The new little powerhouse from Canon: The PowerShot G7 X Mark II
I was recently lucky enough to be able to try out the brand new Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II, and its underwater housing, in the reef-wall playground of Bunaken National Park and the muck paradise of the Lembeh Strait, both in Indonesia. It turned out to be a joy to use underwater, in any light conditions, with macro, moving or wide-angle subjects alike. With the robust housing allowing you to use it down to 40 metres, this little compact really is an underwater powerhouse!
The upgrade to the Canon PowerShot G7 X brings a range of new features which build on the already excellent and very popular Canon PowerShot G7 X compact camera: The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II uses the same class-leading sensor and lens, but is the first camera to use Canon's new DIGIC 7 image processor to support several new performance improvements. The startup is quicker, there is enhanced image stabilisation, faster continuous shooting, and vastly improved image quality. Underwater, the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II comes into its own. There is less noise at higher ISOs for low-light conditions. The autofocus tracking is superb for moving fish. Both macro and wide-angle subjects yield excellent, sharp results in natural light and the one-touch customised white balance function – essential for underwater shooting – makes capturing both stills and moving images in vibrant colour, quick and easy.
The camera also records 14-bit RAW files instead of the previous 12-bit. Basically, this means more data is recorded on the sensor, consequently allowing more flexibility during post-processing.
The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II is a great new addition to the Canon premium compact range and a boon for both beginner and enthusiast photographers. It would also make an excellent backup compact for the moreadvanced underwater shooter. Thank you Canon!