Home > Consumer Reviews > Canon PowerShot G7 Digital Camera - Black (10.0MP, 6x Optical Zoom) 2.5" LCD

I've been a digital camera owner for the last 6/7 years. I started off with a Samsung (which gave up the ghost after about 2 years), then more recently I had a Pentax Optio-X which finally stopped focusing all together about 2 months ago. When the Pentax stopped working I went internet shopping for a replacement. I wanted something to rival my SLR (a Minolta Dynax) in picture quality, which I knew would be difficult. And I also wanted a compact (ish) camera so I could take it out in the evening without being too bulky.

After a large amount of shopping around on the review sites (dpreview.com is one I would recommend) I narrowed it down to 1 camera. This one, the Canon G7, and I must admit that I've smitten. The picture quality is fantastic (even in low light without flash), the video quality is really rather good (even though you can't zoom whilst recording) and the battery life is much better than I envisaged.

All in all this is a really recommendable package - especially at Amazon's prices.

After 2-3 Sony Cyber-shot cameras I decided it was time for a change. I wanted something that allowed creativity and lots of manual controls, but not necessarily the heavy bulk that is generally the digital SLR.

Delighted to say that the G7 is exactly that camera - initially a little daunting, given the modes (25 shooting modes!) and controls, but take your time and eventually all will become clear.

The user manual is a MUST - shame it's only a PDF file on one of the enclosed CDs. Print it out ASAP, you'll need it (all 170 pages!).

I think that this camera will allow the SLR-like results, yet the G7 is only slightly larger and heavier than the average pocket-sized compact.

So in summary, you MUST:

1) Print out the manual - not good to keep using on-screen
2) Buy a decent case or pouch
3) Buy a 1Gb or 2Gb SD card

Then enjoy getting used to this superb camera and the stunning results you will no doubt obtain.

I eventually bit the bullet and sold my trusty Canon AE1 Program of 23 years vintage a few weeks ago and have replaced it with the new G7 as it promises to be a more than adequate replacement. I bought the Camera, Canon Leather Case, SanDisk Extreme III 2Gb SD (476 highest quality shots) and a spare battery. I am very impressed, what I used to carry around in a flight bag I now have in one small leather case. I have no interest in taking shots using RAW format so no loss there for me and the 10MP quality is superb anyway. The optical zoom does not quite acheive the magnification of my old 210mm telephoto lens but I am yet to add digital zoom to this and look at the results. As yet, I still need to explore the huge variety of automatic and programmable modes, the Shutter and Aperture Priority modes and to play around with exposures.

I have though tried out multiple shots (it acheives about 4-5 per second)at a shutter speed of 1/2500 out of a moving car with outstanding results. There is no way my old camera would have even come close to this.

In short, it took the offer of something special to prise my trusty film SLR from my fingers and on first impressions this Canon G7 more than exceeds my expectations.

Good
Excellent resolution and respectable edge-to-edge sharpness across the zoom range... Classic 'rangefinder' styling looks great, fit & finish superb... Capable of very good results at lower ISO settings... ISO 200-400 usable for standard sized prints... Huge feature set... Face detect... AF a bit of a novelty but it is very effective for novice users... Real, usable photographic control... ISO dial on body and external access to all important controls... Bright, sharp screen that works well in bright light... Rugged, solid construction and excellent build quality... Useful 35-210mm focal length range... Effective image stabilization with 3 stop advantage... Fast and responsive performance overall... Optional lens adaptors... Flash hot shoe for dedicated flash units... Built-in flash performs well... Two custom modes and customizable shortcut button... Wide range of image color and sharpness parameters... Good continuous shooting mode (at lower ISO settings)... 1cm macro mode... Excellent movie mode - and max file size increased to 4.0GB

BAD
Very little, No RAW... Massive User Guide on Disk only... Canon Ever ready case, Canon SC-DC50, not available in Europe or UK (I got mine from Australia)

This is the best compact that I have ever owned. It even gives my various Canon Digital SLRs a run for their money. I carry it with me all the time!

I almost bought a Leica V-Lux 1 but I'm glad I bought the G7.

Great camera in looks and feel. Gave me everything thing I wanted from a point and press to the ability to compose and create. I got to grips with it fairly quickly although both instruction manuals could do with being slightly more user friendly.

Quick to start up and easy to take photographs. Good user interface which provides a quick and clear selection process. The photos it produces are of excellent quality.

I wanted a camera which gave me great pictures quickly whilst still being able to carry it around in my pocket that would still have the functions of a good SLR i.e. ability to select shutter speed, aperture etc.. and that's what I got.

Only gripes are no raw footage, a very small SD card of only 32MB comes with it and no camera case.