Canon PowerShot G11 10MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Stabilized Zoom and 2 8 inch articulating LCD
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.
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars I like it a lot
I’d wanted a Canon G series since the G9, and my wife finally let me buy one. I’m still learning how to use it, but all and all I am happy with this camera. I was expecting a metal body since the G9 and 10 both had it. I was initially dissapointed with this point, but the lighter weight of the G11 makes it easier for my wife to use.
I have worked as a newspaper photographer and currently work in the photo industry managing fan photographers at sporting events… I see a lot of cameras.
The interface is great, easy to use. I really like the size and the LCD. I am wary of the picture quality. The images look great on the back of the camera, but in the computer they have a “processed” look to them. I am still learning how this camera works though. I’ve read that the best quality is is had at ISO 200 or less.
Manual control is great, but what I love is that the camera is smart enough that all I have to do is use Program mode and adjust the exposure compensation depending on the conditions. It’s really that easy.
5 Stars Excellent, but not for auto only users.
This camera can provide excellent results but you have to be willing to go beyond the “auto” only mode. This is not your typical point and shoot camera; it’s a serious camera with awesome potential. What I love about it are the old school dials and manual controls, rugged, solid build and articulating screen which makes it so much easier to frame low shots.
I’m using a Lensmate lens adaptor which allows the use of add-on lenses and 72mm filters. With this adaptor the filter can be left on all the time with no vignetting or lens interference. This is important to know for those thinking of buying this camera for those reasons. The downside to adding this adaptor is flash interference at wide angle shots, partially blocks the focus assist beam and it renders the viewfinder completely useless.
5 Stars Canon PowerShot G11
Our previous camera was a Canon G2, with use of a PowerShot A570IS this past summer for underwater photography. Our experience with the G11 has been limited so far, but from what we have seen up until now, this camera is a real top of the line piece of equipment. It offers everything from fully automatic to fully manual, a wide range of pre-programmed profiles, and the ability to create and save your own profiles.
I have only one minor comment. While the instruction manual covers the function of each of the buttons, a manual (in the form of a PDF-document on the cd) going into more detail about the various profiles and what you might expect to encounter under the different circumstances would be a big help.
4 Stars Not as good of build quality as G7, but great images quality.
I moved from a G7 to G11, mainly because of RAW format, wider angle and better low light performance. It does deliver on all those items plus a much better AWB and lots of new features. The overall image quality is excellent.
But the construction is flimsy. I loved the solid feel of G7 and this one feels a bit more plastic. The turn wheel in the back feels specially weak.
Another short coming of this camera is lack of HD video.
5 Stars Canon G11 vs. Canon S90: A Matter of Personal Preference
Canon G11 vs. Canon S90: A Matter of Personal Preference (I’m posting a very similar review under both the S90 and the G11.)
I’ve been trying to find a ‘carry everywhere’ camera to always keep on my person so that I don’t miss the amazing things that make up the events of everyday life (like tomorrow when I actually get to get off the R train at Cortland Street in Manhattan, something I haven’t been able to do for years due to construction). I wanted something that was (1) Small and (2) Had the ability for full manual controls for shutter speed and aperture. The two cameras that fit this bill very well were Canon’s S90 and G11 – Canon’s top of the line point and shoots in their respective series (S and G). But which one?
The two major things that the cameras have in common (in addition to the above mentioned manual controls) are:
1. The same image sensor (same size, etc)
2. The same image processor
Anyone who’s written a comparison of the cameras will point this out quickly – because normally ‘which camera’ would come down to these one of these two issues. In addition to these things, there are dozens of other features that both cameras share: this makes it very difficult to decide “which camera?” Having owned both of them (but ultimately deciding to go with the G11 and returning the S90) I would like to make a short list of positive/negatives which I think could be deciding factors when trying to choose between these two excellent cameras. Instead of listing both positive and negative points by each camera, I’ll simply point out the positives of each that the other model does not share – I hope that this is helpful in your decision!
G11: Advantages
- Hot shoe: but on a compact? Some people will say “it’s pointless to use an external flash on a compact camera – the whole point is to be compact!” That’s a valid critique, but at the same time there are times when it’s nice to be able to throw a flash on a compact if you really need one. I own the 430EX and the 580EX II (both compatible) but I picked up the newish 270EX with the G11 and it works fantastically with the camera without adding a lot of weight. Both the camera and the flash fit perfectly into the Pelican 1060 case side by side but with enough room to stay padded with the foam insert. And hey – if I want to throw the nearly-twice-as-big-as-the-camera-itself 580EX II on the G11 I can do it! Yet I can also do without it – the camera is versatile this way in a way that the S90 is not.
- Vari-Angle LCD: which at first I found annoying. The screen adds just enough bulk to the camera that it does not fit in smaller cases which it otherwise would. When I first got the camera I was really rather annoyed by it in fact – not only because of the bulk but because it is actually smaller than the LCD on the S90. I had to read another review to realize that it was a much better thing than I realized – because it allows you to hold the camera at all sorts of different levels and angles while still allowing you to see what you’re shooting. I really enjoy doing photography with the camera low to the ground (I have an angled viewfinder for my DSLR) and so this works perfectly for what I need. As others have pointed out, the Vari-Angledness of the LCD allows you to flip it while in storage so that it’s even more protected.
- Remote Shutter Release: you can use one! I love doing night photography and that the G11 allows me to use a cable release really seals the deal on the S90 vs. G11 for me personally (granted on the S90 you can always use the 2 second self-timer). Good news too if you use a Canon Rebel DSLR – it’s the same cable release.
S90: Advantages
- Very compact: quite a bit smaller than the G11, it would easily fit in pockets and cases that the G11 never could. If you’re into Pelican cases like I am, you can fit the S90 in the Pelican Micro Case 1010 with room to spare.
- More efficient controls: the ring around the lens is amazing and an excellent idea. Especially when in manual mode, this makes setting aperture and shutter speed a snap (it’s more awkward on the G11 – you have to use the small back dial and then toggle between aperture and shutter speed with a separate button which can get to be messy when you’re trying to shoot quickly).
- The f2.0 lens: a full stop faster than the G11′s 2.8 lens. This is a LOT of light, and especially important when you want to take photos in low-light situations (note though that the lens on the S90 doesn’t zoom in far as the G11 if that’s important to you – both lenses are the same focal length when zoomed out).
Both the G11 and the S90 are beautiful, well made cameras that will serve any photographer well when you’re looking for something that’s not DSLR sized.
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