Canon PowerShot G5

...comparison to my use of Canon film SLRs. The lost time to acquire a decent focusing lock with the selectable multipoint system does delay a shot by at least a second or two, which could lose a shot. However, for most clicking this is acceptable and well within the boundaries set by its competition. This camera does not excel or really put itself beyond the competition, but it does cope admirably.

The 4x optical zoom + 4x digital zoom ...
.../> ~~~~~~Internals~~~~~~
The sensor canon use is their trusty, tried and true 1/1.8in CCD with a maximum 5.24-megapixel effective output, which gives a maximum image resolution of 2,592 x 1,944 pixels. This basically means that each image taken can have more detail, and more discrete pixels, to better approximate the continous nature of light and the world it is trying to mimmick. Therefore, the more the number of pixels, the better the digital ... more

~~~~~~Intro~~~~~~
Although I actually got a EOS300D or Digital Rebel body as a digital camera, I looked around before deciding. Now I have some time, I have decided to do the first of a roundup going through my thoughts on each of the cameras I considered. The only problem I have is finding a way of benchmarking the cameras, and sadly these reviews are going to be rather more based on personal opinion. Hopefully by reading my opinion, and then actually trying out the cameras yourself (Jessops are very nice and useful for this) you will be able to make a better decision that suits your needs.

This camera at first seems quite a good point and click camera with more flexibility for the more industrious camera user. Let's see how it really is.

~~~~~~Design~~~~~~
The key difference between this and its predecessors is the paint job in terms of design. Most of the camera is identical, in all other respects, especially the big blocky and clumpy design. It is simple, and workman-like. It is a camera that shouts - I can get the job done without being all scratched up and falling apart!

To help this image, it also t feels reassuringly comfortable and a really meaty camera. I sort of like that, although most people are now going for the small and slinky approach. But yes, in comparison to other cameras this might be a bit heavy and tiresome to use for extended periods, and it does fill a bit too plastic-like. Although the grip feels better, it is still not as good as the one on the nikon coolpix 5400. But it is enough.

~~~~~~AIM of camera~~~~~~
I was told at the store that the cameras I was looking at were called 'prosumer', and the G5 is no exception. It's specifications of 5 megapixels, 4x optical zoom (140mm equivalent), advanced features, Digic processor, and some other jargon things make this a top notch performer. Not only can the G5 handle relatively advanced photographers and keep them happy, but it is perfect for good point and click users too. This has to be one of the most important features of the camera - that it can deliver great performance so easily with no tweaking. This might be expected more than ever nowadays, but it is still good that a camera can deliver.

~~~~~~Focusing+zoom~~~~~~
Autofocus is probably the most important feature of a point and click prosumer camera. We want our images and subjects to be focused correctly so we can see them! There is no point taking a 5MP pixel of a lamp-post rather than a friend (well, it might depend in some cases). For this camera, autofocus is too easily confused by moving subjects probably in comparison to my use of Canon film SLRs. The lost time to acquire a decent focusing lock with the selectable multipoint system does delay a shot by at least a second or two, which could lose a shot. However, for most clicking this is acceptable and well within the boundaries set by its competition. This camera does not excel or really put itself beyond the competition, but it does cope admirably.

The 4x optical zoom + 4x digital zoom is probably adequate for most people too which gives an optical zoom range equivalent to 35-140mm on a 35mm camera. The macro mode is nice and flexible too, allowing close-ups down to 5cm according to the settings. All in all, the cannon is more than adequate, with a lens that really does respond quite quickly, but it does help to have a well lit scene and subject. This is not the camera for quick snaps of fast paced things though. Long startup times don't help contribute to a sense that this camera will be the always ready type.

~~~~~~Internals~~~~~~
The sensor canon use is their trusty, tried and true 1/1.8in CCD with a maximum 5.24-megapixel effective output, which gives a maximum image resolution of 2,592 x 1,944 pixels. This basically means that each image taken can have more detail, and more discrete pixels, to better approximate the continous nature of light and the world it is trying to mimmick. Therefore, the more the number of pixels, the better the digital approximation of the real world is. However, the increase from 4 to 5 MP is only 25% extra which is not worth an upgrade on its own.

The camera's powerful processor allow dRAW file output as well as JPEG, and on the fly conversion between formats. The Type I/II CompactFlash card slot can take normal memory cards as well as larger microdrives from IBM so it should be very easy to shoot tons of pictures and store them. The Compact flash interface seems to be as fast as with previous cameras since continuous shooting rates have decreased due to extra size - so no performance gains there.

The beauty of the extra processing power seems to culminate in the ability to capture 12-bit RAW files thus preserving even more of the absolute image data captured by the sensor for later processing. Most applications downsample to 8-bit detail levels, but at least now better results can still be achieved through higher detail. So the benefits really entail more pixels to capture detail, and a more accurate colour detail.

~~~~~~LCD+viewing+ergonomics~~~~~~
Images are viewed and reviewed on the rear 1.8in LCD. Like the G3 this is a fold-out and swivel unit, with the bonus that it sits flush with the body rather than obtruding - i.e. irritating your hand, or being vulnerable to knocks. The only problem with the viewfinder is that it does chop a fair bit of the image off (84% which is quite poor) so you can't perfectly frame your pictures with it. Still, shots at any odd angle seem easy despite the bulk.

One quick thing to mention is that the LCD is nice and bright and clear - although the reflective layer is not always perfect. Also, it is better than the viewfinder giving 100% image representation.

Oh, and before I forget, the tripod connection is not centered with the lens either which shouldn't pose too many problems - but at least it allows easy access to the base of the camera (if you want to change battery for instance during a long time lapse situation).

~~~~~~Control~~~~~~
White-balance options available cover the usual various shooting situations (fluorescent light, incandescent, sunshine, outdoors cloudy etc.), and the Photo Effects menu offers a means to manipulate images in-camera! It's that Digic processor working its magic again. Other controls include saturation, contrast and sharpening adjustments. For those with an artistic streak, there are sepia and black-and-white modes, I personally find that I want a fully detailed image from the camera and then process it afterwards with a good original. I DO not want to regret taking a nice snap in an artsy mode just to find it useless afterwards.

Exposure modes fortunately include everything from full auto down to full manual. These modes can also be combined/improved with spot focusing, centre-weighted or evaluative metering. Just in case the auto-exposure system makes an error, Canon's next piece of jargon, iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) system, can help correct minor failures. This is an internal statistical database of several thousand scenarios, against which the current view is compared. The camera can then choose the best mode in the database that mimicks the situation and replicates the settings that are known to work well. This prevents it from getting confused even more and using a combination of settings that ruin a picture.

The control of focus and zoom however does leave a bit to be desired. The step method of manual focus (12 steps only) is not particularly exact as with a lens ring, but there are assists available with a distance scale and view magnifier. The zoom control also feels just lumpy. I don't know how to put it better, but it just feels inexact and I could not get it to work that smoothly or as exactly as I had wanted.

~~~~~~Performance~~~~~~
The few test shots I did were all very well exposed and overall quality definitely met expectations. This is a good quality camera. It's performance is also helped by the low power consumption and good battery which keeps it going. All canons have good battery life, and this one is no exception.

The flash was a bit weedy to say the least though which is hardly surprising given its small size (a shared feature with the DSC-V1) and as a result good exposure almost exponentially decreases with distance. It is enough though to overcome some shady situations. Despite this, there is a flash hotshoe to overcome these problems which should also reduce the colour distortions which the inbuilt flash can produce (wood on a counter had a slight pinkish edge glow), although generally the canon's whites and colours did appeal to me (in comparison to the sony DSC-V1).

However, with background movement there were instances where it would get blurry, and this is a shame becuase when you increase the ISO level noise can increase quite dramatically if the subject is not well lit. Looking at the images on the CRT I quickly decided that this camera was NOT what I was personally looking for. Also, when placed next to a test picture on the card which had been tagged by a coolpix 5400 at the same ISO400 the coolpix won hands down.

Yes, the fast lens should reduce the problems and allow you to use the very good ISO 50 mode, but sorry, it;s still not good enough.

~~~~~~Conclusion~~~~~~
When I first started this review I had a very positive image of this camera in my mind. However, going through all the points I noted down about it, I remembered why I rejected it. At this camera level, the Sony DSC-V1 just offered the same amount of performance, less noise all in a more compact body for much less. This is one reason why I can't recommend the G5 to others. However, this camera does feel as if it could go through a lot more punishment than the Sony.

Furthermore, performance is still very good regardless given all it's cunning hardware, but again I remember the price difference and it fails again. Canon with this camera were only looking to keep it up with the next best thing from their competitors and hence it reflects more of an evolution, not a revolution. The extra resolution of 1MP from the G3 makes it a kicker product that is not worthwhile in itself. Still, it does show how strong the G line is becuase it can keep up despite being relatively unchanged since the G2.

This camera does have amazing performance actually in well lit indoor environments, or static outdoor scenes. However, someone walking in the background whilst I took a shot seriously confused the autofocus and with the shadows noise was sometimes too obvious on the computer monitor.

The more compact canon powershot s500 or Sony DSC-1V are far more tempting at this level, especially since the Sony white balance problems can be overcome manually. If you want something really good, go for the EOS 300D. However, if you did really like the G2 or G3, and you did not buy, this is a worthy successor to the line that you should consider - but the G3 is cheaper and has less noise - so that might be an interesting option if you can find one.  

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