Introduction

Ease of Use

Outwardly the new Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III looks very similar to its predecessor, with most of the differences between the two models being under the hood.

Measuring 105 x 60.9 x 41.4mm and weighing 304g, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is similar in size but ever so slightly lighter than the G7 X II camera that it succeeds in Canon's line-up of premium compact cameras. 

It has an all-metal body that feels solid in use, with all of the various external controls offer just the right amount of stiffness and resistance. The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III will just about fit into a trouser or shirt pocket, but is more at home in a deep coat pocket or small camera bag.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III features a 20.1 megapixel CMOS sensor that captures images either in the 3:2, 4:3, 16:9 or 1:1 aspect ratios whilst maintaining the same angle of view, even when shooting RAW images. 

The new stacked 1-inch sensor promises to deliver better image quality, especially in low-light, whilst also boosting continuous shooting speeds and providing 4K rather than 1080p video recording.

The G7 X Mark III retains its predecessor's very handy exposure compensation dial on top, although setting the ISO speed is still a rather convoluted affair. The G7 X Mark III doesn't have an optical viewfinder, though, and there's no way to add an electronic one either, instead relying on the rear LCD screen for image composition. You'll need to look at the equally new G5 X III camera if you want a viewfinder.

Front of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III's unassuming-looking front plate is dominated by the 4.2x zoom lens, with a small bulb for the built-in self-timer/AF assist lamp flanking it on the top-left. Note that there's no thread included for fitting filters to the lens. 

The G7 X Mark III doesn't have a front control dial, as featured on its EOS DSLR and mirrorless cameras and some high-end compacts, which makes changing the aperture and shutter speed a little more difficult.

Instead you use a combination of the lens control ring and the rear navigation wheel to change the aperture and shutter speed, each of which can be configured to suit your particular way of working. The lens ring can be assigned to one of nine different settings, accessed via the Ring Function menu option. 

 We still found the rear navigation wheel on the rear a bit too thin to use precisely and quickly, and disappointingly you can no longer set the lens ring to a clicking or smooth action via the small lever switch set at 4 o'clock, as Canon have removed it entirely.

There's a small but useful handgrip on the front of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, which makes it easier to steady the camera in conjunction with the textured small pad at the back where your right thumb naturally rests.

Looking down on top of the camera from left to right, the G7 X Mark III's top-plate houses the folding pop-up flash, with a switch on the side for manually releasing it, a springy raised nipple-style shutter release button surrounded by a rocker switch for operating the optically stabilised 4.2x zoom (24-100mm equivalent on a 35mm camera), and behind this again the small, recessed on/off button.

Rear of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

The fact that the lens is image stabilised, says Canon, provides a four-stop advantage when shooting handheld, while the Dual Sensing IS system analyses the focal length, focal distance and type of camera movement and applies the most appropriate mode from seven possible settings, and the Hybrid IS system makes shooting macros easier than before by counteracting both shift and angular movements.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is quick to power up in less than a second, the rear LCD blinking into life with the optical zoom lens simultaneously extending from storage within the body to its maximum wide-angle setting. It starts at the equivalent of 24mm, making it very useful for those landscapes group portraits or getting the required shot in confined spaces.

The G7 X Mark III's lens has bright apertures of f/1.8 at the wide-angle end of the zoom range and f/2.8 at full telephoto, plus a 9-blade aperture for better bokeh effects. As a further aid to landscape fans, a 3-stop neutral density filter option is provided among the function menu options, to be turned on or off as required or to Auto if you want the camera to take control, and a horizontal Electronic Level and RGB histogram can be enabled to help with composition and exposure.

The G7 X Mark III has an even better continuous shooting mode than its predecessor thanks to the new stacked image sensor and the latest Digic processor, which in conjunction with Tracking AF makes this camera surprisingly well-suited to both slow and fast moving subjects. 

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III can capture both JPEG and Raw images up to a whopping 20fps with the focus point locked at the first frame, or you can shoot continuously at 8.3fps with AF/AE tracking. There's also a special 30fps RAW Burst mode with an optional 0.5sec pre-burst setting to help make capturing that decisive moment even easier.

Tilting LCD Screen

The shooting mode dial features settings for Hybrid Auto, Auto, Program, Shutter Priority, Aperture Priority and Manual, along with a user customisable setting, a smattering of scene modes (8 in all), various Creative Effects and finally a video mode.

The Canon PowerShot is now capable of 4K movie recording with no crop, so you capture the same angle of view in 4K and 1080p modes, something that Canon has consistently struggled to deliver on its recent camera releases. The 4K video quality is shot at 3840x21600 pixels at 30/25fps, and there's also 1080p recording available at 1920x1080 pixels at 60/50/30/25fps, depending on the region setting.

In addition, the G7 X III can now record 120fps Full HD movies via the High Frame Rate Movie menu option for slow-motion footage idel for B-roll, although the camera can't autofocus, stabilise the footage or record sound during recording.

The in-camera digital Dynamic Image Stabilisation system offers three settings - low, standard and high - to compensate for shake during movie recording, which helps a lot when hand-holding the camera, say, for vlogging.

Other new video features include a live streaming function that supports YouTube (although you need to connect the camera to a Wi-Fi network or smartphone to enable this feature), 9:16 vertical movie support for Instagram, a clean HDMI output and the very welcome addition of a 3.5mm microphone input on the left-hand side of the camera, all of which make this one of the best-appointed cameras in Canon's massive range for vloggers.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III in-hand

We appreciated the flexibility afforded by the G7 X III's tilting LCD screen in terms of trying out unusual and awkward framing. It can be tilted up through 180° for easier selfies and vlogging, and it can also be tilted down by 45° for use as a more discrete waist-level finder. The LCD is exactly the same as on the G7 X II, a 3 inch monitor with 3:2 aspect ratio and a resolution of 1040K dots.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III has a touch focus/shoot option which is on by default. To switch it off, you change the Touch Shutter option in the main menu. This then becomes a touch focus screen which will lock onto the subject wherever you touch, with a press of the Display button centering the AF point again.

In playback the touchscreen can be used to change the magnification of an image by spreading and pinching two fingers, and switch between images by swiping from side to side, just like on a smartphone. You can also adjust the LCD's touch sensitivity to your liking with Standard and High settings available.

On the right flank of the G7 X Mark III is a dedicated button for quickly connecting to a previously paired smartphone or tablet, print from a wi-fi printer, upload to a web service, and connect to a wireless remote.

Top of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

Initial set-up of the Wi-fi options can be a faff, requiring you to manually connect to the camera’s wireless hotspot, especially as the camera no longer supports NFC pairing. The new Bluetooth feature is a lot easier to setup. However you connect though, the free Canon Camera Connect app lets you wirelessly transfer images to a smartphone, tablet or computer, as well as print to a PictBridge-compatible printer. The app also allows you to remotely control the camera with your phone and add GPS data to your images (when connected via Bluetooth).

Returning to the rear of the camera, alongside the new and very handy AE-Lock button is the one-touch movie record button, which as its name suggests instantly begins recording a movie at the current quality and creative settings.

Underneath this pair of controls is the four-way selection or control pad, with, at points north, east, south and west a means of selecting the burst shooting mode and deleting images in playback, choosing from the on-board flash settings, setting the Display mode, and activating manual, normal or 5cm macro focus modes.

The G7 X Mark III has retained the 31-point AF system of its predecessor, which focuses quickly for a compact camera in either good light or bad and at both ends of the zoom range, with a very slight delay of around 0.1 second. New to this model is a very useful AF+MF feature which allow the focus to be manually adjusted even after the autofocus has been set.

Side of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

In the middle of the scroll wheel is the Q/Set button that is again consistent with other Canon G-series models. Press this button when in any of the capture modes and left/right toolbars that will be familiar to Canon users appear on the screen, offering a toolbar at the bottom with further options when you come to rest on a particular setting.

At the bottom right hand corner of the backplate are a further pairing of buttons for playing back your images and accessing the main menu. A press of the Menu button now brings up an EOS-like menu system that matches the ones found on the company's DSLR and mirrorless cameras, making the G7X III easier to navigate for those power users, and still friendly enough for the less experienced.

On the right hand flank of the camera - viewed from the back - we find covered ports for HDMI out and a new USB 3.0 connection. You can charge the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III via the USB port and also power it out in the field using a power bank, outlet, or computer whilst shooting.

On the bottom is a familiar metal screw thread for a tripod and a sliding cover for the compartment that houses the lithium-ion battery needed for power and the SD, SDHC or SDXC cards required for image storage. Battery life is exactly the same as the G7 X II at around 265 shots from a full charge, which is impressive given the extra demands that the faster sensor and processor are placing on it.

Image Quality

All of the sample images in this review were taken using the 20 megapixel SuperFine JPEG setting, which gives an average image size of around 8Mb.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III produces images of very good quality. It recorded noise-free images at ISO 125-1600, with some noise at ISO 3200. ISO 6400 shows more obvious noise but still remain perfectly usable, although the fastest native setting of ISO 12800 is best avoided.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III handled chromatic aberrations well, with limited purple fringing effects appearing only in high contrast situations and generally at the edges of the frame. The built-in flash worked well indoors, with no red-eye and good overall exposure, although there's noticeable vignetting at 24mm.

Macro performance is good, allowing you to focus as close as 5cm away from the subject. The night photograph was excellent, with the maximum shutter speed of 30 and the Bulb mode seconds being long enough for after-dark shots.

Noise

There are 8 ISO settings available on the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III. Here are some 100% crops which show the noise levels for each ISO setting for both JPEG and RAW formats.

JPEG

ISO 125 (100% Crop)

ISO 200 (100% Crop)

ISO 400 (100% Crop)

ISO 800 (100% Crop)

ISO 1600 (100% Crop)

ISO 3200 (100% Crop)

ISO 6400 (100% Crop)

ISO 12800 (100% Crop)

ISO 25600 (100% Crop)

Focal Range

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III's 4.2x zoom lens offers a versatile focal range, as illustrated by these examples:

24mm

100mm

File Quality

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III has 2 different JPEG image quality settings available, with SuperFine being the highest quality option. Here are some 100% crops which show the quality of the various options, with the file size shown in brackets.

SuperFine (5.95Mb) (100% Crop)	Fine (3.02Mb) (100% Crop)

Chromatic Aberrations

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III handled chromatic aberrations well during the review, with fairly limited purple fringing present around the edges of objects in high-contrast situations, as shown in the examples below.

Chromatic Aberrations 1 (100% Crop)	Chromatic Aberrations 2 (100% Crop)

Macro

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III has a good macro mode that allows you to focus on a subject that is 5cm away from the camera.

Macro

Flash

The flash settings on the Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III are Auto, On, Auto Red-eye Reduction, Slow Synchro and Off. These shots of a white coloured wall were taken at a distance of 1.5m.

Flash Off - Wide Angle (24mm)

Flash On - Wide Angle (24mm)

Flash Off - Telephoto (100mm)

Flash On - Telephoto (100mm)

And here are some portrait shots. As you can see, neither the Flash On or the Red-eye-Reduction settings caused any red-eye.

Flash Off

Flash On

Red-eye Reduction

Night

The Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III's maximum shutter speed is 30 seconds and there's a Bulb mode too, which is great news if you're seriously interested in night photography. The shot below was taken using a shutter speed of 30 seconds at ISO 125.

Sample Images

This is a selection of sample images from the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III camera, which were all taken using the 20 megapixel SuperFine JPEG setting. The thumbnails below link to the full-sized versions, which have not been altered in any way.

Sample RAW Images

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Canon RAW (CR3) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

Product Images

Conclusion

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III might look familiar on the outside, but rest assured that this is no minor refresh, with a wealth of internal improvements that make it one of Canon's best compact cameras for both stills photographers and keen vloggers alike.

Chief among them are the new stacked image sensor and latest Digic 8 processor, which combine to make the G7 X III one of the fastest shooting stills cameras and most capable video cameras in the company's compact line-up. For the first time 4K video with no crop is available - yes, no crop - which is a big milestone for Canon in light of recent 4K releases that have suffered from a heavy crop factor.

Add in the plethora of other advanced video features that are making their debut, including a 3.5mm mic input, live streaming to YouTube over Wifi, support for vertical movies for IG TV, and the 120fps slow-motion mode, and it's pretty clear that Canon have rather successfully gone all out with the G7 X III to target the vlogging generation.

There are a couple of missing features on the video side though, namely the lack of a 24fps mode and the unexpected removal of the useful click/declick switch for the lens control ring that was present on the previous version.

There's also no form of eye detection at all, 2019's must-have feature, and the sensor only supports contrast-based AF and not phase-detection AF.

Finally, there's a complete lack of any kind of viewfinder support, integrated or otherwise, which will inevitably push some users towards the rival Sony Cyber-shot RX100 series or the equally new Canon PowerShot G5 X II, which does now sport a pop-up viewfinder.

In summary, you'd be hard-pressed to tell the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and III cameras apart side-by-side, but in practice they're very different beasts, with the latest III version upping the ante particularly for keen videographers, making it a serious rival indeed to the market-leading Cyber-shot RX100...

Ratings (out of 5)
Design	5
Features	5
Ease-of-use	4.5
Image quality	4.5
Value for money	4.5

Main Rivals

Listed below are some of the rivals of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III.

Review Roundup

Reviews of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III from around the web.

Specifications

News

Canon have unveiled two new, high-quality compact cameras for enthusiast photographers and vloggers, the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II and PowerShot G7 X Mark III.

The Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II is available to pre-order from 9th July 2019 and on sale in August 2019 priced at £849.99/€999.99.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is also available to pre-order from 9th July 2019 and on sale in August 2019 priced at £699.99/€849.99.

Canon UK Press Release

United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, 09 July 2019 – Canon Europe today bolsters its prestigious PowerShot G series with two new large sensor compact cameras that deliver a harmonious blend of performance and portability. With high speed continuous shooting and 4K movie (no crop), Canon provides content creators, vloggers and photography enthusiasts with a model to take their creativity and technical capabilities to the next level. Building on the quality of Canon’s existing range, the PowerShot G5 X Mark II features a new 5x f/1.8-2.8 lens and pop-up EVF, perfect for passionate photographers in need of a lightweight yet powerful travel camera. Meanwhile, the PowerShot G7 X Mark III boasts a 4.2x f/1.8 – 2.8 zoom lens and 3.5mm microphone input, providing content creators and aspiring vloggers with both incredible image quality and pin-sharp sound. 

High quality imaging in a compact body

Weighing only 340 and 304 grams respectively, both the PowerShot G5 X Mark II and the PowerShot G7 X Mark III employ Canon’s powerful DIGIC 8 image processor for unbeatable shooting performance in a pocket-sized camera. With a 20.1 megapixel 1.0-type stacked sensor, both models achieve sensational image quality and vibrant colours for photos and 4K video footage. Making use of the CR3 RAW format, the latest additions to Canon’s G series have a wide dynamic range fully supported by Canon Digital Photo Professional (DPP) and other major third-party developing software, giving users greater flexibility during post-production. 

The PowerShot G5 X Mark II is equipped with a superb 5x zoom lens – developed using Canon’s optical excellence expertise – to create crisp imagery for advanced photographers looking for a secondary camera. Along with its incredibly fast f/1.8-2.8 aperture, this model is perfect for low-light shooting scenarios such as capturing cities after dark – helping photographers to shoot further, faster and brighter than ever before. Comparatively, the PowerShot G7 X Mark III has a 4.2x f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens to help vloggers, who film in varying locations and conditions, shoot high-resolution videos, whatever the lighting. The shallow depth of field, produced by the large aperture in the latest additions to Canon’s PowerShot G series, allows photographers to capture subjects with stunningly sharp detail and create a beautiful bokeh effect for professional-looking images. 

Complete creative control from Auto to Manual

For both advanced photography enthusiasts and vloggers looking to build their profile, these new compact cameras provide complete creative control in both Auto and Manual modes. From the first touch, the PowerShot G5 X Mark II and the PowerShot G7 X Mark III feel familiar and easy to use, with a menu design inspired by Canon’s best-in-class EOS cameras. With DSLR-like levels of control and personalisation with these models, users can enhance their technical abilities while on the go. A control ring provides users with direct access to crucial settings for a more hands-on approach and simpler operation. The PowerShot G5 X Mark II’s corner mounted pop-up OLED Electronic View Finder (EVF) with 100 per cent coverage and 2.36m dots allows for easier creative compositions, while the tilting touchscreen provides excellent visibility of shots from a wide variety of angles. For vloggers, the touchscreen feature on the PowerShot G7 X Mark III guarantees the ability to capture videos and photos of themselves in perfect focus – positioned correctly in the frame, for flawless looking content.

The PowerShot G5 X Mark II and the PowerShot G7 X Mark III both provide autofocus with confidence. A useful AF+MF feature has also been incorporated to allow for the focus to be manually adjusted, even after the autofocus has been achieved, to precisely capture subjects. A built-in ND filter promises stunning images with bold colours even when capturing in bright light.

To ensure users never miss a moment whilst travelling or on a city break, both cameras provide fast autofocus and incredible shooting speeds of 20fps in continuous mode. Both models also have a 30fps RAW Burst mode guaranteeing that even the most spontaneous moments can be captured. These unique capabilities make the PowerShot G5 X Mark II and the PowerShot G7 X Mark III essential for travel photographers and vloggers in need of a lightweight yet reliable camera.

Future-proof your content in 4K

Users of both cameras can create smooth, shake-free videos when filming on the go – whether they’re walking on uneven terrain or travelling in a vehicle, thanks to the in-camera digital image stabilisation. The HDR movie function minimises the loss of detail and the enhanced dynamic range enables video enthusiasts to unleash their creativity and capture natural-looking footage. These new compact cameras will future-proof both video and still imagery, thanks to super 4K movie quality, for vloggers and photographers looking to upskill their videography capabilities. Frame rates up to 120fps in Full HD mode create a beautifully smooth slow-motion footage ideal for vloggers B-roll, while a vertical shooting mode produces footage purposefully designed for social media. Automatic settings are also available for movie capture in both the PowerShot G5 X Mark II and the PowerShot G7 X Mark III to produce balanced exposure and high image quality – ideal for those developing their skills and defining their style. Manual control of shutter speed, aperture and ISO are still available to offer video enthusiasts the opportunity to develop their technical skills. 

Stay connected on the go 

The compact nature and improved connectivity of these models makes them the perfect companion for vloggers and photographers on the go. Wi-Fi and Bluetooth®  connectivity allow users to capture spontaneous moments and send them to their computer, phone or social media instantly; while a live streaming function on the PowerShot G7 X Mark III enables vloggers the ability to share live content with their social media followers for real-time engagement. When connected to a compatible smart device, the PowerShot G5 X Mark II and the PowerShot G7 X Mark III can receive GPS coordinate information for images automatically, helping to simplify the process when tagging images on social media.  A clean HDMI output for streaming and external recording, using the cameras in conjunction with an external device, simplifies production workflows for users of both cameras.

Pricing & Availability

The Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II is available to pre-order from 9th July 2019 and on sale in August 2019, with the following RSPs:

• PowerShot G5 X Mark II: £849.99/€999.99

• PowerShot G5 X Mark II with Battery Kit: £899.99/€1,049.99

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is available to pre-order from 9th July 2019 and on sale in August 2019 with the following RSPs:

• PowerShot G7 X Mark III: £699.99/€849.99

• PowerShot G7 X Mark III with Battery Kit: £769.99/€899.99

Combined Key Features of the PowerShot G5 X Mark II and the PowerShot G7 X Mark III:

• New 20.1MP 1.0-Type stacked sensor

• DIGIC 8

• 4K movie (no crop)

• 120 fps Full HD movie

• 20fps in continuous mode and 30ftp RAW Burst mode 

• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® connectivity

• Jacket pocket size and weight

PowerShot G5 X Mark II Key Features:

• New 5x f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens

• Pop-up EVF

PowerShot G7 X Mark III Key Features:

• 4.2x f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens

• Live streaming

• Microphone input

Image Gallery

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Hands On

Want to see exactly what the new Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III premium compact camera looks like in the flesh?

Check out our extensive hands-on gallery of photos of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III camera.

Hands-on photos of the new Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III premium compact camera.

Image Gallery

Click on a thumbnail to see the full version.

Preview Images

Ahead of our full review, here are some sample JPEG and RAW images and movies taken with the new Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III premium compact camera.

A gallery of sample images and movies taken with the Canon PowerShot G7 X III compact camera.

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III Sample Images

Sample RAW Images

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III enables users to capture RAW and JPEG format files. We've provided some Canon RAW (CR3) samples for you to download (thumbnail images shown below are not 100% representative).

Sample Movies & Video

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