Customer Reviews

Canon PowerShot G7 10MP Digital Camera with 6x Image-Stabilized Optical Zoom

5 star:		(103)
4 star:		(22)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(9)

 

 

I give it 5 stars to counter the idiot first reviewer. It's obvious to any G series owner that this camera drops the flip screen and RAW format. Get over it.

Making up for the loss of the flip screen is a higher resolution, bigger fixed screen. It's much nicer than the screen on the G6. I didn't like the loss at first, but i realized i never used it that much except as a means of protecting the screen. It's actually nice to take the camera out , turn it on, and start shooting without having to flip the LCD back into place.

The loss of RAW does not affect me. I'm someone who takes many photos especially of my newborn but I don't do a lot of post processing. RAW files are huge. The pics generally are good enough and digital has always allowed me to take more than necessary and delete any bad ones. The pics taken with the G7 are great quality. I think this is an issue affecting primarily pros who use this as a second camera, but there is great software out there for jpegs. And most people couldn't tell a jpeg pic from a RAW pic. I think Canon erred on this as i don't think this is the issue that will force people to buy its more profitable dslr cameras. DSLR will always be superior for those action shots or low noise high ISO pics. Maybe it will return in the G8 if the series continues. No matter what, Canon is taking a beating in every review for this.

Instead of focusing on what this doesn't have that the G6 had, let's focus on what this one has instead. IS. Image Stableizer. This is very important. It allows you to take the flash off and take hand held shots in low light. No more blurry pics.

Digic III. Allows faster processing and overall performance. Face detection is also new and seems to work nicely.

Hotshoe. Very few non dslr cameras have this although i'm sure the average consumer doesn't care.

6x zoom. Screen. And ability to take wide screen pics.

The camera feels very solid and seems smaller than the g6 and of course looks better with the black. The controls and menus are laid out easier IMO. 10 MP isn't that big of a deal to me although i'm sure it has it's mass appeal. I think 8 might've been better, but i'm not complaining.

Macros are much easier to take with this camera vs the G6. Again, IS helps big time.

Lens cap. What lens cap? This one doesn't need one. Prior G cameras had that loose one that always seemed to pop off.

Battery life seems shorter though so you may want that extra battery this time. (never bought an extra for G6). And it takes SD media which i really don't care for but it is more compatible for me since my laptop has one built in. The movie mode is much improved as well although i have a camcorder for that...it's still nice to have.

Bottom line, 599 is a lot to pay for a camera these days (i paid more for the G2 at the time and thought it was pretty cool back then). But this is a step short of stepping into the expensive and bulky dslr world. You get a lot of tech in this camera. I've owned a G2 and a G6 (that died on me) and this is quickly becoming my favorite by far. It's much faster due to the processor. And you get all the manual controls you could want plus the option to add external flash. For point & shoot consumers, just put it on auto which makes my wife happy.

All of my live I have been a SLR user, from film to digital. I'm not a pro, but consider myself a serious amateur. I take tons of pictures, especially during my travels around the world, and was tired of carrying all of my photo gear (Canon 30D, three lenses, flash and accessories) with me all the time. It's not only the burden and weight in your shoulder or neck -try walking with it in the middle of a tropical hot day for a couple of hours; besides, you can't freely leave it in your hotel's room, say, by night or for long periods. Not to mention street robbery, and conspicuous looking. At the end, you become a slave of it, restricting your movements; and there are times you painfully wished you haven't brought it with you at all. So, I decided it was time to try something that will fulfill my photographic needs, but could fit just in my pocket. During a long time, I looked in the internet and in magazines for a little camera that could satisfy almost all of my requirements, without sacrificing quality. I studied lots of items, brands and prices: the immense majority wouldn't do it at all. Recently, Canon launched the Powershot G7. I bought one and can't be happier with my decision. I'm full aware of its limitations against an SLR and try to overcome its shortcomings, namely its tiny sensor. I still use my SLR for my important work, but now I only travel with the G7 in my pocket and get very sharp, colorful and big pictures from every trip; photo quality is outstanding. My only and very strong complaint is its lack of RAW. I can't find a good reason why Canon did without it in this otherwise superb camera. It's not the cost: RAW is software, not hardware. And even if they considered its proprietary CR.2 RAW a costly value, they could have used Adobe's free licensed DNG (by the way, ¿why doesn't every brand include this? It's a mystery). It doesn't require additional space in camera's mechanism and if they didn't want novice photographers to be overwhelmed with it, they just could have buried it in some place of the menu. Otherwise, I definitively recommend this camera as a second one for your SLR or even a first if you don't need all of the later features.

This is truly an excellent Point and Shoot from Canon. I have been using it for a week now, and it provides consistently excellent images time after time across all shooting conditions. The excellent 6x optical zoom allows 28 to 200 zoom (35 mm equivalent) which is an excellent range for a point and shoot, and the Image Stabilization works like a dream. Some have complained about this camera lacking RAW. I shoot primarily with a dSLR and have NEVER used RAW so it is a feature I (and 95 percent of people toward whom this camera is marketed) will never need and will never miss. If you need RAW then this is not the camera for you. On the other hand, if you need RAW you probably should not be looking at a Point and Shoot camera anyway. Canon has wisely done away with RAW in both of their high-end compact cameras (The G7 as well as the S80.) The camera is a bit larger than the standard pocketable point-and-shoot fare, but it is small enough to toss in your purse, backpack, or cargo pants pocket. Easily fits in a coat pocket. There is no purple fringing in any of the shots I have taken so far (about 500) and there is no barrel distortion nor vignetting noted. This will most likely become my camera of choice at present when not using my dSLR. In fact, I plan on bringing only this trip to Europe with me at the end of the month, in lieu of dragging along a whole camera kit. Very Very happy with this major image upgrade, and wonderful feature set of this camera.

ADDM: After return from a week in Europe, I can report that the camera performed up to expectations, and that the images are just as stunning as those that I would expect from my dSLR. All landscape photos are sharp; museum and interior photos are sharp and exposed correctly, and the different modes (shutter, aperture etc) are easy to use on the fly. This remains my current recommendation for the best point-and-shoot out there right now.

NEW ADDM 8/20/07 Canon Today announced an updated version of this camera to be available in October of this year and called the Powershot G9. It incorporates a 12 mp sensor and puts RAW back into the camera. If you are planning on buying a G7, you might want to wait a few months and purchase the G9 -- it will be available for 499.99 list price when released. If you don't need RAW, then there will be no other major features that would make it your while to wait (there is practically no difference between 12MP and 10 MP at this level of camera).

When the G7 was announced, I hoped it would be the "crossover" camera I've been waiting for. My dream crossover is the one-piece compact or mid-size camera that zooms to at least 200mm, and can produce clean 8X10's under a wide range of lighting conditions. It's the one I'd take on a long trip so I didn't have to lug my DSLR and lenses around.

I've fiddled with my G7 now for about a month. It's better than any non-DSLR digital I've used, but I'm still lugging my DSLRs.

In good light, the G7 can produce images that rival a DSLR. The glass is great and the 10 mp sensor gets good resolution. It's weaknesses are noise and limited dynamic range. Getting the most of this camera is sometimes a little tricky. It tends to blow highlights in high contrast situations. Fine tree branches and hair against a bright sky get broken up. Turning down the constrast one notch and under-exposing by 1/3 a stop helps preserve the highs and some of the fine details. You can introduce more light and contrast later in photoshop. Pay attention to the histogram. The results can be impressive, but you do have to work it. I can live without raw, but I do miss not having an Adobe RGB color space.

The image stabilization works well. The G7 focuses fairly quickly. I appreciate the 210 mm long zoom length, but miss having 28mm at the short end. Being able to shoot an unlimited number of continuous full size images with a compact is very cool. The in-camera flash is limited, but the hot shoe comes to the rescue. I've gotten some really nice indoor shots using a Canon external flash, albeit at the loss of the G7's portability (my external flash is twice the size of the G7!).

All in all, I'm a bit disappointed. I thought Canon would produce that extremely versatile fixed lens zoom this year that would be a worthwhile DSLR substitute. While the G7 is as good or better at ISO 200 and 400 than any other non-DSLR camera I've used, you've definitely got noise at ISO 400, and many of the ISO 200 images are noisier than I care for. The G7's dynamic range is at least as good as any other compact I've shot, but I have to believe Canon could have done better. I think they fell victim to the pixel-wars, and packed too many pixels into too small a sensor. I didn't want more pixels. I wanted bigger and better pixels and a bigger lens, that captured more light, preserved more tonal gradation, and produced noise-free images at ISO 200, and maybe even 400.

The G7's a better one piece zoom. But it's not what I hoped for.

About six months ago I bought the SD700IS point and shoot Canon camera and I love it. It is quick. Responsive. And takes a pretty darn good picture. So even I was surprised when I encountered the G7. It is larger and heavier but offers so much more than the 700IS.

The appeal to me was it degree of manual operation which include, Program, Shutter and Aperature priorities and Full Manual. None of the Canon cameras in the SD line offer this flexibility. The other of course was the 10 megapixel sensor.

After a little over a week with the camera I can say it is one sweet machine. It fits in your hand and has great weight. Enough to feel substantial but not overwhelming. Some have said that the camera feel slick and they have to be careful with it. I would agree.

Power up is quick and the lens retracts with good speed.

It has an amazing macro function that is worth the price of the machine alone. I love this feature.

In addition you can vary the flash output in every mode but Auto. A very good feature for those of us who tend to be too close to their subjects.

I wonder if the ISO dial at the top was really needed or whether that function could have been accomodated within a menu.

And so far the pictures have been excellent for clarity and colour.

SLR's do not interest me. They are too cumbersome and I have been there and done that. With point and shoots I take ten times the pictures and have a 100 times the fun. But I have to say that graduating to the G7 has been a great decision.

It gives you more opportunity to be creative and to control more of the shot and the environment in which the camera is operating.

One thing: This is not an intuitive camera. It takes time to learn. Keep the manual close by for you will undoubtably be referring to it frequently for the first few weeks.

All and all an excellent purchase.

(Update: I just bought the G9. It's NIGHT AND DAY a better camera, and a highly worthy upgrade. RAW mode is fantastic, and IQ is significantly improved. I also like the new LCD.)

I got one of the first batches of G7s, and I'm 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 isn't a subtle undertaking; I'm very grateful my wife puts up with me hauling this junk all over the place. But anyone who does this knows why I've been on the hunt for the holy grail -- a little pocket camera that can go anywhere

I've 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 doesn't 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 (I'm 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 didn't buy one. It was just a little too big to carry around everywhere. Please, go visit a G7 and hold it in your hand. You'll 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 I've 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 doesn't have a battery meter! It's 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."

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 didn't expect was to be making so much use of the auto and program modes... silly me, that's 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. It's 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, you'll get some photo's 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 that's 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 that's on the clip? Nice job on that.
A strange/annoying feature (haven't 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 camera's I've owned. For a camera this size, it seems like they could have worked a little harder to fit AA's 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 don't b*tch too much about the graininess. Prices look like they're starting to come down, and I'd say it's a steal at about $400 if anyone wants to wait.

I just noticed the reviewer who was upset that the new Canon G7 does not offer a RAW format. As a professional photographer... just wanted to offer a couple of comments on that subject. In my humble opinion, shooting in RAW format, in many cases, is a waste of time... even in most professional work situations. The extra steps in workflow, required by the RAW format, are simply not justified in the majority of photography work situations. I have sold many prints, posters, and stock images produced from jpeg files. I have also been published in magazines and travel books using jpeg images almost exclusively. Many photographers have come to view the jpeg format as the "amatuer" format and RAW as the "professional" format, which I believe is really not accurate. I know a lot of professional photographers who make extensive use of the jpeg format (no matter what camera they are using). I have not found a photogographer or editior, yet, who can actually tell the difference in a print produced from a RAW file and one produced from a high quality jpeg file out of the same camera. I have had this same discussion with a former photographer from National Geographic. He stated that he could not tell the difference in a print from a jpeg file and a RAW file either. He said that he, always, shoots in jpeg format. Yes, I understand the additional ability to "tweak" an image in RAW, but if the image is correctly exposed to begin with... very little "tweaking" should be necessary anyway... and working in jpeg is a much faster and more efficient workflow for me. Just my opinion, but I could care less that the G7 does not offer a RAW format. It seems like a great camera to me. Looking forward to trying one out. The feature set seems to be extraordinary.

What this camera offers is exceptional image quality, exceptional high performance zoom, exceptional control, in a modest sized camera.

The 10mp sensor/lens combination produce tack sharp photos, with top-notch color. The image stabalizer is a tremendous enhancement for non-flash photography, but is also a tremendous enhancement WITH flash! This allows the use of slower shutter speeds to help the background come out in the photo, while also allowing some available light to strike our subject, giving us a more realistic, less "cardboard cutout" look.

The camera looks sharp, and has a solid feel in the hands and while operating the controls. The battery system has reasonably good performance, and is the same battery found in the Digital Rebel XT & XTi series.

The new memory card system is superior to the older CF. SD & SDHC are much, much less prone to accidental damage to improper insertion, damage that may very easily exceed $100 in repair bills (and weeks of lost shots).

Compared to previous G series, this one is much smaller, although not pocket size, a bit big for many purses. While lacking a rotaty LCD, the new, wide angle LCD allows the camera to be much thinner, while still giving reasonable performance at odd angles. The loss of RAW is a real loss, even if only a small percentage of people would use this feature. However, the upgrade to the new Digic III processor should be somewhat of an offset.

Overall, the finest sub-DSLR on the market today.

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 man's 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 you're going to us a tripod.
6. Even using Canon's smallest external flash on the hotshoe makes the camera extremely unweildy.
7. It's 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 isn't 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.