I Tested the Viral Canon PowerShot G7 X Camera to Find Out If the Hype Is Deserved

Ever wonder how your favorite influencers get their photos to look so crisp and ~vibey~ in a way that just seems impossible to recreate? Spoiler alert: It’s not a specific Lightroom setting, the way they shake their iPhone when the flash goes off (IYKYK), or even the latte makeup and the LoveShackFancy dress—it’s the camera.

And before you purchase the newest iPhone or bust out your mom’s old DSLR to take a photo of your matcha, let’s demystify this real quick—the specific camera the internet has been swooning over is the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II or Mark III camera. The digital camera went viral for churning out Hinge-worthy beach photos like nobody’s business—like, it may seem obvious that a high-quality camera would take great photos, but seriously, the G7 X is where it’s at.

So if you, too, have been seduced by the thought of a little point-and-shoot that takes pics that make you look more snatched than you’ve ever looked on your iPhone, keep reading, because I took it upon myself to do some field testing—investigative journalism, if you will. I’m about to break down everything from first impressions, settings, and necessary accessories to the ~technical~ differences between the older G7 X Mark II and the newer G7 X Mark III. ‘Kay? Let’s go!

First impressions

What’s in the box, you ask? Besides the actual camera (duh), your purchase includes a battery, a battery charger, and a wrist strap for easy transportation! As soon as I took the PowerShot G7 X out of the box, I could immediately tell that it was slightly heftier (and definitely better quality) than a cheap digital camera. It’s a little heavier than an iPhone but the G7 X is compact enough to fit into a little crossbody bag for a night out.

Setting it up was super easy, too—I charged the battery (it didn’t take long to fully juice up), popped in an SD card I had lying around, and was ready to start playing around with the camera!

a hand holding a camera

How does the PowerShot G7 X perform compared to the iPhone camera?

I’ve dabbled in DSLR and film photography (as well as running through a ton of disposables) but I mainly wanted to see how the PowerShot G7 X models performed compared to the iPhone camera I use on a daily basis. I’m obviously not a professional photographer (hi, magazine editor here, lol) but everyone on TikTok RAVES about the G7 X—the question was, is it superior enough to justify the cost?

Unfortunately I’m here to tell you that the G7 X has changed my life because it’s that freaking good. The crisp photos are leaps and bounds better than anything I take on my sad iPhone 11, and it’s not just a quality difference—there’s a warm, dreamy look that the photos I take on the G7 X have (plus, the flash blurs your skin!). Pls refer to the unedited side-by-sides below for proof that this camera made a basic street corner look like a full-on photoshoot location and wonder no longer how influencers are churning out all those aesthetically-pleasing pics!!

Left: Taken on the iPhone 11 // Right: Taken on the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II

Left: Taken on the iPhone 11 // Right: Taken on the Canon PowerShot G7S Mark II

Which settings are people using to get their photos looking like, you know, that?

The question I saw most frequently during my ~field research~ (okay I was scrolling through TikTok) besides “Is it worth it?” was “What settings did you use?!”.

For anyone who’d prefer to avoid having to mess with any custom ISO or f-stop settings, Auto will be the easiest setting to use. Portrait is great for photos that focus on faces (ideally one rather than a group) and you’re trying to photograph a moving target, try using TV Mode which allows you to use a faster shutter speed to take pictures of something that’s in motion.

If you want to take flash photos, you can shoot in Manual mode and raise the pop-up flash by toggling the switch on the left side of the camera body. And for maximum flexibility when it comes to shooting and editing, the G7 X allows you to shoot in RAW—the photo you’ll get will be an uncompressed file that preserves as much detail and data as possible from the shot.

Alright, I'm sold. Where can I buy the Canon G7 X camera?!

First of all, if you’ve decided to bite the bullet, you need to know that there are actually two models of the Canon PowerShot G7 X that you can currently purchase. Yep! There’s the PowerShot G7 X Mark II (2016) and the PowerShot G7 X Mark III (2019). Both are available at Amazon and Walmart, as well as on the Canon website for slightly cheaper (if you can catch a restock, that is).

I know it's not exactly loose change. BUT! Hear me out. For how reliable and compact these cameras are, these aren't crazy prices—especially considering the fact that most nicer cameras are going to be in the hundreds.

What’s the difference between the G7 X Mark II and the G7 X Mark III?

After testing both the 2016 G7 X Mark II and the 2019 G7 X Mark III for a couple months, I’ve come to the conclusion that even though both models have slightly distinct features, there isn’t a huge difference in the photo-taking experience for non-professionals. So before you wade through a thousand arbitrary, conflicting opinions on TikTok or start attempting to decipher some of the specs, let me break it down for you.

First things first—the Mark II and the Mark III have the exact same lens. It is, I repeat, the exact same lens with the exact same quality and zoom capabilities (the 24-100 mm F1.8-2.8 4.2x zoom lens, if you care). To my naked eye, the difference between photos taken on the Mark II and Mark III was basically imperceptible.

That being said, there are some small upgrades that the Mark III boasts. It has 30.0fps continuous shooting (which is huge compared to the Mark II’s 8.0fps continuous shooting) so it takes bursts of photos noticeably faster. It also takes higher-quality videos at 3840 x 2160 resolution as opposed to the Mark II’s 1920 x 1080 resolution. And last but not least, the Mark III is 15g lighter, but I found that 15g (it’s, like, the weight of five sugar cubes) didn’t really feel significantly different.

TL;DR: The Mark III is arguably a nicer and newer camera with a few small upgrades, but at the end of the day, the Mark II and the Mark III have the same lens. So if you’d consider yourself less of a professional and more of a Cool Girl with a Cool Instagram Feed Who Takes Good Pics of Your Friends, there’s no need to spend $50 more on the Mark III. However, if you're a vlogger or plan on using the camera for video, then the $50 upgrade for higher-quality videos might be worth it!

My G7 X must-haves

I discovered what is, IMO, the most crucial thing to buy if you own a digital camera of any sort on New Year's Eve 2023 when a friend pulled out an SD card reader that plugged right into her phone. Needless to say I ordered one ASAP when I realized I could directly transfer any photos I took onto my phone in seconds.

Other useful things to invest in include a screen protector, a backup memory card, and a silicone cover, so the camera body doesn’t get scratched up in your bag. And, if you accidentally lose your wrist strap or battery charger that came with the camera, you can easily purchase extras on Amazon!

Is the G7 X worth it?

If you’re an aspiring content creator, a full-time vlogger, someone who wants to upgrade their cheaper camera and get more technical with photography, or someone who is heavily invested in making sure all their friends have super hot photos for their online dating profiles… the answer is YES, the G7 X is totally worth the $$$. Here’s the pros and cons breakdown for ya!

Pros:

• Minimal learning curve if you’re a beginner
• Great for every skill level
• 3-inch touch screen that tilts and flips up (great for vlogging!)
• Fits comfortably in any reasonably-sized pocket
• Pop-up flash
• Comes in black and silver
• Can be purchased refurbished at a discount
• Photos can be edited directly on the camera
• Self-timer is easy to use

Cons:

• Fairly expensive
• Zoom range only goes up to 100mm
• Heavier than a cheaper camera or iPhone usually is
• Lenses cannot be switched out
• Is often out of stock online

The Canon PowerShot G7 X is a high-quality camera that’s super user-friendly and seriously performs. If you’re just looking for any ol’ non-iPhone camera to take vibey pics on, you could probably find a cheaper option… like that pink point-and-shoot that TikTok is always trying to sell me. But if you’re done with your kiddie camera era and want to treat yourself to something that’s super legit yet not intimidating at all (and churns out some of the best dang flash photography you’ve ever seen), the G7 X Mark II or Mark III is an excellent choice that I highly, highly recommend. Happy snapping!

Why trust us?

Hannah Oh is the Shopping Editor at Cosmo and a social media connoisseur who prides herself on being the unofficial photographer of her friend group. She’s tested a variety of cameras and dabbled in various art mediums including portrait and B&W photography before becoming a magazine editor, and currently enjoys helping all of her friends get iconic OOTD pics and party photos.