Canon Powershot G11 Review – An Excellent Digital Compact Camera
In this Canon PowerShot G11 Review is the newest member of Canon’s serious compact camera range, predominantly aimed at the DSLR owner looking for a backup compact or the enthusiast who wants DSLR functionality without the added bulk. At first glance the Canon G11 looks very similar to its popular predecessor, the G10, but there are a number of key external and internal changes underneath the serious matt black exterior. The megapixel count has dropped from 14.7 to 10, as Canon targets image quality rather than out-and-out resolution. The combination of this new “high-sensitivity sensor” and the DIGIC 4 image processor has resulted in a 2-stop increase in image quality compared to the G10, at least according to Canon, with an ISO range of 80-3200 and faster 6400 and 12800 settings at 2.5 megapixels. The G11’s LCD monitor is now a little smaller at 2.8 inches, but Canon have responded to customer feedback by making it a vari-angle screen. Other key highlights of the Canon G11 include the 5x, 28-140mm zoom lens, RAW shooting mode, optical image stabilizer to help combat camera shake.
The first choice for Canon converts wanting a robust, fully featured compact as a more portable back up for their DSLR, the manufacturer’s much-anticipated follow-on from the year-old PowerShot G10 has arrived on the Photography Blog test slab. Looking to deliver exceptional image quality and professional levels of creative flexibility – so promises its manufacturer – the question is: will the logically named G11 justify both wait and hype?
First impressions are that, outwardly, little if anything has changed in terms of shape and form from its family of forebears. It looks identical to the G10, at least from the front, and, with a solid feel, tank-like construction, Canon’s developers are confidently suggesting ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’.
Generally the Canon PowerShot G11 feels very well made, with a layout that while busy avoids looking cluttered, and controls that both offer just the right amount of stiffness and resistance. Unlike some, they’re also large enough to be easily and quickly accessed in the heat of the action. With its beefy design, as with its predecessors in the G7, G9 and G10, the G11 won’t fit into a trouser or shirt pocket like the latest IXUS, though if you have a deep-pocketed winter coat you’ll be all right.
In terms of feature set, and intriguingly so for an apparent upgrade, Canon has changed tack and emphasis somewhat. Indeed, on first perusal of its spec list, the G11 appears like a step back rather than forward. For example it offers 10 megapixels, down from the G10′s 14.7, plus a smaller 2.8-inch, 461-dot resolution LCD rather than the G10′s 3-inch, 460-dot screen.
That said, on the G11 this can be largely explained by the fact that said monitor is the swivel and tilt ‘vari-angle’ variety, not fixed as on the G10, its implementation claimed to be a direct result of customer feedback. With both digital cameras being identically priced at the time of writing, the manufacturer is leaving it up to the consumer to weigh up the points of difference.
Dim light shooting would appear to be chief among them, the Canon PowerShot G11 offering a maximum user selectable setting of ISO 3200 (up from the G10′s ISO 1600) at full resolution, with the ability to expand the range to a DSLR-like spec of ISO 12800 in a newly-implemented low light mode, with the compromise of a resolution drop to 2.5 megapixels. Its maker further claims that by wedding a high sensitivity sensor bolted to its standard issue (at this level) Digic 4 processor, it is delivering a ‘dual anti noise system’.
As was true of the G10 this time last year, those who love getting hands-on will relish as we did being able to turn the G11′s top plate rangefinder-like dials to select ISO speed and adjust exposure as well as select capture options from a more standard issue shooting mode dial. If we’ve a grumble, it’s that annoyingly for a creatively rich camera, the full manual is provided on CD only. In what comes across as a cursory gesture, a very slim quick start guide is included.
Still, given its target audience what’s here will be relatively self evident; the top plate housing the same half-penny sized wheel for adjusting exposure (+/- 2EV) as found on the G10, along with hotshoe for accessory flash (in addition to the built in bulb), plus a larger wheel for adjusting ISO (80-3200 at full resolution) upon which is mounted the smaller shooting mode dial, resembling the upper tier of a wedding cake.
The latter features settings for the auto capture, program, shutter priority, aperture priority and manual, along with two user customisable settings, a smattering of scene modes (17 in all), a stitch assist mode to aid with shooting panoramas and finally a video mode.
Priced exactly the same as its still current predecessor in the G10, the G11 offers the advantage of a flexible LCD screen plus higher ISO options. If neither is particularly important and a higher resolution will serve better, then the older G10 is the one to go for.
With the Powershot G11 Digital Camera taken on its own terms, although the lens in use can’t be swapped, the broader than average 28-140mm equivalent focal range makes for a wealth of creative possibilities from landscapes to portraiture.
But perhaps the most notable thing about the G11 is that Canon has stopped playing the numbers game and is trusting the camera’s target audience to realize that there’s more to digital photography than ever increasing helpings of megapixels with each successive product.
For us though, it doesn’t quite hold up to its manufacturer’s claim of this being the ‘ultimate’ compact – particularly when you’ve had the opportunity to swap lenses as on the competing Olympus Pen and Panasonic GF1 Micro Four Thirds models, the latter being a near ringer for the Canon in terms of size, shape and form. But then, with those models lenses cost extra, and with the G11 you have mostly everything you’d want in one neat package, which shouldn’t be underestimated.
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