I bought this camera last year. Using it for stills it is quite good but the video results have not turned out as well as I thought they might. Regarding recommending this camera, it all depends what it is to be used for.

The G5 X is one of three new cameras launched by Canon. The others are the G9 X, another compact camera, and the EOS M10 mirrorless model.

Built-in viewfinder; Decent grip; Good quality sensor along with Digic 6 processing

Bulkier than some of the competition

The G5 X was launched at the same time as two other new cameras – the G9 X and the mirrorless EOS M10. The G5 X is potentially the most interesting, though, because it offers enthusiast oriented controls in a pocket-size camera with an electronic viewfinder.

One of two recently-launched additions to Canon's collection of high-end compact cameras, the PowerShot G5 X is the first G series snapper to come with an OLED electronic viewfinder, which it teams up with a touchscreen, a large sensor, a wide aperture lens and metal construction.

All tests were taken using a SanDisk Class 10, 16 GB SDHC memory card, Program Mode, Flash off, Review on, ISO Auto and all other settings at the factory defaults unless noted otherwise.

Excellent image quality in most types of scenes with 1-inch image sensor; Good mix of automatic and manual control shooting options; Maximum aperture of f/1.8 is good for shooting portraits; Having a viewfinder is a great option in this price range; Electronic viewfinder is of a strong quality with...

Optical zoom is limited to 4.2x, Camera is chunky with an odd-shaped design, making it tough to fit in a standard pocket, Some control buttons are a bit too small to be used comfortably, Battery life is well below average, Built-in flash unit only can be opened manually; there's no popup flash...

The new PowerShot G5 X is based on the same sensor system as the G7 X. It uses a 1-inch sensor (BSI technology) with 20MP and a professional 3:2 aspect ratio. Compared to the G7 X, the G5 X has a lot of new and additional features, including a high-resolution electronic viewfinder with 2.36 million...

It has a great touchscreen (and only a touchscreen – no EVF option) with a simple set of controls and buttons. That said, Canon left the mode dial in place atop the camera for quick access to all of the shooting modes.

With truly exceptional image quality from such a small camera, anything less than five stars may seem unduly harsh. The G5 X's performance should be better, though, and it's important to remember that – unlike the Canon G7 X and Sony RX100 IV – the G5 X won't fit comfortably into a trouser pocket.

The G5 X comes fully-stocked with a large 1in sensor, an Electronic Viewfinder, tiltable touchscreen and a versatile lens with a wide aperture. It's durable and well-built so it was impossible to give it anything less than 5 stars for features and build.

What makes a great small camera? For some, it must have comfortable controls. For others, it must actually fit comfortably in a pants pocket. So picky! Canon's two new high-end compacts have two different beautiful exteriors that almost make me forget their few key shortcomings.

Both cameras have great looks and controls in their own way: great touch controls on the G9 X; great physical controls on the G5 X; Image quality is excellent

Slow processing hampers more experienced shooters from firing off RAW shots in succession; Autofocus speed is not on par with the best competition; Video quality isn't very good