Canon G7 X vs Sony RX100: The Ultimate Large Sensor Compact Showdown

When it comes to large sensor compact cameras that punch far above their weight class, two classic contenders consistently pop into conversation: Canon’s PowerShot G7 X and Sony’s Cyber-shot RX100. Both devices have earned reputations as pocketable powerhouses for enthusiasts and pros alike - but which one truly delivers the goods in 2024’s photography landscape?

Having tested thousands of cameras - including every iteration of these two lines - I’m here to give you the no-fluff, hands-on comparison you need to pick the ideal companion for your photographic adventures. From sensor sizes to autofocus finesse to real-world handling, we’ll break down everything that matters with detailed nuance.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

At a glance, the Canon G7 X and Sony RX100 present themselves in pretty similar form factors - both classified as large sensor compacts with notable pocketability. The Canon measures 103 x 60 x 40 mm, tipping the scales at 304 grams, while the Sony is slightly smaller and lighter at 102 x 58 x 36 mm and 240 grams.

What does that mean in practice? The Canon feels just a hair more substantial in-hand, lending a reassuring grip with a robust metal body that resists flex. The Sony aims for a sleeker profile, which may please travelers favoring ultra-compact kits, but it also feels a bit more delicate on the edges.

I’ve often found that the G7 X’s slightly larger footprint gives it an ergonomic edge during extended shoots, especially when controlling manual settings or shooting in bursts - as we'll discuss later. Both cameras lack viewfinders, so they depend heavily on rear displays for composition.

Speaking of controls, the Canon sports a thoughtfully laid out array of tactile dials and buttons that respond crisply. Sony’s interface is more minimalist, with fewer physical controls and a less aggressive grip contour. That might steer some users toward the G7 X for serious on-the-fly adjustments.

If you treasure being able to customize your handling swiftly without delving deep into menus, the G7 X’s physique and layout will likely appeal more.

Design & Control Philosophy: A Tale of Two Interfaces

Looking closer at the top panels, Canon equips the G7 X with a dedicated mode dial, exposure compensation wheel, and a sizeable shutter button ringed with zoom control. It sports a pop-up flash on the front for fill-in lighting, and though it lacks an external flash shoe, the intuitive button placements make rapid changes feel natural.

Sony’s RX100, meanwhile, opts for a quieter approach. Its top panel offers a mode dial and shutter control but forgoes some physical wheels in favor of menu diving. The flash pops up on a tiny hinge, and while less obtrusive, it feels fiddly compared to Canon’s robust flash assembly.

One major ergonomic upside for Canon is the inclusion of a tilting touchscreen - very handy when shooting selfies (yes, the G7 X is selfie-friendly) or framing awkward angles. The Sony's 3-inch display, while slightly higher resolution (around 1229k dots vs Canon’s 1040k), is fixed and lacks touch controls, which can frustrate quick focus changes or menu navigation.

For tactile shooters who love wheel-based manual exposure tweaking, Canon’s interface demands fewer compromises. Sony’s streamlined but less tactile design might feel imprecise under pressure.

Image Sensor and Picture Quality: Head-to-Head

Both cameras feature a 1-inch type sensor - measuring 13.2 x 8.8 mm - which is a sweet spot balancing compactness with impressive image quality. Canon uses a BSI-CMOS sensor paired with its DIGIC 6 processor, while Sony incorporates a CMOS sensor with its proprietary processing.

Canon edges out with a sharper overall DxOMark score of 71 compared to Sony’s 66. In practical terms, this translates into better dynamic range and low-light performance for the G7 X. Specifically, Canon delivers a dynamic range of 12.7 EV stops versus Sony’s 12.4, a small but measurable difference favoring Canon in shadows and highlights recovery.

In low-light ISO responsiveness, Canon’s best ISO is rated at 12,800 native, with DxO low-light sensitivity showing a maximum useful ISO of around 556. Sony goes higher at 25,600 max ISO natively but registers a lower useful ISO ceiling (about 390). This suggests the Canon manages noise better at mid to high ISOs, an important real-world factor when shooting indoors or at night.

Color depth is also marginally in Canon’s favor; at 23.0 bits vs. 22.6, the G7 X provides slightly richer tonal gradations and finer gradations in skin tones - key for portrait work.

Both cameras employ an anti-aliasing filter, which helps avoid moiré but can soften fine detail slightly.

In essence, the Canon G7 X produces more refined, less noisy images in challenging lighting, while the Sony RX100 still holds its own with punchy color and good sharpness in bright conditions.

The Viewfinder Dilemma and Screen Real Estate

Neither camera sports an electronic viewfinder, which might feel limiting coming from larger interchangeable-lens systems. You’ll be composing almost exclusively on the rear LCD.

Here, Sony’s fixed 3-inch TFT screen with WhiteMagic tech shows higher resolution and brightness, which can be a boon under harsh daylight. The absence of touch controls, however, makes rapid focusing and navigation cumbersome.

Canon’s tilting 3-inch touchscreen allows for more flexible shooting angles and quicker autofocus point selection. In my experience, this touchscreen responsiveness enhances the shooting flow, especially in street and macro photography where awkward perspectives are common.

For those who shoot a lot without a tripod or at challenging angles, the G7 X’s screen design offers a clear usability advantage.

Autofocus and Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Autofocus performance often separates good cameras from great ones, and here the two certainly diverge.

The G7 X boasts 31 contrast-detection autofocus points with touch selection and face detection, but no phase detection. Continuous autofocus and single AF modes behave reliably, though it lacks sophisticated subject tracking. Animal Eye AF and fancy AI subject recognition - common in newer models - aren’t present.

Sony’s RX100 employs 25 contrast-detection AF points as well but supplements it with improved autofocus tracking. Continuous AF tracking and multi-area AF selection are notably better than Canon’s. The camera can switch target points quickly with face detection turned on, making it more adept for fast-moving subjects.

Burst shooting is where Sony shines a bit: the RX100 can shoot 10 frames per second, noticeably faster than Canon’s 6.5 fps maximum. For wildlife and sports photographers chasing quick action, this can tilt the balance.

However, the G7 X’s autofocus tends to feel more deliberate and sometimes hunts slightly in low light, whereas the RX100 often nails focus locks more confidently in similar conditions.

In summary:

• Sports & Wildlife: RX100 better for tracking and high burst rates
• Portraits & Casual shoots: Both perform well, but G7 X’s touch AF may give quicker point selection

Lens and Optics: Fixed Zoom, Fixed Potential

Neither camera has interchangeable lenses, so their fixed optics must cover your bases satisfactorily.

Canon’s 24-100mm (equivalent) 4.2x zoom lens boasts a faster f/1.8-2.8 aperture range. The wide aperture at the short end makes a meaningful impact on low-light and shallow depth-of-field capabilities - great for portraits or food photography where that creamy bokeh counts.

Sony’s lens covers 28-100mm (3.6x zoom) with a slower maximum aperture range of f/1.8-4.9, tapering darker on the telephoto end. This means less light and more difficulty achieving smooth background blur at longer focal lengths.

For shooting portraits and isolating subjects, Canon’s faster aperture advantage stands out. The softer bokeh and sharper depth separation are noticeable in my real-world tests.

For landscapes or travel where you need more depth of field and zoom reach, both lenses do well; however, Sony’s lens is slightly shorter in wide-angle reach, which may frustrate some budget travelers seeking ultra-wide vistas.

In the Field: Versatility & Photography Genres

Time to dissect how these cameras behave across the spectrum of photography genres.

Portrait Photography

Portraiture demands accurate skin tones, pleasing bokeh, and reliable eye detection. The Canon G7 X’s slightly better color depth and wider aperture provide more flattering skin rendering and easier subject-background separation. The touchscreen AF lets you quickly pinpoint eyes or faces for sharpness, even in flirty lighting.

Sony’s autofocus tracking helps keep moving subjects locked, but the narrower aperture and less responsive touch controls make portraits feel just a bit less intuitive.

Landscape Photography

Landscape photos lean heavily on resolution, dynamic range, and durability. Both cameras cap out at 20 MP - plenty for sharp prints and digital cropping. Canon’s marginally better dynamic range allows subtle gradients in shadows and highlights to hold firm, which proved useful during scenic sunset shoots.

Neither camera offers weather sealing, a downside if you’re a rugged outdoorsman. Sony’s slightly smaller size helps here for travel shooters prioritizing lightweight kits.

Wildlife Photography

Fast autofocus, high burst rates, and telephoto reach count most here. The RX100’s 10 fps bursts and improved tracking offer an advantage over the Canon’s 6.5 fps and simpler AF. The slower aperture isn’t ideal, meaning you’ll need bright light or a tripod to compensate.

Sports Photography

Like wildlife, sports demands fast AF and continuous shooting. Sony edges out with higher burst speed and better AF tracking, but neither camera is a true pro sports shooter given their compact sensor sizes and fixed optics.

Street Photography

Portability, stealth, and quick AF are vital on the street. The RX100’s smaller weight and less conspicuous design make it a better street camera. The lack of touchscreen may slow you, though, which hurts in dynamic compositions.

The G7 X’s tilting touchscreen allows for more creative street shots at awkward angles, so it depends on your style.

Macro Photography

Both cameras allow macro focusing down to about 5 cm, but the G7 X’s touchscreen focus control helps nail precise focus in tight macro compositions.

Night and Astrophotography

Low-light ISO performance, noise control, and long exposure capabilities take center stage. Canon’s better noise control at ISO 800-1600 gives it a slight edge in handheld night shots.

Neither camera has built-in astro-focus mode or dedicated noise reduction profiles, but both support long exposures via manual modes.

Video Capabilities

Both shoot Full HD 1080p at 60fps but avoid 4K. Canon uses MPEG-4/H264, while Sony adds AVCHD for higher bitrate quality. Neither supports microphone inputs, limiting serious videographers.

Image stabilization in both systems aids smooth handheld footage, but Canon’s slightly faster aperture lens can brighten scenes.

Battery Life and Storage

Sony RX100 outlasts Canon G7 X comfortably with around 330 shots per charge vs Canon’s 210 shots per charge under CIPA standards.

Both support SD cards; Sony also supports Memory Stick formats, adding versatility. Charging via USB isn’t natively supported for either, a sign of the times from these early 2010s models.

If long battery life is essential - think extended travel or event shooting - Sony’s advantage is clear.

Connectivity and Extras Worth Mentioning

Both cameras support NFC for easy pairing and HDMI output for external monitors. Canon has built-in Wi-Fi, helpful for on-the-fly sharing, while Sony RX100 relies on Eye-Fi card compatibility, a less straightforward solution nowadays.

Neither camera supports Bluetooth or GPS, so location tagging and low-energy remote control are off the table unless you hack together third-party workarounds.

Pricing and Value Assessment

With street prices hovering near the $450–$490 range, both cameras offer excellent value compared to larger interchangeable lens systems.

The Canon G7 X’s newer processor and touchscreen edge justify its slightly higher price for users prioritizing image quality and ease of control.

The Sony RX100 appeals more to those after a compact, fast-shooting camera with longer battery life and slightly better autofocus tracking.

Canon G7 X front Canon G7 X screen back Sony RX100 front Sony RX100 screen back

Scores at a Glance: Overall and Genre Breakdown

Looking at overall DxOmark scores and genre-specific gradings reinforce the conclusions:

• Canon G7 X rates better in portrait and low-light performance.
• Sony RX100 scores higher in burst speed and shooting responsiveness.
• Both cameras tie in landscape and video quality with minor differences.

Who Should Buy Which?

If you want:

• The best image quality with exceptional low-light performance and elegant color science --> Canon G7 X
• A compact, fast-shooting, longer battery life camera with excellent autofocus tracking for action --> Sony RX100
• A travel-friendly, lightweight companion that fits in a small jacket pocket --> lean Sony RX100
• A more ergonomic, tactile camera with a touchscreen that invites manual creativity --> go Canon G7 X

Final Thoughts From My Experience

Both cameras revolutionized large sensor compacts at launch, and even years later, they hold strong for enthusiasts who want DSLR-level image quality without the bulk. I often grab the Canon G7 X for portrait and travel shoots where color fidelity and easy touch operation matter. Meanwhile, the Sony RX100 earns its keep during fast-paced street or wildlife photography, where speed and responsiveness trump nuanced control.

In the end, your choice hinges on what you shoot most and how much you value portability versus ergonomics. If you want flawless images with easy manual tweaking, give the G7 X a whirl. But if reliability, burst shooting, and longer battery life rule your workflow, Sony’s RX100 is a tough competitor even now.

You really can’t go wrong, but I hope this breakdown clears the fog and helps you make an informed, confident decision for your next compact powerhouse.

Happy shooting!

Image credits: Canon and Sony official product images, hands-on testing samples by author.