Canon PowerShot G7Canon PowerShot G7 Review,Simon Joinson, November 2006

Review based on a production Canon PowerShot G7, Firmware version 1.00Announced 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) wasnt updated last year. The G series has a long and distinguished history at the top of Canons 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 Canons 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 Canons decisions - particularly the loss of raw mode and the slower lens. So lets 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. Well start, as ever, by looking at the headline features:Headline features10.0 Megapixels6x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer and SR coatingDIGIC III and iSAPS with Advanced Noise Reduction and Face Detection AF/AE2.5” high-resolution LCD with wide viewing angle and anti-glare coatingISO 1600 for flash-free, low light shootingErgonomic design with dedicated ISO and Multi Control dials for fast, easy operation25 shooting modes including full manual control and 2 custom settings Extra telephoto reach with Digital Tele-Converter and Safety Zoom Hot shoe support for Canon Speedlite flashes and optional lens accessoriesPowershot G7 vs G6: Whats changed? 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 (theres 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 Canons 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.Higher resolution (10MP vs 7MP)Digic III processorLonger, but slower zoom lensImage stabilizationLarger, higher resolution screen (fixed: no longer vari-angle)Loss of Raw modeFace detection modeLighter, smaller (no hand grip), no LCD info/status panelReduced battery lifeWider ISO range (to ISO 1600 at full resolution)New ISO dial on bodyBetter macro modeEnhanced movie modeAdditional scene modes Canon PowerShot G7Canon PowerShot G6Body colorEffective pixelsProcessorLens (35mm equiv.)Image StabilizationAperture RangeClosest focus (macro)SensitivityStorageFile FormatsImage sizesMovie clipsContinuous(Large/Fine, LCD Off)LCD monitorStatus panelBatteryBattery Life (CIPA standard)Remote ControlMenu languagesDimensionsWeight (incl.)Other features

Black	Silver
10.0 million	7.1 million
Digic III	Digic
• 35-210mm• 6x optical zoom	• 35-140mm• 4x optical zoom
Yes (lens shift)	No
F2.8 - F4.8	F2.0 - F3.0
1cm	5cm
ISO 80-1600**ISO 3200 (reduced resolution) available as scene mode	ISO 50-400
SD & SDHC	CompactFlash
• 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
• 3648 x 2736• 3648 x 2048 • 2816 x 2112• 2272 x 1704• 1600 x 1200• 640 x 480
• 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
• 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
• 2.5-inch P-Si TFT• 207,000 pixels	• 2.0" TFT, 118,000 pixels• 100% coverage• Tilt, twist and swivel (Vari-angle)
None	• Right side of camera• Illuminated
• Rechargeable Li-ion battery NB-2LH/NB-2L (720mAh)	Canon BP-511A (1390 mAh)
220	300
No	Yes (IR remote included)
25 languages	14 languages
	105 x 73 x 73 mm(4.1 x 2.9 x 2.9 in)
320 g (11.3 oz)	467 g (1.0 lb)
• Face Detection AF• Digital Tele Converter & Safety Zoom• Categories	• Intervalometer

Key specifications Street priceBody MaterialSensorImage sizesMovie clipsLensFocusMeteringShutter speedApertureShooting modeSensitivityWhite BalanceImage parametersContinuousFlashStorageViewfinderLCD monitorConnectivityPowerOther featuresOptional accessoriesWeight (no batt)Dimensions

• US: $480• UK: £330

Metal/Plastic

• 1/1.8" Type CCD• 10.0 million effective pixels

• 3648 x 2736• 3648 x 2048 • 2816 x 2112• 2272 x 1704• 1600 x 1200• 640 x 480

• 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

• TTL autofocus• AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point)• Single / Continuous AF• Manual focus• Focus lock • 1-point AF (center or flexizone) • 1 cm minimum focus range (macro)

• Evaluative• Center-weighted average• Spot (Linked to center or selected AF point)

• F2.8-F8.0 (wide)• F4.8-F8.0 (tele)

• Auto• Program AE• Shutter Priority AE• Aperture Priority AE• Manual• Custom (2 modes)• Stitch Assist• Movie• Special Scene

• Auto• High ISO Auto• ISO 80• ISO 100• ISO 200• ISO 400• ISO 800• ISO 1600

• Auto• Daylight• Cloudy• Tungsten• Fluorescent• Fluorescent H• Flash• Underwater• Custom

• Normal: approx 2fps• AF: approx 0.8fps

• Auto, Manual Flash On / Off, Slow Sync, Red-eye reduction• Second curtain sync• Range: 30cm - 4.0m (wide) / 2.5m (tele) • Hot shoe

• SD / SDHC / MMC card compatible • 32 MB card supplied

• Real-image zoom • Dioptre correction

• 2.5-inch P-Si TFT• 207,000 pixels• Adjustable Brightness• 100% coverage

• USB 2.0 High speed • A/V out (NTSC/PAL switchable)

• Rechargeable Li-ion battery NB-2LH/NB-2L• Charger included • Optional AC adapter kit

• 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

320 g (11.3 oz)

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

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.

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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