Canon PowerShot G7 Digital Camera Review
By Emily Raymond
Reviewed.com Editorial Staff
Published on May 17, 2007
Canon announced the PowerShot G7 after a year without a new G-series camera. This digital camera hails as the high-end flagship of the PowerShot line, complete with 10 megapixels and attachments for optional flash units and conversion lenses. It was initially priced at $599.
The Canon G7 packs in a lot of desirable components along with its mega resolution. Its 6x optical zoom lens has an image stabilization system that keeps images clear and videos steady despite shaky hands. It has a 2.5-inch LCD screen with 207,000 pixels. This isn’t as good as some cameras. The Ricoh GX-100, for example, that has the same size screen with 230,000 pixels. The Canon G7 has a decent built-in flash unit but also carries a hot shoe that allows you to attach Canon Speedlite flashes. Another compact model with a hot shoe is the Nikon Coolpix P5000, which is less expensive at $399.
Not every component is flaw-free. The G7 has an optical viewfinder that only sees about 80 percent of what is actually recorded. This is a great way to chop Uncle Marvin out of the family portrait. If you want to jump in the family portrait yourself, there is a custom self-timer that can be set to delay for 2-30 seconds and then snap 1-10 shots in a row. This is a good feature that eliminates running back and forth from the camera to set the self-timer.
Another disappointment is the PowerShot G7’s dysfunctional zoom lens in Movie mode. It locks and can't be used while movies are recording. The Nikon P5000, the G7's nemesis, has a 3.5x optical zoom lens that is functional in Movie mode. The Canon G7's inaccurate viewfinder and locked lens are the major complaints, so if those don’t matter to you then this is your perfect camera.
The 4.19 x 2.83 x 1.67-inch camera weighs nearly a pound with the card and battery, which seems quite heavy for this size. Its look is classic, though. The G7 is flat enough to fit in a pocket, retro enough to pass for an analog model, and serious enough to pass for a professional camera. It is outfitted with Manual, Priority, and Automatic Exposure modes, so there’s a little something for everyone. Don’t care for adjusting the 15-1/2500 shutter speed range? There are 16 Scene modes and a host of My Colors picture effects for you.
The Canon PowerShot G7 is built to handle large numbers of photographs. It can accept SD cards up to 4 GB, categorize pictures into folders, and scroll through images quickly with the rotary dial on the back of the camera.
This PowerShot has an average 2 frames per second Burst mode, an expansive 80-1600 ISO range for photography in all kinds of lighting, and white balance settings that span from custom to automatic and presets. There is even an underwater preset to go with the G7's optional underwater housing. A Face Recognition mode allows you to worry only about pointing and shooting. It automatically finds faces and adjusts the focus and exposure to get the perfect shot every time. The G7 can shoot only JPEG images, while the G6, its predecessor, can take JPEG and RAW images.
The G7 was introduced for $599 at the end of 2006, but the price has since dropped. The camera is designed to appeal to a wide audience: from serious photographers who want to use their Speedlite flashes on a more portable digital camera to point-and-shooters who simply want the benefits of 10-megapixel pictures and features like image stabilization and face detection. In the end, the Canon PowerShot G7 isn’t as easy to use as some other compact digital cameras, but it delivers great pictures and allows users to develop their photography skills more than the typical point-and-shoot.For a more in-depth review, visit the Canon PowerShot G7 Review at our partner DigitalCameraInfo.com
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