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Review of the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II: Features and Design
The G5 X adopts a lite-DSLR design with a hidden EVF inside the body that only pops out when needed. The G5 X Mark II, on the other hand, looks very much like a traditional compact, albeit with a slightly protruding lens, even when it's retracted. However, the protruding lens houses a multifunctional ring that can be used to set aperture or shutter values.
The camera body is well-balanced. The rubberized grip may not be as good as a DSLR camera, but it's comfortable nonetheless, and the size is kept reasonably slim by omitting the integrated flash on the top of the camera.
On top of the camera, aside from the obvious shutter release and zoom control, there's a pair of control dials, one for selecting camera modes from the usual suspects—full PASM modes plus a dedicated video mode, exposure compensation, and various Scene modes—and a larger one below for exposure compensation.
The second type is particularly useful, especially with the G5 X Mark II offering direct exposure simulation, meaning you can expose the camera within the camera instead of having to handle post-processing work later.
The back of the camera once again features a practical set of controls, rather than cluttered. The directional keypad doubles up as a series of shortcuts to features like focus mode, continuous shooting settings, and flash control and is surrounded by a thumb. The rear dial—about the diameter of a 1p coin—though with notches and a satisfying click when turned, it's easy enough to use.
On the other hand, the back of the G5 X Mark II is predominantly occupied by its touchscreen. At 3 inches, it's not the largest, but it's comfortable and its 1.04 million-pixel resolution makes it precise.
The pop-up EVF is novel and initially a bit perplexing—simply flick the switch on the side of the camera to activate it—you need to grip the edges of the EVF screen with your thumb and index finger and pull it towards you to bring it to life. When operational, you'll find a robust 0.39in EVF with 2.36 million pixels resolution. Wisely, Canon hasn't attempted to cram all the information from the main touchscreen onto the EVF, so you only get the essentials—shutter speed, aperture, remaining images, and just a few others.
The EVF works very well, especially coupled with the excellent focusing ability of the G5 X Mark II, where the rear screen acts as a touchpad, allowing you to drag the autofocus point around by lifting the camera to your eye. It quickly became our preferred way of working, especially when sunlight makes the rear screen hard to see.
This lens is highly practical—5x zoom, equivalent to 35mm to 24mm at wide-angle and 120mm when zoomed in. Smart aperture, you get f/1.8 at wide-angle and slows down—f/2.8 when zoomed in. quite realistic—f/2.8 120mm lens helps control ISO in many situations.
Review of the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II: Image Quality
Speaking of ISO control, the G5 X Mark II has a range from ISO 125 to ISO 25,600, equivalent to a 1.0-type sensor.
At the lower end of that range, image quality is exemplary. Similar to a full-frame DSLR, just a slight exaggeration, but when shooting in RAW mode with the G5 X Mark II, we returned sharp, clear images with countless details. Boosting ISO yielded extremely impressive results—assuming you don't intend to crop, you'll find very little to distinguish images between the lowest ISO 125 and, as our tests suggest, ISO 1600—about five stops. At ISO 3200 and beyond, images degrade quickly—noise becomes quite pronounced and produces unsaturated images with dull colors and poor detail. ISO 12,800 and 25,600— as expected— are only for emergency use.
However, stay in the sweet spot of the G5 X Mark II and there's plenty to like. Equally important is the ability to shoot up to 30 frames per second. It's no surprise that this comes with some compromise—not necessarily having to wait long while the camera sorts through the data you've just thrown at it. Convenient for those looking to capture separate moments— the G5 X Mark II buffers about 20 frames before you press the shutter, so even if your reaction isn't lightning fast, you still have a chance to capture the moment well.
These clusters are stored as files grouped from which RAW (or JPEG) files can be extracted on the camera. If you want to use continuous shooting mode, you can do so—the G5 X Mark II recorded 21.5fps still impressively within about 2.5 seconds, making it a capable Canon camera for sports, even if the lens's reach isn't entirely suitable.
Autofocus performance is excellent, with face detection and subject tracking working well in our tests; for those leaning towards manual, the option is there, though focus push and pull are very slow, so you'll need your subject to cooperate to use it. Focus stacking is a handy inclusion, but only works in manual focus mode.
Review of the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II: Video Quality
The PowerShot G5 X Mark II has received a solid kick in the pants when it comes to its video modes. 4K is welcomed if unavoidable, with a sole frame rate of 25 frames per second. Full HD can be shot at 50 or 100 frames per second for slow-motion effects and in our tests, the quality was superb. There's an automatic timelapse creator, it will shoot still files then compile them into a complete video. The built-in ND filter allows you to shoot longer shutter speeds when it's bright.
The tilting, flipping screen on the back allows you to shoot selfie videos, something vloggers will appreciate and, all in all, the G5 X Mark II is a more capable video performer—for a compact camera. Don't forget that at this price point, it competes with some better alternatives, notably the Fujifilm X-T30, which will shoot 4K video in a wider frame range on a larger sensor, via a wider lens range.
Review of the Canon PowerShot G5 X Mark II: Conclusion
Good software for a compact could be written on the tombstone of the G5 X Mark II. Certainly, its still images stand out across a much wider ISO range than we expected and it's impressive that it can shoot quality 4K video within such a compact body. It's also convenient, and its low 340g weight brings it a lot of appeal.
We like the physical controls, which will allow experienced photographers to set it up as they please, and we like both the large rear screen and convenient EVF, making the camera easy to use.
If you find yourself in possession of a camera the size of a matchbox and desire to have control and the best possible image quality, then the G5 X Mark II is likely it, especially considering the significant price difference between it and its Sony rival, the RX100 VI. If you're willing to endure more weight and bulkier build, you should certainly opt for a DSLR camera, but meet the G5 X Mark II on its own terms and it could be the most compact camera ever created. You'll have to decide if that's cutting-edge or not.
