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

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Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.8 x 1.7 inches ; 11.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000HATNI8
• Item model number: 1285B001
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (145 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,681 in Camera & Photo (See Bestsellers in Camera & Photo)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: April 17, 2005

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The PowerShot G7 features an incredible 10-megapixel CCD. It produces excellent image details even when printed large and also enables several new benefits such as Digital Teleconverter and Safety Zoom.

6x Optical Zoom Lens with IS
Features a 35-210mm equivalent zoom lens with image stabilization. Designed specifically for the 10-megapixel CCD, this lens features a new internal focusing system and an advanced dual-sided aspherical lens element for the best possible results.

DIGIC III Image Processor
Takes the performance and speed of DIGIC II to even higher levels of processing power including new face detection function, up to 1600 speed ISO, high-ISO noise reduction, lower power consumption, increased speed for SD media cards, and higher resolution image processing for enhanced LCD viewing.

Face-Priority AF/AE
Intelligent Face-Priority AF mode reliably detects faces and focuses on them. Detects three faces when shooting in standby and up to nine when shutter button is pressed halfway. When faces are detected the exposure is also biased for proper facial illumination while maintaining overall scene brightness.

Large 2.5-Inch Color LCD Monitor
Enjoy composing and reviewing images with wide view 2.5-inch LCD monitor. With this size LCD screen, it is quite easy to navigate through the menu and utilize the direct printing features.

Hot Shoe
Versatile design allows for use of any current Canon Speedlite including macro flashes and wireless TLL. (Off-camera flashes and accessories not included--must be purchased separately.)

Digital Teleconverter and Safety Zoom
"Virtual teleconverter" simulates the effect of a 1.4x or 2.3x physical teleconversion lens. With Safety Zoom, digital zooming is initially limited to preserve maximum pixel resolution.

3:2 Guide and Widescreen Mode
Helpful 3:2 guide masks the LCD screen to reveal the printable area of a standard 4 x 6-inch print. Also, capture still images in a 16:9 aspect ratio to view on widescreen computer monitors and televisions.

My Category
Improves playback experience by allowing user to put images into seven categories: People, Scenery, Events, Category 1-3, or To Do. With My Category deleting and protecting images has never been easier.

Waterproof Case
Expand creative photo opportunities with the waterproof case WP-DC11. Take up to 130 feet underwater and still utilize all of the controls the camera has to offer. (This case is not included. It must be purchased separately.)

Product Description

Canon's acclaimed G-Series has a new top-of-the-line model, and serious photography enthusiasts have a lot to be excited about. A matte black, retro-hip design houses impressive capabilities and top core specifications, including 10.0 megapixel resolution and a powerful 6x optical zoom. Loaded with Canon's latest and most advanced technologies, including an Optical Image Stabilizer for clear shots throughout the zoom range, PowerShot G7 is a camera to be reckoned with.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

265 of 280 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding non dslr camera, October 24, 2006

By	S. Miller "NewDad" (Radcliff, KY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

117 of 124 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Point and Shoot from Canon, October 26, 2006

By	RonAnnArbor (Ann Arbor, MI United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

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).

50 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SUPERB CAMERA, November 19, 2006

By	I. L. Celnik "leoncel" (Colombia) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.