Canon G7 X, Canon's first camera with a 1-inch sensor (hands-on)

Canon introduces a new sensor size into its product line with the enthusiast-targeted PowerShot G7 X: like Sony's advanced compacts, the G7 X features a 1-inch BSI (backside illuminated) sensor. At $700 (£570, AU$1,020), the G7 X is only about $100 less than its big brother, the G1 X Mark II, and that gap will probably narrow as the months go on.But because the G7 X is better in some ways but worse in others, it promises to make the choice between them more difficult than it should be.

It's increasingly looking like having a 1-inch BSI seems to be the only way manufacturers can break the 12-or-so-megapixel barrier in cameras this size while still delivering a reasonable sensitivity in lower light. Even the bigger Four Thirds sensor in the Pansonic Lumix LX100 is lower resolution.

The G7 X has some features that are welcome in the G X line, most notably a fast 24-100mm f1.8-2.8 lens with a 9-blade aperture and a flip-up touchscreen display. Incorporating Canon's new Digic 6 imaging engine brings it a few modes new to Canon: Star Portrait, Star Nightscape and Star Time-Lapse.

Canon G7 X, a little more compact enthusiast camera (pictures)

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My take

When comparing to competitors in this price class, the G7 X comes out ahead in some places but behind in others. Because it's newer than the G1 X Mark II, it has some advantages over it -- a faster (but shorter) lens, 60fps video, a display that flips all the way up, and a newer image processing engine that probably ekes some better performance out of the same autofocus system. However, the G1 X Mark II has a significantly larger CMOS sensor that likely delivers better highlight detail than the BSI sensor, though it's probably not as good in the dark. It's more compact than the older model, but that's partly because it lacks a hot shoe.

More interestingly, the LX100 has quite a few advantages over it for the $100 extra and only a few drawbacks. It has a larger -- but lower resolution -- sensor, as well as built in EVF and hot shoe, plus it shoots 4K video. On the downside, the zoom range isn't as long and it has a fixed LCD; clearly it's targeting a less selfie-obsessed crowd.

Finally, it's obvious that the G7 X is intended to make a dent in the segment dominated by the Sony RX100 II; the feature sets are quite similar. The G7 X's only obvious advantage is what looks like a much faster lens. (Note that I suspect the 6.5fps burst specification for the Canon is with focus fixed on the first frame, so I'm not counting that yet.) However, that camera's age gives Sony an advantage -- it's cheaper now and it will likely always be cheaper.

Comparative specifications