| Basic Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Full model name: | Canon PowerShot G7 X |
| Resolution: | 20.20 Megapixels |
| Sensor size: | 1 inch |
| Lens: | 4.20x zoom (24-100mm eq.) |
| Viewfinder: | LCD |
| ISO: | 125-12800 |
| Shutter: | 250-1/2000 |
| Max Aperture: | 1.8 |
| Dimensions: | 4.1 x 2.4 x 1.6 in. (103 x 60 x 40 mm) |
| Weight: | 10.7 oz (304 g) includes batteries |
| MSRP: | $700 |
| Availability: | 10/2014 |
| Manufacturer: | Canon |
| Full specs: | Canon G7X specifications |
Canon G7X Review -- Hands-on Preview
by Mike Tomkins
Preview posted 09/15/2014
Back in the spring of 2012, Canon launched a camera which got us incredibly excited. The industry's first large-sensor, fixed-lens zoom digital camera, the Canon G1 X was something we'd been requesting for years, and while it was larger than we'd hoped, we were thrilled. Until, that is, Sony stole Canon's thunder with the RX100. That camera compromised on sensor size but still provided a significant sensor size advantage over existing camera phones and compacts -- even enthusiast models -- and yet was small enough to fit in a pants pocket.
We weren't alone. Despite a relatively high pricetag for a compact camera, the RX100 and its subsequent siblings have sold in droves, and until now, Sony has had the market pretty much to itself.
And yet suddenly, with the simultaneous launch of the Canon G7X and Panasonic LX100, Sony has a battle on its hands. These two cameras each have some fairly important differences from the RX100-series cameras, but they also share much of what made Sony's cameras so popular: the advantages of a fairly large sensor, a fairly compact body and an optical zoom lens that helps get the framing you're after.
Of the two new models, it is Canon's which is closest to the Sony formula in size. In fact, the Canon G7X is nearly indistinguishable from the Sony RX100 III in terms of its dimensions, and only slightly heavier. It looks to have a very similar 20.2-megapixel image sensor, if not perhaps even the same one, and yields the same maximum sensitivity of ISO 12,800.
Yet despite having near-identical dimensions, Canon packs in almost 50% more zoom reach than in the RX100 III while retaining the same maximum aperture range. Essentially, the Canon G7X pairs the wide-angle possibilities of the RX100 III with the telephoto possibilities of the RX100 and RX100 II, and somehow manages to cram in the brighter aperture of the former. We're not sure how they've managed it, but in one fell swoop Canon has brought forth a convincing rival for all three cameras in a single model, at least on paper.
And the Canon G7X shoots significantly faster than Sony's rivals with autofocus enabled, too, even if it still trails them in performance with focus locked. Better still, it has a touch screen that makes it easier and quicker to focus precisely where you want, so you can really take advantage of that greater AF speed.
Available from October 2014 in the US market, the Canon PowerShot G7X is priced at around US$700. That's a noticeably lower pricetag than Sony's latest competitor, the RX100 III. In fact, it puts the G7X somewhere in between the entry-level RX100 and the subsequent RX100 II in terms of pricing.
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Let's take a closer look at Canon's first large-sensor enthusiast compact camera that can actually slip inside a pants pocket!
Canon G7X Walkaround
by Mike Tomkins
With dimensions of 4.1 x 2.4 x 1.6 inches (103 x 60.4 x 40.4mm) the Canon G7 X is near-indistinguishable in size from its nearest competitor, the Sony RX100 III. It's just fractionally taller and wider, but despite its longer-reaching lens, just microscopically slimmer than the Sony.
At a weight of 10.7 ounces (304g) loaded and ready to shoot, it's a little heavier, though. By way of comparison, the Sony RX100 III weighs about a half-ounce (14g) less, with battery and flash card loaded.
Its lightest and smallest competitor in the class is the original Sony RX100. Although that model has a shorter, less-bright lens and lacks quite a few of the G7 X's features -- most notably, its tilting screen and Wi-Fi connectivity -- it's about 0.2 inches slimmer and weighs 2.3 ounces (64g) less while retaining the same 1"-type sensor size.
Seen from the front, the Canon G7 X cuts a clean, unassuming profile. With the exception of a ring surrounding the 4.2x optical zoom lens, there are no controls on the front deck.
Nestled above and to the right of the lens (as seen from the rear) is a small LED that serves double-duty as an autofocus illuminator and self-timer lamp. And as you can see, the lens itself includes a built-in, sliding lens barrier that negates the need for an easily-lost lens cap.
From above, the G7X shows its colors as an enthusiast camera with a dedicated Exposure Compensation dial, stacked wedding cake-style beneath the Mode dial at the right end of the camera body. Both dials are diamond-knurled around the outside, just as is the dial that surrounds the lens ring, providing plenty of grip.
Just a little to the left of the Exposure Compensation and Mode dials sits the Shutter button, surrounded by a Zoom rocker that functions both in Record and Playback modes. Left of and behind this is the Power button, while a popup flash strobe can be seen at the far left end of the top deck. In between are two ports for the stereo microphone, and a single three-hole port for the speaker.
The rear of the PowerShot G7X is also quite clean and straightforward, although the controls are clustered very near to the edge of the camera. With no protruding front grip, a two-handed hold is required to reach and use most of these controls with your thumb. A modest thumb grip at the top right corner helps secure your purchase when shooting stills single-handed, though.
Left of the control cluster is the 3.0-inch LCD monitor, surrounded by a fairly large bezel. The monitor is mounted on a hinge that allows it to swing upwards 180 degrees for shooting selfies or from the hip, but since it's a fixed hinge, no downward tilt is possible. That means it won't help out when shooting over your head, and nor can the screen be turned to face inwards for protection, unlike side-mounted tilt/swivel types.
With that said, none of the G7 X's nearest competitors have a tilt/swivel screen, although Sony's RX100 II and III do both provide for overhead or waist-level shooting, and the latter is also selfie-friendly. And at least there's nothing obscuring the bottom of the G7X's LCD when in selfie mode, at least unless you raise the flash.
As for the controls, there are four buttons surrounding the four-way controller, which sits at the center of the rear dial and has a central Function / Set button. Above the Four-way controller are a Ring Func. button that switches which variable will be controlled by the lens ring, as well as a Video Record button. The latter is close enough to the edge of the camera that you'll want to shoot videos two-handed to avoid shake.
Beneath the Four-way controller are Playback and Menu buttons, as well as a small card access lamp that sits just above and left of the Playback button. The four-way controller itself also offers controls for Drive mode / Wi-Fi, Focus mode, Flash and Display on its cardinal directions.
Switching to the right-hand side of the Canon PowerShot G7X, you can see that the lens telescopes out an inch or more from the front of the barrel when in use.
There is but one control on this side: The Mobile Device Connect Button, for quick connection to smartphones or tablets. It sits beneath a small flap that covers the connectivity compartment. Beneath are the G7X's combined standard-definition A/V output and digital USB data port, and a Micro HDMI port for connection to high-definition displays.
Switching to the left-hand side, there's only one control: a mechanical release for the built-in, popup flash strobe that sits above on the top deck.
And finally, we come to the base of the camera. There's not a lot to see here, but it's worth noting that the release on the card / battery compartment door and the base of the tilting LCD monitor both share the same diamond-knurling as the various control dials and lens ring.
The metal tripod mount sits off the central axis of the lens, which isn't ideal for tripod-mounted panorama shooting, but it'd be easy enough to correct for with a short bracket if you plan to shoot a lot of panos. And finally, a small logo imprinted into the bottom of the camera indicates the location of its NFC antenna.
Since Apple has finally seen the light and implemented NFC in its latest iPhone models (a whopping four years after it came to rivals like Android, Symbian and Windows Phone), we're hopeful that this will now work for both iOS and Android, allowing quick-and-easy pairing and sharing on the two dominant mobile platforms.
What's inside the G7X? Let's take a look and see!
Canon G7X Technical Info
by Mike Tomkins
Sensor
Canon hasn't revealed the manufacturer of the image sensor used in the PowerShot G7X digital camera, but we note with interest that its specifications look a whole lot like the Sony-manufactured silicon used in the competing RX100 II and III.
Like that chip, the Canon G7 X's imager is a 1.0"-type, backside-illuminated CMOS image sensor. (Where Sony refers to its chip as an Exmor R type, though, Canon refers to that in the G7X simply as being ""High-Sensitivity CMOS".)
And resolution, too, is essentially identical. The G7X sensor has a 3:2 aspect ratio and an effective resolution of 20.2 megapixels from a total of 20.9 megapixels. Maximum image dimensions are 5,472 x 3,648 pixels, all identical to the Sony.
Could it be that the chip from the most recent RX100-series cameras is now available to third parties? It seems possible, but unless somebody does a teardown of the G7 X, there's simply no way to be sure.
Processor
Output from the Canon G7 X's image sensor is handled by a DIGIC 6 image processor. That's the same generation used in the larger-sensored Canon G1 X Mark II, as well as in the smaller-sensored Canon S120, the two models between which the G7X sits in Canon's enthusiast compact camera lineup.
Sensitivity
Together, the G7 X's sensor and processor pair to allow a working sensitivity range of ISO 125 to 12,800 equivalents. That's identical to the range provided by the Sony RX100 III by default, but on the Sony camera it can be extended to ISO 80 at the bottom end. Canon appears not to provide any expansion capability on the G7 X.
You can, of course, achieve the same thing with the G7X by simply overexposing and then dialing back the exposure post-capture, but you'll reduce dynamic range and potentially lose highlight detail in the process, just as you will with in-camera expansion. (That's why the RX100 III's expanded range isn't available by default.)
Performance
In terms of burst-shooting performance, the sensor / processor pairing of the Canon G7X looks to win against Sony's BIONZ X in one respect, but trail in another. With autofocus enabled, Canon says you'll extract 4.4 frames per second with its camera, where Sony pledges just 2.9 fps in the same condition.
Lock focus and exposure from the first frame, though, and the Canon G7 X will yield 6.5 fps, where the Sony RX100-series cameras can all manage 10 fps.
It's worth noting that in this respect, the little G7X bests its bulkier siblings, the G1 X and G1 X Mark II. Both figures are blown away by another enthusiast compact, however, albeit one that sits somewhere between the G7X and G1X-series cameras in size. The simultaneously-announced Panasonic LX100 can draw 6.5 frames per second from its much larger 4/3-inch sensor with autofocus, and 11 fps without.
Fixed zoom lens
Although we've found much to love in Sony's RX100-series cameras, one thing we've long bemoaned is their relatively short zoom reach, something that has only become more restrictive as the company traded focal range for a brighter aperture in the most recent RX100 III model. If you've been right there along with us, begging for more reach, you're going to be thrilled by the Canon G7X -- on paper at least.
It might not bear the Zeiss Vario-Sonnar T* branding of Sony's cameras, nor the Leica DC Vario-Summilux badge of the Panasonic LX100, but this Canon-branded optic nevertheless looks set to impress. (We're obviously reserving judgement until we get the camera in our lab for comprehensive testing, as well as some real-world shooting.)
The reason? In a body barely any larger -- and actually just microscopically slimmer -- than the Sony RX100 III, the Canon G7X packs in almost 50% more zoom range, and it doesn't even compromise on maximum aperture to do so!
Where the Sony RX100 III sports a 2.9x, 24 to 70mm-equivalent zoom, the earlier RX100 and RX100 II shared a 3.6x, 28-100mm equivalent optic, and the Panasonic LX100 has a 3.1x, 24 to 75mm lens, Canon blows them away with a 4.2x, 24-100mm optic. That gives you greater telephoto reach than the RX100 III or LX100 while matching their wide-angle, and simultaneously bests the RX100 and RX100 II for wide-angle shooting while matching their telephoto.
And best of all, it does so while providing an f/1.8 aperture at wide angle or f/2.8 at telephoto, matching the aperture range of the RX100 III despite all that extra tele reach. Compared to the RX100 and RX100 II, the difference is stark: Canon gives you a bright f/2.8 at telephoto, while Sony can manage only f/4.9. Panasonic, meanwhile, has a slight edge at wide angle with an f/1.7 maximum aperture, but only matches the Canon G7 X at telephoto, despite a significantly larger, thicker body.
Another promising sign for the Canon G7X is that it has a nine-bladed, rounded aperture diaphragm that should help yield more attractive bokeh, compared to the 7-bladed, rounded apertures of Sony's RX100 siblings. Panasonic's LX100 will have the advantage here, though, thanks to its sensor size and the fact that it, too, has a 9-bladed, rounded aperture. The 1"-type sensors of the Canon and Sony models simply won't provide the same opportunities for depth-of-field blur that you'll get with the larger 4/3"-type sensor in the Panasonic.
Oh, and one last great piece of news for potential Canon G7 X customers: a built-in neutral density filter is provided. Among its main rivals, only the Sony RX100 III has a built-in ND filter, good for a 3-stop reduction in incoming light. We don't yet know the strength of Canon's filter, however, so stay tuned for more to come as we uncover it.
Stabilization
As you'd expect in this class of camera, the Canon G7X includes true optical image stabilization. Canon has yet to provide any indication of the corrective ability to be expected from the system, but does note that it has eight different working modes which can be accessed automatically in Intelligent IS mode.
Focusing
Canon brands the autofocus system of the G7 X as "High Speed AF", and as we've already mentioned, AF performance looks handy compared to the RX100-series cameras. (Check the Performance section above for specifics, if you've skipped ahead.)
Canon's AF system also bests Sony in another metric, though, providing a selection of 31 autofocus points that cover most of the image frame, where the RX100 trio all share the same 25-point AF system. According to Canon, the G7 X's AF points encompass 80% of the frame height and 84% of the width, leaving bands of just 10% at the top and bottom uncovered, along with 8% bands at frame left and right.
Face detection is also included, as is an autofocus assist lamp. Although we don't yet know the working range of the G7X's AF system, nor the camera's maximum magnification, we do know that it can focus down to just 2.0 inches at wide-angle, almost as close as the 1.9 inches of Sony's cameras at wide-angle.
Monitor
Like the original Sony RX100 and RX100 II (unless you count the latter's expensive, optional accessory, anyway), the Canon G7 X forgoes an electronic viewfinder. It's a decision that doubtless helps save some size, but means that you'll be limited to shooting at arm's length -- unlike those shooting with the RX100 III or LX100.
Thankfully, the Canon G7X's rear-panel, 3.0-inch LCD monitor matches the 3:2 aspect ratio of its image sensor, so unlike its RX100-series rivals which all use 4:3 screens, you'll see a larger preview / review image with no black borders if you're shooting in the native sensor aspect ratio.
(Things are more complicated with the LX100, because none of its aspect-ratio options precisely match the sensor aspect, so if you prefer shooting 4:3-aspect images then that model's screen makes sense.)
The G7 X's display also bests its rivals in pixel count thanks to its wider 720 x 480 pixel array, where the LX100 and RX100-series all sport 640 x 480 pixel screens. Coverage is 100%, so you'll be able to take advantage of those extra pixels for accurate framing, too, not just when chimping your shots post-capture.
In terms of dot count, though, the G7X has only red, green, and blue subpixels at each pixel location, where the RX100-series cameras all use WhiteMagic displays that include an additional white subpixel. Without that fourth dot per pixel, the G7X has a lower dot count, and its screen will either be dimmer than a WhiteMagic screen at equal power consumption, or use more power for equal brightness.
Touchscreen interface
But there's one respect in which the Canon G7X bests all its rivals. The Canon G7 X is far and away the most compact large-sensor, fixed-lens zoom camera with a touch screen display. In fact, the only other camera in the category with a touch screen is the much larger G1 X Mark II.
Specifically, the Canon G7X monitor is a capacitive touch screen.
Exposure
The Canon PowerShot G7X offers most if not all of the main exposure features you'd expect of an enthusiast camera, plus a selection of consumer-friendly options which acknowledge that it's not just experienced photographers who want the versatility of a pocket camera coupled with the image quality of a far larger sensor than a typical compact or camera phone.
Exposure modes on offer include Auto, Hybrid Auto, Program (with Program Shift), Aperture-priority, Shutter-priority, Manual, Custom, Scene, Creative Shot, Creative Filters, and Movie. There are a relatively restrained total of seven scene modes -- Portrait, Smart Shutter, Star, Handheld Night Scene, Underwater, Snow, and Fireworks.
Exposures are determined using evaluative, center-weighted or spot metering, but like Sony before it, Canon hasn't disclosed the number of areas into which its evaluative system breaks down the scene. Nor is metering system working range or the availability of exposure bracketing disclosed. We can confirm, however, that both autoexposure lock and exposure compensation are provided, with the latter having a working range of +/-3EV in 1/3 increments set using a dedicated dial on the top deck.
Shutter speeds range from 1/2,000 to 250 seconds, a very wide range that does have some limits: Beyond 1.3 seconds, you can't roam past ISO 3200 equivalent, and once you reach 40 seconds you're limited to ISO 125 max. The fastest shutter speed of 1/2,000s is identical to those of the RX100-series cameras, but bested by the Panasonic LX100's 1/4,000s top speed. Canon has not yet revealed this model's flash sync speed, nor mentioned if there might be an electronic shutter function.
A generous selection of white balance modes are provided. These include Auto, Multi Auto, eight white balance presets, two custom positions, and the ability to fine-tune white balance.
Flash
Like all of its closest rivals except for the Panasonic LX100, the Canon G7 X includes a built-in popup flash strobe. It's deployed using a mechanical release on the left side of the camera body, and when raised, sits just a little above and forwards of the camera body. There's no hot shoe, unlike in the competing Panasonic LX100 and Sony RX100 II.
We don't yet know the flash sync speed -- a pretty crucial detail -- but do know that the built-in strobe is said to have a working range of 20 inches to 23 feet (50cm to 7m) at wide angle, or 16 inches to 13 feet (40cm to 4m) at telephoto. The ISO speed isn't stated, so can probably be assumed to be using Auto ISO, just as Panasonic and Sony do in their own specs. The range at base ISO will thus be quite a bit shorter.
The flash has a rather lengthy recycle time of ten seconds, and +/- 2.0EV of flash exposure compensation is provided. We don't yet know whether flash bracketing is also possible.
Creative
Photo effects options include My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, and Custom Color. Possible adjustments (as relevant to the effects mode) include contrast, sharpness, saturation, red, green, blue and skin tone, so you can tweak results to your taste.
Creative Filters are accessed through their own Mode dial position, and include High Dynamic Range, Nostalgic, Fisheye Effect, Miniature Effect, Toy Camera Effect, Background Defocus, Soft Focus, Monochrome, Super Vivid and Poster Effect.
A self-timer function is provided with preset durations of two or ten seconds plus a custom option, and a dual-axis level gauge helps to get horizons level and verticals parallel.
We're still awaiting confirmation of whether there's a panorama function, but otherwise the selection of creative tools seems pretty complete.
Movie
Like most cameras these days, the Canon G7X can shoot high-definition or standard-definition videos, not just stills. Movies are recorded with MPEG-4 AVC / H.264 compression and include MPEG-4 AAC-LC stereo audio from an internal microphone; there is no external mic jack.
Resolution options include Full HD (1,920 x 1,080 pixels; 1080p), HD (1,280 x 720 pixels; 720p) and VGA (640 x 480 pixels; 480p). At Full HD resolution you have a choice of 30p or 60p progressive-scan frame rates, while at lower resolutions you're restricted to 30p only.
We don't yet know the maximum clip length, nor whether options like levels control, wind cut, zebra striping, uncompressed HDMI, or high-res stills during video capture are possible, but rivals offer these features, so we're crossing our fingers.
One option Canon offers that its rivals don't, though, is a special Star Time-Lapse Movie mode. This allows only Full HD resolution at a playback rate of 30 or 15 frames per second, and captures only one frame every 30 seconds. (You have no control over the interval.) In other words, you're playing back at either 450x or 900x real-time.
You can choose whether or not the stars should have "tails" -- that is, that as they move across the frame their earlier positions should remain bright or return to darkness. If the tail is enabled, you can choose how long it should remain for in three levels.
Other special movie options include iFrame (intended for use with Apple software like iMovie or Final Cut), Miniature Effect (HD or VGA at 1.5, 3, or 6 fps), and Digest Movie (HD at 30fps; records a brief movie clip before each still, then assembles a single digest movie per day from all the clips.)
Wireless Networking
Ensuring that it stays relevant in the smartphone age, the Canon G7X includes built-in Wi-Fi wireless networking technology, as well as support for Near-Field Communications technology.
NFC is something that came to Android about four years ago now, and has since become widespread on Blackberry, Symbian and Windows Phone devices too. For years, we've been calling out the fact that Apple was resisting adopting the standard, but it has finally surrendered and added NFC support to its latest-generation iPhone 6 models, so hopefully we'll finally see its devices supporting quick and simple pairing.
Assuming the function works on iOS as it does on Android, all you do is simply bump the devices to be paired together briefly, ensuring the locations of their antennas are near each other. (NFC has a very, very short range that acts as a security feature.) Once the devices see each other via NFC, they can then automatically negotiate a much faster, longer-range Wi-Fi connection, and the NFC tech can also be used to have the smartphone run the relevant app for you automatically, saving you launching it yourself.
The requirement for a specific app invariably rules out platforms other than the big two -- Android and iOS -- though, and that's the case here too, leaving Blackberry, Symbian and Windows Phone users looking on with jealousy. Those photographers using iOS 6.0+ or Android 2.3+, though, can look forward to quick and easy sharing through their phone or connected tablet on social networks and the like.
Connectivity
Connectivity options in the Canon PowerShot G7X include standard-definition video output in NTSC or PAL formats (a feature Sony's RX100-series cameras lack), as well as high-definition video output and USB for data transfer. The HD output is a Micro HDMI port, and the SD video / USB outputs share a single connector.
Storage
The Canon G7 X stores images on Secure Digital cards, as do almost all higher-end cameras these days. Both the higher-capacity SDHC and SDXC types are supported, and so are the higher-speed UHS-I types. (Sony only recently added support for the latter in its most recent RX100 III model; earlier Sony models will simply fall back to standard speeds with UHS-I cards, likely making read / write times longer than in the Canon G7 X.)
Still images can be stored in raw or compressed JPEG formats, or both simultaneously.
Power
The G7X draws power from a proprietary NB-13L lithium-ion battery pack. With a rated 3.6 volts, 1,250 mAh, and 4.5 Wh capacity, the pack is near-indistinguishable from that in the RX100-series cameras, but Canon predicts significantly lower battery life.
Where the RX100-series cameras will manage 320-350 shots on the LCD monitor right out of the box, Canon's camera is rated as good for 210 shots ordinarily, or 310 shots in ECO mode -- and we don't yet know what ECO mode does in order to save so much power. (It could simply do things like reducing LCD backlight levels, or it could go further and reduce performance in some respect.)
Charging
The good news is that while battery life is perhaps shorter, charging batteries is less troublesome. Unless you pay extra for an external charger, Sony's RX100 cameras charge in-camera via USB, meaning you can't charge a second battery while you're out shooting. Canon, though, gives you that option by simply including a standalone charger.
The downside is that you'll need to bring an extra piece of gear with you on trips, rather than simply sharing the same USB charger between devices.
Comparison Shopping
The premium compact camera market has heated up to the point you'll surely need our new camera comparison tool for helping keep all the specs sorted out!. Clicking on any of the following will take you there, where you can see features, specs, pros and cons listed for virtually any pair of cameras you'd like to compare. Here are a few obvious choices to compare to the Canon G7X to get you started:
Canon G7X vs Sony RX100 III |
Canon G7X vs Panasonic LX100 |
Canon G7X vs Canon G1X II |
Canon G7X vs Nikon V3 |
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Canon G7X
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