These Cameras Are Taking Over — Canon G7X III

Added: 2026-05-26

[00:00:00]Canon G7X Mark III is a 7-year-old camera that was released back in 2019.

[00:00:07]And yet, it is the number one trending camera on TikTok and Instagram, and it's still sold out on B&H. It's out of stock. Been out of stock for months and probably will be out of stock for several more. Do you remember that the same thing happened a few years ago with a Fujifilm X100V? That camera caught a wave on TikTok as well and was sold out for months. Even to this day, the Fuji X100V and the Fujifilm X100VI is still highly sought after. But that camera, I get there's an aesthetic. There's a vintage retro feel to it and it takes incredible photos. This, on the other hand, is just a regular point and shoot camera with a flash.

[00:00:48]So, why is this sold out everywhere? Is this just a trend pushed by Gen Z influencers and TikTok? Or is it a shift in the industry towards smaller premium compact cameras?

[00:01:01]One of my biggest challenges that I'm facing right now as I'm doing this whole YouTube vlogging thing is where do I film? I live in a fairly small town far outside the city. We don't really have epic forests, mountains, and views here.

[00:01:17]We have lakes.

[00:01:18]And that's where my safe go-to is so far.

[00:01:26]From my understanding, but tell me if I'm wrong because what do I know? I'm just an old millennial. Gen Z is leading a push towards digital minimalism.

[00:01:34]Smartphone cameras and the photos that come out of it have become too perfect.

[00:01:37]It's almost like the images that come from them are overly processed and computationally optimized that it doesn't feel real anymore. And on top of all of that, there's been a massive influx of generative AI. So, people are now trying to get away from that.

[00:01:51]They're turning towards something more tactile, more raw, more real, more flawed. So, yes, while the social media hype for the G7X has massively inflated the demand and value of this camera, there's still a reason why people are gravitating towards this 7-year-old camera. People are looking for compact alternatives to their phones, but they don't necessarily want a full mirrorless camera system. So, what I'm going to have to do is find locations around my area where I can film these videos. And not just filming, too. When I want to do some photo walks, I don't have a big city to rely on. I have my lakes.

[00:02:29]But, that is what I'm going to do a lot on this channel. It's not just going to be a journey to find frictionless cameras. It's also going to be a journey for myself to find filming and photo locations in my area, because that is also another challenge that I'm facing.

[00:02:43]And this trend definitely started with the Fujifilm X100V and is only now continuing with the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark III. So, what I'm trying to say is that this is more than just a fad. There is a shift happening in the industry.

[00:02:55]Last year, Canon also released a PowerShot V1, a compact camera with a built-in lens and a 4/3 sensor. But, despite its size, it also has a lot of pro features as well, like active cooling so it doesn't overheat, Canon's modern fast autofocus, and C-Log 3. All that in this tiny tiny body. I'm actually shooting this whole video on the Canon PowerShot V1. This is just an extra unit that I have on loan. I'm actually a very strong advocate for the PowerShot V1. People are underestimating this camera. With the wide lens at 16 mm and 2.8 aperture, it's perfect for vlogging. And the audio that you're listening to right now is just from the built-in microphone on the V1.

[00:03:34]This will actually challenge my photography and videography skills, because I cannot just rely on epic landscapes or epic cityscapes or urban textures. I mean, I can take a long drive to these locations, okay? But, have you seen the prices of gas these days?

[00:03:51]I'm going to stick to my local area, thank you very much. Just like my previous video where I talked about the DJI Osmo Nano, I like my cameras to be all-in-one, where I don't need a lot of external accessories to make the camera perform better, like an external microphone, because that's another thing to think about and to me that adds friction. Then there's the upcoming release of the Panasonic Lumix L10. That one came to me by surprise. I was genuinely excited when I saw that release, because I used to own a lot of Micro Four Thirds cameras and I was a big fan of the Panasonic Lumix LX100.

[00:04:24]And so to see it being revived as a premium compact camera, oh, I'm so excited. From what I've seen though, the L10 is bigger than the older LX100 and the size is closer to the Fujifilm X100 bodies, which is fine by me, because the Fujifilm X100 I find is a perfect balance between compact and professional handling. If a camera's too small, let's say like this G7X, it doesn't feel right in my hands. I don't feel like I'm properly taking photos.

[00:04:55]And because I live so close to the lake, there are lots of marinas I can visit, which I'm sure will provide me some photo opportunities.

[00:05:05]And to continue the trend with smaller cameras returning, there's the GoPro Mission One that was just also announced with an interchangeable lens system with a Micro Four Thirds mount. And on top of that, there's also the rumored Insta360 Micro Four Thirds camera.

[00:05:18]Micro Four Thirds is making a comeback and I'm not complaining, because I started my career with Olympus and Panasonic cameras. I for one am very happy that the industry is finally recognizing that there's a demand for high performance compact cameras. But why does any of this even matter? Why am I even talking and rambling and yapping about compact cameras? Well, if you didn't know, I was the video editor, shooter, right-hand man to Peter McKinnon for 7 years. And I was part of that wave in 2018 when there was a push for full-frame mirrorless cameras and it was an exciting time, but these days mirrorless cameras, full frame mirrorless cameras, they're just a little stale, I would say, because it's just every year it's just another spec bump. And that's why I'm so excited that people are gravitating towards smaller cameras again. It's exciting that people are now trying to look beyond the specs of a camera and more so on the usability or the fun aspects of it. And that is where Micro Four Thirds or compact cameras shine because they can't compete with the bigger cameras when it comes to specs, but they can compete with usability, frictionless-ness, affordability. These smaller compact cameras are much cheaper than bigger cameras. Although the Lumix L10, the Fuji X100, Ricoh small compact cameras, those are quite pricey. Even this, this is quite pricey.

[00:06:36]So, why should any of this matter to you? Well, if you've always wanted to start your journey when it comes to making content, there has never been a better time. You don't need bigger cameras. You don't need cinematic lenses, top-of-the-line specs, full frame, even APSC. My previous video I talked about using the DJI Osmo Nano for a short-form content and long-form content. But now I'm using the Canon PowerShot V1. I'm just a huge advocate for smaller, compact, frictionless cameras. And you've heard the saying that the best camera is the one you have on you. And that's why I love these smaller compact cameras because there's almost no excuse to not bring them.

[00:07:09]These tools, these cameras have become smaller, more capable, more powerful, more frictionless than ever before. The gear has now evolved to be even more out of your way and less cumbersome to use.

[00:07:19]The only missing piece and the only point of friction now is you pressing record.