Having been a devoted Nikon enthusiast for quite a few years, I decided to try out a new camera brand, Nikon’s archrival, Canon. I’m still sticking to all my Nikon equipment when it comes to my D-SLR kit, but I have been craving something more compact, a camera I could carry around with me all day, and I found the perfect solution…

The Canon PowerShot G7 (now upgraded to the G9) has been designed for the professional photographer who needs a more compact, lightweight, and less intrusive camera. Its metal body is extremely robust, and its complete manual functionality is effectively laid out. Instead of having to use the LCD screen and menu functionality to change settings, the G7 is equipped with a range of buttons and dials that allow for much more effective, speedy, and precise functionality changes, whilst you shoot.

The reasons I think this camera could be the bridge for photographers to enter the multimedia realm are the powerful manual overrides, great image quality, and its strong video capabilities. The quality of images and sound is incredible, obviously limited compared to a professional Video Camera, but it boasts an impressive High-Resolution Movie Mode at 15 fps XGA with an output resolution of 1024 x 768 - that’s BIG for such a small camera!

Another reason I opted for this camera as a secondary body, is the fact that the G7 will allow me to be more unobtrusive (a general problem most photographers face using professional D-SLR camera with large lenses). Having a camera which looks less ‘professional’ and less ‘intimidating’ makes any subject matter feel more comfortable, and allows a photographer to move in closer and become more intimate.

The viewfinder was partly the reason I wanted this camera as I am used to photographing using the viewfinder method instead of using the LCD screen. But the viewfinder is the one downside of this camera. I struggled using it, as it is so small and quite inaccurate. But by now I have adapted to using the LCD display.

The G9 model was released a few weeks after I purchased the G7, with the main differences including a bigger LCD screen and RAW functionality. I had a look at the updated model and found it less ergonomically friendly since the larger LCD screen as decreased the area of grip. The reviews I have read so far have indicated that image quality has decreased slightly, which is surprising considering the integration of the RAW functionality.

On a non-technical note, I find the G7 and G9 extremely good looking cameras. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate the slight retro-rangefinder-look, making the G7 seem more like a Leica M rangefinder and less like the slim, silver, shiny, plastic-like digicams.

Click here to view some example pics taken with the Canon G7.

Year purchased: Q3 - 2007
Purchased at: Cameraland – Sandton City
Price paid: R5,000