Pros: Solid and feature packed. Shoots RAW. Excellent dynamic range! Great for amateurs and pros!
Cons: It would be a challenge to improve this camera in this size package.
The Bottom Line: This is a point and shoot camera loaded with features and controls and yields image quality that raises it to a professional's level yet is great for novice or amateur!
fashfoto's Full Review: Canon PowerShot G11 Digital Camera
When I made the switch to digital following some 40 years of shooting film as a fashion/glamour photographer I sought, and continue to seek, the cameras and lenses that will mimic the quality that I achieved with film. (Back in the day, I settled on Leica cameras and Kodachrome). Part of the problem in figuring out which equipment is best, is software such as Photoshop. It is difficult to know whether I'm achieving excellence through the performance of fine lenses combined with outstanding sensors or, perhaps, merely deceiving myself by over-manipulating images in Photoshop.
Today my earnings come more from selling prints as fine art than they do from shooting. Nonetheless, photography remains my passion. But I, no longer, need the ultimate camera. Happily, I settled on a Canon 5D MKII (with an array of lenses) as my serious camera.
However it is not a camera that I can conveniently carry around for all occasions.
I've been aware of the "G" series of Canon PowerShot cameras and had thought of buying one of the earlier models as a pocket camera (I still do some stock photography so it's good to always have a camera handy).
When I became aware of the features of the Canon PowerShot G11, I decided this was to be the camera for me. This was going to be my pocket camera! The new camera was in short supply but I did buy one on Amazon for a few pennies under $500.
I suppose that the first thing to consider is that you need a fairly good-sized pocket to tuck away the camera. The camera measures 4.41 x 3.00 x 1.90 inches and weighs a bit over 3/4ths of a pound. Fortunately, I wear a lot of blue-jean shirts with good-size pockets and the camera just manages to fit. I'm a pretty big guy so it doesn't really make me top heavy.
But, that brings me to the next point. I have huge hands. It's nearly impossible for me to get even X-Large gloves to fit. And this camera has a bunch of tiny buttons and dials. My greatest challenge is to change the mode setting (Manual, Aperture Value, Time Value, etc.) without changing the ISO as the two dials are nested, the mode dial being smaller and rising out of the ISO dial.
Frankly, I'm not used to having so many dials and buttons on a camera. It took a bit of getting used to. Some modes need to be invoked using the LCD screen (flash: on/off, macro, self-timer, etc.) though it is quick and easy.
In a professional sense this camera has tens, perhaps, scores of features that I would never use: face detection; blink detection (wow!); color accent or color swap (color accent shows just one color of your choice and leaves everything else black and white: color swap; you can change one color for another). Actually, during my working days, I might have tried those features just to see what would happen (fashion shooters of the day were trying everything including shooting with disposable cameras to see what the effects would be).
A feature that sold me on this enhanced point and shoot camera is the ability to shoot RAW. (RAW files are uncompressed with a maximum of detail but, generally, require post-processing in an application such as Lightroom, Photoshop or any number of similar applications). I choose to shoot only RAW though one can shoot a number of JPEG (compressed) files or shoot RAW with a JPEG imbedded so that the (JPEG) image can be viewed with no need for processing the RAW file.
(RAW must be set up in a menu displayed on the LCD. The menu will not display the RAW option if the camera's Mode Dial is set to an automatic mode; it must be set to Manual, Aperture Value or Time Value; it took me a while to figure that one out!)
RAW brings up another point. There is no standard for RAW image files. That means that an application such as Photoshop or Lightroom may or may not be able to open and display any given RAW image. To make life more even more challenging, RAW files from the same camera manufacturer but from different models of cameras may use incompatible protocols. So it was, when I upgraded from my Canon 5D to a Canon 5D MKII, software that would open the 5D files (images) failed to display the 5D MKII files.
Similarly, my DPP (Digital Photo Professional software bundled with the Canon 5D MKII) failed to open Canon G11 files that I uploaded to my computer. That was, till I installed the Digital Camera Solutions software that came with the G11. Then the images opened in DPP and I was able to view and process them. DPP will allow one to save the files as TIFFs or JPEGs (standard formats which can normally be opened by image software, most Web browsers and E-mail) and/or open them directly in Photoshop.
The G11 is, nominally, a 10 megapixel camera (the G10, before, had approximately 14.7 effective megapixels). This, too, appealed to me. Having fewer photosites (the sensor's pixels) means that each photosite is larger and holds detail better in both highlight and shadow allowing a greater dynamic range to the image.
Shooting with the G11: the camera feels substantial to the hand. In practice it seems more comfortable and appropriate to compose and shoot using the articulated LCD screen. The screen swings out 180 degrees from the body and can be rotated 270 degrees. The LCD can can be positioned flush with the body, facing-out, and when shooting is done be rotated so it is concealed by facing-in for protection against abrasion. I love the pivoting and rotating LCD screen. It makes it easy to, comfortably, get ground level or high-angle photos.
Though the G11 has an optical viewfinder it seems to be there only for quick, down and dirty shooting. First, it is very (VERY) small. Then, perhaps, to complement its being small the field of view shows only 77 percent of the image to be taken. However, it does have a built-in diopter adjustment.
The G11 features ISO (sensitivity to light) in a range from 80 to 3200. (320-12800 in the Low Light mode, an automatic mode.) In general, I keep my camera set in a range from 200 to 400 ISO so that I should be able to take a shot very quickly. In a more studied situation, I would set the ISO as low as possible. I've shot with an ISO as high as 1600 and though there was noise in the shadows, I was not bothered with the result. (Back in my days of shooting with film, I sometimes chose ultra high-speed films specifically to achieve a grainy look to the image.)
Generally, and at lower ISO, the quality of the images is outstanding! It affirms my choice of the camera as a pocket, point and shoot that can yield professional quality photographs. I am also amazed by the tack-sharp images; something I would not expect from unprocessed RAW files. I have a half-dozen dogs (rescues from pounds) which I like to photograph. The whiskers of the dogs appear as sharp as if etched with a razor. (I don't know the technical details regarding the use/strength of an anti-aliasing filter [optical low-pass filter] in the G11; this kind of filter is used to soften images to prevent aliasing artifacts of fine detail. It is my understanding that the Leica M series digital cameras do not incorporate anti-aliasing filters; I don't believe Canon has reached that point.)
Turn on the G11 and the lens pops forward and a lens cover retracts. The zoom lens is the equivalent of using a 28mm-140mm lens on a 35mm film camera. The maximum aperture is f:2.8 at wide angle and f:4.5 at telephoto. The shutter release button is nested in the center of the lens' zoom-control tab. The shutter speeds, which can be set in Manual or TV (Time Value) range from 15 seconds to 1/4000th second. As a practice, I don't use flash but the G11 has a nice flash built-in. The flash has several functions which can be adjusted including Auto or Manual flash operation and flash (power) compensation. There is also a dial to adjust exposure compensation.
As so many cameras do, nowadays, the Canon G11 shoots movies (in 640x480 or 320x240 resolution). At this time, I'm not particularly interested in shooting movies with any of my still cameras but it is very quick and easy to implement in the G11. When shooting movies you can get a real feeling for the Optical Image Stabilization which can be set to any one of three modes for either movies or stills (Continuous, Shoot Only, Panning) or off. You get the feeling you were using a Steadicam!
The G11 also features an HDMI output for viewing photos on an HDTV, no cable included. However, an AV cable is included for connecting to a (non-HD) TV and viewing your images. In the latter case, you can also use the TV as a monitor when shooting pictures.
The Canon G11 is an amazing instrument. For a novice photographer it can be the most simple point and shoot camera using an Auto or Program mode (overkill if the novice has no interest in learning and growing as a photographer). For an amateur photographer (I mean that in the best sense) the G11 has a plethora of modes and features to explore and enjoy. For the professional photographer the G11 presents every function found in a professional-grade camera. Yet, it is unobtrusive and easy to carry.
Finally, the image quality is outstanding. And after all, that is what it's about!
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 499.95 This Camera is a Good Choice if You Want Something... Solid Enough for a Professional
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