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Canon G7 X Mark II vs G9X

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and the Canon PowerShot G9 X are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2016 and October 2015. Both the G7X Mark II and the G9X 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 G9 X
Canon G7 X Mark II   Canon G9 X
Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 28-84mm f/2.0-4.9
20 MP – 1" sensor 20 MP – 1" sensor
1080/60p Video 1080/60p Video
ISO 125-12,800 (125 - 25,600) ISO 125-12,800
No viewfinder, LCD framing No viewfinder, LCD framing
3.0" LCD – 1040k dots 3.0" LCD – 1040k dots
Tilting touchscreen Fixed touchscreen
8 shutter flaps per second 6 shutter flaps per second
265 shots per battery charge220 shots per battery charge
106 x 61 x 42 mm, 319 g 98 x 58 x 31 mm, 209 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 G9 X? 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 G9 X is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The G9X 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 G9 X
Compare G7X Mark II versus G9X top
Comparison G7X Mark II or G9X rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon G9 X is notably smaller (12 percent) than the Canon G7 X Mark II. Moreover, the G9X is markedly lighter (34 percent) than the G7X Mark II. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the G7X Mark II nor the G9X are weather-sealed.

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

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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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 G9 X 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 209 g 220 n Oct 2015 529ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G7 X Mark III 105 mm 61 mm 41 mm 304 g 235 n Jul 2019 749 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 206 g 235 n Jan 2017 529ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G5 X 112 mm 76 mm 44 mm 353 g 210 n Oct 2015 799ebay.com
6.
 
Canon M3 111 mm 68 mm 44 mm 366 g 250 n Feb 2015 679ebay.com
7.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 499ebay.com
8.
 
Canon G7 X 103 mm 60 mm 40 mm 304 g 210 n Sep 2014 699ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon 1 J4 100 mm 60 mm 29 mm 232 g 300 n Apr 2014 549ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic LX10 106 mm 60 mm 42 mm 310 g 260 n Sep 2016 699 amazon.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 V 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 299 g 220 n Oct 2016 999ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX100 IV 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 298 g 280 n Jun 2015 999ebay.com
13.
 
Sony RX100 III 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 290 g 320 n May 2014 799ebay.com
14.
 
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 retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The G9X was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 24 percent) than the G7X Mark II, which makes it more attractive for photographers on a tight budget. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and 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 more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras 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.

In terms of chip-set technology, the G7X Mark II uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 7) than the G9X (DIGIC 6), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon G7 X Mark II and Canon G9 X 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 G9X have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the G7X Mark II is a somewhat more recent model (by 4 months) than the G9X, and its sensor might 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 corresponding ISO settings for the Canon PowerShot G9 X are ISO 125 to ISO 12800 (no boost).

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 G9X MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). 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 G9 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.512.349563
3.
 
Canon G7 X Mark III 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.212.458365
4.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.912.552265
5.
 
Canon G5 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.412.347162
6.
 
Canon M3 APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.811.8116972
7.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365
8.
 
Canon G7 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p23.012.755671
9.
 
Nikon 1 J4 1-inch 18.2 5232 34881080/60p20.810.742653
10.
 
Panasonic LX10 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.558170
11.
 
Sony RX100 V 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.458670
12.
 
Sony RX100 IV 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.659170
13.
 
Sony RX100 III 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.412.349567
14.
 
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 have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The G7X Mark II and the G9X 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 G9 X, 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 G9 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 6.0/s Y Y
3.
 
Canon G7 X Mark IIInone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 30/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon G9 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 8.2/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon G5 X2360 n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/2000s 5.9/s Y Y
6.
 
Canon M3optional n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.2/s Y n
7.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
8.
 
Canon G7 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 6.5/s Y Y
9.
 
Nikon 1 J4none n3.0 / 1037 Fixed Y 1/4000s 60.0/s Y n
10.
 
Panasonic LX10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 10.0/s Y Y
11.
 
Sony RX100 V2359 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 24.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Sony RX100 IV2359 n3.0 / 1228 tilting n 1/2000s 16.0/s Y Y
13.
 
Sony RX100 III1440 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
14.
 
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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The G7X Mark II has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the G9X does not have a selfie-screen.

The Canon G7 X Mark II and the Canon G9 X 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 G9X have zoom lenses built in. The G7X Mark II has a 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 optic and the G9X offers a 28-84mm f/2.0-4.9 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the G7X Mark II provides a wider angle of view at the short end, as well as more tele-photo reach at the long end than the G9X. The G7X Mark II offers the faster maximum aperture.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the G7X Mark II and the G9X 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 G9 X 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 G9 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon G7 X Mark III-stereo / monoY-micro3.1Y-Y
4.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
5.
 
Canon G5 XYstereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon M3Ystereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
8.
 
Canon G7 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Nikon 1 J4-stereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
10.
 
Panasonic LX10-stereo / mono--micro2.0Y--
11.
 
Sony RX100 V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
12.
 
Sony RX100 IV-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
13.
 
Sony RX100 III-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
14.
 
Sony RX100 IIYstereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
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Both the G7X Mark II and the G9X have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The G9X was replaced by the Canon G9 X Mark II, while the G7X Mark II was followed by the Canon G7 X Mark III. Further information on the features and operation of the G7X Mark II and G9X can be found, respectively, in the Canon G7 X Mark II Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon G9 X Manual.

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Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Canon G7 X Mark II better than the Canon G9 X or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Reasons to prefer the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 7 vs DIGIC 6).
  • More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
  • More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (8 vs 6 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Better light gathering: Has a lens with a wider maximum aperture (f/1.8 vs f/2.0).
  • Wider view: Has a wider-angle lens that facilitates landscape or interior shots.
  • More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (265 versus 220) on a single battery charge.
  • More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 4 months after the G9X).


Arguments in favor of the Canon PowerShot G9 X:

  • More compact: Is smaller (98x58mm vs 106x61mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
  • Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 110g or 34 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
  • More affordable: Was released into a lower priced segment (24 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in October 2015).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the G7X Mark II is the clear winner of the match-up (9 : 4 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

G7X Mark II 09:04 G9X

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon G7 X Mark II and the Canon G9 X 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the G7X Mark II or the G9X. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major 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 G9 X3.5/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 529ebay.com
3.
 
Canon G7 X Mark III..+ +4/581/1004/5.. Jul 2019 749 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II4/5..4/575/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 529ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G5 X5/5+ +..78/1004.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 799ebay.com
6.
 
Canon M34/5o..75/1004.5/54/5 Feb 2015 679ebay.com
7.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 499ebay.com
8.
 
Canon G7 X4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 699ebay.com
9.
 
Nikon 1 J43/5......4.5/54/5 Apr 2014 549ebay.com
10.
 
Panasonic LX10..+ +4/581/1004/54.5/5 Sep 2016 699 amazon.com
11.
 
Sony RX100 V4.5/5+ +..83/1004/54.5/5 Oct 2016 999ebay.com
12.
 
Sony RX100 IV4.5/5+ +..85/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2015 999ebay.com
13.
 
Sony RX100 III5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 May 2014 799ebay.com
14.
 
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 review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date 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 would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just use the search menu below. 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 G9 X

    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 G9 X
    Camera Type Fixed lens compact camera Fixed lens compact camera
    Camera Lens 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 28-84mm f/2.0-4.9
    Launch Date February 2016 October 2015
    Launch Price USD 699 USD 529
    Sensor Specs Canon G7 X Mark II Canon G9 X
    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 1080/60p Video
    ISO Setting 125 - 12,800 ISO 125 - 12,800 ISO
    ISO Boost 125 - 25,600 ISO no Enhancement
    Image Processor DIGIC 7 DIGIC 6
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) .. 63
    DXO Color Depth (bits) .. 21.5
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) .. 12.3
    DXO Low Light (ISO) .. 495
    Screen Specs Canon G7 X Mark II Canon G9 X
    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 Fixed screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Canon G7 X Mark II Canon G9 X
    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 6 shutter flaps/s
    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 G9 X
    External Flash no Hotshoe no Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in NFC built-in
    Body Specs Canon G7 X Mark II Canon G9 X
    Battery Type Canon NB-13L Canon NB-13L
    Battery Life (CIPA)265 shots per charge220 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)
    98 x 58 x 31 mm
    (3.9 x 2.3 x 1.2 in)
    Camera Weight 319 g (11.3 oz) 209 g (7.4 oz)
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