Digital Cameras Reviews

Posts Tagged ‘Red Eye Reduction’

Sony Cyber shot DSC W290 12 1 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Zoom and Super Steady Shot Image Stabilization Black

Sony Cyber-shot(R) DSC-W290 is a compact and stylish digital camera. Featuring Intelligent Auto mode, the W290 with a 28mm wide-angle lens, automatically detects 8 scene conditions and selects the appropriate camera settings. Face Detection captures faces more naturally and helps prevent blur. The large, bright 3″ TFT LCD display makes it easy to compose shots, check results, and read menus in sharp natural color, even in bright sunlight. Also, now record high definition videos in 720p HD and enjoy your memories on your HDTV. Face Detection captures faces with natural skin tones Smile Shutter mode automatically captures a smile DRO Standard and Plus optimizes exposure and contrast Anti-blink Function and Red-eye Reduction Carl Zeiss Vario-Tessar lens with 5x optical zoom (35mm Equivalent 28-140mm) 12.1 megapixel Super HAD(TM) CCD image sensor BIONZ Imaging Processor High Sensitivity ISO 3200 for low light shooting 14 Convenient Photo Modes Easy Shooting Mode simplifies the menu 16 – 9 High Resolution Shooting Mode Easy image management helps find your pictures PHOTOMUSIC feature combines HD slideshow with music HDTV Compatibility for sharing picture in hi-definition PhotoTV HD Mode with compatible BRAVIA HDTVs In-Camera Retouching Tools Creative Painting Tools on touch-screen panel Wide-Zoom Display resizes images to 16 – 9 Bundled PMB Software to manage images on compatible PC Movie Mode(s) – 1280 x 720(Fine) (Approx.30fps, Progressive) / 1280 x 720(Standard) (Approx.30fps, Progressive) / 640(Fine) (VX Fine, 640 x 480, Approx.30fps) Recording Media – 11MB internal Flash Memory, optional Memory Stick(R) Duo Media, optional Memory Stick(R) PRO Duo Media Dimensions (Approx.) – 3 7/8 x 2 3/8 x 29/32 (97.6mm x 57.4mm x 22.6mm) Weight (Approx.) – Approx. 6.1oz. (174g) – With battery and Memory Stick(R) media

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Great But No Viewfinder
Image display is fine, but I prefer a viewfinder to compose my shots. Sony has decided to eliminate the veiw finder, perhaps because amateurs like to hold the camera in front of them and check the display to see what they will get from the shot. Am I getting old school?

2 Stars easy to get a messy image in-doors
For out-doors picture, with good light conditions, the pictures are great and sharp. Amazing video capture.

But I was really disappointed when taking pictures in-doors. In its Intelligent Auto Ajust Mode, the camera usually picks a high iso configuration when there’s not a bright light inside a room (and I mean really bright), resulting in a bad quality picture. Looks like you’re using a 0,5 Megapixel camera.

Too bad I didn’t know much about the ISO settings before buying this camera. High ISO yields bad quality pictures, because the idea is to obtain a brighter picture in low light conditions. I wish I had bought a lower ISO camera.

5 Stars Great camera
I can’t believe this Sony camera is so easy to use, takes great picture and it costs much less than in the military base. I would recommend to anyone.

1 Star No zoom while recording kills it
I don’t care how great the quality or photos are, not being able to zoom while recording is a big problem. I’m very disappointed Sony decided to take this route because I have Sony digital cameras from 2004 that allowed you to zoom while recording so I do not understand why they took this huge step backward. I’ve sold my camera for this reason and told people to stay away. All the Kodaks that have been doing HD video since 2007 have been able to use full zoom while recording.

5 Stars Excellent feature packed smart camera
The DSC-W290 is a amazing little camera. Its feature packed and easy to use.To be honest, I needed a camera just to point and shoot and take excellent pictures whether day or night. The DSC-W290 fits the bill perfectly with its Intelligent mode which identifies all different shooting modes and environments automatically, day or night and adjusts appropriately. The LCD screen at the back is large and clear. The picture quality is amazing with crisp pictures and life-like rich colors. Even more amazing is the high-def video in 780i, total treat to watch on the big screen. The shoot-when-smiling mode actually works great too.

Another little thing – On the second day I bought the camera, I dropped it while it was still turned on. It fell hard, lens first on a rock and went bouncing. The impact bent the cylinder holding the lens. Once retracted it was stuck for good with the motor whirring trying to extend out the lens anytime I turned it on. It also suffered some dings and scratches. Even though it was my fault and the warranty was void as it was an accident, Sony service center repaired it for free and shipped it back within a week. I have to commend Sony on the quality and timeliness of the service provided. The camera worked like new and I couldn’t be happier with this product and Sony’s service.

Cons – The battery life is just around an hour or probably less when you are in video mode quite a bit. But you should be able to get a replacement battery for about $15. There is no zoom while in video mode.

A good add-on would be a 8Gb Sandisk memory card and a replacement battery to extend your shooting experience.

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Canon PowerShot S90IS 10MP Digital Camera with 3 8x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD

Canon’s storied S Series gets a revitalized new leader in the slimmer, lighter, new PowerShot S90, the perfect everyday camera for people who are serious about great photography. Image quality is superb thanks to the new High Sensitivity System and higher ISO speeds, plus an exceptionally bright f/2.0 lens that makes portraits and low-light shots come to life. Photography enthusiasts will love the new control ring at the base of the lens barrel, designed for intuitive, pro-style manual control. A Wide-angle 3.8x Optical Zoom (equivalent to 28 – 105mm) with Canon’s Optical Image Stabilizer Full range of shooting and recording modes including RAW + JPEG for the ultimate creative control Large 3.0-inch PureColor System LCD for even greater true-to-life color reproduction Effective Pixels – Approx. 10.0 Megapixels Type – 1/1.7-inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Lens – Canon 3.8x optical zoom Lens Focal Length – 6.0 (W)-22.5mm (T) f/2.0-4.9 (35mm equivalent – 28-105mm) LCD Monitor – 3.0-inch TFT color with wide viewing angle Shutter Speed – 15-1/1600 sec. ISO Sensitivity – Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600/3200 Exposure Control Method – Program AE, i-Contrast, Manual; AE Lock, Program Shift, Safety Shift, Auto ISO Shift White Balance Control – Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Underwater), Custom 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 Shooting Modes – Auto, P, Av, Tv, M, C, Portrait, Landscape, Special Scene, Night Snapshot, Stitch Assist, Low Light, Movie Storage Media – SD/SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus Card, HC MMCplus Card File Format – Still Image – Exif 2.2 (JPEG); Movie – MOV (Image – H.264; Audio – Linear PCM (Stereo)) Still Image – Up to 3,648 x 2,736 (Large); Movie – VGA 640 x 480 Dimensions (WxH

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars New King of Compacts
I bought this camera on 10/9, which is the first day it was available here in Kansas City. I have already taken a couple hundred shots with it comparing images side by side with my G10 at various settings. This review is of my initial impression based on the short time that I have had it. I was anxiously awaiting the release of this camera. I own a Nikon D90 DSLR, but there are many times when I prefer to just take a compact. In the past the Canon G10 has served that purpose, but the S90 boasts improved low-light performance and smaller size.

The first thing I wanted to test was image quality and noise at high ISO settings. Most photography hobbyists and pros know that low light performance is the number one factor influencing camera and lens prices. This is the main reason an f/2.8 zoom lens costs 3-5 times as much as an f/3.5-5.6 zoom. The S90 performs superbly in this regard. RAW images from the S90 set at ISO 800 were equal to or better than RAW images from the G10 set at ISO400. Both luminance and chrominance noise were lower in the S90 images. This represents a 1 stop improvement, which is what I was hoping for. These comparisons were made with all noise reduction disabled in camera and in the DPP software. I tested all other ISOs and found the S90 to be better at all ISO settings above 100 and the 2 cameras demonstrated equal IQ at the base ISOs of 80 and 100.

Canon also boasts about the S90 having a faster f/2.0 lens compared to the f/2.8 on the G10, but this part of the camera did not impress me. The lens only has the 1 stop advantage at the absolute widest setting and the max aperture closes down fast from there. The G10/G11 lens is faster at the telephoto end and the difference is negligible at all zoom settings in between. Both lenses are equally sharp throughout their zoom ranges.

The ergonomics of the camera will take me a while to get used to. I was looking for a smaller camera and the S90 definitely fits the bill. But now that I am using it, I wonder if it might be too small. I hope that it will become more comfortable in my hands as I get used to it. On the G10, I could operate all of the controls on the right-rear of the camera with the thumb of the hand holding the camera. With the S90 there are fewer controls that I can operate one-handed and at times I feel like I might drop this camera, because I just can’t get a good grip on it. Other ergonomic concerns are that the rear control ring turns too easily and I have found myself unintentionally adjusting settings because of this, which was never a problem on the G10. I think I might miss the external ISO and Exposure Compensation dials on the G10, but I have set the front control ring to adjust the ISO setting and I would honestly need to use it more before I say the controls are not easy to access; again this should improve with more use. None of the concerns I have about the size and controls on the camera would dissuade me from the purchase; the trade-off is worth it for the smaller carrying size and improved performance.

The camera ships with a newer version (3.7) of Canon’s Digital Photo Professional software. There is not much difference compared to older versions, but there is one nice improvement: the lens aberration section is enabled for images taken with the S90. This allows for correction of vignetting, CA and distortion. I do not understand why the same controls are not available for RAW files taken with the G10. There is still no straighten function in the software, which is a disappointment. Another disappointing factor about the software is that Canon has not yet released a new RAW Codec; the current version (1.5) does not support the S90 or G11. This allows raw files to be viewed in Windows and for thumbnail images to be created in Windows explorer. I am sure they are working on an update, but I wish they had this ready by the time the camera was released.

I went step-by-step through the menus and features of both cameras during my comparison and most functions are very similar. The S90 has fewer AF options and no remote control, but I do not think I will miss either of these.

I considered giving this camera only 4 stars because of the couple of hits I mentioned above, but then decided that would not be fair. The title of “Best Compact” has been debated feverishly on the web, with most votes going to the G10 and LX3. But now, I think Canon’s new release of both the S90 and G11 will put a quick end to these debates. There is no question in my mind that this pair sits above all competitors. Therefore a five star rating is the only logical choice. I highly recommend this camera.

5 Stars A Compact Camera Suited for Serious Photographers
My first impressions of the Canon S90 Compact Camera are quite good although I do have some nits:

Some functions should be easier to set. For example, Canon requires you to go into the menus to format the SD card. I would prefer to do that with buttons like I can on a DSLR. I also was a bit disappointed that I couldn’t set more functions in my custom menu (only five custom items can be set at one time.) It’s really easy to smudge the LCD because it takes up almost the entire camera back. And the manual setting of aperture is backwards. Canon set it to turn like you are looking at the camera, but it needs to be reversed because you are setting it from the back of the camera. It’s counter intuitive–and there’s no way to change the dial rotation to match what comes intuitively.

Post processing tests show that the S90 shots easy to manipulate photos. The biggest drawback are with marginal photos (extremely under exposed, for example.) I can bring back mistakes like that in poorly executed shots taken with my DSLR. With the S90, however, the photos blow out and become surrealistic looking when I try to recover them. But in fairness, we are talking about shots that should be greeted by the delete key anyway.

I shot some low light photos at ISO 2000 and 3200. Ridiculously high settings for a digital camera. And I must say that this camera handles noise extremely well. Sure, noise is there at high ISO settings. If you look closely enough you will see it, but it’s not objectionable. The image quality and detail is quite good. Focusing, even in low light, is fast and spot on the mark. There is almost no delay from the time I press the shutter button to the time the camera takes the photo. The camera does well in write speed to the SD card as well. Plus, I love being able to manually set aperture and shutter speed without using menus. That’s a terrific feature! And I haven’t yet missed having an optical viewfinder.

The S90 is a well designed, solid camera. The build quality is excellent. It’s small, but easy to handle. It has features that aren’t even on my DSLR and is quite capable. All-in-all, a very good camera and well worth the money.

5 Stars Keeper
Yes. Its a keeper. Easy to use, portable, some nice features, low light performance is amazing (tested ISO 400 and 800 mostly). Zoom is abit on a short side, but thats understandable. Love the front and rear rings and custom button. Waited a few years for this to come out. LX3 is also a great camera but zoom range and size killed it for me.

5 Stars Keeper
Yes. Its a keeper. Easy to use, portable, some nice features, low light performance is amazing (tested ISO 400 and 800 mostly). Zoom is abit on a short side, but thats understandable. Love the front and rear rings and custom button. Waited a few years for this to come out. LX3 is also a great camera but zoom range and size killed it for me.

5 Stars walk around photography
Took this out with my girls for an afternoon at the park yesterday. The ability to carry this in your pocket so easily is soooooo awesome. The quality I’m seeing so far has been great. Haven’t read the manual yet, and haven’t come close to denting what this camera seems able to do. It won’t replace my DSLR, nor did I intend for it to, but having caught the photo bug, this is an awesome tool to be able to carry with you wherever you are so you won’t be caught saying, “man I wish I had my camera with me”.

This camera is not for those who want an all in one. It takes video, but not HD. There are cheaper cameras that can take nice shots. If you want the ability to shoot RAW though, and really enjoy still photography, and never want to be caught without your camera….buy this. By the time I’ve actually played with this enough to know what all it can do, my 5 stars will be 5 stars with emphasis.

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Canon PowerShot SX120IS 10MP Digital Camera with 10x Optical Images Stabilized Zoom and 3 inch LCD

Everything about the Canon PowerShot SX120 IS is easy. The Smart AUTO feature makes every shot picture-perfect. An impressive 10x Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer keeps you sharp and steady. There’s even an Easy Mode that makes shooting super simple. This AA battery powered camera enables you to easily power up Effective Pixels – Approx. 10.0 Megapixels Type – 1/2.5-inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Lens – Canon 10x Optical Zoom Lens Focal Length – 6.0 (W) – 60.0mm (T) f/2.8 (W) – f/4.3 (T) (35mm equivalent – 36 (W) – 360 (T) mm) LCD Monitor – 3.0-inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD with wide viewing angle Shutter Speed – 15-1/2500 sec. ISO Sensitivity – Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 equivalent Exposure Control Method – Program AE, Manual; AE Lock, Program Shift, Safety Shift, Auto ISO Shift White Balance Control – Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom 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 Shooting Modes – Auto, P, Av, Tv, M, Easy, Portrait, Landscape, Special Scene, Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Movie, Night Scene Storage Media – SD/SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus card, HC MMCplus card File Format – Still Image – Exif 2.2 (JPEG); Movie – AVI (Image data – Motion JPEG; Audio data – WAVE (Monaural)) Still Image – Up to 3,648 x 2,736 (Large), 3,648 x 2,048 (Widescreen); Movie – 640 x 480 (30 fps/30 fps LP), 320 x 240 (30 fps) available up to 4GB or 60 minutes per clip Power Source – Alkaline Battery AA x 2 Dimensions (WxHxD) – 4.35 x 2.77 x 1.76 in. Weight – Approx. 8.64 oz

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars A Great Camera for somone wanting a bit more than what the smaller point and shoots have to offer
I would like to start off by saying that I am not a very advanced photographer but I wanted to get a camera that offered more than what the compact point and shoots have to offer. The main feature about this camera (aside from the Canon name which I prefer) is the great optical zoom. I go to alot of sporting events and this camera is great for zooming in and getting clear shots of the action. I am usually sitting relatively far away in the stands but the zoom makes me feel right there. It also has alot of features that you can select from for a particular setting (ie sunset) or you can manually adjust the setting and focus to your liking. I think this is a good feature because right now I am not advanced and generally use the preset selections but if I learn more about photography I can still use this camera to make my own modifications. I like the fact that it takes AA batteries because if you run out of battery life, its easy to replace them on the go. One thing I want to point out, although not a major problem, is that the battery compartment is a bit hard to open. The picture quality is great and what I have come to expect from Canon. Overall, if you are looking for a moderatley small camera that offers the casual photographer great photo quality and gives you a great zoom with some extra features, this is the camera for you. Some people on here that rate cameras expect too much out of their point and shoot….its not an SLR so the photos in all situations are not perfect, but for its class it does a fine job. If you need every little detail to be perfect in any lighting condition, then go for the SLR.

3 Stars Good camera, but it lacks features
It is a good camera, as a powershot S1, S2, and S5 ex-user, I bought it because of its portability. I love the powershot S series ultra-zoom cameras, but now I want a smaller camera. But keep in mind, in this case, smaller the size, fewer the features. So this review is directed to S-series users that look for ultra-zoom portability.

First the good:

- Good image quality, IMHO. As I am not a professional, just an enthusiast, my amateur eyes tell me that the quality is almost the same of my previous S5, maybe a little more noisy.

- AA batteries: For me it is a must!

- Good battery life: Not as good as S series, as it uses only 2 AA, but It lasts two days of heavy using. in my last vacation, I took more than 1000 pictures, lots with flash, and changed the batteries maybe 4 times at most – Sony Cycle Energy 2000 mAh.

- Good optical image stabilization: same performance as S-series

- Manual control over shutter/apperture/ISO. A must!

- I-contrast: I realy think it works! The dark areas with bright background photos are better than the ones with S5.

- Automatic lens cover: No more manually covering the lens like on S-series.

Now the bad:

- No color accent!!!! Why Canon? As it is a software feature, why strip this useful feature (I think) from this camera? I loved it on my S5 and now it is gone. (Ok, I could do it with photoshop…)

- No color swap too – I did not use this one very much, so no big deal for me.

- No stich assist!!!!! Why again, Canon? No space left on the function dial? No space for more Digic4 code?

- No optical zoom with video… I am not a camera engineer, but it looks like a very difficult feature to fit on smaller cameras. As a user, I think: move the zoom lens, keep focusing and evaluating exposure – No big deal. It does not seem to be difficult, but, it may be, as a lot of pocket cameras lacks this feature. Sx120 has only digital zoom while recording videos (I hate the output quality of digital zoom), so I do not use it. For the record, you can use the optical zoom before starting the video recording, but it gets locked on this position until the video recording stops.

- No HD video: For me, it is no big deal, I like the 640×480 quality.

Bottom line: S-series users, it is a good camera, but I do not know why some good software features were stripped. I have accepted that it is the price for portability (it can fit on a large pocket), but as soon as a new AA-battery, compact, ultra zoom model with the SX120 lacking features comes around, I will sell this camera.

5 Stars Good for Amatuer and Advavced users. EZ Controls.
As a Good Amatuer who carried Japanese Analog Camera’s for 40 years,and now have tried 6 Digital camera’s,including Panasonic’s DMC-TZ5,I must say: “Wow!” Very simple to understand instructions , plus straight forward controls, and even the in “Auto” mode it produces XLNT results( very good brain input integration). But in the Creative modes of “Apeture and “Shutter Priority” you can do Professional work. The Nickel Hydride “AA” batteries and their large capacity, work very well in this Camera. All Camera’s I have seen/tried in this price range have some noise over 400 ISO. Sometimes I read reviews of those who have bought High Res. Camera’s, but have no way to view the better resolution result, because their Monitor is limited. Thus their disappointment in better and higher resolution camera purchases is a result of their reviewing source. This Camera will not disapppoint those “who know their stuff.” Amatuers will apprecate it’s “Brain.” Buy this Camera! A wonderful bargain in my opinion.

5 Stars Well worth the money!
This camera fit the bill perfectly for me. Fair price, ease of use and good picture and video quality. Image stabilization is awesome and the zoom is fantastic. Large LCD screen is also a plus.

5 Stars Great camera for the money
A super point and shoot camera. On a recent tour of RI Lighthouses I took many photos and I was completely satisfied with the results. Battery life is good if you get the latest in rechargeable batteries. To get the most out of this camera you need to read the instruction booklet that unfortunately did not come with the camera. You have to get it on line and if you want a copy you have to print it. All 141 pages. It took forever to print. This is the only negative I have about my purchase. Aside from Canon trying to save printing costs, I am quite happy with the camera.I do miss the viewfinder though.

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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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Canon PowerShot SX20IS 12 1MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2 5 inch Articulating LCD

Canon PowerShot SX20 12.1 Megapixel Digital Camera is an automatic point-&-shoot for those aiming for the best shots possible. With the classically stylish Canon PowerShot SX20 IS, you can produce magnificent HD movies and dazzling photos. Loaded with features, it’s got a high-powered 20x Wide-Angle Optical Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer, 12.1 Megapixels, a big 2.5-inch Vari-Angle LCD, Blink Detection and more. With a (35mm equivalent) focal length the 20x zoom lens spans from a 28mm wide-angle to 560mm telephoto. That just about covers any visual perspective you might need. This camera takes great stills and HD quality movies. Large 2.5-inch Vari-angle LCD enables easy viewing This AA battery powered camera enables you to easily power up Effective Pixels – Approx. 12.1 Megapixels Type – 1/2.3-inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD) Lens – Canon 20x optical zoom with Focal Length – 5.0 (W) – 100 (T) mm f/2.8-5.7 (35mm equivalent – 28-560mm) LCD Monitor – 2.5-inch TFT color Vari-Angle LCD with wide viewing angle Shutter Speed – 15-1/3,200 sec. ISO Sensitivity – Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 equivalent Exposure Control Method – Program AE, i-Contrast, Manual; AE Lock, Program Shift, Safety Shift, Auto ISO Shift White Balance Control – Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash), Custom 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 Shooting Modes – Auto, P, Av, Tv, M, C, Portrait, Landscape, Sports, Special Scene, Super Macro, Night Snapshot, Stitch Assist, Movie Storage Media – SD/SDHC Memory Card, MultiMediaCard, MMCplus Card, HC MMCplus Card File Format – Still Image – Exif 2.2 (JPEG); Movie – MOV (Image – H.264; Audio – Linear PCM (Monaural)) Still Image – Up to 4,000 x 3,000 (Large); Movi

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Annoying Lens Cap~ Great Camera
I am using this camera for college football. That means afternoon outside sport shooting. I have gotten great action shots. The video is easy enough.

I really like the adjustable viewfinder so I can shoot and watch the game. I have handed the camera off to 13 year olds and they are taking good pic’s.

I just changed batteries today,I have a couple hundred photo’s a handful of video. Changing out the batteries was awkward the fitting seemed off. The batteries lasted longer then I expected. I plan on doing the rechargeable route with 2 sets so I always have charged ones on hand. The lens cap is a huge hassle!! I would pay for a better lens cap. This one is cheap and doesnt fit well. It leaves the lens unprotected because it will pop off. I also would like a old fashioned type of camera bag that fits the camera. Other then the lame lens cap and bulky camera bag options this is a great camera for my use.

3 Stars Questions/Help!! This thing shakes and ticks.
Just bought this 3 weeks ago and on numerous occasions it makes ticking noises, shakes, vibrates, and other strange internal noises. Is anyone else having similar experiences with this camera?

4 Stars SX20IS Delivers – Almost
This is my first Canon product. Overall I am very pleased. I purchased early September 2009 just before a trip to the northwest including Victoria British Columbia. Comments from friends and family after seeing the pictures of whales, harbors, city lights, volcanic mountain peaks, and sunsets on the Oregon coast support the quality of the camera and the ability of an average photographer when coupled with a good camera. I do wish Canon would provide accessories to include U/V Clear Filter to offer basic lens protection, polarized filters to remove the sun reflection from my whale pictures (this would have doubled the quality of the pictures), and lens cap lanyard. Oh, a printed Users Guide sure would be nice. I ended up printing a dozen key pages from the installation disk to carry in the camera bag, a bulky alternative. I would buy the camera again.

5 Stars I love this camera~
I just received this camera a few days ago and I love it. It takes a while to figure out all the features, but once you get the hang of the settings you end up with some fantastic looking pictures. I mainly bought this for photographing my jewelry that I sell online, and it does an amazing job. I also enjoy taking nature photographs and so far this camera has delivered some terrific outdoor shots. I love the macro and super macro settings, they’re perfect for getting super-tight shots of my products. Everyone who has given this camera a bad review obviously didn’t take the time to tweak any of the settings. It takes a bit of patience to get the settings just right for your shot, and I am still learning all there is to know about this camera, but overall I am very happy with it. My only complaint is that the lens cap isn’t attached to the body of the camera and I have to put it in my pocket when I’m taking photos. I highly recommend this camera to anyone considering purchasing it.

4 Stars Camera Fun
I have a trip planned to the Holy Land and wanted a camera with good zoom. I believe this will handle my needs but can report more after this trip.

As of now, the only change I could suggest is some way to make a more sturdy lens cover or one that could be attached to some type cord. This may be the first thing I loose.

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