We've come to expect 1-inch sensors in premium cameras. The sensor size, about four times the surface area compared with a standard point-and-shoot and six times the size of an iPhone sensor, delivers images with a clear advantage over phone snaps, especially in dim light. The Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II ($529.99) is one of the smallest cameras available with a 1-inch sensor. It delivers excellent images, and features a big touch LCD that will appeal to photographers used to using a smartphone, but the lens is rather short, and dim at the telephoto end. It's a solid option, but our Editors' Choice in the premium price range remains the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III, which features a brighter lens and EVF. Design The G9 X Mark II ($449.99 at Amazon) is a small, pocket-friendly camera. It measures 2.3 by 3.9 by 1.2 inches (HWD) and weighs just 7.3 ounces. Compare that with the RX100 III, which is just a bit larger, at 2.3 by 4.0 by 1.6 inches, and heavier, at 10.2 ounces. Canon sel...

The Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II camera is more responsive than its predecessor, and squeezes a big 1-inch sensor into a compact frame.

Crisp lens; 1-inch image sensor; 8.1fps image capture; Touch LCD; Built-in ND filter; In-camera art filters; Wi-Fi; Quite compact

Pricey; Short zoom; Narrow aperture when zoomed; No 60fps video option

Light and small; easy to use; 1 inch sensor

Short battery life; would be better with the G7X MkII lens

Good output

The Canon G9X Mark II is a huge advance on its predecessor and fixes its most problematic faults. It may not be the best choice for creative photographers, but as a casual snapshot camera it's very good indeed.

Slimline; pocketable design; Good image quality from 1-inch sensor; Well-implemented touchscreen; Excellent in-camera JPEG processing

Unambitious lens; Limited physical controls; No 4K video recording

Unambitious lens; Limited physical controls; No 4K-video recording

Compact cameras as they were once known are dead and buried. Now if you go looking for a dedicated camera - one that's not on your smartphone, anyway - it'll come with a larger-scale sensor and more features to help it stand out.

Pocketable design; decent image quality from 1-inch sensor; touschreen controls; works well enough in variety of lighting conditions

No tilt-angle screen feels restrictive; limited zoom range; limited maximum aperture at full zoom; the G7 X II is a more logical proposition

Part of Canon's newest line-up of compact cameras, the G9X MkII boasts a very compact build, packing in a 1in sensor capable of capturing 20.1MP stills or 1080p 60fps Full HD video… The lens only offers a 3x optical zoom (considerably less than the two opposite), with a 35mm equivalent length of...

A lightweight camera that comes with an excellent Image Processor and is affordable.

Lightweight; 14 fun effects to shoot with

None

The Canon G9X II is a solid pocket camera. It is easy to use and has a very compact form factor. Image quality has been improved compared to its predecessor and the G9X II is faster as well.

Impressive image quality; Improved JPEGs and good high ISO quality for its class; Compact camera body; Fast maximum aperture; Reliable autofocus; Improved performance

No tilting display; No viewfinder; Lens is not very wide; Slow buffer clearing; Mediocre battery life

The PowerShot G9 X Mark II is the second generation of Canon's entry-level 1"-sensor compact camera, and the company has made some nice improvements over the original mode. Burst shooting and buffer size are much better, the UI is a bit snappier and battery life has improved a bit.