G7X Mark III - Quick Review
2
PROS:
-Excellent image quality. Nice color reproduction (as usual), good high ISO performance for a 1” sensor, good metering.
-My copy of the lens is sharp throughout its entire range.
-Lightweight, compact sturdy body
-Excellent ergonomics
-Excellent looking 1080P video
-Snappy autofocus for stills
-Great touchpad features
CONS:
-Contrast detect AF in video is no better than its predecessor, even after installing the firmware update. Which means in 1080P it’s satisfactory (some hunting on occaison) but not stellar. (Note: I don’t shoot 4K and if that was my main goal, I wouldn’t have gotten this camera).
-You still need an additional lens cap to make sure dust stays out (in my opinion)
-Same small NB-13L battery as its two predecessors means mediocre battery life (although the upside is if you’re coming from the Mark I or Mark II you have a backup now)
-Gone is the selector switch where you can silence the lens ring up front (in fairness though, the lens ring clicking on the Mark III is fairly muted).
ADDITIONAL MINOR GRIPE: I think it’s time Canon considered updating the 1.04 million dot LCD on this and other cameras. It’s perfectly fine but others are better at this point.
Should you upgrade from the Mark II? I would lean towards no. I think the image quality is better in a lot of metrics but not dramatic enough of a difference. Unless you feel like you need 4k, there is not a lot of difference between the two for 1080P video (both are great).
Overall this a great enthusiast compact in need of upgrade to its AF system, specifically for video. If you’re primarily a stills person and only do casual video from time to time (like me), then this will serve you very well. Certainly no slouch in the stills department, it delivers some of the best IQ I’ve seen out of any 1” sensor camera thus far. And overall it’s an enjoyable camera to shoot with like its two predecessors were.