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

• jpeg vs. RAW

  
  By A19OU0IWCBU9G on 2006-09-26
  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.
  
  

• Outstanding non dslr camera

  
  By A17E3NBADNTI3X on 2006-10-24
  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.
  
  

• Excellent Point and Shoot from Canon

  
  By A3FPSY1M6G7XIB on 2006-10-27
  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).
  
  

• Better, But I Was Hoping for More. . .

  
  By A3GD6FMPHD40L2 on 2006-12-11
  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.
  
  

• SUPERB CAMERA

  
  By A3W2LBULL95SSU on 2006-11-19
  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.
  
  
• Great Camera
  By A1T9YSDAYS097M on 2006-12-05
  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.
  
  
• One of Canon's Best
  By A1D4FSGFZ7NR14 on 2006-11-12
  I have been a Canon fan ever since digital cameras first came out. I've bought other brands, but always came back to Canon. I continually upgrade and have quite a few Canons, including the A710 IS with image stabilization. I was intrigued by the thought of a 10 megapixel and the reviews of the Canon G7. After receiving it, I was just incredibly impressed. It outdoes my other Canons. In the plain auto mode, the photos are superior and incredibly clear. They are so sharp, they look like professional photographs. I take photos in my classroom where the lighting is not very good and the G7 photos come out bright and clear. It is the one camera that I can just print without having to first adjust with the image editing programs. Even the movie clips come out clear and with detail. I took night photos in a parking lot of my car and you could see all the details and the night snapshot option was amazing. I haven't had a chance to use everything yet, but what I have used was very impressive. This is now my camera of choice. (And now what to do with all my other Canons!).
  
  
• Great little camera -- perfect adjunct to a DSLR
  By A3TJ1V8IW0VNBT on 2007-01-12
  (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."
  
  
• Very good so far...
  By A354SJDBCI2T81 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 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.
  
  
• Very pleasant camera in all ways
  By A20G0URDF5AKCN on 2006-10-30
  I just recieved my new Canon G7 and have to say Im very pleased with it after a few days of use.
  
  As noted by several people this camera is not a DSLR camera, but then hopefully nobody thought it would be. :-)
  
  The camera is plainly easy to use, and deliver beautiful very printable files able to make big prints.
  
  For best results I suggest setting teh camera to AV and shooting at F. 4-5.6 as this is the range where the lens is the sharpest.
  
  Camera is highly recomended.
  
  
• The Real Deal
  By A1ZBSNY0LLFVUH on 2006-11-27
  Bought the G7 about 10 days ago and it is amazing , I also own a digital rebel xt and the photos from the G7 look every bit as good as the Rebel! no real problem with noise although I try not to shoot over 400. Some of the prints from this camera are now selling in a art gallery since I do fine art b&w photography.
  It feels, looks and acts like a real camera, I will not be parting with this one!
  
  
• Vast leap forward in camera design
  By A2UQK3DAZ8NO2T on 2006-11-15
  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.
  
  
  
  
• If you want to use the hot-shoe do not buy this camera
  By A294SFQ0M4EG1C on 2006-12-11
  Using the hot-shoe results in an approximate 1 second (!) lag between shutter button press and capture - Very disappointing.
  Unless this can be fixed and will be, I would not recommend buying.
  
  
  
• Want more go to DSLR
  By A1WVTY8X6HGXJC on 2006-12-29
  People who complain about this product should go to DSLR. I want more compact cameras that are full featured and I can carry around. I had a Sony V1 which was good and later upgraded to the Panasonic 12x zoom 8mp. Unfortuntely that camera wasn't that compact and had terrible noise at low light. When the Canon G7 came out I just had to have it and I think I found the right camera for me: 10mp is more than most people will need, 5mp is fine. 6x zoom is great and while I wish it started at 28mm, 35mm is fine. The manual controls are all there and you can actually use them (you don't need to navigate menus to do it). But the real great news for me is the Marine Case. I scuba dive and I had to have 2 cameras - one for underwater and another for everything else. This camera is the best thing you can fit into a consumer-priced marine case: Low light performance is almost as good as Sony N1 but you get better macro (1cm) and ALL manual controls work in the marine case.
  Do you want a pro camera? Go to DSLR.
  Do you want the next best thing that allows you to carry everywhere? Buy the G7.
  
  
• Best camera I've ever owned
  By AD6YDKA9EDCM9 on 2006-12-03
  I'm a photographer and I was looking for something smaller than a DSLR, but very similar to a DSLR. When I heared about this camera,I immediately bought it.
  I've only used it for two days so far. Great 2.5 inch screen that looks like a HDTV. The screen makes me look at the screen instead of through the viewfinder eventhough I always look through the viewfinder. Neat stuff added to this camera too. I can display the rule of thirds, look at the histogram and even tells you when you need to change the settings. There is also a hot shoe for light attachment and it can also attach lens.
  Also there's a hihh resolution video in this camera. It's awsome!
  If you're a photographer and tired of using those giant DSLR and want something that fits in your pocket I would recommend this camera.
  
  
• Great Camera
  By A2GMAQO6CJ9TVQ on 2007-01-17
  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.
  
  
• Great camera.
  By A2MNL2ASXJ886S on 2007-01-28
  I bought this camera because i didn't 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 doesn't 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 don't 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, there's 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 I'm 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 won't 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. It's way too small, and the parallax error is something Canon should have done something with in the designing stage.
  
  In all, it's a great camera, but I would have paid a couple of hundred dollars more for a camera without the flaws I pointed out. It's still the best in it's class
  
  
  
  
• Big step up from most point and shoot cameras
  By A157Y4KV8EFSAX 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. I've 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 isn't much in the way of available customization. I've been wanting to step up to a more serious camera with lots of manual features like my old Nikon Coolpix 880, but didn't want to go the DSLR route because I don't 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 I've 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 haven't 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 they've been taken with a high-quality SLR and there's 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 you're 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 isn't a big deal. If you take good enough photos, you really don't need it. DSLR people might not be to happy about lack of RAW, but those coming up from normal point and shoots won't miss anything. I also couldn't 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 isn't perfect and it isn't 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 don't think you can get better photos out of a point and shoot. I'm giving it 5 stars because there literally is no other compact camera that will come closer to a DSLR's flexibility and image quality than this one.
  
  
• No Wireless Remote- This was a special feature of the Powershot G's
  By AX9BCQ7BD6S6D on 2006-11-16
  The wireless Remote is missing in this version. The G6 had it. It was very convenient to shoot with yourself in the picture with a remote rather with a self timer. The PowerShot G series had a tradition of having wireless remotes and it was one of the few cameras that had it for those that wanted one. Unlike other cameras, the G series was historically known to be packed with the most features, including RAW and remote. Powershot G aficionados knew this. Canon has broken with the tradition of the G series and opted to scale down like the other brands. The unique G series was one of the few that offered SLR like features to a consumer camera. The feature packed items and picture quality was what it made it a unique series. I hope Canon brings back those features on the next G. Despite what people say that they do not use Raw, they should not have broken with the tradition because it was a very unique line.
  
  
• Simply awesome!
  By A38G8WTFGJO6IN on 2006-11-18
  This is a great new camera from Canon. Ideal for those who want the manual capability of a dSLR without the clunkiness (and cost). Or, a great second camera for those who already own a dSLR. The build quality is outstanding. The body is made of metal and the LCD is one of the brightest/clearest I've seen. Another great feature is the continuous auto focus option--it focuses constantly without you having to hold the shutter button half-way down. The camera is definitely larger than say an ELPH but the functunality can't compare!!
  
  
• From A Guy Who Knows Nothing About photpgraphy
  By A1D8Y0T36LEUFZ on 2006-11-19
  I purchased this camera based on the reviews here and From PC Magazine and CNet. Since I know very little about using it, I was very impressed with the pictures I took. ( Everything was set on auto ) I was impressed with the software and the ease of use downloading the pictures to my computer and printing. I have not read the manual. I just read the quick start guides. I plan on learning to use this camera and I am sure I will be just as impressed. Hope This Helps anyone Like me who knows so little about these cameras.
  
  
• Canon PowerShot G7 Review-A Hi-Tech Toy with a grainy Picture at medium ISO
  By A1HUPQBIXPAZ9I 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 it's hard to carry a heavy SLR gear. I found that the G7 might fit the description. Here's 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 doesn't 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, I'll 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. We'll have to wait and see if any improvement in picture quality at ISO 400 and above!
  
  
• Nice Camera
  By A1IHNHBB7VBCIW on 2007-02-17
  Upgraded from a Sony DSC W1 to a G7.If you haven't 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 it's 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
  
  
• DO NOT BUY THIS CAMERA---IT HAS NO WIDE ANGLE LENS
  By A18NPUB5CNXZOE on 2006-12-27
  This is a good camera as far as it goes. But, it has no wide angle lens. It does have an attachment you can put on the front of the lens to provide for a .75X wide angle lens. But, the wide angle attachment will cost you at least $100 more and it will not be convenient to put on and take off over and over again. And, if you want a Canon point and shoot camera that "has it all" including a wide angle lens you'll need to go to the Canon SD800IS. Also, The Panasonic DMC FX01, Kodak Easy Share V570 and V705 and Panasonic DMC FX07 .....all have a 28mm or less wide angle lenses.
  
  So, you ask, "who needs a 28mm or 23mm lens?" You do! Most people concern themselves with how LONG is their telephoto lens. But, most people who "know" know that it is the WIDE ANGLE lens that is most important---most of the "best shots" are made with a WIDE ANGLE lens. For example, you're in Europe and you are trying to "get a shot" of that Cathedral of Notre Dame over there. You NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the California Poppy Fields and you want to get the expanse of the golden-yellow poppy flowers with the huge blue sky filled with white clouds above---you need a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are sitting at thanksgiving dinner and you want to take a photo from the foot of the table with everyone sitting on the left and right---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. You are in the garden of the California Mission and you want to take a photo of the ENTIRE garden surrounded by the mission walls---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. It's Christmas day and you want a photo of the ENTIRE GROUP of visitors in front of the Christmas Tree---you NEED a WIDE ANGLE lens. This is where the 28mm lens (or 23mm on The Kodak cameras) comes in! So, you NEED A CAMERA WITH A WIDE ANGLE LENS! Otherwise you'll be cutting off heads and leaving Aunt Sylvia out of the "Christmas Group Photo" this year---and she'll disinherit you and you'll live a life of poverty and misery everafter! :o) If you agree or disagree or know of ANY other digital point and shoot camera that has a WIDE ANGLE lens or if you want me to send you a sample of a "ture wide angle" photo by email, please write, Email:boland7214@aol.
  
  I prefer the Nikon P50 which has all three features that I want: 1) A Wide Angle Lens, 2) An optical viewfinder in addition to the LCD screen, and 3) Uses easy to find AA batteries instead of a proprietary hard to find battery.
  
  
• Very good point and shoot
  By A2B5RWNN9JQP50 on 2007-06-23
  I bought this as a point and shoot for my wife who doesn't like to carry a heavy SLR. I'll occasionally use it when I don't 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 I've 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 I'm 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 they've 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 aren't 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. I've used my 430EX speedlight on this camera with quite good results (if you don't 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, I've found that the third party replacements for canon NB-2L's 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.
  
  
• Outstanding Camera
  By AC1NNDS1FSL5E on 2006-12-14
  Just received my camera a few days ago. I started shooting immediately. Was very easy to use. The LCD screen is great and very bright. Lots of people have been complaining about a flip screen. In my case I am glad its not since I have a 20 month old and I am not sure what he would have done with a flip screen if he ever got hold of it. So for me its a plus.
  
  The picture quality is great. Its a great looking camera as well. I still need to read much more about its capabilities but I am sure I will be impressed. I did own a Canon SLR and I did not want to buy another bulky DSLR. I settled for the G7 since it comes close to a DSLR without the bulkiness.
  
  
• So far, It's been great!
  By ABFZZSSYOG88P on 2006-12-22
  I got the Canon g7 as an early Christmas gift two weeks ago. So far, I have been very pleased with it. I upgraded from a Canon A70 (3.2 MP). I did not expect an SLR and did not want one, although some people tried to talk me into one. Some of my shots are taken from the back of my husbands motorcycle and I just can't imagine trying to change out lenses there or dealing with the bulk of an SLR. I simply wanted the best point and shoot we could find and I believe I found it. I used the aquarium setting to take pics from inside a vehicle and got no glare or reflection at all from the glass. I also actually shook the camera up and down just to see what would happen to a pic and it was very good, except when using a lot of zoom. I look forward to using this camera a lot and trying new things with it that I've never had in a camera before.
  
  
• not what I need.
  By A3PHVZGEDZYC7L on 2007-03-18
  I purchased this camera after reading reviews and tech specs about the camera. It's either not enough, or it's too much ... I'm 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.
  
  
• Can't buy this camera now!
  By A9J7ZW4CBIRY8 on 2006-12-09
  I was just about to buy this camera when I found out that you couldn't shoot in the RAW format.
  After shooting exclusively RAW for the last year and knowing all the benefits of it, I can't bring myself
  to buy this camera now.
  
  
• Canon G7 Digital Camera
  By AWA1MSJ42IOQS 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).
  
  

• Canon Speedlite 220EX for Canon Pro1, Pro 90, G Series and all EOS SLR Cameras
• Digipower BP-CN2L Replacement Li-Ion Battery for Canon NB-2L
• Lexar Media 128 MB Secure Digital Card
• Lexar Media 256 MB Secure Digital Card (Retail Package)
• SanDisk SDSDB-256-A10 256 MB Secure Digital Card (Retail Package)

• Canon NB-2LH Rechargeable Battery Pack for Digital Rebel XT/XTi, PowerShot S30/40/45/50/60/70/80, G7 & G9 Digital Cameras
• Canon PSC-5000 Semi-Hard Leather Case for the Canon G7 and G9 Digital Cameras
• Kingston 2 GB SD Flash Memory Card SD/2GB
• SanDisk SDSDH-2048-901 2 GB Ultra II Secure Digital Memory Card ( US Retail Package )
• SanDisk 2 GB SDSDX3-2048-901 Extreme III SD Memory Card (Retail Package)