Canon Powershot G7 X Review (excellent IQ and a lot of cons, DPreview)

Digital Photography Review published the full review of Canon’s new Powershot G7 X, and it isn’t a favourable review.

The only noteworthy “pros” are the “excellent image quality” and “sensor/lens combination [that] allows for very shallow depth-of-field“. They start and finish the conclusion…

[…] Canon hasn’t taken a lot of risks with the G7 X: its body is essentially a mash-up of the PowerShot S120 and G1 X Mark II, and its sensor is the same that’s found in Sony’s Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 II and III. Canon has tried to separate itself from the very small crowd by giving the G7 X a longer lens, selfie-friendly LCD, and dedicated exposure compensation dial. On paper, the G7 X sounds like the camera to beat. In practice, that wasn’t the case.

[…] Canon went with the excellent Sony 20MP BSI-CMOS sensor and added a longer (yet still fast) lens that is great for portraiture. Sadly, where the G7 X falls apart is performance, usability, and battery life

Now think that one of the two pros quoted above refers to a Sony sensor and there isn’t much left. The WiFi enabled G7 X isn’t inexpensive either, drawing you back for $699. Given that the G7 X competes with Sony’s RX100 III, with both cameras featuring the same sensor, it comes a bit to a surprise learning that the G7 X gets a better DxOMark score than the RX100 III.

Not all G7 X reviews featured here at CW have such a critic point of view.

Canon Powershot G7 X price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via dpreview]

Powershot G7 X specs (from Adorama’s product page):

• New 1.0-inch, 20.2 Megapixel High-Sensitivity CMOS sensor: combined with Canon’s powerful DIGIC 6 Image Processor creates the Canon HS SYSTEM for outstanding low-light performance up to ISO 12800, enhanced image quality, and fast operation.
• A bright f/1.8(W).f/2.8(T), 4.2x Optical Zoom: (24mm.100mm), 9-blade iris diaphragm and IS equipped lens enables you to capture more in your frame, and is ideal for low-light conditions or using shallow depth-of-field for dramatic, soft backgrounds. Focus range starts at 2.0 in. for Macro and 1.3ft. for Tele.
• Selfie-ready multi-angle capacitive 3.0″ touch panel LCD: with a screen resolution of 1,040K dots or a sharp, clear display and easy operation and sharing.
• High-Speed AF: (0.14sec.) greatly improves focus speed. 31 AF points provide an expanded and more accurate focus area. Paired with continuous shooting speeds of up to 6.5 fps and the removal of buffer time, you can get your best shot in full resolution.
• Built-in NFC (Near Field Communication): allows quick and ed) simple pairing to a compatible Android device
• Capture stunning 1080p/60p Full HD video: for lifelike images and convenient playback on an HDTV via the HDMI output. Record at up to 60 fps for even more detailed, superb results in MP4 format.
• Intelligent IS: automatically chooses from eight different modes to optimize image stabilization for virtually shake-free images in a wide variety of conditions.
• Convenient control ring, exposure dial, and mode dial: provide intuitive manual adjustment.
• Shoot breathtaking images and video of the stars: with Star Mode designed to better capture the brilliance and wonder of the night sky.