G6 seems much better than G7

[ray_lam5]

I just looked at dpreview and checked out the respective reviews with sample pics for the g6 and g7.

[/URL]
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong6/ (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong6/page19.asp)
[URL]http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong7/

have a look in my mind the addition of fast glass f2.0 and raw make the G6 a completely superior image capturing machine. The G7 samples with only Jpegs would not be a winner for me even with a sexier body... they look a bland and noisy, whereas the g6 images have a lot more punch and seemingly dynamic range.

I'd pick up a G6 over the new model no problem, though it does look like a box! Sorry to all you g7 owners but no doubt when the g8 comes out raw files will be back in town, jpegs are really fun but give no versatility in PP which i would require.

[mattjs]

I'd say it depends on your needs. You're only highlighting the ways in which the G6 beats the G7. But there are also some really important ways in which the G7 is clearly superior to the G6 (again, depending on your needs).

G7 is faster. Better build quality. It has IS (which doesn't make up for the slightly slower lens in all situations, but IS is still an awfully nice upgrade). It has bigger zoom. It's smaller (G7 fits in a coat/cargo pant type pocket whereas G6 will not). LCD doesn't swivel but it's much bigger and with much better resolution than the G6. G7 live histogram should help get the exposure right the first time. The new ISO knob would be helpful for me and, in some situations, I'd probly even make good use the face detection thing.

As for RAW, lots and lots of digicam buyers aren't concerned with RAW at all. On top of that, there are even people who are concerned with RAW, who are still buying (and loving) the G7. Just my oppinion, but I wouldn't count on Canon automatically reversing the trend and adding RAW to the G8. If the G7 is the seller Canon wants it to be, I wouldn't be shocked at all to see them leave RAW to DSLR only.

[Master-9]

I'm really starting to give the G7 a look.....

[grizzy]

mattjs,

You make some good points...that live histogram would be nice. I can say that I've recently begun to shoot exclusively in RAW (w/ my G6 :)) and can't imagine ever going back. Such a valuable tool IMO.

[gabrioladude]

the G7 is a very slick machine

if I want SLR control I use my DSLR
but when you take out the 20D with a 24-105 attached it is big and heavy

if you want something light and compact you go with a smaller camera
that has good image quality and decent controls... the G7

it is a really nice camera....
I was suprised at the number of additional settings and functions it has compared to the 20D

I like mine...

[AndreyD]

One observation. Every time I shoot with my beloved G6 I just thinking that I so used to that handy DSLR-like grip it has! The camera so nicely hanging on my fingers!

[ray_lam5]

In fact if you want small, light, low noise you would be much better to ignore the G7 and wait a year when a whole host of mini cameras with APS-C sized sensors are available. Todays G7 will look very poor, just such a marketing gimic and costs nearly as much as a 350D...please...

the G8 will compete with the 400D noise wise, be small with Raw and produce much much better pictures than the current g7. I heard Sony are already trying to develop a larger sensor for their mini prosumers so canon wont be far off.

[dcains]

In fact if you want small, light, low noise you would be much better to ignore the G7 and wait a year when a whole host of mini cameras with APS-C sized sensors are available. Todays G7 will look very poor, just such a marketing gimic and costs nearly as much as a 350D...please...

the G8 will compete with the 400D noise wise, be small with Raw and produce much much better pictures than the current g7. I heard Sony are already trying to develop a larger sensor for their mini prosumers so canon wont be far off.

Bigger sensor = bigger lens. That's been the issue all along. There won't be any "mini cameras" with APS-C sensors.

[blacksmurf]

One observation. Every time I shoot with my beloved G6 I just thinking that I so used to that handy DSLR-like grip it has! The camera so nicely hanging on my fingers!

I totally agree... after having spent almost a year shooting in music gigs with the 350D, and starting now with a 30D, taking my G6 seems like putting on a glove.

Another observation: a non-Canon DSLR user asked me if I could sell my G6; I answered "never". Maybe the 350D. ;)

[ray_lam5]

Bigger sensor = bigger lens. That's been the issue all along. There won't be any "mini cameras" with APS-C sensors.


I wage a bet in a year or so they will bring out a prosumer camera with an aps-c sized sensor, so what if its a little bigger than the g7 is. If you read some current camera circulations you will find this is not a new issue. The speed at which digital sensors are evolving i would not count out bigger and better sensors being delivered in every kind of gadget that will permit.

A prosumer with a large sensor and L quality zoom would sell like pancakes.
For all i care the G7 will be old hat in a year and people will be gawping at its poor low noise performance in comparison to the G8.

[mattjs]

I think your selling the size issue way short. If this supposed fixed lens camera was the same size as the 400D I'd just buy the 400D. The only reason I don't buy a 400D in the first place is in fact it's size.

There's just no way Canon is coming out with a compact next year that's even as small as the Pro1, with the ISO perfomance of the Rebel. That's not gonna happen. I'll take that bet any day of the week. There might be a Pro2 (more megapixels, bigger LCD, DIGIC III). But it isn't gonna perform like the 400D or any other Canon DSLR.

And the G8 or whatever they choose to call it will be a middle of the road upgrade over the G7. They weren't able, or chose not to make a huge leap from the G6 to the G7 (with a long time gap between em). So what makes you think they'll make a huge leap from G7 to G8?

[Master-9]

I went to the local camera store and toyed with the G7, I'm in love with it...
BTW most of the local department stores have sold out on the G7, I will wait til Feb

[The Limey]

I got the G 7 for the wife for xmas had a quick play love it never mind the raw its great fun i use raw all the time on my 20 but the wife, and i think most consumers will not want to play in photoshop they want instant prints all of us who are shouting that there no raw are in a very small minority
Graham, The Limey

[puttick]

Bigger sensor = bigger lens. That's been the issue all along. There won't be any "mini cameras" with APS-C sensors.

Exactly, that is at the heart of the problem. Small cameras, small sensors, small lenses, but high noise.

They are all compromises. The G7 is a very good compromise, and the noise is quite acceptable at ISO200, OK at 400. Compare that to the G6 which is noisy at ISO50, in shadow areas.

[Terrywoodenpic]

I would have thought a 4/3 size sensor like on the Olympus dslr range, would work well on a compact.

[BNF]

I would have thought a 4/3 size sensor like on the Olympus dslr range, would work well on a compact.

Sigma is doing something like that.... with an APS sized sensor...

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0609/06092604sigmadp1.asp

[DavidW]

I wage a bet in a year or so they will bring out a prosumer camera with an aps-c sized sensor, so what if its a little bigger than the g7 is. If you read some current camera circulations you will find this is not a new issue. The speed at which digital sensors are evolving i would not count out bigger and better sensors being delivered in every kind of gadget that will permit.

A prosumer with a large sensor and L quality zoom would sell like pancakes.
For all i care the G7 will be old hat in a year and people will be gawping at its poor low noise performance in comparison to the G8.
It wouldn't be a little bigger - it would be a lot bigger. You have a much bigger image circle to cover - as I've said in the past, you finish up with something approaching DSLR sized, but without an optical viewfinder and without the ability to select the lens for the job. Because you have enough light for an optical viewfinder, you can have one (if you're prepared to have a reflex mirror), and you figure you may as well add the ability to interchange lenses. Hey presto - you have a DSLR.


Seriously - Sony did make a large sensor zoom compact, the DSC-R1. This was before they took over Konica-Minolta's camera division and came up with the Alpha. It has its flaws (particularly huge files and slow operation in RAW mode), and it's a little dated now. I'm not sure that they'll bother with a follow-up model, especially as they'll probably feel it treads on the heels of the Alpha. It has all the heft of a DSLR and some disadvantages, such as the ability to interchange the standard 24-120mm lens for something longer, wider, or more tuned to specialist tasks such as Macro.

I think the budget DSLR and the market drive for smaller and smaller cameras has probably killed the APS-C sensor compact market (the DSC-R1 is a hefty 995g - 2.2 pounds). Particularly with the aggressive marketing, most people looking for this sort of camera would buy a budget DSLR and a lens; if they know their photography, they may buy something a bit better than the standard kit lens. If you hate changing lenses, just leave a standard zoom on it all the time (though you can swap a decent lens to your next camera and not buy a lens to replace a perfectly good one you already own).


I'm not sure the Sigma DP1 is what many would look for in a camera - it seems more a camera for someone used to rangefinders. The prime lens will put off many.



David

[rpolitsr]

Perhaps a medium sized sensor (1.3x or 1.6x) plus the basic electronics (digic II or III) supporting it is expensive by itself to justify a small camera with small fixed focus and fixed focal length lens as was the case with the ‘instamatic’ film cameras. That nonsense might be priced near to the 350D body.

[puttick]

"For all i care the G7 will be old hat in a year and people will be gawping at its poor low noise performance in comparison to the G8."

Again, this is exactly right! These cameras are a compromise, and next year a better compromise will be along. That doesn't mean the G7 is a bad camera TODAY. it is a fast moving field, you cannot expect to invest long term in a digital camera. Having said that, try comparing the results from a G7 with those from a small 35mm camera. No contest, I would say.

[Master-9]

Has anyone considered the Fujifilm Finepix F30

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/fujifilmf30/

[Hellashot]

Get an XTi if you want RAW. This is one reason why Canon took the L glass and RAW out of the G7.

[Master-9]

This is one reason why Canon took the L glass and RAW out of the G7.

Did any G series have "L" Glass? I'm just asking, never had a G series camera

[dmstraton]

The Pro1 had L glass, but I am not sure anyone classifies it a "G".

Well, anyway, I got a G7 as a gift a few weeks back...no RAW, sure, but I think it is a pretty good camera...features galore. I think the noise is very good down low at 80,100, good at 200 and passable at 400. It is very small...I ran into a guy with the G6 in a restaurant and compared, not so much IQ but functionality etc. I guess the reason I like the G7 is it is a bit bigger than a deck of cards, is built extremely well (I wish the 20D, et al. felt like it does). It is a great back up camera. Speed (shutter lag) is excellent for a P&S, the color is great, features including one I thought I wouldn't use - movie mode - are excellent. I have even slapped on a ST-E2 and used a 430EX remotely...works great.

Do I like it better than my DSLR? No. I can set every parameter in the time that it takes the G7 to take one picture (as quick as it is), and get exactly what I want with whatever lens I choose for the subject I am taking. That said, it is I can't take the 20D everywhere, I can't take stealth pictures with it, and it doesn't fit in a jacket pocket, it doesn't take movies. For that, it is nice to have this camera. I don't think I will use it every day, but it's in the briefcase/car and I have taken shots with it on the go.

Based on the size and style of the G6, it wouldn't be coming with me as often as a G7. And the build quality definitely not as good.

[Master-9]

That said, it is I can't take the 20D everywhere, I can't take stealth pictures with it, and it doesn't fit in a jacket pocket,

Yeah.....:D I'm going to get this camera

[Superbaldguy]

Time will tell if we'll ever see another compact with the APS-C sensor - how did the Sony DSC-R1 fare in sales? The Pro 1 and the G6 were about the ideal mix of sensor size/MP/noise and will remain legends in their time, which seemed far too short.

I have the G6 but I can see the advantages the G7 does have over its predecessor - I'm guessing having BOTH cams would round out all of your shooting needs.

Hopefully Canon will re-introduce the swivel LCD on the G8........

[puttick]

Superbaldguy (I can sympathise, I have the same follicular issues)...

To answer some of your points:

the Sony R1 is not a "compact", it is almost as big as a 350D plus lens

Sigma have an APS-C (or very close) compact with a fixed "28mm" lens, the DP-1, available soon

The G6 is noisier at all ISO settings than the G7 (I have owned both, and have many photos to compare).

[Azzure_7]

Puttick, mind if you post some comparison?
Thanks in advance.(sent. . .)

[Larry_NB]

Yes, post some comparisons.