Canon PowerShot G7 X (36.8mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec, ISO125)
This is as close as it gets to the statement above. To take a the Star Line ferry to cross Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong.
It has an over 100 year long history and according to National Geographic it is among the top 50 places in the world. But it still remains one of the biggest bargains in sightseeing all over the world. One ride is 2.4 HK$ (or 30 Cent USD). So for a couple of dollars you could cross Victoria Harbour all day long. Some day I will do that but today is cold, grey and windy and I’m eager to get to the other side.
FUJIFILM X-T1 (14mm, f/5.6, 1/210 sec, ISO200)
Canon PowerShot G7 X (23.713mm, f/4, 1/640 sec, ISO125)
Canon PowerShot G7 X (18.875mm, f/4, 1/1000 sec, ISO125)
You can easily tell the locals from the tourists. The locals play with their smartphones, the tourists play with their cameras. Nowadays most cameras are smartphones though. Today is Sunday and I’m a tourist. But I’m old fashioned and since I’m testing my new Canon G7X I even play with two cameras.
The Fuji X will always remain my first choice but I was looking for a small “side shooter”. Something small but flexible which ruled out the excellent APS-C cameras with integrated prime lenses like the Ricoh GR, the Nikon Coolpix A, the Fuji X100 (OK the X100 is not really that small) and the brand new Fuji X70. I still own a Ricoh GR and I think it is excellent but sometimes I wish to have a more flexible solution like a zoom lens that covers everything from wide angle to tele.
From 24 mm to 100 mm to be more precise. This is an extremely useful range. When I switched to the Canon 5D many years back the 24-105L was a real delight. Everything from wide angle to portrait tele. To have this now on a 1 inch sensor compact camera is just awesome. For some the Canon G7X might be all the camera they ever need.
FUJIFILM X-T1 (14mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec, ISO640)
FUJIFILM X-T1 (14mm, f/5.6, 1/60 sec, ISO400)
But not for me. I still need to have something more substantial and even more flexible with interchangeable lenses like my Fuji X-T1. The Canon’s wide angle is nice but the Fuji XF14/2.8 R is something completely different. For me the Canon G7X is a chance to cover the 40-100mm range that I have missed out because I only took the 14mm and the 27mm with me on my business trips to Asia.
Plus it gives me the chance to leave my Fuji in the hotel without feeling naked just in case that there is an unexpected photo opportunity. The images I get from the Canon are very good. Not as good as the ones that I got from my Fuji but about a thousand times better than what I get from my iPhone. And that’s a good thing. To have excellent images coming from a small and unassuming camera.
The Canon G7X doesn’t come for free but it is surprisingly cheap, a true bargain. Just like crossing Victoria harbor with Star Ferry.
Canon PowerShot G7 X (29.902mm, f/4, 1/500 sec, ISO125)