Digital Cameras Reviews

Canon PowerShot G11 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Stabilized Zoom and 2 8 inch articulating LCD

G-series cameras are shaped like professional cameras. Advanced amateurs who have overwhelmingly embraced the G Series will be delighted with the PowerShot G11, which features RAW mode for unlimited editing options, a 28mm wide-angle lens, and a 2.8-inch Vari-Angle PureColor System LCD. Add to that Canon’s new High Sensitivity System and high-speed ISO for incredible image quality, and Canon’s top-range compact digital camera is a truly groundbreaking successor. A high-powered Wide-Angle 5x Optical Zoom (equivalent to 28 – 140mm) with Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer gets you up close and personal to your subjects DIGIC 4 Image Processor improves the overall camera performance HDMI output for viewing still images on an HDTV Improved Smart AUTO intelligently selects the proper setting for the camera based on 22 predefined shooting situations Effective Pixels – Approx. 10.0 Megapixels Type – 1/1.7-inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Lens – Canon 5x optical zoom Lens Focal Length – 6.1 (W) – 30.5mm (35mm film equivalent – 28 (W) – 140 (T) mm) Viewfinder – Real-image optical zoom viewfinder LCD Monitor – 2.8-inch TFT color, with wide viewing angle Shutter Speed – 15-1/4000 sec. ISO Sensitivity – Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600/3200 Exposure Control Method – Program AE, Shutter Speed-Priority AE, Aperture-Priority AE, i-Contrast, Manual; AE Lock, Safety Shift, Auto ISO Shift White Balance Control – Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Underwater, Custom1, Custom2 Built-in Flash – Auto, Auto w/Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On w/Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; FE lock, Safety FE, Slow Synchro, Second-curtain synchro Shooting Modes – Auto, P, Tv, Av, M, C1, C2, Low Light, Quick Shot, SCN, Movie Storage Media – SD/SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus card, HC MMCplus card File Format – Still Image – Exif 2.2 (JPEG), RAW (CR2 Ca

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars A nearly perfect blend of features.
I’ve only owned a G11 since this morning but was compelled to write this review for two reasons. First, I am amazed at how well Canon listened to their customer base. People loved the G10 ( and I plan on keeping the one I’ve been shooting for the last year….) But the two biggest complaints/suggestions I’ve routinely heard are: 1. The high ISO noise is too obvious and noise filters blur the image. 2. I wish it had a flexible screen on the back. To those two complaints I would have added: It would be nice to have a better optical view finder with more accurate framing.

We all hoped that they wouldn’t change the things that everyone liked such as the wonderful analog controls on the top of the G10.

So, I now have camera that IS really about a stop and a half or two stops more sensitive. 400 on the G11 looks better than 200 on the G10. I’d buy the camera just for that. Secondly, the screen on the back now swivels. Nope, the viewfinder didn’t get improved.

What you are getting is a really nicely made camera that is convenient to carry around (but not really pocketable) that works quickly and well and is getting into the quality space that used to be the sole provence of DSLR cameras. You also get a nice movie mode (640, not HD) which works well for web projects as well as a camera with smaller file sizes than it’s predecessor. It is 10 megs versus 15. Another reviewer griped that the G11 should have had a longer zoom and 24 megapixels. I don’t want either of those things because I understand the greater the range of the zoom lens the less well it can be corrected for optical faults. I don’t want more megapixels because 99% of what I print is 12 by 18 inches or smaller and both cameras will already do that very well if you practice good technique. There are plenty of long zoom range cameras that work well for snapping your kids playing soccer. I have a Canon SX20 that does a good job with that. But there are few small cameras that are both fun to shoot quickly, on the street and it available light situations that also yield really nice files. This camera is one of them. We should give a few kudos to Canon for getting rev2 (actually rev right for what we really like to do as photographic artists.

I hope someone writes a really good book about using cameras in this class.

Also thrilled that Canon uses the same battery between the G10 and the G11.

Added last night: I went out shooting in the soft rain and gloomy half light yesterday afternoon/evening. I used the camera at ISO 400 and 800 and shot as low as 1/25th of a second. The images did not have a lot of noise and the IS worked very well. If you’ve shot with Canon’s previous powershot cameras you will get used to the controls and menus very quickly.

5 Stars An Amazing Camera!!
I actually still shoot film the vast majority of the time however I purchased my mother a G-10 for her birthday last year and spent a couple weeks using the camera so I could adequately teach her how to use it. I have since borrowed it on numerous occasions and was actually about to buy my own G-10 but then I heard about the G-11 so I figured I would wait and buy the new upgraded version and I am glad I did just that. For me this camera is worth upgrading to just for the swivel LCD view screen on the back. I cant tell you how many time I was shooting outdoors and was completely unable to see the LCD screen even when you shaded it with one of your hands. Adding the swivel option completely eliminates this problem. This option is so nice when shooting outdoors that I am honestly thinking about upgrading my mothers camera for this one reason alone as she doesn’t have the best eyesight which means if I am having problems seeing the viewfinder I can only imagine how hard it is for her to see it.

The next best thing I have noticed about this camera is its film speed ratings. I have already done a lot of testing with the G-11 and to say that they have improved the speed ratings is a huge understatement especially in the higher film speed settings. I was extremely hesitant to use a film speed over 400 with the G-10 yet I am using speeds above 800 with the G-11. Depending on the conditions your shooting in you should see anywhere from a 1.0 to 2.0 stop difference. I did some tests where the G-11 shot pictures at 800 that were basically equivalent to a 200 on the G-10. I was hoping for an improvement in this area but wasn’t expecting this big of an improvement.

The next biggest improvement has to be with the auto mode. I tested the auto mode extensively with the G-10 as that was going to be the mode my mother used the most, at least out of the gate, and I was unimpressed. There were too many shooting situations to count that easily fooled the camera into shooting with settings that were less than optimal. You would still get decent results but it definitely needed improvement and I am thankful to say that they did just that. Running the identical tests I did with the G-10 clearly showed that this camera is much better at selecting the appropriate shooting mode. Some conditions were drastic improvements. This is probably the 2nd biggest reason why I am most likely going to be upgrading my mothers camera to a G-11.

A lot of people were concerned with the G-11 as it actually has a smaller picture size than the G-10. The G-10 has a 14.7 MP size and the G-11 only has a 10MP size. People who have a high understanding of digital image sensors knew not to worry as the MB size is not the most important aspect to an imaging chip. Details such as dynamic range, image noise and low-light performance are just as important if not more important when discussing overall image quality. I for one have always hated the MP war as we passed the quality that the vast majority of the population would be content with a long time ago. It has become a numbers game where people think that bigger is better and they just don’t seem to grasp that they will never have any use for such high MP images. So I tip my hat to Canon for taking this step as this is the FIRST time that we have seen resolution reduced in a line of cameras that is still progressing forward. IMO this is the white flag that signifies the war of the MP is finally over and we will finally see companies focused on these other, equally important, image qualities as much as they have been with the MP size. As for the image quality of the new sensor, its outstanding. I immediately noticed a difference in the overall quality of the images. They seem richer with much less compression on the higher and lower ends. If I had the choice of choosing between the G-10 sensor and the G-11 sensor I would take the G-11 sensor every single time. Again a big tip of the hat to Canon for boldly choosing to go this route with the G-11 sensor.

The G-11 retains the same 5x optical zoom lens from the G-10 which in case your unaware is equivalent to a 28mm to 140mm lens. Also the same is the aperture settings which go from f/2.8 to f/4.5 depending on the zoom setting. Shutter speeds range from 1/4,000 to 15 seconds and it has the same metering modes as the G-10 (evaluative, center-weighted and spot). Thankfully they didn’t make any changes to the manual dials at the top of the camera as that is easily one of my favorite aspects to these cameras. ISO speed and the camera mode dials let you quickly and easily switch the most important settings. I an an old school photographer so I still prefer dials to buttons. IMO its the best set up out of all the point and shoots on the market.

2 other noticeable improvements include an increased flash sync speed of 1/2000 and a high-definition HDMI connector (Dont worry it still has the USB 2.0 connection).

The bottom line is that Canon has taken the G-10, which was easily one of the best point and shoots on the market, and made some outstanding improvements that have taken this camera line to a whole new level. If your one of those people who care more about how many MPs your camera has than the actual image quality of the camera then you should stick with the G-10. If however you are more concerned with image quality than MP’s then drop what your doing, list your G-10 on eBay and run out and buy the G-11. The image quality, improved noise performance, and swivel back LCD screen make this camera absolutely worth every penny.

The only negative thing I can say about this camera is in regards to Canon’s sheer ignorance when it comes to the lack of standard size filter threads. How hard would it be to design this camera so it had a 52 or 58mm threaded lens opening? Trust me when I tell you it would be extremely easy. At the very least they could design it so all you needed was a simple step up ring to 52mm or 58mm. Instead they leave out threads altogether and make you go out and spend around a hundred bucks on a 3rd party aluminum lens tube that then allows you to use 58mm and 72mm filters. The “Plastic” Canon Lens tube isn’t even an option as its so poorly designed. I still give this camera 5 stars but it still annoys me that canon totally ignores this aspect of this camera. Again it would be EXTREMELY Easy to change.

Overall the G-11 is simply an amazing, must buy, camera.

5 Stars!!

5 Stars Fine photographic instrument
Just got this camera, but I am very impressed. The build quality is excellent and the movable LCD is very useful,clear and bright. I normally work with a heavy, but rugged Pentax K10D, but wanted something more portable and this fills the bill. Excellent image quality!! This is the camera I am taking to Florida on our vacation.

5 Stars Canon PowerShot G11
Although the megapixels have been reduced on this newer model camera (in comparison to the G10’s 14.7), we are barely pleased with the new features of Canon G11.

So far, after taking some test shots, the picture quality is not significantly different than the G10. However, there are few noticeable benefits. We appreciate the new variangle (swivel) LCD with viewfinder, and improved automatic shooting feature of the device itself.

Most importantly, Canon’s G-Series offer excellent photographic capability.

2 Stars Disappointed!
I am disappointed to say the least with the performance of the new and much ballyhooed Canon PowerShot G11. I am a little guy and I was getting tired of carrying my Nikon D90 around my neck and wanted to get a compact yet versatile performer. I pinned my hopes on Canon PowerShot G11 to give me the satisfaction and sorry to say that my hopes and expectations have been dashed. I received my G11 yesterday along with a nifty small Canon Speedlite 270EX flash. Both items appear to be very well made with a small but not too small size and weight — nearly perfect everywhere companion camera. With great expectations and enthusiasm I charged the battery, put in a SanDisk Ultra SD card in the designated slot of the camera set out to take some indoor and outdoor (brightly lit by sun light)test shots using both ambient light source as well as using the camera mounted flash. Oh yes, I used mostly AUTO setting to snap the shots. Rushed to download the shots to check the results on my computer using the newest version of Photoshop Elements. These test shots are not exhaustive by any means but they give me enough indications that Canon has failed in it’s mission to produce a quality camera. I have listed below some of my observations:

1. Pictures do not appear sharp.

2. AWB is poor with yellow overtone indoors and blueish outdoors.

3. There is a magenta fringe at the outline of the subjects (house and tree-trunks — for lac of immediately available and suitable subjects).

I must admit the flex LCD screen is a delight. The handling of the camera is nearly perfect in my smallish hands. Available features on the camera is plentiful. Canon may as well get rid of the view-finder from the future G series cameras unless of course they improve it substantially.

No matter how beautiful the camera looks and feels in our hands, pity it is still a dud. And I am sure many other owner-users will agree with me. I shall be most hesitant to recommend this camera to any of my friends and reserve the recommendations for you know who!

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