Is the Canon G7 a quality camera for someone who wants close to SLR quality photos?

Question

6X optical zoom, image stabilization, LCD / video resolution and ability to shoot in manual mode, although I am a novice when it comes to this, is important to me. Also, I don't want too large a camera. The Canon S3, as an example is too large in my opinion.

I tried the A640 an although you get great pictures in good lighting situations I notice degradation in low light and zoom shots. My thinking is that image stabilization will help somewhat...

Answer 1

There is an important distinction to make about the G7. It gives you slr-like controls. but it does not magically eliminate the limitations inherent to a compact camera. You still have to deal with the fact that it's a noisy over-pixelated CCD sensor. You still have to deal with the fact that your optics are smaller than an SLR's. You still have to deal with the fact that a smaller battery had to be squeezed in there.

Can the the G7 take SLR quality photos? Yes. However, as you found out with the A640, the compact camera quickly finds it's limitations when you push it. The G7 will not be significantly different from the A640 in higher-ISO image quality. They share the same sensor, on-board processing logic, and have a very similar lens. Blame the smaller sensor (large, by compact camera standards, but way smaller than a dslr CMOS sensor array). Blame the smaller optics. Blame whatever, but the fact is a compact camera is still a compromise in capabilities compared to full-sized dslrs.

When you broaden your comparison beyond image quality, there are a slew of other things one can point out, where no compact camera the size of an S3 or G7 or smaller can compare to an slr. mechanically-linked zoom...the option of getting super fast f1.8 lenses...you can wipe any compact camera's butt up with a good slr with good optics.

Image stabilization will only buy you up to 2 stops of shutterspeed. It does nothing other than that.

I will say this though...there are very few other compact cams that will compare nearly as well as the G7. When pushed, at theast the g7 will give you the option to throw on a hot-shoe flash, so you get proper flash metering, more natural indirect flash lighting, and can stick to a low-ISO picture. And alternatively, it gives you the alternative of pushing the ISO limit, and retaining the available-light mood, and sacrificing image quality. You get to choose with the g7. You do not get to choose with others...not even the A640.

And the G6 owners? They might moan and groan about what the g7 doesn't have (vari-angle lcd, f2.0 lens, RAW output) but they still have to realize that while they might have the faster lens, the G7 has 2 ISO settings more usable than they have, which pretty much obviates the F2.0 advantage. The G7 has killer viewing angles on the lcd, and *double* the lcd resolution which helps way more than any twisty gadget ever could. And the RAW output, while could be very useful for post-processing, is something folks generally loath using, and given the control you have with the g7...you really ought to take shots that don't require much post processing!

Answer 2

I have the Powershot G6, which has RAW and a slightly faster lens than the G7. I also have 3 Nikon and 1 Canon film SLRs, with several very good lenses, and under many conditions it would be really hard to tell which picture came from which camera.

That said, the main area that will suffer is the noise level at higher ISO. My G6 is practically unusable above ISO 200, and I almost always shoot on 50 or 100. Image stabilization won't help the noisy high ISO, except indirectly. If the IS gives you an extra stop to play with, then you could shoot at ISO 200 instead of 400.

As for the flash, I believe the G7 has a hot shoe to which you may attach any compatible Canon flash.

With a SLR, you would have more options for lenses and accessories (at more cost, of course!) But they are all bigger than the S3, which you already think is too large.

I enjoy and use my G6 frequently, instead of grabbing the larger SLR cameras, and depending on what I'm shooting. I would not hesitate to recommend it to anyone wanting a near SLR experience. All digicams will fall short of SLR in one place or another. But the G7 should come pretty close under many circumstances.

Answer 3

The answers above me are both correct. The G7 is a wonderful camera which will give you great results. The A710IS has been referred to as the "poor man's G7," but it does have a sensor that is about half the size of the G7, so you would not expect the same results in low light. The G7, however, has the SAME size (if not the same) sensor as the A640.

Go to this page and click on the links to read the in-depth reviews. Be sure to look at the sample photos in the review, as they deal with ISO noise issues. Also, click where it says, "Read Owners Opinions" and you'll get a lot of information.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_a710is%2Ccanon_g7%2Ccanon_a640&show=all

An SLR would have far better low light images, because the sensor is almost 10 times bigger than a G7 sensor, but if the S3 is too big for your tastes, then no SLR will suit you either.

All things considered, I think your real choice is down to the A640 or the G7. In that case, the image stabilization of the G7 might be what you are looking for. Look over the tests carefully and see what you think.

Here are some more:

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/a640.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/g7.html
http://www.steves-digicams.com/2006_reviews/a710.html

Answer 4

If you want SLR quality then buy an SLR. Point and shooters just don't compare.

#1 - the lens system on a DSLR/SLR is vastly superior in terms of optics than anything stuck on the front of a point and shooter. Consider a standard 210mm SLR zoom lens. Its about 4-6" long and has a number of elements inside it. They usually cover a zone of F2-F16. Now think about the less than 1" lens on the G7. just as in the film world, the #1 differentiator on output quality is the glass. How could an SLR and a P shooter even come close to being equals.

#2 - the onboard flash on P shooters is for close up shots at about 10'. With an SLR, you can have as much flash as you can afford and with a lot more flexibility with E-TTL, etc. Again no comparison.

If you really want SLR quality, you're not even gonig to come close with a point and shooter. I own both and use both often. They have +'s and -'s just like everything else.

Answer 5

go to canon.com
I think a more sensible solution is the
canon a710is