Canon G7X Image Quality

Here, we compare the G7X to its larger sibling, the Canon G1X II. The 20-megapixel G7X offers significantly more resolution than the 13-megapixel G1X II and thus is able to resolve fine detail better here at base ISO, however it is also a little noisier when viewed at 100% like this. Default noise reduction also blurs the red-leaf fabric more than the G1X II. (Note that although the exposures look different, middle gray levels are closely matched between the two, so the apparent exposure difference is due to slightly different tone curves and color mapping.)

Above, we decided to compare the G7X to its little brother, the Canon PowerShot S120 which features a much smaller 12-megapixel 1/1.7"-type sensor, to see if the G7X is worth the $200-300 premium. Again, the resolution advantage the G7X has is obvious, but the S120 otherwise holds its own at base ISO, and even does a little better in the red-leaf fabric. We'll see how this changes at higher ISOs below.

As expected, we see the 20-megapixel G7X easily out-resolve the 12-megapixel Fuji X30 with its 2/3" X-Trans CMOS II sensor, though the X30 otherwise does quite well for its class with clean, refined-looking images at base ISO, though sharpening is a bit high.

Above, we compare the 20-megapixel 1"-type sensored Canon G7X to the 12.7-megapixel "4/3" sensored Panasonic LX100. The resolution difference is apparent here in both the relative element sizes and the higher detail from the G7X in all three crops at base ISO. But while the Canon's resolution is higher, noise is also a little higher, as you can see in the background of the bottle shoulder crop. The G7X applies slighter stronger sharpening, though, which tends to exacerbate noise. Still, the Panasonic's larger pixels pay off in terms of slightly lower noise already at base ISO when compared at 100% like this, but the G7X still wins with better detail.

Here's a comparison to another 20-megapixel 1-inch sensor, this time from the company that started the category. Here we see both cameras do very well at base ISO, but while the Sony RX100 III's image looks a little cleaner and more vibrant, it also looks somewhat more "processed", with some minor artifacts visible from its area-specific noise reduction.

At ISO 1600, we see the G1X II start to pull ahead of the G7X with better detail all around despite the lower resolution, as well as lower noise.

Here at ISO 1600, we see the G7X easily best the S120, with much better detail and somewhat lower noise, however both struggle with the red-leaf fabric.

Again, the Canon G7X comes out ahead in this battle, with better detail and lower noise, but colors are a little better from the Fuji. At this ISO, the X30 renders almost no detail in the red-leaf fabric, though the G7X's rendering is only a rough facsimile at this sensitivity.

At ISO 1600, we see the LX100 start to pull ahead of the G7X with better detail despite the lower resolution, as well as lower luma noise. The Canon does a little better with controlling chroma noise, though. Both struggle with the red-leaf fabric.

Similar to base ISO, both the Canon and Sony 1" sensored cameras do fairly well at ISO 1600 considering their size, but again Canon's processing looks more natural with fewer artifacts and slightly better detail while the Sony displays higher contrast and saturation, producing an image with more "pop".

At ISO 3200, the G7X's resolution advantage starts to give way to the G1X II's pixel size advantage, with the latter producing comparable detail with less noise.

Once again, the G7X easily comes out on top in this contest, with much better detail and lower noise, but both struggle to reproduce any fine detail in our troublesome red-leaf fabric.

While the X30 does fairly well for such a high ISO in a compact, the G7X comes out ahead in terms of detail and noise, though color is still better from the Fuji.

Once again, the LX100 comes out on top in this contest, with better detail, lower noise, and better color, but both struggle to reproduce any fine detail in our difficult red-leaf fabric.

Here again the Canon comes out on top overall, with a more natural rendering and slightly better detail. The Sony's image is a little cleaner and more saturated, but noise reduction artifacts distort fine detail, while noise grain from the Canon is more consistent and less obtrusive.