Canon G11 thoughts?

[brucec]

Does anyone here own one or a G10? What are your overall impressions?

I'm thinking of getting one, but was wondering if the picture quality has improved over the G10. I can't seem to find comparison shots on the web. As a Nikon shooter, I've always thought Canon had color fringing issues in their processing. Has this been corrected with the latest iteration?

 

[Tom_123]

I have a G10 and I use it quite more often than the DSLR.
As for the picture quality, it is comparable with other not too bad
P&S cameras, so nothing to write home about.

The reason I use the G10 a lot is that though it's quite compact and still EDC-able,
it feels and operates like a "real" camera and has all the useful features
for almost all photographic situations.
E.g. hot shoe, remote release, spot metering, just to mention a few.

I can live with the P&S like picture quality most of the time as well.
(how much quality do one need for an 800x600 pixel picture viewed in a browser window anyway?)

As for the G11, here's a G10 vs. G11 review:

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/g11.shtml

However, I think for a final judgement we have to wait for the review from dpreview.

I've always thought Canon had color fringing issues in their processing

Sure has, as well as any other P&S camera and even most of the affordable DSLR lenses.
It's always a trade of between size, costs and an useable zoom range.
Besides that my G10 has rather a red fringing instead the usual purple fringing
I don't think it is worse or more distinct than with other P&S cameras.

Regards
Thomas

 

[apontes]

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/g11.shtml

LOL. You beat me to that link. I read that just yesterday, and forwarded to a couple of friends too.

I too shoot Nikon (DSLR), because I like the ergonomics. Their P&S have been inferior for some time now.

One of the things I like about some Canon cameras is the flip-and-twist LCD. Its is invaluable for some kind of shots, specially involving kids.

 

[UnknownVT]

Does anyone here own one or a G10? What are your overall impressions?
I'm thinking of getting one, but was wondering if the picture quality has improved over the G10.

I don't have the G11 - but I have used the G10 extensively - like the other poster I use the G10 far more than my dSLR - it is my camera of choice my EDC - and I take seriously a lot of photos - since I got the G10 (mid June/2009) I am on shot count #11,617 - yes the counter has rolled over once already. You can see the results in the top link in my sig any photo post June/16/2009 will be (mostly) on the G10 (I do also use my dSLR - those are going to be in 3:2 format whereas G10 is 4:3)

I like the looks of the G11 - especially the improvements of lower noise at higher ISO - which is important for my work. It looks like about a 2 stop improvement over the G10 that means I can use ISO1600 with confidence and ISO3200 at a pinch - which is what I regard ISO800 on the G10 and I end up using that more than just a "pinch" (eg: my second and fourth photos are at ISO800 - the photos have EXIF info)

There are now G11 sample images up on Imaging-Resource.com -
I tend to just download the Studio and Low Light shots for comparison - they have their Comparometer(tm) where you can just compare on-line - but they do not include the low light samples.

Hope that helps.

 

[Blindasabat]

From what I can gather from users I have heard from and side by side sample comparison pictures posted, the G11 has better high ISO noise control. At low ISO in good conditions the G10 resolution will help if you need it to print poster size. The G11 adds the flip-fold LCD the G10 lacks, has the newer Digic4 processor, a faster flash sychro speed and a few other small improvements.
I'd get the G11 myself because I like no-flash low light pictures and have a S3 IS with the flip-fold screen that I use a lot.

 

[brucec]

Thanks for those links. I'm not sure which looks better to me from the noise perspective. The G10 looks like black and white graininess and the G11 has some kind of colorful digital camo-esque type of noise. I've also been looking at the new Canon S90, which has the same sensor as the G11 but with a f2.0 lens as well as a programmable ring around the lens.

 

[UnknownVT]

I've also been looking at the new Canon S90, which has the same sensor as the G11 but with a f2.0 lens as well as a programmable ring around the lens.

The S90 is a very nice camera since it is based on the same sensor/Dig!c4 technology as the G11.
I used to use its predecessors the S80 and S70.
It does not have an optical viewfinder, which is a deal breaker for me -
otherwise it'd go right to the top of my list.

 

[UnknownVT]

Thanks for those links. I'm not sure which looks better to me from the noise perspective. The G10 looks like black and white graininess and the G11 has some kind of colorful digital camo-esque type of noise.

??

 

[nekomane]

snip
I've also been looking at the new Canon S90, which has the same sensor as the G11 but with a f2.0 lens as well as a programmable ring around the lens.

I got the S90 and like it very much so far.

It has replaced the G7 I carried when not wanting to lug around the DSLRs.
The G7 was too big for pocket carry, and pulling it out of the backpack usually took too long for those 'spontaneous' moments.

The S90 produces one of the cleanest high ISO images I have seen from a small sensor P&S (though as in other P&Ss, the noise reduction will blur out some detail). The images from the G11 should be similar.

If you don't need the optical finder, hot shoe and some of the dials found on the G11, and you want something pocketable, the S90 is amazing.

ISO1600, F2.0, 1/400, WB Tungsten

 

[fiveform]

I've owned the G10 for about 6 months and use it frequently. Until I just saw the posted comparisons at 1600 ISO between the G10 and G11 I was about to say, "get the G10," but for the improved noise reduction, alone, it would appear that the G11 is "better."

All P&S digitals suffer from noise issues at higher ISO's compared to SLR's due to the big difference in image sensor size. The larger the photosites on the imager (allowed on the larger imaging surface) the less high ISO noise. I've resorted to using my G10 at no higher than 400 ISO and more often just shoot at 100 ISO, relying on my steady hand and the image stabilization in the camera.

However, there is some very good noise reduction, post processing, software out there, like Noise Ninja and Neat Image, which perform the same operations, with more control, outside of the camera that is done in the camera on models such as the G11. The usual result of in-camera noise reduction is a softening of the image, so a bit more sharpening is needed when this is done. Really this all boils down to a personal preference for the camera, itself, how it behaves, and the desired output.

As for the flippy screen, I don't care for them - one more thing to break in time, and smaller in size than the fixed LCD.