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Canon PowerShot G7 10MP Digital Camera with 6x Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 142
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 On: 2008-05-15
Short and simple.
I got this camera as a gift, from my uncle who is a pro. Best camera out there! For point and shoot, for family, and other purposes this camera is all you will ever need! Unless you are a pro? This is it!
 On: 2008-05-10
Beware of Canon customer support. I bought a G7 a year ago and after six month something that look like dust particle managed to get into the lens (all pictures and videos have a black dot). First I thought that I could clean than but then I realized the lenses are sealed. Then I wondered, if the lenses are sealed the only way a particle of dust could have gotten there was when it was manufactured. Well, I call Canon and guess what; they offered me to send the camera for repair (at my expense) or a refurbished one for $250 dollars. If I knew how I would sue this company for utter irresponsibility. Now all my pictures and videos have a black dot thanks to Canons lack of support. So long for a honey moon with Canon...
Fernando
On: 2008-04-28
Best camera I have ever owned. It has so many features that it takes a lot of time to learn them, however, it also works great as a "point and shoot". Well worth the money. Best features are multiple face recognition and image stabilization.
On: 2008-03-17
The Canon G7 is one of the best Point and Shoot cameras I have ever used, and besides looking great (very retro), its images are outstanding! I bought mine from some local electronics store because I am impatient and needed it right away for a business photography need, but could have saved some money by buying it from Amazon or elsewhere online.
Its settings are astounding and I am just getting to the point of where I can use more versatility than just the standard program or auto functions. I especially love shutter priority where its 3 very sensitive CCDs "push" the images colors over the top! When indoors and shooting stills, its so good on these images that I dont need a flash many times (although it may require a few pratice shots to keep the body still when exposing for extended frames). If youre new to the idea of video available on a point and shoot, this camera will also impress the user by being easy to use and easy to review your newly captured video footage. It has 2 options: very-good and high-quality for the video footage (not the real setting names).
Its a durable camera as well, but (being too embarassed) I wont describe how I found that out! :O I will tell you that I am completely impressed and delighted that I spent the money I spent, after having tried SOOO many cameras that fall short in one area or another.
If youre looking for a great camera, the G7 or the G9 will not disappoint. Unless youre exploding images up to poster size routinely, this camera could be your best daily photography tool. This camera seems to do it all for me @ my level (I am a former SLR owner, who doesnt like taking the full kit with me just for snapshots). My only regret was not waiting on the G9 because the screen size appears to be a little bigger, and it has a better set of sensors (its 12MP). Overall, I am very happy with it even if I never get to upgrade to the G9.
On: 2008-02-18
Purchased this camera in Jan 2007, and last week received the infamous and well documented message, "lens error, restart camera".
On: 2008-02-15
Sharpness and color balance really jump out when processing photos from this camera. Easy to hold and has great protection from sloppy handling. Wish the telephoto and wide angle were a little longer/wider. but for what it is intended for, really excellent.
 On: 2008-01-25
According to the January 2008 Consumer Reports Magazine, this camera should cost about $470. Wondering why it is so expensive on Amazon?
On: 2007-12-12
I wont be long winded here, but this is simply the best camera in its class. It does everything and everything well. yes, there might be some small glitches but I havent found them and I am an experienced photographer having used both consumer and professional cameras...this is simply the best point and shoot around. I am done now.
 On: 2007-11-30
I bought this camera to replace my trueold Canon G5. What a mistake! This one is no match. G5 had a solid semi-pro feeling in its built and behavior. The G7 has a "toy" and "plastic" feeling about it. It may be good for those who just started into digital photography, but I would not recommend it for those, who is looking for more serious or advanced device in non-dslr market niche.
Amazon did great when I returned it, so three stars are because of their good customer service.
 On: 2007-11-17
Shot with a Canon AE-1 for many years. Just got into digital a few years back. Like the convenience of shooting digital, and really liked the compact size of many digital cameras. But did miss the features of my old SLR. This camera seems to strike a happy balance, and just love the old range finder look and feel (a range finder was my first serious camera back in high school in the 60s). I really dont mind lack of RAW file format; probably wouldnt use it. Wanted something that gave me back some control over aperature, shutter speed, and even ISO, with controls more akin to an old (film) SLR. Like the all metal case; again, feels more old school. Like the ISO as an analog knob on top. My biggest issue about this camera is that the view finder is off-center; If I compose a shot w/ the view finder, the actual picture is invariably off. As for 10 mega pixels, Ive read several articles saying you really dont need it. But Ive found that extra headroom means I can do majoring cropping and still have a decent quality photo. That kind of offsets the view finder issue (I shoot back a bit, then plan to crop). The price on this camera gave me pause when I was shopping; I could have had a full blow digital SLR for about the same price. But the compactness of the camera is what finally sold me.
On: 2007-10-21
We purchased this camera right before we went on a camping trip in PA. This camera did a great job with almost everything we tried to take pictures of. I love all of the manual settings that are possible. We use it almost every day. It is very simple to use and turns on very quickly so you usually can get the quick shots.
On: 2007-09-30
This is a great camera for all the reasons everyone says. Here are a few pros and cons I found important to me.
PROS
Movies: You can zoom while taking movies.
Zoom: Zoom is responsive, which I was worried about because my previous camera had a zoom ring which I liked a lot.
Colors: Vibrant, true colors. Even when the camera comes out a bit short on colors due to lighting conditions, the Canon software has an auto-adjust that is amazing (and easy to use).
Playback button: There is a button which toggles between playback and record. Makes it very easy to review a shot and go back to record. Great feature.
Flash: Ive been so satisfied with the built-in flash, I have not bought an external flash even though there is a hotshoe on the camera.
CONS
ISO dial: The ISO dial is very easy to accidentally turn as you remove the camera from a case or pocket. The result is you may be shooting at a high ISO and get grainy, ususable pictures. This has happened to me two or three times.
Viewfinder: The viewfinder is not an electronic viewfinder (EVF), so what you see in the viewfinder gets you to point the camera higher than you really would want. Another disadvantage with a non-electronic viewfinder is that you cant review pictures in the viewfinder. You must use the LCD. With my less than perfect vision, viewfinder review is better (had it in a previous camera).
Grip: There is no grip. Some people find the camera difficult to hold. I dont mind it, but I do prefer having a grip.
Wide-Angle: 35mm is as low as you can go. 28mm would be nice, but maybe not possible with the higher zoom. Therefore, if taking pictures of a large group, say your kid on prom night, you have to step back. Almost bought an SD800 for this.
Flash: I much prefer a pop-up flash where you can press a button and force the flash. On the G7, you can force the flash, but it is not as convenient.
Fun-Factor: I do enjoy this camera, but sometimes wish Id bought the S5, which wasnt out yet. It looks like it is more fun to use, based on my experience with a similar camera in the past and based on playing with the S3 in a store.
On: 2007-09-29
This camera is amazing! I used it like a video camera to film my 5 yr old Granddaughter "clogging" at a bluegrass festival in the mountains and it not only lasted (4 gig) on the memory stick but also on the battery! The video was great and captured a lot of great face shots!
I am taking it diving next... with the Cannon Underwater housing... I will report back!
On: 2007-09-27
Fantastic pictures, easy to use even though it has a WIDE array of options. If youre particular about the quality of your photographs this camera does not disappoint.
Movie mode is excellent as well, I wish I had used it more on my vacation.
The only drawbacks is my wife wanted something slightly smaller (somewhat bulky compared to the thin cameras) and I still havent figured out how to check the battery strength.
On: 2007-09-25
The pics from this camera are very crisp and clear. Its not bulky, and after a review of the quick guide, its easy to learn all the buttons. I love it!
On: 2007-09-14
I am not a professional photographer so I guess my review will be limited to those who are in the same boat as myself. I purchased this camera after a lot of research because my Nikon CoolPix 4.3, even though a great camera, was not capable of doing what I wanted to do. Plus I wanted a camera that was a little sleaker. Anyway, I purchased this camera before going on a week long trip to Vermont which I figured would give me plenty of time to get used to it and truly decide if it was what I was looking for. (I would not necessarily recommend that others use this tactic but it did work for me.)
Needless to say, the camera worked great. I still havent even cracked the manual to read anything about it. I have mostly been using the auto function, panoramic function and the macro function. I can tell you for a point and shoot camera its amazing. The shake reducing function is great because my boyfriend has very shaky hands and he was able to take some great pictures!
I would recommend this camera to anyone looking for a great point and shoot. Like I said, I havent fully explored the manual functions, so I cannot speak to those, but I am sure they will be great when I get to them!
On: 2007-09-14
There are probably people who would disagree with me but I think Canon makes the best cameras out there. I was shopping around for an entry level SLR, the canon rebel xt, but decided on the G7 instead. Im not a professional photographer so I figured I wouldnt be using all the features on an SLR camera. If youre in this tweener category (between point and shoot vs SLR), this is the camera to get. There are so many features that I cant even begin to list them all. Amazon offers it at a great price.
I also purchased the waterproof housing and I cant wait to go snorkling with it.
On: 2007-09-13
I am a professional photographer, normally shooting a Nikon D200, However, i do a lot of shooting from the back of a horse, and sometimes a pont and shoot is what I need. My old Olympus Camedia finally died, which was a good camera. I bought a Panasonic Lumix, which is nice. However,the ease of putting the G7 in my pocket
was tempting so I thought I would try it. Being in Colorado at high altitudes, I needed the extension tube for the polarizer at certain times of the day. Once ths is on, you can no longer see much of the picture through the view finder, which you must use in bright light. All you pretty much see is the extension tube. Awful! The other problem is trying to hold it in one hand and take a picture is impossible. With no grip, your thumb goes over all of the menu buttons and the trash button. You can imagine how many things can happen there to keep you from getting a picture.
The image is good, but it is clumsy in design, and often slow to focus as well.
On: 2007-09-12
I have had the camera for three weeks and have used it a lot. It has wonderful features and the pictures all come out well. I highly recommend this camera.
On: 2007-09-11
I only took a few pictures with the G7, but the experience was a definite 5 stars! The G7 would have been a keeper had I not received an email the day following delivery announcing the new G9 at the same price of the G7; but with 12 mp, a half-inch larger screen, more pixels, updated facial recognition technology, and a little better ergonomics for the thumb. However, any owner of the G7 should be pleased as its a great camera. Im coming from a G4 and its been extremely dependable and the G7 was light years in improvements.
On: 2007-09-11
I bought my G7 about a month ago, just before the new G9 was announced. The difference that matters to me is that the G9 has raw format (and 12 megapixels), while G7 does not have raw format (and has 10 megapixels -which is of much lesser importance).
If you care about raw, buy the new G9
If you do not intend to use raw, G7 is just as good, the minor difference in pixels is nearly irrelevant, and G7 will be less expensive (if it continues to be available).
G7 is an excellent camera but to take advantage of its numerous advcanced features you have to understand a bit about digital photography or better be an enthusiast. Especially the custom settings (C1 and C2) are v. useful. This is not a camera for a casual shooter.
Otherwise excellent, but I wish I waited for G9.
It helps to pay attention to the histogram, otherwise you will frequently blow out highlights. I have -1/3 of a stop permanently dialed in (slight decrease of exposure helps the highlights in most situations)
I am v. happy with the pictures, so far. Image stabilization works v. well.
Instruction manual is less clearly written than the manual for my old G4.
Some repeated reading is required, even if you are familiar w. the Canon menu structure.
It is helpful to install an accessory grip, available on line.
On: 2007-09-09
I had a Canon G3 prior to this purchase.... Love the zoom and crispness of the pictures. Easy to use cannot say enough good about it. My only adjustment I had to make was that it did not have a good grip... but I have adjusted.
On: 2007-09-05
Unfortunately this camera suffers from marginal image quality due to the small sensor crammed with too many pixels. This is typical of all manufacturers these days. Handling is also a weak point with the G7. It may look cool without a grip but its very difficult to use and the risk of dropping it is much higher than average. It has some nice features but overall Id recommend looking at something in the A-series from Canon - and stay away from the 10-12 megapixel cameras.
On: 2007-08-30
The G7 is perfect for anyone who wants near SLR quality shots without packing an SLR and the assorted accessories. The G7 is not an SLR replacement by any means, and probably wasnt intended as such, but Ive yet to find a compact-size camera that comes this close.
Indoors and low lighting performance is a bit noisy at high ISOs, but outdoors shots are excellent. The LCD screen is clear and sharp, but I have issues with the viewfinder, which I feel is useless (no matter how I adjust the diopter, its still blurry to my eye!). As a previous Canon owner, Ive found that the menus are fairly intuitive and easy to maneuver. Battery life is very good. Ive taken as many as 275 shots in one session and gone home with some juice leftover.
I bought the G7 specifically for urban street shooting, and in combination with a Lowepro Rezo 50 Camera Bag belt pouch, this is exactly what I needed. Its a solid, well-built point-and-shoot that is easy to access in spontaneous situations, while producing excellent quality images whether in macro or telephoto mode. My only real regret is that I bought mine just before Canon announced the October release of the G9. Really pissed me off too, LOL!
On: 2007-08-29
I just got the camera today, and have already fallen in love with it. I love to take pictures but I cant see real well and I shake quite a bit which normally causes the picture to be blurry. BUT with this camera I dont have those problems. The screen is the perfect size and regardless of how bad I shake the pictures come out perfect!!! Definitely awesome!! Definitely a must have for anyone!
On: 2007-08-28
i bought it 3 weeks ago, and i love it so far. It works very well at night and at low light. In day light it is really good. The video quality is very good .... I strongly recommend it
On: 2007-08-23
Good results - but is a real camera not a point and shoot - put the effort in and it rewards. Dont use higher than iso 400
On: 2007-08-15
I purchased this camera for a trip to Europe. My brother has owned several Canon SLRs plus a Leica, and recommended this camera for me. I mostly used the P mode and set the ISO. I was amazed at the outstanding results from a smaller (non-SLR) camera. My brother even commented that many of the photos were as good as the ones his d-SLR produces. I admit that the best photo results were the ones taken in bright, sunny weather conditions. The overcast photos were good, just not as sharp and beautiful. Ive had many people writing to me asking what camera I used after viewing my images (even a friend who owns a Nikon D80 -- He actually said the colors were outstanding).
If you buy this camera, experiment with the P mode, and set the ISO to 100 in sunny weather (rev up the colors with "Vivid") or 200. The reviewer who said the images will appear grainy above ISO 400 is correct. I used 400 for some indoor shots which came out amazingly clear. For outdoors, I never used anything above 200. If you use auto mode, fine, but expect to see rather "ordinary" images.
On: 2007-08-12
Technical reviews analyzing high-ISO noise and the absence of RAW format can be found all over the internet. I am not going to parrot facts I am not an expert on.
I used G7 for about 3 weeks. It took excellent pictures. The colors were rich and the edges were crisp. The "shutter" is fast and the image-stabilizer works admirably. On top, it features a viewfinder (believe me, no LCD screen is usable under direct sunlight!) and it has no need for a lens-cover! Researching for my next digital camera this is the camera that repeatedly came on top of my short-list. However, here is why, in the end, I will not be buying it and wait a bit longer.
It must be the ugliest camera out there! I know, I know, it should not matter...But this is an ugly black plastic box! And what is with the 70s crown-ring around the lens? How old are CANONs designers anyway?
Had I been a professional photographer this would not matter I guess; but then again, in that case I would have opted for a serious SLR, wouldnt I?
Sure, I could claim it is absence of a pivoting LCD screen (very practical in a crowd) or the SD memory card compatability but I am not going to lie to you: CANON needs to do something drastic about its designs...
by: bnrshoppe On: 2007-08-08
Canon PowerShot G7 Review
I was looking for the highest quality camera with as close as possible to DSLR performance to carry with me more often when its hard to carry a heavy SLR gear. I found that the G7 might fit the description. Heres my own analysis of its Pros and Cons.
What I liked about it:
1- Excellent picture quality outdoor in bight sun.
2- Great, large, and really bright 2.5" LCD monitor even brighter than my $3000 5D EOS.
3- Cool clock- Hold the power and the function Set for a-5-seconds Hi-tech time display.
4- Size-fits easily in my waist pack- No camera case required.
5- Cool AF assisted Green Light -projects light on object being focused (looks like a laser guided weapon in the dark).
6- Neat Slide show effects.
7-Diving gear available for underwater photography.
8-Direct access to ISO (dedicated wheel) and other important functions.
What I did NOT like about the G7:
1- Grainy picture indoor and anything over ISO 100-200 very bad at ISO 400 and higher.
2- Very hard to grab-No grip Unlike the nice grip the G6 had. Could be easily dropped.
3- Over-saturated colors especially green appear a bit artificial.
4- Unlike my other Canon EOS cameras-No ISO and other information is available in IPhoto (Mac) and other softwares--unless you use canon provided softwares.
5- Slower lens than previous model (G6 was F1:2.0-3.0) at F1:2.8-4.8
6- Camera seems to smudge far away trees rather than showing details--bad details when compared to my EOS 20D or 5D or any Digital SLRs
7- Large 10 Megapixel files without any true gain in picture quality when compared to the G6 at 7.1 Megapixel.
8- Face priority doesnt always work and you DO get blurry unfocused faces.
9-Image stabilizer is Not very effective with this relatively slower Lens. It works, but many minor shakes cause blurry pictures.
10- Price is very close to a much much better quality picture Compact DSLR like the new Canon Rebel XTi.
11-Picture size favors a less wide photo and more "square like" (3648 x 2736) rather than the comparable proportion to 35mm you get with EOS cameras (EOS Rebel XTi at 10.1 megapixels is 3888 x 2592) and other higher quality DSRL.
12- SD card provided is only useful for a mere dozen of pictures.
Conclusion:
As a proud owner of the excellent Canon EOS 5D, 20D and the Powershot G6, I find the excessive graininess at even Low ISO and slower Lens and No More CF cards and Battery compatibility with the Three Excellent Canon Cameras mentioned here made me decide to return this camera and order the new Canon Rebel XTi. When I need a small camera, Ill just take the G6 that I think is a better and more professional camera than the G7.
by: bnrshoppe On: 2007-08-07
Canon PowerShot G7 Review
I was looking for the smallest high quality camera with an image quality as close as possible to DSLR performance and small enough to carry with me more often when its hard to carry a heavy SLR gear. I found that the G7 might fit the description. Heres my own analysis of its Pros and Cons.
***What I liked about it:
1- Excellent picture quality outdoor in bright sun.
2- Great, large, and really bright 2.5" LCD monitor even brighter than my $3000 5D EOS.
3- Cool clock- Hold the "power" and the "Function Set" buttons -and you get a-5-seconds Hi-tech time display out of a SCi-Fi movie!
4- Size-fits easily in my waist pack- No camera case required.
5- Cool AF assisted Green Light -projects light on object being focused (looks like a laser guided weapon in the dark).
6- Neat Slide show effects.
7- Diving gear available for underwater photography.
8- Direct access to ISO (dedicated wheel) and other important functions.
9- Image Rotates when you do Verticals to fill up the screen. Rotate the Camera again to horizontal and the image rotates as well to occupy only the middle of the horizontal screen-really cool feature.
10- Nice looking Camera-has a nostalgic/classic look and feel.
11- Good Zoom Range -35mm equivalent of 35-210mm
***What I did NOT like about the G7:
1- Grainy picture indoor and anything over ISO 100-200 very bad at ISO 400 and higher.
2- Very hard to grab-No grip Unlike the nice grip the G6 had. Could be easily dropped.
3- Over-saturated colors especially green appear a bit artificial.
4- Unlike my other Canon EOS cameras-No ISO and other information is available in IPhoto (Mac) and other softwares--unless you use canon provided softwares.
5- Slower lens than previous model at f/2.8-4.8 (G6 was f/2.0-3.0).
6- Camera seems to smudge far away trees rather than showing details--bad details when compared to my EOS 20D or 5D or any Digital SLRs
7- Large 10 Megapixel files without any true gain in picture quality when compared to the G6 at 7.1 Megapixel.
8- Face priority doesnt always work and you DO get blurry unfocused faces.
9-Image stabilizer is Not very effective with this relatively slower Lens. It works, but many minor shakes cause blurry pictures.
10- Price is very close to a much much better quality picture Compact DSLR like the new Canon Rebel XTi.
11-Picture size favors a less wide photo and more "square like" (3648 x 2736) rather than the comparable proportion to 35mm you get with EOS cameras (EOS Rebel XTi at 10.1 megapixels is 3888 x 2592) and other higher quality DSRL.
12- SD card provided is only useful for a mere dozen of pictures.
13- No More Raw format support which produced stunning and highlty flexible pictures with the G6 and Canon Ulitily softwares.
14- Fixed screen rather than flip out screen.
***Conclusion:
As a proud owner of the excellent Canon EOS 5D, 20D and the Powershot G6, I find 1) the excessive graininess at even Low ISO and 2) slower Lens and 3) No More Compact Flash cards and 4) Battery compatibility with the powerful BP-511A that worked with the Three Excellent Canon Cameras mentioned here made me decide to return this camera and order the new Canon Rebel XTi. When I need a small camera, Ill just take the G6 that I think is a better and more professional camera than the G7.
If you like the shape and size of this camera, the G9 with similar body and including Raw format back and with over 12 Megapixel and 3" LCD is out in October 07. Well have to wait and see if any improvement in picture quality at ISO 400 and above!
On: 2007-08-06
Like A-Rod, in the review before me, I bought this camera for a trip to europe, as an upgrade. My aging Powershot S400 was great in its day, but it was 4 megapixels, and the focusing motors were starting to get old and a little sloppy. For the trip of a lifetime, I wanted a better camera.
I was totally comfortable with the performance and durability of the Canon Powershot line, so I planned to simply get an upgraded version, one of the little wafer-thin silver ones, that you dont even feel in your shirt pocket. But I wanted more control over the shooting modes, and I seriously lusted after the G7s huge lens, as well as the combination of 10MP resolution with image stabilization that makes pictures rock solid with amazing detail and clarity.
This camera is a beast, even compared to my old S400. It wont be going in your shirt pocket. In fact it comes with a nice shoulder strap instead of a wrist-loop, and I tended to wear it on the strap, like the old SLR days. But the increase in control, image quality, and lens clarity make this a dramatic upgrade from my previous cameras, and its still really only about half the size of an SLR. Its exactly what I wanted. And it looks great, too.
On: 2007-08-05
Like A-Rod, in the review before me, I bought this camera for a trip to europe, as an upgrade. My aging Powershot S400 was great in its day, but it was 4 megapixels, and the focusing motors were starting to get old and a little sloppy. For the trip of a lifetime, I wanted a better camera.
I was totally comfortable with the performance and durability of the Canon Powershot line, so I planned to simply get an upgraded version, one of the little wafer-thin silver ones, that you dont even feel in your shirt pocket. But I wanted more control over the shooting modes, and I seriously lusted after the G7s huge lens, as well as the combination of 10MP resolution with image stabilization that makes pictures rock solid with amazing detail and clarity.
This camera is a beast, even compared to my old S400. It wont be going in your shirt pocket. In fact it comes with a nice shoulder strap instead of a wrist-loop, and I tended to wear it on the strap, like the old SLR days. But the increase in control, image quality, and lens clarity make this a dramatic upgrade from my previous cameras, and its still really only about half the size of an SLR. Its exactly what I wanted. And it looks great, too.
On: 2007-08-05
Recently purchased this camera in June for my trip to Italy. Last camera I owned was a Nikon Coolpix- 2mp. So any camera would have been an upgrade. But for my trip to Italy, I wanted a camera that will meet the challenge.
Well this camera delivered. I am not a professional- so I wanted something simple- point and shoot- but at the same time I wanted some control with shooting modes.
This camera is a bit pricey but well worth it. I did a lot of research before purchasing and this one had very good reviews from CNET, consumers report and Amazon. I just uploaded some pictures (4 pictures: Assisi, spider, sunflower & sculpture)- so check it out on the image gallery.
On: 2007-07-29
We have a Canon S70. Unfortunately, when we had the flash card to a local store for making a CD, the flash card plastic was damaged at the pin holes and ruined three pins when put back into the camera. So, after doing some research, I bought the G7. It is as good in its own way as the S70. I bought a used Canon wrist strap for $2.00 from a local camera shop. The G7 comes with a neck strap, and I prefer a wrist strap. I have purchased an Epson Snap 240 photo printer to print 4x6 pictures from the 2GB SD card. I believe I can also print without removing the card from the camera. After years of film cameras, I am joining the digital camera era, and this is a good camera to own.
On: 2007-07-29
Im not a professional photographer, but Im somewhat an advanced and avid shooter. This camera is wonderful. I wont bore you with the details. It wont cover all of your handicaps but it gets close to making every shot you take look perfect. I bought mine mostly to take strong pictures of my very colorfully rendered and detailed paintings. Being a fine artist I wanted the best quality i could afford. Found it in the G7. Aside from my that, my three year old daughter has become my number one model and practice shot. Shes my greatest masterpiece to date.
On: 2007-07-23
Its not perfect (what is?), but this is possibly the best compact camera out there for photographers who are looking for a compact to complement their DSLR. Someday I may find one that gets five stars; for now this is it.
Pros: In good light, image quality is nearly as good as my Rebel XT. Huge range of controls. Many useful features (image stabilization, neutral density filter, live histogram, gridlines, focus review mode). Excellent usability (love the control wheel, playback options). Nice screen. Great build. Overall operation (once you learn the options) is very similar to a DSLR. Very little chromatic aberration (totally unlike the Canon S3). Looks nice, FWIW.
Cons: A bit large and heavy (not quite pocketable). Wish the lens were wider (inexplicable in a prosumer camera). Dedicated ISO dial is easily nudged out of position accidentally. Mediocre viewfinder (if youre going to put it in, make it good). A bit expensive (but the price has come down).
Compared to your Canon DSLR you gain: small size; wide focal range without changing lenses; always-there stabilization; and some features not possible in a DSLR (histogram, ND filter). You lose: some image quality, some low light capability (ISO 400 and up is noisy but you have f/2.8 and stabilization), your nice clear SLR viewfinder, and your SLR-style responsiveness. On the whole, a pretty good tradeoff for a compact.
On: 2007-07-14
I know that I spent lots of time reviewing everykind of camera and the first thing i looked at was the low rating. But even though i gave this a high rank, you really will get the truth.
I have just recieved this camera only a few days ago but the more time i spend with it, the more i love it. This camera is specilized for close up ranges and can blow up the pictures from 16.5 to 22 inches. I love this camera and even though it in RAW format, its just as good. I love the shake resistance and the LCD monitor is just wonderful. I co-own a photogrpahy company and need to take pictures of weddings and special occasions so this camera is a great improvement from the old one. These pictures produce beautiful pictures and oh yeah, if anyone has questions or comments or needs a photographer, Our company is J&A photogprahy and can email us at japhotgraphy1@yahoo.com
On: 2007-07-09
Ive been using the G7 for a couple of weeks now and am still discovering the possibilities it offers. After having been limited to a point and shoot digital for the past few years, its great to have the ability to choose my own settings and to play with lighting, depth of field etc.
It seems to be the closest you can get to an SLR without having to lug a big camera around.
On: 2007-07-09
Do you own a Digital SLR and wish you could carry a light back-up camera? This is the one! My main rig consists of a Nikon D70 with several lenses and accessories, a fantastic camera for the serious enthusiast. But too heavy and bulky for some purposes, such as long mountain hikes or day-long city tours. Thats where this little wonder comes in and takes care of business!
The Powershot G7 is light and small yet it has the ability to take great shots, just like the big, heavy DSLRs. Ive had mine for a week now, and have found it to work wonders. Great metering system and sharp lens, crisp LCD, intuitive menu and accessible controls. Its autofocus is fast for a point-and-shoot and the bodys built quality makes it feel quite solid. The photos are all great: landscapes, portraits, macros, action shots, interiors, nighttime, you name it, the G7 delivers. And thats working in full auto! Using the entire potential of this small wonder -all the manual features and presets- takes a little bit of practice and consulting the manual, but its all worth it. Highly recommended as a second semi-pro camera or as a high-end point-and-shoot for those wanting a quality non DSLR.
On: 2007-07-05
I purchased the Canon G7 to compliment/backup my Canon EOS20D. It is an excellent camera, easy to use with almost all the features you could want. It would be nice if it shot in RAW mode as well as it needs a couple of pads for better gripping it while in use. I temporarily fixed this issue with a couple of pieces of egrips I stuck on the front and small piece on the rear.
I think the price is a bit high also. The camera is user friendly and is capable of great pictures in the hands of a good pilot. It has a viewfinder! I dont personally think all these new cameras coming out without a viewfinder is a good idea. The image stabilization is very effective while not degrading the pictures noticeably. I have bought a Sandisk high speed 2gig SD card for it and it has good capacity for a lot of shots. The battery charge life is a bit short so you will need an extra battery for sure if you use it very long at a time.
On: 2007-07-03
I read most of the reviews about this product. Theres this AWE involved which translates to no RAW, so what? No flip-screen, but this better? Great new CMOS called Digi-III, etc. etc. Heres what I think is the bottom-line here. (You may check my other reviews on Canon XTi/D30/D20, etc.)
Question to ask yourself FIRST -> do you have a digital camera right now? Then think - do you really ever use any settings other than "Auto" ever? I asked and found 90% never did or plan to do. Then, since this camera is almost $500, for a point-and-shoot might as well look at alternatives. In case, you do use, or you never had a P&S Digital before, then comes the question of RAW, Digic-III, etc. etc.
Digic-III - its more aggressive in terms of noise reduction, i.e. as youll increase the ISO or @ low light you will find less noise compared to Digic-II. Additionally, theres the face recognition feature of Digic-III and more than 1 Gb. allowable storage. If youre to ask me, then for the last 2 options it definitely not worth the extra dough, period. Face recognition is good to have but its also something hardly anyone will ever REALLY feel the need of, i.e. in case you buy a cheaper one with exactly the same features, will you really miss Face Recognition? Dont think so. Now comes the noise reduction (NR). Although its better, but it comes at a price. The price is when youll hair, sand, course materials, you will have fuzziness and furthermore there will be highlight/shadow clippings or chromatic (red-shifted) "abberation" more than Digic-II. What this means, that a photo which has "heavy" contrast, would have washed out portions or completely black sections and these sections upon zooming will 90% of the time have red colored fringes on them. Digic-III is NOT much of an improvement over Digic-II, only minute. Consider this factor before deciding if worth $500.
Hot-shoe - Yes, great, etc. etc. But are seriously going to ever lug a flash and attach it to this camera and shoot photos? Or, will it be once on some "rainy" day, youll be doing it?
My take - this can be avoided and less costly one bought. Somehow, I think although this is GREAT, GREAT camera with TERRIFIC photos, the bells and whistles are NOT worth the additional almost $200.00 for it. There are others from Canon equally good.
On: 2007-06-28
I got the G7 to replace an Olympus with a much larger zoom lens. The Canon G7 is just in another class. Even thought the zoom is not as large the picture quality is much better at full zoom. The image stabilization is top notch. I am not a camera expert but I like a few bells and whistles and I got all I wanted with the G7.
On: 2007-06-26
I spent a great deal of time reading all of your reviews before I decided to purchase this camera. Though Ive only had it for a short time, so far here is what I have to offer:
- its *fast*
- it takes a really quite decent photo on autopilot
- it has some features (like face-tracking and stabilization) that will really help you out and will also make people say "wow"
- its really beautiful
- the high ISO modes that it supports really pay off
- the zoom is great
- professional photographers describe it as "tight"
- if your early experience is anything like mine, and if youre looking for the state of the point and shoot art, youll be happy if you choose this camera
On: 2007-06-25
It does not have RAW (which would have been nice). No flip out lcd. I knew this when I bought it so I dont hold it against the camera.
I like to travel and I wanted a camera that takes great pics.
I also wanted the option of manual control but not necessarily a dslr.
I wanted the option to print out bigger prints if I really
liked how it turned out. Another important thing is the ability
to take really nice videos (which I never knew how important it was for me- for sentimental reasons). I also wanted to be able to throw it
in my bag. This camera fits my needs perfectly.
I am not a photographer, but I have taken photo classes and am familiar
with Slrs and some digital cameras. If you want a simple point and shoot,
go with something cheaper (there are other Canon Powershot cameras that can do just that for less money). I dont think you should purchase this if you are not really going to take advantage of all the options the camera gives you. It does have Image Stabilization so you can take pics with less light and the pics dont come out as blurry (meaning you can hand hold the camera in lower or dimmer light). The camera does tend to
blow out hightlights (so that some really bright areas of the picture loses detail)in really bright conditions. I counter that by under exposing the picture, and theres a button for that. Then I can always tweak the picture later on in Photoshop. On really sunny days, its a good idea to turn the Neutral Density filter on. Theres alot of ways to get around it.. You can also use the histogram to take a test shot and the blown out highlights will blink and then you can adjust stuff accordingly. There is a lens conversion adapter you can buy in addition to the camera for lenses and filters you may want to add. I dont think it truly needed 10MP but thats ok with me (though some people say it affects the amount of noise in the picture)...
Its got face priority and so it automatically focuses on faces. You can add a flash- it has a hot-shoe. It has the Digic III Processor (faster processing speeds). I would not suggest shooting higher than ISO 400, since it gets noisier from there... It can shoot at ISO 3200 which yes, is noisy but I can shoot pictures of people dancing in dance clubs and bars, lighting and all without trails and blurriness... Its got all sorts of other shooting modes, which I use sometimes.. Like there are settings so you can shoot pics in flourescent lighting, or underwater. There are settings in scene mode so you can shoot fireworks, foliage, portraits, indoor, sports, landscapes etc..It zooms in nicely- 6x optical zoom.. I dont really care about digital zoom... Optical zoom is the one that counts..
I have to say, I am really happy with this camera. If I would ever like to get more serious, I can borrow my husbands Canon 20D.. What says a lot, is that he bought an extra G7 in addition to mine as an everyday camera..
For what it does, I think its worth the price because its in its own class. Its more than a simple point and shoot camera..
P.S. I hope the info I give is helpful and accurate.. I really suck at the technical aspects of photography. Oh and read the manual, it helps a lot..
On: 2007-06-23
I bought this as a point and shoot for my wife who doesnt like to carry a heavy SLR. Ill occasionally use it when I dont carry my SLR. As a point and shoot, it is quite good. My only real complaint with it is that it has somewhat more pixel noise than I would like and the processing of that noise smudges the picture a bit. However it is very much in line with all of the other 10 megapixel point and shoots that Ive looked at. Strangely, I think that this product suffers from the marketing requirement of megapixels rather than using one of the other (lower resolution) sensors that canon has. I admit that Im being somewhat unfair in that I an comparing it to my dSLR which has a huge advantage
in terms of sensor size. I miss the raw option on this camera, but, I completely get why canon dropped it: at this price point, if you want raw, buy an slr.
With that out of the way, the camera is fairly small. It has more mass than many comparably sized point and shoots. I believe that this is due to both stronger build quality (it seems fairly tough) and the optics. I like the new user interface that theyve added to it from the old version. One thing that suprised me is that it actually has somewhat better controls (imho) than my rebel in that it includes both an ISO knob (with an auto setting) and the regular picture mode knob. Additionally, you can select several scene styles which has preprogramed adjustements. Those appear to be handy in helping have the computer do what you want if you arent the type to use a camera in "P" mode. If you do prefer full program mode, the options on this camera are akin to that of the dslrs in that you can adjust contrast, saturation, etc. Like many point and shoots, the built in flash is prone to red-eye. Unlike many point and shoots, this camera has an actual flash hot-shoe. Ive used my 430EX speedlight on this camera with quite good results (if you dont mind doubling the size of the camera). Lastly, this guy takes the same batteries as my old S50 and my RebelXT (or an XTi). This is useful when I go on trips. Some people might prefer AA batteries, but, Ive found that the third party replacements for canon NB-2Ls are very good for life (often more than 2x the canon batteries) and are very reasonably priced.
pros:
* very good zoom range for such a small camera.
* the lens is pretty fast for a point and shoot
* quite high iso settings (one can argue whether a noisy image is better than either a blurry one or none at all, but giving the user a choice is nice)
* face priority. I really like this feature, i wish my slr had it as an option. I occasionally will miss faces when taking portraits. This camera is pretty good at identifying faces *staring* at the camera and focusing on them.
* E-TTL II hotshoe. Ok, few folks will use this, but those who will will appreciate it
* Image stabilization. Really, this is a feature that I think is a must-have these days.
* no need for a lens cap. Again, something else which is important for a point and shoot, since they often are tossed into purses or backpacks without too much care/fuss.
* fairly fast shutter action for a point and shoot.
cons:
* high price point
* 10mpixel point and shoot sensors are somewhat noisy compared to 6 and 7 megapixel ones.
* auto mode tends to favor higher ISO speeds
* a bit too much noise reduction for my taste, however it is inline with most other pocket 10mpixel camers
Why only four stars? I wish there was a way to tune the image processing algorithm to turn down the noise reduction - I often prefer noisier images than overly processed ones.
Oh, one more thing: if you buy this, seriously consider picking up a third-party battery with at least 1500mah. The difference in battery life is substantial.
On: 2007-06-20
The pictures out of this camera are awesome! I had the G1 a long time ago and must say get one of these G7s and see for yourself. I print directly from the camera to my Canon printer and the pictures are sharp colorful and the exposure is right on.
On: 2007-06-18
Go get one and go out and shoot. Its small, heavy, quiet, and has a killer lens. You wont miss the RAW files. Just get the shot right when you shoot it.
It has a wide 16:9 setting. 2 custom settings on the dial so you can just click to your favorite camera set ups in a flash. HD movies, full manual, low noise, awesome style and button layout.
I did a search on Flickr for Canon G7 and clicked the "Most Interesting" tab. There youll see what people are doing with this neat camera.
I love mine.
On: 2007-06-14
...its still a great camera. I had no intention of replacing my 4MP Canon S45. It still shoots excellent snaps, gives me manual control when I want it, and shoots RAW (which is fun to play with, but not all that useful, IMO). But when my wife suggested I give the camera to my son and buy myself a new one, I took the plunge. I remember considering the G3 when I bought my S45, but I didnt see a clear advantage for the additional bulk. But now, with the S-series defunct, and the G7 smaller, I didnt hesitate. Because...
--Its a Canon. They have a lock on mass-market digital cameras. Others are close, but no Canon. And I can use everything I learned from my previous Canon here.
--It still fits in my coat pocket, so I always have it with me.
--It gives me full manual control.
--Unlike the S-series, I can add a wide-angle and a zoom lens (although the integrated zoom has been superb so far).
--Even my wife (not a camera hound) was impressed that it could take an external flash (just like our old Pentax SLR).
--The presets are more varied and useful than my S45 (fireworks, flowers, etc)--although they are not quite as accessible (have to use the menu to get to them)
--I think the camera looks cool, and that counts for something.
So why not 5 stars? The files are bigger, but not that much better--unless you want to do some serious cropping. I do crop my pictures (cant get close enough to the action at sporting events), so this is useful. But for most, they are just bigger files that slow down the computer for negligible benefit.
I suppose I am the target market for the G7--a former S-series owner (not a former G-series owner). And so all those who say the G7 isnt a G might be right. But its an excellent camera, and I would recommend one to anyone who wants something smaller than an SLR with a wide amount of flexibility and control.
On: 2007-06-12
This camera is a well made object and actually looks and
feels like a compact camera rather than a mobile phone.
Clearly some experimentation is required to familiarise
oneself with the many settings though if time is limited
there are fully automatic settings. First results examined
on photoshop look extremely promising
On: 2007-06-11
In the late 70s, 80s and 90s I sold cameras at a mom and pop store. I dont miss working retail but it was nice to see a camera and hold it before shelling out 500 bucks. These days thats almost a thing of the past. This caused me to do many hours of on-line research before choosing this Canon. I happen to be fond of Leica and really wanted one. Im also fond of my hard earned money and did not like the price of the Leica as much as the mystique that it represented, but the Leica/Panasonic D-Lux 3 seemed to be a real possibility. I looked at reviews and saw complaints of noise in both. I looked on Flickrs camera finder link and viewed images from both the Canon and Leica, as well as the Lumix and a 9mp Fuji. All produced superb images. Many showed signs of sharpening in post production. The Leica seemed to have the potential for slightly better quality under the most ideal of conditions, but noise was also slightly more evident.The fuji was a great performer but I prefer the traditional rangefinder style of the others. I purchased the Canon from Amazon and am very pleased with it. Though small it becomes comfortable in the hand after some use. The images are superb, the color spot on. The delay is a little long when photographing active children but its not the size of an EOS. Im more than satisfied with the Canon and with Amazon
On: 2007-06-10
I have bought this camera as a substitute of my previous Sony DSC-V3. Im satisfied with my purchase, but I miss infrared NightFraming and NightShot functions, which my previous camera had.
On: 2007-06-07
Hi Folks,
We got this camera for a long tour we are doing across the US and Europe taking shots of musicians performing at our organizations showcases. We also have a Canon D30, a fantastic camera of course, but when weve taken the same pictures with both cameras using the Auto settings, weve consistently found the G7s to be better in all ways. Sure, you cant attach the same lenses we use on the D30, and if youre a real photographer looking to tweak settings and do specialized shots, its a whole different world. But if youre taking a LOT of pictures, on a vacation or at an event, you can set this thing on Auto and most of the time youll be really happy with the results.
The flash is VERY bright (far superior to the built in D30 flash) so shooting in dark rooms is easy. (Were looking at manually decreasing the brightness actually). The one drawback weve found, which has previously been stated, is that Red Eye seems more common on the G7 than our D30 or even our very old Sony digital camera. I am not sure why its such as issue, but sadly that is a serious drawback when shooting a lot of peoples faces at close range with a flash. Weve been shooting peformers slightly off center to avoid the problem.
The battery life is a bit lacking, but the charging speed with the supplied charger is very quick which makes up for it as long as you have 2 batteries for the event/occassion. Ive found the battery will last about the same amount of time a 4 gig card lasts, (app. 300-350 shots). We take that many or more a night and its almost always with a flash on every shot, so daytime or well lit photos will likely result in more battery life.
In the photos we compared side by side, I think most would find it difficult to tell which are the D30 and which are the G7 except for the dimensional size difference.
Overall, this is the best little camera weve ever used. Who in the world needs RAW or a flip screen in the first place?
Brian
On: 2007-06-05
GOT THE CAMERA FOR MY WIFE. THIS CAMERA DOES IT ALL, DAY AND NIGHT PICTURES, NIGHT PICTURES TURN OUT EXCELLENT. EVERYTHING THIS THING IS ADVERTISED AS DOING IT DOES.......
On: 2007-06-03
The main reason I purchased the G7 was for the full manual mode. I take many macro shots and the G7 is capable of getting very close. The Manual focus takes a little getting used to because you are adjusting a dial and not the lens. The image quality is crisp and the color depth is incredible. The G7 has a quality feel and nice old-school design but Its not a pocket camera. Its small but has bulk. The extra ISO dial makes it quick and easy to change film speed. The G7 also has a nice zoom that can be increased with add on lenses. I really like the G7 for its design speed and quality.
On: 2007-06-02
Outstanding features at a reasonable price. Easily "upgradeable", accepts external flash & Lens (teles).
Awesome picture quality.
On: 2007-05-30
overall this camera is great, it is so much sleeker than my old powershot g2(which stills takes great pictures)it is lighter, faster,and charging batteries is a breeze. the only thing i really miss is a more defined hand hold.
On: 2007-05-22
I got a g7 at the beginning of the month and it has all ready died with error 24. I am returning it and may not get another one. It does not have the canon raw mode and honestly I am not sure the pictures are better than my PowerShot S50. It also seemed more fragile than I expected.
On: 2007-05-21
I received the G7 Friday and promptly returned it on Monday. Why? I expect much more from Canons top of the line point-and-shoot. No grip, long lag time, LCD blanked out for seemd like a long time betwee shots, some over-exposed shots in auto mode.. to name a few.
The G7 is definitely a good looking cemera. If you never owned a digital camera, G7 is for you.
I also have the A620 and think the G7 is a lesser camera for twice the price. Yes, the G7 comes with IS, but I have not seen any significant improvement in my shots. For the price of the G7, you could almost buy 2 A640s! It reminded me of the early age of digital camera. You lived with less because that was all you had. You always wished for a little bit more in each camera. The G7 is in this category.
On: 2007-05-21
I havent even begun to take advantage of all its features. The pictures are amazing. It has great zooming capabilities without loosing quality. I love it and recomend it.
On: 2007-05-15
This camera is great. The pictures are so clear you can see the seam of a baseball as it is coming in on a pitch at our sons baseball game. The size is also a plus. I can fit it into my purse and carry it everywhere.
On: 2007-05-14
++ Sharp photos with good image stabilization feature.
++ Good close-up shots.
-- Can improve the clarity of shots with various ISO settings.
-- Would rather have contemporary design instead of retro-design.
On: 2007-05-13
This camera takes great photos, its just too big for me to carry around without feeling like a dork and enjoying what Im doing. Again, takes great pictures, just not for me.
On: 2007-05-13
Its a point-and shoot, or an SLR - you decide. Easy to use for the amateur, with all the accessories and options a more serious photographer would want. If you want a camera that you can share between a novice and an enthusiast, this is it. Just check out the myriad accessories available for this camera - its outstanding.
On: 2007-05-12
My previous compact camera, a Canon digital elph bit the dust and I had to replace it. I own a Canon D20 SLR which I love but its impractical to carry on business trips. As a serious hobbiest I wanted to upgrade the image quality and features over the super-compact models without sacrificing portability. I find the G7 to be a great compromise. It wont fit in a pants pocket like the smaller powershots, but the 10MB size, larger sensor and full feature set more than makes up for the small sacrifice in portability.
Ive used the G7 for a month now and its robust controls including sophisticated metering and a wide variety of shooting modes make it a fantastic camera. At under $500 this is a great value too.
On: 2007-05-07
Excelent camera. High quality and resolution. The best photos I have ever take.
On: 2007-05-07
I purchased the Canon G7 for a gift.
The G7 is a wonderful camera. The battery has a very long life. My son loves the camera and its many features. I may purchase the Canon G7 for myself. The photos are just wonderful. The learning curve is pretty simple to get started.
On: 2007-05-06
I have used this camera for a few months and I LOVE it. I took a series of pictures at my nieces High School musical...it was a TERRIBLY dark theatre and I was at least 5 rows back and way off to the side and my pictures turned out amazing. This is EXACTLY why I bought this camera to capture shots in dark environments with lots of movement (I have 3 kids of my own). The pictures so far are BEAUTIFUL and amazingly even red eye has gotten better without the addition of another flash. Thank you CANON!
On: 2007-04-27
I own the G5 and now the G7. The G7 is a great replacement!
Pros:
Super-fast power-up to first shot
Image quality
Nice functional optical zoom
Retractable lens flush with camera body
Built-in lens cover
Very nice "high quality" video mode
Small case/body
Much improved power-on/power-off button
Cons:
Poor and unusable "e-mail quality" video mode
The G7 doesnt have the flip-out LCD like the G5
Somewhat small right-hand grip area
You wont go wrong with the G7.
I recommend using SanDisk Extreme III SD cards with this camera for shooting speed and transfers to PC.
On: 2007-04-27
Excellent Camera. Right out of the box Im taking great shots. Even into the digital zoom mode at 24x the picture is awesome. Ive been taking action and still photos of things in my yard, trees, dogs, birds, bugs, wife, all have been great shots. Menu system is easy to figure out. Auto setting are spot on most of the time. The LCD is superb. I shopped for weeks for this camera, reading reviews, pros, cons, Im glad I finally ordered this camera. I was nervous because I could find it in local stores where I live. Great camera at this price. Battery life is good. Feel and weight are fine. This thing is built like a rock solid tank. Very happy with my purchase and Amazon offered a free 2GB SD Card. Finally dont be fooled by the cheap prices you might find on the web with price search engines. Many of them are bait and switch using high pressure sales to sucker you when you call them to verify your credit card info. Stick with reputable dealers that are on Amazon or other "Well Known sellers."
by: imuilu143 On: 2007-04-26
I have this camera and it is outstanding. Lots of controls for those of us that want to set aperture priority, set shutter speed priority, or just let the camera decide what to do. If anything, there are too many choices one could make, but one can also set on full automatic and let the camera do the work of composing. A fairly intuitive set of buttons and commands and menus for use when one wants to take over composing (aperture, shutter speed, flash type, and so on), and yet one can turn it on auto and snap away. This camera has a solid feel to it, and its almost as if one looks at this and feels its ready for whatever photo op may come along. 6x optical zoom does great and is likely to be all one really needs (additional 4x digital zoom gives you a bigger look at the pixels but, like every digital zoom, the picture isnt improved, so who really cares about the digital zoom hoo-hah.) Drawbacks--its 1 5/8 inch thick, so those of you that want a credit card sized camera will find this too large. But theres a solid feel about this, and it works well, so if you have space for a 1 5/8" wide, 2 3/4" tall, 4 1/4" long camera, weight of 12 ounces loaded with the battery (weighs more than a credit-card camera, but not "too much" for what this one does nor is it too heavy to carry around), Id advise looking at this. Nikon P5000 was the competition but this Canon is a lot better. Im very glad with this purchase. This has a very bright and large LCD view on the back of the camera (2" wide, 1 1/2" tall, very good), plus you can get a decent look through the viewfinder too, although with the quality and SIZE of the LCD, I suspect most of us will use it to set up the shots.
I have no financial interest in any company or product that I review.
On: 2007-04-23
Looked at a number of cameras including the TZ3, P5000, and a few others. Nothing compared to the G7 which is the one I ended up going with; IS, 6x lens, incredible quality, etc.
If you want the best camera out there and dont feel like messing with a DSLR, the Canon G7 is in a league of its own ~ The Benchmark by which all other manufacturers strive towards.
On: 2007-04-20
Pros: This is truly a high end digital without the bulk of a DSLR. Great feel and features. It was slow at first with standard SD card, but installed a very fast, Sandisk Extreme III (20mb/sec.) and the Digic 3 processor was instantly unleashed. Now it performs as I had hoped. I think that the reviews would have been better if they had used faster cards. Shutter lag is gone and I can take continuous shots with amazing speed. Menus and controls are excellent. Movies are great, too.
Cons: No RAW (if you need it). Red-eye is similar to all close flash cams, but easily removed with included software. No zoom during video.
Other Thoughts: G7 is smaller and lighter than reviews say. It really feels like a camera, not a tiny toy. Battery life is not bad so far...will likely buy a spare. Oh...it takes very nice photos, too.
On: 2007-04-20
Have had an Olympus 4.0M.for 4 years and been very happy with it. As a gift I got this Canon and was very diappointed in the color quality and sharpness. Shot about 600 pictures people were blurred,not crisp and dim even on a sunny day. Had to return it.Dont buy
On: 2007-04-03
Im an old school photo enthusiast and finally replaced my Nikkormat FTN 35 mm with this camera. It gives me the creative control I want and the automation I never had before. I purchased the 430EX flash for it and now it gives me great indoor shots as well. Without the external flash its a compact camera that gives great results outdoors and acceptable results indoors. With the external flash its not so portable, but the results are terrific. I would recommend a bracket of some kind if you use an external flash or its a bit unsteady. One other thing--I couldnt believe how great the video results were for a `still camera. With a 4 gig card you can fit lots of 10 mp stills or 30 minutes of video. With the optional tele extender and wide angle adapter youll be set for anything but professional needs.Stroboframe Quick Flip 350 Flash Bracket for 35mm Cameras
On: 2007-03-31
I am pleased with all aspects of the camera. Combining the 6x optical zoom and 10 megapixals has allowed me a lot of flexibility to crop my prints. The stablizing must work, all my pictures have been sharp. There is some lag between the time you push the shutter button until the camera takes the picture.
On: 2007-03-30
This is the very best pocket camera Ive been able to find, including the brand new nikon P5000 which I just bought and have found to be inferior. Im not saying I LOVE it--and in fact Id actually prefer the pain of bringing a DSLR over the limitations of this camera whenever possible--but it avoids the flaws that damage the competitors.
First of all, it fits comfortably in your pocket. It is big but the lens retracts in a nice way. Unlike the 10 mg lumix pocket camera which has a lens protrusion issue.
As far as quality, heres the scoop.
1) the pictures at low ISO are the highest quality indoor pics Ive been able to get with a pocket camera. And Ive tried them all. At higher isos it starts to suck but so do all the competition it seems.
2) the movies are *extraordinary.* absolutely rock solid video and the sound is great too (very very rare).
3) it can take a wide angle converter, telephoto converter, and has a hotshoe flash feature.
Note the following drawbacks, but these are common to all pocket cams it seems.
1) useless viewfinder
2) small aperture, completely useless for putting background out of focus. (however, there is just enough change in the focus emphasis that you get a tad of a 3d effect, but it is VERY subtle). Again, I have been able to find no pocket camera that has a fast (large) aperture. The G6 had one but was otherwise--I assure you--inferior to this camera.
On: 2007-03-24
I purchased this camera assuming it would shoot like an SLR in a size that still makes it packable like a point-and-shoot. For the most part, it does. I upgraded from an older, simpler Powershot S400, hoping to get back some of the manual control from my old film SLR days. Certainly the manual aperture and shutter speed modes (which use an attractive on-screen display along with the dial ring on the back of the body) are very accessible and convenient. A setting lower than f2.8 would certainly be nice, however. What I didnt expect was to be making so much use of the auto and program modes... silly me, thats probably what I paid all the $$$ for in the first place. The face recognition, and advanced metering capability really helped with some tricky shooting situations. You can wow your friends with the face tracking on screen as the subject or camera moves...
The most noticeable drawback (and this has been previously mentioned) is the high noise of that tiny CCD with 0.01 Gigapixels crammed into it. Its really pretty bad in some situations. Be VERY careful not to forget and leave the camera in a higher ISO mode, or pictures (even in daylight) can be ruined by graininess. True, youll get some photos at the higher ISO modes that you would not have gotten otherwise, but the result is a bit of a disappointment.
Props go out for the superb job with the image stabilization. Seems like thats where the investment really paid off (by me and by Canon). With a steady hand-held position, 1/15 shutter speeds do not present a problem (I do recommend snapping off a couple shots though, just ot be sure).
On the non-shooting side, the options available to manage and selectively delete pictures stored on the SD card are very good. I was especially happy to see I could clip videos down to the desired length right there on the camera. Who wants to carry a hundred MB of video, when all you want is 10 seconds thats on the clip? Nice job on that.
A strange/annoying feature (havent figured out how to disable it) is that if you zoom in on an image to view it, and delete it or move onto the next image on the card, the camera holds the zoom to previous level of the last image. Sort of odd.
Battery life has been fine, compared to other cameras Ive owned. For a camera this size, it seems like they could have worked a little harder to fit AAs into it.
Overall, I can see this camera and I are going to get along fine. It fits in my old camera pouch I used to carry my SD400 around in. It shoots awesome pictures in daylight, and does well in low light as long as I my hand is steady and I dont b*tch too much about the graininess. Prices look like theyre starting to come down, and Id say its a steal at about $400 if anyone wants to wait.
On: 2007-03-18
After having switched 3 cameras in 2 years, I think I can safely say that this is perhaps the best Pro-Am camera around and best value for the money. Was very easy to use and pictures are very close to the real thing.
On: 2007-03-18
I purchased this camera after reading reviews and tech specs about the camera. Its either not enough, or its too much ... Im not sure which. I returned it and purchased a 10 megapixel Powershot A640 which has a swiveling view finder (which is great!) and will suit my needs just fine for about $200 less.
On: 2007-03-16
This is the perfect camera for me. I take alot of close-up detail shots and the images come out great. It is smaller than my old G3 (which I loved, but was pretty chunky).
On: 2007-03-15
Just like what youre doing now, i spent a good few days reading the reviews and tech specs before purchasing this camera. Ive only had it for a few days and i couldnt be happier. In a nutshell, the quality of the camera and pictures are incredible. I am upgrading from a point and shoot canon s400 4.0 mega pixels... and its night and day.
If youre outgrowing your regular digital camaera... this is the perfect transtion. Believe me. You will learn how to utilize some of the easy to use manual features that will take your photography to the next level. Already ive experimnented taking a few pictures in auto mode and then in manual mode and its mind blowing how significantly better the manual pictures turned out. No more auto for me. I am going to study the features and improve my pictures. Thats all i have to say. You can get the tech reviews elsewhere. On a side note, get the original canon carrying case ($30) - its well worth the money.
On: 2007-03-15
The G7 fits nicely in my hands, and it combines old school with modern tech in a pleasing way. You can change shutter, ISO, bracket like a true pro without going thru a ton of menus, the buttons are on top (old school), but the picture quality, the auto face focus, the auto mode work great also. Its the perfect tweener camera, when you want something more than point n shoot, but you dont want to lug the big dslr around either. It fits in a purse, or computer bag, but not really in a pocket.
On: 2007-03-13
I originally had a Leica on order, but got tired of waiting for it to ship, so I ended up getting this instead. I am thrilled with the results. The camera takes amazing pics--good lens, good electronics, nice sensitivity. Especially nice is the ability to go fully automatic (for the wife) or play with much as I can with my 35mm SLR.
On: 2007-03-09
Hey I actually do not have this exact camera, I have the much older G2, but I just want to plug in and say as an amateur photog with little idea of how to do much more than point and shoot at things I like, I have been completely amazed at how often the capabilities of the G2 have earned me major praise from folks on my picture quality. Ive been offered one job doing photography, and am the one person whos private photos of a festival have been specially invited to be submitted for future promo pieces. Not even counting the many folks who want copies of my pics, 8x10 blowups, or say that should be a postcard, etc. etc.
Even with a broken viewer button on my camera, Ive been so impressed by my G2 photo quality that Im loathe to "upgrade"... and if I do, Im sticking with the Canon G series.
So, if youre an average photog, who likes to have people rave over your photos -- dont go anywhere else, stay with the canon G series. (uh, and remember to learn how to focus on a digital camera, or use the flower button for closeups... thats it, all else is done for you).
Or, if like me, you want good quality photos of yr kids to keep forever, again, buy this.
On: 2007-02-22
I love this camera. Easy to use and the 2.5 inch screen has amazing quality. The ISO knob on top is like no other and the features are endless. For a point and shoot camera, this is the best and closest you will get to an SLR without spending the money and sacraficing space. The best camera if your looking for features, speed, realiabilty, and size.
On: 2007-02-20
The camera seems to be everything it was advertised to be. I have not checked out all of the myriad options, but dont really plan to. The features I bought it for (zoom, digital stabilization, face recognition, hot shoe for external flash) all work perfectly.
On: 2007-02-17
Upgraded from a Sony DSC W1 to a G7.If you havent heard, the Sony takes blurry pictures. Enough about the Sony.The G7 does NOT take blurry pictures.Some say this camera is not for the novice,and I disagree.In auto mode its the same as a point and shoot but then in program or manual mode it has all the settings that would cover almost any lighting or shooting condition. Bad thing..price...Other than that I think the only camera that could top it would be a DSLR and price plus size would be a problem for me
On: 2007-02-17
Great camera, however it was damage. It was return, and I got a quick refund from Amazon. Amazon customer service was great and they understood the issue. I guess they check the camera to verify what I was describing.I ended up getting this same camera, from a dealer/store on my own and not online, personal choice, nothing to do with Amazon service. I also purchase a Canon Printer and it is in my office.
On: 2007-02-15
For what this camera has to offer, it is a waste of money. Even though I dont care much for RAW format (rarely use it anyway), but its a factor that separate the higher-end cameras from the lower-end one. The fact that it doesnt have RAW, it shows that Canon did not put anytime in designing this camera. Nowadays, I feel like camera manufactures take advangtage of the Image Stablization (or anti-shake) system. In my opinion, I dont think it really works. I mean, a blurry shot will be blurry regardless if the IS system is there or not. Camera manufactures just use Image Stablization as a way of marketing and try to make more money off of the camera they are selling. Also, I need to mention about the noise level of this camera. Its terrible!!! There were lots of noise in the picture even at ISO 100!!! I think this is due to the fact that Canon is trying to fit 10 MP into a 1/1.8" image sensor. This is no good. This camera would have been better off at 6-8 MP instead of 10 MP.
Anyway, enough bad things about this camera. The Canon G7 does offer a very nicely built camera. It feels very solid in the hand. There are many manual controls in the camera for the user to do creative things like taking long-shots at night. The LCD screen is very nice with high resolution. An external hot-shoe flash terminal is a plus. It is compatible with all Canons flashes. The color being reproduced by this camera is very vibrant and accurate (like a Canon cameras). Very fast responding time due to the Digic III image processor. Overall, I think that anyone spending this much money for this camera, they might as well get a DSLR instead. Or, may I recommend the Fujifilm Finepix S9100. The Fujifilm S9100 is a better camera for the money.
On: 2007-02-15
Ive had the G7 for about a month and love using it so far. This is the first semi-professional camera Ive owned, and I love the included features and photo quality. Price from Amazon was also excellent and cheaper than store prices. I was afraid the camera would be bigger than it is, but its actually a convenient size - not so big to be obnoxious to carry around, but big enough to be comfortable in my hands when taking pictures. Highly recommend the G7 to anyone looking to upgrade from a standard digital camera without the extra size and complications of an SLR. The zoom is great, too!
On: 2007-02-13
Stellar camera - for its features and its size, theres just nothing in the same class. I wanted something that would give me better image quality and more control than an average point-and-shoot, but wasnt the size of a DSLR. Thats exactly where the G7 fits in. Its a bit of a jack of all trades, and though its not a master of any, it can definitely fake it - I do wish it shot RAW, as i enjoy post-processing, but thats the largest of my complaints. Great quality shots, easy to use interfaces, and a gorgeous camera are what I got from the G7 - Im not disappointed.
On: 2007-02-13
The Canon G7 is a great camera for the serious photography buff, but not quite professional - the photographer that is, not the camera. Found the instructions to be easy to implement and am enjoying getting used to all the features and shooting whenever and wherever possible. Enjoy keeping up with my grandchildren, so Im no spring chick but love photography.
On: 2007-02-07
This camera rocks. It has many features and can be customized almost infinitly. If you want the best option for a point and shoot camera, the C7 is what you want. well worth the money!! Best Camera you can get without getting a DSLR. There are so much stuff on it I will need a to take a photography class to learn how to use them all.
On: 2007-02-07
Having been a long-time Canon user, (most recenlty with the G5) I was excited to read the reviews and hear the raves about the latest entry into the fabled "G" series.
I was not disappointed - this camera delivers! Fairly easy to use and provides foolproof pictures.
So far, Ive used it in the Auto mode for casual shots on-the-go and in the studio for a demanding subject.
Overall, an excellent choice for those not wanting to enter the dSLR world.
On: 2007-02-06
After researching ourselves, and testing out friends and familys purchases, we decided on this camera. We love it because of the quality of the pictures and the camera. I had been looking for something small, convenient, and point and shoot. My husband was looking for something to expand his photography skills with more manual settings. We found it and more in this camera, and have been thrilled ever since. We are very impressed with all aspects, including the look of the camera and the quality feel.
On: 2007-02-05
Great compact camera for travel, family photos. Easy to follow menus once you understand the Canon menu system. A lot of red-eye in many indoor pictures, somewhat small camera for my large hands but takes good quality pictures. I wish for a compact flash with bounch made for the camera. Image stabilization works well. Pricey for the features.
On: 2007-01-31
Ive had my G7 for several months now and have traveled with it extensively and taken thousands of pictures. Its got a wonderful build (feels almost Leica-like) and is just the right size for me -- bigger and heftier than the tiny pocket ELPHs, but eminently pocket-able. I just have a few quibbles and no, theyre not about the lack of RAW capabilities. Most importantly, image quality deteriorates very noticeably above 200 ISO. I have a D20 which takes gorgeous pictures at 1600, so I got spoiled. G7 has a neat little ISO dial on the top, but the quality of high-ISO shots is disappointing. 400 is barely usable, 800 or 1600 are bad. Manual focus button is on the top of the rocker wheel and its very easy to hit accidentally. I miss the remote shutter trigger and the swiveling LCD from my long-outdated G3, but not enough to complain. Buy it with a 2GB card and a second battery and youll be ready to go around the world.
On: 2007-01-31
The fact is that the RAW format gives photographers such useful advantages that this point cannot be dismissed with outright insults or slimy puns. RAW allows photographers to adjust the exposure and color temperature of a photo, something you cannot do with JPG. If the lighting was low when the photo was taken then you can brighten the entire shot or vice averse if the lighting was too bright (to some extent). Looking for a travel or backpacking camera? Most dont want to carry a DSLR on the trail or globe trotting so size does matter. There are many things a photographer can do to make a beautiful photo but, as many here would like to suggest otherwise, nature does not always provide perfect lighting. Imagine your in Madagascar and want to take a photo of that beautiful lemur. You take the best shot you can, great composition and focus but the lighting is a little dim at that moment. Do you toss that photo and hope to return to Madagascar again someday? No, you set your camera for reasonable shutter speed to avoid a blurry photo and know you can fix the exposure back home. Why someone one would need a G7 for popping shots of their friends at parties or of their grandchildren is beyond me. And sure, if youre a pro and can control your lighting there may very well be no need for you to use RAW format (except of course color correction) but for those of us who want a portable camera with manual controls and take photos in natural unrehearsed setting with uncontrolled light RAW format is essential and unfortunately the G7 falls short.
On: 2007-01-31
My last camera was a Panasonic DMC-FX01K. I had returned a Canon SD450 due to the awful, video camera-like photos it took. I had given up on Canon point and shoots after seeing the poor quality of the latest Elphs. Ive been pretty happy with the Panasonic and have taken some remarkable photos for an ultra-compact, but the noise on low-light photos was really starting to bother me and there isnt much in the way of available customization. Ive been wanting to step up to a more serious camera with lots of manual features like my old Nikon Coolpix 880, but didnt want to go the DSLR route because I dont have any urge to lug a big camera and all the lenses around.
So far, the Canon G7 is making me really happy. I still have a lot of learning to do, but the pictures Ive taken in the last week or so are very high quality. The amount of detail captured is something to be seen. Even using the zoom at full extension, the photos are remarkably detailed and you can take some pretty extreme close-ups at 6X. Evidently you can use the digital zoom to a certain point via cropping without having any detrimental effect on picture quality, but I havent played with it yet. Macro mode works very well too.
The picture quality a level of magnitude or two higher than my Panasonic. Colors are rich and appear to be extremely accurate. The photos look like theyve been taken with a high-quality SLR and theres none of the "video camera" quality I saw in Canon ultra-compacts. There is a small amount of noise at ISO400, but still better than any film camera. Yes, ISO800+ pretty much sucks, but everything below that level is just fine. If youre really concerned about noise, there are some good cheap or free programs that will do a good job of removing noise from jpegs.
The flash in default setting is a bit too powerful for most situations, but you can turn down the flash intensity. Pictures are sometimes a bit over-exposed, but turning down the EV setting 1 or two steps and makes things much better. Image stabilization works very well.
Unless you like to spend a lot of time in Photoshop, RAW isnt a big deal. If you take good enough photos, you really dont need it. DSLR people might not be to happy about lack of RAW, but those coming up from normal point and shoots wont miss anything. I also couldnt care less about the missing articulated LCD screen from the old G-series cameras. I find those things to be a pain. The ability to add wide-angle/telephoto lenses and filters is a great plus. The camera also features the ability to show you (with the shutter pressed halfway down) EXACTLY how the photo will look after you take it. No guessing is necessary.
This camera isnt perfect and it isnt a no-brainer to take great photos. However, it takes some astounding quality photos and has most of the features/quality of a full-blown DSLR without much hassle. The rather steep price is still much cheaper than a DSLR. I dont think you can get better photos out of a point and shoot. Im giving it 5 stars because there literally is no other compact camera that will come closer to a DSLRs flexibility and image quality than this one.
On: 2007-01-28
I bought this camera because i didnt feel like carrying my DSLR with me all the time.
The body is very solid, and feels great. The size is perfect, and the design just awesome.
The menus are easy to understand. It doesnt take a lot of time to learn how to use, if you have basic photographic skills and knowledge.
The ISO wheel on top is a very nice feature. Seems like Canon got it at last.
I dont really miss the RAW capability, remote controll and the LCD screen of earlier G series models, because I use it mainly for street photography, and for this use, theres basically no other camera on the market as good as the G7( at this price, I must add).
The TTL light metering system works flawlessly on this camera, and having the posibility og choosing spot metering, and setting on AWB, the JPEG images hardly need any retouching( the optical IS works very well, and Im able to shoot sharp pictures at 1/8s)
PROS:
- Excellent image quality. The light metering and IS work very well, and the coluor rendition, contrast and sharpness are great throughout the entire range( with one exception; look at cons)
- Nicelly designed camera. Not only does it look great, but it feels good in your hands, and the menus are easily accessible. Nice and big LCD screen
- Very good build quality. Solid camera that can take a beating.
CONS:
- Max. aperture at the tele end is above the diffraction limit of this camera. A faster lens or lower pixel density would be better, in my opinion.
- The noise levels above ISO 400 are very high, making pictures unusable at ISO 800 and 1600.
- Very soft corners at around 50mm focal length( 35mm equiv.). Of course, all zoom lenses are soft at some focal lengths, so I wont hold that against Canon.
- Manual focusing is not very good. Would prefer a bigger lens with focusing ring.
- The optical viewfinder is my biggest dissapointment. Its way too small, and the parallax error is something Canon should have done something with in the designing stage.
In all, its a great camera, but I would have paid a couple of hundred dollars more for a camera without the flaws I pointed out. Its still the best in its class
On: 2007-01-25
This camera is great... I own a nikon d70s and this can almost do everything. Great to carry along when you dont want a huge body. You have to pay a lot for a good product.
On: 2007-01-20
Overall I was very impressed with the Canon G7. It does a lot of things right within the context of its price, size and its likely intended constituency.
On: 2007-01-20
This is the best camera that I have had! It takes great pictures.
On: 2007-01-18
This camera is almost everything the G series needed. My only remaining want is RAW but that is ok. The jpgs are awesome. Moreover, the handling and ergonomics are awesome. Image quality, lens sharpness, contrast, saturation, etc. are all outstanding. I also shoot the 5D and 1DMKIIN and prints up to 8x10 are very very close to these professional SLEs. High ISO performance is good. Between 200 and 800 it is outstanding. The controls are great. Go to manual mode and you have analog dials and gauges as in days of old--with match needle--displayed on the rear LCD. Also this camera is smaller and heftier feeling than other G series. It feels and handles more like a Leica or 1950s style rangefinder. Highly recommended.
On: 2007-01-18
I previously owned a G4 and have a small SD300. In the past I have used Nikon SLR film cameras.
Good points:
1. Very solid construction, feels like it could take some use and stand being dropped.
2. New LCD is huge and the addition of grid lines etc really helps with certain types of photography.
3. Camera start up time and focusing is excellent.
4. Small enough to fit in a pocket.
5. Some nice new additions to functionality include the `face finding exposure/focusing, multiple scenes functionality and anti camera shake which works excellently.
6. The 10 meg sensor is overkill and gives a lot of detail allowing a lot of room for cropping.
Not so great:
1. The fold out LCD in earlier G series was a great feature and the new huge one feels like it will need a lot more looking after to avoid scratching (like an iPod).
2. The new LCD seems to show some strange color tones in certain situations.
3. The camera is very small for a normal to larged size mans hands. The shrinking of the battery compartment from earlier models takes away a natural grip.
4. The new control layout is excellent, but becomes a little fiddly because of the size of the whole unit.
5. The tripod screw thread is right next to the cover for the battery/memory compartment so make sure the battery is charged and there is plenty of space on the card if youre going to us a tripod.
6. Even using Canons smallest external flash on the hotshoe makes the camera extremely unweildy.
7. Its not the end of the world, but by now, Canon should have sorted out the problem of the lens taking space in the tiny viewfinder. Having a viewfinder is an excellent option but...
9. The remote control on earlier models is missing from the G7. Earlier remote controls helped with viewing pics via a TV if you wanted to do that as well as remote shutter activation.
Conclusion
Despite some reviewers claims, this isnt a substitute for an SLR. Remember it has a very small lens, not as fast as some earlier G series models. However, the G7 is about as good as it gets if you want small viewfinder type camera. To get a better lens or similar functionality you would have to go with something as large as an SLR.
On: 2007-01-12
I bought this camera to replace my Canon Pro 90IS - yes, a dinosaur in todays terms, but great in its day. I took the G7 to Hawaii and the camera performed flawlessly. The battery life was never an issue. I love the smooth action of the lens extender.
The only negative at all is when I use a large flash for indoor shots. It does make the camera a bit awkward to handle. Nevertheless, the pictures come out great.
On: 2007-01-12
I got one of the first batches of G7s, and Im glad that I did. Most of the reviews have not been able to get over the lack of a RAW option -- and have missed the point of the camera altogether: it is designed to be the perfect backup and complement to Canon digital SLRs.
I own a Canon EOS 20D with all the trimmings. Carrying the 20D, a strobe, and a few lenses isnt a subtle undertaking; Im very grateful my wife puts up with me hauling this junk all over the place. But anyone who does this knows why Ive been on the hunt for the holy grail -- a little pocket camera that can go anywhere
Ive bought a lot of pocket cameras over the past few years, and they all go through the same "cycle of life:"
1. I look at a new lovely, shiny, beautiful little camera. It fits in my pocket! And it has umpty-ump megapixels! I have to get this one! (Wife rolls eyes.)
2. I take the new toy everywhere, and shoot lots of pictures.
3. I look at the pictures and quickly decide: (1) any picture using the built-in strobe is totally useless, and (2) even the daylight pictures look terrible. (Wife listens to me complain.)
4. At the next possible opportunity, I get rid of the darned thing. I actually have pretty good taste, so the recipient is grateful (and has what they want and need). My wife is really happy she doesnt have to listen to my whining anymore.
5. I go back to hauling around a heavy backpack and looking like a character from "What The Duck!"
6. Return to step 1.
The G7 is the first pocket camera that might actually break the cycle. The two main reasons are: (1) I can actually use my external strobe. My wireless transmitter fits in the hot shoe, and I often set one or two strobes on their little "mini stands" (Canon folks will know what I mean). The whole package is subtle enough to not get me yelled at. The pictures that I get as a result are very, very nice. One example: [...]
The second reason is that the lens is actually good enough to do a decent job. Yes, I wish it could go wider (Im a total fisheye junky!), and yes, I wish it could go longer (I also love my 70-300 DO), but the lens takes great pictures and is useful enough for 90% of what I want to do.
All other aspects of this camera pale in comparison with those two. Yeah, the image stabilization is great. Yeah, it takes nice videos. Yeah, it lacks RAW. Yeah, you have to buy a spare battery. Yeah, the G6 might have been a better camera in its day. But, I can take the G7 anywhere, and the images it takes are pleasing.
And to everyone crying about the G6: Yes, the G6 was a great camera, but I didnt buy one. It was just a little too big to carry around everywhere. Please, go visit a G7 and hold it in your hand. Youll want to own it. You want more than my silly opinion? Luminous Landscape wrote a somewhat mixed-to-negative review of the G7, and then gave the camera back to Canon. A little while later they wrote a postscript sheepishly admitting that they went ahead and bought one with their own money -- for many of the reasons Ive outlined above.
RAW, shmaw, this is a great camera. Anyone who has a Canon digital SLR (and an external strobe) should own one.
p.s. One other glaring omission: the silly thing doesnt have a battery meter! Its a lot like the old VW bugs -- you knew you ran out of gas when your motor conked out!
p.p.s. I adapted this note from a review I posted on "Trusted Reviews."
On: 2007-01-12
The G7 seems to be a culmination of all the improvements in the G-series, PLUS two fabulous new features. The first is manual focus, which I havent really used to its full potential yet, (but still - really cool) and the other is "image stabilization". This is a ground-breaking, cant-live-with-out-it bit of technology that helps you take a better picture. I often shoot in poor lighting situations and now my pictures are sharper and clearer.
Other good things about the G7: Smaller, Great zoom but also the lens closes up all the way inside - no need for a lens cap. Black not silver, fancy graphics, buttons incorporate a dial feature, all the settings are easy to get to. Takes a quick picture.
Things I dont like: No swivel monitor like the G6 (I only miss it a little, but I would have it if I could), batteries are smaller and dont last as long as the G6.
On: 2007-01-12
Foi a melhor compra dos últimos tempos! Essa máquina só falta falar! A qualidade das fostos são fantásticas. Muito fácil de utilizar. Recomendo comprar junto um cartão de 2gigas com 133x de velocidade. A máquina é robusta e com uma boa empunhadura. Todos os comandos são reguláveis como uma máquina profissional.
On: 2007-01-12
The Canon G7 Digital Camera is a superb instrument that can help the serious amateur or professional photographer get the best out of his or her work. It is fast, it has high definition everything, it is easy to use, and it has a number of settings (in addition to "automatic") that makes it easy to get the best out of various picture-taking situations (including underwater). Optional accessories include an underwater housing (I have purchased one - it is amazing - useful in rainy or misty weather as well as underwater), telephoto and wide angle lenses (though the 6X built-in optical zoom will handle most telephto needs, the easy to mount 2X telephoto accessory doubles that to 12X optical zoom). The shoe on the top of the camera makes Canon flashes work seamlessly with the camera, though the built-in flash is fine for short distances. The camera is so sensitive that the flash is usually not needed, even in dim light. The optical anti-shake feature works exceptionally well. Some critics have pointed out that you can not save images in RAW format (a format that advanced professionals use to get non-compressed data in case they want to modify the images before they are compressed into usual formats), but with the options you have with this camera, it is unlikely that most users will ever need RAW and most would not use it if it were available. I have compared the features of the Canon G7 with the recently available Leica of about the same size and shape, though many times more expensive. I can not imagine why anyone would purchase the Leica when this one is available at a fraction of the Leica price (and I am a Leica fan from before digital days).
On: 2007-01-11
I have used this camera for about a month now and I can say that it is really great. When set to auto, I have yet to take a bad picture. Like another reviewer said, you will need to study up on photography to really make use of the features. If this is your first digital camera, the amount of information packed into the camera/manual is tough to swallow at first. Keep at it and just shoot, shoot, shoot. Try a setting, shoot and see.
Picture quality is top notch. That is a FACT. LCD is amazing. Macro mode is top of the line. And the zoom is great as well. It is a bit of $$$ compared to other P&Ss, but to me it was well spent.
All in all, this camera is a good in-between for P&Ss and DSLRs. Features of DSLR, size of a P&S.
On: 2007-01-11
Im basically a point and shoot amateur, and this Canon G7 has all the features that I think Ill ever need and then some. It is slightly larger & heavier than my Powershot S400 and has a steeper learning curve (Im still very much on the beginners slope) but does what I want it to do. It is a nice compromise between Digital SLR and tiny pocket cameras. Battery life is excellent. For reasons I cant comprehend, the camera comes with an inadequate storage chip, not interchangeable with Powershot S400, so be prepared to buy a gigabyte memory chip for an extra $60-100. The battery is also incompatible with other Canon minicameras so you wil want a spare (about $50.00) The 10 megapixel and shake correction allow me to make much larger prints. The monitor is spectacular, the best I have seen on a pocket size camera. 6x optical zoom adds versatility and resolution. In spite of minor complaints I give it 5 stars.
On: 2007-01-10
I did a lot of research and I wasnt disappointed. Extremely flexible for those who love as much manual control as possible. I also find the menus very intuitive with good labels and descriptions. The style is a little utilitarian, but that wasnt a major factor for me. Its also a little heavier and bulkier than "ultra-slim" cameras Ive tried out, including canon powershots, but you can still carry it in a pants pocket.
On: 2007-01-10
This was my Christmas present to me. I passed my Canon S-30 (3.2 M pix, 3x zoom) on to my wife, replacing her aged film snapshooter. The G7 is an evolution of the S-30, with all the features plus some new ones. The ergonomics are better, the optics, imaging and stabilization are just what I was looking for. Its especially nice that I can set a grid on the viewer to keep my subjects aligned and proportionally placed.
On: 2007-01-10
Unfurtunely this camera is uncomfortable to use. The worst fault: you can see part of lens while you are wathing trhu viewfinder. The neck strap is very thin. A wrist strap could be better.
On: 2007-01-09
I have bought this piece of art 3 days before my honeymoon trip. I have just printed the pictures and they were really excellent. I recommend it for individual use only and not for professionals.
On: 2007-01-09
Real nice camera, and very small size makes this a no brainer take along. Excellent pictures and long battery life make this a truely great camera. It can take great videos also.
S. Joe Wynman
On: 2007-01-09
You cant go wrong with this one. Just make sure you have somew time to go through the manuals because it is very involved. It is intuitive however even for a total rookie like me. Yoou can start using it out of the box but if you want to take advantage of all the goodies, it will require some time. Something to grow in to. A great addition to a new hobiest!
On: 2007-01-07
I did a lot of online research and had a lot of things I wanted from a digital camera. I am extremely happy with my purchase of the Cannon G7. It is easy enough to use right out of the box. Without spending lots of time on the manuals, you can take good pictures. I have only just begun to play with the settings but it takes great closeups and great photos in low light. I love how quickly you can shoot your next photo and the warmup time necessary once the camera is turned on is negligible.
You get a lot for your money with this camera. It is a little bigger than many other digital cameras but it feels very solid and is still small enough to fit in a purse or pocket. The battery life is excellent.
I prefer using the viewfinder to take photos and it has a focus on the viewfinder. The image stabilization works very well. The software to upload and save photos is easy to use. So far I cannot think of a single negative in regards to this camera. It isnt as cheap as many other digitals but it is worth the difference in price.
If you want a more robust camera that allows you to choose some settings and options, this is the camera to choose. You dont have to be a professional to customize your photos and take good quality photos in a variety of conditions. If you want to point and click and nothing more, go with something else.
On: 2007-01-06
WOW! Is the word I would use to describe this camera.
I had a cheap 4y/o coolpix before I purchased this camera.
I was skeptical about spending this much on a camera. I wanted to take more professional type pictures and the wife wanted a point and shoot to fit in her purse.
I never thought I would have to study about digital photography to use all the features, but it had paid off. I get stunning photos in low light,
fast motion, etc.
The wife can just set it to auto, and still gets picture quality that is awesome.
While it does lack some features of a DSLR, I dont miss them. I get funny looks from the DSLR users when I whip out the compact camera, when I show them the print quality, they are stunned.
When I show them the feature set and let them toy with it, they are floored that a compact will do what this camera does.
While I know some people talk about the RAW stuff and the noise at high ISO levels and so on....but,
if you want a quality product with great prints when set to auto this is great.
If you want to get a little more involved and use the custom settings or the manual settings..lens attachments..you still can!!
I think this is a very well rounded product. While it doesnt replace the DSLR for serious, serious photographers, it help to bridge the gap for people who want to try...but not to hard.
On: 2007-01-06
There are some things I wish were different, but theyre relatively minor. First Id like to say that the lack of RAW format is not a big deal. This is after all a compact, point-and-shoot camera. I get the feeling that the reviewers complaining about the lack of RAW probably wouldnt use it anyway. I think some of them just want to show off how sophisticated they are. I wish the battery could be removed without first removing the quick-release mount. I wish the grip were better, especially a place to put my thumb. The shutter is loud and a remote would be great to have. I use an inexpensive monopod for stability. | | |
