Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II

The G7 X Mark II is a 2016 compact built around a 20-megapixel one-inch sensor and a fixed lens. At 319 g and 42 mm deep, it travels in a jacket pocket instead of a camera bag.

There is no viewfinder, so shooting is screen-based throughout. That framing style suits travel, street and everyday photography, though a screen can be harder to read in bright light.

It suits anyone who wants a single ready-to-go camera rather than a system to expand, with Wi-Fi and Bluetooth on board for pairing with other devices.

The 20-megapixel one-inch CMOS sensor gives resolution for prints and room to crop. Canon pairs it with a Digic 7 processor. Sensitivity spans ISO 125 to 12800, so the camera can be set for bright outdoor light as well as dim interiors and evening scenes.

Burst shooting runs up to eight frames per second. That rate suits catching a fleeting moment, such as a turning head or a passing expression, if you start at the right instant. Autofocus works from 31 points.

The shutter tops out at 1/2000 second, which can limit how wide the lens opens in strong light. The camera has no in-body stabilisation, so for handheld shots at slow shutter speeds, steady yourself, use a support or raise ISO rather than relying on the body to iron out shake.

The lens is fixed, so framing flexibility comes from where you stand and from cropping into those 20 megapixels rather than from changing glass.

Video tops out at Full HD, and there is no 4K mode. For web clips, family footage and social sharing, that ceiling still covers the most common casual uses; anyone who wants 4K detail for large screens will not find it here.

The fastest frame rate on offer is 60fps, which plays back smoothly at normal speed and gives editors material to slow slightly for a gentler feel.

A built-in timelapse function automates interval shooting, so frames accumulate on their own without a separate remote. Because it is built in, timelapse costs nothing extra to carry or set up beyond a steady support and a charged battery.

Clips record as MPEG-4 or MOV, and the two options let you match the format to how you plan to use the footage.

No viewfinder is fitted, so all framing happens on the rear screen. The three-inch LCD carries just over a million dots, sharp enough to judge focus and detail, and touch input makes moving the focus point or adjusting settings quick. Live view keeps the screen showing what the sensor sees.

The screen flips, which helps at waist level, overhead and other angles where a locked screen would force guesswork. That flexibility matters more here than usual, since the screen is your only window on the scene.

A built-in flash helps in dim rooms. There is no way to fit an external one, so dim scenes lean on the built-in flash and the higher ISO settings.

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth let the camera pair with a phone or tablet in the field. There is no GPS, so location tagging falls to your phone or to notes made later.

Storage goes through a single SD, SDHC or SDXC slot with UHS-I support. With no second slot there is no in-camera copy of a shoot, so downloading cards promptly is the habit to build.

The NB-13L battery is rated at 265 shots. Treat that figure as a guide rather than a promise of real-world endurance, and pack a charged spare for heavier sessions.

Charging over USB means the battery refills from a computer or a USB charger, which lightens the travel kit. It does not follow that every power bank or charger will cooperate, so test your setup before a trip depends on it.