Canon G7 X Mark II vs Sony RX100 III

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2016 and May 2014. Both the G7X Mark II and the RX100 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		Sony RX100 III
Fixed lens compact camera		Fixed lens compact camera
24-100mm f/1.8-2.8		24-70mm f/1.8-2.8
20 MP, 1" Sensor		20 MP, 1" Sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 125-12,800 (125 - 25,600)		ISO 100-12,800 (80 - 25,600)
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0 LCD, 1040k dots		3.0 LCD, 1229k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Tilting screen (not touch-sensitive)
8 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
265 shots per battery charge		320 shots per battery charge
106 x 61 x 42 mm, 319 g		102 x 58 x 41 mm, 290 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 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.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon G7 X Mark II and the Sony RX100 III 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.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Sony RX100 III is notably smaller (9 percent) than the Canon G7 X Mark II. Moreover, the RX100 III is markedly lighter (9 percent) than the G7X Mark II. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the G7X Mark II nor the RX100 III are weather-sealed.

Concerning battery life, the G7X Mark II gets 265 shots out of its NB-13L battery, while the RX100 III can take 320 images on a single charge of its NP-BX1 power pack. 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, just select a new right or left comparator from among the camera models in the table. Alternatively, you can also move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life 1	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch 2	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon G7 X Mark II	106 mm	61 mm	42 mm	319 g	265	n	Feb 2016	699
	Sony RX100 III	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	290 g	320	n	May 2014	799
	Canon G7 X Mark III	105 mm	61 mm	41 mm	304 g	235	n	Jul 2019	749
	Canon G5 X	112 mm	76 mm	44 mm	353 g	210	n	Oct 2015	799
	Canon G9 X	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	209 g	220	n	Oct 2015	529
	Canon M3	111 mm	68 mm	44 mm	366 g	250	n	Feb 2015	679
	Canon G7 X	103 mm	60 mm	40 mm	304 g	210	n	Sep 2014	699
	Panasonic LX10	106 mm	60 mm	42 mm	310 g	260	n	Sep 2016	699
	Sony RX100 VII	102 mm	58 mm	43 mm	302 g	260	n	Jul 2019	1,199
	Sony RX100 V	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	299 g	220	n	Oct 2016	999
	Sony RX100 IV	102 mm	58 mm	41 mm	298 g	280	n	Jun 2015	999
	Sony RX100 II	102 mm	58 mm	38 mm	281 g	350	n	Jun 2013	749
	Sony RX100	102 mm	58 mm	36 mm	240 g	330	n	Jun 2012	649
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders. (1) Number of images that can be taken on a full battery charge according to the CIPA-standard; (2) Official announcement.

Camera Model
Canon G7 X Mark II
Sony RX100 III
Canon G7 X Mark III
Canon G5 X
Canon G9 X
Canon M3
Canon G7 X
Panasonic LX10
Sony RX100 VII
Sony RX100 V
Sony RX100 IV
Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100

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 G7X Mark II was launched at a somewhat lower price (by 13 percent) than the RX100 III, 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.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with BSI-CMOS (Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors.

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 RX100 III 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 1 year and 9 months) than the RX100 III, 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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III are ISO 100 to ISO 12800, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 80-25600.

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.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Canon G7 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Sony RX100 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	12.3	495	67
	Canon G7 X Mark III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G5 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	..	..	..	..
	Canon G9 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.5	12.3	495	63
	Canon M3	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.8	11.8	1169	72
	Canon G7 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	23.0	12.7	556	71
	Panasonic LX10	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	..	..	..	..
	Sony RX100 VII	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	21.8	12.4	418	63
	Sony RX100 V	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.4	586	70
	Sony RX100 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.6	591	70
	Sony RX100 II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.5	12.4	483	67
	Sony RX100	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.6	12.4	390	66

Camera Model
Canon G7 X Mark II
Sony RX100 III
Canon G7 X Mark III
Canon G5 X
Canon G9 X
Canon M3
Canon G7 X
Panasonic LX10
Sony RX100 VII
Sony RX100 V
Sony RX100 IV
Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100

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).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the RX100 III has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the G7X Mark II relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The following table reports on some other key feature differences and similarities of the Canon G7 X Mark II, the Sony RX100 III, and comparable cameras.

Core Features

	Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
	Canon G7 X Mark II	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	8.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 III	1440	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Canon G7 X Mark III	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	30	Y	Y
	Canon G5 X	2360	n	3.0	1040	swivel	Y	1/2000s	5.9	Y	Y
	Canon G9 X	none	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	6.0	Y	Y
	Canon M3	optional	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.2	Y	n
	Canon G7 X	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	6.5	Y	Y
	Panasonic LX10	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 VII	2359	n	3.0	921	tilting	Y	1/2000s	90.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 V	2359	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	24.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 IV	2359	n	3.0	1228	tilting	n	1/2000s	16.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 II	optional	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100	none	n	3.0	1229	fixed	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y

Camera Model
Canon G7 X Mark II
Sony RX100 III
Canon G7 X Mark III
Canon G5 X
Canon G9 X
Canon M3
Canon G7 X
Panasonic LX10
Sony RX100 VII
Sony RX100 V
Sony RX100 IV
Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The G7X Mark II has a touchscreen, while the RX100 III has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The Canon G7 X Mark II has 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 RX100 III have zoom lenses built in. The G7X Mark II has a 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 optic and the RX100 III offers a 24-70mm f/1.8-2.8 (focal lengths in full frame equivalent terms). Hence, the Canon and Sony provide the same view at the wide-angle end, but the Sony has less tele-photo reach at the long end. Both cameras offer the same maximum aperture.

The G7X Mark II writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the RX100 III uses SDXC or Memory Stick PRO Duo cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

	Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
	Canon G7 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX100 III	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon G7 X Mark III	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	3.1	Y	-	Y
	Canon G5 X	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon G9 X	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon M3	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon G7 X	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Panasonic LX10	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	-	-
	Sony RX100 VII	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 V	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX100 IV	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX100 II	Y	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX100	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-

Camera Model
Canon G7 X Mark II
Sony RX100 III
Canon G7 X Mark III
Canon G5 X
Canon G9 X
Canon M3
Canon G7 X
Panasonic LX10
Sony RX100 VII
Sony RX100 V
Sony RX100 IV
Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100

Both the G7X Mark II and the RX100 III have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The RX100 III was replaced by the Sony RX100 IV, while the G7X Mark II was followed by the Canon G7 X Mark III. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon and Sony websites.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is the Canon G7 X Mark II better than the Sony RX100 III 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:

• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More tele-reach: Has a longer tele-lens for perspective compression and subject magnification.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced segment (13 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Is somewhat more recent (announced 1 year and 9 months after the RX100 III).

Arguments in favor of the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX100 III:

• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1229k vs 1040k dots).
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 8 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (320 versus 265) out of a single battery charge.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in May 2014).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the match-up finishes in a tie (5 points each). 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.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon G7 X Mark II and the Sony RX100 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 partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the G7X Mark II or the RX100 III. 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 (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). 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.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	camera   labs	dp review	ephoto   zine	imaging resource	photography   blog	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Canon G7 X Mark II	+ +	81/100	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2016	699
	Sony RX100 III	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	May 2014	799
	Canon G7 X Mark III	+ +	81/100	4/5	..	..	Jul 2019	749
	Canon G5 X	+ +	78/100	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	799
	Canon G9 X	+ +	..	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	529
	Canon M3	o	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4/5	Feb 2015	679
	Canon G7 X	+ +	77/100	4.5/5	3.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	699
	Panasonic LX10	+ +	81/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2016	699
	Sony RX100 VII	..	..	4/5	..	5/5	Jul 2019	1,199
	Sony RX100 V	+ +	83/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2016	999
	Sony RX100 IV	+ +	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	999
	Sony RX100 II	+ +	79/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	749
	Sony RX100	+ +	78/100	4/5	5/5	5/5	Jun 2012	649
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

Camera Model
Canon G7 X Mark II
Sony RX100 III
Canon G7 X Mark III
Canon G5 X
Canon G9 X
Canon M3
Canon G7 X
Panasonic LX10
Sony RX100 VII
Sony RX100 V
Sony RX100 IV
Sony RX100 II
Sony RX100

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.

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.

Specifications: Canon G7 X Mark II vs Sony RX100 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.

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