Canon Powershot G2 Review

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

Click here to see the ZoomBrowser and Remote Capture software.

Physical Views

Canon PowerShot G2 Specifications