| |
|
Other Departments
Editorial
Recommendations in association with
|
|
"Rolling" First Look: Canon's Powershot G10 Digital Camera
Canon Powershot G10 Digital Camera Also available in Boston at:
I’ve had the Powershot G10 for just under a week. In that time I’ve shot hundreds of photos under varying situations, using varying camera settings, and testing varying features. A portion of the fruits of this labor can be found on the test shots page. Most camera reviews – even most reviews of consumer electronics products – include detailed descriptions of most, if not all, of a product’s capabilities and features. And because of that, I’ve decided to leave those descriptions out. I encourage you to read and refer to the excellent reviews found on other web sites and magazines. Here, I’ve compiled my initial impressions of the G10; what I like and dislike about the camera and its features. Why I like some camera features that many criticize; and yes, sometimes the reverse. As you read these impressions, keep in your mind the fact that I’m upgrading from a Canon Powershot G5, released five years ago. But despite that long time interval (an eternity in the world of technology), also keep in mind that I hadn’t decided to upgrade my camera until now, for technological reasons. 1. To me the Powershot G10 feels good in my hand. Even with an external flash attached, ergonomically I feel comfortable in shooting with just one hand (I do use two hands to reduce camera shake … even despite the G10 having Image Stabilization). The G10’s physical dimensions are 1/4 inch less in all directions than my old G5; and the G10 weighs two ounces less. I also like the G10’s shutter button; it’s smaller than the G5’s, and I can feel it well. That compared to the G5’s shutter button, whose diameter is twice the size, and is almost flush with the zoom lever (sometimes resulting in mistakes). 2. Many have complained that the Powershot G10 has too many dials, buttons, levers, and controls. They elaborate that the abundance of dials merely serve to intimidate many novice to intermediate users. To me, I like more dials and switches. Not because I’m a “power user.” Actually, the reason I like more dials is that I’m not a power user. For me, having more dials and switches serves two purposes. First, if I need to change a specific camera setting, it’s easier if there’s a dedicated control, rather than having to scroll through several levels of menus on a menu button to find the setting I want. Second, in my few days of use, I’ve discovered that the G10 performs excellently using “default” settings. Because of that, I use the separate dials and controls infrequently; I just leave them alone. I change these settings only when I want to experiment. And again, when I do need those controls, I go straight to the specific dial, rather than menu surfing. 3. From the shots I’ve taken so far, to me the G10 takes excellent photos. Expect to see more shots soon!
4. A new feature that’s really helpful is the G10’s ability to let you “customize” the LCD display. Pictured on the right is a photo of the G10’s LCD screen (NOTE: this is for illustration; the G10’s LCD looks far better in real life). I customized my display to always show a “grid.” The grid helps immensely with framing shots. Especially when photographing skylines, landscapes and tall buildings, sometimes it’s hard to make sure the photo frame is aligned well either horizontally and/or vertically. The gridlines help you get wonderful photos. 5. Despite the G10’s obvious technological superiority, I miss two things from my G5. First is the G5’s swiveling LCD screen. The LCD on the G10, while larger and having better screen quality, is fixed. So when shooting from a low-height tripod, I need to crouch in order to frame and focus the shot. With the old swivel screen, I just tilt the screen, allowing me to look down to frame and focus. 6. Another thing I miss from the G5 is the ability to shoot using a wireless infrared remote control. The G10 does have the ability to use a wired remote control, but doesn’t have an infrared receiver built-in. As I keep using the Powershot G10, I’ll be posting more opinions – and more test shots. Expect these new photos in the next few days!
arts & entertainment • lifestyles • superlative picks • front page about Boston Superlatives • contact Boston Superlatives
This site and its contents Copyright © 1999-2008 Superlative Media Group. All rights reserved.
|
|
