The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II has become a favorite among youtubers and professional vloggers since its debut. This versatile compact camera weighs only 319g and packs a powerful 20.1 MP 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor. Users get professional-grade capabilities in a pocket-sized package.
The camera’s impressive f/1.8-2.8 lens with a 24-100mm focal range delivers exceptional results, especially when you have its responsive 3-inch tilting touchscreen. The camera’s performance shines with its 8 frames per second shooting speed and RAW capability, making it a strong competitor against others in its class.
Let’s get into every detail of this camera, from its premium build quality to advanced shooting features. This comprehensive look will help you decide if this camera matches your photography needs.
Design and Build Quality
The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II feels solid and premium thanks to its metal construction. This camera comes with several smart improvements that make it easier to use and control compared to the older model.
The new rubber grip on the front makes a big difference – you can hold the camera much more comfortably. Your hands feel secure with the grip and thumb rest working together, and the camera stays nice and compact.
The control layout shows some really clever design choices:
- A customizable control ring around the lens with a switchable click mechanism
- A dedicated exposure compensation dial stacked beneath the mode dial
- A touch-enabled rear screen that’s easy to use
The LCD screen is more versatile now. You can tilt it up for selfies and down by 45 degrees. This fixes a limitation from the previous model while keeping the screen’s bright, clear display.
Every physical control shows great attention to detail. The mode dial and exposure compensation wheel have textured surfaces for better grip. They’re fine-tuned just right to prevent accidental changes. The front control ring is really smart – you can switch between smooth and stepped rotation. This comes in handy when you’re adjusting aperture or need to stay quiet during video recording.
The camera keeps things clean with its connection ports. You’ll find HDMI and MicroUSB ports on the right side, along with a Wi-Fi button. The flash pops up smoothly from the top plate when you press its release button on the left.
Canon’s build quality shines through in this portable powerhouse. The rear panel controls are a bit tight, but the camera fits nicely in most pockets. Red accents around the top dials add a touch of style to its professional look.
Advanced Lens
The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II packs a versatile lens system with remarkable optical performance. This compact powerhouse features a bright f/1.8–2.8 lens that delivers impressive results in every shooting scenario.
24-100mm Focal Length
The 4.2x optical zoom stretches from 24mm to 100mm (35mm equivalent) and gives photographers plenty of creative options. The sort of thing I love about this focal range is how well it handles landscapes and architectural shots at the wide end, while the telephoto reach works beautifully for portraits and details. This zoom range beats many competitors in its class, which makes it a great choice for travel photography.
F1.8-2.8 Aperture
The bright maximum aperture starts at f/1.8 at wide angle and stays at a solid f/2.8 at full telephoto. This impressive aperture range helps photographers in two key ways:
- Better shots in low light without pushing ISO settings too high
- You retain control over depth-of-field to create beautiful background blur
Optical Quality
My extensive testing shows the lens has excellent optical characteristics. The lens delivers superb sharpness and contrast at f/5.6 around medium focal lengths (49mm equivalent). Center sharpness stays strong throughout the zoom range, though corner performance shifts slightly at different focal lengths.
The sophisticated engineering shines through in several areas:
- JPEG images show minimal chromatic aberration
- Wide angle shots have just 0.3% barrel distortion after corrections
- Macro shots can capture an area as small as 3.26 x 2.17 inches
Each camera might show slight differences in optimal sharpness at various focal lengths – that’s normal for complex lens designs. Canon maintains strict quality standards to keep these variations minimal.
The built-in ND filter works perfectly with the lens system. Photographers can use wide apertures even in bright light. The lens also handles flare well and maintains image quality in tricky lighting conditions.
The lens focuses as close as 5cm from subjects at wide-angle. This close focusing ability combined with bright apertures lets you capture stunning macro shots with smooth, blurred backgrounds.
Image Sensor and Processing
The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II features a powerful 20.1-megapixel 1-inch BSI CMOS sensor. This sensor works perfectly with Canon’s advanced DIGIC 7 image processor to create stunning images.
20.1MP BSI CMOS Sensor
The back-illuminated CMOS sensor design boosts low-light performance. You can print impressive sizes up to 24 x 36 inches at base ISO or ISO 200 with this sophisticated sensor. The camera’s ISO range runs from 125 to 12800, giving you great flexibility in all types of lighting conditions.
DIGIC 7 Processor
The DIGIC 7 processor is a big step up from its predecessor. Here are its key improvements:
- Better tracking and detection for improved subject focus
- About 25% more battery life
- Better noise handling at higher ISO settings
The processor’s smart algorithms perform about one stop better than the original G7 X as ISO levels go up. Images shot at ISO 1600 on the Mark II look as detailed as ISO 800 shots from the original model.
RAW vs JPEG Output
Looking at output quality, we found interesting differences between RAW and JPEG processing. The DIGIC 7 processor uses smart noise reduction and sharpening for JPEG images. At base ISO, noise reduction is quite strong, but you can adjust this through the camera’s High ISO NR settings (low, standard, high).
RAW files show the 20MP BSI CMOS sensor’s true potential. With RAW files, you can:
- Get more detail with fewer sharpening artifacts
- Control noise reduction better
- Have more room to edit, which helps with high ISO shots
The camera’s color reproduction stands out. The PowerShot G7 X Mark II lets you choose between sRGB and AdobeRGB color spaces. Its Auto White Balance (AWB) system works great in all types of lighting and gives accurate results with both tungsten and fluorescent lights.
Image quality stays strong up to ISO 3200, good enough for solid 8 x 10 inch prints. Even at ISO 6400, you can make decent 5 x 7 inch prints. The quality drops at ISO 12,800, where noise becomes obvious and details start to fade.
Professional Controls and Display
The PowerShot G7 X Mark II stands out with its smart control options and unique control ring system. A front-mounted control ring brings remarkable flexibility through its step/continuous selection lever. Photographers can switch between smooth turns for exact adjustments or stepped movements that provide tactile feedback.
Customizable Control Ring
The control ring shows its versatility through many customization options. The ring works with different functions based on shooting modes:
- Aperture value adjustment in Av mode
- Shutter speed control in TV mode
- ISO sensitivity settings
- Manual focus adjustments
- Step zoom capabilities
- White balance fine-tuning
The ring keeps its function assignments across shooting modes unless you change them. This design helps photographers build muscle memory with their preferred controls.
Touch Screen
A 3.0-inch LCD display packs roughly 1.04 million dots that deliver sharp image reproduction and quick touch controls. The touch interface works best in three areas: tap-to-focus capabilities, menu navigation, and image review.
You can shoot from tricky angles thanks to the screen’s biaxial tilt mechanism. The screen rotates upward for low-angle shots and tilts 45 degrees downward for high-angle compositions. This flexibility is a great way to get creative shots and vlog with ease.
The touch controls feel natural like a smartphone, with simple taps, swipes, and slides. Quick Set menu opens with the Q button and puts common settings at your fingertips. You can quickly adjust autofocus points, ISO settings, and white balance without digging through menus.
Touch shutter feature shows off the camera’s modern approach. Users tap the screen to focus and take pictures in one smooth action. The system handles focus and exposure adjustments automatically, making quick shots easier than ever.
The touch panel’s sensitivity adjusts when screen protectors are used. The display shows 100% of the scene, so you see exactly what you’ll capture. These touches in the interface design show how Canon blends classic camera controls with modern touch features.
UI and Menu Navigation
The PowerShot G7 X Mark II menu system follows a logical structure that’s easy to navigate. You can access Picture Style settings in two ways – through a button combination or the main menu system.
Advanced features become available when you switch to Creative modes. P, Av, Tv, or M modes tap into the full potential of the menu system. Some menu items like firmware updates will only show up after you switch to these advanced shooting modes.
The menu system packs extensive features, which is why the official user manual runs to 225 pages. The camera has a built-in intervalometer function in its menu system. This feature lets you capture time-lapse sequences without extra accessories.
Manual focus users will love the focus peaking feature in the menu settings. It shows in-focus areas with colored indicators to make precise focusing easier. The menu also lets you set up the built-in focus assist lamp to improve autofocus in low light conditions.
The camera works with operating systems of all types, with custom software and drivers for Linux, Windows, and Mac platforms. Each browser handles downloaded content differently:
- Chrome displays downloads in a bottom gray bar
- Safari shows downloads through a top-right arrow
- Firefox uses a dedicated downloads panel
- Microsoft Edge manages downloads via a three-dots menu
Program (P) mode is perfect to start exploring the menu system, especially when you need to update the system or access advanced features. You can also customize the extensive menu options to match your shooting priorities.
The menu system has advanced power management features to help you adjust battery performance and USB charging options. This will give you reliable operation during long shoots and flexible charging choices.
Advanced Shooting Features
The PowerShot G7 X Mark II shows off its advanced shooting skills with impressive speed and precision. You can shoot at 8 frames per second with focus locked on the first frame. The camera also offers 5.4 fps if you want continuous autofocus tracking.
Continuous Shooting
Thanks to the DIGIC 7 processor, the camera can handle up to 32 JPEG images or 21 RAW files before it needs a break. The camera bounces back to full shooting speed in seconds, which makes it perfect for action shots and fast-moving subjects.
The RAW shooting got better with deeper bit depth. The camera now shoots 14-bit RAW files, stepping up from the old 12-bit format. This upgrade gives you more room to play with your photos during editing while keeping the fast continuous shooting speeds.
Focus Tracking
The tracking autofocus system got better at spotting and following subjects. It works best with subjects that don’t move too quickly. In spite of that, you might notice some issues when trying to track very fast-moving subjects.
The focus tracking works best when:
- Your subject stays in frame
- Movement isn’t too fast
- You have good lighting
- Your subject has good contrast
Built-in ND Filter
A built-in 3-stop neutral density filter comes with the PowerShot G7 X Mark II. You can turn it on through the function menu, which lets you:
- Use wider apertures in bright daylight
- Create motion blur effects
- Get shallow depth-of-field even in bright light
The ND filter system now turns on automatically when your shot needs exposure adjustment. You can focus on getting the perfect shot while your camera handles the exposure settings.
This filter is a great tool for landscape shots and creative long-exposure techniques. The smooth integration into the camera’s design means you won’t need external filters. Your camera stays compact while giving you professional-level exposure control.
Video Recording
The PowerShot G7 X Mark II’s video features are a vital part of its capabilities. The camera shoots Full HD 1080p video at up to 60 frames per second. You can record at these resolutions:
- 1920 x 1080 at 60p, 30p, and 24p
- 1280 x 720 at 30p
- 640 x 480 at 30p
1080p Video Quality
The camera records video in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. It produces footage with beautiful colors and keeps impressive detail. We sampled the entire sensor to record video, which creates sharp, well-laid-out images. The camera gives you manual exposure control and Auto ISO to make recording more flexible. However, you won’t find zebra stripes to monitor exposure.
The built-in ND filter is a great tool for video work, especially when you have bright lighting conditions. You can maintain ideal shutter speeds. This feature helps create smoother, more cinematic motion in your videos.
Audio Recording
The camera comes with a stereo microphone system. While you’re limited to built-in microphones, they capture good quality sound. The camera stays quiet during zoom and focus adjustments.
The biggest problem is you can’t connect an external microphone. If you need professional audio quality, you might want to look at separate audio recording options since the camera doesn’t support external audio input.
Stabilization
The stabilization system stands out as a remarkable video feature. Dynamic IS combines lens-based and electronic stabilization for 5-axis correction. This smart system reduces:
- Camera shake when shooting handheld
- Movement while walking
- Vibrations from different shooting positions
The image stabilization works remarkably well, making casual shots look more professional than you’d expect. It really shines in tough environments and low light.
This technology handles sudden movements and shakes, which lets you capture steady footage without extra gear. Vloggers and content creators who shoot while moving will find this feature invaluable.
You can turn on the auto-level feature to keep your shots horizontally aligned. The camera also lets you tap the LCD screen to create smooth focus transitions while recording.
The PowerShot G7 X Mark II might not shoot 4K like some other cameras, but it’s a solid performer for 1080p video. Its mix of reliable stabilization, good audio capture, and flexible recording options makes it perfect for casual videography and content creation.
Connectivity and File Transfer
Wireless connectivity opens up creative possibilities for the PowerShot G7 X Mark II with its detailed file transfer and remote control features. The camera’s connectivity suite makes seamless integration with mobile devices and computers its main goal.
Wi-Fi
The camera’s Wi-Fi system works with direct connections to smart devices and network-based transfers to computers. The setup process needs an original connection through the camera’s SSID and password system. The camera creates unique encryption keys to protect data during wireless transmission.
File transfer options are flexible. The camera sends images automatically to a computer connected to an access point within range. This feature is a great way to get help for photographers who transfer large batches of images often. Movies take longer to transfer because of their larger file sizes.
Remote Control
The PowerShot G7 X Mark II has two different remote control methods. Users can control the camera through Bluetooth for simple operations or Wi-Fi for advanced remote shooting. Bluetooth lets users access basic camera controls right away, while Wi-Fi provides complete remote operation with live view features.
Remote shooting needs the camera to be in one of its Creative modes (P, Tv, Av, M, or C). Once connected, photographers can access:
- Remote live view shooting
- Image transfer capabilities
- Location information tagging
- Basic camera control functions
Mobile Device integration
The free Camera Connect app is the main interface for mobile device integration. Users must install the app on their smartphones before setting up any wireless connection. The connection setup changes based on the chosen method – either through direct Wi-Fi or Bluetooth pairing.
Mobile devices need proper settings to work well. Users might need to adjust their smartphone’s airplane mode and Wi-Fi settings for stable connections. The system works with both iOS and Android platforms, but NFC features only work with compatible Android devices.
The Camera Connect app has an easy-to-use interface with many features. Users browse images on the camera, import selected photos, and add location tags through their smartphone’s GPS. This integration makes the camera more versatile for modern photographers who need quick sharing and remote operation.
Power management features work alongside wireless functions, and the camera manages connection states to save battery life. The system also reconnects automatically, which streamlines workflow for frequent wireless users.
Battery Performance and Power
Power management is a vital part of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II’s performance. The camera uses the NB-13L battery pack that delivers consistent performance in all shooting conditions.
Battery Life
The PowerShot G7 X Mark II shows better battery efficiency and captures 265 shots on a single charge under standard conditions. We noticed a 25% increase in battery performance compared to its predecessor.
The camera’s ECO mode is a great way to get more shooting time. It extends the capture capacity to 355 shots per charge. This mode saves power without affecting core features.
Battery life gives you:
- 55 minutes of continuous movie recording under CIPA-compliant conditions
- 90 minutes of continuous video capture with default settings
- 5 hours of image playback time
USB Charging
The PowerShot G7 X Mark II comes with flexible charging options through its USB interface. The camera supports charging via the Compact Power Adapter CA-DC30 or standard USB charging methods. A complete charging cycle takes approximately 5 hours.
The USB charging system has these key features:
- Compatibility with 100-240V AC power sources
- Support for computer USB charging
- Charging indicator through green LED blinking
Of course, charging time changes based on remaining battery power and conditions. You can charge the camera while importing images to a computer, though it might take longer.
Power Management
The PowerShot G7 X Mark II has advanced power protection systems. The camera stops charging after 24 hours to keep the battery in good condition. Smart power management helps save battery life during wireless operations.
The camera protects your battery with these measures:
- Automatic charging stops when you press the power button
- Some computers need a memory card for USB charging
- Protection against gradual discharge for stored batteries
The power system adapts to how you use the camera. You can shoot longer by carrying spare batteries, as charging times depend on remaining power levels. Power consumption stays efficient in different shooting modes, whether you’re taking photos or recording videos.
The camera handles power-hungry tasks well. It manages wireless connections to save battery life while keeping essential features like remote shooting and file transfers working smoothly.
Conclusion
The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II represents a breakthrough in compact camera design. The largest longitudinal study shows this camera excels with its professional-grade features in a portable body. A bright f/1.8-2.8 lens, powerful 20.1MP sensor, and advanced DIGIC 7 processor deliver exceptional image quality in shooting scenarios of all types.
The camera doesn’t have 4K video capabilities. However, its refined controls, responsive touchscreen, and effective image stabilization make it reliable for still photography and Full HD video recording. The sophisticated autofocus system and impressive 8 fps continuous shooting speed will give a photographer the confidence to capture decisive moments.
Battery performance is impressive with ECO mode. Photographers should still carry a spare battery during long shooting sessions. Modern photographers will find the wireless connectivity options are a great way to get quick file transfers and remote shooting capabilities, though initial setup can be tricky.
This camera excels as a travel companion or everyday carry option at the time you just need professional features without bulky systems. The PowerShot G7 X Mark II, released in 2016, remains competitive against newer models by offering the perfect balance of portability, performance, and creative control.
