Canon has officially announced the G7 X, a new premium compact camera and the first in the company's line-up to use a 1in sensor - smaller than the flagship GX 1 Mk II, but meaning it effectively goes head to head with Sony's RX100 III.
That 20-megapixel, backside illuminated (BSI) sensor is squeezed into a 304g body, paired with Canon's Digic 6 image processor and a 31-point autofocus system, and is capable of shooting at ISO 12,800. With a 24-100mm equivalent, f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens, optical image stabilisation and 5-axis shake correction when shooting video, it certainly has the headline features to appeal to fans of powerful compact cameras, but there's plenty more to talk about as well.
The G7 X has a full selection of manual controls, with a dedicated exposure compensation dial directly beneath the mode selection dial, and aperture control moved to the lens assembly. A 3in, 1.04 million-dot tilting LCD should make it easy to frame your shots too; it only tilts one way, but can articulate up to 180 degrees for a selfie-friendly angle.
Inside, you'll also find Wi-Fi and NFC connectivity, for simple pairing with a smartphone or tablet for image transfer or remote shooting. The G7 X is capable of RAW capture, burst shooting at up to 6fps and Full HD video recording at 60fps.
With a smaller sensor inside, Canon has managed to slim down the G7 X's proportions to the point that you can (just about) fit it in a trouser pocket, as long as you aren't a fan of skinny jeans. It could be a potent combination for travellers or anyone that doesn't want the faff of swapping lenses, but still wants great image quality.
Canon expects the G7 X to go on sale in the UK from October onwards, with an RRP of £579. We're hoping to take a closer look later this week when the Photokina show opens, so make sure to check back for some first impressions.
