Impressive Hiking and Travel Camera

i bought this camera as part of a trip to Yosemite I had planned for a while.  Although I was taking my EOS M3, I also wanted a smaller camera to use instead of pulling the M3 out of my backpack all the time.  I have a G7X Mark 1 at work and really liked it, so I decided to try out the Mark II version.  In short summary I am extremely impressed with this little camera.  As the Yosemite trip continued I tended to use the Mark II more and more and more.

Some key points:

1.) This camera with the Digic 7 is fast.  I mean fast!!  If you set it to high speed multiple exposure, get ready for alot of exposures!

2.) Color out of the camera is excellent.

3.)  Lens range is excellent.  I would like a little more reach, but really this was not a problem, at least in Yosemite.

4.) Size is perfect for me.  Easy and steady to use.  Controls were well thought out.

5.) Wireless, after an extended time setting up, worked great with my iPhone.

I highly recommend this camera.  It brings back the magic I used to feel when using the Canon S95 and S100.  Namely a camera the punches well above its weight.  Below are some sample photos from my trip. I feel this was an excellent purchase and cannot wait to get it out in the field again!

Bridalveil Fall.  April 2017

Valley View. April 2017.

Bridalveil from Valley View.  April 2017.

Tunnel View.  April 2017.

Bridalveil Fall from Tunnel View.  April 2017.

Half Dome.  April 2017.

Those are very nice shots that look like they came from a dslr! I love my G7X II also. It really is an impressive camera. I hope you share more!

Andy

Nice photos from one of my favorite places to visit!

Randy

signorRossi wrote:

Really nice. I especially like how you still see the spray of the waterfall from afar.

I'm eyeing to buy this camera for a hiking camera too (aside from the LX10, G9X or a very small mirrorless); might I ask how you carried it with you?

I had a small camera pouch from Case Logic that fit the G7Xii perfectly. It had a belt loop and whenever I felt the need (which was often) I'd reach down and grab it from the pouch. I think I got mine from Wal Mart several years ago. I don't know if they still carry it but many online retailers (Amazon, B&H) do  just search for Case Logic TBC-403.

The waterfalls were amazing. Warm temperatures and lots of snow were giving them plenty to work with. My only regret is that I was a day or two early. Flows essentially doubled the day after I left. So I imagine the waterfalls are booming, and they already were when I was there but, that much flow means flooding In the Valley. It is minor flooding, but flooding none the less. So many of of the trails you may take around meadows and other nearby river areas may be wet.

Thanks,

Thanks for the review and pics.  Are they SOC or did you do some PP?

I just bought a superzoom, but I have a feeling I will find out I would rather have something small like your Canon.

It is indeed a marvelous camera. I had my first field test with it last week at the Chihuly Exhibition at the New York Botanical Garden. It is small enough and light enough that I can palm it while not taking pictures and walk around all day without a problem.

At 68 with bad knees, I would have missed this shot with my G15, not wanting to get down on the ground to take the shot. But with this camera, I just set it to macro, flipped the screen up 90 degrees, dropped the camera down below my waist and used the touch shutter to capture the shot.

Here's a few more.

Next up the Grand Circle tour of the Grand Canyon and the National Parks of Utah.

Stunning photographs. Thanks for sharing!

Snowman9000 wrote:

Thanks for the review and pics. Are they SOC or did you do some PP?

I just bought a superzoom, but I have a feeling I will find out I would rather have something small like your Canon.

Thanks.  All of the pictures I have posted are SOOC JPEG.  I did shoot RAW+JPEG so when I get some more time I am going to dive into the RAW files and see what I can do.  I am not very good at RAW workflow, so it will be a while.  One think to note is that even with the RAW+JPEG setting, this camera was fast in continuous shooting.  The DIGIC 7 processor is a real good addition to the Canon lineup.

Very nice shots Curtis.  I agree with you, this camera is so handy to carry around.  I love my ESO 70D and my EOS M3, but I bet I'm going to be taking just the G7Xii around to things more and more.  Have a great trip out to the Grand Canyon.  It is a wonderful thing to behold.

Thank you!  Yosemite was just so much fun to be in.  I cannot wait until I go back again one day.  I could spend a long time there.

Hi SkipJG

I did some photos in Spain with my G7X mark 1 and really like it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulrikchristiansen/sets/72157679421368503/

Could you explain what differences you have experienced in the mark 1 and 2 versions? I think I read somewhere that the colors where noticably better in the mark 2 and of course it has a much faster fps. But is the image quality that much better do you think?

Ulrik Christiansen wrote:

Hi SkipJG

I did some photos in Spain with my G7X mark 1 and really like it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulrikchristiansen/sets/72157679421368503/

Could you explain what differences you have experienced in the mark 1 and 2 versions? I think I read somewhere that the colors where noticably better in the mark 2 and of course it has a much faster fps. But is the image quality that much better do you think?

Hello Ulrik. I have not done a side by side comparison of the G7X and the G7Xii side by side photographing the exact same things.  Yet!  Namely, I could do that. I will get both together and take photos of the same subjects at the same time with nominally the same settings and we'll see how it goes.

From a "feel" perspective the colors do seem better on the G7Xii, but that is because I'm looking at Yosemite photographs and not the industrial photographs I use the G7X for. Like they say, you want pretty photos, point the lens at pretty things as a first step. In terms of speed the G7Xii definitely seems faster, but the G7X wasn't really a slouch to begin with.

I'll post my comparisons of the two here in the next couple of days if I can.

Thanks

SkipJG wrote:

Ulrik Christiansen wrote:

Hi SkipJG

I did some photos in Spain with my G7X mark 1 and really like it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulrikchristiansen/sets/72157679421368503/

Could you explain what differences you have experienced in the mark 1 and 2 versions? I think I read somewhere that the colors where noticably better in the mark 2 and of course it has a much faster fps. But is the image quality that much better do you think?

Hello Ulrik. I have not done a side by side comparison of the G7X and the G7Xii side by side photographing the exact same things. Yet! Namely, I could do that. I will get both together and take photos of the same subjects at the same time with nominally the same settings and we'll see how it goes.

From a "feel" perspective the colors do seem better on the G7Xii, but that is because I'm looking at Yosemite photographs and not the industrial photographs I use the G7X for. Like they say, you want pretty photos, point the lens at pretty things as a first step. In terms of speed the G7Xii definitely seems faster, but the G7X wasn't really a slouch to begin with.

I'll post my comparisons of the two here in the next couple of days if I can.

Thanks

BTW, Looking at your Flickr album I can't really think the G7Xii would be that noticeably different. Than what you posted with your G7x. Your pictures are very nice!

SkipJG wrote:

SkipJG wrote:

Ulrik Christiansen wrote:

Hi SkipJG

I did some photos in Spain with my G7X mark 1 and really like it.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ulrikchristiansen/sets/72157679421368503/

Could you explain what differences you have experienced in the mark 1 and 2 versions? I think I read somewhere that the colors where noticably better in the mark 2 and of course it has a much faster fps. But is the image quality that much better do you think?

Hello Ulrik. I have not done a side by side comparison of the G7X and the G7Xii side by side photographing the exact same things. Yet! Namely, I could do that. I will get both together and take photos of the same subjects at the same time with nominally the same settings and we'll see how it goes.

From a "feel" perspective the colors do seem better on the G7Xii, but that is because I'm looking at Yosemite photographs and not the industrial photographs I use the G7X for. Like they say, you want pretty photos, point the lens at pretty things as a first step. In terms of speed the G7Xii definitely seems faster, but the G7X wasn't really a slouch to begin with.

I'll post my comparisons of the two here in the next couple of days if I can.

Thanks

BTW, Looking at your Flickr album I can't really think the G7Xii would be that noticeably different. Than what you posted with your G7x. Your pictures are very nice!

Thank you very much SkipJG. I am still learning - look at some of the absurdly distorted buildings from Amsterdam in my album. Just horrible and too dark! Gotta start somewhere

I'd be fun to see if you experience any difference with the two cameras Thanks!

Best regards,

Ulrik

Skip,

Congratulations on your new G7XII....!

Your Yosemite photos are really lovely.....what a great first outing..!!

Were it not for the superzoom range of the G3X, I would have opted for the G7XII, and my impression is that despite the Digic 6, the G3X is pretty much a superzoom iteration of the G7XII.

Anyway, you're off to a great start, and congrats again..!!!

signorRossi wrote:

What lenses you have for your EOS M3 and how big do they make it in comparison to the G7X? I'm curious because I have a few EF lenses (from my brothers old camera) I could use with an adapter on the M system and have added the M10 or M3 with the 22mm EF-M lense to my 'maybe want-have' list therefore.

But surely on the site you can compare camera sizes (what's the name again, darn) the G7X is a lot smaller than the M3 or M10.

Greetings,

signorRossi.

Hi signorRossi,

sorry I am late getting back to you. For my M3 I have the kit EF-M 18-55, the EF-M 22mm and the EF-M 55-200mm lenses. I am pretty pleased with all of them. Just out of convenience I normally use the 18-55mm. The 22mm gets rave reviews and it is nice.

You are right, the G7X is a whole lot smaller than the M3. THe M3 with the 22mm is the closest, but you give up optical zoom.  I have to admit I was as surprised how well the G7Xii  did head to head with the M3.  But remember these were all very well daylit subjects. I know as the light tails off the G7Xii would quickly struggle in comparison. But get rid of pixel peeping and the little G7Xii is amazing!

when you use the adapter for EF or EF-S lenses the size advantage of an M camera starts to fall off. I do it at times though with my EF-S 18-135mm from my 70D. At the end of the day we live in excellent times. So many wonderful cameras to choose from!

Thank you!