Canon PowerShot G11 Field Report: Introduction, ISO and Image Samples

I’ve always been a reluctant fan of the G Series from Canon. I can’t help but to admire their tank-like build and pro sensibilities, but the paradox of having such big camera (for a compact) with such a small sensor has always been confounding to me. I’m still confounded with the latest entry, the Powershot G11, but I’m enjoying it too much to really care.

Availability

The Canon PowerShot G11 is available and in stock now at B&H Photo. You can get great prices, service, and selection and support this site at the same time by shopping at B&H Photo through the links below. Thanks for your continuing support!

Canon PowerShot G11 Digital Camera Price: $ 449.95 at B&H Photo and FREE SHIPPING

Notes

Now, I mentioned the G11 is big, and by big I mean the G11 isn’t going in a shirt pocket, and would likely be uncomfortable in regular pants pockets. Instead, the G11 probably works best in cargo pants pockets, or a jacket pocket. It’s not a light camera, it’s got some heft to it, but for real enthusiasts, semi-pros and professionals, it will feel balanced and familiar. Build quality is high for a compact, and ergonomics aren’t too bad at all. There’s a nice grip area up front, and button placement forms a spot for the thumb to rest on the rear. On the top deck are dials for ISO, exposure compensation, shooting mode dial, the on/off switch, and the lens zoom lever. It sounds crowded, but it isn’t, and it makes for easy camera adjustments out in the field.

The G11 has a flip out 2.8 inch, 461K LCD that works great, seems sturdy, and offers pretty good clarity outside. It helps out in unusual compositions, as well as with tripod work, when the tripod is too high or to low to get a good viewing angle. In addition to the LCD, the G11 also has a viewfinder, but it’s incredibly small, and sort of like looking out an airplane window from across the aisle.

Image quality has been impressive so far. Like the S90, the G11 has a 10 megapixel 1/1.7″ CCD sensor. This marks a rare time when a successor offers less resolution than its predecessor, but the bump down from 14 megapixels to 10 appears to be a wise move. Canon claims that the sensor change was to satisfy photographer’s desires for cleaner images and improved low light performance, and the G11 delivers. It’s a rare thing to be comfortable using ISO 800 on a compact, but that’s the way it is with the G11. ISO settings extend to 3200 (even further in a lower resolution low-light mode) but after ISO 1600, I’d be very hesitant to use anything close to full size. Resolution is pretty good, but like all compacts, the G11 struggles to fully resolve very fine details.

We’ll have more in an upcoming review, but for the curious, I’m finding zero differences between the S90 and G11 in the IQ dept. The difference boils down to usage and form factor. Out in the field, in front of a waterfall, the G11 would be my choice, it’s easier to set up, and use in that type of context. For everyday use, the S90 offers all the IQ of the G11, but in a much more convenient size. It’s a lot easier to put an S90 in your pocket than the G11, but a good many photographers are still going to feel more at home with the G11.

ISO Samples

Use the image below to familiarize yourself with the crop locations. Shot at f/7.1. Click each thumbnail for a full size view of each crop. The un-edited images can be found here

Crop 1

ISO 100	ISO 200
ISO 400	ISO 800
ISO 1600	ISO 3200

Crop 2

ISO 100	ISO 200
ISO 400	ISO 800
ISO 1600	ISO 3200

Image Samples

Click each thumbnail for a larger view. The unedited originals are found here.

Similar Posts:

• Canon PowerShot S90 Field Report: Introduction, ISO a…
• Canon PowerShot S90 Review at DCResource
• Canon PowerShot S90 Review at Gizmodo: “It’ll Never L…
• Canon PowerShot S90 Review at Wired: “Best Compact Ev…
• Panasonic Lumix FZ35 Field Report: Introduction, ISO …