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Canon has a good history with premium compact cameras, and the G5 X feels like the true successor to the great G series cameras of old. It has a fantastic sensor and, unlike the slim G7 X and even slimmer G9 X, it's well equipped with a range of dials and buttons that put key settings changes literally at your fingertips.
It has a good specification that most advanced photographers should appreciate when they're looking for a backup camera, or something to accompany their DSLR/CSC. Not only is the one-inch sensor great, but there's a reasonably versatile lens with a wide maximum aperture throughout its range, raw format shooting and manual control.
It's been a long old while since Canon blessed its premium compact cameras with a viewfinder, but with the G5 X, such a feature makes a welcome return, and happily it's good to use too. The screen, being fully articulating and touch sensitive is great for shooting from awkward angles, too.
Not everyone is a fan of using touchscreens to alter settings, but here you can use buttons for pretty much everything, and just use the touch settings to complement button usage – or not at all if you prefer. I've found that I prefer to use buttons and dials for certain settings, while things like setting the AF point are so much quicker using the screen.
The image quality is excellent, but that comes as no surprise as we've already seen this sensor, lens and processor combination in action before in the G7 X. Inbuilt Wi-Fi and NFC is very useful for remote controlling the camera and sending your images for quick sharing on social media. The free Canon Camera Window app is great to use too, giving you plenty of control over settings and being very straightforward to use.
Our labs data shows that the G5X competes extremely closely with the Sony RX100 IV - so closely that it's unlikely you'd be able to tell a difference in most real-world shots. Although neither camera can be described as "cheap", the G5X, for the moment at least, is cheaper.
We liked
The G5X is an excellent and versatile camera that should appeal to anybody looking for something more convenient than a DSLR or CSC that doesn't skimp on high image quality. It's got almost everything you could need, including raw shooting, manual control, a wide aperture lens and a large sensor. The thing we perhaps like best though is the design, which is great for both traditionalists and those who like to embrace newer technologies. There are enough dials and buttons to satisfy the enthusiast, while the touch sensitive screen proves useful too.
We disliked
There's not a whole lot to criticise about the G5 X, but if we have to hone in on something it would be the lack of control over Creative Shot effects. These apply random filters and crops to an image and can be very effective, but it would be so much better if you could choose a particular filter that you like rather than leaving it up to the camera to choose one at random. Another creative option, the ability to change "MyColors" can only be shot in JPEG mode, which is also a shame.
Final Verdict
Canon has produced a very tempting package in the G5 X. It's great to see a range of different G series cameras currently in the company's line-up, each of which appeal to a slightly different target user.
The G5X sits in the middle of the range, and it will appeal to those who are already DSLR or CSC owners – it's equally appealing for somebody looking for a first-time 'serious' camera.
With a viewfinder and lots of dials and buttons, the G5 X acknowledges traditionalists, while the inbuilt Wi-Fi and touch sensitive screen bring the best of modern features for a great overall proposition.
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