Computer Shopper - UK (2020-03)

ISSUE385|COMPUTER SHOPPER|MARCH2020 87

MASS-MARKETCOMPACTcameras may
be in decline,but Canon is betting that the
high-end combination of asmall, convenient
body with good image quality might show
there’s lifeinthem yet.
The G5 XMark II followsthe three-and-a-
half-year-old G5 X(Shopper338), and keeps
things interesting by redesigning the
predecessor as it heads out to pasture.
Gone is the faux DSLR shape with the
EVF hunched over the middle of the lens;
instead, the EVF is now aspring-loaded
number recessed in the camera.
There are afew changes inside,too.
Resolution is fractionally down on the original
G5 X: where the Mark Ihad 20.2 effective
megapixels, the Mark II has 20.1. The sensor
is the same size as that in the original G5 X,
but it’s now astacked CMOS unit, which
means, in theory,faster data readout and
therefore better performance.

SPINNING MENTALITY

The result of hiding the EVF is that the G5 X
Mark II looks alot more like atraditional
compact, albeit one with alens that protrudes
alittle from the body,even when it’s
retracted. The protruding lens is functional,
however.Asonthe original G5 X, there’s a
multifunction ring that can be used to set
shutter or aperture value.The body is
otherwise pared back and pleasing to hold,
although Canon has saved room forastrong
selection of physical controls.
The exposure compensation wheel is
particularly useful, especially with the G5 X
Mark II offeringlive exposure simulation, as it
means you can get your exposure dead-on in
camera rather than leaving yourself with
processing work to do afterwards.
The rear of the G5 XMark II is occupied
chiefly by itstouchscreen. At 3in,
it’s notthe biggest, but it’s
comfortable,and its 1.04-million-
pixel resolution makes it an
accurategauge of sharpness.
The pop-up EVF is novel and,
at first, alittle confusing, although
once you learn how to open it you
can see the 0.39in, 2.36-million-
pixel viewfinder is well designed.
Canon has wisely avoided
attempting to shoehorn all the
information from the main
touchscreen on to the EVF,soyou
only get the necessities.

CANON PowerShot

G5XMarkII

★★★★★

£849•www.johnlewis.com

VERDICT

Aminuscule camera that shoots the best
stills and videos you’re going to get from
something this size

implementation of touchtofocus, with which

you can pull the autofocus point around by

dragging your finger on the touchscreen. It

quickly became our preferred wayofworking,

not least when bright sunlight made the rear

monitor hard to see.

The lens is practical: a5xzoom, equivalent

in 35mm terms to 24mm at wide angle and

120mm when zoomed in. Aperture-wise,you

get f/1.8 at wide angle and astopslower,f/2.8,

zoomed in. An f/2.8 120mm lens helps keep

ISO under control in arange of circumstances.

Speaking of controlling ISO,the G5 XMark

II ranges from ISO 125 all the wayuptoISO

25,600, which is some going fora1.0-type

sensor.Atthe lower end of that range,image

quality is exemplary.‘DSLR-like’isonlya

slight exaggeration but, shooting in the G5 X

Mark II’s Raw mode,wereturned sharp,clear

images with absolutely loads of detail.

Ramping up the ISO returned extremely

impressive results, and noise only becomes

an issue beyond IOS 3,200.

READYTOBURST

Youcan even shoot stills at 30fps, and while

this comes with alengthy wait while the

camera sorts the data you’ve thrown at it, it’s

handy forthose looking to catch split-second

moments. The G5 XMark II saves about 20

your reactions aren tfast enough, you stand a

good chance of capturing the moment.

Autofocus performance is excellent, with

face recognition and subject tracking working

well in our tests. Forthose partial to manual

focus the option is there,although focus

pushes forwards and backwards very slowly,

so you’ll need your subject to be stock still

to use it. Focuspeaking is auseful inclusion,

but works only in manual focusmode.

As forvideo modes, 4K is welcome even if

25fps is the only available frame rate. Full HD

canbeshot at 50 or 100fps foraslow-motion

effect,and quality is excellent. There’s an

automatic timelapse builder,which shoots still

files then collates them intoafinished video.

The tilting, flipping monitor on the back

allows you to shoot selfie videos, which will be

appreciated by vloggers. All in all, the G5 X

Mark II is amore than capable video

performer foracompact. Don’t forget that it’s

competing with some finealternatives, not

least the FujifilmX-T30,which shoots cinema

4K at awider range of frame rates on abigger

sensor and through awider range of lenses.

POCKET POWER

That’s not to take awaythe fact that the G5 X

Mark II is avery capable compact camera.

Still images are outstanding at amuch wider

nge of ISOs than we’d expect, and it’s

impressive that it can shoot quality

4K video in such asmall body.

If you’re after acamera about

the size of abox of matches, and

want the best possible image

quality and control, the G5 X

Mark II is about the best you could

hope for. If you’re prepared to

toleratemore weight and amore

cumbersome body,you’re better

advised to opt foraDSLR, but

meet the G5 XMark II on its own

terms and it might be the best

compact camera ever made.

CAMERAS

It works especially well with the excellent

implementationoftouchtofocus,withwhich

frames before you push the shutter,so even if

yourreactionsaren’tfastenough,youstanda

ran