G7 real review (Norwegian)

Erik37 · Oct 24, 2006

Thanks for the link, interesting read.

I think that camera has great looks. And Canon has speeded up
the slow AF from previous models of the line.

It's a real pity they have dropped tilt LCD and raw. I'd much prefer a
2" LCD with tilt than a fixed 2.5", wouldn't you?

It seems the lens is not so sharp in the corners:

They even redid the test twice beause they thought something must be
wrong.

Just my two öre
Erik from Sweden

Cerdan · Oct 24, 2006

Who already see the CNET'S CANON PRO2 preview ?

It introduces a new technology called :

Erik37 said:
DUCK FACE detection

and it seems to work perfectly at ranges of ~~180-220...~~

Here's the original post :

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/readflat.asp?forum=1010&thread=20598451

Duck Face detection, Lol

tom sugnet · Oct 24, 2006

Akam.no results, cameras compared:

Camera: Canon G7/ Fujifilm E900

body.......3.5/3.5 (draw)
lens.........2.5/3.5 (advantage E900)
features...3.5/3.5 (draw)
display......3.5/3.0 (advantage G7)
battery.....2.5/4.0 (advantage E900)
af............3.5/3.5 (draw)
speed......3.0/3.5 (advantage E900)
operation.4.0/3.5 (advantage G7)
IQ...........2.5/3.5 (advantage E900)

total.......28.5/31.5(advantage E900)

Fuji E900 test:
http://www.akam.no/test//test_av_fujifilm_finepix_e900/23444/1
--
Feel free to visit my homepage: http://tom.st
my best shots: http://www.dreamstime.com/resp189502

zakk9 · Oct 25, 2006

The heaviest critizism with regards to image quality is about corner sharpness, which they say is way behind both the G6 and Fuji F11. They also say that ISO 1600 is not useable other than for "special effects".

The test looks quite thorough, and with everything that has now surfaced about this camera, I think it's fair to say that it's not suitable as backup camera for pro's and not even a good camera for enthusiasts. It will be bought by the uninformed, who think that a high price in combination with the Canon names will add up to a higher quality. Apparently, it doesn't. What a waste!

As a side note, the lens seems to be the biggest problem here, both because it's slow, but also with regards to the fuzzy corners. If they had kept the G6 lens, RAW format, and maybe a sensor with less pixel density, the situation would probably have been turned upside down. As it is now, the A640 seems to be a better camera (same sensor, different lens), and much cheaper as well.

--
Zakk 9, the number 9 zakk

Virvatulet · Oct 27, 2006

Thank you! With my Swedish I somewhat understood what they said, but couldn’t have made a good translation.

-Virvatulet

sletvold said:
Conclusion translated.

It's sad to say, but the G7 is an enormous disapointment to us who
have waited for a new chapter in the G-series. Canon has apparently
chosen to aim the G7 to a bigger but less advanced segment of the
market, than what the semiprofessional niche the G series have
appealed to earlier, and have removed most of what separated the G
series from the rest. What remains is a camera with indentity
crisis. Some advanced functions remain, and others have been added
or enhanced, but this does not counterweight the features that are
removed. Canon has tried to repair something that worked, and have
obviously burned themselves.

Maybe the camera is for those who won't miss RAW, f/2.0 and good
edge sharpness? Maybe, but is should not be difficult to find a
camera out there which is better, smaller, cheaper and has a real
wideangle.

Pros

Nice design

6x zoom

Fastest filetransfer yet

Many functions

-Good color at low ISO

Cons

Not enough wideangle

Horrendous edge sharpness

No RAW support

Weak battery capacity

Enormous amounts of noise at ISO 1600

thw · Oct 27, 2006

G7: 2.5 out of 5 stars

http://www.akam.no/test/digitalkamera/canon_powershot_g7/32484/2

S80: 4 out of 5 stars

http://www.akam.no/test/digitalkamera/test_av_canon_powershot_s80/25216/2

Looks like the G7 is quite a disappointment.

-------------------------------------------
See the colors of my world in:
thw.smugmug.com

henrylwk · Oct 27, 2006

MrMorden said:
The guys at akam.no reviews the g7.

http://www.akam.no/test/digitalkamera/canon_powershot_g7/32484

I own a G7 just for two days now. I have the same image quality issue until I set the sharpness to low. low or even no image artifact, nice image that allow PP to very high quality sharpness.

The ISO800 is completely usable after Ninja Noise. (In fact better then I expect). If this reviewer just take the camera out of the box and test it, it will be disappointing. Like using a G5 in ISO400 and conclude that G5 is bad.

I hope Phil will test the IQ with low NR and see the quality from there.

But having G7 for two days and having read all the other forum and review, I observed that G7 is not for every P&S photographer. It required certain photography knowlegde and willingness to push the limit of this equipment. It has a strong DSLR concept in it's function that allow you to push the equipment to perform like a DSLR (pls I say perform not IQ equal to DSLR). E.g Mycolor, bracketing, histogram, focus review, AE lock allow you to switch ISO before shoot, custom functions and more...

If you don't like to push your equipment to the limit, please don't buy a G7.

Please, not using G7 will not make you a less photographer. Any equipment in the hands of a good photographer make good picture.

--
henry

This my opinion, I do not want you to accept my view, but I humbly ask you to evaluate what I say and judge for yourself, if it make sense.

Tetsuro · Oct 27, 2006

So which settings are you using? Want to share with us?

henrylwk said:
MrMorden said:

The guys at akam.no reviews the g7.

http://www.akam.no/test/digitalkamera/canon_powershot_g7/32484

Click to expand...

I own a G7 just for two days now. I have the same image quality
issue until I set the sharpness to low. low or even no image
artifact, nice image that allow PP to very high quality sharpness.

The ISO800 is completely usable after Ninja Noise. (In fact better
then I expect). If this reviewer just take the camera out of the
box and test it, it will be disappointing. Like using a G5 in
ISO400 and conclude that G5 is bad.

I hope Phil will test the IQ with low NR and see the quality from
there.

But having G7 for two days and having read all the other forum and
review, I observed that G7 is not for every P&S photographer. It
required certain photography knowlegde and willingness to push the
limit of this equipment. It has a strong DSLR concept in it's
function that allow you to push the equipment to perform like a
DSLR (pls I say perform not IQ equal to DSLR). E.g Mycolor,
bracketing, histogram, focus review, AE lock allow you to switch
ISO before shoot, custom functions and more...

If you don't like to push your equipment to the limit, please don't
buy a G7.

Please, not using G7 will not make you a less photographer. Any
equipment in the hands of a good photographer make good picture.

--
henry

This my opinion, I do not want you to accept my view, but I humbly
ask you to evaluate what I say and judge for yourself, if it make
sense.

--
Alessandro

bwbrock · Oct 27, 2006

I just had some hands-on time with the G7 at my local dealer. He only had a demo available, but what impressed me most was how quickly the AF was and how quickly it worked in poor light (indoor fluorescent, 1/8sec @f2.8 @iso200). It locked on quickly and the IS enable a sharp pic (I forgot to bring an SD card or I'd post samples).

The G7 is solidly built, it stores flat in a large pocket, and handles well in my larger hands. It also enables quick adjustments and takes an external flash.

The only thing I can pick on would be the lack of RAW, as stated ad nauseum, and the wide end not being wider. I didn't see the corner blur when viewing my sample shots on the comuter screen in his shop, but I wasn't particularly looking for it either. ISO 1600 is not very useable, IMHO, but ISO 800 is.

I avoided buying the other G-series for my "pocketable P&S" (got an S70 instead) because of their bulk. However, the new G7, even with its imperfections, is still a lot of camera and much more pocketable.

henrylwk · Oct 27, 2006

Tetsuro said:
So which settings are you using? Want to share with us?

I follow Thomas Kachadurian, to use custom MyColor and set sharpness to zero (far left). http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=20610874

With this setting, I have zero surprises of unwanted noise and at high ISO with Ninja Noise, it is remove easily.

--
henry

This my opinion, I do not want you to accept my view, but I humbly ask you to evaluate what I say and judge for yourself, if it make sense.

henrylwk · Oct 27, 2006

bwbrock said:
I just had some hands-on time with the G7 at my local dealer. He
only had a demo available, but what impressed me most was how
quickly the AF was and how quickly it worked in poor light (indoor
fluorescent, 1/8sec @f2.8 @iso200). It locked on quickly and the
IS enable a sharp pic (I forgot to bring an SD card or I'd post
samples).

The G7 is solidly built, it stores flat in a large pocket, and
handles well in my larger hands. It also enables quick adjustments
and takes an external flash.

The only thing I can pick on would be the lack of RAW, as stated ad
nauseum, and the wide end not being wider. I didn't see the corner
blur when viewing my sample shots on the comuter screen in his
shop, but I wasn't particularly looking for it either. ISO 1600 is
not very useable, IMHO, but ISO 800 is.

I avoided buying the other G-series for my "pocketable P&S" (got an
S70 instead) because of their bulk. However, the new G7, even with
its imperfections, is still a lot of camera and much more
pocketable.

bwbrock,

Same here, I own a S60 did not get G6 because it is bigger and at that time cost a lot more. For a small increase from my S60 investment, G7 is really worth it. It is not the cheapest on the range but with feature I consider very valuable.

i.e:

210mm equiv, IS, usable ISO800, softer image (I am from old school SLR film, miss those nice soft effect, PP to sharpness I want), faster (almost no lag between shutter). Face Detection works and reliable (good for portrait), LCD is very bright even on sunny day, Auto Focus is very fast and accurate (so far). Macro mode is WOW. ISO dial is really useful, Control Dial is what I always wanted (use to own a EOS-5 film SLR)

Matt's handheld off-camera flash, shows the WOW in G7 macro.
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=20616959

--
henry

This my opinion, I do not want you to accept my view, but I humbly ask you to evaluate what I say and judge for yourself, if it make sense.

bearjoshy · Oct 27, 2006

The following remark re the G7 makes me ask which is the camera that fits the alternative to fulfill these criteria

"Maybe the camera is for those who won't miss RAW, f/2.0 and good edge sharpness? Maybe, but is should not be difficult to find a camera out there which is better, smaller, cheaper and has a real wideangle. "

Bryan

Tetsuro · Oct 27, 2006

I thought you had personalized even more.

henrylwk said:
Tetsuro said:

So which settings are you using? Want to share with us?

Click to expand...

I follow Thomas Kachadurian, to use custom MyColor and set
sharpness to zero (far left).
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=20610874

With this setting, I have zero surprises of unwanted noise and at
high ISO with Ninja Noise, it is remove easily.

--
henry

This my opinion, I do not want you to accept my view, but I humbly
ask you to evaluate what I say and judge for yourself, if it make
sense.

--
Alessandro

cmillercpa · Oct 27, 2006

henrylwk said:
But having G7 for two days and having read all the other forum and
review, I observed that G7 is not for every P&S photographer. It
required certain photography knowlegde and willingness to push the
limit of this equipment. It has a strong DSLR concept in it's
function that allow you to push the equipment to perform like a
DSLR (pls I say perform not IQ equal to DSLR). E.g Mycolor,
bracketing, histogram, focus review, AE lock allow you to switch
ISO before shoot, custom functions and more...

If you don't like to push your equipment to the limit, please don't
buy a G7.

Please, not using G7 will not make you a less photographer. Any
equipment in the hands of a good photographer make good picture.

I can understand that. I'm by no means a pro. But when asked what settings you use, you simply state that you set Sharpness to minimum or what another poster suggested.

Is lowering the sharpness the same as "pushing the G7 to its limit"? That doesn't sound to me like you need to be a pro to do this.

After my g6 stopped working, i started researching the G7 heavily. I think i'll end up getting it, but am concerned if my point & shoot wife will be able to take g6 like pics in auto mode.

The G7 really does appeal to me as i never used RAW and i believe this enhanced LCD will more than make up for the flip one on the G6.

henrylwk · Oct 27, 2006

Tetsuro said:
I thought you had personalized even more.

You want more!!!!...more...

Here you go...

Normal C1 setting:

MyColor custom with sharpness set to low, Av mode, single shots, AWB, Super Fine and Large format file

Action C2 setting:

MyColor custom with sharpness set ot low, Tv mode, continous shots, AWB, Super Fine and Large format file

IS Mode:
Shoot Only. The continous IS make too much funny noise event when not shooting.

LCD customization:

D1 - exposure information and histogram (helps a lot when checking exposure on the spot)
D2 - grid lines, with exposure information.

After shot reveiw, set to focus review. After I shoot the display will show if the focus is good. I can do a quick check on focus to see if focus was good or need to shoot again.

Short-cut button I set to metering mode. I use this often to change the metering mdoe to confirm my shoot exposure and playing with different metering mode. S60 has a button that I use often, but for G7 I have to assign it to shortcut button.

Custom Self-timer, I set to 5 shots and delay of 2 secs. Some candid/action shoots 1 frame is not enough.

AE, MF, AF framing, Macro, Flash, Exposure compensation, self-timer - all these have their own button.

Folder create and My Categories, is good for sorting your image. Have not custom it yet. My Post Process application does that. I may try to find out what I can do with it later.

Custom Theme, none, no beep as well. I like my camera to operate silently.

What I have tried:

1. Digital Convertor. Nice effect to get close to subject without lossing quality. It works. But file size may be smaller in some cases, smaller OK G7 has 10MP to play with.

2. AE lock allow you to switch ISO with the same exposure you have fixed. I can tell which ISO to use for the shoot.

2. AF lock allow me to lock the focus and recompose. This the old way of doing thing but I find myself to think creatively when I recompose.

--
henry

This my opinion, I do not want you to accept my view, but I humbly ask you to evaluate what I say and judge for yourself, if it make sense.

henrylwk · Oct 27, 2006

cmillercpa said:
Is lowering the sharpness the same as "pushing the G7 to its
limit"? That doesn't sound to me like you need to be a pro to do
this.

There is a mix question I try to answer. Sorry for misunderstanding. You are right pushing G7 require more then just setting sharpness to low. I have try to push my S60 to the limits trying high ISO image set to maximum zoom and see if I can get a good blokeh background with f5 (it didn't work). Use tripod to shoot in low lighting condition. For a same shot, change different ISO and exposure to see the different. I even try action shots with my S60. Of course it fail, and I learn why e.g. camera shutter lag, zoom not enough, using flash light to stop action not enough and so on. I only have G7 for three days now, will try want I did on my S60 and see how what is the outcome.

cmillercpa said:
After my g6 stopped working, i started researching the G7 heavily.
I think i'll end up getting it, but am concerned if my point &
shoot wife will be able to take g6 like pics in auto mode.

G7 can turn into easy to use camera just turn to P or Auto, you just need to press the shutter. It has 16 special scene mode for different condition to take automatic P&S.

cmillercpa said:
The G7 really does appeal to me as i never used RAW and i believe
this enhanced LCD will more than make up for the flip one on the G6.

I came from S60, I shoot raw. Flip screen I never use, but if you have G6 you may miss it. As for raw, so far my G7 also require minimum amount of PP.

--
henry

This my opinion, I do not want you to accept my view, but I humbly ask you to evaluate what I say and judge for yourself, if it make sense.

tomjar · Oct 28, 2006

Hi Henry. Reading your post I got the following impression (in a nutshell):

"In order to get HQ images with G7 you need to turn all in-camera image processing to minimum and then post process the images on a computer. If you do not do this, IQ will be rather poor (meaning worse than with some other P&S cameras). Is this what you are saying, that in-camera processing is not good enough? It sounds as if post processing is a MUST in order to get satisfactory IQ with G7.

As far as I know (no experience though) even DSLR models nowadays are supposed to produce high IQ without a need for post processing. It is clear that if you want even higher IQ you need to set in-camera image processing parameters to some appropriate values depending on the circumstances and then post process. But it should not be a MUST, not even with a DSLR, to get satisfactory results in at least let's say 95% of cases.

I am asking because I was very dissapointed with G7 when it was announced (feature-wise in comparison to G6) but I am still considering getting it since there seems to be little or no alternative. My history is a 3 years old A80 which I have always been happy with considering its limitations, and I am looking for something more versatile and capable to upgrade to, but not a DSLR. I was actually looking forward to either G6 or Pro1 successor. I am certainly ready to learn new tricks and techniques, I even wouldn't mind learning to work with RAW. I do some basic postprocessing on A80 images (levels, curves, sharpness, etc.), but I most certainly do not want to be forced into postprocessing every single image (I do not consider cropping and resizing as image processing).

What exactly do you mean by "pushing the camera to its limits"?

Regards,
Tomaz

henrylwk said:
But having G7 for two days and having read all the other forum and
review, I observed that G7 is not for every P&S photographer. It
required certain photography knowlegde and willingness to push the
limit of this equipment. It has a strong DSLR concept in it's
function that allow you to push the equipment to perform like a
DSLR (pls I say perform not IQ equal to DSLR). E.g Mycolor,
bracketing, histogram, focus review, AE lock allow you to switch
ISO before shoot, custom functions and more...

If you don't like to push your equipment to the limit, please don't
buy a G7.

Please, not using G7 will not make you a less photographer. Any
equipment in the hands of a good photographer make good picture.

henrylwk · Oct 28, 2006

tomjar said:
Hi Henry. Reading your post I got the following impression (in a
nutshell):

Wait a minute, ... breath.... I am not reviewing G7, there is no nutshell to come to conclusion about (but if you have concluded so be it). These comment I posted is my take of G7 because I own one.

tomjar said:
"In order to get HQ images with G7 you need to turn all in-camera
image processing to minimum and then post process the images on a
computer. If you do not do this, IQ will be rather poor (meaning
worse than with some other P&S cameras). Is this what you are
saying, that in-camera processing is not good enough? It sounds as
if post processing is a MUST in order to get satisfactory IQ with
G7.

tomjar said:
As far as I know (no experience though) even DSLR models nowadays
are supposed to produce high IQ without a need for post processing.
It is clear that if you want even higher IQ you need to set
in-camera image processing parameters to some appropriate values
depending on the circumstances and then post process. But it should
not be a MUST, not even with a DSLR, to get satisfactory results in
at least let's say 95% of cases.

All camera has limitation include a $7000+ EOS 1Ds Mark-II see:

http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/eos1dsm2/html/05_iso.html

As mention in the other post I shot raw 60% of the time, PP is a normal for me because I am picky about how my picture should look like and not what the camera automatic setting predict it should be (as far as exposure and quality is concerned). That's why I mention that "I observed that G7 is not for every P&S photographer."

tomjar said:
I am asking because I was very dissapointed with G7 when it was
announced (feature-wise in comparison to G6) but I am still
considering getting it since there seems to be little or no
alternative. My history is a 3 years old A80 which I have always
been happy with considering its limitations, and I am looking for
something more versatile and capable to upgrade to, but not a DSLR.
I was actually looking forward to either G6 or Pro1 successor. I am
certainly ready to learn new tricks and techniques, I even wouldn't
mind learning to work with RAW. I do some basic postprocessing on
A80 images (levels, curves, sharpness, etc.), but I most certainly
do not want to be forced into postprocessing every single image (I
do not consider cropping and resizing as image processing).

See, "I observed that G7 is not for every P&S photographer." If you want my advise. Go to the shop take a look at G7 and use your own SD card, take a few shoots and see if you like it. That is what I did. The most impressive shots was using IS. WOW 1/15 focus is good image is clear and sharp. I own S60 when the light drop, I stop shooting. At ISO400 the image in raw cannot be process to usable condition. Now G7 at ISO800 I have to "chance" to get a really clear image that can publish.

tomjar said:
What exactly do you mean by "pushing the camera to its limits"?

Have you try all the feature in A80 and taken every impossible shoots with it (low lighitng, night scene, use flash with manual setting, use high ISO PP with Photoshop)? If you have done that you will know what your A80 can and cannot do. Once you got to this state, you have push the limit of your A80.

A80 gallery by Wilson Tsoi
http://photo.net/photodb/presentation.tcl?presentation_id=273356

He push the limit of his A80 with a tripod and make full use of the flip LCD screen.

I have a friend owns a EOS-5D, after I bought G7 he ask me is it good, I say you can push this thing to more limits then my S60. The next thing he order one. He say he wants to see what this P&S can do.

To me the fun part of photography is not just taking great picture alone. Yes this is main reason, I also like to test the limit of my equipment to see how far this little P&S can go, what lighting condition it gives the best result, how fast is the continous shooting, can focusing keep up with action shots...that is pushing the limits of my equipment. When it fail to perform, I don't become disappointed, I just know the limits my equipment.

"See matt's macro with handheld flash and G7, he is pushing the limits"
http://flickr.com/photos/jomatt/sets/72157594345208651/

Seriously this is just me. this point may not work for everyone hence I conclude in a nutshell "I observed that G7 is not for every P&S photographer."

--
henry

This my opinion, I do not want you to accept my view, but I humbly ask you to evaluate what I say and judge for yourself, if it make sense.

henrylwk · Oct 28, 2006

just incase you miss the gallery.

http://www.photo.net/photodb/presentation.tcl?presentation_id=273209

--
henry

This my opinion, I do not want you to accept my view, but I humbly ask you to evaluate what I say and judge for yourself, if it make sense.

jonrobertp · Oct 28, 2006

Henry, I am most impressed with what you have done with a P & S cam. I'm inspired by ur work.
--
Life is not a dress rehearsal !
See Cuba & NYC at http://www.jonrp.smugmug.com

G7 real review (Norwegian)

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