Canon PowerShot G5 X review

Canon's latest high-end compact comes with an electronic viewfinder and extensive external controls to boost its appeal for enthusiasts.

Reviews
By Amy Davies
published
Canon PowerShot G5 X

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We tested the Canon G5 X against three key rivals to give an indication of where stands in the compact camera rankings:

Sony RX100 IV: the latest version of Sony's terrific high-end compact camera which, like the G5 X, has a 1-inch sensor, manual controls and an electronic viewfinder.

Fuji X30: this Fuji compact has a terrific retro design and is now great value for money, but the sensor is smaller than the Canon's.

Panasonic TZ70: Panasonic's high-spec travel camera offers a manual controls, raw files, an electronic viewfinder and a huge zoom range – but this is only possible because it has a small 1/2.3-inch sensor.

We measure resolution using an industry-standard test chart and check the resolution at each ISO setting for both JPEG and raw files, and you'll find the results below:

(Please note: our charts start at ISO 100 but the base ISO of the G5 X is actually ISO 125.)

Canon PowerShot G5 X lab test chart

JPEG resolution analysis: It's a pretty close-run thing, but the Sony RX100 IV's resolution is just a little higher than the Canon's across the ISO range. The Fuji X30 and Panasonic TZ70 lag some way behind, due to their smaller sensors and lower megapixel counts.

Canon PowerShot G5 X lab test chart

Raw (converted to TIFF) resolution analysis: The raw data shows a very similar pattern, with the G5 X and RX100 IV well ahead of the X30 and TZ70. This time, though, there's nothing to choose between the Canon and the Sony for outright resolution. Both come pretty close to resolving power of a good DSLR or mirrorless camera.

Amy Davies
Amy Davies

Amy has been writing about cameras, photography and associated tech since 2009. Amy was once part of the photography testing team for Future Publishing working across TechRadar, Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N Photo and Photography Week. For her photography, she has won awards and has been exhibited. She often partakes in unusual projects - including one intense year where she used a different camera every single day. Amy is currently the Features Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine, and in her increasingly little spare time works across a number of high-profile publications including Wired, Stuff, Digital Camera World, Expert Reviews, and just a little off-tangent, PetsRadar.