If you're after a compact camera, the Canon G7 X Mark II might be a much smarter buy than the more popular Mark III model.
As everybody knows by now, compacts are experiencing a real renaissance in popularity. And despite its age, the Canon G7 X Mark II is still one of the best compact cameras you can buy – and actually holds its own against its younger brother in almost every department.
You see, the Canon G7 X Mark II is technically very similar in terms of specs and performance to the PowerShot G7 X Mark III everywhere except video. So I dare say that, if you mainly want to take photographs, it's the one you should go for.
The key difference is 4K video; the Mark III has it, while the Canon G7 X Mark II maxes out at FullHD 60p video.
But looking at the rest of the specs, virtually everything is the same. The Canon G7 X Mark II has a 1-inch 20.1MP sensor, a 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens, image stabilization, an ISO125-12800 sensitivity range, a built-in flash with sync up to 1/2000 sec, 3-inch tilting screen, WiFi connection…
Which are all the same as the Mark III. Okay, the newer camera has a stacked sensor – which enables it to shoot bursts at up to 20fps (8fps with autofocus) compared to 8fps (5.4 with AF) on the Canon G7 X Mark II. But this isn't a sports camera, and I honestly don't think anyone is going to miss those extra frames.
I'd argue that few people are really going to miss the 4K, either. The Mark III's quality isn't a patch on the 4K footage on your phone, so for me it's not a feature that I ever use.
Your mileage may vary, of course, and I still love using the Mark III. But if I was buying a compact camera in 2025? I'd put my own money down on a Canon G7 X Mark II – which would be a lot less money than the Mark III would cost me!
You might also like…
Take a look at the best Canon cameras beyond the compact realm. And if you want to stay small, check out the best travel cameras and the best lenses for travel photography to go with them.
