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The Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III has seen a massive resurgence in sales and interest over the last year. Canon restarted production a few months ago and has yet to reach consumer demand. The camera is consistently out of stock at major retailers in the US and abroad.
The G7X III is still a pricey proposition for a lot of people, as it still retails at just under $900 USD. Is it worth it? It probably is, since there really aren’t any other options in the segment it sits in. The latest Panasonic compact cameras aren’t a leap forward and were likely brought out to jump into the recovering compact camera market.
Rumors
I have only been told a few things that I can’t verify over the last little while. The only thing that I can confirm is that Canon will be changing the model naming convention, so it won’t be a “G7 X Mark IV”. That seems logical, though I do think that they’ll keep the “G”, as it does have a long history and people know it well.
It is scheduled to be announced in late 2026 as far as I have been told.
Canon PowerShot V1
The V1 is Canon’s latest PowerShot camera, and its target market is primarly content creators and videographers. It plays that role quite well.
The “all-new” 1.4″ 22.3MP sensor has been well received and I expect it to be used in upcoming PowerShot cameras.
Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS99  $1499 | |||
Resolution | 20.2MP | 20.3MP | 20.2MP |
Sensor Size | 1″ Stacked CMOS | 1/2.3″ MOS | 1/2.3 CMOS |
Image Stabilization | |||
Optical Zoom | 12x | ||
Focal Length (35mm) | 24-100mm | 24-720mm | 25-300mm |
Aperture Range | 1.8-2.8 | 3.3-6.4 | 3.6-7 |
Rear LCD | 3.0″ 1.04M Dot | 3.0″ 1.84M Dot | 3.0″ 461K Dot |
LCD Movement | TIlting | Tilting | |
Focal Length (35mm) | 24-100mm | ||
Weathersealing | |||
Max Video Resolution | 4K30P | 4K30P | 1080 30P |
What do Photographers Want?
Photographers weren’t as excited about the V1, as it lacks a viewfinder and external flash. The active cooling in the V1 doesn’t matter much to photographers and it does increase the overall size of the camera. The V1 isn’t the most compact fixed lens camera out there.
Canon is well aware of what the next PowerShot needs to be, and it will be important to bring something to market that is the leader in capabilities. If there is going to be continued growth of compact cameras, don’t waste time putting something out for the sake of doing so. Hi Panasonic.
Predicted Features
The 1.4″ 22.3MP sensor will be the logical choice as far as image sensors go. I also think it’ll be important to have a fixed aperture lens. The current PowerShot G7 X Mark III has a 24-100mm f/1.8-2.8 (35mm equivalent) lens. I think it’s very possible to do a 24-70mm with a constant f/2 across the range. You lose 30mm on the long end, but with a faster telephoto aperture and larger sensor, you’re still going to get good background separation.
It’s likely that we’re going to see Canon using their latest design philosophy of using digital correction for things like distortion and vignetting to reduce the size and weight of lenses. This concept in lens design is an engaging topic, with some people adverse to it. Those feelings tend to come from prosumer and professional shooters with full-frame cameras, I don’t think buyers of compact cameras will care or even notice.
Pricing
The camera will have to be sub $1000, but don’t expect anything close to $500, if they can sell the current G7X at $900, they can sell anything new close to the same price without much issue. The compact market isn’t going to return to where it was a decade ago, so there will have to be some margin for it to be worthwhile for Canon.
EVF and Flash
I expect to see an EVF and built-in flash, those are important features for those that want them, for people that don’t? If the camera is well designed, no one is going to care that they may be “paying” for something they don’t use.
Video Features
There will obviously be video features, Canon will ensure that there is functional 4K capabilities, even with a crop. The buyer of a photography focused compact probably isn’t too concerned with getting the higher-end video feature set. The V1 exists for them.
Ergonomics
I think the camera will be slightly larger than the current G7X Mark III. A larger sensor, EVF and flash will require it. It’d be nice to have it a bit larger for those of us with larger hands. It won’t be the size of the V1.
Photography Features
I expect it to shoot 30fps like the V1. There will likely be optical stabilization over IBIS. Doing sensor stabilization needs more space inside the camera. Since it’s a fixed lens, it doesn’t really matter how they do it.
As mentioned above, and EVF and built-in flash are a must.
I expect that it will have some focus tracking settings like face, eye and animal. People love to shoot their cats and dogs. Vehicle tracking would also make some sense. We won’t see something like ball tracking.
Fixed lens cameras are a sell once product. Canon can’t sell you new lenses for it, but they will do some things on the accessory side of things to get after sale purchases. I do hope Canon puts more time into their accessories and don’t do their usual overpriced, underperforming widgets that they tend to do a fair bit.
GPS is a topic that can fire up the photography world. I haven’t met a lot of people that like doing GPS through a phone app. I agree with them. Sometimes I don’t want to bring my phone with me. There is also the battery drain on the phone as well as the camera keeping them connected. If we’re out on vacation and shooting all day, battery anxiety becomes a real thing.
I’d like to see some way to do a self powered GPS unit for this camera. It would probably have to use the flash shoe, but I don’t think the GPS crowd would care about that compromise. A self Powered GPS unit could also work with the EOS R side of thing as well. It’s a no-brainer product to develop.
Some level of weathersealing will also be important. On vacation, you have limited time and always have the chance of dealing with the weather. If you’re away for a week, you only have so many days to shoot and repeated visits somewhere doesn’t happen a lot.
Conclusion
These are my thoughts on the camera. Please share what you’d like to see in the coming PowerShot.
I think this will be a very important camera for Canon and they have to hit it out of the park. Not only for the consumers that no longer want to use their phone for photography. My smartphone is pretty potato compared to the higher end camera modules in some phones, but I have also hated the experience of trying to do meaningful photography with one. It comes in handy taking a picture of where you parked and for some location reference, but that’s it for me.
It will also be a camera that ILC shooters will jump on, so it has to be something R5 and R6 series owners would want to purchase. It also has to be a camera that may lead a percentage of shooters to the EOS R line. These types of cameras can lead people down the road of loving photography and wanting to go further up the Canon line.
Sound off on the forum with what you’d like to see, and if I’m wrong with my assumptions.
However, it would really be complemented by a photo focused compact, such as a follow up to the G7 X III. I hope they retain the 100mm F/2.8 reach or bring it further to 120mm at F/2.8. With the larger sensor it seems hard to do that without a size compromise, but the wide aperture and long reach make it suitable for concert photos where larger cameras are not allowed.
I don't, because the G7 X doesn't have one.
But if it's a replacement for the PowerShot SX70 HS an EVF would make sense. Of course the zoom range would be shorter.
Gimme an updated "G7 X 4" with new 1" sensor, DPAF AF, latest (affordable) DIGIC processor, updated menues - done!
Leave lens and housing as it was or give it a nice little update.
If you make it bigger or much more expensive I won't consider buying it.
This camera lives from the fact that you can put it into any jacket or shirt pocket without becoming bulky.
The PowerShot G allure for me is ‘almost’ DSLR image quality, numerous menu control settings in a very compact, pocketable size. I use them for street and travel photography where a DSLR is impractical.
My G7XIII is, for me, the best ever. I can’t think of too many things that would be possible to improve on.
Size. This is most important for me. I can put my G7XIII in a coat pocket, ‘cargo pant’ pocket or in a small waist pack. This requires some compromises:
Lens/Sensor. The lens needs to retract for pocket ability. The larger sensor and lens of the G1X precluded retraction of its lens. 70mm on the long end is a no go for me. 24-100mm equivalent is perfect. I shoot mostly JPEGs and in-camera optical aberration correction works fine.
EVF and Flash. I’ve never used the ‘optical’ viewfinder on any of my PowerShots and an EVF ‘hump’ increases the size for pocket ability. I’ve also never used the ‘pop up’ flash, but keeping it is OK. A hot shoe is sort of ridiculous as just about any external flash would be larger than the camera.
GPS. An integrated GPS receiver would create a ‘hump’ along the top surface. I GPS tag all my photos. I use the Canon Camera Connect app on my iPhone. This requires setting my iPhone display Auto-Lock to ‘Never’, as Camera Connect stops updating GPS when the iPhone screen goes dark. I haven’t had any battery issues on my iPhone as I lock the screen when finished shooting at a location.
Display. The rear display must articulate similar to the G7XIII. I can place the camera on the ground and point the screen up. I can hold the camera over my head and point the screen down. I can even flip the screen over and take a selfie (never done.)
Video. For a photo-centric camera, just the ‘basics’. The V1 covers the video creators.
Pricing. I’m OK with ~$1k USD. I was recently willing to pay twice what I paid for my G7XIII to get another for replacement.
I'd prefer the original 24-100/1.8-2.8 equvalent lens.
But I don't believe that one can keep that form factor if you want that 24-240/2.0-4.5 equ.
With the same lens size, my linear cross-multiplication gives me f/6.7 @240mm.
Still welcome?
Apparently, the acronym for Global Positioning Satellite is a 'bad word' ???
Global Positioning System - Wikipedia
And IMO it is only bad, if you can't switch the battery drain off (when not needed) or when it is jammed by military 😉
And if they make it in a G7 or a V3 or a new 740HS thats up to canon
but please canon make some compact camera's especially for photographers
But I am happy that this forum still exists.
I have this little SX620 HS that I bought a few years ago, specifically for taking images of a well-lit celebrity from basically the nosebleed seats. It served that purpose well, though it's not a great camera. It also sports a 25X zoom range, going from 4.5 to 112.5 mm (25-625 mm 35mm equivalent). The max aperture is listed as f/3.2 at the wide end and f/6.6 at the tele end of that range. The lens fully retracts into the camera when you turn it off. I really don't use it, but I think that some of its capabilities regarding size would be beneficial in another body.
Of course, it has a very tiny sensor, 1/2.3 inch, so it's definitely a different animal than what this possible G7 replacement would be.
All Canon needs to do is upgrade the AF and 4k. The flash, screen, lens, sensor and ergonomics are already great.
Oh, and add vertical video detection.
This. I think shutter lag on pocket cameras is one of the most important things for Canon to fix/eliminate in this part of the market.
My biggest gripe was the flash situation. If it was to appease the demand of the g7x there was a clear miscommunication.
The influencer world was using it for photos. The fill flash was their favorite feature.
The v1 lacked a flash and the only real option was the el flashes that are bigger than the camera. And the adapter to use older hot shoe model flashes again make it impractical and cumbersome.
The godox it30 wouldve solved this issue but was released almost a year after the v1 was.
The g7x hype is a small form factor with a decent sensor and fast aperture. People want a fun camera to carry around that isn't bulky for their everyday lives