Canon PowerShot G7 - DigitalVersus

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Canon PowerShot G7

Specifications
Sensor	CCD 10 mégapixels (1/1.8'')
Zoom	6x (35 - 210 mm - F2.8 - F4.8)
Optical stabilization	Oui
Internal/external memory	non / SD 32 Mo
Sensitivity	80 - 1600 ISO
Video mode	1024 x 768 pixels / 15 fps
Power source	Batterie lithium-ion
Dimensions/Weight	106 x 72 x 43 mm / 350 g

Store	Price
TriState Camera	19.99
TriState Camera	21.79
TriState Camera	32.99
Gizmos2Go.com	33.00
TriState Camera	99.95
TriState Camera	142.95
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[ Vincent Alzieu | Updated: 2006-10-17 - Test date: 2006-10-11 ]

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The Panasonic LX2 is no longer the only stabilized 10 Mpixel with a noise control system. Canon resuscitates its G series for the pleasure of those who are a bit more experienced in amateur photography. Stopped in 2004, this line had won a number of prizes thanks to their exceptional lenses that opened at F2.0-F3/ F8, moveable screens, very nice handling, above average sharpness at the time, and record autonomy.

Three years later the size remains the same, the sensor and zoom have grown (from 7 Mpixels and a 4x zoom on the G6 to 10 Mpixels and 6x), optical stabilization enters the picture, as well as a new processor which is capable, amongst other things, of noise reduction. This is good news because the G7 now goes up to 1600 ISO while we were limited to 400 before. These higher settings are all the more tempting now that there is a new extremely practical dial on the left of the camera (visible on the right on the front image of this camera). This adjustment allows us to simply go from 80 to 100, then 200, 400, 800 and finally 1600 ISO. You can’t go too wild here, because the new Canon processor limits the damage rather than working miracles:

There is another new dial on the back of the camera that is even more impressive. We loved it!

On the other hand, this image gives away one of the first concessions that Canon made on its G7: it lost the rotating screen that we appreciated so much. It is bigger with better definition but is now fixed.
The second disappointment is that the objective is now a more classic F2.8 – F4.8, comparable to what Panasonic offers on its DMC-LX2. And in fact, this brings us to the comparison of photos between these two cameras (you may recall that the LX2 is in native 16/9 format versus 4/3 for the Canon). Jumping to the Side by Side photo page, we can systematically find better exposed photos with Panasonic, as well as a higher level of sharpness at the expense of a little more noise. Overall, the photos of the LX2 are often printable just as they are, while with the Canon some touching up may be necessary to have the same dazzling colors and contrast.

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Pluses	Minuses
Good optical stabilization, 6x zoom. A good complement to a reflex.	A little less sharp than the Panasonic LX2
Two new dials in speed and opening in manual mode and sensitivities	A few key options lost compared to the previous G series: opening, rotating screen
Up until 1024 x 768 in video (but 15 fps) with active zoom	Image freezes on the screen when focusing
Very efficient noise control up until 200 ISO	No non-compressed recording (no RAW or TIFF)
Faster than the Panasonic (see Side by Side, last image)

It’s an excellent camera notably with new well conceived and efficient ergonomics. On the other hand, the G7 loses a bit of its identity compared to previous G models. It should be considered a high end A series. Finally, between the Panasonic LX2 and the G7, it’s a question of taste. For sharpness and colors, the Panasonic is preferable. For ergonomics and good but slightly inferior sharpness, choose the Canon.

Video in 1024 x 768 pixels

The G7 takes on one of the particularities of the previous – and abandoned – Canon PowerShot S80, a 1024 x 768 pixel video mode. It also has the same limit of a maximum rate of 15 images per second for this resolution. So, even if we often hear that 13 images per second are necessary for a sequence to be fluid, here we have to admit that a few jumps are noticeable. For this reason, for day to day use we prefer to go down a level. It also has, like the majority of the competition, a 30 i/s mode in 640 x 480 pixels.

Nevertheless, this is still encouraging. We are convinced that in the near future, compact cameras will become good in shooting video. Personally, we already make home movies quite often with the different cameras that pass through our hands. If you haven’t already tried, you will surely be surprised by the good quality of 640 x 480. Of course, the transition to 720p with a rate of 25 or 30 images per second (ips) is preferable. By the way, Panasonic offers 720P on its LX2, but it is limited to 15 ips like Canon.

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