So I got a G5X Mk2 - My thoughts

AdamT wrote:

I sometimes feel the price of all these one-inch sensor cameras, no matter what the brand, are ridiculous.

Agreed - prices are set by the first out of the door with a popular product and because Sony got away with silly prices with the early RXs so canon and panasonic made theirs on a similar level ..

IMO the RX10 Mk3 and 4 are worth the money (despite even the Mk4 being years out of date body / battery wise ) this is for the lens alone as even at worst its like a bag of pro levels zooms optical quality wise and at prime level in some areas of the zoom but the RX100 series and canon Gx series lenses aren`t in the same universe as the RX10-IVs optic so how they can charge well over a grand for a RX100 Mk7 is totally beyond me

It's unique (the RX100 VI/VII) in that you can stuff 200mm with 1" in a pocket.

Folks with cash will pay it, if they fell its worth it. I personally concur that the G5X II is the better option, and it happens to be more affordable. I've played with RX100s several times, alot of fun, snappy and crisp optics but the SOOC colors and handling leave alot to be desired. Sony could easily solve both with putting their new menu system, a grip, and latest JPEG engine in the RX100 VIII, but, with the existing market (post-COVID and post-Smartphone world), and the fact it's selling well without it, it'll never happen. Besides even those issues resolved, Canon has the more interesting optic of the bunch hitting 24-120 AND f/1.8-2.8. I can tell you that's the "better" option.

If I could pick which optic to throw on say an EOS M, that didn't exist, a 24-120 f/4.5-7.8 (FF equivalent) or 24-200 f/7.8-12.6, that's an easy decision, the former. Why? 24-70 range gets an extra stop (and some), which for travel-centric folks, that's going to get a-lot of use. You're choosing an extra 1 1/3 stop in the normal range or 80mm reach. Granted the Sony's have phase detect AF, but, the Stacked CMOS on the G5X II and G7X III are VERY responsive for being contrast AF due to the latest DIGIC8 and Stacked CMOS for fast readout. It only hits you in AI-Servo in continuous drive. Notably, if you put say C1 on P with AI-Servo with L+Tracking, one shot (no continuous drive) and back button focus, you end up with alot of keepers while getting your tracking. Using plain ol Auto, will detect this type of activity and switch between AI-Servo and one-shot and Single Shot (no tracking) and continuous drive without intervention for those not tech-savvy. I find Auto VERY formidable on the G5X Mark II. Arguably the best Auto implementation to date of any camera I've shot. That in itself is hugely important as a-lot of folks approaching this camera may be coming from a smartphone where that's all they shot where it will detect context (correctly in most cases) and adjust exposure and shooting setup accordingly.

I can hand off a G5X II to a kid, or my wife, and it'll keep the shutters correct for the context, exposure and drive/AF. Alot of cameras get this wrong for being something so elementary. Even larger cameras.

Where that RX100 VII makes sense? Sports/action; daylight, with reach and top-notch AF. Personally, for the $$, an APS-C solution is "better" if that's what you're after. M50 + 55-200,  not even a Mark II, will do better, for a fraction of the cost. Doesn't pocket though.