Top positive review
5.0 out of 5 starsGreat little camera
Reviewed in the United States on April 11, 2017
This is a great little camera. Honestly if you want the highest image quality in the smallest profile possible, this camera is it.
Is it worth upgrading from the original though? I guess it depends on what's important to you. If you feel that you would use the in camera raw processing and more in depth adjustments for picture styles then its worth considering. While it's JPEGS are slightly sharper due to the newer processor, overall image quality is about the same. The photos look great with excellent color reproduction and the auto white balance has improved a bit over its predecessor. Video quality is also very good.
The overall layout of the camera is essentially the same at its predecessor. You only get one control dial and have to rely on the touch screen for the rest of setting adjustments. But as with other cameras, the touch screen works great so this might not be as big of a deal as it seems. Ergonomics are pretty good for such a small camera. With a nice textured surface up front for a more secure grip.
Autofocus performance has improved over the original G9X, mainly in the form of being less sluggish and more accurate in low light conditions. Movie AF has improved a bit too with less back and forth motion while focusing over the original.
Battery life has also improved like it did on the G7X Mark II. Although if you're taking this out for a long day of shooting, you still might pack an extra one. Enthusiast compacts in general don't have the greatest battery life.
Overall, this is a likeable little camera that does photos and videos very well and is slim enough to fit in most pockets. Some may find the lens too restrictive as far as focal length is concerned but that's one of the tradeoffs you have to make when you stuff a larger sensor in a small camera body. If you have the original G9X, this is not the no-brainer upgrade. But if you're a new buyer to this series, it's worthwhile to spend the extra money to get the Mark II for the extra features and slight bump in overall performance it provides.