Photography

Canon's compact PowerShot G7 X packs a powerful punch

Canon's compact PowerShot G7 X packs a powerful punch
The PowerShot G7 X at Photokina (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot G7 X at Photokina (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
View 55 Images
The PowerShot G7 X is the first with a one-inc sensor (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
1/55
The PowerShot G7 X is the first with a one-inc sensor (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot G7 X at Photokina (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
2/55
The PowerShot G7 X at Photokina (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot G7 X LCD touch screen (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
3/55
The PowerShot G7 X LCD touch screen (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot G7 X 4,2 x zoom optics (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
4/55
The PowerShot G7 X 4,2 x zoom optics (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot G7 showing screen display X
5/55
The PowerShot G7 showing screen display X
The PowerShot SX60 HS at Photokina (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
6/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS at Photokina (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot SX60 HS showing 65 x zoom optics (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
7/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS showing 65 x zoom optics (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot SX60 HS showing controls (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
8/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS showing controls (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot SX60 HS side view (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
9/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS side view (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot SX60 HS with new grip (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
10/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS with new grip (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot SX60 HS with zoom extended (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
11/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS with zoom extended (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot SX60 HS showing extended zoom(Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
12/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS showing extended zoom(Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot G7 X has a 20.2-megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor
13/55
The PowerShot G7 X has a 20.2-megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor
The PowerShot G7 X with screen extended and rotated
14/55
The PowerShot G7 X with screen extended and rotated
The PowerShot G7 X with screen tilted
15/55
The PowerShot G7 X with screen tilted
The PowerShot G7 X with viewfinder deployed
16/55
The PowerShot G7 X with viewfinder deployed
The PowerShot G7 X screen
17/55
The PowerShot G7 X screen
The PowerShot G7 X seeing optics head on
18/55
The PowerShot G7 X seeing optics head on
The PowerShot G7 X with accessories
19/55
The PowerShot G7 X with accessories
The PowerShot N21 is the least expensive of the new models
20/55
The PowerShot N21 is the least expensive of the new models
The PowerShot N21 with screen tilted
21/55
The PowerShot N21 with screen tilted
The PowerShot N21 with screen deployed
22/55
The PowerShot N21 with screen deployed
The PowerShot N21 in white livery
23/55
The PowerShot N21 in white livery
The PowerShot N21 with screen rotated
24/55
The PowerShot N21 with screen rotated
The PowerShot N21 has a Selfie Mode
25/55
The PowerShot N21 has a Selfie Mode
The PowerShot N21 with accessories
26/55
The PowerShot N21 with accessories
The PowerShot N21 with optics extended
27/55
The PowerShot N21 with optics extended
The PowerShot SX60 HS has 65 x optical zoom lens
28/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS has 65 x optical zoom lens
The PowerShot SX60 HS with flash deployed
29/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS with flash deployed
The PowerShot SX60 HS with screen extended
30/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS with screen extended
The PowerShot SX60 HS showing screen
31/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS showing screen
The PowerShot SX60 HS with screen deployed
32/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS with screen deployed
The PowerShot SX60 HS with accessories
33/55
The PowerShot SX60 HS with accessories
The PowerShot G7 X is designed with the professional in mind
34/55
The PowerShot G7 X is designed with the professional in mind
The PowerShot G7 X has a new control ring
35/55
The PowerShot G7 X has a new control ring
The PowerShot G7 X has full manual controls
36/55
The PowerShot G7 X has full manual controls
The PowerShot G7 X with optics closed
37/55
The PowerShot G7 X with optics closed
The PowerShot G7 X with optics extended
38/55
The PowerShot G7 X with optics extended
The PowerShot G7 X
39/55
The PowerShot G7 X
The PowerShot G7 X with flash extended
40/55
The PowerShot G7 X with flash extended
The PowerShot G7 X
41/55
The PowerShot G7 X
The PowerShot G7 X in selfie position
42/55
The PowerShot G7 X in selfie position
The PowerShot G7 X can shoot 6.5 frames per second bursts
43/55
The PowerShot G7 X can shoot 6.5 frames per second bursts
The PowerShot G7 X
44/55
The PowerShot G7 X
The PowerShot G7 X
45/55
The PowerShot G7 X
The PowerShot G7 X has a wide variety of presets
46/55
The PowerShot G7 X has a wide variety of presets
The PowerShot G7 X puts a premium on portability
47/55
The PowerShot G7 X puts a premium on portability
The PowerShot G7 X is one of three new PowerShot models
48/55
The PowerShot G7 X is one of three new PowerShot models
The PowerShot G7 X can blur in full zoom
49/55
The PowerShot G7 X can blur in full zoom
The PowerShot G7 X
50/55
The PowerShot G7 X
The PowerShot G7 X has WiFi capability
51/55
The PowerShot G7 X has WiFi capability
The PowerShot G7 X has touch autofocus
52/55
The PowerShot G7 X has touch autofocus
The PowerShot G7 X set up for selfies
53/55
The PowerShot G7 X set up for selfies
The PowerShot G7 X as touch-settable autofocus
54/55
The PowerShot G7 X as touch-settable autofocus
The PowerShot G7 X sells for US$699.99
55/55
The PowerShot G7 X sells for US$699.99
View gallery - 55 images

Taking high-quality images with a pocket camera has always been a challenge, but technology is catching up. The case in point are the three newly revealed models in Canon’s PowerShot line, headlined by the 20.2-megapixel PowerShot G7 X.

PowerShot G7 X

The compact metal-bodied G7 X is aimed at the photographer who needs something a bit more compact, but with a full suite of features. According to Canon, it’s the company's first compact point-and-shoot camera with a one-inch (12.8 x 9.6 mm), 20.2-megapixel high-sensitivity CMOS sensor and DSLR features, along with touchscreen controls for fast adjustments. Like the PowerShot G1 X Mark II announced earlier this year, it uses Canon's DIGIC 6 image processor, which is billed as capable of capturing very fine details faithfully. Also on board is a 4.2 x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 24-100mm) engineered for the sensor with a maximum aperture range of f/1.8, plus a nine-blade curved aperture diaphragm for blurred backgrounds even at full-zoom range.

The PowerShot G7 X 4,2 x zoom optics (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot G7 X 4,2 x zoom optics (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)

On the back of the G7 X is a new multi-angle high-resolution three-inch capacitive touch LCD panel. The camera’s high-speed autofocus with 31 autofocus points works with the shooting speed of 6.5 frames a second for up to 700 frames at full resolution. The autofocus also has a touch function, which allows for the quick selection of a focus point on the screen.

The G7 X comes with a wide selection of modes along with manual control, a programmable lens control ring, exposure compensation dial, and two customizable buttons. On the video front, it has full high-definition up to 1080/60p, and there is built-in Wi-Fi to send images directly to compatible devices.

PowerShot SX60 HS

The first thing that catches the eye about the SX60 HS is its new EOS-style hand grip. The next is the 65 x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization. It’s the latest of the Canon SX high-power zoom lineup and boasts a 16.1 megapixel CMOS image sensor backed up by a DIGIC 6 Image processor as well as eight-mode shake correction technology. It handles automatic or full-manual focus and exposure control, and has a built-in stereo microphone.

The PowerShot SX60 HS at Photokina (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)
The PowerShot SX60 HS at Photokina (Image: Paul Ridden/Gizmag)

Like the G7 X, the SX60 HS has 1080/60p video and built-in Wi-Fi. There’s also a choice of a three-inch vari-angle LCD screen or a high-resolution electronic viewfinder. In addition, it features Canon's Face Detection and Tracking autofocus system, full-resolution continuous shooting up to 6.4 frames per second, 58 different pre-defined scenes for still shots, and 21 settings for video.

The SX60 HS also has a Zoom Framing Assist function that recalls previous zoom positions, zooms out to locate a subject, then back to the previous position when the button is released. It can even zoom automatically on a chosen subject if it moves towards or away from the shooter.

PowerShot N21

The most economical of the three, the N21 has a flip-up 2.8-inch LCD touchscreen for taking selfies using the new Self Portrait mode, as well as Wi-Fi for sharing images. The optics are an 8 x zoom lens serving a 16.1 megapixel CMOS image sensor and DIGIC 6 Image processor.

The PowerShot N21 is the least expensive of the new models
The PowerShot N21 is the least expensive of the new models

The N2 also has a new shutter ring that acts as an all-round release, allowing the camera to be held in various positions. There’s also a Creative Shot mode for splicing together and editing videos in-camera, as well as 58 predefined scenes for still shots and 21 for video.

The PowerShot G7 X will be available in October for US$699.99. The SX60 is also on sale in October for US$549.99, and the US$299.99 N2 is scheduled for a December release.

The video below outlines the features of the PowerShot G7 X.

Source: Canon

View gallery - 55 images
2 comments
2 comments
Bob
Can you see the touch screen on a sunny day to actually adjust the settings? How about a real view finder for those sunny days or even in low light when you want the screen turned off? These are the features I REALLY want. This new technology is great but I had to epoxy a short black section of a carbon arrow shaft to the top of my camera as a viewfinder so that I could actually point it at my subject in the sunshine.
MarylandUSA
@Bob , I agree. No viewfinder? No. thanks.