ARTICLE – Compact cameras didn’t disappear when smartphones got good. They got pushed into a clearer lane, and you feel that shift the second a zoom ring clicks under your fingers.
Price: $1,299
Where to Buy: B&H Photo
A phone’s fast, but it’s also a flat slab of glass that makes every move feel the same, whether you’re tapping to focus or swiping to zoom.
The PowerShot G7 X Mark III still sells out like it’s a fresh drop, which is kind of wild for a compact camera that’s been around for years. That scarcity tells you something simple: creators still want real controls in a pocket size body.
So the real question is: is Canon using a 30 year anniversary kit to turn a supply headache into a premium moment?
What Canon Announced
Canon says it’s releasing a limited PowerShot G7 X Mark III 30th Anniversary Edition next quarter.
The camera gets a graphite finish, a 30 year logo on the body, and special packaging. That presentation matters more than it should, but it’s also exactly what makes a regular product feel like a “kept it on a shelf” object.
Canon also says the kit includes a wrist strap and an SD card. Those extras won’t change your footage, but they do make the unboxing feel less bare.
What Actually changed
Nothing changed where it counts for image quality, and that honesty is a good call. Canon isn’t trying to sell this as a stealth refresh.
The changes are visual and tactile: graphite body, anniversary logo, and packaging you don’t instantly toss. That’s collector logic, and it works because the base camera already has a reputation.
Canon says the front ring has a twill pattern. That’s the kind of texture your thumb notices every time you roll the ring, and it’s a lot more satisfying than a plain cosmetic badge.
Under the finish, it’s still the same G7 X Mark III. Canon says it keeps the 1.0 inch stacked CMOS sensor with about 20.1 megapixels and the same bright 4.2x zoom lens, so the look you expect should show up right away.
If you’ve ever held the regular model, the core experience should click back in fast: the small grip, the flip up screen, and the physical controls that make shooting feel like doing something, not poking a touchscreen.
Why Now
The anniversary is the clean reason, but demand is the louder one, and you can see it in how this camera keeps vanishing from shelves. When something’s already scarce, a limited drop doesn’t have to create urgency, it only has to point at it. That’s a neat trick, and it’s hard not to notice.
If you’ve been tracking restocks, you know the routine: refresh, wait, miss it, repeat. A special edition can feel like either a shortcut or a little tax on your patience.
There’s also a social layer here that’s tough to ignore. A familiar camera in a new finish looks fresh in photos, and that’s exactly how a creator staple stays in the conversation.
If Canon can ship more units overall, great, but this edition reads like a controlled release that leans into the chaos instead of fighting it.
Pricing and Availability
Canon says the anniversary edition will land in April 2026. It’s a “very limited” release which is usually all it takes for resale listings to pop up fast.
In the US, the kit is listed at $1,299. That’s a $419 jump over the standard model’s $879.99 MSRP, which is a steep ask for a finish and a nicer box.
Who This Is For
Collectors who want an anniversary version that still feels like a working tool are the obvious audience. The graphite finish is the whole point, and it’s the kind of color that shifts a bit depending on the light.
People who’ve missed the standard model over and over might also see this as the cleanest path to ownership. Paying more can feel better than playing the refresh game for weeks.
If you’re buying because you want the G7 X Mark III look and workflow, you’re getting exactly that, with a collector wrapper around it.
Who Should Skip This
Got a G7 X Mark III already and it’s doing the job? Save your money. A graphite shell won’t move your photos forward, and the fancy box won’t stay on your desk for long.
If you’re shopping on pure value, the regular model’s the better pick. You’re mostly paying for the graphite finish, the anniversary packaging, and the bragging rights.
And if you’re tired of limited run hype, skip the headache. Paying extra for scarcity feels especially rough when the camera inside is basically the same one.
The Bottom Line
Canon’s anniversary kit is a classic collector move, and it’s hard not to respect how clean the play is. Take a camera people already want, give it a fresh finish, add small extras, and price it like a limited object.
Price: $1,299
Where to Buy: B&H Photo
If you’ve been trying to buy a G7 X Mark III and you want to stop chasing restocks, this kit might be the simplest way to get one in hand. If you already own the camera, the smartest move is to keep shooting and let the graphite finish be someone else’s problem.
Love our content?
Sign up for our newsletter today.
No ads, no spam, just links to our latest articles!