Older but great Camera
Although it is an older camera that has been superseded by newer models, the Canon Powershot G7 is still, a solid, excellent camera, if rather bulky for a compact, capable of doing great work, and with only a couple downsides. If one is looking for a compact, high-performance camera to take snapshots or as a backup, it still bears consideration if one can find a good price on one still in good condition. Image Quality The G7 generally produces excellent, high-quality images, suitable for large prints or online images, provided the proper exposure settings and only the zoom capabilities of the lens (which sometimes are not as much as one would like), and not the artificial zoom beyond that are used. Although I have heard of complaints of there being some distortion in wide-angle shots, I have not personally experienced this problem. It should be noted that the G7 does not support RAW format images, which could be an issue for someone who wants to do a lot of editing. Performance For the most part, the performance of the G7 is good, as besides taking good-quality images, it generally zooms, focuses, and snaps the picture quickly, although not as fast as a SLR, and there can be some lag. However, the auto-focus sometimes gets a bit confused, and bases its focusing off something other than the intended subject, requiring a couple tries to get right. Ease of Use Ease of use is one of two notable shortcomings of the G7. Although the basic shooting functions, zoom, and focus controls are fairly straightforward, taking advantage of any of the advanced functions or changing the settings can get pretty complicated, requiring one to go through a lot of menus that are not exactly intuitive. Nor does the manual always provide a clear explanation of all of that, and what to do to achieve certain effects. I would recommend finding a commercial guide on how to use the camera, and/or a quick reference sheet and become quite familiar with them if one intends to use the advanced features that allow the camera to be used to its full potential. Furthermore, the viewfinder is not that great, which could be a problem for those who prefer to use it as opposed to the LCD screen to set up their shots. Durability The G7 is a rather solidly built camera, and has held up quite well to regular, if somewhat infrequent use. Battery Life I personally have not had any issues with the battery life of the camera, although I don't typically shoot dozens of pictures at a time, or use some of the more intensive modes, or the video capability. If the specs are to be believed, a fully charged battery in top shape is good for a couple hundred shots, although I'm not sure it would last quite that long from what I've been able to observe in use. Should one be thinking about using some of the more complicated modes, or be taking lots of pictures, such as at a sporting event, graduation, or a party, one might want to think about getting a second battery to haul along as a backup. Portability Portability is the other big shortcoming of the G7. Even though the camera is "supposedly" a compact, it stretches that term to the very limit, and is actually a fairly big and hefty item as far as portable electronic devices go. (According to the offical specs on the Canon website, the G7 is 4.19" high, 2.83" high, and 1.67" deep, or in more personal terms, about the size of 2 decks of cards stacked on top of each other, as well as weighing 11.3 oz.) Forget about sticking it into a regular pants or shirt pocket, as its size and bulk means that it has to be carried in a coat pocket, a cargo-type pocket if ones pants or shirt has those, a bag, or in the sort of case that can be hung from on a belt.
aaa627
USA