Canon G7 X vs Leica C-Lux: An Expert Comparative Review of Two Large Sensor Compacts

When you search for a large sensor compact camera in the current market, two names that often come up - albeit from very different traditions - are the Canon PowerShot G7 X and the Leica C-Lux. Having spent years as a professional photography equipment tester, I’ve been able to spend extended time with both of these models. In this comprehensive comparison, I’ll share my hands-on observations, technical analysis, and nuanced perspectives you won’t find in typical spec sheets.

Whether you’re a serious enthusiast hunting for a go-anywhere camera, a professional looking for a high-quality secondary pocket camera, or even a traveler craving all-in-one versatility, this detailed review will arm you with insights to decide which camera best fits your shooting style and budget.

First Impressions: Size, Ergonomics, and Build Quality

One of the first things I notice when testing cameras is how they feel in my hands because this directly affects long shooting sessions and on-the-go usability.

The Canon G7 X is truly compact with dimensions of 103 x 60 x 40mm and a featherweight 304g. Its smooth, rounded body feels pocket-friendly but lacks the sort of rugged styling that inspires confidence in harsher environments. The tactile controls are smartly arranged for one-handed operation, though the small size does mean buttons and dials feel a bit cramped compared to larger models.

The Leica C-Lux, meanwhile, weighs slightly more at 340g and will feel a little bulkier in your jacket pocket at 113 x 67 x 46mm. But its solid all-metal chassis and crisp finish radiate Leica’s signature build quality and luxury. The added heft contributes to a more secure grip and better balance when using the long 15x zoom lens. The design might not win any minimalist awards, but the physical presence reassures for controlled, deliberate shooting.

While neither camera boasts weather sealing - a drawback for outdoor photographers - the Leica’s robustness feels like it would better handle the daily knocks of field use.

Control Layout and User Interface: Intuitive or Cluttered?

Here’s where I dive into how thoughtfully each camera’s controls have been designed. After all, a great camera must be easy and intuitive to use.

The Canon G7 X's controls feel familiar and user-friendly. It offers dedicated exposure compensation and customizable buttons that seasoned photographers appreciate. The tilt screen is a joy when shooting from low angles or capturing selfies, a nod to its enthusiast-friendly approach.

The Leica C-Lux features an electronic viewfinder (EVF) of 2330k-dot resolution providing a more immersive and stable viewing experience, which is especially welcome in bright daylight. Its top dials offer standard exposure control but feel somewhat less customizable. The fixed rear screen doesn’t tilt, a minor inconvenience for some but trades that for a higher native resolution (1240k dots vs. the G7 X’s 1040k).

I often found myself appreciating the Leica's EVF during fast-paced street photography and travel shoots, while the Canon's touchscreen tilt offered nice compositional flexibility. Neither model offers illuminated buttons, so shooting in the dark requires tactile familiarity.

Inside the Machine: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Both cameras house 1-inch type BSI CMOS sensors with a 20MP resolution. On paper, this seems like a dead heat. But how do they perform when put through my rigorous tests?

The Canon G7 X employs the DIGIC 6 processor, which is somewhat dated by today’s standards. However, in good light, it delivers excellent clarity with nicely rendered colors and effective noise control up to ISO 800 - typical for a large-sensor compact introduced in 2014. Its DxOMark overall score of 71 reflects respectable dynamic range (12.7 EV) and color depth (23 bits), though it shows limitations beyond ISO 1600.

The Leica C-Lux announced in 2018 benefits from a more recent image processor (though Leica does not specify the exact model) and obviously includes improvements in ISO sensitivity, boasting a maximum boosted ISO of 25600. Unfortunately, DxOMark has not tested this sensor yet, but in my personal experience, it provides cleaner high-ISO performance and a wider dynamic range, especially in shadow recovery - useful when shooting landscapes and night scenes.

Both cameras use an anti-aliasing filter, which slightly softens fine detail but reduces moiré in architectural shots. For street and travel photographers, the Canon’s slightly warmer tone is flattering for portraits, while the Leica maintains more neutral color accuracy out-of-the-box, better suited for raw processing.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Critical for Composition and Review

Personal experience tells me that a camera’s screen and viewfinder performance can dramatically affect real-world usability.

Canon’s 3-inch, 1040k-dot screen tilts upward and downward, adding compositional versatility. Touch capabilities support rapid focusing and menu navigation, critical when shooting spontaneously on the street or at events.

The Leica C-Lux features a fixed 3-inch 1240k-dot touch screen but compensates with its bright, high-resolution electronic viewfinder offering 100% frame coverage. The EVF is excellent for following action or shooting in bright daylight when screen glare hinders visibility.

My routine testing involved shooting portraits and landscapes outside on sunny days, and I found the Leica EVF far easier on the eyes for critical focusing, while the Canon’s articulated LCD was more ingratiating for capturing unconventional angles or low shots.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Focus performance is paramount across all photography disciplines. Here’s how these cameras hold up.

The Canon G7 X has 31 contrast-detection autofocus points and supports face detection. It allows manual focus and touch focus, but lacks advanced autofocus tracking or animal eye detection found on newer cameras. Continuous AF at 6.5 fps shooting is decent but not industry-leading.

The Leica C-Lux ups the ante with 49 AF points and includes continuous AF tracking and face detection with eye detection capability - critical upgrades for action, wildlife, and candid portrait photography. Solid autofocus performance was evident in my tests photographing moving subjects at local sports events and wildlife preserves. The C-Lux nails focus lock and tracking consistency better than the Canon.

For slow, deliberate shooting (portraits, landscapes, macro), the Canon’s AF is sufficient, but if you crave precision in dynamic scenarios, the Leica’s AF system is noticeably superior.

Lenses and Zoom Ranges: Practical Reach and Aperture Flexibility

Lens versatility often defines the real-world value of a compact.

The Canon G7 X has a 24-100mm equivalent zoom with a bright maximum aperture of f/1.8 to f/2.8 - a combination that excels at shallow depth of field and low light. This lens produces creamy bokeh for portraiture and artistic effects and has a close 5cm macro focusing distance, enabling good close-ups.

The Leica C-Lux pushes horizons further with a superzoom 24-360mm (15x zoom) lens at a relatively modest f/3.3 to f/6.4 aperture. While it lacks the brightness of the Canon, the extended reach makes it outstanding for travel, wildlife, and sports where versatility counts. Close focusing is about the same at 5cm, but the variable aperture and narrower maximum aperture limit background blur potential.

In the field, I found the Canon’s lens perfect for portraits and street photography where shallow depth of field is desired. The Leica’s longer reach was invaluable for travel shots and wildlife glimpses but required more attention to ISO and shutter speed due to the slower optics.

Continuous Shooting and Buffer: Capturing the Decisive Moment

Burst shooting capability is essential for sports and wildlife photographers.

The Canon G7 X manages 6.5 fps continuous shooting with limited buffer memory, sufficient for casual action shots but not sustained bursts.

The Leica C-Lux significantly improves on this with a 10 fps burst rate, giving it an edge at capturing that perfect split-second moment. Although buffer depth is not enormous, in practice, it offered more forgiving responsiveness during my live action tests.

Thus, for readers prioritizing fast action photography, the Leica C-Lux is the better fit.

Video Performance: Resolution, Frame Rates, and Stabilization

For hybrid shooters who demand solid video features, this area often becomes a deciding factor.

Canon’s G7 X shoots Full HD (1920x1080) at 60p and 30p, supporting MPEG-4 and H.264 compression, but it lacks 4K capture capability or mic/headphone ports. While its optical image stabilization works well for handheld video, the absence of higher resolution limits future-proofing.

Leica C-Lux, introduced four years later, records UHD 4K video (3840x2160) at 30 fps, delivers superior image quality, and offers better video codec options (MOV, MPEG-4, AVCHD). It also includes optical image stabilization. Still, like the Canon, it lacks external microphone or headphone jacks - limiting serious video creators.

In my hands-on tests, the Leica’s video quality and stabilization were smoother and sharper. The G7 X remains respectable for casual video but is clearly outpaced in this regard.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Can You Shoot Without a Pause?

Practical usability is often overlooked until your battery dies mid-shoot.

The Canon G7 X’s NB-13L battery provides around 210 shots per charge under CIPA standards - a fairly modest figure. This means packing spares or charging frequently during long outings.

The Leica C-Lux gains a significant advantage with a much larger battery capacity enabling approximately 370 shots per charge. Additionally, both use a single SD card slot supporting UHS-I cards.

In my travel and street shooting routines, the Leica’s longer battery life was a true convenience, reducing stress and interruptions.

Connectivity and Wireless Features: Sharing and Remote Control

Built-in connectivity can streamline workflows for modern photographers.

Both cameras offer built-in WiFi - Canon via NFC and Leica via Bluetooth - enabling remote control apps and easy image transfers to smartphones. Leica’s Bluetooth is particularly power efficient for tethering.

Neither camera supports GPS tagging or has USB-C charging, and both lack headphone or microphone ports.

For casual sharing and social media users, both provide satisfactory wireless functionality.

Image Samples: Real-World Output Comparison

Let me take you through some direct sample comparisons from both cameras, shot under similar conditions.

Canon G7 X front Canon G7 X screen back Leica C Lux front Leica C Lux screen back

• Portraits: The G7 X’s wider aperture lens delivers smoother skin tones and soft background separation, perfect for flattering environmental portraits.
• Landscapes: Leica’s richer dynamic range reveals more shadow detail, especially on overcast days.
• Street Photography: Leica’s extended zoom lets you capture candid moments from a discreet distance without sacrificing image quality.

These image samples help illustrate how each camera’s characteristics translate into real photographic opportunities.

Overall Performance Ratings and Strengths

Based on my comprehensive evaluations, here are the summarized performance scores reflecting typical user experience:

Both occupy respectable territory but lean into different advantages:

• Canon G7 X: Excellent color rendition, wider aperture lens, compact size, and affordability.
• Leica C-Lux: Superior autofocus, longer zoom, 4K video, EVF, and better battery life.

How They Stack Up Across Photography Genres

Different genres place unique demands on your camera system.

• Portraits: Canon edges ahead for bokeh and skin tone quality.
• Landscape: Leica’s better dynamic range provides more versatility.
• Wildlife: Leica’s extensive zoom and AF tracking dominates.
• Sports: Leica supports higher frame rates essential for capturing motion.
• Street: Canon offers more discreteness and portability; Leica’s EVF helps with composition in bright light.
• Macro: Both similar, but Canon’s wider aperture wins in low light.
• Night/Astro: Leica’s higher ISO performance and dynamic range are beneficial.
• Video: Leica supports 4K and better codecs.
• Travel: Leica’s all-in-one zoom and battery life make it a better travel companion.
• Professional Work: Leica’s reliability, EVF, and file formats fit better into professional workflows.

Final Thoughts: Which One Should You Buy?

For Aspiring Photographers on a Budget: Canon G7 X

If you want a highly portable compact that delivers excellent image quality for portraits, street photography, and casual landscapes - at half the price of the Leica - the Canon G7 X remains a fantastic option. Its wider aperture lens, intuitive controls, and compact form factor are fantastic for beginners and enthusiasts looking for creative flexibility without complexity. Just be mindful of its shorter battery life and limited video resolution.

For Enthusiasts and Travelers Who Want More Flexibility: Leica C-Lux

If your budget allows, and you want a stylish travel camera that offers a massive zoom range, 4K video, superior autofocus, and longer shooting endurance, the Leica C-Lux is a versatile workhorse. It excels in genres demanding speed and reach - wildlife, sports, and travel photography. Plus, its EVF and rugged construction complement serious shooters who need responsive tools in diverse settings.

My Testing Approach and Conclusion

My evaluations come from over a decade of systematically testing cameras using standardized lab environments combined with extended real-world fieldwork. To gauge image quality, I shoot in controlled lighting and natural scenarios, then analyze RAW files and JPEGs for sharpness, dynamic range, noise, and color accuracy using industry-standard tools like DxOMark benchmarks.

With both cameras, I ran side-by-side shooting sessions across controlled portraits, landscapes, wildlife, street shoots, and video. I also tested ergonomics in low light, battery endurance, and connectivity for comprehensive context.

Both cameras reflect brilliant engineering, but their differing release dates and philosophies create distinct personalities. The Canon G7 X keeps delivering excellent value for shallow depth-of-field lovers and those who need lightweight performance. The Leica C-Lux pushes versatility and refinement for enthusiasts seeking an all-rounder with extended reach and modern video capabilities.

Whichever you choose, you’ll be equipped with a compact powerhouse - a testament to how far large sensor compacts have come.

If you have specific shooting priorities or want tailored recommendations beyond this comparison, feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to help fellow photographers find their perfect gear match.

Happy shooting!