LCD
Live viewYes
Viewfinder typeNone
Minimum shutter speed30 sec
Maximum shutter speed1/2000 sec
Aperture priorityYes
Shutter priorityYes
Manual exposure modeYes
Subject/scene modesYes
Built-in flashYes
Flash Range7.00 m
External flashNo
Flash modesAuto, on, slow synchro, off
Continuous drive8.0 fps
Self-timerYes (2 0r 10 secs, custom)
Metering modesMultiCenter-weighted spot
Exposure compensation±3 (at 1/3 EV steps)
AE Bracketing±3 (3 frames at 1/3 EV steps)
Resolutions1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
FormatMPEG-4, H.264
Videography notesIt also has time-lapse (normal and star), miniature effect, and digest modes
MicrophoneStereo
SpeakerMono
Storage typesSD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
USBUSB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
HDMIYes (micro-HDMI)
Microphone portNo
Headphone portNo
WirelessBuilt-In
Wireless notes802.11b/g/n with NFC
Remote controlYes (via smartphone)
Environmentally sealedNo
BatteryBattery Pack
Battery descriptionNB-13L lithium-ion battery and charger
Battery Life (CIPA)265
Weight (inc. batteries)319 g (0.70 lb / 11.25 oz)
Dimensions106 x 61 x 42 mm (4.17 x 2.4 x 1.65″)
Orientation sensorYes
Timelapse recordingYes
GPSNone

Conclusion

As a result, where does this leave us in terms of the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II camera? A good camera in every way, that’s where it stands. Aside from the lack of 4K video recording and a viewfinder, the G7X Mark II has no apparent flaws.

However, even those two shortcomings don’t seem so bad when considering that the G7X Mark II produces excellent-looking Full HD videos and that the screen on the back is a high-quality and responsive touchscreen that can be tilted at different angles.

Except for it, you get a sturdy metal body, a fair burst rate, excellent autofocus performance, a good battery life, and image quality that is on par with any other camera with a 1-inch sensor. However, when you combine it with complete manual control over photos and videos and a lens with a handy zoom range and maximum aperture, you have a combination that is unlikely to appeal to anyone in the market for a camera of this sort.

Those who believe that Sony is the dominant force in this market with its RX range should reconsider their assumptions since the G7X Mark II can compete with any of those cameras while offering some unique features of its own. There’s no doubt about it: the small camera industry has become significantly more fascinating.

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Price

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Canon PowerShot Digital Camera [G7 X Mark II]

& Free shipping
Last update was on: January 19, 2024 1:06 pm

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II FAQs

Is the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II a good camera?

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II is indeed an excellent camera. It is well-known for its small size, advanced features, and high-quality pictures.

What year was the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II?

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II was made available to consumers in 2016.

Is Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II a DSLR?

Contrary to popular belief, the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II is not a DSLR camera. Instead, it is a portable camera of the highest quality.

Is Canon G7X Mark II touch screen?

The Canon G7X Mark II does come with a touchscreen monitor.

How long does the Canon G7X Mark II battery last video?

When the Canon G7X Mark II battery has been ultimately charged, the camera can uninterrupted video recording for up to approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes.

Does Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II have Wi-Fi?

Yes, the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II is equipped with Wi-Fi connectivity, enabling you to effortlessly share images and videos with other devices and submit them to social media platforms.

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