Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III  Camera Review

Reviewed Apr 23, 2021 at 10:58am
Test bench update Feb 24, 2025 at 02:56pm
Tested using Methodology v0.13 
Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III
7.6
Travel Photography 
7.6
Landscape Photography 
7.8
Sport & Wildlife Photography 
6.8
Vlogging 
6.0
Studio Video 
5.0
Action Video 
7.1
Raw Photo 
 0
  1. Recommended in:
  2. Compact Travel

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is a compact point-and-shoot camera suitable for vlogging. It can capture good quality shots that remain mostly free of noticeable visual noise, so your images shouldn't appear very grainy, and you can also use this camera to live stream directly to YouTube, though we don't currently test this. It has a touch-sensitive screen that can get bright enough that you can still see it under direct sunlight. You can also use it to navigate its menu or flip it upwards to face you when the camera is pointed at you. Unfortunately, its battery performance is poor and can frequently interrupt your shooting sessions by overheating the camera and shutting it down. Its autofocus is also middling in photography and struggles to track faces and moving objects.

Our Verdict

7.6
Travel Photography 

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is decent for travel photography. It has good image quality, so your photos remain free of noticeable visual noise at moderate ISO levels. This means your images shouldn't appear very grainy. However, they don't stay as sharp as you bump up the ISO, and it has a disappointing autofocus performance as it struggles to track faces and moving objects. That said, it's incredibly portable and has a textured handgrip, which makes it easier to hold in comparison to other compact cameras we've tested.

Pros
  • Good image quality.
  • Outstanding portability.
Cons
  • Sub-par autofocus performance.
  • Frequently shuts down due to major overheating issues.
7.6
Landscape Photography 

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is good for landscape photography. Its image quality is good, ensuring most images remain sharp and free of visual noise. It's decently well-built and is comfortable to use and hold. Its screen can also get outstandingly bright, which is great for shooting outdoors and if you need to see it under direct sunlight. Also, its lens is alright overall, though it exhibits significant light falloff, which can cause your shots to look darker around the edges in comparison to their center.

Pros
  • Good image quality.
  • Outstanding portability.
Cons
  • Frequently shuts down due to major overheating issues.
7.8
Sport & Wildlife Photography 

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is satisfactory for sport and wildlife photography. It has an outstandingly high continuous shooting speed, which is good if you're snapping shots of fast-moving subjects, and also has a handy silent shooting mode that can be helpful when snapping shots of easily spooked wildlife. That said, it takes a while to clear its buffer, which doesn't make it suitable for taking long bursts back-to-back. It may also struggle to keep moving subjects in focus, which can be disappointing.

Pros
  • Silent shooting mode.
  • High continuous shutter speed.
Cons
  • Sub-par autofocus performance.
  • Takes some time to clear its buffer.
6.8
Vlogging 

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is good for vlogging. It has a great screen that you can flip up to face you when the camera is pointed at you. It's also exceptionally portable, and footage taken while walking should remain smooth and stable. It can shoot in 4k and FHD without a crop; however, it does incur a reduction in your field of view when its stabilization feature is set to High. It's also okay at tracking faces, though it struggles to capture clear and sharp footage free of noticeable visual noise while shooting in 4k and FHD. Unfortunately, its battery performance is poor and frequently causes the camera to shut down from overheating, especially when shooting in 4k. This can make it hard to record long videos in 4k, so it may be best to stick to recording in FHD.

Pros
  • Outstanding portability.
  • Great video stabilization performance.
  • Screen can flip to face you.
Cons
  • Frequently shuts down due to major overheating issues.
6.0
Studio Video 

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is passable for studio video. It has poor video quality when recording footage in FHD, and its video quality when recording in 4k isn't much better. It also lacks a headphone or microphone jack. That said, its internal recording capacity in FHD is good, with a bit rate range that should generate both high-quality or lightweight video files, which is useful for editing or exporting to social media.

Pros
  • Screen can flip to face you.
  • Easy-to-use menu system.
Cons
  • Poor video quality in FHD.
  • Disappointing 4k video quality.
  • Frequently shuts down due to major overheating issues.
  • Limited selection of inputs and outputs.
5.0
Action Video 

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III isn't designed for action video. Though it's outstandingly portable and is great at keeping videos stable, it has poor FHD video quality, and footage quality in 4k is middling. It also doesn't have an advertised rating for water resistance and can't shoot high-quality slow-motion videos in FHD or 4k.

Pros
  • Great video stabilization performance.
Cons
  • Poor video quality in FHD.
  • Disappointing 4k video quality.
7.1
Raw Photo 

The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III has decent RAW image quality. Images look quite sharp thanks to its relatively high-resolution sensor. Its dynamic range is decent, but it naturally doesn't capture as wide a range of high-contrast detail as cameras with larger sensors. It doesn't have the best noise handling either, so it doesn't perform especially well in low light.

Pros
  • Images look relatively sharp and detailed.
Cons
  • Limited dynamic range.
  • Mediocre noise handling in low light.
  • 7.6
    Travel Photography
  • 7.6
    Landscape Photography
  • 7.8
    Sport & Wildlife Photography
  • 6.8
    Vlogging
  • 6.0
    Studio Video
  • 5.0
    Action Video

  • Performance Usages

  • 7.1
    Raw Photo
  • Changelog

    1.  Updated Feb 24, 2025: We've converted this review to Test Bench 0.13. We've added new tests for Video Dynamic Range and Luminosity Patch Detection. You can learn more about these updates in the changelog.
    2.  Updated Sep 05, 2024: An older version of this review incorrectly indicated 'No' for the Microphone comparison. We've corrected the error and added a photo of the mic input.
    3.  Updated Jan 29, 2024: Added text to the 'Raw Photo Performance' verdict box.
    4.  Updated Jan 29, 2024: Converted to Test Bench 0.12.1.

    Check Price

    Differences Between Sizes And Variants

    The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III comes in two different color variants: Black and Silver. We tested the Black variant, and you can see the label for the model we tested here. We expect both variants to perform similarly.

    Popular Camera Comparisons

    Canon PowerShot SX740

    The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is a much better point-and-shoot camera than the Canon PowerShot SX740, though it's priced higher. It feels more premium, and its 1-inch sensor captures significantly better image and video quality. Beyond that, it also offers RAW image capability, faster burst shooting, better autofocus, and better video features.

    Sony ZV-1

    The Sony ZV-1 and the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III perform similarly. They're both compact cameras with 1-inch sensors that are similar in size and build quality. Though the Canon doesn't have a fully articulated screen like the Sony, you can still flip its screen up to face you for vlogs, and it has a more intuitive menu system with touch navigation. The Canon's built-in lens also has a slightly longer max focal length, giving you a bit more reach. That said, while the Canon can shoot uncropped 4k video, the Sony offers more frame rate options in 1080p and has a more effective autofocus system.

    Canon EOS R50

    The Canon EOS R50 is the more versatile camera of the two. The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III is a good choice for those who want a compact point-and-shoot camera, but the R50 gives you the flexibility to use different lenses. It also uses a larger sensor, has a better battery life, and is more well-rounded for video work.

    Test Results

    perceptual testing image
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    RATINGS
    Category:
    All
    Design
    9.0
    Portability
    Height
    2.5" (6.4 cm)
    Width
    4.3" (11.0 cm)
    Depth
    1.6" (4.0 cm)
    Volume
    17.2 in³ (281.6 cm³)
    Weight
    0.66 lbs (0.30 kg)
    7.0
    Build Quality

    • Body is made of plastic and metal
    • While its top plate is made of hard plastic, its body is covered by rubberized plastic
    • Flash mechanism feels somewhat flimsy
    • Screen mechanism feels sturdy
    • Dials and buttons provide good physical feedback
    • Input/output compartment protected by a hard plastic flap
    • Battery and SD card slot covered by a locking hinged door
    Body
    Body Type
    Point and Shoot
    Water Resistance
    No
    Mirrorless
    Yes
    Rugged
    No
    Hot Shoe
    No
    Customizable Button
    Yes
    Command Dial
    2
    Tripod Mount
    Yes
    Lens Mount
    No Lens Mount
    Built-In Flash
    Yes
    Fastest Shutter Speed
    1/2,000 s
    In The Box

    • Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III camera
    • Wrist strap
    • Canon NB-13L battery
    • Battery charger
    • Owner's manual
    7.5
    Ergonomics & Comfort
    Hand Grip: Small Hand
    Yes
    Hand Grip: Medium Hand
    Yes
    Hand Grip: Large Hand
    No
    Hand Grip: Extra-Large Hand
    No

    • Difficult to change the memory card while the camera is mounted on a tripod
    • Dedicated ring around the lens to change aperture
    • Touchscreen and quick menu make it easy to make all changes directly on the screen
    • Textured hand grip makes it easier to hold in one hand
    • Small textured backrest helps thumb stay in place
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder Type
    No Viewfinder
    Advertised Coverage
    N/A
    Advertised Resolution
    N/A
    Advertised Magnification
    N/A
    8.6
    Screen
    Screen Articulation Type
    Tilt And Flip
    Screen Max Brightness
    970 cd/m²
    Advertised Resolution
    1.04 million dots
    Size
    3.0" (7.6 cm)
    Touchscreen
    Yes
    9.0
    Menu System
    Guide Mode
    Yes
    App Name
    Canon Camera Connect

    • Simplified and easy-to-use menu system
    • Menu system changes depending on the chosen mode
    • Screen is fully touch-sensitive, making it easy to navigate the menu
    • Quick menu is available to make quick setting changes
    6.5
    Built-In Lens
    See details on graph tool
    Maximum Aperture
    1.8 - 2.8
    Max Aperture (Full-Frame Equivalent)
    f/4.9
    Minimum Focal Length
    8.8 mm
    Maximum Focal Length
    37 mm
    Max Focal Length (Full-Frame Equivalent)
    100 mm
    Optical Image Stabilization
    Yes
    Luminance
    80.4%
    Light Falloff
    42.9%
    Sensor
    Sensor Type
    Stacked CMOS
    Advertised Effective Pixels
    20.1 MP
    Sensor Size
    1-inch
    Processor
    DIGIC 8
    Extended ISO Minimum
    N/A
    Native ISO Minimum (Base ISO)
    125
    Native ISO Maximum
    12,800
    Tested Firmware
    1.20
    4.8
    Battery
    Battery Type
    Canon NB-13L
    USB Charging
    Yes
    Power Delivery While Recording
    No
    Advertised Battery Life In Photo
    235 photos
    Tested Battery Life In Video
    63 min
    Photo General
    8.4
    Photo Shooting Speed
    Low Speed Continuous
    4 fps
    High Speed Continuous
    16 fps
    Silent Shooting Continuous
    16 fps
    Raw Buffer Size
    78 Photos
    JPEG Buffer Size
    155 Photos
    Buffer Empty Time
    13 s
    0.0
    Photo AF-C Tracking
    Autofocus Tracking ShotsN/A
    Perfect Focus Hit Rate
    N/A
    Usable Focus Hit Rate
    N/A
    10
    Photo AF-C Center Point
    Autofocus Center Point Shots
    center-point-run-01-01
    Run 01
    AF-C Center Point 01
    Perfect Focus Hit Rate
    100%
    Usable Focus Hit Rate
    100%
    6.6
    Photo Image Stabilization
    Minimum Shutter Speed Achieved
    1/30 s
    In-Body Image Stabilization
    No
    Photo Image Quality
    7.1
    Photo RAW Dynamic Range
    Dynamic Range At Base ISO
    9.4 f-stops
    Dynamic Range At 1/500s Exposure Time
    7.5 f-stops
    Dynamic Range At 1/2000s Exposure Time
    6.2 f-stops
    Dynamic Range At 1/4000s Exposure Time
    5.4 f-stops
    8.1
    Photo RAW Sharpness
    See details on graph tool
    Vertical Edge MTF50 At Base ISO
    1,814 LW/PH
    Horizontal Edge MTF50 At Base ISO
    1,842 LW/PH
    6.2
    Photo RAW Noise
    See details on graph tool
    SNR 18% At 1/8 Exposure Time (125 ms)
    32.4 dB
    SNR 18% At 1/30 Exposure Time (33 ms)
    28.0 dB
    SNR 18% At 1/125 Exposure Time (8 ms)
    23.0 dB
    SNR 18% At 1/500 Exposure Time (2 ms)
    17.5 dB
    Pictures Sample Gallery
    The Skate Park Picture
    JPEG Skate Park PictureDownload
    RAW Skate Park PictureDownload
    The Polish Church Picture
    JPEG Polish Church PictureDownload
    RAW Polish Church PictureDownload
    The Studio Picture
    JPEG Studio PictureDownload
    RAW Studio PictureDownload
    The Stairway Picture
    JPEG Stairway PictureDownload
    RAW Stairway PictureDownload
    Video General
    Video Features
    Full HD Video
    Yes
    4k Video
    Yes
    6k Video
    No
    Clean HDMI Output
    Yes
    Advertised Max Chroma Sampling Over HDMI
    Not Advertised
    Advertised Max Bit Depth Over HDMI
    N/A
    Log Picture Profile
    No
    Recording Light
    No

    • Manufacturer advertises that it can live stream directly to YouTube, though we didn't test this. You can find instructions on how to set up the livestreaming feature here.
    Audio
    Audio Test Sample
    Audio Recording
    Stereo
    Microphone Level Display
    No
    Video File Format And Compression
    MP4 H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
    Yes
    MP4 H.265 / HEVC
    No
    MOV H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
    No
    MOV H.265 / HEVC
    No
    AVCHD H.264 / MPEG-4 AVC
    No
    All-I Compression
    No
    4k Video
    8.5
    4k Video Frame Rate
    240 fps In 4k
    No
    120 fps In 4k
    No
    60 fps In 4k
    No
    30 fps In 4k
    Yes
    24 fps In 4k
    Yes
    4k Crop At Max Available fps
    1 x

    Note: While in aperture priority mode or in manual mode, the camera automatically defaults to shooting in FHD. To shoot 4k video, select 'Video Mode' on the dial.

    5.3
    4k Video Internal Recording
    Bitrate Maximum In 4k
    120 Mbps
    Bitrate Minimum In 4k
    120 Mbps
    Chroma Sampling In 4k
    4:2:0
    Bit Depth In 4k
    8 Bit
    Record Time Limit In 4k
    10 min
    Overheat Recording Interruptions in 4k
    7
    7.0
    4k Video Autofocus Performance
    Object Tracking In 4k
    8.0
    Face Tracking In 4k
    6.6
    Face Detection In 4k
    Yes
    Eye Detection In 4k
    No
    6.3
    4k Video Quality
    Low Light Capability In 4k
    6.0
    Test Scene Extract In 4k
    6.5
    5.9
    4k Video Rolling Shutter Effect
    4k Rolling Shutter
    6.7°
    Full HD Video
    9.5
    FHD Video Frame Rate
    240 fps In FHD
    No
    120 fps In FHD
    Yes
    60 fps In FHD
    Yes
    30 fps In FHD
    Yes
    24 fps In FHD
    Yes
    FHD Crop At Max Available fps
    1 x
    7.6
    FHD Video Internal Recording
    Bitrate Maximum In FHD
    60 Mbps
    Bitrate Minimum In FHD
    30 Mbps
    Chroma Sampling In FHD
    4:2:0
    Bit Depth In FHD
    8 Bit
    Record Time Limit in FHD
    30 min
    6.6
    FHD Video Autofocus Performance
    Object Tracking In FHD
    7.3
    Face Tracking In FHD
    6.4
    Face Detection In FHD
    Yes
    Eye Detection In FHD
    No
    4.7
    FHD Video Quality
    Low Light Capability In FHD
    5.0
    Test Scene Extract In FHD
    4.4
    8.2
    FHD Video Rolling Shutter Effect
    FHD Rolling Shutter
    2.0°
    Video Image Quality
    6.4
    Video Dynamic Range
    Strict SNR Max Dynamic Range
    9.33 stops
    Lenient SNR Max Dynamic Range
    9.33 stops
    Background Floor Max Dynamic Range
    9.33 stops
    5.4
    Luminosity Patch Detection
    Above Middle Gray
    3.38 stops
    Below Middle Gray
    8.26 stops
    Storage And Connectivity
    Storage
    Card 1 Slot
    SD Card UHS-I
    Card 2 Slot
    No 2nd Card Slot
    7.5
    Inputs / Outputs
    USB
    USB-C
    HDMI
    Micro (Type D)
    Headphones
    No
    Microphone
    Stereo
    Wi-Fi
    Yes
    Bluetooth
    No

    You can see the microphone input on the other side of the camera here.