Using G7 for Video

Greetings, I would like to hear from those who also use the G7 for video. I like to have that option because one never knows when he will need to take some video that can then be edited into a regular movie project. I shoot both and am hoping that the video from the G7 would edit well and also be of good quality. Your experience with G7 video would be much appreciated . thanks so much,
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Roger Bloemers

My experience of the video is that is is better than the usual video in point and shoot cameras. The 1024x768 res option is really nice, even though you are limited to 15fps at that res. Being able to fill an entire 4GB memory card is really nice too. So far I'm pretty happy with the video given that it's in such a small package and I'm bringing the camera around with me anyways for photos. Good enough for TV IMO. But you might want to make sure there is enough light to get thru that little lens. The review he just posted in dpreview has some sample clips.

Having taken video with this and also having a panasonic gs500 camcorder...let's just say i'm shocked. The G7 video looks very very good for what it is. A big step up from G6.

In fact, i'd say it'd make holding off on a camcorder possible now (til the harddrive based high def ones improve, software available, and price goes down). It's that good. I put the GS500 camcorder on ebay. Good machine but tired of minidvs and knowing that this is on the way out. Might as well sell while it has value.

Thanks so much for your prompt answer. I am very interested in the G7. I made a video of our trip to Italy but had only the SD500 for photos. The G7 with its high quality photos and movies may be just what I need.

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Roger Bloemers

i too am considering using a digi cam for video knowing that i only want short clips...
i am considering the s3is as i read that is excellent at video

i prefer the g7 for size and iq but i am concerned that it lacks:

stereo sound (is this important?)
and i am unclear if it does optical zoom during movie mode....

any info or experiences would be much appreciated

Roger Bloemers said:

Greetings, I would like to hear from those who also use the G7 for
video. I like to have that option because one never knows when he
will need to take some video that can then be edited into a regular
movie project. I shoot both and am hoping that the video from the
G7 would edit well and also be of good quality. Your experience
with G7 video would be much appreciated .

Click to expand...

I don't have a G7. But I've read that you cannot do optical zoom will shooting video. And the 1024x768 (XGA) video is limited to 15 fps. VGA can be shot at 30 fps.

By comparison the S3 IS shoots VGA video at 30 fps and lets you use the entire 12x optical zoom in the process. Constraint is that single clips are limited to 1 GB .. about 8 minutes.

So if video is a primary need, I would question the choice of the G7. Maybe an S3 IS .. or G7 plus small camcorder .. would be a better choice.

And the S3 is no slouch as a still camera, either. It's what I use when I don't care to travel with my DSLR and camcorder. 6 megapixels will support some good-sized prints.

Phil

so what you are confirming for me is that the g7 cannot use optical zoom during video (it is not totally clear to me from the research i've done but seems like it..thanks for clarifying)

it would seem to me then that to use for video (instead of a camcorder) that the g7 is not a good choice compared to the s3is

thanks!

bnyc said:

so what you are confirming for me is that the g7 cannot use optical
zoom during video (it is not totally clear to me from the research
i've done but seems like it..thanks for clarifying)

Click to expand...

From a review: "You cannot use the zoom lens during filming (it will be locked when you start filming). You can, however, use the digital zoom."

Phil

I'm having the same quandary. It all depends upon whether you prefer the XGA 1028x864 (at 15fps) option of the G7 or the optical zoom of the S3IS. Unfortunately, no camera in Canon's line has both right now, that I know of.

Additionally, I think that the G7 will produce better prints -- at least at larger sizes, which is important to me. And it's small enough to always have on me.

Unfortunately, no camera that I can find now seems to have the easy, one-handed access to video that my trusty Canon S230 has, with the video mode set on the same slider as photo and review. It makes it really easy to shoot video at any time.

With the S3, there's a dedicated record button, but it's impossible (for my small hands at least) to reach while holding the camera with one hand. This may be much easier, however, for those with larger hands. It's worth trying.

With the G7, as with almost every current camera, the movie mode is on the dial along with P, Auto, Av, Sv and M. I think I might be able to sort of kinesthetically memorize the number of clicks over to movie mode from custom, but it certainly won't be as quick and easy as with my 230.

What I would really like is a 230 with a bit more manual control, higher res, and no time limit on VGA movies! Oh well... I'm leaning towards the G7.

Betsey

One question I have not been able to find the answer to is:

Do all of the Canon cameras use the same quality for their movie modes? Do they all use the same compression? Are differences really just in the resolutions available? (and stereo sound for the S3?)

I really like the low compression of Canon point and shoots... haven't seen anything that looks better... worth living with the file size, in my opinion.

Betsey

Roger Bloemers said:

Greetings, I would like to hear from those who also use the G7 for
video. I like to have that option because one never knows when he
will need to take some video that can then be edited into a regular
movie project. I shoot both and am hoping that the video from the
G7 would edit well and also be of good quality. Your experience
with G7 video would be much appreciated . thanks so much,

Click to expand...

The video in the G7 has one big flaw, the camera is more likely to have purple streak from too much light (usually when looking directly at the sun or other light source) and even if it doesn't show up in print, it does show in the video.

Grab from the camera



And a picture



If your planning on taking a lot of video, from my experience (previous owner of S3 and owner of G7), I would go with the S3 for it's dedicated movie button. You don't have to change your photographic mode to take a video and you can still take a picture while shooting a movie (with a gap in the movie).

Also, I have no proof but I do think all Canon use the same compression on all it's camera. You do get a longer video on the G7 than on most other Canon.

--
Stephane

Grab from video



Picture



--
Stephane

Actually good movie makers do not use the zoom too often. They tend to use a variety med and close-up shots, with interesting cuts. The zoom should not be used too much IMOP. I hope to use the G7 only for those times when that is the only camera I have with me and I see a good shot I might beable to use in a project.

--
Roger Bloemers

Roger Bloemers said:

Actually good movie makers do not use the zoom too often. They
tend to use a variety med and close-up shots, with interesting
cuts. The zoom should not be used too much IMOP. I hope to use the
G7 only for those times when that is the only camera I have with me
and I see a good shot I might beable to use in a project.

Click to expand...

Using the zoom works very well with the S3. They slow it down so it cannot be zoomed so fast as to be an issue.

Having zoom sure beats not having it .. whether used or not is a user option.

Phil

betsbillabong said:

One question I have not been able to find the answer to is:

Do all of the Canon cameras use the same quality for their movie
modes? Do they all use the same compression? Are differences really
just in the resolutions available? (and stereo sound for the S3?)

Click to expand...

I believe they all shoot AVI, which is very UNcompressed compared to mpeg-2 and mpeg-4

Phil

Thanks for your answers... I had thought that the compression was the same on all cameras, but it's good to have that confirmed.

The magenta line issue concerns me a bit. Is this specific to the G7 or does it happen on all point and shoots? I am trying to remember if I ever experienced this with my 230. Can anyone tell me if the same thing happens with the S3, 650, 710?

Also - can anyone tell me whether it is possible to set one of the G7's custom modes to a movie mode setting? That might be helpful for me in terms of ease of use.

Thanks!
Betsey

PS I agree with the original poster... I rarely use zoom DURING shot.

True, If given a choice I would take the zoom. However, not having a zoom would not keep me from buying the G7 anyway. It is a better camera then the S3, I believe.
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Roger Bloemers

Roger Bloemers said:

True, If given a choice I would take the zoom. However, not having
a zoom would not keep me from buying the G7 anyway. It is a better
camera then the S3, I believe.

Click to expand...

Apples and oranges. I have an S3, SD700IS (and 20D with 7 lenses) and may soon buy a G7 (I think I have my wife resigned to it as my self-purchased Christmas present).

"Better" is hard to define. G7 takes better images, in terms of IQ .. but 12x optical zoom is very versatile. 10 mp vs. 6 mp: not a swinger in my mind.

But if I had to choose one of my many cameras to keep it would likely be the S3 IS. Of course, I have yet to shoot with a G7 ;-)

Phil

Phil, I'll be curious to hear your thoughts once you have the G7 and have been able to compare it to the S3. I will need to make big blowups from my camera. And I need a point and shoot. And I need video (otherwise I'd get a dSLR). And size makes a difference. This is all leading me to believe that the G7 is probably the best camera for me, but if anyone thinks otherwise, please let me know. I like the S3 but am concerned about the size, and also a tiny bit about the MP (only b/c I will be making poster size blowups).

Yes, I realize I'm asking a lot! On the other hand, I've been using the S230 for a few years now in this regard so whatever I get can only be an improvement...

BB

My daughter has the S3 and so for me the G7 was much better. I also have a 20D with guess what? seven lenes! Funny.... I started to buy Canon lenes when I bought my Eos 3 about 10 years ago. (The Eos 3 is a fine camera)

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Roger Bloemers