Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II review – Introduction

At a glance:

• 20.1-million-pixel, 1in CMOS sensor
• 24-100mm equivalent f/1.8-2.8 lens
• ISO 125-12,800
• 3in touchscreen, 1.04 million dots
• 8fps burst shooting

There was a time when Canon’s PowerShot line was the obvious choice for anyone who wanted manual control in a compact camera. However, as manufacturers have abandoned the budget end of the market, too many capable alternatives have surfaced for this to remain the case. It’s perhaps because of this rivalry that Canon has furnished its G-series range with five models in the past two years, and this has arguably left it in the best shape it’s ever been.

As is now fairly standard practice, Canon has based most of these around the same sensor and a similar level of control, but differentiated the lenses, bodies and availability of certain features to deliver a solution to please everyone. The G7 X Mark II occupies a mid-line position – not quite as pocketable or affordable as some of its stablemates, but more practical than others.

The model updates the previous PowerShot G7 X, a camera with plenty of merits but a number of sore points, too. Canon has taken the latter on board for this update, but it has launched into a rather more populated market than what the G7 X was in. So where exactly does this all leave it?