Here’s what our Guest Contributor Tom and News Editor Arushi have to say about the budget-friendly Canon G7X Mark II camera.
The Canon G7 Mark II is the newest entrant in the Japanese giant’s range of premium compact cameras. Combining excellent image quality, highly sensitive controls with a compact size that easily fits in your pocket, the G7X Mark II is definitely the perfect travel companion. The device is an upgrade on the G7X, albeit sporting the same lens and sensor as its predecessor. It is, however, the smaller but crucial updates such as raw format shooting and manual controls that make it truly appealing to photography enthusiasts.
Design
The G7X Mark II bears a striking resemblance to the G9X in terms of packing a line-up of premium features in a sleek body, though the latter boasts of even smaller dimensions. However, the slightly bigger frame allows the G7X Mark II more room to accommodate a longer lens and a tilting screen. All in all, the G7X Mark II is a somewhat utilitarian, which might take some getting used to for seasoned high-end CSC and DSLR users. Despite missing features like the viewfinder and articulating screen, it is worth trying your hand on for its ergonomic design.
Screen
The tilting ability is one of the biggest pluses of the G7X Mark II screen, and comes in quite handy while shooting from awkward angles. The screen can also be moved all the way forward, making for an idea position for self-portraits. It offers a good color display and is also touch-sensitive. This means you may not need to access those buttons for getting around the quick as well as main menu. The touch-sensitivity also comes in handy while viewing images, as you can pinch to zoom and swipe your way to end of the roll.
Lens
The G7X Mark II is fitted with a rather modest 4.2x lens, which roughly corresponds to 24-100mm. But before you dismiss it as paltry, it is worth noting that the lens offers a lot more scope that a classic 24-70mm full-frame variants. Another advantage of a shorter lens is the wider apertures it accords. In case of the Mark II, you get f/1.8 at the widest point, which can be further expanded to f/2.8 at the farthest reach of optic. The camera’s focal length range also facilitates good degree of display details, and the zoom capability can be augmented with the use of digital zoom.
Handling
The camera comes with a grip on the front that makes it fit snugly in the hand, and sports a dial on top for switching exposure modes with ease. The exposure compensation dial right below can also be accessed with the thumb for making swift changes between shots. The buttons have been place on the right side, making the adjustment process breezy, at least for right-handed users. Just like the G7X, the Mark II also has a ring around the lens for adjusting the settings. The switch installed underneath the lens offers the option of switching off the clicking sound, which can be a quite welcome setting when working in a quiet environment or shooting videos. The scroll dial on the rear marked with Q does the job of changing other manual settings on this camera, along with providing access to a quick menu. While the G7X Mark II lacks a hotshoe for external accessories, it comes with a built-in flash that can be launched with a switch on the side.
Check out the in-depth video review of Canon G7X Mark II by our Contributing Editor Tom Hitchins below.
Priced at $699, the G7X Mark II with its large sensors, touch-sensitive screen, wide aperture, and Wi-Fi connectivity is a promising pick for trigger-happy users who like to live up the click and post life to the fullest.
