Canon G7X macro really bad

I still wonder about the G7X focussing performance on longer focal lengths. I.c. in  the range from 50-100 mm equivalent, where all macro lenses in analog & digital SLR's used to be produced in.

boogisha wrote:

Here are some sample shots, taken in manual mode using a tripod, manual focus (set on the car windshield / rear wheel), apertures vary from f/2.8 to f/11.

Note that the ruler shows units in centimeters, where the unit numbers don`t show anything particular, except that they may help in observing the depth of field. For those interested, the focus point was actually ~36.5 cm from the lens front element, as close as manual focus allowed at 100mm equivalent focal length.

p.s.I didn`t have anything more interesting at the moment, but I hope this will serve the purpose as well

p.p.s. I keep forgetting to switch image stabilization OFF when using a tripod, not sure if it had any influence on the image sharpness here... :/

First, (slightly) RAW processed JPEGs:

#1, RAW, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/2.8

#2, RAW, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/4

#3, RAW, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/5.6

#4, RAW, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/8

#5, RAW, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/11

And for those interested, here are the same pictures, but straight out of camera JPEGs.

#6, JPEG, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/2.8

#7, JPEG, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/4

#8, JPEG, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/5.6

#9, JPEG, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/8

#10, JPEG, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/11

In the end, here`s an example of what I would consider a "web edit"

#11, RAW, 100mm (equiv.) @ f/4, cropped and resized

Thanx, this is what I wanted to see. Seems quite a dependable performance. Canon manual advises not only to switch off the IS stabilisation, but also try the AUTO position! I feel for macro Av would be a more natural choice. Your pictures show on the 100mm equivalent focal length the G7X performs really well. We all know from tests that the 24 mm end leaves much to be desired with regard to softness and vignetting. My guess is the lens may also diverge from the flat surface of the sensor in the  corners. Making it less suited for photographing coins and documents lying flat by their nature.
I will use my G7X in the near future for copying diapositives by letting my projector shine on an expensive wax-based flat glasscreen I once bought for Super 8 copying. I will try focal lenghts from 35 mm equivalent and upwards (50-85mm?). Settings will include the ND filter and HDR (auitmatic or DR200 still under study). I have 5500 diapositives in metal cases of which +/- 5000 survived well. The only ones that lost most of their colors are the Kodak ones I once bought at several touristic sites.
PS Before throwing an old German Photomagazine of 2008 away yesterday I reread the article in it on the difference of macro photo's with small sized sensor cameras of that period as compared to the then modern digital SLR's with the usual focus range on macro shots. Small sized sensor cameras on wide angle position covered a wider background with deeper in focus effects than the SLR's did. Now that small sized cameras are moving to larger sensors the difference will become less.

As you can see the detail in the second image at the centre is much sharper.

Does this indicate there is something wrong with the autofocus on my camera? Or maybe with the G7X autofocus in general?

This probably isn't your problem, but it reminds me of a fun bit of trivia.  Canon calibrates each lens at the factory and then stores the values in FLASH memory on the image processing chip.  This includes an offset for the auto focus. 
I know this because I repaired an S100 with the 'lense error' problem by transplanting the whole lens & sensor assembly from a different S100 with a cracked screen.  That fixed the lens error and it appeared to work great from the small screen, but all the pictures were a bit soft at full resolution.  Going back and transplanting the main PC board fixed the AF problem.
If you bought your camera 2nd hand, someone might have done a similar repair without realizing the lens/sensor assembly and camera control chip are  matched set.

There's nothing wrong with your camera. That's the lens fisheye corrections making a mess of things. Back up, and use zoom.

I just bought an HX80 to cover things the G7Xii does less well.  You can read my detailed review in the sony forum.

I love my G7Xii.  I'm amazed by the tech of the sony.

I don't love the sony.