I am user of Canon camera for very many years (the digital does not even exist). I researched the small device that would complement my SLR. Something I have with me all the time and that would make better pictures than my iPhone. Before buying the G7X I used an EOS-M with a 22m lens, the results were spectacular for an acceptable weight and minimum space. But a slow AF and especially damaging a fixed focus that I like but that requires a way of shooting that involves everywhere. So I fell for the G7X and technological promises that go with it. The first thing that shocks to the opening of the box is the stinginess of Canon. For a device 600 they provide neither a strap to carry it over the shoulder, or even a USB cable to connect the device. Certainly I have this cable, but this miserly economy is annoying. Canon remains surprisingly well on the old USB connector ... archaic. At the same time when you see the low transfer rate on the Canon connector could equally remove the plug! Canon provides only a wrist strap, a debatable plastic that does not even have a small ring that allows to squeeze his wrist! A scandal! For the strap which is most unfortunate is that Canon has not renewed the excellent system he had proposed with its EOS-M and that was really innovative and practical. Once this first unpleasant impression comes the fun unpacking the device. It is a concentrate of technology. It is ultra compact. I would not test Steve Jobs to plunge into an aquarium to see how much air escapes, but I feel that every cubic millimeter camera was used by Canon's engineers . The little red thread around the trigger and the adjustment ring gives a very professional look to the whole. It is superb. The lens ring is a prominent hair stopped, but to use it is perfect. pity there is no flash door, even though I've never used my other compact, provided it could have been possible to put an optical viewfinder there ... too bad. At start I'm in familiar territory: it is a Canon. Menus are known and easily accessible. For me Canon is a model of its kind regarding the ergonomics of its devices. Some very good surprises in the menus: - Ability to delete the digital zoom: totally indispensable! - Ability to set the maximum ISO allowed. Personally I stalled at ISO 3200 and my results are perfect. The integration of the gyroscope on the screen during the reporting used to move easily on a horizontal plane. The screen is superb! I was a little afraid of limitation provided by the single axis of rotation but by for photos in portrait mode but up, it is no problem. And again the choice of Canon leads to a device that brings a sense of solidity and robustness, this hinge seems indestructible. And to solve this "problem" the solution is brought Canon a brilliant way: companion application on the smartphone in WiFi connection. Indeed, you can link your smartphone to G7X and manage everything from one. Imagine you are targeting the G7X to a pole and with your smartphone to start shooting. It's incredibly simple. Ok passersby to take a sick but the results are spectacular, both height at ground level. With this remote screen you can imagine all the shots! First pictures ... first satisfactions. The speed of the autofocus is totally mind blowing. And even in dim light. I was already convinced by the EOS-M in the interest of the touch screen, it does not change with this model. This speed takes special interest in the HDR mode, in fact 3 shots are almost instantly where my EOS-M, but also on my SLR in "braquettant" the shooting is rather the second. The responsiveness of the device is very good, walking through the menus is ultra fast, sweeping her pictures, zoom ... everything reacts ultra quickly. Some disappointment in shooting yet. With such a bright lens, it is a shame that the shutter speed does not drop below 1/2000 of a second. In fact, maximum aperture (f1.8) and strong light, 1/2000 is very inadequate. So we necessarily lose in depth of field in bright light. It's a shame. What about the result? It is spectacular. I have very little rejection on pictures. No more than I get with my SLR. The flexibility provided by the 24-100 zoom is appreciable. It really goes everywhere with him. Beautiful landscape in 24mm, street pictures at 50, 80 in the portrait and macro to 100mm. Thanks to this device that never leaves me and meets all my requirements. Night photos are incredible. The brightness of the target shows all its interest and the stabilization system. Even freehand can make night photos, it remains at 1 / 50s which is totally acceptable 3200ISO. So yes the quality of the entire zoom is not "perfect", so if I compare the pictures in G7X with those made with my SLR and professional zoom (70-200 f2.8 5DMarkII and) they have much less dive on G7X than the SLR. But it costs 10 times cheaper and especially weighs 20 times less heavy! For video, but not 4K 1080p at 60 frames / second. And the result is really good.
Autonomy! I have never been bothered with. At each of my photos out, I had to make 5 or 6 so far, I never fell out of power. Yet on one of them I had made more than 400 photos and I had all the bars on my battery. Maybe my method of use? Jéteins the camera after each shot, and it is set in "power save" with minimum brightness display. No problem on that side then. It is a pity that Canon does not include a GPS chip in this model, it goes through the connection to the smartphone to get GPS coordinates, so you have to take care of before starting the application and synchronize the two. So far I've never thought ... I have not tested the NFC connection but should enable further simplified pairing for phones that support this feature.
In conclusion? I am a happy canonist. This camera never leaves my back and accompanies me everywhere bag. Coupled with its cover "official" Canon DCC-1870 forms a passe partout of choice. I am delighted with the results and functions of this unit.
That change tomorrow? Incorporating a GPS chip, offer a triple ring also to choose its ISO manually propose a double adjustment ring around the lens, integrating a timelapse mode in the camera, a panoramic mode, take the belt attachment system EOS-M, the 4k videos, a USB journal or abandoned. Maybe they will be available in a future EOS-M3 or G7X MarkII ... the future will tell.
