Canon G7

Does anyone own this camera? What is you opinion if you do?

I'm thinking of upgrading my point and shoot camera. I have a Canon 20D and an Olympus C7000. I'd like something a little bigger than the Olympus (probably will keep it -- takes good photos and is very pocketable). I am also interested to know how good the images are out of the G7. How do they compare to a digital SLR? I'veseen some comparisons that put the G7 in a favorible light.

I would probably shoot Jpegs with the P&S so the lack of Raw is not a big issue. I will also use whatever I get for street photography (I don't like using the 20D that way).

Thanks for the benefit of your experience.

Frank

P.S. I may also buy a used G5 -- less $$ and the resolution may be better fit to the small sensor. For the most part I will not need 10 mps.

I always liked the G series - great features and quality lenses. I think Canon messed up with the G7 though when they decided to eliminate raw capture.

Guy

Thanks for your reply Guy.

If you were buying a G Canon whic one would you buy?

Frank

My wife still uses an old 4mp G2 and likes it. When I was looking for a P&S last year I looked at the Canon offerings and was disappointed to see they eliminated raw capture from all of them. I ended up getting a Fuji E900.

Guy

I don't see the need for Raw in a P&S -- in fact I can't keep up with the Raw output from my 20D -- so I'm thinking freedom from Raw would be a benefit! (The jpegs out of a G series camera are very good)

I think the G3, 5 and 7 have better feel, fit and finish than the G1 & 2 -- I've owned both. Good cameras but a little crude. The G3 and 5 have more metal and are just a little more elegant. Feel better in the hand.

Frank

I agree with Guy, and I am very dissappointed that the G7 doesn't have RAW. I have a G3 I use for cave photography when I can't get a big enough group together to take my full kit. G3 fits niceley into a small Pelican case with a few flashbulbs and a flash. It's nice to have a camera that shares equipment with my 20D. (batteries, 58mm filters and larger with step rings, off camera sync cords, flashes, and etc)

Without RAW capabilities, I would probably move to one of the weathed sealed compacts by Pentax, or one of the other companies. The new low end, but weather sealed SLRs are definitely getting my attention for cave photography.

Thanks Rob.

I think maybe the G3 is the peak of G technology -- sensor and lens are very compatible from what I've read and for most part 4 mp is fine for the work I would do with it. (would keep enlargement to 11 X 14.)

Question: Do you really use flash blubs?

Frank

If you are getting a lower G, get the G6 instead of the G5. The 7.1MP sensor on that (as well as on the S70) is, IMO, one of the best P&S sensors out there. Very clean and offering very good quality. By comparison, the lower-res G5 sensor is noisier, and the G5 also has more CA/purple fringing.

(I did my research on this topic when the G6 came out b/c I had the same concerns as you about getting too many megapixels. Another reason, which I am partially embarrassed to admit, is that the G5 was black and I would have preferred a black camera to a silver one).

The swivel screen of the G6 is also better for candids than the G7. Overall, I am quite disappointed at this pathetic excuse of a G camera.. it should have been called an A-XXX.

Vandit

Thanks Vandit,

Just as you were leaving your advice, I bought a used G5 on eBay.

I have the ame strange fetish for a black camera especially for candid or street shots.

I know about the reputation for higher noise but I've seen excellent work done with the G5 -- mayber I am insensitive to noise.

I like the look and think I would like the feel of the G7 but its too much money for a camera with drawbacks as well as good new features -- many pixels is nice but not necessary for what I want this camera to do.

Once I start using the G5 I'll post some results and impressions here.

Thanks again,
Frank

P.S. The look and feel of a walk around camera for street work is important to me for some reason. As important as any other aspect of the camera, weirdly enough. Maybe I am trying to recapture what I had when I owned a Leica M3. I just can't afford to spend $5,000 on a M8 (anyway my M3 was way funkier than any modern Leica could ever dream of being.

I hear ya, Frank.

That is why my G6, despite its stellar qualities sits mostly unused. I found my "small camera of choice" in the Panasonic LX1. Noisier - yes . But for my way of shooting, it is the perfect little camera and I find that it is the only little camera I own that puts me in the same frame of mind for "serious shooting" as my DSLRs.

Happy shooting - look forward to seeing your photos.

Vandit

Hi Frank,

Yeah I use flashbulbs, and quite a few of them. Everything from M2 up to #3 edison screw type in tilt-a-mite and graflex guns. (At least when I can steal the graflex guns away from the Star Wars freaks. . .um. . . collectors )

The light output is so much greater and nicer for cave photography and the extra burn time helps helps soften edges. I'll take an M3 over just about any electronic flash. And studio strobes don't like wet caves.

Hi Frank,

I know I'm late to this conversation.... I really wanted the G5 for it's black color too. It just seemed so solid and serious and stealthy! I ended up buying a used G6 and use it a lot for my version of "street" photography. I keep the camera down low near my waist, flip out the LCD screen, tilt the camera 45 degrees and shoot basically all verticals. When I'm looking down at the camera it looks like I'm fiddling with settings or reviewing images and (I think) people are none the wiser that I'm shooting. Anyway, have fun with your G5 and show us what you come up with.

Why.. oh why... did you not buy *my* used G6? Mine is obviously better than the one you got! :)

Vandit

Hey Vandit,

I did see your post in the classifieds....right AFTER I bought mine from BH used department!! Definitely would have considered purchasing from you. Sorry. So far so good with the G6 I bought from BH though.

Hehe, I was actually kidding - I didnt even know that my classified was still out there. I'm going to give it to my wife as a present - maybe that'll build me the karma points I need to cash in on a 3D or whatever replaces the 5D in February :D

This might be a timely review for you:

http://luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/Canon-G7.shtml

Guy

Thanks Guy. Its a very useful review as we expect from LL. Non technical tho. I'll keep my eye on the market for these and if the price comes down maybe I'll trade up. The missing Raw format is a draw back but the camera seems to be an excellent one otherwise. The strongest recommendation for it from the review on LL is that ISO 400 is very clean and completely useable. The other surprising thing is that prints from the G7 are hard to tell from prints from an M8! And at 10X the price! (But maybe that's not so surprising.)

Frank