Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

FYI: I got this yesterday morning so it's about 24 hours in, I have about 125 pictures on it so far...I will update as time goes on. My intended use for this camera is a "bridge camera". I have a new iPhone and the requisite (meh) Olloclips for it, some Canon DSLR's and a Canon S120 for everything in between. The G7X II is going to replace the Canon S120 in my collection as the unit that rides in the center console of my car in a case, or in my pocket at events I don't want to carry a DSLR at but still want some ok zoom and better than phone pictures. I am writing this early review because, I've been a Canon guy over the years. Had Canon P&S units starting with the digital ELPH through the S120 , and then more recently got into their DSLRs. So yeah I like Canon, but for years I kept bought the Sony RX100's. I really wanted to like the Sony but never quite "got" it. The G7X II, to me - while a little bigger handling than the RX100's, is finally the Canon P&S that does what I really hoped they would do. It provides some incredible pictures that are actually better than the (current gen) RX100 finally. The photos aren't as oversaturated as the Sony which I like, the IS works very consistently, and bokeh is of course great at the larger apertures. Higher iso (800 area) is still usable for smaller prints which is remarkable for a P&S of any sort. It shoots RAW fast and its shot-to-shot and burst modes are amazing. Regarding the RX100’s, their picture quality was amazing, their size was a bit larger than I cared for but, their controls, menus, options, and design (like paying extra for a 12$ grip!) annoyed me, then the whole buying a separate external charger thing to charge my spare battery, really? I know its 30$ or whatever but it just got annoying ..they got returned. Really it was their menus and weird software that just irked me and I couldn't overlook it. The G7X bests that all. On the G7X II , controls are great and similar to any of the other "red-ring' Powershot G series (or DSLR's, P&S, etc.). Being able to adjust exposure comp and other settings with the hard controls while you can still use it one handed is great. I also love the fact they included a detent/non-detent switch for using the ring dial. That is BRILLIANT as heck since I can now get the stops I want when shooting manual stills, but the flexibility for seamless and silent zoom when in video. Of course it also includes the silly wall charger Sony wouldn't, and out of box has a nice set of grips on it. Did I mention the menuing, controls, and software are all Canon finally too? I mean...finally, stunning P&S photos without the Sony software layer ahhhhh. Comparing this to my Canon S120, its obviously faster, larger, but menus are very similar. The wireless on this thing is better and faster, and smarter. The touchscreen seems more accurate in sensitivity and color, the fact it articulates for selfie and variable angle modes is awesome, didn't think I would care much but that is really handy. I have no idea on battery life yet but the fact you can charge this via microUSB is AWESOME for me. Of course the fact I can charge a second battery in the (included) wall charger is very nice, thanks for not being weird about that Canon. Oh the pictures? yeah...they are night and day over the S120 just using auto and scene modes. Since this is a P&S unit, I love that I can shoot RAW with AUTO settings now. Going into manual mode it becomes evident the G7x II has a bit more capable sensor than the S120, which is why I'm here anyways. Pros: - Great pictures. - Touch screen that works great and the touch to focus is awesome and quick. - Great control set, GREAT grips, engineering, design, thinking. - Nice flippable flash, easy to bounce in smaller spaces. - Menu's are classic Canon, love it or hate it. - MicroUSB charging (could be faster, but its in there!) - Time lapse mode (have not explored yet, but looking forward to it) - Would not call it a pocket camera but it can still be fit in a pocket (its big, it will bulge some in shorts, better for a coat or vest etc. but it fits), but all controls and functions are at least easy to use as a result of this. Cons: - No 4k video. Amazing video quality, but lack of 4k just seems like an oversight here. Not enough to push me away, but I'd have dropped another 100$-200$ for this. - Size goes on both lists...yes is a bit large, but all those controls and electronics need somewhere to go. It's just not something I am going to hand to my wife without a case and expect her to carry when she takes our daughter to the zoo. It needs a case, with some padding. - Zoom (I am reaching here...just to keep the list somewhat balanced) I wouldn't have minded an 120mm equivalent here. The 100 will still cause me to keep it because I hate the digital zoom on my phones. - Wish it had GPS or at least a compass built in. Overall, I bought this thinking I would be disappointed and return it. Instead I was pleasantly surprised and as of this moment I am planning on listing my S120 on eBay next weekend. If you are looking for a “simple” camera that has the ability to go where other P&S’s don’t quality wise, don’t mind a bit larger camera, or just want the P&S camera that makes you look like you know what you’re doing…I think the G7X II ticks those boxes. As I type this, my girl is at a family bridal shower with the G7X II. She’s used my S120 for awhile now and just before she left I handed her the G7X II and said don’t worry - try this one (with no further instructions). I asked how the new camera was working for her “things look better on this camera than they do in real life” , I was really expecting a “how do I” so…I guess it’s behaving well :) I will update this in the next week or so, if there is anything you’d like to see that could help improve this review let me know. Thanks for your time, and for reading my review today. -Chris