All three take a large sensor and a bright zoom into a jacket pocket, and that is where the similarity ends. One is built around a microphone jack and a screen that flips up at you, one around the widest lens of the three, and one around a viewfinder and dials on the body. Pick by how you shoot, not by the sensor size.

Which One Should You Get?

Best for streaming and talking to camera – Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III – the one built for vlogs: a screen that flips up, a microphone jack and streaming straight to YouTube.
Best for handheld shots at arm's length – Sony ZV-1 II – the widest lens here, which is what you notice the moment you hold the camera out in front of you.
Best for photographers who want dials – Panasonic Lumix LX100 II – the only one here with a viewfinder and a sensor bigger than an inch, and the only one without a microphone jack.

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III, Sony ZV-1 II and Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

📷 Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

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Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

Pros

Live streaming to YouTube from the camera itself
3.5 mm microphone input, which the Mark II lacked
4K 30p taken from the full width of the sensor
Longest reach of the three at 100 mm equivalent
Burst shooting up to 30 frames per second

Cons

No viewfinder, so bright sun means guessing at the screen
The screen tilts up but does not flip out to the side
The oldest design of the three

Unique Features & Insights

Canon built this one around the vlogging workflow: the live-streaming feature and the microphone input are the two things reviewers point at, and the 180° tilting screen is what makes it usable when you are in the frame. Canon's own documentation notes the 4K is taken from the full sensor width rather than a crop, which is the failing that made earlier compacts awkward for wide shots.

📷 Sony ZV-1 II

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Sony ZV-1 II

Pros

Widest lens of the three at 18 mm equivalent
Screen flips out to the side, clear of a microphone or cable
Three-capsule directional microphone built in
3.5 mm microphone input

Cons

The lens slows to f/4.0 at the long end
No viewfinder
Shorter reach than the Canon

Unique Features & Insights

The wide end is the reason this camera exists: Sony replaced the 24-70 mm lens of the first ZV-1 with an 18-50 mm, aimed squarely at people filming themselves without a tripod. DPReview's conclusion is that the video is strong and that the camera is at its best in its automatic modes, which is a fair description of who it is for. The trade-off arrives at the telephoto end, where the aperture drops to f/4.0.

📷 Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

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Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Pros

Four Thirds sensor, larger than the other two
Electronic viewfinder that wakes on eye detection
Aperture ring and shutter dial on the body
Brightest lens of the three at f/1.7

Cons

No microphone input at all
Fixed screen, so it cannot face you
The oldest model of the three

Unique Features & Insights

This is the photographer's camera of the group. The multi-aspect Four Thirds sensor gives 17 MP effective, the Leica-branded zoom opens to f/1.7, and the controls are physical: an aperture ring on the lens and a shutter dial on top. Cameralabs notes the viewfinder is a field-sequential panel, so its 2760k-dot figure flatters it, and the missing microphone input is the reason it is not on this list for video.

Final Comparison Table

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III

1-inch stacked CMOS, 20.1 MP

24–100 mm f/1.8–2.8

4K 30p, FHD 120p

Tilts up 180°

✅ 3.5 mm

❌ None

Sony ZV-1 II

1-inch stacked CMOS, 20.1 MP

18–50 mm f/1.8–4.0

4K 30p, FHD 120p

Side flip-out

✅ 3.5 mm

❌ None

Panasonic Lumix LX100 II

Four Thirds, 17 MP effective

24–75 mm f/1.7–2.8

4K 30p

Fixed 3-inch

❌ None

✅ Electronic, 2760k dots

Feature	Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark III	Sony ZV-1 II	Panasonic Lumix LX100 II
Sensor	1-inch stacked CMOS, 20.1 MP	1-inch stacked CMOS, 20.1 MP	Four Thirds, 17 MP effective
Lens (equivalent)	24–100 mm f/1.8–2.8	18–50 mm f/1.8–4.0	24–75 mm f/1.7–2.8
Video	4K 30p, FHD 120p	4K 30p, FHD 120p	4K 30p
Screen	Tilts up 180°	Side flip-out	Fixed 3-inch
Mic input	✅ 3.5 mm	✅ 3.5 mm	❌ None
Viewfinder	❌ None	❌ None	✅ Electronic, 2760k dots

If most of what you shoot is you, talking, the Canon and the Sony are the two to choose between, and the deciding factor is whether you want reach or width. If you mostly shoot stills and want a camera that handles like a camera, the Panasonic is the one, as long as you can live without a microphone input. Check current availability through the links above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which of these can take an external microphone?

The Canon G7 X Mark III and the Sony ZV-1 II both have a 3.5 mm microphone input. The Panasonic LX100 II does not have one at all, so its audio is whatever the built-in microphones capture.

Which has the widest lens for handheld vlogging?

The Sony ZV-1 II starts at 18 mm equivalent, wider than the Canon's 24 mm and the Panasonic's 24 mm. Held at arm's length that is the difference between your head filling the frame and the room being visible behind you.

Do any of them have a viewfinder?

Only the Panasonic LX100 II. Its electronic viewfinder is quoted at 2760k dots and switches on when you raise the camera to your eye. The Canon and the Sony are screen-only.

Which is best for photos rather than video?

The Panasonic. Its Four Thirds sensor is larger than the 1-inch sensors in the other two, it has aperture and shutter dials on the body, and the viewfinder makes it usable in bright sun.

Can I use them as a webcam or for live streaming?

The Canon G7 X Mark III supports live streaming to YouTube directly from the camera, which is the feature it was built around. The other two work as webcams through a computer and the right software or capture device.

Is 4K worth it on cameras this small?

All three record 4K at 30p, and the Canon and Sony also offer 1080p at 120p for slow motion. On a phone-sized sensor 4K mostly buys you cropping room in editing rather than visibly sharper footage.

We gather insights from Amazon reviews, Reddit discussions, YouTube demos, and expert blogs. Buying through our affiliate links costs you nothing extra—it simply supports the research behind these reviews.

Best Compact Cameras: Canon G7 X III vs Sony ZV-1 II vs Panasonic LX100 II

Which One Should You Get?