Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

The G7 X Mark III is an advanced compact aimed at enthusiasts and video bloggers. Audley Jarvis finds out what else it has to offer.

There are currently five models in Canon’s PowerShot G-series premium compact range. The G7 X Mark III slots in above the entry-level G9 X Mark II (£349), but below the more stills-focused G5 X Mark II (£899). Above these sit the flagship G1 X Mark III (£999) and the rather dated G3 X (£779) from 2015.

The main thing that sets the G7 X Mark III apart from the G5 X Mark II is that it lacks the pop-up electronic viewfinder. In addition, the G7 X Mark III’s zoom range is slightly narrower at 24-100mm – compared to 24-120mm on the G5 X Mark II. That said, the two cameras also have quite a lot in common: both are built around the same 20.1MP 1in stacked CMOS sensor and Digic 8 image processor, and both cameras share broadly similar styling, button layout and handling traits.

Features

At full resolution the sensor records images in a native 3:2 aspect ratio, although you can opt to shoot in 4:3, 16:9 and 1:1, albeit at reduced resolution. In addition to JPEG capture, you can select from raw and Compressed raw (C-RAW). Native sensitivity ranges from ISO 125 to ISO 12,800, plus an expanded setting of ISO 25,600 is available. The G7 X Mark III is equipped with both a mechanical and an electronic shutter; the former gives you a shutter speed range of 1-1/2000sec, while the latter provides 30-1/25,600sec. As with the G5 X Mark II you’ll need to use the mechanical shutter if you want to take advantage of the 20fps maximum continuous shooting speed, while the electronic shutter is automatically engaged when using the camera’s new 30fps Raw burst mode.