Is the G7 the right camera for me, and if so, why is it so hard to find?

First off, I am glad to see that B&H stocks it online, but I really would like to get my hands on this camera to play around with it in-store before forking over $500.

Circuit City only carries it online, Best Buy doesn't carry it at all, CompUSA doesn't carry it at all, Wolf Camera (I know, I know) doesn't carry it at all, and I believe the only other camera store in the city I live in is mainly if not entirely film-based.

Though I sold my two workhorse lenses lately simply because I'm not using them enough to justify the cost of keeping 'em around, I would like to have a fairly high end prosumer level (but pocketable) digital camera. I still have my DSLR and a couple of lenses if RAW is needed, so RAW is no worry of mine. Plus, none of the digital cameras I've ever owned have had a flip out LCD, so I wouldn't be missing that.

I want a walkaround camera that I can throw around my neck that won't weigh me down like a DSLR would. Plus, the addition of the hot shoe is almost a must as once I experienced life with an external flash... well, it's almost impossible to go back.

Is the G7 the right camera for me? DP Review didn't have the kindest words to say about it, but at the same time they didn't rip it apart. Felt as if they were more-or-less saying, "It's not bad, but it's not good either." And, unfortunately, that doesn't help my decision at all.

Any advice? Any idea why they are so hard to find locally?

Have you seen this?
http://reviews.cnet.co​m …4505-6501_7-32069604.html

Falkon wrote in post #2923438
Have you seen this?
http://reviews.cnet.co​m …4505-6501_7-32069604.html

A 7.5 is HIGH for CNET, but I still get concerned when I see things like this:

"relatively significant distortion at the widest angle of view; when zoomed out completely, lens intrudes into viewfinder."

So, at 35mm, the pictures are noticeably distorted and at 210mm, the lens actually gets in the way of the viewfinder? I guess with a 6x optical zoom, one end or the other is gonna be messy no matter what.

So, is the noise level really that bad? Just curious.

FlipsidE wrote in post #2923879
So, is the noise level really that bad? Just curious.

it's not bad at all, unless you're shooting > 400 ISO, from most of the shots I've seen on other forums (or you're using huge print sizes in very low light).

Costco only sells it online, but since they have a 90-day return policy and they're within 20 minutes of my house, and their price (accounting for the 2GB memory card that was included) matched the best elsewhere, that was the best way for me to get a G7.

One of my local camera stores subsequently got G7s in stock...after I'd ordered from Costco. Said this was their first G7 inventory, b/c they didn't carry the G7 until the price had dropped.

Well, cnet... i don't know, when i was researching in order to make up my mind, i didn't even set foot on cnet sites...

But, this is the conclusion of a review's site i really enjoy reading:

Source: http://www.dcresource.​com …hot_g7-review/index.shtml

If you want to read more about the cam, see sample pics and stuff, you should go here: http://www.dcviews.com​/_canon/g7.htm
There you'll find every important site that has a G7 review on it, and of course, linked and all ready to read

Cheers.

avwh wrote in post #2924259
it's not bad at all, unless you're shooting > 400 ISO, from most of the shots I've seen on other forums (or you're using huge print sizes in very low light).

I didn't bring my DSLR, but happened to have my Canon SD300 with me at my Church's Children's Christmas play this year. I can't remember if I shot at ISO 400 or ISO 800, but either way the pictures turned out quite well. Sure, they were noisey, but not bad at all. We're talkin built-in flash only and somewhat dim stage lights on the kids.

Besides the massive amount of red eye (thank goodness for PSE5's red eye filter on import), the pictures turned out pretty dang well overall. While I know the SD300 is only a 4MP camera and an external flash would have helped greatly, I'm a little afraid that the G7 won't be any better (photo quality-wise) than the SD300 if effectively cropped to 4MP.

In other words, I don't want to drop $500 on a camera to find out that the G7 produces only about the same quality as the SD300 I already have. Granted, the Digital Elph series doesn't have the creative functions that the G7 has, but in the places I'd be using that particular camera, I have a feeling I'd be shooting in program mode or full auto with my 420EX mounted because the lighting wouldn't be all that good.

But, then again, I suppose anything is better than haulin my DSLR around my neck for hours on end (that thing can start to feel insanely heavy very quickly) since the hotshoe (read: external flash) is one of the biggest selling points for me when it comes to the G7.

This observation may help. My Panasonic DMC-FX01K takes photos significantly sharper and more film-like than the SD400 I had previously bought. I was a little disappointed in the SD400 b/c I thought the photos weren't very sharp and looked more like video camera freeze frames. I still thought picture quality on my old Nikon Coolpix 880 was better than those two cameras, though it was only 3.1mpx.

Due to that experience, I was a little hesitant to get the G7. However, the quality of the photos I've taken both seriously and just messing around is a level of magnitude higher than that of my Panasonic in sharpness and film-like quality. Colors are more accurate and the is a huge amount of detail. Noise is much less pronounced on the G7 - almost non-existent all the way to ISO400. 800 is tolerable. 1600 is pretty bad. ISO 3200 comes out surprisingly well, but at 2mp it's a little small. But it's there if you have to have the shot.

It's not a DSLR but it's the best thing I've ever seen from a compact digital. Indoor photos are surprisingly good, and the flash intensity is adjustable. It takes NICE indoor shots.

I think you should take the plunge and buy the camera. There are lots of places that will give you at least 30 days to decide if you like it. I had it a week before I figured out some of the intricacies, saw the results and knew I'd never take it back. My friends and family have been stunned with the quality of the photos. Good luck on your decision.

zombie,

Thanks for the info. That's exactly the kind of stuff I was looking for. I appreciate ya takin the time to write that out.

The folks that seem to find fault with this camera are diehard PS fanatics. They hate the lack of RAW and they don't like the fixed LCD view screen. I have probably taken more pictures with mine than my 20D since I got it because I take it everywhere in a little Lowepro belt pack. Huge feature list, and my favorite quote after a fairly even review was by a guy who said that even with its drawbacks he couldn't find anything else with all its capabilities and went ahead and bought one.

Stew