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Canon G7X Mark II vs Sony RX100 IV

Introduction

Point-and-shoot cameras are the most compact cameras that you can find, and they are mainly oriented towards customers who just want a camera with simple operation. Most point-and-shoot cameras use focus free lenses or autofocus for focusing, automatic systems for setting the exposure options, while they also have flash units built-in.

If you are a serious photographer, then I would recommend a point-and-shoot camera, you should go for a DSLR or a mirrorless, whereas point-and-shoot cameras are for those people who just want to take some photos on their journeys, and to have them as memories.

For this article, we’ll do a head-to-head comparison for two highly-rated cameras on Amazon, the G7X Mark II, and the Sony RX100 IV. Now, I’ve reviewed both of these cameras before, and I’ve used them both for over a month or so, nonetheless, I’ll try to review them again but with more information, since we have to come up with a decision, which one of these cameras is the best.

Price plays a huge role when it comes to these two cameras since they vary greatly, one of them comes at a relatively higher price than the other, in this case, the Sony RX100 IV. Okay, let’s dive in more now and see why these cameras can be the perfect addition or photography tool for you.

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Head To Head Comparison

Canon G7X Mark II

The Canon G7X Mark II is a very lightweight camera that also comes with a compact shape, preferable for travelers and vloggers. It has some impressive specs and a set of pretty good features, but we’ll talk about those later, as for now, let’s start first by saying a couple of things about the design.

As I mentioned, it has a pretty lightweight construction which makes it preferable for travelers and vloggers, but despite being lightweight, the G7X Mark II also packs incredible durability due to its metal construction which feels solid. Other parts of the design include the grip, which is pretty decent and it delivers great comfort, and what I like the most is the textured spots, they have a warm feel to it, and besides comfort, they also give a great look to the overall design of the camera.

But what really makes this camera special is the LCD screen. Specifically, this particular camera has a 3-inch display, but what’s good about it is that it flips 45-degrees downward, and 180-degreed upward, while this is a pretty useful feature for some users, because it allows you to take shots from different angles. In terms of preview output, you’ll notice the display delivers stunning details, sharp images, vibrancy, all due to the 1.04-million dots.

Now, for those that may be wondering, the display also has touchscreen capabilities, which means that you can navigate through the menu and organize everything, change settings, optimize features all while using the touchscreen.

Okay, but what about performance?

As I always start, first, let’s point out the fact that this point-and-shoot compact camera has a 20.1-megapixel sensor, while if you combine it with the DIGIC 7 image processor, it outputs a high-speed continuous shooting of 8 frames per second in RAW, JPEG and RAW + JPEG modes.

When it comes to the autofocus system, the Canon G7X Mark II has a 31-point AF which means that the camera is able to track and maintain focus even with fast-moving subjects. In addition, it has a native ISO range of 12,800 which means the camera will also perform superbly in low-light conditions.

However, some users might get disappointed at the fact that the G7X Mark II doesn’t have 4K capabilities, while you can only record at 1080p, and at 120 frames-per-section. I mean, even some cameras at higher price ranges lack 4K and considering the price of this camera, I think its specs are still pretty impressive. Let’s not forget to mention that you can also record in slow-motion.

What I like most about this camera is the picture styles that it offers, more precisely, there are 7 from which you can choose from, such as the Faithful Style, Landscape, Auto, Monochrome, Fine Detail, Standard, and the Neutral Style. So as you can see, you’ll have plenty of options to fine-tune your images.

Before we end, in terms of connectivities, you’ll be happy to know that you can easily transfer or share images using the built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, of course, using a smartphone device or tablet.

All and all, I really like the features that this camera offers, it also has a decent performance which is more than okay for the price.

Canon G7X Mark II Sample Footage:

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Sony RX100 IV

It has been quite some years since the Sony RX100 IV was released, nevertheless, it is still a top option when it comes to point-and-shoot compact cameras. In my opinion, the fourth installment in the RX100 line is the most high-end camera, while inside this compact body, you have the world’s first 1-inch stacked back-side illuminated Exmor RS CMOS sensor, which is a huge advantage over most other compact cameras, and a remarkable advance in image shooting possibilities.

To start off, first I’ll begin by pointing out some interesting facts about the design.

The Sony RX100 IV boasts a magnesium-alloy body while it has a relatively small size which fits in most pockets. It has an eye-catching design and it packs some serious durability within, which means this camera will last you for many years to come. Now, something that I’ve been reading recently about is the handgrip, while some people who big hands find it hard to get a good grip, while some people say that its ergonomics and handgrip it’s pretty comfortable. Nonetheless, from my experience, I find it pretty comfortable to hold, and yes, I don’t really have small hands, but I also suggest you use a camera wrist-strap, so it doesn’t fall by accident.

Also, for added grip, you also have the rubberized thumb hold on the back of the camera, which not only adds stability but in my opinion, it also gives a great look to the overall appearance of the camera.

To continue, the Sony RX100 IV has a 3-inch 1.23-million dot display, but there’s a good side to it, and there’s a bad side. The good side first, the display has a tilt mechanism, which means you can tilt it to your desired position to shoot from different angles, while it also helps for easier customization, but the bad side to it is that it lacks touchscreen capabilities.

For some users, this might be a big deal, while for some, not as much. Personally, I like touchscreen displays because you can change settings easier with only one tap of a finger, you can also scroll through images, manual autofocus using your fingers, and so on.

Okay, now, let’s get more into the specifics and see what else is this camera capable of.

Now, we did mention that the Sony RX100 IV has the world’s first 20.1-megapixel 1-inch Exmor RS stacked back-illuminated CMOS sensor, which means that with such processing speed, this camera allows for high-speed continuous shooting of up to 16 frames per second, which is by far, one of the best cameras for this in this price range, and above.

Regarding the native ISO sensitivity, Sony RX100 IV’s ISO range is 125-12,800, while the autofocus system consists of 25 contrast-detection points that offer good performance for a compact camera, but it’s not really good for video, considering the RX100 V has a 315-phase detection point hybrid system.

When it comes to video recording, this camera not only that it offers Full HD at 1080p, but you also get a short video of up to 5 minutes 4K movie recording, which is saved directly to the SD memory card. To be more precise, 4K recording is possible due to the 1-inch Exmor RS CMOS sensor with full pixel readout and no line skipping or pixel binning, which as a result, outputs images that exhibit higher resolution and less moire and jaggies than typical 4K movies. There are other features as well, such as the super slow-motion movie, super-speed anti-distortion shutter, the fast intelligent AF, and much more.

Before we end, let’s not forget to mention that the Sony RX100 IV is Wi-Fi and NFC enabled, which means that you can easily connect to a compatible iOS or Android smartphone or tablet to share or transfer your files.

Simply put, the Sony RX100 IV is the most high-end compact camera choice out there, it basically has all the features you could ever need, and it has an incredible performance above all.

Sony RX100 IV Sample Footage:

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Canon G7X Mark II vs Sony RX100 IV Feature Comparison

  Canon G7X Mark II Sony RX100 IV
Camera Type Point-and-shoot Point-and-shoot
Megapixels 20.1 20.1
ISO Range 125-12800 125-12800
Flip-Out Screen Yes Yes
AF Points 31-Point AF system 25 contrast-detection points
Viewfinder No Yes
Touchscreen Yes No
Video Recording Yes Yes
Sensor Size BSI-CMOS CMOS

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Conclusion

Well, I did say that these cameras are not really recommended if you’re a serious photographer, but nonetheless, as you can see, they boast some really impressive specs and fast-paced performance.

Both of them are very feature-rich, however, they do differ in some situations.

As for the first camera, the Canon G7X Mark II, I highly recommend it to people who are looking for a point-and-shoot compact camera for recording videos, due to the 31-point AF system, however, the Sony RX100 comes with a lots of features for video, as well as 4K, so you can’t really differentiate them in this aspect.

They also have the same native ISO, but what really differs them is the continuous shooting speed, while the Sony RX100 IV really outmatches the G7X Mark II in this aspect, featuring a 16fps continuous shooting speed, while the RX100 IV also has the world’s first 1-inch stacked back-side illuminated Exmor RS CMOS sensor, which also bids a higher price to the camera.

Nonetheless, they are both great at what they do, the Canon G7X Mark II is great for those looking for an affordable point-and-shoot camera, while if you’re looking for a more high-end option, the Sony RX100 IV would be your ideal choice.

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