Canon Powershot G2 Review

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Canon PowerShot G2

First Look posted 8/16/01
Full review posted 8/23/01


Click to take a QuickTime VR tour of the Canon PowerShot G2
Click to take a QTVR tour of the G2


The PowerShot G2 is Canon's first 4-megapixel digital camera model. The Canon PowerShot G2 Kit will be available through authorized Canon dealers in September. The G2 is based on the popular PowerShot G1, with an elegant champagne metallic coverplate and an enlarged handgrip for better ergonomics. The G2 has many features in common with its predecessor, including a sharp 7-21mm f/2.0-2.5 zoom lens (34-102mm in 35mm format), a Vari-Angle LCD viewfinder/monitor, a conventional camera body design, a high-speed plug-and-play USB interface, compatibility with Canon EX-series Speedlite flash units, and compatibility with Type I and II CompactFlash memory cards, including IBM's Microdrives.

New or improved functions over the G1 includes: higher resolution, better image quality, faster signal processing, lower power consumption, more focusing points, improved manual focusing, faster continuous shooting, more shooting modes and metering patterns, additional playback options and accessory compatibility, and direct print capabilities with the Canon CP-10 printer. With all these improvements the new G2 enters the market at the same suggested list price as the G1 last October.

The 4.0 megapixel CCD sensor produces full-color, high-resolution images up to 2272 x 1704 pixels with additional settings for 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768 and 640 x 480. The normal continuous shooting mode captures images at 1.5 frames per second for up to 9 frames in Large/Fine mode. The new High-Speed Continuous mode captures at 2.5 frames per second for up to 5 frames in Large/Fine mode. The Movie mode has been improved to provide not just one but two resolution modes with sound: QVGA (320x240), and Q2VGA (160x120). The maximum recording duration is 30 seconds in QVGA and two full minutes with Q2VGA.

For maximum flexibility, the Canon PowerShot G2 provides users with a selection of 13 image quality settings including 3 JPEG compression modes (Superfine, Fine and Normal) at any resolution. It also features Canon's exclusive RAW mode for maximum control over image attributes such as white balance, contrast, sharpness, saturation and bit depth without image-degrading artifacts. By combining the G2's RAW file capabilities with its optional ISO 50 sensitivity setting, users can achieve higher image quality than any competitive model on the market today.

Because of improvements in the camera's image processing circuitry, the Canon PowerShot G2 completes most camera operations at least twice as fast as the G1. The faster processing speed makes the G2 feel quicker and more intuitive. At the same time, power consumption has been cut nearly in half, allowing the G2 to run as long as 5 hours in playback mode on a single battery charge.

The G2 provides a wide range of exposure modes between its Image Zone and the Creative Zone. Image Zone modes are fully automatic, and intended to optimize camera settings according to the scene. Selections include Full Auto, Pan Focus, Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Color Effect, Stitch Assist, and Movie. The Color Effect mode is new, and allows users to choose between Vivid, Neutral, Sepia or Black and White. Creative Zone modes offer more control and include Program AE, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority and Manual. Program AE has been improved with the addition of Program Shift.


PowerShot G2 Features:

  • 4-megapixel CCD with RGB primary color filters
  • Image sizes of 2272x1704, 1600x1200, 1024x768 and 640x480
  • 13 image quality settings including 3 JPEG compression modes (Superfine, Fine and Normal) at any resolution
  • JPEG compressed and Canon raw image format
  • Canon 3x optical f/2.0-2.5 zoom lens (34-102mm in 35mm format)
  • 1.8-inch Vari-Angle color LCD viewfinder/monitor
  • ISO 50, 100, 200 or 400
  • Shutter speeds from 15 secs to 1/1000
  • Noise reduction for 1.3 sec or longer time exposures
  • Program AE (with Program Shift), Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority and Manual.
  • Image Zone modes: Auto, Pan Focus, Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Color Effect, Stitch Assist, and Movie.
  • Movie mode with sound: QVGA (320x240 up to 30 sec), and Q2VGA (160x120 up to 120 sec).
  • Three types of Metering: Center-Weighted Average, Spot, and Evaluative
  • Manual focus with numerical scale on the LCD and the portion of the image covered by the active focusing point is digitally enlarged while focusing.
  • Three-point autofocus system to ensure perfectly focused images even when shooting off-center subjects
  • AF assist focusing illuminator for dim to dark environments
  • User-selectable exposure compensation, flash exposure compensation, auto exposure bracketing and white balance
  • Playback histogram function with over-exposure warning
  • CompactFlash Type II slot compatible with Microdrives
  • Canon BP-511 lithium rechargeable battery pack
  • Hot Shoe flash for Canon Speedlites
  • Direct print to Canon CP-10 Card Printer
  • Optional wide angle, telephoto and closeup lens converters


Software Bundle

The Canon PowerShot G2 comes with Adobe PhotoShop 5.0 LE and Apple QuickTime 5.0, ZoomBrowser EX 2.8 (for PC) and ImageBrowser 1.8 (for Mac); PhotoRecord 1.2.4 (Windows only); PhotoStitch 3.1.3 (Windows) and PhotoStitch 3.1.2 (Mac) and RAW Image Converter 1.1. RemoteCapture 2.0 enables a USB-connected Canon G2 camera to be controlled by a compatible personal computer. Many camera settings such as focal length, resolution, compression, flash mode, etc., can be adjusted from compatible personal computers and the images can be recorded directly to the PC. In addition to all of these software applications, the G2 is supplied with plug-in modules and TWAIN drivers as well as a WIA driver for Windows Me and a USB Mounter for Mac OS 9.0 and 91. The WIA driver and USB mounter allow a compatible PC to mount the camera as a hard drive on the desktop and display thumbnails to facilitate simplified image data transfers.

Click here to see the ZoomBrowser and Remote Capture software.



Physical Views



Canon PowerShot G2

Canon PowerShot G2

Canon PowerShot G2

Canon PowerShot G2

Canon PowerShot G2 Canon PowerShot G2

Canon PowerShot G2






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Canon PowerShot G2 Specifications

Image Capture Device

Type 1/1.8-inch Charge-Coupled Device (CCD)
Total Pixels Approx. 4.13 million

Lens

Focal Length 7 - 21mm (35mm film equivalent: 34 - 102mm)
Focusing Range
(measured from front lens)		 Normal AF: 70cm (2.3 ft.) - infinity
Macro AF: 6cm (0.2 ft.) (wide-angle) / 20cm (0.7 ft.) (telephoto) - 70cm (2.3 ft.)
Manual focus: 6cm (0.2 ft.) (wide-angle) / 20cm (0.7 ft.) (telephoto) - infinity
Focusing Control System TTL autofocus (Continuous or Single)
AF lock and Manual focus are available.
Focusing Points Switchable, Center, Left or Right
Digital Tele-converter up to 3.6x
(11x digital zoom when combined with optical zoom.)

Aperture and Shutter

Aperture Range F2.0 (wide-angle) - 2.5 (telephoto)
Shutter Type Mechanical shutter and Electronic shutter
Shutter speed 15 - 1/1,000 sec.
1.3 sec. or slower shutter is available in Shutter Priority mode or Manual mode.
High speed shutter 1/1,000 sec. are available only at F8 setting.
Slow shutter of 1.3 sec. and more operates with noise reduction.

Viewfinders

Optical Viewfinder Real-image optical zoom viewfinder
LCD Viewfinder 1.8-inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD
LCD Pixels 113.578 dot (521 (H) x 218 (V))
LCD Coverage 97%

Exposure Control

Sensitivity (Equivalent film speed) Auto, ISO 50, 100, 200 and 400 equivalent (At Auto setting, camera automatically adjusts sensitivity in the range of from ISO 50 to 100 equivalent.)
Light Metering Method Center-weighted average metering or Spot (Center or AF point)
Exposure Control Method Program AE, Shutter priority AE, Aperture priority AE or Manual exposure control AE lock is available.
Exposure Compensation +/- 2.0EV (at every 1/3-stop)
Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB) is available.

White Balance

White Balance Control TTL auto white balance, Pre-set white balance (available settings: Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H or Flash) or Custom white balance

Flash

Built-in Flash Operation modes: Auto, Red-eye reduction auto, Red-eye reduction ON, ON or OFF
Flash Range 0.7m (2.3 ft.) - 4.5m.(14.76 ft.) (W) / 0.7m (2.3 ft.) - 3.6m (11.8 ft.) (T)
(When sensitivity is set to ISO 100 equivalent)
Recycling Time Approx. 10 sec. or less
Terminals for External Flash TTL Sync-terminals at accessory shoe for
Canon Speedlite 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 550EX and Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX
Flash Exposure Compensation +/- 2.0EV (at every 1/3-stop)

Shooting Specifications

Shooting Modes Auto
Creative zone: Program, Shutter priority, Aperture priority and Manual
Image zone: Pan-focus, Portrait, Landscape, Night scene, Color Effect, Stitch assist and Movie
Self Timer Operates with approx. 10 seconds countdown.
Wireless Control Shooting and playback are available (Wireless controller is included in the camera kit).
When shooting, image is captured 2 seconds after shutter release operation.
PC-connected Shooting Available (at USB connection only. Exclusive software "RemoteCapture" is included in the camera kit).
Continuous Shooting Approx. 1.5 image/sec. or 2.5 image/sec.
(at Large/Fine mode and LCD viewfinder is OFF)

Image Storage

Storage Media CompactFlash (CF) card (Type I or Type II)
File Format Design rule for Camera File system (DCF)
Print Order Format Digital Print Order Format (DPOF)
Image Recording Format Still image: JPEG or CCD-RAW
Movie: AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG, Audio data: WAVE [monaural])
JPEG Compression Mode Super Fine, Fine or Normal
Number of Recording Pixels
Still image: Large: 2272 x 1704
  Medium1: 1600 x 1200
  Medium2: 1024 x 768
  Small: 640 x 480
Movie: 320 x 240, at 15 frames/sec., up to approx. 30 sec or
160 x 120 at 15fps up to 120 sec.

Playback Specifications

Playback Modes

Single, Multi (9 thumbnail images), Magnification (approx. 3x or 6x on built-in LCD monitor) or Slide show or direct print to CP-10 printer.

Erasing Specifications

Erase Modes

Single Image, All Images

Interfaces

Computer Interface Universal Serial Bus (USB)
Video Out Audio/Video Output (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio)
Other CF card slot (compliant with CF Type II standard).

Power Supply

Power Source
1. Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (type: BP-511) (included in the camera kit)
2. AC adapter (type: CA-560) (included in the camera kit)
3. Car battery adapter (type: CR-560) (option)
Shooting Capacity Approx. 400 images (under Canon's standard conditions with full-charged battery)
Playback Time Approx. 300 minutes (under Canon's standard conditions with full-charged battery)

Physical Specifications

Operating Temperature 32-104oF (0-40oC)
Operating Humidity 10-90%
Dimensions
(W x H x D)		 4.8 x 3.0 x 2.5 in.
120.9 x 76.6 x 63.8 mm (excluding protruding parts)
Weight Approx. 15 oz. (camera body only)

Computer System Requirements

Mac Requirements Please install the software on a Macintosh computer that meets the following system requirements.
Hardware Power Macintosh, PowerBook, iMac or iBook
OS Mac OS 8.1 through 9.0.4, Quicktime 3.0 or higher
(QuickTime 4.1 is in the CD-ROM "DIGITAL CAMERA Solution Disk" included with the PowerShot G2 standard kit)
Interface USB: Cable connection via camera's USB port is limited to genuine Apple Computer brand models with a built-in USB interface (Power Macintosh NEW G3/G4, PowerBook G3, iMac, iBook). iMac computers running OS 8.1 require installation of "iMac Update 1.0" and "iMac Firmware Update 1.0" or higher.
  RS-422 Serial: Requires compatible Power Macintosh with built-in printer port or modem port.
RAM 20MB or more of application memory
   
PC Requirements Please install the software on a PC computer that meets the following system requirements.
Hardware IBM PC/AT compatible
OS

Windows 95/98 (including the Second Edition)
Windows NT 4.0 (Service Pack 3 or higher required)
Windows 2000
Windows ME

CPU Pentium 133 MHz or better
Interface USB: Cable connection via camera's USB port is limited to pre-installed Windows 98, Windows 2000 or Windows ME systems.
  RS-232C: Serial or COM port.
RAM 32MB or more (Windows 95/98)
64MB or more (Windows NT 4.0/Windows 2000/Windows ME)

Number of Recordable Images

Size/Quality
File Size
(KB)
Resolution (pixels)
8MB
16MB
32MB
64MB
128MB
340 MB
Large/SuperFine
2,002
2,272 x 1,704
3
7
14
30
61
172
Large / Fine
1,116
2,272 x 1,704
6
13
27
54
110
309
Large / Normal
556
2,272 x 1,704
13
26
54
110
220
614
Med High / SuperFine
1,002
1,600 x 1,200
7
14
30
61
123
343
Med High / Fine
558
1,600 x 1,200
13
26
54
109
219
614
Med High / Normal
278
1,600 x 1,200
26
52
108
217
435
1,212 
Med Low / SuperFine
570
1,024 x 768
12
25
53
107
215
597
Med Low / Fine
320
1,024 x 768
23
46
94
189
379
1,064 
Med Low / Normal
170
1,024 x 768
42
84
174
349
700
1,898 
Small / SuperFine
249
640 x 480
29
58
120
241
483
1,323 
Small / Fine
150
640 x 480
47
94
196
394
789
2,183
Small / Normal
84
640 x 480
83
165
337
677
1,355
3,639 
RAW
2,862
2,272 x 1,704
2
4
10
20
42
120



The Canon PowerShot G2 kit includes:

  • 32MB CompactFlash Card
  • BP-511 Lithium rechargeable battery
  • CA-560 Compact Power Adapter
  • USB Interface Cable
  • AV Cable
  • Wireless Remote Controller
  • Neck Strap
  • Bundled software










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