Canon G5X Mark II Review

It's a little pricey, but the G5X Mark II is one of the best compact cameras you can buy and a genuine step up from your smartphone camera. Its handling, electronic viewfinder, optical zoom, burst shooting and all-round image quality are impressive, even if it does lack the video-centric features of its G7X Mark III cousin. The lack of phase-detect autofocus does puts it behind the latest Sony RX100 models, and it's a shame there's no microphone input or fully articulating touchscreen. However, if you're looking for a mini version of your Canon DSLR or mirrorless camera to take out on day trips, then the G5X Mark II's versatility and image quality make it one of the best options around.

Good image quality throughout the zoom range; Genuinely pocketable; Useful pop-up EVF; Shoots uncropped 4K video;

No phase-detect autofocus; No microphone input; Lacks the G7X Mark III’s YouTube livestreaming;

Great Compact Camera for Advanced Shooters

Awesome picture quality, manual controls can be a bit complicated for beginners, but that's why it has "Auto" mode :-)

Compact

Complicated

Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II

The PowerShot G5 X Mark II is quite a different proposition to the existing G5 X, and with its new EVF it's arguably the closest rival to Sony's RX100 models to date. It feels great in the hands and is responsive in use, and the EOS-style interface makes for great operation.

Feels very well put together; Responsive and fast AF; EOS-style menu system; Grip makes for excellent handling

EVF needs to be pulled back before use; Lens control ring feels somewhat hollow; Expensive next to Sony RX100 III and IV

Canon PowerShot G5X II review so far

The Canon PowerShot G5X Mark II is a high-end compact with a 1in sensor, 5x / 24-120mm zoom, popup viewfinder, tilting touchscreen, fast bursts and 4k video. Announced in July 2019, it replaces the three year old PowerShot G5X and adapts its design to become closer to Sony's popular RX100 series.

Canon PowerShot G5 X II review: Pop-up viewfinder camera sets sights on Sony RX100

A reinvention of the series, with its eyes firmly set on the prize: take-on the Sony RX100. In many respects the Canon succeeds, with a robust feature set and decent image quality in this newly designed form. However, its fairly simplistic autofocus system isn't the best going.

Far smaller build than original model; Pop-up viewfinder rivals Sony RX100 series; Decent lens focal and aperture range; Adds 4K video shooting capabilities; Impressive image quality from new 1-inch sensor

Larger scale than Sony RX100 competitor; Autofocus lacks the complexity of some rivals; Loses vari-angle LCD of previous model (it's tilt-angle instead; Rotational lens ring feels plasticky; Loses some detail at full zoom