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

I have this camera - it is great, I still have a G6 and I had a G5. I also have an EOS Digital SLR. I wanted something that I could easily carry (it is jacket pocket sized rather than shirt pocket sized), I looked at the IXUS models plus compacts from Nikon, Fuji etc. In the end I chose the G7 because there is nothing like it quality and feature wise in the same sized package.

I think it is a mistake to make one-to-one feature comparisons with the G6, I am sure that canon did their research in order to add some features and subtract others. I never seriously used RAW with my G7 or G5 but I did use the flip-out lcd screen a few times. However I can understand Canon's decision, a flip-out screen on the G7 would be smaller than the wonderfully clear 2.5 inch screen that is featured (or the body would have to be bigger) because you need to frame the screen with metal and make space for the hinge. Because there is so much information available on screen (including a live histogram) the 2.5 inch screen is really needed.

The faster F2.0 would have been a nice to have but I am happy to trade that for a 6x range and optical image stabilisation.

Just like the G6 and G5 it is not a point-and-shoot and every photo is ok kind of camera, you need to master it to take good photos reliably in all conditions.

Definately the G7 is a great camera!

Images are excellent (sharp, good contrast and minimal distortion) and the range of things you can do with the camera is astonishing. It produces decent photographs at iso400 and that can't be said of any other compact. I've been particularly impressed with the auto white balance sensing which has only got things noticeably wrong a couple of times in several hundred photos.

The camera is about the same size as a standard film compact camera and has a quite pleasing 'retro' look to it, particularly if you have the associated official Canon case. If you're used to the current generation of small, slim digital cameras this may look a bit on the large size, but it fits well in the hand.

There are a number of gripes though:
1. No raw format. For this price and with everything else going for it, why not?
2. The viewfinder is small and the lens appears in it at the bottom left corner at some focal lengths.
3. The viewfinder does not show you an accurate representation of what's going to be in the final image. This is worse at the wide end of the focal range.
4. It doesn't go wide enough. A slightly larger image sensor would have given even better high iso pictures *and* allowed it to go down to a 28mm full frame focal length
5. The software that downloads images allows you configure the name of the folder and file, but doesn't let you use the time the photo was taken as part of the image filename, which makes organising the photos harder work.

But, all said, if you're prepared to spend this sort of money on a compact camera, at the time of writing I don't think you'll find anything that will produce better pictures under such a wide range of conditions.

When the Canon PowerShot A710 IS come out I bought without any hesitation, Its served me well, I have a small collection of digital camera's including Fuji F10, Fuji F30, Canon Ixus 800 IS, Panasonic FZ8, and to add to my 1st 10mp Camera - the (Canon G7) Black Beauty...

Well, I've read stacks of reviews on the net before buying the Canon G7, all of them have been very positive reviews, NOT a single negative read, out of at least 10 rave reviews! - well its certainly got the media buzz, it was a choice between the Panasonic FZ50 10mp, (little to much noise and too big), Sony H9, Canon PowerShot S5 IS, both not compact enough to take out casually.

(However, all the above are great cameras in their own right).

I decided to go with the Canon Powershot G7, mainly because of the fantastic detail it can bring out of a Photo in a Variety of conditions, Sunny, overcast, and indoors low light photography, brilliant all rounder with usable ISO 800. However, ISO 1600 tends to be a little on the noisey side. But its there should it be needed.

The G7 features Canon's razor sharp world famous Optics, new DIGIC III image processor with iSAPS technology and Optical Image Stabilizer, for steady shots without the need for a tripod at full Zoom 6x. Another attractive selling point was the very retro look and feel of the camera, together with full Manual for using ones imagination.!

I haven't been let down by Canon, and hope I get at least 5 - 6 years use before having to upgrade again, as Its built like a (Tank) and could tolerate the odd knock here and there, but don't recommend you try!

Extremely HAPPY with my purchase and NO' dead Pixels whatsoever, the LCD is absolutely PERFECT.!

*Note* tip: go to a well known online Auction Website to BUY a spare Battery to have in your bag so you never miss a single shot, these can be bought quite cheaply, the Canon branded batteries are too expensive, the non oem (CE Approved) alturnative's are every bit as good, at a fraction of the cost!

Update: CE Approved Batteries have to meet certain manufacturing standards, so be extra sure they are CE Approved, if you intend to buy non canon batteries...

Thanks for reading.!

I have owned a number of digital and SLR cameras and was looking for a lightweight good quality compact digital. This camera is good BUT has a number of niggling design faults.
1) the camera is awkward to hold as your fingers cover the playback screen which also needs a protective cover (like the nikon cameras have)
2) why of why dont the give you a decent manual instead of giving a little booklet with the main detail you need on disc
3) All the normal portrait, speed and ladscape modes are a subdivision of the SCN facilty.
4) The exposure sensor is not particularly good in shots including subjects with a sky in the background .....and because of the poor quality manual I have not got to grips with the backlight facility which would correct this.

5) I believe a camera needs a viewfinder but with this camera you can actually see part of the lens in the viewfinder


The above is just an example of some of the niggling faults. However, on the plus side, the quality is good and operation in the auto mode could not be simpler. In summary its a good camera but could have been better with a little thought by canon

I have not given it 5 stars as the viewfinder isn't great, the widest angle is just not quite wide enough and F/2.8 is a little slow. No RAW (if you care) and non-standard ISO data in the EXIF. No problem with battery life yet.

But with some practise you can take shots on this that you just would not credit from a compact camera. Excellent optical stabilisation means full zoom, one-handed in good light and you still get crisp photos.

Well made, solid and not difficult to carry around. A consumate travel camera. A slightly flawed legend in the making, but for this price....? Get a cheap 1GB or 2GB card at the same time.

I have posted some images in the gallery.