Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II review
Introduction
Canon's PowerShot G5 X Mark II is a high-end compact camera with a versatile lens, great controls and a modern 1"-type sensor. For a small camera, we find the grip to be generous and secure, and the updated processor combines with the new sensor for some seriously responsive performance. The pop-up electronic viewfinder is a nice touch and the camera also comes with fast burst shooting as well as good-quality 4K video.
In creating the G5 X Mark II, Canon has clearly taken more design inspiration from the G7 X lineup than the original G5 X. Gone from the old camera is the centrally mounted viewfinder and fully articulating screen, but the new camera is more svelte and pocketable as a result. Plus, Canon has extended the lens' zoom reach while maintaining a fast aperture range, which is a nice bonus. On the not-so-good side of things, for some reason Canon has decided that 24p video recording is unnecessary, there's no microphone jack, some customization options are limited, and the small battery means you'll likely want to carry a spare if you're a heavy shooter.
Key specifications:
- 20MP 1"-type stacked CMOS sensor
- 24-120mm equiv. F1.8-2.8 lens
- Pop-up electronic viewfinder and flash
- Touchscreen tilts up 180° and down 90°
- 8fps burst shooting with autofocus, 30fps Raw burst mode
- 4K/30p, 1080/60p video recording with IS (no 24p options)
- 1080/120p slow motion video with no audio or autofocus
- Wi-Fi + Bluetooth wireless connectivity
- USB 3.1 (with USB-C connector) for data transfer and charging
- 230-shot battery life (180 using the EVF) per CIPA standard
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Out-of-camera JPEG
ISO 125 | 1/1000 sec | F4
Photo by Jeff Keller |
The G5 X Mark II looks, in many ways, to be a near-ideal travel or family camera for enthusiast photographers that like having a dedicated camera with them at all times - does it live up to this promise? Time to dig in and find out in our full review.
What's new and how it compares
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The G5 X II looks a lot like a cross between Canon's own G7 X III and Sony's RX100-series - here's how it compares inside and out.
Read more
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Body, controls and handling
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On the G5 X II, Canon's fitted one of the nicest grips we've ever used on such a small camera - but there's more to it.
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Image quality
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Take a deep-dive into the G5 X II's image quality, including how its lens performs.
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Autofocus, Raw burst and video performance
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Autofocus and video performance from the G5 X II are pretty good - but are they enough to stand out among strong competition?
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Conclusion
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Canon's PowerShot G5 X Mark II earns a solid silver award - here's the full story.
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Sample gallery
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From camping to cats and the occasional dog, we've got a full sample gallery from the G5 X II for your perusal.
See the gallery
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In stock
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Dec 11, 2019
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Dec 13, 2019
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Nov 27, 2019
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Oct 19, 2019
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