Canon PowerShot G7 Digital Camera Review

by Emily Raymond
Published on May 17, 2007

Navigation
Intro	Testing / Performance
Physical Tour	Components
Design / Layout	Modes
Control Options	Image Parameters
Connectivity / Extras	Overall Impressions
Conclusion	Specs / Ratings
Photo Gallery	Sample Photos

The Canon PowerShot G7 was introduced at a steep retail price of $599. The price was high because of its brand new Digic III image processor and its accompanying high ISO and face recognition technology. The newness has worn off since then. It can now be found for under $499. This is much more reasonable. Despite all of its cool features and serious functionality, the G7 is still a compact model lacking a RAW setting and should be priced as such. The G7 is likely to appeal to photographers who want a serious camera but don’t want to lug around a DSLR or invest thousands of dollars in lenses and accessories. The $499 price tag makes it an attractive option; it is similar in price to many ultra-zoom digital cameras.

Canon PowerShot G6 – This digital camera looks more like an A-series camera because of its silver housing and folding LCD monitor. The older G6 has 7.1 megapixels and is much chunkier with its hand grip and 4.1 x 2.9 x 2.9-inch measurements. It also weighs 13.4 oz, so it is very heavy for its size. It has a 4x optical zoom lens that doesn’t have image stabilization, but does have a very wide f/2.0 aperture. The Canon PowerShot G6 has a 2-inch, 118,000-pixel LCD monitor that twists and swivels. It does not have face detection technology, but it does have the same 9-point auto focus setup. The G6 is equipped with manual and priority modes, but the slowest shutter speed is only 1 second. There are fewer scene modes including the three basics (landscape, portrait, night) and a stitch assist mode, as well as fewer picture effects. The G-series cameras have the same 2 fps burst mode, but the older Canon G6 records to CompactFlash memory cards rather than SD media. The G6 also shoots RAW and JPEG files, making its images more flexible for in-computer editing. The G6 has a few other differences including two custom white balance options in the menu and 14 menu languages instead of 25. Despite the new G7’s release, the older G6 has held its value at nearly the same price.

Nikon Coolpix P5000 – This digital camera has many similar traits to the G7, with 10 megapixels and a hot shoe on a relatively compact body. Like the Canon G7, it isn’t slim but doesn’t have a chunky SLR-shape either. The Nikon P5000 isn’t as flat as the G7 but its larger hand grip is more comfortable to hold. This Coolpix has a 3.5x optical zoom lens and an optical image stabilization system. It has a face priority auto focus system that remains unchanged from Coolpixes of yore, so it is a far cry from Canon’s superior face recognition technology. The P5000 has the same range of manual and automatic modes and a similar set of manual controls. It has a movie mode that records standard VGA and QVGA video but allows the zoom lens to function while recording – a nice perk. The P5000 is compatible with Nikon conversion lenses and Speedlight flashes, as it has a hoe shoe. An optical viewfinder and 2.5-inch, 230k pixel LCD screen are also available. Like the Canon G7, the Nikon P5000 can accept SD and SDHC cards and has a similarly disappointing 250-shot battery. It is much lighter at only 7.1 ounces and has a more powerful built-in flash that can reach 26 feet. It also retails for much less at $399.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 – For a retail price of $499, the Panasonic LX2 offers many of the same features as the G7. It has manual, priority, and scene modes. It has a short list of picture effects. The 10-megapixel LX2 has a 28-112mm wide 4x optical zoom lens with an image stabilization system that works just as well. A 2.8-inch LCD screen graces the back of the camera with a similar resolution of 210,000 pixels. The Panasonic Lumix model is much more compact than the G7. Both cameras are flat, but the LX2 is thinner at only an inch and is half the weight of the G7. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX2 comes with a wrist strap instead of a neck strap. It’s lack of a hot shoe will keep it from being an option for serious photographers. Still, it has plenty of manual controls like ISO to 3200 and 2 custom white balance settings. Perhaps the biggest difference between the LX2 and the G7 is the image sensor. Both have 10 megapixels, but they are shaped differently. The Panasonic LX2 is 16:9 formatted for recording widescreen pictures and movies natively, although it can be set to snap shots and video at standard 4:3 format. The LX2 has a better battery that gets 300 shots per charge and records to SD/MMC media.

Ricoh Caplio GX100 – A more recent release is the Ricoh GX100, which debuted in spring 2007. It has 10 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens, image stabilization, and manual controls in a compact body. The GX100’s most unique feature is its electronic viewfinder that can tilt and detach from the camera body. It looks a little strange, but it provides a much more accurate view than the G7’s. The 3x lens is shorter and wider with an equivalent 24-72mm and f/2.5 aperture. The body itself looks similar with its retro design and matte black shell. This model has a 2.5-inch LCD screen but better resolution at 230,000 pixels. It can shoot RAW and JPEG files as well as movies at the same 640 x 480 and 320 x 240-pixel resolutions and 30/15 fps frame rates. The GX100 is thinner than the Canon G7 with 4.4 x 2.3 x 1-inch measurements; it is also much lighter at only 7.8 ounces. The Ricoh Caplio GX100 can accept rechargeable batteries that get 380 shots per charge or two standard AAA batteries for only 35 shots. The GX100 has manual, priority, and scene modes along with an interesting 1:1 aspect ratio “square mode.” Like the G7, the GX100 accepts SD, SDHC, and MMC media, but it also has 26MB of internal memory. It has a higher initial price tag of $699.

Samsung NV11 – This digital camera has a similar size, albeit a little slimmer, and a similar audience. The Samsung NV11 aims for advanced photographers who want to combine retro and modern components into a serious hip camera. The black metal NV11 has 10.1 megapixels and a 5x optical zoom lens with advanced shake reduction. This isn’t optical image stabilization but is a digital system that doesn’t work as well as Canon’s. Samsung’s LCD screen is larger at 2.7 inches with better resolution of 230,000 pixels. Perhaps the NV11’s best feature is the Smart Touch interface that surrounds the LCD screen. It consists of buttons lining the bottom and right edges of the screen. When the buttons are lightly touched, they activate certain functions on menus and navigate through images. It isn’t a touch screen but has better navigation than one. This setup certainly rivals and perhaps surpasses Canon’s rotary dial navigation; it just depends on the users’ preferences. Both cameras have better navigation than the typical multi-selectors that can tire out thumbs. The NV11 has face recognition technology that detects up to nine faces. It has full manual and priority modes along with 12 scene modes.

Point-and-Shooters - There are simpler options on the market for cheaper prices, but the G7 appeals to these consumers with its auto and scene modes and picture effects.

Budget Consumers - The initial price was $599 but has since dropped a hundred dollars. $599 was too much and $499 is better. But it’s still probably not enough to draw in the coupon-cutter set.

Gadget Freaks - This digital camera has some nifty features that these users can show off. “Hey man, check out the sampling rate options on my G7…” or “Watch me flip through 3,000 pictures with one swipe of my thumb…” are a couple of examples.

Manual Control Freaks - The ideal G7 user appreciates manual controls and wants a serious digital camera, but doesn’t want to commit to an SLR and the collection of inevitable purchases that comes with it: lenses, flashes, etc. The G7 offers all kinds of manual control over exposure, but some die-hards may miss the RAW file format that was offered on previous G-series cameras.

Pros/ Serious Hobbyists - Pros may use the 10-megapixel G7 as a backup camera because it is so versatile and can accept accessories from Canon EOS digital SLRs like flashes.