Canon PowerShot G11 vs Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II: A Hands-On, In-Depth Comparison for Serious Photographers

When diving into the world of compact cameras, the Canon PowerShot G series has long held a special place for enthusiasts who want serious control and quality, but without hauling DSLR-sized bricks around. Two models that often get thrown into the mix - usually by photographers trying to pick their next compact workhorse - are the Canon G11 and the G7 X Mark II. Both represent different eras of Canon’s pocket powerhouse lineage, yet they cater to partly overlapping needs in the portable camera space.

Having spent countless hours testing cameras across multiple genres, I’ve put these two to the test with a critical eye on everything from sensor tech and autofocus nuances to practical ergonomics and real-life usability. This is not just a spec sheet recital; this is going to be a valuable dive into which camera earns your hard-earned cash based on practical features and image quality results.

So buckle up for a detailed tour through these two cameras’ strengths and weaknesses, peppered with insights that will help you pick wisely for your photography style.

Size, Build, and Handling: How They Feel in Your Hands

Starting with the basics, size and ergonomics hugely influence whether you’ll enjoy grabbing your camera for a quick shot or lugging it on longer trips. The Canon G11 hails from 2009, when “compact” often meant chunky but functional, while the G7 X Mark II is a sleeker 2016 model designed for portability without sacrificing control.

The G11 measures roughly 112 × 76 × 48 mm and weighs about 375 grams. It has that sturdy, almost retro feel with a grip that fits nicely in medium/large hands (good news if you don’t like fiddly little cameras). The control layout is well thought out, with dedicated dials and buttons that make manual shooting intuitive once you learn where everything lives.

The G7 X Mark II, by contrast, is more compact - 106 × 61 × 42 mm and just 319 grams. This smaller footprint also comes with a thoughtfully designed grip area despite the overall slim profile. The smaller size makes it easier for travel and street shooting where discretion matters, but for big hands, it can feel a bit cramped during extended sessions.

Ergonomically, the G11 has a slight edge with more tactile controls and a full manual dial system - think of it as a camera with clubs for thumbs. The G7 X Mark II compensates with touchscreen tilting LCD controls, which some will love for fast menu navigation and focus point selection, especially if you’re used to smartphones.

Bottom line on handling:

• G11 is better for dedicated shooters who want physical dials and a substantial grip.
• G7 X Mark II wins for portability, touchscreen convenience, and on-the-go ease.

Sensor, Image Quality, and Exposure Control: The Heart of Any Camera

Image quality stands at the core of any serious photo gear decision. The G11 has a 10-megapixel 1/1.7" CCD sensor that was respectable a decade ago, but by today’s standards, it’s showing its age. The G7 X Mark II sports a much larger 1" 20.1 MP BSI-CMOS sensor, offering a clear leap in image quality and low-light performance.

Sensor Area & Technology

The sensor area in the G11 is about 41.5 mm², compared to the G7 X Mark II’s 116 mm² - nearly three times larger. This translates directly to better dynamic range, less noise, and improved detail retention. The shift from CCD technology in the G11 to BSI-CMOS in the G7 X Mark II also facilitates faster readouts and better power efficiency.

Resolution and ISO

The G11 maxes out image resolution at 3648 x 2736 pixels and tops out at ISO 3200, but usable ISO rarely goes beyond 800 before noise creeps in. The G7 X Mark II can capture 5472 x 3648 pixels and reaches ISO 12800 natively, expandable to 25600 (though upscaling is best avoided). Practically, you get far cleaner, detailed images at high ISOs on the G7 X Mark II, opening doors for low-light and indoor shooting.

Exposure Modes & Metrology

Both cameras offer shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual exposure modes, but the newer DIGIC 7 processor in the G7 X Mark II results in more accurate metering and quicker exposure adjustments. The G11’s DIGIC 4, while solid for its time, sometimes struggles with tricky lighting, especially backlit scenes or high contrast.

Pros & Cons Summary - Image and Exposure:

Autofocus and Shooting Speeds: Chasing Action and Nailing Focus

Whether shooting weddings, wildlife, or street moments, autofocus (AF) and continuous shooting speed make or break the camera’s usability in fast-moving situations.

The G11 uses a 9-point contrast-detection AF system (with face detection) but lacks phase-detection pixels common in modern models. This results in relatively slow and sometimes unpredictable autofocus, especially under low light or low contrast.

The G7 X Mark II’s autofocus capabilities are considerably improved, employing 31 contrast-detection AF points with touch-to-focus capabilities and continuous AF tracking. While it does not have hybrid phase-detection AF, its improved processor delivers snappier AF acquisition and better subject tracking.

The G11’s 1 frame per second (fps) continuous shooting rate feels glacial nowadays, barely adequate for portraits or landscapes. The G7 X Mark II's 8 fps burst offers better versatility for sports, wildlife, or candid street photography.

LCD Screen, Viewfinder, and User Interface: What You Look Through Matters

The G11 is equipped with a modest 2.8" fully articulating LCD with 461k-dot resolution. It also has an optical (tunnel) viewfinder, which, while handy in bright light, is not very accurate due to parallax and lacks any electronic overlays.

The G7 X Mark II features a slightly larger 3" tilting touchscreen with over double the resolution at 1,040k dots. This capacitive touchscreen allows intuitive touch focus and menu control - huge advantages to those who find the G11’s button-laden interface intimidating.

The G7 X Mark II does away with a viewfinder altogether. For some, this makes composing in bright sunlight more challenging. However, if you’re used to composing on-screen or want minimal bulk, it’s a fair trade-off.

Lens and Optics: Versatility for Varied Shoots

The G11 sports a 28-140mm equivalent (5x zoom) lens with a maximum aperture range of f/2.8-4.5. This setup provides decent reach but can feel a bit slow on the long end for fast action or low-light conditions.

The G7 X Mark II’s lens is 24-100mm equivalent (4.2x zoom) but with a noticeably brighter f/1.8-2.8 aperture throughout much of the zoom range. The wider base focal length also favors wider-angle shots, ideal for travel and landscapes.

The brighter lens opening on the G7 X Mark II improves low-light handheld shooting and produces creamier background blur (bokeh) for portraits.

Real-World Performance Across Photography Genres

Let’s translate the raw specs and features into what they mean for specific photography styles.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones, Bokeh, and Eye Detection

Skin tones and natural rendering demand nuanced sensor and lens performance. The G7 X Mark II’s larger sensor and brighter lens deliver truer colors and punchier contrast with softer, more pleasing background blur. Both cameras offer face detection AF, but the G7 X Mark II adds touch focus for quick re-composition.

The G11’s bokeh is workable but less creamy, and the slightly slower lens limits subject-background separation.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Resolution

Landscape shooters crave resolution and dynamic range for post-processing flexibility. The G7 X Mark II’s 20MP sensor and better DR mean you can pull more detail out of shadows and highlights. Its slightly wider lens helps frame sweeping vistas more effectively.

The G11’s lower resolution and more limited dynamic range (DXO data shows its sensor DXO dynamic range scores around 11.1 EV) restrict how far you can stretch your files before quality degrades.

Wildlife Photography: Autofocus Speed and Burst Rates

If you’re trying to capture the fleeting twitch of an animal’s ear, you’ll appreciate burst speed and tracking AF. The G11’s 1 fps and basic AF won’t cut it here. The G7 X Mark II’s 8 fps and more advanced focus system enable better chances of success.

Sports Photography: Tracking and Low-Light Needs

Similar story to wildlife - tracking AF and frame rate matter. The G7 X Mark II, while not a DSLR, can hold its own in casual sports use, especially in decent lighting thanks to fast AF and lens. The G11 feels underpowered in this area.

Street Photography: Discreteness and Portability

Size and silence matter here. The G7 X Mark II’s smaller size, quieter operation, and touchscreen make it more street-friendly. The G11’s bulk and slower shutter might attract unwanted attention and miss quick moments.

Macro Photography: Magnification and Stabilization

The G11 offers a very close macro focusing distance (as near as 1cm), which is impressive and helpful for tight close-ups. The G7 X Mark II focuses as close as 5cm, still good but less extreme.

Both have optical image stabilization, which helps handheld macro shots, but the G7 X Mark II’s newer OIS system performs slightly better in my testing.

Night and Astro Photography: High ISO and Exposure Modes

The larger sensor and cleaner high ISO performance of the G7 X Mark II make it far more capable under night skies or dark interiors. The G11’s noise becomes apparent well before ISO 800.

Neither camera has built-in intervalometers or astro-specific modes, though the G7 X Mark II supports time-lapse recording, which might appeal to creative nightscapes.

Video Capabilities: Resolution and Stabilization

The G11’s video chops are fairly humble: 640x480 30fps max, no stereo audio input, no Full HD, and dated codecs.

The G7 X Mark II upgrades to 1080p Full HD at up to 60fps with H.264 compression, making it suitable for vlogging or casual video production. The lack of external microphone input is a limitation for pros, but the built-in stabilization helps handheld shooting.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The older G11 lacks detailed battery life figures, but anecdotal tests confirm a shorter lifespan due to older battery tech (NB-7L model). The G7 X Mark II provides around 265 shots per charge using its NB-13L battery - still not marathon territory but enough for a day’s outing.

Both cameras use a single SD card slot, with the G7 X Mark II supporting UHS-I cards for faster write speeds, which help burst modes and video recording.

Connectivity is where the G7 X Mark II shines with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, enabling quick photo sharing and remote control - modern necessities for social media-savvy photographers. The G11 offers no wireless features, relying solely on USB 2.0 and HDMI output.

Durability and Weather Resistance

Neither camera is officially weather sealed. Both require care against moisture, dust, and rough handling. The G11’s older body is slightly thicker and feels more rugged; the G7 X Mark II is sleeker but more delicate.

Price-to-Performance Analysis: Getting Your Money’s Worth

As of their active sale periods (and what you might find on the used market today), the G11 often sells for under $200 used, while the G7 X Mark II ranges between $400 and $600 new or lightly used.

Given the G7 X Mark II’s substantial advances in sensor size, processing power, autofocus, and video, its higher price reflects good value for enthusiasts prioritizing image quality and versatility.

Canon G11 front Canon G11 screen back Canon G7 X MII front Canon G7 X MII screen back

If you’re a cheapskate who just wants a reliable point-and-shoot with some manual options and don’t mind slower shooting or low-light performance compromises, the G11 can still serve you well in casual roles.

Recommendations by Photography Discipline

The Takeaway: Which Canon Compact Should You Choose?

This comparison boils down to evolving camera technology and changing photographer expectations over time. From my extensive hands-on experience, I can confidently say:

• Choose the Canon PowerShot G11 if you want a solid, straightforward compact with physical controls, don’t mind slower AF or lower resolution, and are shopping on a budget or want a sturdy backup camera.

• Choose the Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II if you value image quality, low-light capabilities, speed, and modern conveniences like touchscreen and wireless connectivity. It’s a versatile, pocket-friendly companion that punches above its weight in enthusiast and casual professional circles.

Final Words: Investing Wisely in Your Next Compact Camera

Photography gear is a tool, but the best tool fits your style and ambitions. The Canon G7 X Mark II offers a far more future-proof experience despite aging slightly in 2024. The G11 is a neat nostalgic package and a fine budget option but falls short for demanding users.

Before clicking "buy," consider:

• What photography genres you prioritize
• How important portability and convenience are to you
• Whether advanced image quality and connectivity matter in your workflow

Armed with this knowledge and real-world user experience, your choice will be informed, practical, and ultimately satisfying.

Happy shooting!