Quick Verdict
The Canon Powershot G7X Mark III offers a whole host of upgrades and features that will make the video fans happy, including 4K video recording, and a built-in microphone socket. The camera also offers high-speed continuous shooting, being able to shoot at up to 30fps (raw burst), however, the 4.2x optical zoom lens could be considered a slight weakness for stills photography, and for photographers, the 5x optical zoom lens on the G5X Mark II may be more appealing.
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The Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III updates the Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II, with a new design, 4K video recording, a new 20mp Stacked BSI CMOS sensor, allowing higher speed continuous shooting, with up to 30fps raw shooting possible, and the camera will be available in two colour options. It now features a microphone socket, which will be of particular interest for video use.
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III Features
The Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III offers several new features designed to keep the "vloggers" and videographers happy, including live-streaming support, vertical video support (for Instagram, etc), and updated video options, including 4K video recording, as well as adding a microphone socket on the side. The Canon Powershot G7 X Mark II was and still is, according to Canon, one of the most popular cameras used by vloggers, and Youtubers. The screen remains the same, with a 3inch tilting touch screen than can be used for "selfies" and "vlogging".
The Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III has been introduced as the ideal compact camera for photo and video, alongside the G5 X Mark II, which is aimed more directly at photographers, with a 5x optical zoom lens, built-in EVF, and no microphone socket.
The 20mp "Stacked" BSI CMOS sensor, is a Sony "Stacked" BSI CMOS sensor (offered in the RX100 IV, and V), offering ultra-high-speed shooting, with up to 30fps continuous raw shooting available at the full 20mp resolution. The G7 X III will let you shoot at 20fps for up to 89 shots in C-Raw, 55 shots in Raw, or 118 shots in JPEG. Using the "Raw burst mode" you can shoot at 30fps, for approximately 70 shots. The camera can shoot at 8fps, with continuous AF active. (The RX100 IV offers 16fps, and the RX100 V offers 24fps).
The lens is a 4.2x optical zoom lens, with a bright f/1.8 aperture at the wide-end, and f/2.8 at the telephoto end, with the zoom range equivalent to 24mm up to 100mm in 35mm terms. Optical Image Stabilisation is built-in and offers up to 4-stops. Macro focus is down to 5cm, or 40cm at the telephoto end of the lens. There are 31 AF points. The camera offers an extended ISO range, up to ISO25600.
The mode dial sits on top of the exposure compensation dial on top of the camera, and there is a built-in pop-up flash. As you would expect from a serious compact camera, it features P, A, S, M shooting modes, giving you manual controls, as well as raw shooting. The camera offers up to 265 shots, or up to 320 shots with ECO mode enabled.
The camera now offers 4K video recording, at frame rates of 30 or 25fps, for up to 9 minutes and 59 seconds. You can record up to 29 minutes and 59 seconds of FullHD video, and frame rates are available from 24 to 120fps. As previously mentioned, there is a microphone socket on the side.
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are built-in, and there's a dedicated wireless button on the side of the camera to make it quick to start the process of transferring images to a compatible smartphone or tablet.
Key Features
- 20mp 1inch Stacked BSI CMOS sensor
- 4.2x optical zoom lens, f/1.8-2.8, 24-100mm equivalent
- Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS)
- 3inch tilting touch-screen, 1040K dots
- 30fps continuous shooting (raw burst), 20fps continuous shooting (C-Raw / JPEG)
- ISO125 to ISO25600 (Extended)
- 5cm macro focus, 49 AF points
- Built-in ND filter (3 stop)
- Built-in pop-up flash
- Live-streaming supported
- 4K video recording, 30, 25fps
- FullHD video, 120fps, 100fps, 60fps, 50fps, 25fps, 24fps
- USB Type-C, Microphone socket
- Available in black or black/silver
- Buy now on Amazon UK, Amazon USA
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III Handling
Using the Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III, we found the camera easy to hold, and easy to use. With a combination of metal and plastic parts, as well as a good-sized, and grippy rubber grip at the front and back, the camera feels well built, and in some ways* feels better than the more expensive G5X II. (*rear of G7X III is metal, and the lens control ring feels better)
The layout of controls is clear, and easy to see, with the touch-screen giving additional options and controls, making it easy to change settings when needed. The Q-Menu button brings up a number of settings on the screen. The menu system is the same as the one you find on Canon EOS DSLRs, so if the camera is used as a backup camera, or an alternative to a Canon EOS camera, then users of this system should find themselves very familiar with all of the options. There's also a "MyMenu" section so you can get quick access to your favourite settings.
The control ring around the lens can be customised, and this can be used as a quick way to change settings, although it does have a noticeable clicking sound when you turn it, so it's best avoided when recording video (you can't turn this off, unlike the G7X II, which gave you the option). There's also the scroll wheel surrounding the 4-way controller on the back of the camera, and this gives quick access to focus, drive mode, and flash settings. You can customise the movie record button, as well as the * (AE Lock) button.
The 3inch touch-screen is clear and bright, with a resolution of 1040K dots. With the screen tilting forwards, it's perfectly suited for "vlogging" and selfie shots, although the pop-up flash can get in the way slightly if you need it. You can use the touch-screen to set the focus point, and this can be anywhere on-screen, even into the far corners. There are 49 AF points, and face-detection works well, although there is no built-in eye-detection.
You can connect the camera to your smartphone or tablet using Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth, but for remote shooting, it will re-connect with Wi-Fi. You can also connect the camera to your own Wi-Fi connection, and then you can setup (using Canon Image Gateway), the camera to upload photos to Canon's website, and other web services such as Twitter and YouTube.
Battery life - Battery life is rated at 265 shots according to Canon / CIPA test results, which is fairly average for a compact camera. This can be extended to 320 shots using the ECO mode, but we'd recommend buying the battery pack, which comes with a second battery. There's a USB Type-C connection, and you can use this to charge the camera battery or use it to power the camera while you're using it.
Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III Performance
This section is where we look at the image quality performance of the camera. Additional sample photos and product shots are available in the Equipment Database, where you can add your own review, photos and product ratings.
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III Sample Photos
Sample Photos - Exposure is reliable, with consistently good results, and rarely did we need to use exposure compensation. Colour reproduction is another strong point, with Canon's pleasing colour reproduction, so regardless of which Canon camera you use, your images should have the same look and style, which will make this camera a great choice if you have other Canon cameras. Dynamic range recorded in JPEG in images is good, and there's room to recover shadows if needed, although better results are possible by processing the raw files. The Auto Lighting Optimizer (ALO) option helps here and can be adjusted to give a stronger effect if needed. Shooting portraits with flash, there are no signs of red-eye.
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III Lens test images
Lens Performance - Shooting with the wide-angle end of the lens, the image is softer in the far corners, but sharper in the centre. Thankfully this isn't a problem at the telephoto end of the lens.
We didn't notice any vignetting. Distortion is automatically corrected in-camera, so barrel and pincushion distortion is minimal. Chromatic aberration and purple fringing is difficult to spot in any of the images we took.
Close up photos, shot using the macro focus option, are occasionally soft, and using a smaller aperture can help sharpen the images. The bokeh or background blur possible when shooting close up is good. Focus is reliable, and face detection works well when switched on, however, the camera doesn't have eye-detection focus. The built-in optical image stabilisation helps keep shots sharp and blur-free when shooting in low light conditions, or when using more optical zoom.
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III ISO test images
ISO Noise Performance - With the same sensor as the G5X II, the results are the same. For the lowest noise and best detail possible we would recommend using ISO125 to ISO800, as images have low levels of noise and good levels of detail. For lower light situations ISO1600 to ISO3200 still provides good results, although noise increases and detail is reduced more noticeably at ISO3200. At ISO6400 / ISO12800 noise levels become strong and we would recommend avoiding this setting if possible, although results may still be useful if resized and used on the web. ISO25600 is best avoided as noise is very high, and detail is low.
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III White-balance test images
White Balance Performance - Auto White Balance (AWB) gives a warm result under tungsten lighting, with a similar result using the tungsten preset. There is an "AWB Cool" setting that you can toggle on, and this gives much more neutral results (which will be useful for product shots). The camera also gives a warm result under mixed lighting, so you may want to use manual white balance. AWB performs well under fluorescent lighting, with the fluorescent preset giving a magenta colour cast.
Panoramic | 1/500 sec | f/5.6 | 8.8 mm | ISO 125
Panorama mode - The camera features an automatic panoramic mode (under scene modes), where you simply press (and hold) the shutter release button and pan the camera from one side to the other. Results are good, with a relatively high-resolution photo produced (2560pixels high), and stitching is reasonable.
Video - The Canon Powershot G7X Mark II (and G7X) was a favourite for bloggers, and knowing this, Canon has been listening to feedback and updated a number of aspects specifically for video, vloggers, and YouTube. You can also use the touch-screen to start and stop video recording.
The G7X III has been updated to include a microphone socket, plus additional features including support for vertical videos (for Instagram) and live-streaming to YouTube (assuming you have over 1000 subscribers on YouTube), via the Canon Image Gateway service online.
Nb. There are a number of error messages you can get if you haven't enabled live streaming on your YouTube account settings, these include: An error message "Error, Err 127" and "An error has occurred". On a further attempts, the camera may tell you to switch the camera off and on again (Err 70, "An error prevented shooting" - requiring us to remove the battery and put it back in), or there may be a different error message: "Error detected on server, try again later" Err 132.
4K (30fps (NTSC) or 25fps (PAL) only), FullHD (60/30fps NTSC, 50fps PAL), and HDR (FullHD, 25fps) video recording is possible. There's also a high frame rate option letting you record at 120fps (NTSC), or 100fps (PAL). There is no 24fps frame rate option. You can record 4K timelapse videos. There is also an option to record miniature effect movies, as well as video snapshots. Maximum ISO speed for FullHD video is ISO6400, and ISO3200 for 4K video.
You can choose difficult picture styles (colour profiles), and customise these with settings for sharpness, contrast, saturation, and colour tone.
You can use the front lens control wheel while recording, although the clicks will be picked up by the internal microphone, this can be avoided by using an external microphone. Lens noise is quiet, even if you use the zoom while recording.
Video quality is good, with good colour reproduction, reliable exposure, and good focus. Some flare was noticeable in the video when the sun was in the frame, but as long as you avoid bright light sources, this shouldn't be a problem. Image stabilisation helps keep the video steady and stable, and there are options to enhance the Dynamic IS stabilisation (Low, Standard, High). With the camera set to standard, there was some shake when using the full optical zoom of the camera. You can find additional G7X III videos on the ePHOTOzine YouTube Channel.
Value For Money
The Canon Powershot G7X Mark III is available for £699 from Amazon UK, which makes it quite expensive, but arguably good value for money in comparison to the RX100 V, and RX100 VI.
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V, 20mp, 2.9x optical zoom, 24fps, 4K video, EVF, £799
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI, 20mp, 8.3x optical zoom, 24fps, 4K video, EVF, £1060
Panasonic Lumix LX10/LX15, 20mp, 3x optical zoom, 10fps, 4K video, no EVF, £419
Canon Powershot G5 X II, 20mp, 5x optical zoom lens, 4K video, EVF, £829
Have a look at more compact cameras in our Top 10 Best Serious Advanced Compact Cameras, the Best Video Cameras for Vloggers, or the Best 4K Cameras. You'll also need to buy a memory card and a case or bag to keep your camera safe and protected - have a look at our complete guide to camera bags.
Canon Powershot G7X Mark III Verdict
The Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III is a welcome update to the G7 X Mark II, and offers several updates that should impress both photographers and videographers. Including being able to shoot at 30fps (raw burst), or up to 20fps (with JPEG, raw, or both).
For photographers, who don't need the microphone socket, then the G5X II offers an excellent 5x optical zoom lens with additional reach, and better image quality. The images from the G7X III, at wide-angle, can be a little soft towards the edges and corners of the frame, and macro performance left us a little disappointed, but in every other situation, results are good. By reviewing the G5X II first, we have been spoilt by the stellar performance of the new 5x optical zoom lens, which has left us more critical of the G7X III image quality performance.
For videographers, the G7 X III with microphone input, 4K video, and 120fps FullHD video will be an easy choice to make and an immediate purchase choice. There are only a few minor niggles, that could be the fly in the ointment for some, including the lack of 24fps video recording, and the lens control ring clicks being there. The camera certainly offers much higher "bang per buck" than the RX100 VII from Sony, which also offers a microphone socket, but at a price of nearly £1200.
| The Canon Powershot G7 X Mark III offers some excellent new features, that will make it an obvious choice for video. |
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Alternatives
Here are some of the best alternatives to the 20mp Canon Powershot G7X Mark III:
Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V
The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 Mark V is the 5th version of the Sony Cyber-shot RX100, and Sony has spent many years refining the camera. The main features include a 20mp 1inch sensor, a 2.9x optical zoom lens with an f/1.8-2.8 aperture, a built-in pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF), and a 3inch tilting screen. The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 V offers 24fps continuous shooting, with continuous AF. High-speed video can be recorded at speeds up to 1000fps, with 4K video at 30fps.
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Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI
The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 Mark VI is the 6th version of the Sony Cyber-shot RX100, and updates the lens to a new 8.3x optical zoom lens, with an f/2.8-4.5 aperture. The results impressed us, and the camera still manages to fit in the built-in pop-up electronic viewfinder (EVF), and a 3inch tilting touch-screen. The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VI offers 24fps continuous shooting, with continuous AF, and a 20mp 1inch CMOS sensor. Like the RX100 V, high-speed video can be recorded at speeds up to 1000fps, and 4K video recording is available.
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Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII
The Sony Cyber-shot RX100 VII offers the same lens as the RX100 VI, but now features a microphone socket, and the ability to shoot at up to 90fps, for up to 7 shots, at the full 20-megapixel resolution, as well as offering 4K video recording. However, the price of the camera is noticeably higher than the G7X III, at roughly £1200.
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Canon Powershot G5 X Mark II
The Canon Powershot G5 X Mark II offers a 5x optical zoom lens (compared to the 4.2x optical zoom lens on the G7 X III), giving more optical zoom, as well as offering a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), however, it doesn't feature a microphone socket. Like the G7X III, the camera also offers high-speed continuous shooting at 30 or 20fps, a 20mp sensor, and 4K video recording.
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Panasonic Lumix LX10/LX15
The Panasonic Lumix LX15 (LX10) is another compact camera that features a 20mp 1inch CMOS sensor, and offers a 3x optical zoom lens, with a bright f/1.4 aperture at the wide-angle end of the lens, and an f/2.8 aperture at the telephoto end of the lens. The camera also features a 3inch tilting touch-screen, 4K video, and optical image stabilisation. There's no built-in electronic viewfinder, but the camera does offer 10fps continuous shooting. If price is important, then the LX15 offers great value for money, as one of the cheaper options.
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Panasonic Lumix TZ200
The Panasonic Lumix TZ200 (ZS200) is a bit bigger than the other cameras list here but offers a 15x optical zoom lens, as well as a 20mp 1inch CMOS sensor, and 4K video recording. There's a 3inch touch-screen and built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF).
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If you're still looking for more alternatives to the Canon Powershot G7X Mark III, have a look at the Top 12 Best Serious Cameras, you could also look at the previous version, the Canon Powershot G7X II.