Canon PowerShot G2 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 156
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 On: 2008-08-03
Canon PowerShot G2 4MP Digital Camera w/ 3x Optical Zoom
I bought the black Powershot G2, however the features on this triple-tone champagne beige colored case are the same.
This is an amazing camera. Ive shot flower and jewelry closeups that compete favorably with higher megapixel models. Clarity is exellent, ease of use very good. This is a semi-pro model that would be a great choice for a beginner or a more advanced photographer.
The zoom lens and auto-focus does an amazing job both outdoors in natural light or in a photo cube.
Download is fast and simple, and there are a variety of formats supported.
Comes with a re-chargeable lithium ion battery.
A fully molded hand grip eliminates problems encountered with earlier models. Featured is an extending 3x, F2.0 - F2.5 Zoom Lens, evaluative center-weighted spot metering, 3 selectable focus areas and 10-bit RAW mode. Comes with a 32MB compact flash card, but add a 2, 4 or 8GB card and youre good to go ... anywhere.
Highly recommended.
On: 2007-03-08
Ive had my Canon G2 for four years and it still takes simply Gorgeous pictures. People ask me if my pictures on the wall was from a studio. I tell them I shot them with my Canon. Crisp and super clear pictures. Easy to use. The best find!! Love it!!!!! Even when you enlarge to 10x15. The clarity is still perfect...
On: 2007-03-07
Ive had my Canon G2 for four years and it still takes simply Gorgeous pictures. People ask me if my pictures on the wall was from a studio. I tell them I shot them with my Canon. Crisp and super clear pictures. Easy to use. The best find!! Love it!!!!! Even when you enlarge to 10x15. The clarity is still perfect...
On: 2006-03-26
This is the kind of camera that is a joy to use and explore. I have been using this along with a Digital SLR for about 3-4 years now and it still works great. I must have shot over 10000 shots using this camera with most shots being exceptional. The lens is fantastic, build is rugged, battery life is exceptional. This is a classic camera worth keeping for many years. For an avid photographer, the Powershot G series is a good camera to have along with an SLR.
On: 2006-02-17
Ive had this camera since April 2003, and it has been one of the best electronics purchases that I have made. Ive taken about 5,000 shots with this camera to date, and the image quality with all of them is outstanding, even by todays standards.
This camera is capable of producing images up to 11x14 inches without noticeable image grainyness. The F2.0 lens is superb and produces super sharp images. The features are fantastic. The panorama mode is something I use a lot more that I thought I would and produces stunning, seamless panoramas which could easily pass as gallery prints.
If you can still find this camera, purchase it! You will not be sorry.
 On: 2005-09-20
The G2 is a special camera. I bought it after 3 months of research in December 2002. It was a time when Canon had fixed all previous issues with the G1 and was improving on G2 to release the G3. I wanted a digital camera that can be used as a point and shoot one and also some advanced features for me to do some pro kind of photography and guess what I concluded and bought... the G2 After having it for more than 2 years, I think I can write a reasonable review of it. It is a simple advanced camera !!! Sounds like an oxymoron, but it really is that. It is simple enough that an average Point and shoot person can use it and advanced enough that a pro can do some good shots with it. It has enough options in the preset modes to give a quick nice picture in each of those modes and also has a set of manual features for more creativity. The pictures are clean, crisp and nice. It has the largest lens compared to any camera in that segment. The software that comes along with the box is good value for money & sophisticated. I do not have to list the long line of features that this camera gives for such a small price
Some of the negative things I find in this camera are
1. Is heavy and is a little oversize to be carried in the pocket
2. The operations like switch on, switch off, writing image to disk and few other actions are a little slow.
3. The flash recharge is also slow.
If you are a beginner or just want a simple easy to use point and shoot camera, dont buy it. If you are pro and want an advanced camera for professional shots, dont buy it. If you are inbetween, then this camera is for YOU.
Otherwise, is a great camera, love it and I think I have already taken my investment out of the camera, but looks like this just the beginning !!!
On: 2005-04-02
This was our first digital camera. Very easy to use, useful features, and high quality photos. Definitely a good deal.
On: 2004-09-29
I bought this camera in early 2003 when the camera was to be discontinued and sold around $400. I am mostly a happy user of this camera.
Pros:
1. Excellent lens, very bright (F2.0) which make shooting indoor without flash a possiblity.
2. Good resolution. 4MP is enough even today.
3. Great photography control, more F stops, great range of shutter speed which you wont see in most consumer level digital cameras. This means you can shoot a wide range of objects under many different environment, without compromised quality.
4. Better looking than successors like G3, G5.
Cons:
1. Relatively lousy battery life using the bundled battery
2. Slow startup time. This sometimes becomes intolerable when you want a fast shot.
3. Hard to get CF card out of the camera.
4. ISO 400 speed gives noisy image quality. However this is the issue with most consumer digital cameras.
On: 2004-09-28
I bought this camera in early 2003 when the camera was to be discontinued and sold around $400. I am mostly a happy user of this camera.
Pros:
1. Excellent lens, very bright (F2.0) which make shooting indoor without flash a possiblity.
2. Good resolution. 4MP is enough even today.
3. Great photography control, more F stops, great range of shutter speed which you wont see in most consumer level digital cameras. This means you can shoot a wide range of objects under many different environment, without compromised quality.
4. Better looking than successors like G3, G5.
Cons:
1. Relatively lousy battery life using the bundled battery
2. Slow startup time. This sometimes becomes intolerable when you want a fast shot.
3. Hard to get CF card out of the camera.
4. ISO 400 speed gives noisy image quality. However this is the issue with most consumer digital cameras.
On: 2003-12-12
I have had this camera for more than a year and I am just now getting to write a review. Which means I have had much time and practice to test this camera.
This camera is very much in the middle and by that I dont mean just ok. It is not to hot and it is not too cold, it is "just right!" It has features and manual controls for those who like to manipulate their shots, but in the same respect if you are used to just snapping a picture with one button and letting the camera do the work, then this camera is for you too! The image quality is great! You can buy accessories and extra lenses for it just like those hot shots with expensive film cameras! I have 3 lenses and two filtering lenses(polarizing and UV filter.) One of my extra lenses is a macro lens which really is wonderful. Which brings me to the point that the cameras macro capabilities are wonderful as is! If you dont know what macro means, I can take a picture of those unsightly pores it gets so close. I have taken some wonderful nature photographs with the macro. I love up-close, detailed pics. This camera has a little bit of everything but not too much it is overwhelming. If you want to use it, it is there and if you dont keep it on automatic! The best part is that there have been two cameras in the "G" line that have been introduced since the G2 but they arent as good as this one(in my opinion.) So the price has dropped dramatically you can get one for less than 300 if you know where to look.I just cannot stress enough how much this camera has been in service to me. I never even used a regular film camera before I got this camera because I never had the money to get a really good one. Sure I took the occasional pic with my aunts point and shoot film camera at Christmas, but that wasnt much fun. When I got this camera I just experimented and took soooooooo many pictures. I am really enjoying photography. I guess the reason I never got interested in photography before was the expense of film and then developing, as well as not being sure the pictures were even any good until you got them back from the drug store. With this camera you just look at the shots and if they stink you delete them and take another shot. No wasted film! IF you dont have a printer at home then you can easily take them to Walgreens or upload them to Walmarts site and get prints from your digi pics. So simple. I have experimented with many consumer valued digital cameras when I took my photography class last year( which was the reason I bought this camera) and let me tell you, it was the best in the class. We had Kodak and Olympus and so many other brands and they all stunk compared to mine. Olympus C something was pretty comparable but still not as good as my G2. I would recommend this camera to the new aspiring photographer as well as to the family photographer who wants to capture all the good things. I am sure once we become professional photographers we will have a SLR digital camera but for anyone less than a professional who is actually getting paid for their pictures, this is the best quality at the best price. When printed on photo quality paper my digital pictures are as good as if not better than other film photographers pictures. I have been told my shots are good enough to be in National Geographic! Have fun with this joyful contraption.
On: 2003-12-11
I have had my canon for almost a year now, and I just want all to know who are looking for a camera, that there are a lot of cameras out there that you will not be satisfied with if you are looking for excellent photo quality.. this camera creates beautiful pictures, and they are easy to load on the computer with included software, and when I order prints, they look like they were done professionaly. this camera is not for someone who wants a camera you can slide in your pocket, it is an amatuers camera and is made for good quality picture taking, it can be attached to a tripod, and is intened for light duty amatuer photos, however, if you dont mind the weight of it, it is great for all your picture taking needs, and it really isnt that heavy, just not as slender as the little pocket cameras, same with the G3 by canon, anyway defientely an A+ on this one.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-11-04
This was my 2nd digital camera.
My first being a 1 megapixel kodak.
The first thing I noticed is the outstanding low light ability this larger aperature faster lens had over my first camera.
It handles white balance very well in all but the most difficult situations.
The only drawback I noticed is the macro feature can be frustrating in an indoor situation,
It tended to overexpose with the flash and the optional macro ring light is too expensive to consider casually.
Overall it has been a fine camera and it has encouraged me to consider moving into a digital SLR (from Canon ofcourse)
 On: 2003-11-04
In general this is a very nice camera with lots of goodies and quite foolproof for even a beginner. Lots of functions, good optics and high resolution, all give it high marks.
On the downside, the camera has a serious speed problem. If youre used to the typical 35mm SLR, this is not the camera for you. The time it requires to focus (a couple of seconds!?) as well as the time it takes it to save (probably about 5-10 seconds with the color monitor open) an image and ready itself for the next one all but guarantee lack spontaneity in picture taking. A moving toddler, a pet, virtually any unstaged snapshot are usually ruined due to the cameras slow reaction time.
The software that accompanies the camera has goods and bads as well. While it offers all the capabilities one would want, it is cumbersome and immature as a product - or rather a medley of products thrown together and forced to talk to each other. Yes, you can adjust nearly any parameter you might want, touch up pictures, make photo albums, etc. But try just clicking on the print button to print one single picture out - it is infuriating. Page after page of dialogs, repetitively asking for the same information, often in uncomprehensible ways. At the end, that single 4x6 picture you wanted printed on a 4x6 paper ends up in the wrong orientation, parts of a head cut off and parts of the paper left white. Ouch!
 On: 2003-10-27
The G2 would be a good camera, if only it didnt break so often! The CF reader went bad in July and was quickly repaired. The lens jammed in August. They returned it to me four times, each time replacing the same part that didnt fix the problem the first time. Its almost November and I still dont have a working camera! Ill never buy a Canon product again- Ive paid so much in shipping and repairs, not to mention wasting my time talking to customer service. All this and I still have to buy film!
On: 2003-10-14
The Canon G2 gives amazing color. Get a good canon printer like the i950 and youll get amazing prints. It does black and white very well and gives great bright colors in landscape photos. My only real complaint is its super slow. I upgraded from the Toshiba M4 2.1 megapixel camera and I honestly wish that Id kept it too. The Toshiba, while three years older than the canon caught better candid shots. I find that when using my Canon I cannot capture good candids of people or animals, its so slow that the subject moves before it records the scene. Super slow. It hesitates all of the time and the red eye flash alerts your subject that you are there, totally ruining the picture. Im either looking at buying a Canon 10D or buying back my old M4 for now.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-09-20
Honestly, this is an incredible camera. Takes great quiality pictures, along with many awesome special options and effects that you can add. Pretty much the only thing I dont like about it is how you connect the usb cable and power cord in, kind of a stupid design, but not really a big thing, otherwise the camera is great!!!
On: 2003-09-08
I like my Canon G2s "stealth mode." Its f/2 lens shoots in low light without a flash. Other digital cameras have an f/2.8 lens, requiring twice the light. Plus the viewscreen flips out and rotates. I can put the camera on the floor, against a wall, on a glass on a table, etc. allowing me to shoot at slow shutter speeds without a tripod. And because Im not holding the camera to my eye, subjects dont realize Im shooting pictures. Lastly, the camera is completely silent. Candid shots vs. posed pictures look completely different. Posed, people make faces, stick out their tongues, etc. Or they refuse to let me take pictures. In contrast, in candid shots people look natural.Then after I take the pictures, everyone wants to look at the pictures. This makes you popular at parties. Even the people who said they hate pictures of themselves want to look through the shots, and they love the pictures! I feel like saying, "Duh, if you stick out your tongue and scrunch up your face when you pose for a photo, youll hate the pictures of yourself!" After using the Canon G2 you become aware of how obtrusive other cameras are: flashes going off, the loud snap of a 35mm camera, etc. I also like the video mode. It takes pretty good 30-second videos, with sound. And, again, people dont react the way they react to someone shoving a video camcorder in their face. They ignore the little camcorder, and then are delighted to watch the video. I like the "continuous" or "motor drive" mode, which takes up to 2.5 frames per second. For sports this is essential. For portraits its useful: you tell the subject to smile, and you get a dozen shots to pick from, of every stage of the smile. The "macro" mode makes close-ups of little things easy. I also like that shooting hundreds of photos is free! The battery has never run out, and recharges quickly. But my 256MB card is too small. Im upgrading to a 1GB card. As you learn to use this camera, youll find yourself shooting far more pictures than you did with other cameras. Ive used my G2 heavily for almost a year, and it has never broken down. My complaints about the G2: - The "AUTO" and "P" modes should not be used. These set the shutter speed at 1/640th of a second. This is much faster than is necessary, diminishing your depth of field, using the flash unnecessarily, etc. Instead, I taped a reminder to the back of my camera, saying to use aperture priority at f/2 and 400 ISO in very low light, aperture priority at f/2 and ISO "AUTO" (50 to 100) in low light, shutter priority at 1/125 and ISO "AUTO" in medium light; and aperture priority at f/8 and ISO 50 in bright light. - The "auto" white balance should also be avoided. It often looks bad, often very bad. The manual settings (sunlight, tungsten, etc.) are easy to use and look great. I never need to use the manual white balance. - Using autofocus and autoexposure result in a half-second lag between pressing the shutter release and taking the picture. You can get around this by using the "continuous" mode, or using manual settings. - The G2s 34-104mm lens is adequate for 95% of my shooting, but there are times Ive wanted a longer telephoto lens. - 4 megapixels isnt as good as a pro 35mm camera. For 95% of my shooting its adequate, but sometimes I wish I had 5 or 6 megapixels. - 400 ISO is adequate for 95% of my shooting, but sometimes Ive wanted more film speed. All in all, the G2 does 95% of what the "pro" cameras do, and does lots of things the pro cameras dont do -- such as not being obtrusive, or too heavy to carry around. Weighing these pros and cons, Id take my G2 over the "pro" SLRs.
--
Thomas David Kehoe, author of "Hearts and Minds: How Our Brains Are Hardwired for Relationships"
On: 2003-08-12
Ive had this camera for over a year and have found it to be an excellent camera. Its easy to use as far as the basics are concerned. There seems to be every feature imaginable for an amateur picture taker like myself. There are many features I havent even touched on yet. The pictures come out crisp and clear. Its easy to connect the camera to the computer too.
I also love the digital viewer because it moves in every direction. Ive taken pictures with the camera over my head and they came out great.
However, there are a couple of minuses....
It ony comes with a 32MB flash card, so the first thing you need as a larger one. At this point Id suggest a 256MB or 512MB.
It has red-eye reduction but it doesnt work very well. I think it works like most non single lens reflex cameras with an internal flash. I ended up buying a Canon external flash that connects to the hot shoe on top of the camera (Glad this camera has the hot shoe). This adds a lot of weight, but the indoor pictures come out great with NO red eye.
I wouldve given this camera 5 stars if not for these two issues.
On: 2003-08-10
Ill keep it short; this is a great camera and yeilds excelent pictures. It is easy to use in the "point & shoot" modes but also alows for flexibility if you want to go manual and get creative.The photos look every bit as good as film in a 5 x 7 format (considering that you use a good imaging equipment). This says it all.... We took our photos down to the local photo shop to have them re=printed on high quality paper and the guy who owns the shop said that these were the best digital photos hes ever seen. He asked my wife to give him the make and model number so he could check out the camera more.
On: 2003-08-09
Ive used my Powershot G2 for about a year now and love it. The picture quality is superb. I also consider the G2s support for an external flash a must in a digital camera. This wonderful 4-megapixel camera works very well with the SpeedLight 420EX. And you will be able to print out 8 x 10 photos that show remarkable detail. Enjoy!
On: 2003-08-01
I got this camera approx April 2002, same camera, but a limited edition that was black and looks more like a traditional 35mm camera. The camera functions well, and takes good pictures, but if this is your first camera I would look elsewhere.If you are looking at getting into higher level photography however, this might be a good place to start. Its digital, so you dont have to pay the high costs of developing, and the point and shoot function actually takes really good pictures, so if you are still learning, but see something you want to take a picture of, you can. This camera presents the best of both worlds. It is simple to use in the plain point-and-shoot mode, but it also has all the bells and whistles of a traditional 35mm camera. You can choose your own fstop and aperture, and choose to shoot black and white. There is also a neat function in this camera for panoramics. It comes with a photostiching program, and the camera has a panoramic mode, where the viewscreen shows pictures side by side as you take them so you can ensure you dont miss any of the panorama. When you take photos in this mode, the camera also labels the files with tags of "_a" "_b" etc, after the file number, so that you know they are part of one panoramic shot. All in all, I have been very pleased with this camera, because I like to take beautiful pictures, but am not a pro and cant justify [the price] for my camera. This camera gives you all the options you want, and with the largest pixel setting, the photograph you take will print out larger than an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper. ***Warning:*** If you plan on taking a lot(more than 50)of the largest size pictures at one time, buy at least one 128 MB memory card. You will be glad you did.
On: 2003-08-01
I really like this camera. It is my first digital camera. It took some getting used to. I have been using my Nikon 35mm SLR for about 35 Years. With my new Canon, I had to get used to looking into a paralex viewfinder, get used to the LCD screen to try and compose my pictures and digesting the two manuals,the software guide and owners manual which took a few 2 hours sittings. It was lucky for me to have a basic understanding of computers and electronics to understand everything in the manuals. However, having said the above, I am very happy with my new Canon Powershot G2. One last thing, every time I go back to the Amazon Canon website, the price keeps getting lower. I know that two more powershot editions have come out since the G2, but I didnt want to have my camera sell out and I couldnt afford to buy the G3 nor the G5.
On: 2003-07-31
I got this camera approx April 2002, same camera, but a limited edition that was black and looks more like a traditional 35mm camera. The camera functions well, and takes good pictures, but if this is your first camera I would look elsewhere.If you are looking at getting into higher level photography however, this might be a good place to start. Its digital, so you dont have to pay the high costs of developing, and the point and shoot function actually takes really good pictures, so if you are still learning, but see something you want to take a picture of, you can. This camera presents the best of both worlds. It is simple to use in the plain point-and-shoot mode, but it also has all the bells and whistles of a traditional 35mm camera. You can choose your own fstop and aperture, and choose to shoot black and white. There is also a neat function in this camera for panoramics. It comes with a photostiching program, and the camera has a panoramic mode, where the viewscreen shows pictures side by side as you take them so you can ensure you dont miss any of the panorama. When you take photos in this mode, the camera also labels the files with tags of "_a" "_b" etc, after the file number, so that you know they are part of one panoramic shot. All in all, I have been very pleased with this camera, because I like to take beautiful pictures, but am not a pro and cant justify [the price] for my camera. This camera gives you all the options you want, and with the largest pixel setting, the photograph you take will print out larger than an 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper. ***Warning:*** If you plan on taking a lot(more than 50)of the largest size pictures at one time, buy at least one 128 MB memory card. You will be glad you did.
On: 2003-07-19
I bought this camera with snapshots of our almost-here new baby in mind. As this was my first digital camera, I figured Id better practice taking pictures with it before she got here, so I started shooting flowers, insects, whatever was around. Unbelievable. I have never owned anything but basic point-and-shoot cameras (in fact, a significant percentage of the pictures Ive taken in my life have been through disposable cameras!) and have never been much into taqking "artsy" pictures, but this thing made me look like a pro right out of the box. While the camera will do everything for you if you like, it also allows for manual control of essentially all of the things that "shutterbugs" play with (ie: focus, exposure, f-stop, lenses, filters). I am NOTHING LIKE an afficianado, but this camera has spurred my interest in the hobby --- and allowed me the flexibility to play with the settings as I learn. Did I mention it takes excellent pictures out of the box? Having done a fair amount of research before buying this---including talking to a lot of folks who have forgotten a lot more about cameras than I will ever know--- I am of the opinion that this is far and away the best value in digital cameras available in this range.
On: 2003-07-18
I bought this camera with snapshots of our almost-here new baby in mind. As this was my first digital camera, I figured Id better practice taking pictures with it before she got here, so I started shooting flowers, insects, whatever was around. Unbelievable. I have never owned anything but basic point-and-shoot cameras (in fact, a significant percentage of the pictures Ive taken in my life have been through disposable cameras!) and have never been much into taqking "artsy" pictures, but this thing made me look like a pro right out of the box. While the camera will do everything for you if you like, it also allows for manual control of essentially all of the things that "shutterbugs" play with (ie: focus, exposure, f-stop, lenses, filters). I am NOTHING LIKE an afficianado, but this camera has spurred my interest in the hobby --- and allowed me the flexibility to play with the settings as I learn. Did I mention it takes excellent pictures out of the box? Having done a fair amount of research before buying this---including talking to a lot of folks who have forgotten a lot more about cameras than I will ever know--- I am of the opinion that this is far and away the best value in digital cameras available in this range.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-06-16
GOOD THINGS:
*the battery: last long, charges fast
*picture quality: Best ever
*came with all that was needed [others dont]
*zoom: GREAT [can zoom on pictures already taken]
* looks cool
BAD THINGS:
-CF card only holds 32 pictures [ we bought on with room for 256 pictures]
Over all GREAT camera
On: 2003-06-15
I received the Canon Power Shot G2 as a 21st birthday gift from my husband. Ive fallen in love with it in the short three weeks Ive had it. From its self-timer to video recording capabilities, the features on the camera are outstanding! The picture quality is clear and gorgeous. I feel like a professional when I use the Canon Power Shot G2.
Another very important thing is the battery is very strong and stays charged for a very long time. This camera is a must have for the digital picture people out there!
On: 2003-06-09
Ive been using this camera for more than a year and Im fully satisfied with it. It has small auto focusing problem in the certain conditions, but it doesnt happen often.
On: 2003-05-31
I looked at the high end digital cameras and for the quality this certainly fit the price. It has all the advanced features I was looking for without the really expensive price tag. The quality of the photographs are great, I also bought a very nice color printer made for photographs, they dont look quite as good as 35MM but they are pretty good and once in my photo album people dont notice.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-05-29
After reading the owners manual once, I had little problem using 90% of this camera effectively, although I have been taking pics for a good 20 years now. The camera performs as claimed and takes great pics. The shutter response is a bit slower than my EOS Elan II, but is better than other point and shoot film cameras or lower-priced digital cameras Ive used. All in all, the shutter response was not a problem for me. Within a month of getting the camera I took it on my first trip to Japan. It handled everything well, and the weight was not a problem carrying around Japan for 6 days jumping in and out of trains and stores. The pics turned out just great. The 32MB memory card they provide is useless...256MB cards are pretty inexpensive these days. I havent gotten the lens adapter or filters yet, and I miss having a polarizing filter, but the auto-balance feature in Adobe Photoshop Limited Edition (came with the cam) helps a bit. Good luck!
On: 2003-05-28
Great camera but keep in mind 3 things I found not quite right.
At first I gave this camera 5 stars but after some time I find these things to consider.
First the camera will only down load (at least for me) on the canon software, and it freeses often and I have had to uninstalled and reinstalled often. Now I cant get it to do anything after 3 hours of fooling around so on to another program or a card reader maybe.
Next the lens is very wide and close to the your hands so watch your fingers, they can leave prints often. A simple filter would help protect the lens but you need an adapter that takes way from the cameras look and compactness. At first I didnt care but now I see the lens can be damaged so easy.
3rd watch out for the strap it works lose after some time. Almost lost the camera on a hiking trip. That would have been bad.
But pictures are great. Coolest camera out there.
On: 2003-05-19
This camera is everything I wanted and then some. Easy to use. My family thinks I should go pro. Thats how good this camera makes me look. I bought the 256MB card which itll hold up to 999 best quality pictures. Everything right down to the battery on this camera is perfection. Thank-you Canon!
by: Anonymous On: 2003-04-12
I have been using the Canon Powershot G2 for about 2 months, 4000 pictures later I am VERY impressed with this camera. The Canon Powershot G2 is a joy to use. It has a superfast F2-2.0 3x optical zoom lens. The image quality is astounding, I can easily make 8x10 photographic prints that you couldnt tell from a 35 mm. The shutter responds very quickly provided you prefocus on the subject, which I find no big thing when taking sports pictures. The controls are well positioned and logical. The inclusion of the RAW file system is a major plus for hard core image editing. I have bought the macro, wide angle, and telephoto adapters for this camera and they all work very well. The Macro performance is fantastic. This camera is absolutely perfect in every way except one, and this is a fault all digitals have not just the Powershot. This fault is that images taken above ISO 100 and noisy. HOWEVER, I highly recommend getting a program called Neat Image Pro that reduces noise in pictures if you enjoy shooting at high speeds. I give Canon major kudos for this camera. However, I recommed you go for the G3 now that its out, I find its shutter speed improvements worth it.
by: shanx On: 2003-04-11
If you sort the reviews already available here by "Most Helpful", youll notice that the technical features that made Powershot series a pain in the rear of Nikon/FujiFilm/Olympus are already well documented. The bundled ancillaries (software, maintenance stuff etc) is unarguably the best on the market, period, the support for IBMs 1 GB microdrive (which Nikon did not have until recently), the hot shoe being right on the camera, the superb CanonScan software that makes it a cinch to get your snaps on your machine even for tech-phobic folk, the sturdier heavier body of the camera that makes it easier to balance, CP-10 card photo printer support, the new vivid color mode, the wireless remote control, the plethora of compatible flashes (Speedlite 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, and 550EX to be precise), the possibility of recording videos WITH sound up to 120 seconds, or 30 seconds in a larger frame size (Nikon wannabes note...until recently, Nikon did not support sound in videos) ...etc etc. Yes, all of this is outstanding and even if you dont get most of it, YOU WILL BE SURPRISED eventually after you have used and discovered your G2 Powershot for while, when you find out why Canon was the best choice you could have made! HOWEVER, amidst the celebration of all this doohickey one thing we often neglect to consider is the quality of the pictures themselves -- isnt THAT the main purpose of a camera, digital or otherwise? All the convenience in handling, maintaining and uploading wouldnt be worth jack if the pictures themselves looked better with another camera! And in this important department of "quality", I have always wanted to compare G2 and Nikons top comparable options (specifically 995, 4300 and 5700) because these are the only two brands thatll give you near-pro functionality and quality at consumer prices (apologies to FinePix/Olympus owners). I had the luxury recently of trekking with friends who own Nikons 4300 and 995 respectively. Pretty much the ONLY thing Ive found Nikon-freaks mentioning since the release of G2 is the oh-so-exalted Nikor lens because Canon beats Nikon hands-down in pretty much every other department as noted above. Me and my 2 friends are all more or less at a similar level of expertise with photography, none professional. But all have owned and worked with our camera for a while and read the manuals thin. Here is what I believe after head-to-head comparisons, your mileage may vary -- OUTDOOR PICTURES IN BRIGHT LIGHT:
Canons colors were more real. Clarity is good with all 3 cameras but Nikon seemed a little reddish to me. PICTURES IN LOW LIGHTING (INDOOR OR NIGHT PICTURES):
This is where Canon where truly leave you in "shock and awe" (sorry for the choice of words). I was stunned with some of Canons ultra-realistic pictures when only a candle was on in a room for example. FIGURES/FACES OF PEOPLE:
Unfortunately, even with a lot of tweaking, Nikon is just simply better at faces of people for some reason. Canon is too, er, "real"? We agreed that with Nikon ...the colors, shades, contours of the same face can be made to look a little better than with Canon -- and I am excluding software based trickery of course. DEFAULT MODE:
If you opt to use only the default modes in Canon and Nikon, then Nikon will win in terms of photo quality. Canon provides excellent detail and clarity, but the default mode has the now notorious "white specks" or dotted edges. This is easily taken care of with some adjustment (read the manual). ALL IN ALL: I feel Canons results are more "honest". It just captures the reality in every sense-- colors, the range of what your eyes see etc. This usually means it is better for me, but if my pictures were going to be mainly of people I would also give the Nikons a good look. Otherwise, Canon G2 Powershot is the best there is. Even better than the new G3 (for now).
by: Anonymous On: 2003-03-29
My husband bought me this camera for my birthday, and Ive had it for almost a year and absolutely love it! Im a terrible photographer - dont know much about setting up a shot - but with this digital camera, Im able to keep taking the picture until I get what I want. I went to my friends wedding and took hundreds of photographs, and was able to give them a CD with a lot of nice pictures rather than a package of blurry prints of peoples hands, faces, noses, etc. :)The one feature I like about this camera that isnt found in any other digital camera brand(to my knowledge), is the rotating screen. I love that my screen is protected when Im not using it, and I usually have it out when Im taking pictures so my fingers dont end up on it like they would in other cameras with fixed screens. I also love how it can be both manually manipulated as well as fully automated. Because Im not afraid of wasting money on developing film now, Im getting more into the manual stuff. This camera is definitely not intimidating for a beginner like me!
On: 2003-03-28
Great camera. It is better then I hoped. Maybe to good. I wanted a high quality camera that takes great pictures. I got that and more. This camera will do for some time. I mean how much better can the pitures get? I wanted a camara that would take the place of a 35 MM and it does and then some.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-03-17
Have had my G-2 just over a year. Was a God send on our trip to Alaska. Have taken well over two thousand pictures and cataloged same on CDs.
At first the many features available are overwhelming. Fortunately the documentation is top rate. Takes time to learn but well worth the effort!!!!! Big on air shows. The rapid fire capability "Auto Exposure" has yealed several once in a lifetime images I would have missed the old way. Big on flowers. Adjusting the flash output is great..... Exposure compensation takes takes three pictures rapid fire at different exposure settings. Once in the computer pick out the best.
Love the flip-out LCD Monitor. This feater has enabled excellent over head shots without getting the horizon askew. No longer have to be on my belly to shoot ground loving flowers. Could go on for some time.
Yes, set it on "Auto" and let the kids take your picture with good results. Great camera.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-03-14
I was looking to purchase my first digital camera and originally bought a Toshiba 3.2 megapixel which claimed to provide photos equal in quality to 35mm cameras. I was very disappointed. After tons of research, I purchased the Canon G2. I am still amazed at the quality of the pictures. It is easy to use and comes with everything you need. Many other digital cameras come with 8 or 16MB cards which dont store enough pictures. The Canon G2 comes with a 32MB card which holds about 19 high quality photos. It also comes with a rechargable battery. One of the greatest features is the wireless remote control which has the zoom feature. The LCD screen pivots out to allow you to see the picture you are composing (use the remote to zoom in or out) and snap the picture once you have arranged the perfect shot. Now I can be in group shots and vacation pictures. The Canon G2 was about $100.00 more than the camera I originally bought which needed more memory at a cost of $60 and rechargeable batteries at a cost of $40. So, basically the Canon G2 cost the same thing, but provided much better quality and extras. I read another review which stated the red eye reduction did not work. This only happens to me when I am taking pictures in a very dark room or outside when there is no light. If I turn the light on in the room I am taking the picture, I have no problem. If the picture does have red eye, it is easily eliminated with the software provided. GREAT CAMERA! THANK YOU CANON.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-03-06
Amazing colors, amazing close ups, excellent camera all around. Very pleased I bought it.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-02-22
Easy to use. Takes great pictures. Has lot of extra features to continually improve on your picture taking experiences.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-02-22
Great camera as everyone else has pointed out. Two of my biggest beefs/annoyances (which dont affect the picture quality) are:
1. Its big and heavy. Compared to a SLR, its about the same. But many other cameras pack similar features in a smaller/lighter size.
2. The grip is too small and very slippery. My older Kodak camera had a rubberized grip and was very easy to hold and compose shots with. Its hard to get a good grip on the camera so it feels like Im gonna drop it when taking shots on the go.It would have been nice if there was a built-in lens cover too. Ok, enough griping. Its a nice camera.
On: 2003-02-16
I have enjoyed many cameras including a Nikon FE. I must say that I enjoy the G2 more than any of the others. The ease of use and the ability to be as creative as you want is remarkable. You cant go wrong with this one.
by: Anonymous On: 2003-02-11
If you are looking for a great digital camera you cannot go wrong with the G2. The camera is as easy to use as the most basic point and shoot models, but with every manual control you need to get the most out of photography. Picture quality is excellent, and with the raw mode even greater detail is available. A larger cf card will be a wise investment, unless you want to hunt down photo shops to burn cds for you while on your vacation. I bought a 256mb Viking card. It comes with a great bundle, 32mb cf card, remote control, easy to use manual, along with all of the requisite cables. The software is also easy to learn how to use. Very high quality construction throughout(the switches on the G3 seem to have gone backwards in quality).
by: Anonymous On: 2003-01-23
This is an excellent product, you just need to read the instructions well before using so that you are not disspointed. I have been using all manual 35mm cameras since i began doing photography and this camera has convinced me that the future is truly Digital. It does have many limitations as the digital technology still is under development, but you will find nothing but advantages when compared to a top notch 35mm point and shoot film camera, as you have greater creative control over exposure which is hard to find in 35mm film equivalent other than SLRs. I found the more important limitations are shutter lag; manual focus; horrible optical viewfinder (absolutly no viewfinder info at all); noise in low light high ISO settings; limited ISO range (iso 50-iso400) certain restrictions on settings and controls when using programmed settings. The shutter lag, to me, is the most anoying of all, but certainly something that you get used to. I was dissapointed mostly by the manual focus feature since this is actually a "virtual" manual focus, and a very poor one at that.However, as to image quality, I find the RAW format to be great! Little noise (specially when using ISO 50) high resolution images and great colors. Since the RAW file is like a digital negative, you can process one raw immage as you like on your computer. All the available preset white balance settings work as colour filters without the hassle. Even though there are the above mentioned limitations, which, again, are expected from a point & shoot camera, this camera is wonderful and a recomended buy (specially for the price it is running for now). For those of you used to 35mm photography, you will miss the superior image quality but you will not miss wondering how your pictures turn out after you shoot a roll (instant review of resulting image is priceless); fighting with the photolabs over ruined negatives or copies; paying hundreds to these labs for developing services. Also, i have found it of great use when doing pictures of people on the street, as I can show the pictures to a reluctant subject who would then be more willing to let me shoot more pictures with this and my other cameras. I will definately move over to a Digital SLR as soon as they become more affordable and the technology improves. I have my eye on the new Canon EOS 10D.
 On: 2003-01-19
Canon G2 makes a good camera for its picture quality
for more advanced user but not for ordinary user
when taking a picture. First, Canon G2 ( I think all series camera coming from Canon) is not truly plug & play camera. It requires its own driver & utility software to display and manage pictures. It took me a whole night to get software installed & connect to G2 with a lot of frustration. Its unique driver and utility program make your camera can only be downloaded or uploaded to your computer not other computers if you dont carry Canons utility CD-ROM with you which means you can only share pictures with friend on small LCD screen when traveling around not on their computer unless a computer is equipped with Memory card reader. Not like Sonys USB is truely plug & play, in minutes your camera is reay to read & write like a portable drive, it accepts in every computer, and you simply just do the copy or cut and paste like whatever you would do at your window desktop, and it acts like memory card reader. Of cause you can move or store any file you want.Second, my own frustrate experience. I was shocked when I saw the picture, some were taken at 2272x1704 scale and some were taken at 1024x768 scale in slow shutter. It looks perfect on 2272x1704, but it also looks awful on 1024x768 scale pictures in slow shutter. Everything in 1024x768 scale pictures looks blurry with low resolution, for example like waterfall. Actually all moving persons in picture is like ghost, you cant even recognize their face with movement on the picture. Wait! These pictures were taken from my wedding party! Thanks Canon for its advanced technology to make this nightmare happens!! Hope it would not happen on yours folks who would ever think to buy this camera. I then did some investigation on these awful pictures with provided information, the picture shows it was set on landscape mode which is on a dial next to the auto mode.
Then I realized if you set your camera to to auto mode then press menu the setting is 2272x1704 which is corrected setting, but then if you switch the dial to lanscap mode or protrait mode and press the menu button, it shows other setting for 1027 x768 which is not corrected setting. Why it would go for different setting??? I have no idea ( it may be set as default). You should know how it happens to the picture when your friend mistakenly turns the dial to landscape mode, also thanks Canon its advanced technology kicking me back to Sony brand.
On: 2003-01-16
This is a great camera. I have taken pictures seriously for 40 years. The advantage of this is control over the final print--no more lousy prints from processors. Its been great from the start, and offers something new for those people bored with film photography, and you can preview the results. Also, imagine the possibilities! I wish the compact flashes held more photos, and I wish there wasnt a lag in the shutter, but Im sure that will be corrected as digital cameras get better. Imagine press photos without carrying film and processing equipment!
On: 2003-01-11
Im new to digital photography. Ive been using the Canon Powershot G2 for three months and its excellent. Its easy and fun to use. The more time I spend learning all the features the more enjoyable it is to use.
by: foldingkayaks On: 2003-01-07
The G2 is my third digital camera, and the first that lets me control images the way Im used to with film camera. WIth multiple programs as well as full manual override, I can pretty much do anything with the G2 that I can with any of my 35mm cameras, so long as I dont intend to enlarge the images too much. For web work its fantastic, and for prints up to 8x10 its pretty darn good. Decent 11x14s are possible if you pick your subjects carefully. Its not perfect by any means. The in-camera charger is a pain to use, and the batteries and auto charger are very expensive. The focal range of the lens is equivalent to a 35-105 in 35mm, which is not as wide as Id like to go (I use my 24mm lens a lot in 35!). But aftermarket batteries and chargers are available, as are aftermarket accessory lenses. Ive found good deals in both by hunting around on a web a bit. And the plusses far outweigh the negatives. The swivelling monitor is one of the best designs Ive seen on a digital camera. The IR remote allows me to take photos with the hamera held 6 over my head on a monopod. The manual control makes astrophotography possible. And so on. For the price, I think its one of the best deals in 4 Mpixel cameras. Automatic enough for the newcomer, yet with all the manual flexibility a pro might want. Im happy with my choice.
On: 2002-12-26
I absolutely do not understand why this camera ( G2) has received a few poor customer reviews.To date I have shot maybe 500 or 600 pics and somewhere around 25 to 30 two minute movies. Now I admit the movies at best are only a nice feature, and you shouldnt expect great resolution, but the movie feature is what it is, a perk! Dont expect great resulation with the movie feature, its just a fun feature What the G2 gives you is out standing pics. I mean absolutely out standing pictures!! With the G2s built in AC battery charger I have had ZERO low battery problems. ( I also own a Olympus 380 and I know that digital cameras can go through batterys like geese goes through oats!!) With the G2 I have taken 200 pics, reviewed every pic, and on the same charge also shot 4 or 5 two minute movie clips, and had battery to spare. I also bought a 512 meg memory card. At the G2s lowest resoultion I can store 5200 pics (thats five thousand two hundred), at the higest compression and resolution, 280 pics, and maybe 6 two minute movies. We just finished seven days in Hawaii, probably shoot 240 outstanding pics, and 8 two minute movies. Thats the equivelence of 10 rools of film!! After we returned home I downloaded 50 of the 240 pics, to walmart.com. The entire cost was 17.80 including freight. All of the pics were 35 mm quality. six of the 50 I had blown up to 8X10s. If you are still using a film camera .....STOP!!! I guess by now you have figured out that I am a G2 fan. Oh by the way today is Christmas. I shot another 144 pics, and 12 two minute movies, I am still on the same charge and the pics were GREAT!!!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-17
Ive been using my camera for about a week now but I have to say I love it. My friends and family who all have other models agree that for the few bucks more this one is well worth it. I ordered a 256MB card too so the amount of pictures and video I can record is amazing and far more enough then I need. Pictures come out so clear !! I was debating between this and a camcorder but was extremely happy with my decision. Digital Camcorders only allow you to take pictures at only 1 MP where this one is 4.1MP and allow you to record up to 2 hours on a proper card ! This camera is well worth the money and would recommend it to anyone from beginner to advance.
On: 2002-12-16
This review is largely taken from an online review of digital photography in general, and the iBook/iPhoto and Canon G2 in particular. The review is part of my personal/hobby ....Ive been using the G2 fairly intensively for about 2 months. I use it in close combination with my iBook and iPhoto, together with GraphicConverter. I have some amateur photography expertise and a good amount of computing expertise. Overall I am very pleased with my experience, but I can say with certainty (and surprise) that we are still quite early in the digital phtography age. As excellent as this product is, there is vast room for improvement in both the G2 and in digital photography in general. The good news is that even in its current immature state its worth doing. Pros and Cons follow: Pro: Shutter lag is tolerable if one can get focus lock
Con: Focusing. The camera is often very slow to obtain focus lock. This means one presses the #!% shutter button and nothing happens. Manual focus is very clumsy (dismal) and hard to use, so the focus lock problem is serious and sometimes infuriating. Pro:Good optics.
Con: Doomed optics. Uninspiring lens assembly design, silly device for attaching lenses and filters. Pro: RAW Format
Con: RAW Format: secret specifications, poor quality OS X versions of proprietary software Pro: Solid, made in Japan. Relatively large lens allows some available light photography.
Con: Big and heavy. Pro: LCD view panel
Con: The worst optical viewfinder ever made for any camera. Pro: AC adapter brick not too heavy/bulky.
Con: Flimsy cover for camera power/USB connections. AC Adapter clearly has a mismatched plug/cord that tends to fall out. Pro: Programmed settings.
Con: Inability to save personalized settings. Pro: Macro feature Pro: CF II support
Con: Bundled OS X software is incomplete or of poor quality; Canon refuses to share information with alternative developers. On the other hand the Windows software (installed on Win2K) is even lower quality, with major apps that simply didnt work. Pro: No SLR vibration, so decent photos at slow shutter speeds!
Con: Artificial shutter sound is way too loud, even at the quietest setting. Inexplicable! Need an optical cue that a picture was taken as well as a much quieter shutter sound. Pro: Rapid shoot works well (disable flash)
Con: Cant use exposure lock feature if display is turned off. Pro: Can use external flash.
Con: Flash exposures are often poor. One gets correct exposure only between about 6 and 12 feet away, otherwise pictures with the built-in flash are either under or over exposed.
Con: The camera will power down while images are being transferred to a laptop, even when the camera is plugged in. With JPG images I can transfer about 25 before this happens. If you use Canons software you get a warning dialog from the software, but if you use iPhoto it simply gives an error message and an empty .jpg file is created. Need to disable auto-off during those transfers.
Con: Automatic white balance is unreliable in daylight. Fails to recognize overcast light, must set this manually or images will be overly blue. Digital Problems (all contenders, not just the G2) - Shutter lag (time required from squeezing shutter to acquiring image)
- Lithium battery has poor performance at low temperature.
- CCD is "slow", about ISO 50-100. Can "push" to higher speeds, but more "noise" (unless super cool). Shutter speeds are slow.
- Limited dynamic range and color discrimination.
- Standards for image metadata and properties of camera are not well standardized and existing standards are not well supported.
- Getting color right across output media is so complex people make a good living as consultants doing this.
On: 2002-12-12
This camera is absolutely wonderful. The 4 mega-pixel images look great both when viewed on a PC and when printed (I use a Canon S900). Several of the other reviewers note that this camera takes better photos then their SLR cameras. Obviously the interchangeable lenses of a SLR give you more creative options, but for basic medium-range pictures I would agree with the other reviewers - the Canon G2 seems to get the job done as well if not better.The battery life is great. I did find the 32MB memory card to be a bit small for day trips - after a few weeks I ordered a 128MB CompactFlash card from Amazon.com and have never again run out room. One of the main features that distinguishes this camera from cheaper 4 MP cameras is the ability to control depth of field (amount of distance between the nearest and farthest objects that appear in focus) and the perception of motion (are moving objects blurred or frozen). If you have no interest in this, you can just use the G2 in fully automatic mode. If you have any interest in this, the G2 comes with the usual pre-set modes (e.g., Landscape mode - when selected the camera sets the average optimal settings for a landscape and you yourself dont need to know what they are). If you have a lot of experience with this, the G2 can give you full manual control. If youre not interested in controlling the aperture and shutter speed than this camera will still take beautiful pictures but this camera might be more (and more expensive) than you need. Anyone thinking about this camera should also look at the Canon G3, which is slightly thinner and has a little bit longer of an optical zoom (4x versus 3x). Ive looked at the G3 and tried it out, but just recently ended up ordering another G2 to give as a gift. The G2 is a great camera at a great price.
On: 2002-12-11
This camera is absolutely wonderful. The 4 mega-pixel images look great both when viewed on a PC and when printed (I use a Canon S900). Several of the other reviewers note that this camera takes better photos then their SLR cameras. Obviously the interchangeable lenses of a SLR give you more creative options, but for basic medium-range pictures I would agree with the other reviewers - the Canon G2 seems to get the job done as well if not better.The battery life is great. I did find the 32MB memory card to be a bit small for day trips - after a few weeks I ordered a 128MB CompactFlash card from Amazon.com and have never again run out room. One of the main features that distinguishes this camera from cheaper 4 MP cameras is the ability to control depth of field (amount of distance between the nearest and farthest objects that appear in focus) and the perception of motion (are moving objects blurred or frozen). If you have no interest in this, you can just use the G2 in fully automatic mode. If you have any interest in this, the G2 comes with the usual pre-set modes (e.g., Landscape mode - when selected the camera sets the average optimal settings for a landscape and you yourself dont need to know what they are). If you have a lot of experience with this, the G2 can give you full manual control. If youre not interested in controlling the aperture and shutter speed than this camera will still take beautiful pictures but this camera might be more (and more expensive) than you need. Anyone thinking about this camera should also look at the Canon G3, which is slightly thinner and has a little bit longer of an optical zoom (4x versus 3x). Ive looked at the G3 and tried it out, but just recently ended up ordering another G2 to give as a gift. The G2 is a great camera at a great price.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-11
I was looking for a simple, yet high resolution digital camera and the G2 fits the bill. Its easy to use and provides excellent pictures in auto mode. Things that I dont like:
The manual.
Optical zoom in a camera in this price range should be better. You lose picture quality with the digital zoom.
Video mode is Ok, barely passes. Overall, with a name like Canon, Id buy it again.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-12-06
This camera is absolutely amazing. The quality of the photos is incredible, more than comparable to my Nikkon N70. In fact, most of my pictures are better on the G2. It is extremely easy to use and has a lot of cool features like b&w and sephia, if you like to mix up your photos but hate having to change film in a regular camera. Overall, I can t say enough good things about it. I am very pleased.
On: 2002-12-05
Pros
This camera can take excellent shots, in difficult lighting conditions, such as in backlighting. It practically never overburn the highlights and can show incredible details in dark area. This is a fantastic camera. The colors are vivid, and the contrast and the skies are wonderfull. It also has a RAW MODE
It has a photo-stitch software that does wonders, creating panoramic pictures (excellent, up to 5 frames (20 megs picture frame))Cons 1- limited zoom 3x
2- Can also have difficulty to focus, in low-light situations, specially on plain textures. But it also has a manual focus to override the automatic (good)
3- In a very few occasions, I saw in bright sunlight, a not perfect focusing on a few shots made in RAW mode Conclusion
I would buy it over and over again. The only important thing missing is its low zoom of 3X.
I would immediately buy the G3 right away, if it had a 6x zoom. I can send you pictures, I made last summer in the Maritimes (Nova Scotia, St-Edouard island)
On: 2002-12-05
Pros: Quality pictures, well built, point in any direction-pullout display panel, very clear display panel, absolute freedom to control camera functions, remote control.
Cons: Awkward adaptor for accessory lenses/filters, awkward manual focus, poorly arranged manual.
Automatic mode in any camera would give "automatic-quality pictures" (mediocre). This is why this camera is so great. You can EASILY control all its functions. Since its digital, you can easily experiment with conditions to obtain perfect pictures. The pullout display panel is very convenient, and important for pictures taken over the head or at hip level. Only 2 things I do not like: the need for a stupid adaptor for accessory lenses or filters (they could add the thread on the lense at least for filters!); and the need to press and hold the manual focus. The manual, while easy to follow, is poorly arranged
On: 2002-12-02
I feel that this camera is a great value for the price, compared to other cameras. The camera does almost everything that my Elan 7E does. I even use it now for my portrait studio until I receive my D60. It has lots of options to keep you shooting for hours. The resolution is outstanding for its price. Just compare it to some of the other cameras out there. The only negative thing I have to say about the camera is that it is a little fussy when you are shooting in low light without a flash. Simple fix, just use a canon speedlite.
On: 2002-11-28
Im not a professional photographer but I have to say that digital is the way to go! I have Vivitar and Minolta 35mm cameras that have been "retired" for about 9 years because I got tired of paying for the processing of pictures that were out of focus, blue, etc. Now I know within seconds if I mess up and can dump the picture or take it home and tweak it! The G2 takes absolutely killer pictures, clear and focused. I use Jasc, AutoFx, Adobe and MS Digital Pro, to "mess with" my pictures but I usually dont HAVE to do anything. The image quality is perfect. I purchased the telephoto lens, the adapter, and that pulls objects in closely without degrading the image too much. The flash works best at a distance, not close up. Youre better off turning on a light and turning off the flash for close up work. I love that it uses compact flash because the price keeps dropping on the cards! I got a 128 mb card for less than 50 bucks at a local big box store. (Thats 61 pictures.) The battery lasts for days of shooting! (I had an Epson, a few years ago, that used AA batteries and Im STILL finding dead batteries everywhere!) All in all I am very happy with my G2!
On: 2002-11-19
ive been seriously taking pictures for over ten years. i own several film slr(single lense reflex) and a trunk full of lenses, filters etc. i was apprehensive about down grading from slr but did it because i did not want to spend over [$$$] for my first digital camera when i knew little about digital photography. i was not even sure i would like it. but .....this is a great camera! it has sold me for life! if you are a photography enthusiast and you want a digital camera that is capable of giving you great shots and the flexibility of an off camera flash, as well as more shooting modes than you will ever need, including manual mode, ability to set your white balance,auto bracketing,lets not forget the rotating lcd which does come in handy,especially for self portraits! and so much more - for under [$$$]( i paid [$$$] before G3 came out) - this is your choice. if youve previous owned any of the canon EOS slrs then you will feel completely athome with this camera! ive owned this camera for about 6mths, i deliberatly did not rate it right away. iv never regretted my purchase. my only complaint, and if you are reading several reviews you will have already read about the slower than desired auto focus. once you get the hang of your camera and learn how to best utilize it,you can minimize this and you will be inspired by the great shots that you can capture. for a non - slr - this camera takes superior images - its no point and shoot - but its not an slr.stop reading right here and go and buy this camera! if you want to know more about digital photography and the G2 - check out dpreview.com. this is an excellent sight! only for the serious at heart digital photographer.
recommended items: canon speedlite 420 ex flash a must!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-10-27
I had been delaying buying a digital camera, but after shopping for awhile am so glad I chose the Canon S30. It is so easy to use and the clarity and color resolution is unbelievable. The software is very intuitive in the options it offers, and the camera itself is like a mini-PC. The only downside is: the battery pack lasts about a day of picture taking - filling a 64mb card (about 40 outdoor shots). Re-charging takes a few hours. I am now going to try to buy additional flash cards and a second battery so I always have a spare.
On: 2002-10-18
I consider myself an advanced amateur photographer. I own a Minolta 3xi SLR, and this Canon G2 is my first digital camera. I have done extensive research on 3MP to 4MP digital camera. The final candidates are: Olympus C-4040Z, Canon G2, with G2 being the winner.Things I like about G2 (from personal experience):
- swivel LCD very useful in quite a lot of situations.
- swivel LCD protects LCD when not in use.
- long battery life. I have bought an extra battery just in case, but I have never used it so far (I have been using G2 for more than 3 months now). On average, I can use one charge for about 200 shots, with 50% of shots taken with flash; or > 300 shots on normal usage. I think I will use the extra battery when I go on travelling...
- manual focus magnifies the subject, thus allowing easy and accurate focusing.
- ability to show 9 thumnails at a time, and ability to let you jump 9 photos forward/backward at a time.
- remote control comes very handy. The downside is: I always forget to turn on the remote control feature on the G2, and I wonder why my remote control is not working... I wish future cameras will allow use of remote control, without having user to remember to turn on/off the remote control feature everytime he wishes to use it.
- G2 normally produces good and sharp photograph. Things I dislike about G2:
- slow to focus: causing me to miss many great photos.
- unable to auto focus: the camera could not auto focus during night time even with street light. The G2s light assist does not help much and is of little to no use. Fortunately, manual focus is available. On another situation, I cannot auto focus on subjects are close (less than 1.5 foot) to the camera.
- video recording has max time limit of 30 seconds. This is useful for short clips, but generally videos require much longer than 30 seconds block. Note: Olympus C-4040Z has no video time limit.
- unable to zoom in or out after you have started video recording. However, you can zoom in or out before starting a video session.
- flash insufficient. When taking indoor pictures, flash assisted photos will look artificial, and gives you a feel that there is insufficient light (i.e. subject too bright, background too dark). I have read that adding an external flash will solve this problem, although I have never tried it. In the meantime, I use Night mode to compensate for this artificial lighting. With Night mode, your photo will look natural. The drawback is: the subject will need to stay still a little longer for the shot, so that there is more exposure for the darker areas. Unfortunately, my subjects do not always stay as long as I want them to.
- auto stitching does not work very well. Initially, I was impressed by auto-stitching. But upon further examination, I find that the stitching is done correctly only on certain parts of the photo. For example, auto-stitch is done correctly at the bottom half joining two pictures, but somehow auto-stitch did not stitch the top half correctly (i.e. top half is misaligned). In all, I would give auto-stitching a B- to C+ grade.
- photos taken tend to be more magenta in color. Fortunately, I can resolve this by setting Saturation level to Low (from Normal).
- noise found in higher ISO. Generally, G2 produces good quality photo at ISO 50 or ISO 100. I do not recommend using any ISO higher than 100 since I experience a lot of noise at these higher ISO. Summary of main points: G2 is an above average digital camera for an advanced amateur, with many bells and whistles to play with. 3x zoom might be a little too small, but sufficient for most shots. Main problems of camera are slow focusing and sometimes inability to focus. Strengths of G2 are swivelling LCD and sharpness. Considering its price, it gives good value for money, but there is much room for improvement. Note: You will definitely need a 128MB CF card. 32MB just isnt enough for a 4MP camera.
On: 2002-10-11
I bought this camera about two weeks ago. It takes awesome pictures. All of my friends, and family members are amazed at the results of the picutures that Ive taken with my baby (Power Shot G2).
Before buying this, I had a lot of options including Olympus 4050, Nikon 4500, & all of those other cameras in the market, but Ill tell you what? Its the Best, period.
On: 2002-10-08
...This is my first "serious" camera. I researched high and low, and this camera turned a once Olympus repeat customer into a Canon believer. The lens on this camera is very hard to beat. I challenge anyone to find a better lens at this price. If you want better quality you HAVE TO GO SLR! Another major selling point was the rechargeable batteries. DONT BELIEVE THE SALES PEOPLE!! These batteries last FOREVER. I took 2 sets of pictures (122 each) on my new Viking 256MB memory card (purchased from Amazon) with previewing and slide shows in the hotel room ON ONE CHARGE! Try that with a Kodak or Olympus. Its impossible! Buy this camera, or the new G3. You will not be dissapointed!
On: 2002-10-05
I bought this camera three months back, and took more than 1000 pictures. Almost all of them were of excellent quality. The battery life is great, controls are comparable to any other good camera. Using the 440BX flash, the indoor pictures give fine details. I will give a five star rating to this camera.
On: 2002-09-25
Right out of the box (after I charged the battery) the camera takes great pictures. Start by using the auto mode and then you can gradually experiment with the varied settings. Dont worry, you wont waste "film"! After taking my first photos, I connected the camera to my iBook and it automatically popped up on my desktop and transfered the photos to iPhoto. Its not inexpensive but worth the $ because it wont be outmoded next year like some of the low rez cameras.
On: 2002-09-17
I would have rated this camera a 5 if it werent for the fact that it has proprietary batteries (expensive). They do last a very long time, but a backup is always needed and a little bit expensive. I have taken this camera on 2 vacations where access to a computer to download the images wasnt available. With a 256mb flash memory card, I could take over 100 pictures at minimum compression. The results are amazing! From mountain vistas to macro shots of rocky mountain flowers and insects, the clarity is incredible! I would recommend this to any amateur photographer without hesitation.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-09-12
I really love this camera. It takes excellent photos with very little fuss. Great clarity, color. I use Paintshop Pro, Adobe and Auto Fx for software and I really dont need to tweak the photos (I do anyway, Im just like that.) Great battery life. I used to have an Epson that gobbled power, so this was a wonderful surprise! The only drawback I can see is the lack of lens choices. Id get a larger flash card too. I got a 128 mb card...If you really need the len choices and have the money, Id upgrade to the Canon D-60. All in all this camera is killer!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-09-08
This is a great camera for the pro-consumer. I stepped up to this camera from a 1.2 MP Olympus, which I personally think took incredible pictures. I thought long and hard before moving from my trusted olympus. I switched because this camera has great reviews everywhere from very technical sites to average users here on amazon. I would have stayed with olympus if they switched to compact flash.Heres some things about this camera:
- Heavy (relatively) although its not too bad
- Feels solid
-The swivel/rotating lcd is very cool
- If youre afraid of technology or not interested in photography, this camera isnt for you. -Dont forget that this camera uses a proprietary battery pack (same Li-Ion as canon cam corders so it should be easy to find).
-Get a 2nd battery pack.
- Uses CF or microdrive (very cool) - I HATE when manufacturers use bizarre proprietary cables/connections. Unfortunately this camera uses a truly bizarre connector for the USB. The camera-side connector reminds me of the flimsy connector on a pcmcia modem - you know, the one that always breaks. I dont know why they didnt use a usb-b or micro usb like on my rio player. Other than that, this camera takes great pictures that are truly amazing. I think, however that my olympus was easier to use (it only had 3 buttons). This camera is definately not designed for the beginner. (then again, its not targeted toward that market)
On: 2002-09-07
Prior to purchasing this camera, I was not the most avid photographer...taking a few shots here or there on my 35mm. This camera has been so much fun to use that Ive been taking it everywhere. I consider myself to be quite the amateur photographer, and some of the reviewers here have stated if you want a point and shoot your money is wasted on this camera whose features can do so much more. Im here to say that even if you are looking to buy a digital camera for point & shoot purposes, but are thinking about expanding your photography skills, get this! I spent several months researching cameras, and this camera has been a dream come true. It is completely easy to operate right out of the box....so if you have been apprehensive about learning the tricks of digital photography like I have...no worries...the manual is easy to use and very user friendly. The greatest feature of this camera is the rotating LCD display. Self-portraits are quite easy, and when you are using the handy remote control to take shots of yourself with friends, you can zoom in based on what you see on the display. I have been having tons of fun taking black and white & sepia pictures, and experimenting with the exposure settings. A great companion to this camera is the "Shortguide to Using the Powershot G2", which I purchased through Amazon....it is extremely helpful to the amateur photographer who would like to learn more about taking advantage of some of the more complex features of the camera. I purchased a 128MB Viking card with the camera & a carrying case; the 32MB card that comes with the camera does not hold that many pictures. Also, as many of the other reviewers have noted....the battery life on this camera is fantastic! That was one concern I had about purchasing a digital camera....Canon has exceeded my expectations with this camera completely.
On: 2002-09-03
About the only thing this camera WONT do is brush your teeth. Ive had this camera 3 weeks now and it is truly amazing. This is my 2nd digital camera and the last one ate batteries to the point I couldnt afford it any longer. This camera keeps going and going and... I took about 250 photos and down loaded them and the battery guage was still showing full. Plus the I set the quality of the photos about 3 steps down from top quality. I could get 54 photos with the 32 MG flash card and I dare a layman to tell the difference between this camera and 35mm SLR.
I love it Im certain in a few years they will put a tooth brush with it.
On: 2002-08-30
I picked this camera because it received a 9 out of 10 at cnet.com along with the Nikon but this one was rated as more user friendly. How true. It has tons of functions I havent used but I was able to point and shoot for a 5 week trip to the UK. According to my sister, 4 mega pixels is near professional quality (and allows you to blow an image up really large). I didnt realize this when I bought it. I just thought 4 would be better than 2.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-08-29
The price may seem a little high, but trust me this camera is worth every penny! I just got it and I cant put it down. It gives vibrant and rich colors, and is filled with great features. Awesome swivel LCD, Champagne colored casing. also I have taken over 100 shots and the battery hasnt even budged! In addition, if you have a 256 MB card like me, youll get 220 pics at medium compression. Like I said before, awesome camera!
On: 2002-08-23
The Powershot G2 is an awesome camera. It has loads of capability and flexibility for both manual and automatic shooting. The picture quality is outstanding...and upload to PC is fast and easy. This camera also has an excellent design and feel. Its heavier and feels more solid than many other digital cameras in this range. It feels good in your hands. An excellent choice for a 4 MP camera.
On: 2002-08-23
Having recently purchased this camera after owning a 1.2MP camera for 3 years, I really didnt know what to expect. Pictures of similar quality, only larger? The ability to print large photos without pixellation?What I didnt expect was not just larger pictures and larger prints, but absolutely superb images from almost every shot. I have been impressed to the point that the thousands of other photos I took, many of which I was very proud of, now look dull and almost comical by comparison. This is a fantastic camera, with a myriad of customization controls and super point-and-shoot capability. If you want to play with the manual controls, fine, they are available, and really broaden your photographic repertoire. If you dont, using the Auto mode, Ive found, will produce a perfect shot in almost every situation. My old camera had a problem, like a lot of older digicams, in low light situations. Not so the G2, which will take a shot in almost complete darkness and render a decent, if not lovely, image. With dim indoor lighting, the camera just takes beautiful pictures, completely unimpeded by the ambient light. The amount of detail, even incidental detail captured, is incredible. One of the first shots I took in RAW mode was of the area overlooking my neighborhood, with the tops of houses in the foreground. Looking at this same picture on the computer, I noticed what I thought was a dead pixel or two up in the corner of the sky. I zoomed in on that area, and zoomed in several more times to about 50X magnification, and lo and behold I had captured a fighter jet passing over our area! I didnt even see (or hear) this jet when I took the photo, but the camera captured it in incredible detail. In another case, I shot a photo of the night sky, with several stars and what I knew as the planet Saturn in the frame (I also like astronomy). Fair enough, when I looked at the picture on my monitor I did see the dots of light surrounded by blackness. However, zooming in on captured twinkle of Saturn, I actually was able to resolve the rings at high magnification, something I have never been able to do with the naked eye! Pretty amazing. There are a few cons; the camera is heavy enough that Im loathe to use one hand when shooting, as I could with my other camera. You just dont want to drop it. The screw-on lens cap is a nice touch to protect the lens, but couldnt they have figured out a way for the lens to unscrew itself and pop the lens cap when powered on? I hate having to unscrew it every time. In addition, in very bright sunlight, this camera tended to overexpose in Auto mode. You should learn the different settings to make your shooting effective under these conditions. I should also mention that this camera is not kind if you have a blemish or scars or any other item you usually find unnoticeable in other photos. The high pixel count gives you a very very large and sharp amount of detail, and you may find yourself wishing you had washed your face after the marinara if you are not careful. Although not a "con" per se, but worth mentioning, is that the G2s Jpeg files are very large, the RAW mode files even larger on average (although not as large as TIFF - thanks Canon)! In just a few weeks of ownership, and a few hundred photos, I managed to gather enough pictures to fill two 700MB CDRs. This is more than I have filled in three years in the highest quality mode on my trusty old 1.2MP camera. Be forwarned - you will have to archive much more often. If you are considering this camera, I cannot recommend it enough. You would not regret buying one, even at the almost 800 dollar price.
On: 2002-08-11
...
I see three major differences when reviewing cameras. That is what sold me on the G2, not the accolades of digital photography. 1. Speed. I read a lot about how long it takes to resolve a photo to its digital form. I have yet to snap a photo where the feedback on the display is there before I can lay my eyes on it. Does it need to be faster than that? 2. Battery life. I recharge my battery each day, so I have not tested it for endurance. I bought a backup and a 2-battery dc charger. So far, they have not been required. I am running around showing the camera to my friends and co-workers, running the display while they gawk at my first attempts at digital photography. There have been no warnings about low batteries or much of a perceivable dent in the display after carrying around my camera with me all day at work. (yes, and I even get a lot of that done too boss!) 3. I hear a lot about photo quality. I have a friend that purchased a Nikon, and know a few others. They all mention red-eye, just as the reviews do. I really did not want to deal with that.
And the fun stuff is great. When I get home, I spend a little time setting up the downloads to the albums I created for digital prints... The G2 has so many features, I decided to wade into the world of digital rather than try and learn it all at once. It is helping. I find myself asking questions about how to do this or that with a print. I get the book out and now I am applying what I learn while doing it... There are no disappointments where I wish I were working with silver media. The best part is, I can still take digital work and then send it off or take it to a good camera store and have the image transferred to silver for a print if I want...
If I really, really want to keep the photos. I can burn them to CD-ROM and they will keep better than a negative. No scratching, no fingerprints by well meaning friends, etc.
I see a whole New World opening up, and I personally am glad I chose the G2 doorway. There are others, and I will let those owners speak for themselves. As far as myself, I am very happy with the camera. I expect to find new things I can do with the camera for a long time. Why did I wait so long to get started. By the way, I purchased the black model in a kit. It is a little more, but I like that too. You get a traditional leather carry case to protect the camera while carrying. Also there is a 96 Meg compact flash card included. That makes it a pretty good deal...
On: 2002-08-01
The G2 was the third digital camera I bought and it immediately made the other two totally obsolete. Its not a conventional 35mm SLR camera but this thing is so close I am still amazed. Picture quality (for a digital) is superb! The battery pack is long-lasting, allowing you to take an endless parade of pictures before needing a recharge (and I have a 256 meg card in mine). The camera has sufficient weight to feel solid but is quite compact. And its the first digital camera that Ive actually had luck with the red-eye reduction feature. The 3X optical zoom is a blessing when you want to zoom in on something and still retain great clarity (digital zoom creates a grainy picture)and Ive captured some fascinating pictures with the macro feature that allows you to get in close for detail shots or capturing the small things in the world. The different shooting modes make picture taking nearly fool-proof but the camera is flexible enough to allow you to be "creative" if and when you want to be.The movie feature allows you to capture "mini" movies of 30 second duration. Though the movie picture is small and grainy (compared to its regular shooting modes), its a great little feature for capturing those spur-of-the-moment things. Improvements Id like to see are faster focusing, shorter processing time, and shorter start-up time (program load-up) but these things are minor and can be overcome by simply knowing what to expect as I grow more accustomed to the cameras "personality." Am I happy with the G2? No. Im ecstatic! It was worth every penny of its price. With its great image clarity, great focusing (though it can be a little tricky at times), and countless little features to explore, the Canon Powershot G2 is a heavenly piece of technology that actually exceeded my expectations quite handsomely. And if youre not very familiar with cameras, dont let all the little extras deter you from enjoying this gem because you can use it like a point-and-click (with focusing) until youre ready to explore its more advanced features. In short, this G2 is a sweet digital camera!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-07-27
I am a serious amateur photographer who has been holding out for higher resolution digital cameras. I bought this camera for my snapshot photography and am so impressed with the 8x10s I am getting, I probably wont go back to my film based system. It is great to not have the hassle of getting slides processed, sorting them on the light table and then getting suitable prints made.I will eventually get a Canon D60 body for my EOS lenses, but for now, I am having too much fun with the G2.
On: 2002-07-26
This camera has everything that my 35mm has plus all of the digital-features you could hope for and more! All of the features are ergonomically placed in all of the right places for accessing features on the fly, such as the zoom, or switching between different modes. The quality of the pictures are what will blow you away! The images seem to burst out of the screen they are so crisp and clear! 4 megs is definitely worth the extra $100 - 200!! Canon, in my opinion, is among the very best in digital photography companies. They were quick to answer a question I had when I called their customer service.One thing I was disappointed about when I received my new G2 was that it was quite large and heavy. I had never seen it in person before I ordered it (which is my own fault) but I now believe that if I did, I might have opted for the sleeker S40 which is almost have the weight and has a retractable lens. But as long as you know what youre getting, then the G2 is the best camera as far as features are concerned. The other gripe I have is the focusing. When you line up the shot and look at the lcd screen to see how well you are in focus before shooting, it does NOT accurately show if the shot is in focus or not. The actual picture you shoot will turn out GREAT, but you dont know that until you actually have taken the picture. That is quite a substantial limitation for a semi-pro/pro who needs to know instantly if the shot is going to be in focus or not. Bottom line is that if you want a high-quality 4 meg digital camera, then this is the camera for you. Just beware that you wont be able to carry it around in your shirt pocket like some other digicams! ...
On: 2002-07-12
This is a great camera, with wonderful features. BUT...The red-eye reduction system does not work. Instead of flashing twice, as most cameras do, the G2 projects a "bright" beam a light while you focus on your subject. This beam is not bright enough to constrict the pupils in the first place, and is not wide enough to even hit the pupils in a typical composition. You have to attempt to flash the beam in the subjects eyes before taking the picture--very difficult to impossible.For this price, and considering all of the advanced features, I would expect better. I cannot recommend this camera because of this egregious flaw. Canon G2 Owners: Please complain to Canon if this bothers you--maybe it could be fixed with a software upgrade.
On: 2002-07-08
This camera takes incredible photos and they print awesome with my HP desk jet. Even better when taken into a shop with a good photo printer. I took a picture if a rose after a rain at close range and could see the viens of the rose thru the rain droplets on the rose. Its worth every penny.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-07-08
I did a lot of research before choosing to purchase this digital camera and I have to say it has already exceded my high expectations. Its a complete joy to use and the pictures come out beautifully. I have been printing them out on a canon S900 printer and the results are amazing. I could not be more impressed with this camera. Definitely worth the price!
On: 2002-07-08
Camera Body, Compact Power Adapter CA-560, Lithium-Ion Battery Pack BP-511, Neck Strap NS-DC100, Wireless Controller WL-DC100, USB Interface Cable IFC-200PCU, AV Cable AVC-DC100, Lens Cap, 32MB CompactFlash Card with case, Adobe PhotoShop 5.0 LE, 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, RAW Image Converter 1.1, RemoteCapture 2.0 (enables Canon G2 camera to be controlled by a computer), Users Guide, Software Starter Guide, System Map, Canon U.S.A., Inc. Limited Warranty.
The design of the Canon PowerShot G2 is based on the popular PowerShot G1, with an elegant champagne metallic coverplate and an enlarged handgrip for better ergonomics. The Canon G2 has many features in common with its predecessor, including a superbly sharp high-speed 7-21mm f/2.0-2.5 zoom lens (equivalent to 34-102mm in the 35mm format), a Vari-Angle LCD viewfinder, 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 IBMs series of Microdrives. Equipped with a 1/1.8-inch, 4.0 megapixel CCD sensor, the Canon PowerShot G2 allows users to produce full-color, high-resolution images up to 2272 x 1704 pixels. The camera also offers three additional resolution settings of 1600 x 1200, 1024 x 768 and 640 x 480. The added resolution helps users to produce sharper enlargements with finer detail than is possible with 3.3 megapixel cameras. 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 Canons 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 G2s RAW file capabilities with its optional ISO 50 sensitivity setting, users can achieve higher image quality than any competitive model on the market today. The Canon PowerShot G2 uses RGB primary color filters on the CCD chip for maximum color reproduction accuracy. This feature, together with proprietary noise reduction and digital signal processing, works behind the scenes to deliver top-notch image quality thats unique to Canon.
On: 2002-07-04
Wow, talk about poor customer service. I purchased the G2 and when it arrived today and did not work properly I contacted Canon. They said they would gladly repair the camera but were unwilling to replace it or guarantee a quick turn around. With a planned trip to the Carribean next week Im stuck with a non-refundable plane ticket, a defective camera, and a company who could care less about helping solve a problem caused by their defective product. It seemed reasonable to me that they correct this problem but a supervisor told me that Canon does not replace defective cameras. I read another posting about Canons poor customer service but thought it was just a fluke. I assure you that is not the case. Even the best companies have defective products, but I was expecting more from Canon in terms of correcting the problem. Buyer beware! PS, I hear Nikon and Minolta are very responsive and customer focused. I plan to return my camera and purchase anything but a Canon.
On: 2002-06-28
Ok, dont bother reading if you only use...pro digital cameras. This is for enthusiasts, who want VERY good, sharp, detailed pictures, with lots of ability to control the camera for great manual shots, as well as great automatic ones as well...I love it. It is easy to use, heavy enough to feel sturdy, and is allowing me to truly discover photography, while not babying me through it. You can set EVERYTHING manually - exposure, ISO, Shutter speed, focus, aperture, light level, white balance, saturation, etc, etc. I have taken some wonderful photos, and am starting to really enjoy venturing away from auto into the semi-manual modes. Not to mention the stitching capability for panoramas is unmatched. Fabulous camera, Ive had great experience printing photos onto an Epson 820...even using the reduced size (medium) setting produces photo-quality, (NO visible dots, indistinguishable from film) pictures on glossy photo paper.
On: 2002-06-27
After many helpful reviews off the NET and hands on testing in many stores - I am very happy with this product. So easy to use. The build quality is top notch, performace is very quick when taking pictiures and reviewing them PLUS the controls are so intutive. Images are razor sharp!
Camera also comes with a little remote cntrol!!!!!
Sell your old stuf and get this one!! You wont be dissapointed!
On: 2002-06-24
The CANON G2 4MP digital camera is one of the best compact digital cameras on the market in this time.It is very easy to use and learn how digital photography can be easy and helpfull for everybody.This camera gives you a comfort what you can not find on most professiobnals SLR cameras.I have this camera by my own and really filled my expectations.Is perfect for family and vacation pictures.I would recommend this camera for everybody who did not try digital camera yet and also for people who owns already digital camera.I woul not recommend this camera for taking wild life pictures.As a every digital camera this camera is much slower then SLR cameras.You should think for what kind of purpose do you want to use it.I did not found better digital camera on the market in this class in this time.
On: 2002-06-20
There is something about this camera, and its hard to say what exactly, that makes it a joy to use and its owners fiercely loyal. I bought the black body in a kit that came with a sporty real leather wrap-around case and a 96Mb compact flash card to go along with the 32Mb card the camera body came with. This was a great deal at only about fifty dollars over the normal camera price. To begin with, the camera looks and handles like a classic camera, which is what none of the other 4 or 5 megapixel cameras can boast, with the exception of the Leica Digilux 1. It has heft and controls which please the eyes and fingers of dyed in the wool 35mm photographers like myself. Secondly, it delivers on image quality. Check the stats from the photography magazines and online camera reviews. The G2 comes out on top every time in its category, period. Sharpness, color accuracy, and contrast are all excellent. Thirdly, Canon delivers superb software with their product. Zoombrowser EX is a well thought-out program that allows the user to group, sort, modify, print or show slides of images with ease. It also coordinates well with Adobe Photoshop (a full version of which Canon also supplies!). Lastly, there are the little things that make a photographer happy if they are present in a digital camera and sad if they are absent. Happily they are all present in the G2: long, long battery life; excellently sharp and fast autofocus; accurate evaluative metering; manual override of autofocus; manual exposure control; the ability to add filters and other lenses (close-up, wide angle and tele); the truly wonderful swiveling LCD screen; and the ability to attach an accessory flash. Is this camera perfect? Of course not, but I think it is the closest thing to an instant classic the digital world has come up with and will still be used by its happy adherents when its contemporaries have hit the ash can long ago. I am a faithful Nikon 35mm camera buff (using the F5 and N80 bodies extensively), but I crossed the line on this one baby! Check out all the reviews of its competitors. None of them compare.
by: tom44 On: 2002-06-19
This is a camera for everyone. Simple operation, ample accessories and extra features usually offered on only much more expenxive cameras. -- Can be used with or without viewfinder.
-- 4.0 MP provides miraculous images!
-- Movie mode for 30 second clips is fabulous.
-- Easy data transfer to PC.
-- Self-photo timer is fabulous!
-- Excellent value.
-- Compact Flash Media format is so easy to use, not to mention convenient! In conclusion, there is not a better digital camera on the market, at any price!
On: 2002-06-18
This is not a camera for the "point and shoot" crowd. It has P&S capabilities, but this camera is designed for the serious photographer-- the manual controls and creative options are where this camera stands out from the competition. The Canon Powershot G2 4MP packs loads of manual and semiautomatic adjustment and focusing control features into a relatively compact (its somewhat boxy) and reasonably priced package.
In addition to the standard features on would expect-- 4.1 megapixel sensor that creates 2,272 x 1,704 images for prints at 8 x 10 and beyond, 3x optical (plus 3.6x digital) zoom lens with autofocus, a 32 MB CompactFlash card that holds 24 images at default resolution; Microdrive compatibility, USB port connections, etc., the G2 has some unique features, such as a swiveling LCD that allows you to point the screen up, down, sideways-basically in the same direction as the lens, whatever direction that may be. This is handy for self portraits or when using the remote (which is included with the camera).
Two video formats have also been included, allowing for 30 and 120 seconds of moving images with audio. Slow shutter-speed mode allows extended exposures in low-light situations. (A a NTSC cable for connecting to a television set is also included.)
Also, the included software package goes beyond standard image processing with a remote capture function that allows complete control and manipulation of the camera functions from your computer keyboard. Canons Stitch Assist program allows you to combine up to four images into one, seamless, panoramic view.
The rechargeable BP-511 lithium-ion battery pack is exceptional. I got over 340 shots on one charge-just amazing. The battery and recharger are included with the camera.
If heavy use of manual features is your thing-this is your camera. If "point & shoot" is your thing-get a less expensive camera. With the G2 youll just be paying for capacity and capabilities youll never use or appreciate.
On: 2002-06-14
I owned a G2 for over 6 months. After taking over 4,200 pictures, I am still amazed by what this camera can do. I use this for my wedding photography business and my clients are all very happy with the prints from the G2. The picture quality is excellent, I printed many 8X10 photos and seen many jaws dropped when I told them that is from a digital camera.If you are serious about indoor photography, an external flash is a must. The Canon 420EX is an excellent companion to the G2. The G2 is not perfect, there is room for improvement. The G2 could use a better and faster low light focusing system. The manual focus could be made better with a focusing ring. Faster shutter response time would be nice too. Overall, the G2 is an excellent camera that I would recommend. If you want a simple point and shoot, the G2 might be an overkill. However, if you are an amaturer photographer, this is the camera for you.
On: 2002-06-09
If I hadnt seen it with my own eyes I wouldnt belive it.Being a hard nose Nikon user for years and being the owner of a Nikon professional digital camera that accepts all my AF-D lenses,I was hesitant to purchase a Canon product. I wanted a smaller,more portable digital camera for candids and travel shots. Thinking that for the price of the Canon G2 I might get a pretty good snapshot camera,I went ahead and ordered one.Let me tell you I was suprised and very pleased with my very first images out of the G2. The lense is sharp and contrasty and gives my Contax/Zeiss lenses a run for their money. This is an excellent camera, especially for the money. One could probably pay 3 times as much for another 4MP camera and not get the great results offered by the Canon G2. If you dont have one-get one!
by: Anonymous On: 2002-06-07
This camera has amazed me for its robust constitution, i[ve even take it to the jungle and altough it got a little wet in the river it has been working without any problems, giving me excelent and high quality pictures. The only feature i wasnt satisfied with was the autofocus wich wasnt enough quick sometimes.
On: 2002-06-06
Just a great digital camera! I did lots of research before buying and have been very impressed. This camera has lived up to every expectation. It takes phenomenal photos. Whether printed by Ofoto or on your own printer, you cant find any flaws, even up to 16x20. The images are crystal clear. No grain as in regular cameras. Ive owned Canon 35mm cameras for years and love the quality. This is no exception. It does take a little while to learn how to use, but nothing prohibitive. The photo stitch feature in the supplied software is awesome. All you do is select the pictures and the software does the rest. I would HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend this. I have friends who have Fujis and Nikons in this price range and they are very jealous of the quality of images generated with the G2.
by: Anonymous On: 2002-06-04
I have tried three different cameras in the last three weeks. This is by far the best that Ive tried. I dont know a lot about cameras. I just know when the pictures look good. I bought the Sony S-85 because the reviews were so great. Well, I think if I knew what I was doing then maybe I could have made it work. But I could never get the white balance right. My little girls face always looked green (but this could be just me not knowing what I was doing also). And then I tried the Kodak 4900 that is suppose to be 4MP also. Well, the resolution was just not there on this camera. The color looked good, but the resolution was worse than the 3MP camera that I tried (maybe thats why its so much cheaper). And the other camera was a Sony also, but it was a 3MP, and you cant really compare that one to this one at all. So, Ive decided on this one, and I have taken some great shots. I have three kids so its hard getting them into focus sometimes (Im using autofocus also), but when I do, the pictures are great. They look better than my old film camera, and the color is excellent. The Canon has so many manual options that I think is just great. I dont know what most of them do right now, but I will find out. And the movie mode is very nice too. You need to buy a bigger compact flash card though, but you need to on all the cameras really if you want to you use the highest resolution. Well, I guess all I can say is that I really love this camera, and Ive tried three.
On: 2002-06-03
Ive had my Canon Powershot G2 4MP Digital Camera for about 3 months now and I am completely in love. This is my 3rd Digital Camera and I think I will be using this camera for years to come. This camera package includes the beautiful 4.0 Mega-pixel Canon PowerShot G2 camera, 32MB CompactFlash card, lithium-ion rechargeable battery, AC Adapter, wireless remote control, neck strap, lens cap w/strap, USB cable, A/V cable along with software and manual.4 Megapixel settings on the camera allows you to take pictures that look just as a good as a traditional 35 mm high quality camera. The camera can be set to 4 different resolutions with a maximum resolution of 2272 x 1704 and the minimum resolution of 640 x 480. You can store the images captured in JPEG or RAW format, which is better than the traditional TIFF format. Canon does include software that will allow you to convert the RAW format. The camera accepts both Type I and Type II CompactFlash memory cards. A 32MB card is included which will allow for about 10-15 pictures in the highest resolution setting. I instantly sprang for a SanDisk 256 MB CompactFlash Card and the Sandisk Imagemate CompactFlash Card Reader (SDDR-31) to download the pictures from the card directly vs. using the cameras USB connector. The camera is also microdrive compatible, but I havent had an opportunity to try that yet. The prices for 1 GB microdrives are around $300.00 which makes it a really attractive accessory for this camera. The 3x optical zoom lens gives you a 35mm equivalent focal length of 34 to 102mm. Another thing I love about this camera is the tilt-and-swivel LCD thats included. The LCD twits around completely that will allow you to take some of the over-the-head, backwards, impossible shots. One of the best features about this camera is its battery consumption or the lack thereof. I took over 200 pictures indoors with flash in one sitting and I still had plenty of juice left into the battery. I could have shot for another 2 hours, but I ran out of CF cards. The G2 also has a full TTL hot-shoe built onto the top of the camera to add another flash. The bottom of the camera includes a tripod mount. The true camera geeks will be happy with all the possible exposure modes available on the camera. Starting with the automatic exposure mode to complete granular control that the SLR provides, this camera will make everyone happy. The scene exposure modes allow for presets to take portraits, pan-focus, landscape, and night-scene. If you get this camera, you have to try to use the included Photo Stitch software to take those truly breathtaking panoramic pictures. In conclusion, this is a great camera that will give you years of great service and take fabulous pictures. The only complaint I would have about this camera was the connectivity on my XP computer. The camera includes a USB cable and software that is supposed to allow you to download the pictures from the camera directly, but I was getting some weird connectivity errors. Since I already had the Sandisk CF card reader, I never tried to get this connectivity working. But a lot of other people have this working and so this shouldnt be an issue for anyone.
On: 2002-05-31
I am very pleased with this camera. It takes great pictures and gives you as much control over the picture as you need. Its very easy to use, whether your a novice or a more seasoned photographer.I gave it a four instead of five for two reasons. The first is the lack of an external charger. The battery for this camera can only be charged in the camera. This makes having two batteries less useful since you cant charge one while using the other. Unless of course you want to spend even more money on the external charger. The second reason is when using the extension for use with filters and other lenses yo |
