->Lowest Price

I got the G7 to replace an Olympus with a much larger zoom lens. The Canon G7 is just in another class. Even thought the zoom is not as large the picture quality is much better at full zoom. The image stabilization is top notch. I am not a camera expert but I like a few bells and whistles and I got all I wanted with the G7.


->Deal

I spent a great deal of time reading all of your reviews before I decided to purchase this camera. Though I've only had it for a short time, so far here is what I have to offer:

- it's *fast*

- it takes a really quite decent photo on autopilot

- it has some features (like face-tracking and stabilization) that will really help you out and will also make people say "wow"

- it's really beautiful

- the high ISO modes that it supports really pay off

- the zoom is great

- professional photographers describe it as "tight"

- if your early experience is anything like mine, and if you're looking for the state of the point and shoot art, you'll be happy if you choose this camera


->Comparison

It does not have RAW (which would have been nice). No flip out lcd. I knew this when I bought it so I don't hold it against the camera.

I like to travel and I wanted a camera that takes great pics.
I also wanted the option of manual control but not necessarily a dslr.
I wanted the option to print out bigger prints if I really
liked how it turned out. Another important thing is the ability
to take really nice videos (which I never knew how important it was for me- for sentimental reasons). I also wanted to be able to throw it
in my bag. This camera fits my needs perfectly.

I am not a photographer, but I have taken photo classes and am familiar
with Slr's and some digital cameras. If you want a simple point and shoot,
go with something cheaper (there are other Canon Powershot cameras that can do just that for less money). I don't think you should purchase this if you are not really going to take advantage of all the options the camera gives you. It does have Image Stabilization so you can take pics with less light and the pics don't come out as blurry (meaning you can hand hold the camera in lower or dimmer light). The camera does tend to
blow out hightlights (so that some really bright areas of the picture loses detail)in really bright conditions. I counter that by under exposing the picture, and there's a button for that. Then I can always tweak the picture later on in Photoshop. On really sunny days, it's a good idea to turn the Neutral Density filter on. There's alot of ways to get around it.. You can also use the histogram to take a test shot and the blown out highlights will blink and then you can adjust stuff accordingly. There is a lens conversion adapter you can buy in addition to the camera for lenses and filters you may want to add. I don't think it truly needed 10MP but that's ok with me (though some people say it affects the amount of noise in the picture)...

It's got face priority and so it automatically focuses on faces. You can add a flash- it has a hot-shoe. It has the Digic III Processor (faster processing speeds). I would not suggest shooting higher than ISO 400, since it gets noisier from there... It can shoot at ISO 3200 which yes, is noisy but I can shoot pictures of people dancing in dance clubs and bars, lighting and all without trails and blurriness... It's got all sorts of other shooting modes, which I use sometimes.. Like there are settings so you can shoot pics in flourescent lighting, or underwater. There are settings in scene mode so you can shoot fireworks, foliage, portraits, indoor, sports, landscapes etc..It zooms in nicely- 6x optical zoom.. I don't really care about digital zoom... Optical zoom is the one that counts..

I have to say, I am really happy with this camera. If I would ever like to get more serious, I can borrow my husband's Canon 20D.. What says a lot, is that he bought an extra G7 in addition to mine as an everyday camera..

For what it does, I think it's worth the price because it's in its own class. It's more than a simple point and shoot camera..

P.S. I hope the info I give is helpful and accurate.. I really suck at the technical aspects of photography. Oh and read the manual, it helps a lot..


->Sale

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.


->

The pictures out of this camera are awesome! I had the G1 a long time ago and must say get one of these G7's and see for yourself. I print directly from the camera to my Canon printer and the pictures are sharp colorful and the exposure is right on.


->Lowest Price

Go get one and go out and shoot. It's small, heavy, quiet, and has a killer lens. You won't miss the RAW files. Just get the shot right when you shoot it.

It has a wide 16:9 setting. 2 custom settings on the dial so you can just click to your favorite camera set ups in a flash. HD movies, full manual, low noise, awesome style and button layout.

I did a search on Flickr for Canon G7 and clicked the "Most Interesting" tab. There you'll see what people are doing with this neat camera.

I love mine.


->Best Price

...it's still a great camera. I had no intention of replacing my 4MP Canon S45. It still shoots excellent snaps, gives me manual control when I want it, and shoots RAW (which is fun to play with, but not all that useful, IMO). But when my wife suggested I give the camera to my son and buy myself a new one, I took the plunge. I remember considering the G3 when I bought my S45, but I didn't see a clear advantage for the additional bulk. But now, with the S-series defunct, and the G7 smaller, I didn't hesitate. Because...

--It's a Canon. They have a lock on mass-market digital cameras. Others are close, but no Canon. And I can use everything I learned from my previous Canon here.
--It still fits in my coat pocket, so I always have it with me.
--It gives me full manual control.
--Unlike the S-series, I can add a wide-angle and a zoom lens (although the integrated zoom has been superb so far).
--Even my wife (not a camera hound) was impressed that it could take an external flash (just like our old Pentax SLR).
--The presets are more varied and useful than my S45 (fireworks, flowers, etc)--although they are not quite as accessible (have to use the menu to get to them)
--I think the camera looks cool, and that counts for something.

So why not 5 stars? The files are bigger, but not that much better--unless you want to do some serious cropping. I do crop my pictures (can't get close enough to the action at sporting events), so this is useful. But for most, they are just bigger files that slow down the computer for negligible benefit.

I suppose I am the target market for the G7--a former S-series owner (not a former G-series owner). And so all those who say the G7 isn't a G might be right. But it's an excellent camera, and I would recommend one to anyone who wants something smaller than an SLR with a wide amount of flexibility and control.


->Prices

This camera is a well made object and actually looks and
feels like a compact camera rather than a mobile phone.
Clearly some experimentation is required to familiarise
oneself with the many settings though if time is limited
there are fully automatic settings. First results examined
on photoshop look extremely promising


->Deal

In the late '70s, '80s and '90s I sold cameras at a mom and pop store. I don't miss working retail but it was nice to see a camera and hold it before shelling out 500 bucks. These days that's almost a thing of the past. This caused me to do many hours of on-line research before choosing this Canon. I happen to be fond of Leica and really wanted one. I'm also fond of my hard earned money and did not like the price of the Leica as much as the mystique that it represented, but the Leica/Panasonic D-Lux 3 seemed to be a real possibility. I looked at reviews and saw complaints of noise in both. I looked on Flickr's camera finder link and viewed images from both the Canon and Leica, as well as the Lumix and a 9mp Fuji. All produced superb images. Many showed signs of sharpening in post production. The Leica seemed to have the potential for slightly better quality under the most ideal of conditions, but noise was also slightly more evident.The fuji was a great performer but I prefer the traditional rangefinder style of the others. I purchased the Canon from Amazon and am very pleased with it. Though small it becomes comfortable in the hand after some use. The images are superb, the color spot on. The delay is a little long when photographing active children but it's not the size of an EOS. I'm more than satisfied with the Canon and with Amazon


->Buy

I have bought this camera as a substitute of my previous Sony DSC-V3. I'm satisfied with my purchase, but I miss infrared NightFraming and NightShot functions, which my previous camera had.


->Deal

Hi Folks,

We got this camera for a long tour we are doing across the US and Europe taking shots of musicians performing at our organizations showcases. We also have a Canon D30, a fantastic camera of course, but when we've taken the same pictures with both cameras using the Auto settings, we've consistently found the G7's to be better in all ways. Sure, you can't attach the same lenses we use on the D30, and if you're a real photographer looking to tweak settings and do specialized shots, it's a whole different world. But if you're taking a LOT of pictures, on a vacation or at an event, you can set this thing on Auto and most of the time you'll be really happy with the results.

The flash is VERY bright (far superior to the built in D30 flash) so shooting in dark rooms is easy. (We're looking at manually decreasing the brightness actually). The one drawback we've found, which has previously been stated, is that Red Eye seems more common on the G7 than our D30 or even our very old Sony digital camera. I am not sure why it's such as issue, but sadly that is a serious drawback when shooting a lot of people's faces at close range with a flash. We've been shooting peformers slightly off center to avoid the problem.

The battery life is a bit lacking, but the charging speed with the supplied charger is very quick which makes up for it as long as you have 2 batteries for the event/occassion. I've found the battery will last about the same amount of time a 4 gig card lasts, (app. 300-350 shots). We take that many or more a night and it's almost always with a flash on every shot, so daytime or well lit photos will likely result in more battery life.

In the photos we compared side by side, I think most would find it difficult to tell which are the D30 and which are the G7 except for the dimensional size difference.

Overall, this is the best little camera we've ever used. Who in the world needs RAW or a flip screen in the first place?

Brian


->Sale

GOT THE CAMERA FOR MY WIFE. THIS CAMERA DOES IT ALL, DAY AND NIGHT PICTURES, NIGHT PICTURES TURN OUT EXCELLENT. EVERYTHING THIS THING IS ADVERTISED AS DOING IT DOES.......


->Lowest Price

The main reason I purchased the G7 was for the full manual mode. I take many macro shots and the G7 is capable of getting very close. The Manual focus takes a little getting used to because you are adjusting a dial and not the lens. The image quality is crisp and the color depth is incredible. The G7 has a quality feel and nice old-school design but It's not a pocket camera. It's small but has bulk. The extra ISO dial makes it quick and easy to change film speed. The G7 also has a nice zoom that can be increased with add on lenses. I really like the G7 for its design speed and quality.


->Best Price

Outstanding features at a reasonable price. Easily "upgradeable", accepts external flash & Lens (teles).
Awesome picture quality.


->For Sale

overall this camera is great, it is so much sleeker than my old powershot g2(which stills takes great pictures)it is lighter, faster,and charging batteries is a breeze. the only thing i really miss is a more defined hand hold.


->Purchase

I got a g7 at the beginning of the month and it has all ready died with error 24. I am returning it and may not get another one. It does not have the canon raw mode and honestly I am not sure the pictures are better than my PowerShot S50. It also seemed more fragile than I expected.


->Comparison

I received the G7 Friday and promptly returned it on Monday. Why? I expect much more from Canon's top of the line point-and-shoot. No grip, long lag time, LCD blanked out for seemd like a long time betwee shots, some over-exposed shots in auto mode.. to name a few.

The G7 is definitely a good looking cemera. If you never owned a digital camera, G7 is for you.

I also have the A620 and think the G7 is a lesser camera for twice the price. Yes, the G7 comes with IS, but I have not seen any significant improvement in my shots. For the price of the G7, you could almost buy 2 A640s! It reminded me of the early age of digital camera. You lived with less because that was all you had. You always wished for a little bit more in each camera. The G7 is in this category.


->Buy

I haven't even begun to take advantage of all it's features. The pictures are amazing. It has great zooming capabilities without loosing quality. I love it and recomend it.


->Cheap

This camera is great. The pictures are so clear you can see the seam of a baseball as it is coming in on a pitch at our son's baseball game. The size is also a plus. I can fit it into my purse and carry it everywhere.


->Lowest Price

++ Sharp photos with good image stabilization feature.
++ Good close-up shots.
-- Can improve the clarity of shots with various ISO settings.
-- Would rather have contemporary design instead of retro-design.


->Sale

This camera takes great photos, its just too big for me to carry around without feeling like a dork and enjoying what I'm doing. Again, takes great pictures, just not for me.


->

It's a point-and shoot, or an SLR - you decide. Easy to use for the amateur, with all the accessories and options a more serious photographer would want. If you want a camera that you can share between a novice and an enthusiast, this is it. Just check out the myriad accessories available for this camera - it's outstanding.


->Discount

My previous compact camera, a Canon digital elph bit the dust and I had to replace it. I own a Canon D20 SLR which I love but its impractical to carry on business trips. As a serious hobbiest I wanted to upgrade the image quality and features over the super-compact models without sacrificing portability. I find the G7 to be a great compromise. It wont fit in a pants pocket like the smaller powershots, but the 10MB size, larger sensor and full feature set more than makes up for the small sacrifice in portability.
I've used the G7 for a month now and its robust controls including sophisticated metering and a wide variety of shooting modes make it a fantastic camera. At under $500 this is a great value too.


->Sale

I purchased the Canon G7 for a gift.
The G7 is a wonderful camera. The battery has a very long life. My son loves the camera and its many features. I may purchase the Canon G7 for myself. The photos are just wonderful. The learning curve is pretty simple to get started.


->Deals

Excelent camera. High quality and resolution. The best photos I have ever take.


->

I have used this camera for a few months and I LOVE it. I took a series of pictures at my nieces High School musical...it was a TERRIBLY dark theatre and I was at least 5 rows back and way off to the side and my pictures turned out amazing. This is EXACTLY why I bought this camera to capture shots in dark environments with lots of movement (I have 3 kids of my own). The pictures so far are BEAUTIFUL and amazingly even red eye has gotten better without the addition of another flash. Thank you CANON!


->Best Price

Excellent Camera. Right out of the box I'm taking great shots. Even into the digital zoom mode at 24x the picture is awesome. I've been taking action and still photos of things in my yard, trees, dogs, birds, bugs, wife, all have been great shots. Menu system is easy to figure out. Auto setting are spot on most of the time. The LCD is superb. I shopped for weeks for this camera, reading reviews, pros, cons, I'm glad I finally ordered this camera. I was nervous because I could find it in local stores where I live. Great camera at this price. Battery life is good. Feel and weight are fine. This thing is built like a rock solid tank. Very happy with my purchase and Amazon offered a free 2GB SD Card. Finally don't be fooled by the cheap prices you might find on the web with price search engines. Many of them are bait and switch using high pressure sales to sucker you when you call them to verify your credit card info. Stick with reputable dealers that are on Amazon or other "Well Known sellers."


->Prices

I own the G5 and now the G7. The G7 is a great replacement!

Pros:
Super-fast power-up to first shot
Image quality
Nice functional optical zoom
Retractable lens flush with camera body
Built-in lens cover
Very nice "high quality" video mode
Small case/body
Much improved power-on/power-off button

Cons:
Poor and unusable "e-mail quality" video mode
The G7 doesn't have the flip-out LCD like the G5
Somewhat small right-hand grip area

You won't go wrong with the G7.
I recommend using SanDisk Extreme III SD cards with this camera for shooting speed and transfers to PC.



->Prices

I have this camera and it is outstanding. Lots of controls for those of us that want to set aperture priority, set shutter speed priority, or just let the camera decide what to do. If anything, there are too many choices one could make, but one can also set on full automatic and let the camera do the work of composing. A fairly intuitive set of buttons and commands and menus for use when one wants to take over composing (aperture, shutter speed, flash type, and so on), and yet one can turn it on auto and snap away. This camera has a solid feel to it, and it's almost as if one looks at this and feels its ready for whatever photo op may come along. 6x optical zoom does great and is likely to be all one really needs (additional 4x digital zoom gives you a bigger look at the pixels but, like every digital zoom, the picture isn't improved, so who really cares about the digital zoom hoo-hah.) Drawbacks--it's 1 5/8 inch thick, so those of you that want a credit card sized camera will find this too large. But there's a solid feel about this, and it works well, so if you have space for a 1 5/8" wide, 2 3/4" tall, 4 1/4" long camera, weight of 12 ounces loaded with the battery (weighs more than a credit-card camera, but not "too much" for what this one does nor is it too heavy to carry around), I'd advise looking at this. Nikon P5000 was the competition but this Canon is a lot better. I'm very glad with this purchase. This has a very bright and large LCD view on the back of the camera (2" wide, 1 1/2" tall, very good), plus you can get a decent look through the viewfinder too, although with the quality and SIZE of the LCD, I suspect most of us will use it to set up the shots.

I have no financial interest in any company or product that I review.


->Wholesale

Looked at a number of cameras including the TZ3, P5000, and a few others. Nothing compared to the G7 which is the one I ended up going with; IS, 6x lens, incredible quality, etc.

If you want the best camera out there and don't feel like messing with a DSLR, the Canon G7 is in a league of it's own ~ The Benchmark by which all other manufacturers strive towards.



->Discount

Pros: This is truly a high end digital without the bulk of a DSLR. Great feel and features. It was slow at first with standard SD card, but installed a very fast, Sandisk Extreme III (20mb/sec.) and the Digic 3 processor was instantly unleashed. Now it performs as I had hoped. I think that the reviews would have been better if they had used faster cards. Shutter lag is gone and I can take continuous shots with amazing speed. Menus and controls are excellent. Movies are great, too.

Cons: No RAW (if you need it). Red-eye is similar to all close flash cams, but easily removed with included software. No zoom during video.

Other Thoughts: G7 is smaller and lighter than reviews say. It really feels like a camera, not a tiny toy. Battery life is not bad so far...will likely buy a spare. Oh...it takes very nice photos, too.


->Sale

Have had an Olympus 4.0M.for 4 years and been very happy with it. As a gift I got this Canon and was very diappointed in the color quality and sharpness. Shot about 600 pictures people were blurred,not crisp and dim even on a sunny day. Had to return it.Don't buy


->Buy

I'm an old school photo enthusiast and finally replaced my Nikkormat FTN 35 mm with this camera. It gives me the creative control I want and the automation I never had before. I purchased the 430EX flash for it and now it gives me great indoor shots as well. Without the external flash it's a compact camera that gives great results outdoors and acceptable results indoors. With the external flash it's not so portable, but the results are terrific. I would recommend a bracket of some kind if you use an external flash or it's a bit unsteady. One other thing--I couldn't believe how great the video results were for a `still' camera. With a 4 gig card you can fit lots of 10 mp stills or 30 minutes of video. With the optional tele extender and wide angle adapter you'll be set for anything but professional needs.Stroboframe Quick Flip 350 Flash Bracket for 35mm Cameras


->Price

I am pleased with all aspects of the camera. Combining the 6x optical zoom and 10 megapixals has allowed me a lot of flexibility to crop my prints. The stablizing must work, all my pictures have been sharp. There is some lag between the time you push the shutter button until the camera takes the picture.


->Deal

This is the very best pocket camera I've been able to find, including the brand new nikon P5000 which I just bought and have found to be inferior. I'm not saying I LOVE it--and in fact I'd actually prefer the pain of bringing a DSLR over the limitations of this camera whenever possible--but it avoids the flaws that damage the competitors.
First of all, it fits comfortably in your pocket. It is big but the lens retracts in a nice way. Unlike the 10 mg lumix pocket camera which has a lens protrusion issue.
As far as quality, here's the scoop.
1) the pictures at low ISO are the highest quality indoor pics I've been able to get with a pocket camera. And I've tried them all. At higher iso's it starts to suck but so do all the competition it seems.
2) the movies are *extraordinary.* absolutely rock solid video and the sound is great too (very very rare).
3) it can take a wide angle converter, telephoto converter, and has a hotshoe flash feature.

Note the following drawbacks, but these are common to all pocket cams it seems.
1) useless viewfinder
2) small aperture, completely useless for putting background out of focus. (however, there is just enough change in the focus emphasis that you get a tad of a 3d effect, but it is VERY subtle). Again, I have been able to find no pocket camera that has a fast (large) aperture. The G6 had one but was otherwise--I assure you--inferior to this camera.


->Best Price

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.


->Comparison

After having switched 3 cameras in 2 years, I think I can safely say that this is perhaps the best Pro-Am camera around and best value for the money. Was very easy to use and pictures are very close to the real thing.



->Buy

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.


->Affordable

This is the perfect camera for me. I take alot of close-up detail shots and the images come out great. It is smaller than my old G3 (which I loved, but was pretty chunky).


->Deals

Just like what you're doing now, i spent a good few days reading the reviews and tech specs before purchasing this camera. I've only had it for a few days and i couldn't be happier. In a nutshell, the quality of the camera and pictures are incredible. I am upgrading from a point and shoot canon s400 4.0 mega pixels... and it's night and day.
If you're outgrowing your regular digital camaera... this is the perfect transtion. Believe me. You will learn how to utilize some of the easy to use manual features that will take your photography to the next level. Already i've experimnented taking a few pictures in auto mode and then in manual mode and it's mind blowing how significantly better the manual pictures turned out. No more auto for me. I am going to study the features and improve my pictures. That's all i have to say. You can get the tech reviews elsewhere. On a side note, get the original canon carrying case ($30) - it's well worth the money.


->Deals

The G7 fits nicely in my hands, and it combines old school with modern tech in a pleasing way. You can change shutter, ISO, bracket like a true pro without going thru a ton of menu's, the buttons are on top (old school), but the picture quality, the auto face focus, the auto mode work great also. Its the perfect tweener camera, when you want something more than point n shoot, but you don't want to lug the big dslr around either. It fits in a purse, or computer bag, but not really in a pocket.


->Deal

I originally had a Leica on order, but got tired of waiting for it to ship, so I ended up getting this instead. I am thrilled with the results. The camera takes amazing pics--good lens, good electronics, nice sensitivity. Especially nice is the ability to go fully automatic (for the wife) or play with much as I can with my 35mm SLR.


->Deal

Hey I actually do not have this exact camera, I have the much older G2, but I just want to plug in and say as an amateur photog with little idea of how to do much more than point and shoot at things I like, I have been completely amazed at how often the capabilities of the G2 have earned me major praise from folks on my picture quality. I've been offered one job doing photography, and am the one person who's private photos of a festival have been specially invited to be submitted for future promo pieces. Not even counting the many folks who want copies of my pics, 8x10 blowups, or say that should be a postcard, etc. etc.

Even with a broken viewer button on my camera, I've been so impressed by my G2 photo quality that I'm loathe to "upgrade"... and if I do, I'm sticking with the Canon G series.

So, if you're an average photog, who likes to have people rave over your photos -- don't go anywhere else, stay with the canon G series. (uh, and remember to learn how to focus on a digital camera, or use the flower button for closeups... that's it, all else is done for you).

Or, if like me, you want good quality photos of yr kids to keep forever, again, buy this.


->Prices

I love this camera. Easy to use and the 2.5 inch screen has amazing quality. The ISO knob on top is like no other and the features are endless. For a point and shoot camera, this is the best and closest you will get to an SLR without spending the money and sacraficing space. The best camera if your looking for features, speed, realiabilty, and size.


->Prices

The camera seems to be everything it was advertised to be. I have not checked out all of the myriad options, but don't really plan to. The features I bought it for (zoom, digital stabilization, face recognition, hot shoe for external flash) all work perfectly.


->Prices

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


->Buy

Great camera, however it was damage. It was return, and I got a quick refund from Amazon. Amazon customer service was great and they understood the issue. I guess they check the camera to verify what I was describing.I ended up getting this same camera, from a dealer/store on my own and not online, personal choice, nothing to do with Amazon service. I also purchase a Canon Printer and it is in my office.


->Compare

I've had the G7 for about a month and love using it so far. This is the first semi-professional camera I've owned, and I love the included features and photo quality. Price from Amazon was also excellent and cheaper than store prices. I was afraid the camera would be bigger than it is, but it's actually a convenient size - not so big to be obnoxious to carry around, but big enough to be comfortable in my hands when taking pictures. Highly recommend the G7 to anyone looking to upgrade from a standard digital camera without the extra size and complications of an SLR. The zoom is great, too!


->Comparison

For what this camera has to offer, it is a waste of money. Even though I don't care much for RAW format (rarely use it anyway), but it's a factor that separate the higher-end cameras from the lower-end one. The fact that it doesn't have RAW, it shows that Canon did not put anytime in designing this camera. Nowadays, I feel like camera manufactures take advangtage of the Image Stablization (or anti-shake) system. In my opinion, I don't think it really works. I mean, a blurry shot will be blurry regardless if the IS system is there or not. Camera manufactures just use Image Stablization as a way of marketing and try to make more money off of the camera they are selling. Also, I need to mention about the noise level of this camera. It's terrible!!! There were lots of noise in the picture even at ISO 100!!! I think this is due to the fact that Canon is trying to fit 10 MP into a 1/1.8" image sensor. This is no good. This camera would have been better off at 6-8 MP instead of 10 MP.
Anyway, enough bad things about this camera. The Canon G7 does offer a very nicely built camera. It feels very solid in the hand. There are many manual controls in the camera for the user to do creative things like taking long-shots at night. The LCD screen is very nice with high resolution. An external hot-shoe flash terminal is a plus. It is compatible with all Canon's flashes. The color being reproduced by this camera is very vibrant and accurate (like a Canon cameras). Very fast responding time due to the Digic III image processor. Overall, I think that anyone spending this much money for this camera, they might as well get a DSLR instead. Or, may I recommend the Fujifilm Finepix S9100. The Fujifilm S9100 is a better camera for the money.


->Comparison

Stellar camera - for its features and it's size, there's just nothing in the same class. I wanted something that would give me better image quality and more control than an average point-and-shoot, but wasn't the size of a DSLR. That's exactly where the G7 fits in. It's a bit of a jack of all trades, and though it's not a master of any, it can definitely fake it - I do wish it shot RAW, as i enjoy post-processing, but that's the largest of my complaints. Great quality shots, easy to use interfaces, and a gorgeous camera are what I got from the G7 - I'm not disappointed.


->Affordable

The Canon G7 is a great camera for the serious photography buff, but not quite professional - the photographer that is, not the camera. Found the instructions to be easy to implement and am enjoying getting used to all the features and shooting whenever and wherever possible. Enjoy keeping up with my grandchildren, so I'm no spring chick but love photography.


->Price

Having been a long-time Canon user, (most recenlty with the G5) I was excited to read the reviews and hear the raves about the latest entry into the fabled "G" series.

I was not disappointed - this camera delivers! Fairly easy to use and provides foolproof pictures.

So far, I've used it in the Auto mode for casual shots on-the-go and in the studio for a demanding subject.

Overall, an excellent choice for those not wanting to enter the dSLR world.


->Prices

This camera rocks. It has many features and can be customized almost infinitly. If you want the best option for a point and shoot camera, the C7 is what you want. well worth the money!! Best Camera you can get without getting a DSLR. There are so much stuff on it I will need a to take a photography class to learn how to use them all.


->Sale

After researching ourselves, and testing out friends' and family's purchases, we decided on this camera. We love it because of the quality of the pictures and the camera. I had been looking for something small, convenient, and point and shoot. My husband was looking for something to expand his photography skills with more manual settings. We found it and more in this camera, and have been thrilled ever since. We are very impressed with all aspects, including the look of the camera and the quality feel.


->Sale

Great compact camera for travel, family photos. Easy to follow menus once you understand the Canon menu system. A lot of red-eye in many indoor pictures, somewhat small camera for my large hands but takes good quality pictures. I wish for a compact flash with bounch made for the camera. Image stabilization works well. Pricey for the features.


->Prices

Overall I was very impressed with the Canon G7. It does a lot of things right within the context of its price, size and its likely intended constituency.


->Compare

This is the best camera that I have had! It takes great pictures.


->Prices

This camera is almost everything the G series needed. My only remaining want is RAW but that is ok. The jpgs are awesome. Moreover, the handling and ergonomics are awesome. Image quality, lens sharpness, contrast, saturation, etc. are all outstanding. I also shoot the 5D and 1DMKIIN and prints up to 8x10 are very very close to these professional SLEs. High ISO performance is good. Between 200 and 800 it is outstanding. The controls are great. Go to manual mode and you have analog dials and gauges as in days of old--with match needle--displayed on the rear LCD. Also this camera is smaller and heftier feeling than other G series. It feels and handles more like a Leica or 1950s style rangefinder. Highly recommended.


->Affordable

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.


->Affordable

The G7 seems to be a culmination of all the improvements in the G-series, PLUS two fabulous new features. The first is manual focus, which I haven't really used to its full potential yet, (but still - really cool) and the other is "image stabilization". This is a ground-breaking, cant-live-with-out-it bit of technology that helps you take a better picture. I often shoot in poor lighting situations and now my pictures are sharper and clearer.
Other good things about the G7: Smaller, Great zoom but also the lens closes up all the way inside - no need for a lens cap. Black not silver, fancy graphics, buttons incorporate a dial feature, all the settings are easy to get to. Takes a quick picture.
Things I don't like: No swivel monitor like the G6 (I only miss it a little, but I would have it if I could), batteries are smaller and don't last as long as the G6.


->Buy

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."


->Best Price

Foi a melhor compra dos últimos tempos! Essa máquina só falta falar! A qualidade das fostos são fantásticas. Muito fácil de utilizar. Recomendo comprar junto um cartão de 2gigas com 133x de velocidade. A máquina é robusta e com uma boa empunhadura. Todos os comandos são reguláveis como uma máquina profissional.


->Comparison

I bought this camera to replace my Canon Pro 90IS - yes, a dinosaur in today's terms, but great in its day. I took the G7 to Hawaii and the camera performed flawlessly. The battery life was never an issue. I love the smooth action of the lens extender.

The only negative at all is when I use a large flash for indoor shots. It does make the camera a bit awkward to handle. Nevertheless, the pictures come out great.


->Compare

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).


->Buy

I have used this camera for about a month now and I can say that it is really great. When set to auto, I have yet to take a bad picture. Like another reviewer said, you will need to study up on photography to really make use of the features. If this is your first digital camera, the amount of information packed into the camera/manual is tough to swallow at first. Keep at it and just shoot, shoot, shoot. Try a setting, shoot and see.
Picture quality is top notch. That is a FACT. LCD is amazing. Macro mode is top of the line. And the zoom is great as well. It is a bit of $$$ compared to other P&S's, but to me it was well spent.
All in all, this camera is a good in-between for P&S's and DSLR's. Features of DSLR, size of a P&S.


->Price

I'm basically a point and shoot amateur, and this Canon G7 has all the features that I think I'll ever need and then some. It is slightly larger & heavier than my Powershot S400 and has a steeper learning curve (I'm still very much on the beginner's slope) but does what I want it to do. It is a nice compromise between Digital SLR and tiny pocket cameras. Battery life is excellent. For reasons I can't comprehend, the camera comes with an inadequate storage chip, not interchangeable with Powershot S400, so be prepared to buy a gigabyte memory chip for an extra $60-100. The battery is also incompatible with other Canon minicameras so you wil want a spare (about $50.00) The 10 megapixel and shake correction allow me to make much larger prints. The monitor is spectacular, the best I have seen on a pocket size camera. 6x optical zoom adds versatility and resolution. In spite of minor complaints I give it 5 stars.


->Comparison

This was my Christmas present to me. I passed my Canon S-30 (3.2 M pix, 3x zoom) on to my wife, replacing her aged film snapshooter. The G7 is an evolution of the S-30, with all the features plus some new ones. The ergonomics are better, the optics, imaging and stabilization are just what I was looking for. It's especially nice that I can set a grid on the viewer to keep my subjects aligned and proportionally placed.


->Best Price

Unfurtunely this camera is uncomfortable to use. The worst fault: you can see part of lens while you are wathing trhu viewfinder. The neck strap is very thin. A wrist strap could be better.


->Affordable

I did a lot of research and I wasn't disappointed. Extremely flexible for those who love as much manual control as possible. I also find the menus very intuitive with good labels and descriptions. The style is a little utilitarian, but that wasn't a major factor for me. It's also a little heavier and bulkier than "ultra-slim" cameras I've tried out, including canon powershots, but you can still carry it in a pants pocket.


->

You can't go wrong with this one. Just make sure you have somew time to go through the manuals because it is very involved. It is intuitive however even for a total rookie like me. Yoou can start using it out of the box but if you want to take advantage of all the goodies, it will require some time. Something to grow in to. A great addition to a new hobiest!


->Purchase

Real nice camera, and very small size makes this a no brainer take along. Excellent pictures and long battery life make this a truely great camera. It can take great videos also.

S. Joe Wynman


->Compare

I have bought this piece of art 3 days before my honeymoon trip. I have just printed the pictures and they were really excellent. I recommend it for individual use only and not for professionals.


->Buy

I did a lot of online research and had a lot of things I wanted from a digital camera. I am extremely happy with my purchase of the Cannon G7. It is easy enough to use right out of the box. Without spending lots of time on the manuals, you can take good pictures. I have only just begun to play with the settings but it takes great closeups and great photos in low light. I love how quickly you can shoot your next photo and the warmup time necessary once the camera is turned on is negligible.

You get a lot for your money with this camera. It is a little bigger than many other digital cameras but it feels very solid and is still small enough to fit in a purse or pocket. The battery life is excellent.

I prefer using the viewfinder to take photos and it has a focus on the viewfinder. The image stabilization works very well. The software to upload and save photos is easy to use. So far I cannot think of a single negative in regards to this camera. It isn't as cheap as many other digitals but it is worth the difference in price.

If you want a more robust camera that allows you to choose some settings and options, this is the camera to choose. You don't have to be a professional to customize your photos and take good quality photos in a variety of conditions. If you want to point and click and nothing more, go with something else.


->Best Price

There are some things I wish were different, but they're relatively minor. First I'd like to say that the lack of RAW format is not a big deal. This is after all a compact, point-and-shoot camera. I get the feeling that the reviewers complaining about the lack of RAW probably wouldn't use it anyway. I think some of them just want to show off how sophisticated they are. I wish the battery could be removed without first removing the quick-release mount. I wish the grip were better, especially a place to put my thumb. The shutter is loud and a remote would be great to have. I use an inexpensive monopod for stability. The camera is tough and rugged and it takes really nice photos, and I like the included software.


->Deal

WOW! Is the word I would use to describe this camera.
I had a cheap 4y/o coolpix before I purchased this camera.

I was skeptical about spending this much on a camera. I wanted to take more professional type pictures and the wife wanted a point and shoot to fit in her purse.

I never thought I would have to study about digital photography to use all the features, but it had paid off. I get stunning photos in low light,
fast motion, etc.

The wife can just set it to auto, and still gets picture quality that is awesome.

While it does lack some features of a DSLR, I don't miss them. I get funny looks from the DSLR users when I whip out the compact camera, when I show them the print quality, they are stunned.
When I show them the feature set and let them toy with it, they are floored that a compact will do what this camera does.

While I know some people talk about the RAW stuff and the noise at high ISO levels and so on....but,
if you want a quality product with great prints when set to auto this is great.
If you want to get a little more involved and use the custom settings or the manual settings..lens attachments..you still can!!

I think this is a very well rounded product. While it doesn't replace the DSLR for serious, serious photographers, it help to bridge the gap for people who want to try...but not to hard.


->Deal

I own a G2,G5,& G6 so I have some experience with Canon G-series cameras. This camera is a big disappointment. It has a less capable lens; it does not provide Raw photo format; it does not provide a remote for the timer; its focus is "soft". It does have more pixels;it is smaller in size; and the LCD is very bright. But for the high price charged for the camera it represents downgraded capabilities for top dollar. Individuals interested in such high end non-DSL cameras will be happier in the long run finding a G6 on eBay or similar sites or buying a different make camera such as a Nikon, Fuji,Sony,etc.


->Lowest Price

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.


->Deal

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.


->

Even though this is my first camera, I spent montths trying to choose the correct one, and I think this was exactly what I was looking for. The canon G7 does not have a swivel screen but it doesn't matter to me because I have a bada experience with them. The pictures are great, and when taken in manual mode with caution I got some of the best pictures I have ever taken in my life.

I basically wanted this camera to be able to use it in school and remember the last years of high school. I wanted a good camera that would not make me want to return it.

The only thing that took me some time to get used to is the size. I hoped the camera would be a little smaller, but once I got used to it, it did not matter. I recommend this camera to everyone. You will get good pictures and recieve good comments from your friends.


->Buy

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.


->Prices

I just got my camera and I love it. I was able to start shooting immediately; it is very easy to use. The LCD screen is good and you are able to see it. I know there have been complaints about the flip screen but I had a flip screen before and never really used it.

There are a lot of shooting modes maybe not as much as some other smaller cameras but enough that you will have fun experimenting with them. The camera is fairly compact (smaller than a DSLR) but it is no elph, it does have some weight. It also feels a little slick but once you get use to holding it you shouldn't have to worry.

The zoom is awesome and the image stabilizer works very well. The pictures have been great in color and clarity. I also find that it focuses quite easily and well.

This is a fun great camera that is close to a DSLR but without the bulk!



->Deals

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.


->Compare

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.



->Buy

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.


->Compare

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.


->Comparison

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!!


->Prices

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.


->Sale

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.




->Price

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!).


->Cheap

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.


->Prices

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.


->Lowest Price

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.


->Best Price

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.


->Deals

I got the G7 to replace an Olympus with a much larger zoom lens. The Canon G7 is just in another class. Even thought the zoom is not as large the picture quality is much better at full zoom. The image stabilization is top notch. I am not a camera expert but I like a few bells and whistles and I got all I wanted with the G7.


->Deals

I spent a great deal of time reading all of your reviews before I decided to purchase this camera. Though I've only had it for a short time, so far here is what I have to offer:

- it's *fast*

- it takes a really quite decent photo on autopilot

- it has some features (like face-tracking and stabilization) that will really help you out and will also make people say "wow"

- it's really beautiful

- the high ISO modes that it supports really pay off

- the zoom is great

- professional photographers describe it as "tight"

- if your early experience is anything like mine, and if you're looking for the state of the point and shoot art, you'll be happy if you choose this camera


->Price

It does not have RAW (which would have been nice). No flip out lcd. I knew this when I bought it so I don't hold it against the camera.

I like to travel and I wanted a camera that takes great pics.
I also wanted the option of manual control but not necessarily a dslr.
I wanted the option to print out bigger prints if I really
liked how it turned out. Another important thing is the ability
to take really nice videos (which I never knew how important it was for me- for sentimental reasons). I also wanted to be able to throw it
in my bag. This camera fits my needs perfectly.

I am not a photographer, but I have taken photo classes and am familiar
with Slr's and some digital cameras. If you want a simple point and shoot,
go with something cheaper (there are other Canon Powershot cameras that can do just that for less money). I don't think you should purchase this if you are not really going to take advantage of all the options the camera gives you. It does have Image Stabilization so you can take pics with less light and the pics don't come out as blurry (meaning you can hand hold the camera in lower or dimmer light). The camera does tend to
blow out hightlights (so that some really bright areas of the picture loses detail)in really bright conditions. I counter that by under exposing the picture, and there's a button for that. Then I can always tweak the picture later on in Photoshop. On really sunny days, it's a good idea to turn the Neutral Density filter on. There's alot of ways to get around it.. You can also use the histogram to take a test shot and the blown out highlights will blink and then you can adjust stuff accordingly. There is a lens conversion adapter you can buy in addition to the camera for lenses and filters you may want to add. I don't think it truly needed 10MP but that's ok with me (though some people say it affects the amount of noise in the picture)...

It's got face priority and so it automatically focuses on faces. You can add a flash- it has a hot-shoe. It has the Digic III Processor (faster processing speeds). I would not suggest shooting higher than ISO 400, since it gets noisier from there... It can shoot at ISO 3200 which yes, is noisy but I can shoot pictures of people dancing in dance clubs and bars, lighting and all without trails and blurriness... It's got all sorts of other shooting modes, which I use sometimes.. Like there are settings so you can shoot pics in flourescent lighting, or underwater. There are settings in scene mode so you can shoot fireworks, foliage, portraits, indoor, sports, landscapes etc..It zooms in nicely- 6x optical zoom.. I don't really care about digital zoom... Optical zoom is the one that counts..

I have to say, I am really happy with this camera. If I would ever like to get more serious, I can borrow my husband's Canon 20D.. What says a lot, is that he bought an extra G7 in addition to mine as an everyday camera..

For what it does, I think it's worth the price because it's in its own class. It's more than a simple point and shoot camera..

P.S. I hope the info I give is helpful and accurate.. I really suck at the technical aspects of photography. Oh and read the manual, it helps a lot..


->

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.


->Buy Today

The pictures out of this camera are awesome! I had the G1 a long time ago and must say get one of these G7's and see for yourself. I print directly from the camera to my Canon printer and the pictures are sharp colorful and the exposure is right on.


->Sale

Go get one and go out and shoot. It's small, heavy, quiet, and has a killer lens. You won't miss the RAW files. Just get the shot right when you shoot it.

It has a wide 16:9 setting. 2 custom settings on the dial so you can just click to your favorite camera set ups in a flash. HD movies, full manual, low noise, awesome style and button layout.

I did a search on Flickr for Canon G7 and clicked the "Most Interesting" tab. There you'll see what people are doing with this neat camera.

I love mine.


->Deals

...it's still a great camera. I had no intention of replacing my 4MP Canon S45. It still shoots excellent snaps, gives me manual control when I want it, and shoots RAW (which is fun to play with, but not all that useful, IMO). But when my wife suggested I give the camera to my son and buy myself a new one, I took the plunge. I remember considering the G3 when I bought my S45, but I didn't see a clear advantage for the additional bulk. But now, with the S-series defunct, and the G7 smaller, I didn't hesitate. Because...

--It's a Canon. They have a lock on mass-market digital cameras. Others are close, but no Canon. And I can use everything I learned from my previous Canon here.
--It still fits in my coat pocket, so I always have it with me.
--It gives me full manual control.
--Unlike the S-series, I can add a wide-angle and a zoom lens (although the integrated zoom has been superb so far).
--Even my wife (not a camera hound) was impressed that it could take an external flash (just like our old Pentax SLR).
--The presets are more varied and useful than my S45 (fireworks, flowers, etc)--although they are not quite as accessible (have to use the menu to get to them)
--I think the camera looks cool, and that counts for something.

So why not 5 stars? The files are bigger, but not that much better--unless you want to do some serious cropping. I do crop my pictures (can't get close enough to the action at sporting events), so this is useful. But for most, they are just bigger files that slow down the computer for negligible benefit.

I suppose I am the target market for the G7--a former S-series owner (not a former G-series owner). And so all those who say the G7 isn't a G might be right. But it's an excellent camera, and I would recommend one to anyone who wants something smaller than an SLR with a wide amount of flexibility and control.


->Deals

This camera is a well made object and actually looks and
feels like a compact camera rather than a mobile phone.
Clearly some experimentation is required to familiarise
oneself with the many settings though if time is limited
there are fully automatic settings. First results examined
on photoshop look extremely promising


->Buy Now

In the late '70s, '80s and '90s I sold cameras at a mom and pop store. I don't miss working retail but it was nice to see a camera and hold it before shelling out 500 bucks. These days that's almost a thing of the past. This caused me to do many hours of on-line research before choosing this Canon. I happen to be fond of Leica and really wanted one. I'm also fond of my hard earned money and did not like the price of the Leica as much as the mystique that it represented, but the Leica/Panasonic D-Lux 3 seemed to be a real possibility. I looked at reviews and saw complaints of noise in both. I looked on Flickr's camera finder link and viewed images from both the Canon and Leica, as well as the Lumix and a 9mp Fuji. All produced superb images. Many showed signs of sharpening in post production. The Leica seemed to have the potential for slightly better quality under the most ideal of conditions, but noise was also slightly more evident.The fuji was a great performer but I prefer the traditional rangefinder style of the others. I purchased the Canon from Amazon and am very pleased with it. Though small it becomes comfortable in the hand after some use. The images are superb, the color spot on. The delay is a little long when photographing active children but it's not the size of an EOS. I'm more than satisfied with the Canon and with Amazon


->Sale

I have bought this camera as a substitute of my previous Sony DSC-V3. I'm satisfied with my purchase, but I miss infrared NightFraming and NightShot functions, which my previous camera had.