Canon recently launched their PowerShot G5 X Mark II alongside their PowerShot G7 X Mark III, both comes with the newly stacked CMOS sensor and an enhanced DIGIC 8 processor which makes them capable of shooting videos at 4K resolution. This setup also accounts for an improved ISO performance and a 30fps high burst mode which captures images in CR3 RAW format. We have a chance to review the PowerShot G5 X Mark II, so let’s put it through its paces.
Design and Built
The PowerShot G5 X Mark II is equipped with a 5x zoom lens that comes with 120mm focal length and an f/1.8 aperture. This setup, coupled with its 1-inch sensor, makes the G5 a powerhouse in the compact camera arena.
It possesses an enhanced version of in-built focus bracketing (up to 100 shots), full-resolution panorama mode and a revised user interface that now looks pretty much similar to their other offerings.
This micro-DSLR design accommodates a tiny viewfinder which slides out via a pop-up arrangement on the top. This level of practicality makes the device much more pocket-friendly and easy to carry around.
While the pop-out viewfinder does its job in keeping the form factor more pocketable, the overall process of having to pull it out and slide out the eyepiece feels cumbersome. Nonetheless, the EVF looks quite crisp with its 2.36 million dots as it puts its clear view of the object.
Feel
The quality of stacked mode dial on the top gives good feedback while cycling through multiple settings. Being powered by the same processor and sensor as the G7 X III, the operation is very similar in terms of performance and overall use. The autofocus is quite snappy as it focuses on distant objects within no time and does a fairly decent job in object detection.
The colours clicked in the images looked natural and punchy and the exposure was perfect given the difficult conditions. Low light pictures were great, as it sufficiently battled through the background noise to render some crisp details. The only downside we found was that the software tends to smoothen the image which inevitably blemishes the texture details needed in the shot being taken.
Performance
The top comes with a pair of control wheels for fiddling through the various modes that come with the camera. There is a complete range of PASM modes with a dedicated video and exposure bracketing scene options to choose from. The ISO range spans from a mere 125, all the way up to 25,600 owing to its 1.0-Type sensor.
The images under low ISO were sharp and clear with loads of details without any unnecessary blemishes. Boosting up the ISO also increased the image quality a bit further down the impressive path.
The autofocus performance is on par with G7 with its facial recognition and subject tracking. The focus shifts slowly, which makes it difficult to capture distant objects quickly. More often, this problem might impel you to opt for a full field manual control over focus as per your needs. Once fully charged the battery can run for 2 hours on straight with LCD display on.
Video Quality
Keep the G5 X Mark II in the sweet spot and it won’t let you down. The ability to shoot at 30fps is nothing remarkable but the ability to record 20 frames before you shoot the shutter button is a unique feature that gives a fair chance of capturing moments. The camera can also shoot bursts at an impressive 21.5fps below the 2.5-second mark. This makes it a good tag along for a paced sporting event. There is an automatic time-lapse builder who shoots collates still files into a fully furnished video. Vloggers might also appreciate the ability to tilt and flip the monitor on the back to shoot great selfie videos.
Gizmo Verdict
The Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II is very interesting and powerful than its earlier predecessor. Its compact and agile form factor makes it a perfect pocket companion for your everyday use. Its 4K shooting capability is far superior to its rivals in terms of image quality. These qualities will keep the G5, amongst the most favoured camera by the avid content creators and everyday vloggers. If you are on a lookout for a portable full-fledged camera, we surely would recommend taking a look at the PowerShot G5 X Mark II.
