Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Pro Reviews

With smartphones all but eliminating the existence of the low-cost point-and-shoot camera, manufacturers have pivoted to create pricey, premium pocket cameras that can compete with SLRs on image quality. The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II ($699.99) fits that mold, capturing images with a 1-inch image sensor that does a solid job in dim light, a zoom lens that's rated at f/1.8 at its widest angle, and a metal chassis. It's a strong performer, but one that exists in a very competitive segment of the market. We're going to stick with the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III$798.00 at Amazon as our Editors' Choice pick—its zoom range isn't quite as ambitious as the G7 X's, but its lens delivers crisper results, and it includes an electronic viewfinder.

Performance improvements raise the G7 X Mark II's grade to excellent, as long as you're not looking for a lot of frills.

Canon has once again produced a very appealing G-series camera – it's a high-performing compact, which makes it both a good alternative for when using your DSLR isn't practical, and a great camera in its own right. If you're an existing Canon user the biggest decision you'll have to make will be between the G7 X II and the G5 X. If you're not especially brand-loyal, you'll likely be torn between this and the Sony RX100 IV; for now at least the Sony costs more, so the Canon may edge it on value.

The Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II is a good update to the G7 X with the same 4.2x optical zoom lens, which features a bright f/1.8-2.8 aperture, and the Mark II offers improved noise performance, and excellent image quality, along with handling improvements, thanks to additional grip, and a more flexible tilting screen that can tilt down as well as up. The camera is also quicker, shooting at 8fps, with a good buffer size to allow for more shots before slowdown. When we reviewed the original G7 X we complained about the loud click from the front lens ring, and this can now be switched on or off on the G7 X Mark II depending on how you want to use the camera. There has also been a slight improvement in battery life, although switching on ECO mode is recommended to extend the battery life, as it is still a little short at 240 shots normally.