Canon G11 - Impressions

[Michael Slade]

Well, I couldn't wait 'till tomorrow, so I snuck downtown today and picked up my Canon G11 from Pictureline. I quickly unwrapped it and ran through the controls and found everything in it's place and very familiar to users of the G10 or several other Canon Powershot cameras.

The menu was a snap to set up, after having done it countless times for my students over the past few months. One thing that I didn't read in the literature was an ND option. It looks like about a 2-3 stop ND filter get put in front of the lens. I'm not sure how it works yet, but it looks pretty snazzy in practice.

The controls I have to admit do have a little bit of that 'plastic-y' feeling, I guess I was expecting the same robustness as my Nikon F, and was slightly dissapointed. The top controls are sound and feel 'real', but the back controls could have used the same treatment IMO.

I came home as fast as I could to put in a CF card and do some shooting, but alas...when I went to put in the CF card I realized that it took SD cards. I must be some kind of idiot because I left my Powershot SX110 which *does* have an SD card in it at school. None of my other cameras (all Nikon's) use SD cards, so I am stuck just staring at the camera tonight and can do nothing else with it other than watching the clock tick by.

FAIL.

 

[mountainpete]

Ouch. That's like a 15 year old waiting for his licence.

Love to see some test pics once you've got a card in her.

Pete

 

[mtnbike28]

Nd

I love the ND filter, I really wish my 5D had the option! I use it so much I set it as my user defined button.

 

[nwoods]

None of my other cameras (all Nikon's) use SD cards, so I am stuck just staring at the camera tonight and can do nothing else with it other than watching the clock tick by.

FAIL.

LOL. I look forward to your Second thoughts.

 

[Redline]

G11 vs G10

Are the controls are the same or very similar to the G10?

I was going to get a G10 and hand the G9 to my wife, guess it will be a G11 now. Is the sensor larger?

 

[Every Miles A Memory]

Really interested to hear your review of this as I'd like to get one as a walk around camera and back up to my DSLR's

 

[Michael Slade]

Really interested to hear your review of this as I'd like to get one as a walk around camera and back up to my DSLR's

I'll get it out tomorrow and start shooting at school. I will run it through the ISO range and post a bunch of RAW files to my server. I'll set up the folder here:

http://www.tawayama.com/G11/

You will be able to download the RAW files for your own consumption and information. I will retain all copyright but you guys can probably learn a lot from them.

I'm curious to see what LightRoom will do with them.

 

[mtnbike28]

That is dangerous...

Really interested to hear your review of this as I'd like to get one as a walk around camera and back up to my DSLR's

Pat,

I did the same thing when I got my G7 (still have it and use it all the time) but it is my walk around camera. I leave a 5D MkII and 1D MkIII in the truck everytime... it's only later when I wish I had used the "better" camera.

Michael, Thanks for doing this for us, The G11 high iso sounds promising!

 

[Michael Slade]

Ok so today is my really busy day teaching, but I know that there are a lot of you probably chomping at the bit to see these files. I just set up the camera in my digital lab, set it on a tripod and went through the ISO settings. First time with the WB on auto, second time with the WB on auto and the ND filter on. Third time, custom WB (set on the scene, not on a plain sheet of white...it did pretty good I think...), ND filter off.

I haven't even looked at these other than the LCD screen, so you guys will get to play with my files before I do.

Anyway, I will be shooting throughout the day and just dumping to my server. Give this current upload a few minutes to finish (started at 9:20 MST).

Feel free to post, share, comment, whatever. Oh, you can also rip me apart for my careless compositional skillz.

Anyway, it's here and it's pretty sweet. I wish the shutter speeds and aperture were the knobs on top and the ISO button was a menu function. Other than that I'm pleased so far.

:victory:

 

[nwoods]

Odd. I have Photoshop CS3 (and Bridge CS3), but it could not open the G11's .CR2 file extension.

EDIT: I think I need to update: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html

Edit 2: Nope, it seems that I need to give Adobe a few hundred more bucks to upgrade to CS4 to be able to read images from the G11 and/or 5DmkII. What a crock!
http://blogs.adobe.com/lightroomjournal/2008/10/camera_raw_46_and_dng_converte_2.html

 

[Michael Slade]

Odd. I have Photoshop CS3 (and Bridge CS3), but it could not open the G11's .CR2 file extension.

EDIT: I think I need to update: http://www.adobe.com/products/photoshop/cameraraw.html

Yeah, that is weird. I am using the latest version of Lightroom. I have a particular aversion to Bridge, so I dunno. Let me try it...

 

[mountainpete]

Apple Aperture doesn't like that raw format yet. No update in sight either.

Pete

 

[Michael Slade]

So I'm shooting this commercial job for JKS and I thought, what the heck, I'll try the G11 for a few shots.

I figured out that the ND filter is perfect for reducing the sensitivity of the chip so that I can shoot it on my studio set. Right now I'm at f22 with my Nikon DSLR and I'm at f8 with the Canon G11. The ND filter allows me to not have to mess with the lights at all and I can drop it right into the tripod mount and shoot with the pocket wizards just like I would the bigger Nikon.

Interestingly enough, I can actually get more DOF at f8 with the G11 than I can with the bigger Nikon at f22.

I am excited to look at the G11 images next to the D2x images and see how it does.

The focusing knob still has me a bit confused. With the SX110 the focusing ring is nice and smooth and 'clicky'. With the G11 the focusing ring is not clicky, more 'ratchety' and doesn't have the same feeling that the ring is actually being turned. I am learning I have to be a tad more careful with the G11 ring b/c it controls more stuff than the SX110.

So far I still like the camera a lot, but there are some controls I'll have to get used to.

BTW, a lot of people online are bagging on the flip-screen. For me, I think it's totally awesome. One thing I don't like though is the rangefinder viewer doesn't zoom when the lens does. I guess that's a whole 'nother huge technical issue.

I'd post some studio shots, but my client wouldn't like it if you guys saw the product before he did. :drool:

I have another series of RAW files from outside today that show off dynamic range and focusing. I shot a series in the darkroom of my Seniors doing some platinum printing, but they were shot at high ISO and I'm still not convinced that this camera is any better than the G10 up high.

FWIW I can see a firmware update pretty dang soon from Canon with this camera. Just small stuff, but stuff that could be helped with a liberal dose of software pixie-dust.

 

[Photog]

Michael,
Thanks for the progressing updates.

I just picked up my G11 yesterday. It is sweet.

I tried a few shots at 1600 ISO, and they had much less noise than the previous (G9 & G10) sensors. 10 good Megapixels is much nicer than the 12 & 14 noisy Megapixels.

Canon even includes this particular camera in the EOS marketing books.

There are a lot of bells & whistles for the more "Point & Shoot" users too. Face detection and target tracking, etc, etc......

The RAW files can be opened in Canon's Photo Pro software ( CPP ). It is free!

:lurk::lurk:

 

[Michael Slade]

I ditched all of my original CR2 files in that directory on my server and replaced it with all new images. I have had some time now to play and get a wider variety than just a test in a classroom.

Tell me if you still want me to upload...I figure if you're half-way serious about the camera you'd have probably bought one by now.