Canon Powershot G2 Review



Full review posted 8/23/01
Click to take a QTVR tour of the G2
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.
Software BundleThe 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![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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Canon PowerShot G2 Specifications
Lens
Aperture and Shutter
Viewfinders
Exposure Control
White Balance
Flash
Shooting Specifications
Image Storage
Playback Specifications
Erasing Specifications
Interfaces
Power Supply
Physical Specifications
Computer System Requirements
Number of Recordable Images
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