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Canon G7 X Mark II vs G7X Mark III

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in February 2016 and July 2019. Both the G7X Mark II and the G7X Mark III are fixed lens compact cameras that are equipped with an one-inch sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 20 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon G7 X Mark II
versus
Canon G7 X Mark III
Canon G7 X Mark II   Canon G7 X Mark III
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8
20 MP – 1" sensor 20 MP – 1" sensor
1080/60p Video 4K/30p Video
ISO 125-12,800 (125 - 25,600) ISO 125-12,800 (125 - 25,600)
No viewfinder, LCD framing No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen Tilting touchscreen
8 shutter flaps per second 30 shutter flaps per second
265 shots per battery charge235 shots per battery charge
106 x 61 x 42 mm, 319 g 105 x 61 x 41 mm, 304 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon G7 X Mark II and the Canon G7 X Mark III is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The G7X Mark III can be obtained in two different colors (black, silver), while the G7X Mark II is only available in black.

Size Canon G7 X Mark II vs Canon G7 X Mark III
Compare G7X Mark II versus G7X Mark III top
Comparison G7X Mark II or G7X Mark III rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon G7 X Mark II and the Canon G7 X Mark III are of equal size. However, the G7X Mark III is markedly lighter (5 percent) than the G7X Mark II. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the G7X Mark II nor the G7X Mark III are weather-sealed.

The battery packs of both cameras can be charged via USB, which can be very convenient when travelling.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 106 mm 61 mm 42 mm 319 g 265 n Feb 2016 699ebay.com
2.
 
Canon G7 X Mark III 105 mm 61 mm 41 mm 304 g 235 n Jul 2019 749 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon G5 X Mark II 111 mm 61 mm 46 mm 340 g 230 n Jul 2019 899ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G5 X 112 mm 76 mm 44 mm 353 g 210 n Oct 2015 799ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G9 X 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 209 g 220 n Oct 2015 529ebay.com
6.
 
Canon M3 111 mm 68 mm 44 mm 366 g 250 n Feb 2015 679ebay.com
7.
 
Canon G7 X 103 mm 60 mm 40 mm 304 g 210 n Sep 2014 699ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic LX10 106 mm 60 mm 42 mm 310 g 260 n Sep 2016 699 amazon.com
9.
 
Sony ZV-1 105 mm 60 mm 44 mm 294 g 260 n May 2020 799ebay.com
10.
 
Sony RX100 V 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 299 g 220 n Oct 2016 999ebay.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 IV 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 298 g 280 n Jun 2015 999ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX100 III 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 290 g 320 n May 2014 799ebay.com
13.
 
Sony RX100 II 102 mm 58 mm 38 mm 281 g 350 n Jun 2013 749ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
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Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The G7X Mark II was somewhat cheaper (by 7 percent) than the G7X Mark III at launch, but both cameras fall into the same price category. Normally, street prices remain initially close to the MSRP, but after a couple of months, the first discounts appear. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an one-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.7. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the G7X Mark III uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 8) than the G7X Mark II (DIGIC 7), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon G7 X Mark II and Canon G7 X Mark III sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 20 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the G7X Mark II and the G7X Mark III have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the G7X Mark III is much more recent (by 3 years and 4 months) than the G7X Mark II, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II has a native sensitivity range from ISO 125 to ISO 12800, which can be extended to ISO 125-25600. The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

G7X Mark II versus G7X Mark III MP

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.811.926062
2.
 
Canon G7 X Mark III 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.212.458365
3.
 
Canon G5 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.212.458365
4.
 
Canon G5 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.412.347162
5.
 
Canon G9 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.512.349563
6.
 
Canon M3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.811.8116972
7.
 
Canon G7 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p23.012.755671
8.
 
Panasonic LX10 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.558170
9.
 
Sony ZV-1 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.212.666966
10.
 
Sony RX100 V 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.458670
11.
 
Sony RX100 IV 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.659170
12.
 
Sony RX100 III 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.412.349567
13.
 
Sony RX100 II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.512.448367
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.
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Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but also of capturing video footage. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the G7X Mark III provides a better video resolution than the G7X Mark II. It can shoot movie footage at 4K/30p, while the G7X Mark II is limited to 1080/60p.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The G7X Mark II and the G7X Mark III are similar in the sense that neither of the two has a viewfinder. The images are, thus, framed using live view on the rear LCD. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon G7 X Mark II, the Canon G7 X Mark III, and comparable cameras.

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Core Features
# image Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon G7 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 8.0/s Y Y
2.
 
Canon G7 X Mark IIInone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 30/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon G5 X Mark II2360 n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 30/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon G5 X2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon G9 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 6.0/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon M3optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
7.
 
Canon G7 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 6.5/s Y Y
8.
 
Panasonic LX10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Sony ZV-1none n3.0 / 922 swivel Y 1/2000s 24.0/s n n
10.
 
Sony RX100 V2359 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 24.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Sony RX100 IV2359 n3.0 / 1228 tilting n 1/2000s 16.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Sony RX100 III1440 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Sony RX100 IIoptional n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
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Both cameras have an articulated rear screen that can be turned to be front-facing. This feature will be particularly appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in taking selfies.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the G7X Mark III is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Canon G7 X Mark II and the Canon G7 X Mark III both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Both the G7X Mark II and the G7X Mark III have zoom lenses built in. Both optics have identical focal length range and aperture specifications (8.8-36.8mm f/1.8-2.8). Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the G7X Mark II and the G7X Mark III write their files to SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
2.
 
Canon G7 X Mark III-stereo / monoY-micro3.1Y-Y
3.
 
Canon G5 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro3.1Y-Y
4.
 
Canon G5 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon G9 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon M3Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon G7 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
8.
 
Panasonic LX10-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
9.
 
Sony ZV-1Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0Y-Y
10.
 
Sony RX100 V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
11.
 
Sony RX100 IV-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
12.
 
Sony RX100 III-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
13.
 
Sony RX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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It is notable that the G7X Mark III has a microphone port, which can help to improve the quality of audio recordings by attaching an external microphone. The G7X Mark II does not feature such a mic input.

The G7X Mark III is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Canon. In contrast, the G7X Mark II has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). As a replacement in the same line of cameras, the G7X Mark II was succeeded by the Canon G7 X Mark III. Further information on the features and operation of the G7X Mark II and G7X Mark III can be found, respectively, in the Canon G7 X Mark II Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon G7 X Mark III Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon G7 X Mark II and the Canon G7 X Mark III? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.


Reasons to prefer the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II:

  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (265 versus 235) on a single battery charge.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2016).


Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 8 vs DIGIC 7).
  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/30p vs 1080/60p).
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (30 vs 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • Faster data transfer: Supports a more advanced USB protocol (3.1 vs 2.0).
  • Easier wireless transfer: Supports Bluetooth for image sharing without cables.
  • More modern: Reflects 3 years and 4 months of technical progress since the G7X Mark II launch.

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G7X Mark III is the clear winner of the contest (8 : 3 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

G7X Mark II 03:08 G7X Mark III

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon G7 X Mark II and the Canon G7 X Mark III place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Travel-Zoom Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the G7X Mark II or the G7X Mark III perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon G7 X Mark II4.5/5+ +..81/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2016 699ebay.com
2.
 
Canon G7 X Mark III..+ +4/581/1004/5.. Jul 2019 749 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon G5 X Mark II4/5+4/582/100..4/5 Jul 2019 899ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G5 X5/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 799ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G9 X3.5/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 529ebay.com
6.
 
Canon M34/5o..75/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2015 679ebay.com
7.
 
Canon G7 X4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 699ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic LX10..+ +4/581/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2016 699 amazon.com
9.
 
Sony ZV-14/5+4/585/1004/54.5/5 May 2020 799ebay.com
10.
 
Sony RX100 V4.5/5+ +..83/1004/54.5/5 Oct 2016 999ebay.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 IV4.5/5+ +..85/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2015 999ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX100 III5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 May 2014 799ebay.com
13.
 
Sony RX100 II5/5+ +..79/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2013 749ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
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The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. As an alternative, you can also directly jump to any one of the listed comparisons that were previously generated by the CAM-parator tool.

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    Specifications: Canon G7 X Mark II vs Canon G7 X Mark III

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon G7 X Mark II Canon G7 X Mark III
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8
    Launch Date February 2016 July 2019
    Launch Price USD 699 USD 749
    Sensor Specs Canon G7 X Mark II Canon G7 X Mark III
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
    Sensor Format 1" Sensor 1" Sensor
    Sensor Size 13.2 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm
    Sensor Area 116.16 mm2 116.16 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 15.9 mm 15.9 mm
    Crop Factor 2.7x 2.7x
    Sensor Resolution 20 Megapixels 20 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5472 x 3648 pixels 5472 x 3648 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 2.41 μm 2.41 μm
    Pixel Density 17.18 MP/cm2 17.18 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/60p Video 4K/30p Video
    ISO Setting 125 - 12,800 ISO 125 - 12,800 ISO
    ISO Boost 125 - 25,600 ISO 125 - 25,600 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 7 DIGIC 8
    Screen Specs Canon G7 X Mark II Canon G7 X Mark III
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder no viewfinder
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 1040k dots 1040k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Tilting screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Canon G7 X Mark II Canon G7 X Mark III
    Focus System Contrast-detect AF Contrast-detect AF
    Manual Focusing AidFocus PeakingFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/2000s 1/2000s
    Continuous Shooting 8 shutter flaps/s 30 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterno E-Shutterup to 1/25600s
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Canon G7 X Mark II Canon G7 X Mark III
    External Flash no Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 3.1
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in no NFC
    Bluetooth Support no Bluetooth Bluetooth built-in
    Body Specs Canon G7 X Mark II Canon G7 X Mark III
    Battery Type Canon NB-13L Canon NB-13L
    Battery Life (CIPA)265 shots per charge235 shots per charge
    In-Camera Charging USB charging USB charging
    Body Dimensions 106 x 61 x 42 mm
    (4.2 x 2.4 x 1.7 in)
    105 x 61 x 41 mm
    (4.1 x 2.4 x 1.6 in)
    Camera Weight 319 g (11.3 oz) 304 g (10.7 oz)
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