Review based on a production Canon PowerShot G7, Firmware version 1.00
Announced just before Photokina 2006 in September 2006, the G7 came as something of a surprise to many who had written off the G series of high end PowerShots when the G6 (launched 2004) wasn't updated last year. The G series has a long and distinguished history at the top of Canon's PowerShot range, offering SLR-like functionality in a solid, compact body and high-end features such as fast lenses and external flash capabilities. The G7 continues the tradition, adding all Canon's latest gizmos (including the new Digic III processor, face detection and image stabilization), though since its announcement there has been heated discussion about some of Canon's decisions - particularly the loss of raw mode and the slower lens. So let's find out if the new model is a worthy successor to the G6, or if Canon really has - as some users feel - squandered the legacy of one of the most acclaimed cameras in the short history of digital photography. We'll start, as ever, by looking at the headline features:
Two years is a very long time in the digital camera world, and it comes as no surprise that the G7 is a significantly different beast to the model it replaces both externally (there's no grip, making the body a lot slimmer) and internally. What is slightly surprising is how many of the changes are 'steps down' rather than 'steps up'; some of the key qualities and features that made the G series so different from Canon's other compact camera ranges have been removed or 'downgraded'. Of course there are some areas where the specification has been 'beefed up' over the G6, but not all these changes will be welcome to potential upgraders.
 Canon PowerShot G7 |
 Canon PowerShot G6 |
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|---|---|---|
| Body color | Black | Silver |
| Effective pixels | 10.0 million | 7.1 million |
| Processor | Digic III | Digic |
| Lens (35mm equiv.) | • 35-210mm • 6x optical zoom |
• 35-140mm • 4x optical zoom |
| Image Stabilization | Yes (lens shift) | No |
| Aperture Range | F2.8 - F4.8 | F2.0 - F3.0 |
| Closest focus (macro) | 1cm | 5cm |
| Sensitivity | ISO 80-1600* *ISO 3200 (reduced resolution) available as scene mode |
ISO 50-400 |
| Storage | SD & SDHC | CompactFlash |
| File Formats | • JPEG Exif 2.2 • DCF • DPOF • AVI Motion JPEG with WAVE monaural |
• RAW • JPEG (EXIF 2.2) - Super Fine, Fine, Normal * * Any image shot as JPEG can be instead saved as RAW by pressing the Flash button during record review |
| Image sizes | • 3648 x 2736 • 3648 x 2048 • 2816 x 2112 • 2272 x 1704 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480 |
• 3072 x 2304 |
| Movie clips | • 1024 x 768 @ 15fps • 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15fps • 320 x 240 @ 30 / 15fps • 160 x 120 @ 15fps |
• 640 x 480, 10 / 15 fps, max 30 sec • 320 x 240, 15 fps, max 3 mins • 160 x 120, 15 fps, max 3 mins |
| Continuous (Large/Fine, LCD Off) |
• Normal: approx 2fps • AF: approx 0.8fps |
• Low speed: 1.2 fps, up to 23 frames • High speed: 2.0 fps, up to 14 frames |
| LCD monitor | • 2.5-inch P-Si TFT • 207,000 pixels |
• 2.0" TFT, 118,000 pixels • 100% coverage • Tilt, twist and swivel ('Vari-angle') |
| Status panel | None | • Right side of camera • Illuminated |
| Battery | • Rechargeable Li-ion battery NB-2LH/NB-2L (720mAh) | Canon BP-511A (1390 mAh) |
| Battery Life (CIPA standard) | 220 | 300 |
| Remote Control | No | Yes (IR remote included) |
| Menu languages | 25 languages | 14 languages |
| Dimensions | 106.4 x 71.9 x 42.5 mm |
105 x 73 x 73 mm (4.1 x 2.9 x 2.9 in) |
| Weight (incl.) | 320 g (11.3 oz) | 467 g (1.0 lb) |
| Other features | • Face Detection AF • Digital Tele Converter & Safety Zoom • Categories |
• Intervalometer |
| Street price | • US: $480 • UK: £330 |
|---|---|
| Body Material | Metal/Plastic |
| Sensor | • 1/1.8" Type CCD • 10.0 million effective pixels |
| Image sizes | • 3648 x 2736 • 3648 x 2048 • 2816 x 2112 • 2272 x 1704 • 1600 x 1200 • 640 x 480 |
| Movie clips | • 1024 x 768 @ 15fps • 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15fps • 320 x 240 @ 30 / 15fps • 160 x 120 @ 15fps • AVI Motion JPEG with WAVE monaural audio |
| Lens | • 35-210mm (35mm equiv) |
| Focus | • TTL autofocus |
| Metering | • Evaluative • Center-weighted average • Spot (Linked to center or selected AF point) |
| Shutter speed | • 15-1/2000 sec |
| Aperture | • F2.8-F8.0 (wide) • F4.8-F8.0 (tele) |
| Shooting mode | • Auto • Program AE • Shutter Priority AE • Aperture Priority AE • Manual • Custom (2 modes) • Stitch Assist • Movie • Special Scene |
| Sensitivity | • Auto • High ISO Auto • ISO 80 • ISO 100 • ISO 200 • ISO 400 • ISO 800 • ISO 1600 |
| White Balance | • Auto • Daylight • Cloudy • Tungsten • Fluorescent • Fluorescent H • Flash • Underwater • Custom |
| Image parameters | My Colors (My Colors Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, B&W, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Custom Color) |
| Continuous | • Normal: approx 2fps • AF: approx 0.8fps |
| Flash | • Auto, Manual Flash On / Off, Slow Sync, Red-eye reduction • Second curtain sync • Range: 30cm - 4.0m (wide) / 2.5m (tele) • Hot shoe |
| Storage | • SD / SDHC / MMC card compatible • 32 MB card supplied |
| Viewfinder | • Real-image zoom • Dioptre correction |
| LCD monitor | • 2.5-inch P-Si TFT • 207,000 pixels • Adjustable Brightness • 100% coverage |
| Connectivity | • USB 2.0 High speed • A/V out (NTSC/PAL switchable) |
| Power | • Rechargeable Li-ion battery NB-2LH/NB-2L • Charger included • Optional AC adapter kit |
| Other features | • Orientation sensor |
| Optional accessories | • Speedlite 220EX/ 430EX/ 580EX • Tele-converter (2.0x) TC-DC58C • Wide-converter (0.75x) WC-DC58B • Lens adapter/Hood set LA-DC58H • Waterproof Case WP-DC11 • Waterproof Case Weight WW-DC1 • Soft Case DCC-600 • High Power Flash HF-DC1 • AC Adapter Kit ACK-DC20 • Rechargeable Li-ION battery pack NB-2LH • Car Battery Charger CBC-NB2 |
| Weight (no batt) | 320 g (11.3 oz) |
| Dimensions | 106.4 x 71.9 x 42.5 mm (4.2 x 2.8 x 1.7 in) |
* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area
If you're new to digital photography you may wish to read the Digital
Photography Glossary before diving into this article (it may help
you understand some of the terms used).
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Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions. Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window. To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top. DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C. |
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This article is Copyright 2006 and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.
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