We had an all too brief
hands-on with Canon's
PowerShot G11 way back in August, but the first real flood of reviews has only just recently started, and now seemed like as good a time as any to get you caught up on some of them. As you might expect, one of the real stand-out features is that swiveling LCD, which is not only good in and of itself, but "one of the best of its type" according to
What Digital Camera. Other reviewers like Wired UK and CNET UK also found that G11 delivered some noticeably better results than the previous G10, with it aided especially by the surprising but welcome shift from the old 14.7-megapixel sensor to a new 10-megapixel one that offers an improved dynamic range and better performance at high ISO settings, among other advantages. On the downside, the camera is somewhat bulky, and
PhotographyBlog says it fails to live up to Canon's claims of it being the "ultimate compact," especially when you consider some of the similarly-sized (but admittedly pricier) Micro Four Thirds offerings available.
Read - Wired.co.uk
Read - What Digital Camera
Read - CNET UK
Read - PhotographyBlog
posted Oct 22nd 2009 11:33AM
Calling all Canon photogs...
This may be a little off topic, but I've put together a petition asking Canon to add HD video recording to the Canon G12 which will probably come out in late 2010.
HD video recording is becoming mainstream, and adding such functionality is not only highly desireable for many photogs, but it also does not have to sacrifice overall image quality.
Petitions may be lame and largely ineffective, but it feels nice to do SOMETHING even still.
If you're interested, check it out - http://www.petitionspot.com/petitions/CanonG12/
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* If you're NOT interested, instead of commenting negatively just say 'toy boat' to yourself as quickly as possible, over and over again. By the time that you finish with that you'll be happier and ready to move on to the next Engadget article :-)
I'm sure Canon will seriously consider this, being as they don't really have anything that competes with the EP-1 or other similar cameras. Even without a petition, I'd be seriously surprised if Canon didn't add HD to the G12.
Adding HD video isn't something that Canon turns on or off on a whim. The 10MP Sony Super HAD CCD sensor that Canon is using on the G11 and S90 doesn't have the capability to do HD video.
@ phil
Exactly! The G11 is a great camera by and large, but the CCD doesn't allow for HD video... hence asking Canon to include that in the G12 for next year.
Frankly, I was surprised that Canon chose not to include better video capabilities with the G11... a camera released in late 2009 with only 640x480 or 320x240 video. Who shoots at 320x240!? Heck, the iPhone 3GS records video at 640x480 at 30 fps.
I love the G11, but the video aspect really disappointed me.
given that Canon selected this CCD for its low noise image at high ISO's (relatively speaking), I'm happy with it. I'd much rather they improve low light performance than give me HD video... that's what I buy cameras for (taking pictures). Video is a bonus. If the next CCD can maintain good (or improve) low light performance and push HD video, great; but I'll still buy the camera for the pictures...
There are a lot of other things that I'd like Canon to focus on in the G12 other than HD video. I would like Canon to choose the CCD according to what delivers the best still image. That is what the Canon PowerShot line is for. Still photography.
@ matt / Smittie
I don't think anyone is in disagreement with you, myself included.
The general consensus is that Canon was moving away from image quality and following the megapixel race game instead (e.g. G9, G10), resulting in significantly more noise and poorer reproduction, particularly at higher ISO ranges.
What a lot of Canon users have mentioned is that they want great still photo capabilities, PLUS the ability to record decent HD video - in that order.
In a sense, we're all on the same page... just reading different paragraphs.
I don't see canon doing this, it would probably rather have canon fans purchase a dedicated canon camcorder.
I'll sign your petition none the less although I am probably going to buy a G11 which means I will not be purchasing a G12...I am still using a G7.
Interesting drop in megapixel rating - is the new sensor aided by firmware upgrades, or strictly hardware / lens?
Not really all that interesting. 14.7MP out of a 1/1.7" sensor is too much if you value shots over 100 or 200 ISO.
Is Canon planning to release a Micro Four Thirds camera?
^really?
no they are not as micro 4-3 is a Olympus-Panasonic proprietary format. Although they and maybe Nikon may come around and put out a mirror-less lens swappable system. Pentax has already shown prototypes. also all other brand (nikon, sony, canon) use the standard 3-2 apc format from the 35 mm days and not the 4-3 format from oly and pana.
@yoyoma
micro4:3 isn't strictly proprietary to Olympus and Panasonic. Any company that joins the Four Thirds consortium could make a body, and although several other companies have as of yet they've chosen not to.
@ Plothole
Correct. It isn't proprietary to Olympus and Panasonic.
I also doubt Nikon and Canon joining since they wouldn't want their respective cameras sporting a competitors lenses.
links for wired.co.uk and what digital camera is pretty much the same.
anyways nice to see a change to focus more on quality rather than megapixel war
I just got this camera, and have been really impressed with it. I wouldn't want the size much smaller, you'd have to remove all of the manual settings, which are nicely under fingers with real knobs in this form factor, which is really one of the nicest features of this camera. If I were looking for something small that was entirely point and shoot, I would have gone with something else. This suits me just fine. Also, the picture quality is great, and it does take nice low light shots. Score.
On the down side, I do agree that HD video would have been nice, and wish it were included.
thanks for the list of reviewing site, really helpful.
The canon S90 is looking like a better alternative. I believe it's slightly cheaper than the G11, but contains the same sensor, has a slightly faster lens (F2.0) and a small form factor. So the benefits of a higher-end point and shoot (including RAW), but in a more compact shape.
The G11 has several advantages over the S90. The G11 has more autofocusing options, whereas the S90 is either center focus or face detect. This is quite limiting for macro shooting IMHO. The other thing is that the G11's overall optics are better than the S90, even though the S90 boasts an F2.0 lens.
All canon cameras for 2009-2010 have no ultra-fine JPEG option, which I find as an odd move on canon's part. And, it has been confirmed that the new fine != old ultra-fine, so this isn't just a simple naming change.
I like the G series. Started with a G2, myself. But, dang, I wish they could improve the optics with better zoom.
I also bought the G11 right after it launched - I have been very happy with it.
My primary camera is a 5D2 - but the main reason I bought the G11 is not wanting to lug around the 5D. I am big into using a flash (or 8) off camera - so the reason to by the G11 over the S90 for me came down to the hotshoe.
Also - I love the swivel screen - wish the 5D2 had that.
A big bonus for me too is that you can use 2nd curtain sync with the G11 - not even the 5D2 can do that (which frankly is pathetic).
Gear List (will become obvious why I bought the G11):
5D Mark II
20D (Backup)
17mm Tamron SP (Old Nikon mount with adapter ring - amazingly sharp)
24-70 f/2.8L
70-200 f/2.8L
1.4x TC
50mm f/1.4
50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro
(5) 550EX Speedlite
(4) 420EX Speedlite
ST-E2 Speedlite Transmitter
Poverty Wizards (RF-602 from eBay)
200LBs worth of grip gear
Now all I really want from it is better RAW support for the G11 in Lightroom
What? The 5D2 easily does 2nd curtain sync with on camera flash? You need to be more specific, are you talking about with a pocket wizard or ?
No Canon EOS camera to date has 2nd (or rear) curtain sync.
What you are referring to is a function certain EX series Speedlites (not the camera) - only when directly on the shoe or on a E-TTL cord. The flash is told the shutter speed selected - and the flash then does a digital delay to fire the flash before the curtain closes.
This means you are extremely limited to just on camera higher end Speedlites - which sucks.
What I am referring to is that the G11 can actually trigger its shoe at the rear curtain - thus being able to use 2nd curtain sync with any flash or studio strobes. It’s a setting at the camera level - not at the flash level like what you referred to on the 5D2.
Its one of the things that truly disappointing to me about having so much money wrapped up in Canon gear - if I were to do it all over again right now - I would have a D700 instead of the 5D2. If only Nikon glass was as cheap as the Canon equivalent.
Just got an S90 from Best Buy. What an awesome, little camera (blows away my LX3 which is going to go up on eBay tomorrow). Who would want a brick of a camera like a G11 when the same digic processor, same megapixels, and better f/2.0 lens, is standard on the very compact S90. The most important picture is the one you actually take... and with a pocket-size S90 you're apt to keep it with you more often to be able to take that picture.
yet the lack of a hotshoe is a deal breaker for some...but the s90 is a hot little camera.
Canon S90 is the one to look out for :)
http://www.pocketshooter.com/2009/10/canon-s90-p-camera.html
Get real...you want video...buy a video camera.
You want to take photographs, buy a real camera like the G11.
Not some half-assed pipsqueak with no optical viewfinder.
The G11 has all the right stuff.
I've used the G9 for 2 years nearly every day with great image quality, but the G11 blows it away on anything 400 ISO and over.
And you can keep it in your pants pocket.
The optical viewfinder on the G11 is completely pathetic - I wish they would have left it off frankly.
The optical viewfinders (with the rare diopter adjustment) on my old G9 and my new G11 are a little crazy because of only 77% of the scene is actually represented.
But many times after downloading, I found interesting areas of the scene I hadn't noticed before which the camera captured and was thankful for it.
The other side of using the optical viewfinder is an immediate picture capture of seeing the world and the following of movement is way better than the LCD view.
I becomes a philosophical way of seeing besides the obviously very useful LCD view.
I would have bought the Canon G11 if it had an electronic viewfinder. I am so used to using a viewfinder with all shooting info. displayed.
My problem with LCD's is that in the sun, it is very difficult to see what you are shooting!
I think I have seen some comments saying the G11 LCD gets around this problem due to the articulating LCD (don't understand that argument) and due to its high resolution & brightness.
Could you comment on this please. Thanks.