On opening the packaging my first impressions were, the camera looked like a SLR should and weighed in nicely for even balance. It's black exterior finish covering a solid aluminium body also gives the camera a solid feel. The 7Hi's comfortable handling and easily accessible control panel on the back would satisfy most 'prosumers' in the maket. The main LCD and viewfinder screens are both bright and light adjustable, loading up very quickly at startup. The menu system is reletively easy to navigate, although there seems to be too many steps within some options, such as the simple task of deleting one or all images... Furthermore, it's USB connectivity relies on the user instigating the connection on the menu, rather than making an instant 'real-time' connection when plugged into a computer. The colour balance produced within the images were quite good although the sharpness of the lens was a little disappointing, even on the 'sharpest' setting. Overall, the 7Hi will satisfy most entry level users of the 'prosumer' market but may find it tough competing for the attention of professional photographers who are looking to buy within this range...

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