Canon PowerShot G7 Review

The Canon PowerShot G7 was recently added to Canon’s G-series line which features state-of-the-art specifications and capabilities. The digital camera just like others in the same series made its way in the market for very advanced designs at very affordable prices. The G7 is very powerful with great image advantages and is also more lightweight and slimmer compared to others in its class. It has a variety of shooting modes and controls that can be automated or set to manual for users’ convenience.

The Canon PowerShot G7 has a very stylish and modern look that resembles a rangefinder camera which incorporates the unique Canon image processor called DIGIC III. DIGIC III aids a lot in enhancing image focusing and resolution as well as camera response, battery longevity and other impressive technologies like Face Detection and scene recognition. Users can expect better focus speed and more accurate photos with the digital camera.

10-mega pixel sensors accurately display quality images from the 6X optical zoom of the Canon PowerShot G7. The focal range of the zoom in terms of 35mm class can be adjusted anywhere from 35 up to 210mm. The digital camera also has 4X digital zoom and an image stabilizer making sure that photos do not get blurry and shots of moving objects are still well-defined. Shutter speed can reduce by three stops without any color distortion, edge faulting or image blur. Furthermore, the G7 has f/2.8 to f/4.8 lens for the optical zoom which is adjusted accordingly depending on the angle. With a converter, telephoto shooting is very versatile and easy.

The Canon PowerShot G7 has a neutral density or ND filter built inside. The ND filter functions to control the amount of light entering the camera to provide slower shutter speed. Taking photos even with settings of ISO 400 or 200 was possible and images where vivid and clear. It however, requires more stable hands or a tripod as ISO sensitivity is reduced.

Minimal amount of barrel distortion can be noticed on certain occasions so it is recommended to take photos with the digital camera leveled.
The digital camera is rather heavy at 11.3 oz. The grip is stable with easy-to-maneuver and well-designed button layout. The G7 has a very smooth and polished finish and is very comfortable to handle. The top area of the Canon PowerShot G7 features an array of electronic buttons such as the ISO dial which ranges from 80 to 1600, Auto and Auto-HI, zoom lever, shutter release, power button and shooting mode dial. As for the flash, the digital camera has a hot show which allows external flashes to be attached.

The digital camera also features several personal settings and 25 shooting modes and manual controls. Some modes may make the G7 an instant favorite among individuals who enjoy manually setting things up. There are a couple of Custom modes which save two different settings made by the user. The Creative Zone mode allows the user to try a variety of settings and scene selections. The Image Zone mode allows more settings and functions for both photo capturing and video recording. The Canon
PowerShot G7 has a total of 16 Special Scene modes. Users can records videos at a resolution of 1024 x 768 in VGA at 15 frames per second.

The Canon PowerShot G7 has a 2.5-inch LCD screen which displays very clear and well-adjusted images. An option is also available to superimpose grid lines on the LCD screen to improve image edges and linings. Other accessories included in the package are the battery pack, neck strap, battery charger, AV and interface cable, 32 MB SD memory card and user CD. The digital camera supports USB cable and SDHC and MMC memory cards as well. The G7 has PictBridge support for instant printing of images.

Pros: The Canon PowerShot G7 is power-packed with features and settings such as the great 6X optical zoom and 4X digital zoom. It has multiple shooting modes and a variety of manual settings. The ND filter, image stabilizer and DIGIC III are also pluses. Furthermore, the external flash hotshoe is a great bonus.

Cons: The lens at f2.8 was slow. The digital camera also lacked RAW support, a remote control and memory.

Overall: The Canon PowerShot G7 is a great alternative to digital SLRs. Users who are eyeing on a variety of manual settings and shooting modes will most likely enjoy the qualities of the digital camera at a cheaper price. The appearance and features inside and outside make the G7 better overall compared to its predecessor, the PowerShot G6.

Attached Images

Canon_PowerShot_G7.jpg (18.6 KB, 0 views)