Canon G9X vs Canon G9X Mark II

Introduction

Point-and-shoot cameras have been a popular option for years now, while the design is not the only thing that makes them special. These cameras have a unique construction that comes in a compact, versatile yet powerful package.

These are more oriented towards people who can’t really use cameras with a sophisticated interface or button layout, more specifically, if you don’t consider yourself a photographer, but it’s just something you really like to do, more like a hobby, then these cameras will serve you well.

Such cameras can also be defined by the superzoom that they have, such as 30x and 60x optical zoom, but that’s not necessarily the limit, most of them have even further zoom and weighed less than 300 grams.

Despite the fact that most high-end point-and-shoot cameras have program, aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes on the mode dial, raw image format, and hot shoe, none have lens mounts, so this is also why these cameras are also more suited towards people who just want a camera for their memories, vibes, etc.

Nonetheless, for this article, we’re going to do a head-to-head comparison about the Canon G9X and the Canon G9X Mark II. They are pretty similar, they also have almost the same price, but for those people who are confused about whether they should go with the original G9X or the Mark II, you’re going to find the answer in this article. However, I have said it before, it doesn’t really matter if a camera is more expensive or cheaper, what you should look for is the features that you are after.

Okay, enough said, let’s now start with the reviews and see what are these cameras truly capable of.

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Head To Head Comparison

Canon G9X 

The Canon G9X is a slim and comfortable camera that delivers impressive image quality, while it is pretty versatile as well, boasting a plethora of features and connectivities, this camera will be your companion wherever you go.

To start off the right way, first, I’ll point out some interesting facts about the design, so let’s get to it.

Design-wise, this camera is one of the smallest point-and-shoot cameras available, featuring a 1in sensor, this camera will deliver stunning results even in low light conditions. It measures 98x58x30.8mm while it has a weight of just 209g and that includes the battery as well. Personally, I’ve used this camera for some days, and it was fun, easy to carry the pocketable, long-life battery, and above all, it delivers impressive image quality, just as we mentioned.

Due to the design of this camera, most people who travel go for this option rather than DSLRs, well, after all this camera is for those people who aren’t really into photography but they just want to collect their memories.

To continue, let’s also say some words about the LCD screen, shall we?

This particular camera has a touchscreen interface that presents quick and easy access to all the settings and controls, while if you combine the small size with the touchscreen, it brings out a remarkable camera at a reasonable price.

However, I don’t really like the fact that it has a fixed-type screen, and If you’ve been reading my most recent reviews, then you probably know that I’m a huge fan of tilting and flip-out designed touchscreen, they simply provide you with more options, for example, you can shoot from different angles and viewing positions, nonetheless, considering the fact that this camera is more oriented towards common people who aren’t really into photography, it still makes up for a perfect camera.

Okay, enough said about the design, let’s get more into the specifics now and reveal what else is this camera capable of.

For starters, it has a 20-megapixel – 1″BSI-CMOS Sensor with an ISO range of 125-12800, so as you can see, despite the price, this camera has impressive specs indeed. In addition, the Zoom lens is 28-84mm F2.0-4.9, while if you combine all of these specs into one piece, you will get a continuous shooting rate of 6fps, pretty impressive right?

Now, when it comes to the autofocus system since this is a compact camera, it relies on a contrast-based AF system. Therefore, you got two choices to choose, 1-Point AF which employs a single area and it can be positioned almost anywhere using the touchscreen, and the Face+Tracking that can identify a human face, but if none are recognized, it falls right back into automatic selection using a seven by five array. I know, it may sound complicated, but in practice, it really isn’t.

Other than that, you are also given the option to choose between One-shot for single autofocus or Servo for continuous autofocus, but take in mind that if you want to keep focusing during a burst, it’s better if you couple Servo with 1-Point AF rather than the tracking option.

There’s also an option to enable the AF Point Zoom, which temporarily enlarges an area where the focus is concentrated more. However, if you prefer to do it manually, you can tap the AF icon on-screen to switch the G9X to manual focus, and there’s an indicator that tells you what is currently happening.

Regarding the video recording, the G9X can record at Full HD, and it also has a built-in microphone, and you get the option to zoom optically the lens when filming. You can switch the mode of recording by pushing the red button on the rear, but before you do this, make sure you turn the mode dial to Movie, this will unlock further advanced options.

In terms of connections, the G9X has a built-in Wi-Fi which will allow for easy image transfer and sharing with compatible smartphone devices or tablets.

All and all, this camera pretty much checks all the boxes of what a decent point-and-shoot compact camera should be like.

Canon G9X Sample Footage:

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Canon G9X Mark II

Now, as for our second camera, we have the Canon G9X Mark II. Even though it’s not the first time I’m doing a review on this camera, I’m still excited. Similar to the G9X, the Mark II sports almost the same features and specs, however, it does come with a few improvements, but only a few, since they don’t differ much in price as well as specs. So, you’ve probably figured it out by now, it’s a pocketable camera which has a compact size and also comes in very lightweight construction, while it has an easy-to-use interface which means that it won’t be a problem for any type of photographer or common person to use this camera.

In terms of the design, more precisely, this retro look-alike version that we’ve chosen has a very eye-catching design, while both sides are covered with textured brown faux leather, not only delivers comfort while you hold it but also gives a great look to the overall aesthetics of the camera.

Have we mentioned the large touch panel? Well, the G9X Mark II has a very intuitive touch panel that covers the most part on the back. Size is not the only thing that makes it special, it also delivers stunning, bright and accurate details on the display, with a remarkable resolution.

But as with many other compact cameras, it will be a problem for you if you use the camera in outdoor light a lot, from my research, I also found out many customers were complaining about this, since the display isn’t able to deliver many details in outdoor light, however, this is just my personal opinion which doesn’t really have to affect your thoughts about this camera.

Performance-wise, the G9X Mark II has a 20.2-megapixel sensor with an impressive resolution of 5472×3648. Basically, these images will also look great even if you view them on large monitor screens or something similar. Regarding the lens, it is 28-48mm just like in the original G9X, which has an aperture range of f/2.0-4.0, and even though it might not sound impressive, it’s still okay for a compact camera of this size and price.

In addition, you will get a speedy performance with the help of the DIGIC 7 image processor, while you will also get an impressive rate of continuous shooting at 8.2 frames per second. This is also an area where the Canon G9X Mark II outmatches the original G9C, after all, it is the successor, right?

In terms of ISO range, the G9X Mark II has a native ISO that stretches from 125-12,800 in 1/3 EV steps, which means that the camera will deliver significant performance even in low light conditions.

When it comes to autofocus, this camera boasts a 31-point AF system which is pretty impressive because it means that the camera has abilities to track even fast-moving subjects.

One of the most appealing features of Canon cameras is the Canon Camera Connect app which comes free and you can download it on Android and iOS devices, while this will let you transfer images, take remote control of the camera and much more.

But this is not the only connection method available though, since the camera also has built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, while these methods are also faster and more profitable. As you may already know, you can connect your smartphone device or tablet easily, and start sharing or transferring images from the camera to the phone.

Simply put, these two cameras don’t really differ much, however, there are some upgrades and improvements that the Mark II has over the original G9X. When I did my previous review, I had not used this camera yet, however, now that I got the chance to use it for over a week, I can safely conclude that the G9X Mark II is definitely a must-have, especially for those people who aren’t really into photography but just want a camera to use during their travels, moments, vibes, etc.

Canon G9X Mark II Sample Footage:

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Canon G9X vs Canon G9X Mark II Feature Comparison

	Canon G9X	Canon G9X Mark II
Camera Type	Point-and-shoot	Point-and-shoot
Megapixels	20.2	20.1
ISO Range	125-12800	125-12800
Flip-Out Screen	No	No
AF Points	31 AF points	31 AF Points
Viewfinder	Yes	Yes
Touchscreen	Yes	Yes
Video Recording	Yes	Yes
Sensor Size	CMOS	CMOS

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Conclusion

As you can see, these cameras are really pretty similar, in specs, performance, and even features. However, they still come with different prices, but still, you can divide them by usage.

For example, I would recommend the original G9 X to those people who want a camera for photography. It has decent performance and it also has a slight advantage when it comes to the sensor.

However, this doesn’t mean that the G9X Mark II is not good for photography, since they are pretty similar as we said, but the G9X Mark II also has a slight advantage when it comes to video recording, having an impressive resolution of 5472×3648, the G9X Mark II is a great camera to go with.

By now, I hope you have enough arguments to support your decision, but even though the G9X Mark II is better in most situations, the G9X is still a great camera, and no matter what you choose, you won’t go wrong with either camera.

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