Posted by Notcot on Jun 8, 2010 in
Photography |
Average Rating: 4.5 / 5 (25 Reviews)
Product Description
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The PowerShot G11 is a compact camera that will find favor with professionals and advanced amateur photographers due to its superb image quality, full manual control of settings, and RAW shooting capability
If it’s not practical or safe to carry a large DSLR a high-specification compact such as the PowerShot G11 is a fantastic choice
It’s great for photographers looking to capture high resolution, high quality, and low light images without having to carry a large SLR system in their kit bags
The G11 features face detection technology that can detect and track numerous faces within the frame to ensure the correct exposure and focus for them
An enhanced i-Contrast system optimizes the dynamic range of subjects to deliver shadow details whilst avoiding highlight blow outs
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Product Description |
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Canon PowerShot G11 – digital camera |
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Product Type |
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Digital camera – prosumer |
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Dimensions (WxDxH) |
Canon PowerShot G11 Digital Camera 2.8 inch LCD
Buy Now for £399.59
Tags: amateur photographers, Average, blow outs, Canon, canon powershot, choice, compact camera, Contrast, correct exposure, DescriptionThe, detection technology, DSLR, dynamic range, exposure, face detection, g11, highlight, kit bags, light images, prosumer, Range, resolution, shadow, shadow details, slr system, superb image quality, Technology, Type, WxDxH
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Unfortunately, I purchased a Canon G10 just before the release of the G11 and for reasons explained below I’ve now bought a G11… which gives me the unusual and unexpected “privilege” of being able to compare the two side-by-side.
So what was so wrong with the G10 that I bought a G11? Nothing really other than the G10’s noise at higher ISO settings. Is this a serious problem? Well, if like me, you want a camera that’s a portable alternative to your DSLR and which operates very close to your DSLR’s performance, then it probably is. How much so? Here’s two examples that made me invest in the G11. The first was when using the G10 on a clear blue sky day to shoot sports events using its “Sports” program – the camera, correctly, chose shutter speeds of 1/1250 and, as a result, set ISO ratings at around 400 but, noise was evident at anything above 50% magnification and very marked at 100% magnification (this was, remember, in very bright light so the problem would be markedly worse in other situations). The second was when shooting indoors in late afternoon light without a flash – on the “Auto” program the ISO was, again correctly, bumped up to over 200 and, again, noise was evident at 100% or greater magnification – so much so, that I was forced to manually set ISO to under 200 with the resulting problems in slower shutter speeds.
You could say that I’m being overly “picky” here, but I don’t think so… while these noise levels are perfectly acceptable in cheaper point & shoot cameras, they’re really not acceptable in a camera priced at this level and, more importantly, they mean that it can’t be used with confidence as a point & shoot alternative to my DSLR which was one of the main reasons for buying it. Sure you can overcome some of the ISO issues by using the camera’s huge number of manual over-ride options but you shouldn’t have to.
The problem, of course, is the mega-pixel count in the G10 which, while good for “marketing” purposes, is just too high for a camera this small and which therefore precipitates additional noise at even relatively modest ISO levels. Set the camera to under ISO 200 and you get the resolution advantage of 14.7 million mega-pixels but your shooting options are reduced; let the camera do the work and, in anything other than “normal” situations, noise could become a serious issue.
Time to assess how my newly acquired 10 megapixel G11 performs in similar situations… the answer?… brilliantly. My test shot comparisons between the two show noticeably reduced noise levels for the G11 at anything over ISO 200, with noise down to a level that, while not quite as good as my DSLR, is as close as you’d expect or hope for from this type of camera. And, while there’s a slight resolution loss compared to the G10, it’s so tiny that it’s unnoticeable other than in a slow ISO rated shot (i.e. 80 or 100) blown-up to extremely high magnification levels but… am I really going to use the G11 rather than my DSLR for huge prints or professional quality studio or field work? Unlikely. Also, there seems to be a marginally better “feel” to the G11’s shots at below ISO 200 which could well be the result of its claimed improvements in image processing or just my own perception. Whatever, the bottom line is that the G11 produces the same or better quality photos than the G10 in virtually all “real life” situations that I’m likely to use it for and, equally importantly, allows me to use it with the confidence that its end results will be extremely close to those that my DSLR would have produced if I’d had it with me.
Other than that, the two cameras are pretty much identical: the G11’s fold out screen can be argued either way (it has obvious advantages in certain situations but it makes the camera feel a bit bulkier and slightly reduces the size of the screen’s viewing area), there are a few more menu options in the G11 which most people will never use, the on/off button on the G10 is slightly easier to use (particularly with gloves on), and the G11 has additional “low light” and “quick shot” programs on the main dial, which are of limited practical value. In other words, unless you really do need a fold out screen, nothing worth writing home about.
Oh, and the price… the G11 is, at present, about £100 more than the G10 in the UK, which is a pretty big difference. Is a £100 price hike worth it for improved performance in certain situations? Well, that’s your decision: the G10 is a perfectly acceptable and usable camera once you know its limitations but, if you don’t want these limitations, or if you just want the confidence that the camera will perform at close to digital SLR levels in virtually all situations you throw at it, then the G11 is definitely worth the extra money. Anyone want to buy a G10?… it’ll be on eBay soon.
Rating: 5 / 5
The Canon G11 is an excellent camera.
As a professional photographer I was looking for a compact camera with excellent image quality and, above all, outstanding controllability. The G11 delivers.
Image quality – Up to 400 ISO the G11’s image quality is excellent. Whilst the sensor exhibits more noise than an SLR, images are very sharp and colours are reproduced well. 800 ISO is very usable, one of the high point’s of the lowering of megapixels and the addition of Canon’s Digic 4 processor being very good high ISO performance. This is not a professional level SLR and if you are looking for brilliant low light performance you are much better off getting an entry level SLR and a bright lens. (Canon’s 50mm f1.8 would be a good option for example.)
Build quality – This is one of the few slight negatives of this camera. Don’t get me wrong, the build quality is very good, but not professional level. The main complaint is the control wheel on the rear of the camera, that feels flimsy, and can easily be turned accidentally. Some critics are saying there has been a drop in build quality from the G11’s forerunner the G10. For the amount of money this camera costs the build quality should be exemplary.
The Screen – I’ve dedicated an entire section to this because it warrants it. The flip out screen is a brilliant addition. It has excellent resolution and colours and the ability to move the screen cures one of my biggest annoyances with compact cameras – using the screen in bright sunlight. The tilting screen lets you get a different perspective by shooting from above or below and when lending the camera to friends they can even flip it round and take self portraits.
Controllability – This is where the Canon G11 outclasses every other compact by a mile. The ability to select ISO, and exposure compensation from the top of the camera, as well as have one control wheel and a customizable button is, for me, the best thing about this camera. If I suddenly decide to shoot an aircraft flying overhead I want to be able to lower the ISO, get the camera to expose correctly against the sky, open up my aperture, zoom the lens and frame all within a few seconds. The speed with which I can do that on the G11 is not far off that of my professional level SLR.
If the sentence about changing all those things scares you then the G11 is not for you. Get the Canon S90 instead. It has the same insides, a very similar lens is more compact AND over £100 cheaper and is much better if you want a very good quality point and shoot. However, if you are used to an SLR and want to have similar controllability in a camera that you can put in your pocket then the G11 represents a brilliant buy.
Some more positives – The G11 can be paired up with any of Canon’s flashguns and if all my other cameras broke/were stolen at a wedding I could still complete the shoot, and even fire a flashgun remotely to give directional light. I hope never to need it, but it opens up more creative opportunities. The lens zooms quite quickly and the shutter lag does not feel slow. Autofocus speed is good. You won’t be shooting sports with the G11, but in general it is adequate.
The negatives:
The price – this is a very expensive compact. For the same price you could purchase one of several entry level SLR’s and get more than one lens. If you want a small camera that gives nearly professional results, but need small package then the G11 will suit you – if you are a war photographer for example.
The write time – the time the camera takes to write files to the card is quite slow compared to an SLR. Being used to top professional speeds probably clouds my judgment, but it would be nice if I could reduce the lag time between shots. (Bear in mind that a fast memory card will help somewhat.)
Despite a few minor complaints the G11 still gets 5 stars. I wasn’t expecting its image quality to be this good. If you demand controllability over your shots and need a compact camera then the G11 will be an excellent buy.
Rating: 5 / 5
I’d had a G6 and loved its image quality if not its high noise over 200ISO.
I wanted a camera that offered the same sort of image quality as my DSLRs, usable image quality at higher ISOs, RAW files and which allowed the use of my Canon flashguns. The G11 ticks all of these boxes and offers the articulated screen that the G6 had. Oh, and a usable viewfinder. I hate standing there with a camera held out in front of me. It’s an age thing I guess.
I’ve done shot by shot comparisons between the G11 and my 20D and Tamron 28-75 (a great lens) and was hard pushed to tell one camera’s images from the other. The modern compact cameras are really impressive pieces of technology
Yes, it’s too expensive and I could have bought another DSLR body for the same money. Thing is, though, it offers something much more useful and is a great travel camera.
I love it. I’d love it even more if it were cheaper but it really is the business.
Rating: 5 / 5
I bought this camera as an addition to my DSLR set up, primerily so that I had a camera I could use which performed better then the normal compact when I didn’t want to take my DSLR outfit with me. In this respects it performs very well and I’m more than happy with it and would recommend it to others who are looking for a camera to perform in similar circumstances. It has a wide range of controls, similar to what you’d expect on a DSLR which could be daunting for a novice, but there’s also the Auto setting as well as quite a number of scene options a novice could use while getting used to it. I like the fact you don’t have to go through loads of menu options to be able to change things like the ISO setting or the exposure compensation because they have their own controls on the top plate and the other stuff like flash options and the timer are easy to get to too. The only downfall on the Auto & scene options though is that you can’t shoot in RAW and while in auto it tends to select a higher ISO rating than I’d prefer in low light which introduces digital noise. I like to rear screen and the display options with the “live” histogram being particularly useful. Talking to someone who had the G10 he preferred the newer model because of the movable tilting screen and improved low light performance, but I haven’t had any experience with the G10 so can’t confirm this. I ‘d suggest novices try using either Auto or P mode and if the results they get at the time arn’t what they want try the appropriate scene mode too. Just like all other cameras the key thing is to decide what it is you want to do with it. If you’ve no other camera then you could consider a budget DLSR instead, they would give you more versatility but you’d sacrifice some of the portability advantages the G11 offers as even though it’s bigger than a normal compact you can still put it in your jacket pocket or handbag. I’ve found people also tend to ignore you if you’ve got the G11 rather than freeze up in front of a DSLR which is better for candid work. Canon have dropped the megapixels compared to the g10 to improve low light performance, but ultimately do you really need any more than 10 mps? take a bit more care with your compostion at the taking stage so you don’t have to crop so much and you’ll still be able to produce large prints if you need to. You could consider a 4:3 camera like the panasonic g1 or the olympus pen but both are bigger & far more expensive and are more in direct competition with DSLRs in my view. One thing to consider is that the UK spec models do not come with a manual which I consider a real problem. The manual is on a CD, what canon don’t seem to realise is that a lot of us would like to carry the manual with us for easy reference, especially during te first few months when we’re getting used to it and for a camera costing around £400 this isn’t acceptable. Mine’s a US import which comes with a hard copy of the manual though the quality of the paper isn’t brilliant. Overall though it’s a nice piece of kit and I’m glad I bought it.
Rating: 5 / 5
In the style of Rowan Atkinson, this isn’t just a compact. it is so much more that a compact!. I have a couple of DSLRs which I use regularly but wanted something which produced high quality images but was pocket size and easy to use. I already have a Nikon compact which wasn’t up to what I needed. The Canon Powershot G11 has proved to be the ideal choice. Image quality is pin sharp and easy to manage and manipulate. for anyone with a bit of experience with cameras the settings and management of the camera is straight forward. For both indoor and outdoor it has handled a wide variety of light conditions very well. Whilst there are compacts with greater megapixels don’t be deluded that they will deliver better images, it isn’t just the pixels which will provide performance in a camera. The telephoto lens is powerful and of high quality. If there are any criticisms it is the location of one or two of the buttons on the body of the camera which can easily be pressed accidentally. I put this down to driver error a wee bit and is not such a great problem that I wouldn’t recommend the camera.
Rating: 5 / 5