Geekonomics
World tells geek how to curve & geek tells world how it can move.
by Nicholas Aaron Khoo, Singapore
Subscribe to this blog
Canon G11 announced, two days after I bought my G10
Aug 19, 2009 23:17So, this geek went ahead to get the G10 after a long while. Two days after he finally did, Canon announced the G11. Hurrah. Moral of the story? Don't wait too long. Or rather, you can always afford to wait two days longer, if you only knew better. Well, there's always the preorders to make sure you're always ahead, right? So, the question now is whether I should upgrade when the G11 arrives toward the end of year or if I should hang on to the G10?
(Picture from CNET Australia, credited to Canon)
A quick look at the specifications:
Effective: 10.4 megapixels, recorded: 10.0 megapixels
1/1.7-inch CCD
RAW, JPEG, QuickTime
Image stabilization
6.1-30.5mm F2.8-4.5 (35mm film equivalent: 28-140mm)
Optical: 5x, Digital: 5x
Normal: 1.6 inches (50cm)--infinity
Macro: 0.4 inches (1cm)--1.6 inches (50cm)
Integrated mount for the LA-DC58K Lens Adapter
ISO 80-3,200
Evaluative, Center Weighted, Spot
Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Underwater, Custom 1, Custom 2
Effective Flash Range: 1.6 inches (50cm)--23 inches (7m)
SD/SDHC
Still Images per GB: RAW: 67
JPEG: High res: 374--Low res: 7,684
Video: 640 x 480 at 30fps, 320 x 240 at 30fps
Viewfinder coverage: 77 percent
2.8-inch LCD Vari-Angle
USB 2.0, dedicated A/V-out, mini-HDMI (Type C)
Windows XP, Vista
Mac OS X (10.4 or later)
12.5 oz (355g)
NB-7L Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery
The reduction in megapixel from 14.7 to 10 may be surprising (the G9 was 12), but I hear this will actually produce less noisy pictures. The G11 also features RAW shots which I don't really need. But the addition of the articulating screen is pretty appealing to this geek as I find that it allows shots in pretty interesting angles usually not possible.
So, now that this geek has some time to wonder, should I upgrade? Looks really tempting.
- Talkback
-
scoobydoo says...
@Geek: It really sucks when a newer model is released so soon. The G11 has a lower pixel count and as such should have better noise and dynamic range performance than the G10. The pivoting LCD will also be useful for taking self-portraits. The G10, however, is a great cam in its own right. It's built like a tank and should last you a lifetime.
There'll always be something newer on the horizon, so there's no sense in chasing after the latest and greatest camera gear on the market. The trick to good photography is, after all, not the camera gear but the person behind it.
Enjoy your new camera.
Aug 20, 2009 09:44
@Geek: It really sucks when a newer model is released so soon. The G11 has a lower pixel count and as such should have better noise and dynamic range performance than the G10. The pivoting LCD will also be useful for taking self-portraits. The G10, however, is a great cam in its own right. It's built like a tank and should last you a lifetime.
There'll always be something newer on the horizon, so there's no sense in chasing after the latest and greatest camera gear on the market. The trick to good photography is, after all, not the camera gear but the person behind it.
Enjoy your new camera.
Aug 20, 2009 09:44
aseanna says...
It has been argued for a very long time now that more mega pixels does not equate to better quality.
Unless the size of the sensor is big (as in the bigger DSLR), a small sensor coupled with high mega pixel count is going to result in more noise. The common consumer will no doubt be impressed with the numbers game but photography enthusiasts will no doubt shy away from such products.
The G11 arrives at the time when the prosumer landscape is changing. The 2 front runners is this sector are probably Olympus EP-1, Lumix LX-3 or mabe the Lumix G1/GH-1 and possibly the rumoured new Lumix GF-1. The G11 offers nothing new. The lens at 28mm is not wide enough. It is bigger and bulkier than the LX-3 and less stylish or versatile than the EP-1. For PQ, it probably loses out to the cameras I have mentioned.
Now Canon, let us have your G12 with some new innovative design or technology.
Aug 20, 2009 11:38
It has been argued for a very long time now that more mega pixels does not equate to better quality.
Unless the size of the sensor is big (as in the bigger DSLR), a small sensor coupled with high mega pixel count is going to result in more noise. The common consumer will no doubt be impressed with the numbers game but photography enthusiasts will no doubt shy away from such products.
The G11 arrives at the time when the prosumer landscape is changing. The 2 front runners is this sector are probably Olympus EP-1, Lumix LX-3 or mabe the Lumix G1/GH-1 and possibly the rumoured new Lumix GF-1. The G11 offers nothing new. The lens at 28mm is not wide enough. It is bigger and bulkier than the LX-3 and less stylish or versatile than the EP-1. For PQ, it probably loses out to the cameras I have mentioned.
Now Canon, let us have your G12 with some new innovative design or technology.
Aug 20, 2009 11:38
drone1212 says...
Congrats on your new purchase. I have owned the G10 before. Let me tell you that the G10 is quite an amazing piece of engineering achievement.
Its 14.7mpx sensor coupled with the lens can out-resolve even the best 10mpx dSLRs. That is no easy feat given that other similar spec'ed PnS in the market struggles even to match other 10mpx PnS. At base ISO, the PQ is definitely the best out there.
The 28-140mm range is definitely a lot more useful than the 24-60mm managed by the LX3 in real life situation. UWA at 24mm may be useful in certain condition but most photographers find 28mm to be sufficient and easier to frame. UWA takes in too much into the frame which are a little more tricky to manage effectively. The extra zoom would really be useful when you are shooting a performance or exhibition from a distance.
Many photographers also find the G10's color to be a lot more pleasing. The LX3 has a strange tone curve and is a little more punchy, making the pictures more artificial. Amateurs like the punchy colors but many enthusiasts find it yucky.
Other things to like about the G10 is the fact that it is compatible with Canon flashes (with some caveats), shutter triggers and flash triggers. Essentially, you can walk into a studio with a G10 and take professional looking shots studio lighting equipments. I am not sure how compatible Panny's flash system is with studio flashes. But if it is a Canon, there is often less issue...
The critics of G10 mainly harp on the poor high ISO performance. Just as many are guilty to be obsessed with pixel counts, others are obsessed with high iso performance. People want a PnS to shoot low noise images at ISO800. Apparently the LX3 is also crappy at ISO 800 but many reviewers find it a little better than the G10. This is the area that the G11 tries to improve by lowering the pixel count.
Apart from that the G11 also adds in the following interesting features that make it perform even closer to a dSLR:
1) Max shutter speed of 1/4000 (equivalent to 500D!)
2) Flash Sync speed of 1/2000 (you can take water droplets with this)
As for the m4/3 cameras like the E-P1 and the upcoming GF-1, I have owned the E-P1 and the G1 before. Sold them off after a month.
The thing is, I don't think m43 is better than my APS-C dSLR. The m4/3 is compact only if no lens is attached. Even with the small 14-42, it is a whole lot bigger than G10 or the LX3. If you buy an m43 and don't invest in lenses, that is quite dumb but if you invest in lenses, that would be a whole new dSLR system.
This is why I now own a real PnS, the Fujifilm f200 EXR. If I needed an SLR, I will carry an dSLR. Otherwise, I will want something that fits into my pocket. Sadly the LX3 nor the G10 fits my jeans pocket. Oh, and that lens cap of the LX3 is a complete pain...you will definitely drop it on tarmac one of these days.
So, I think I will be more interested in the S90 than the G11. Same sensor, same IQ, half the size.
Owning both the G10 and G11 would be really dumb BUT owning the G10 and the S90 at the same time... especially if you pretend that the S90 is for your wife/girlfriend, may just work.
Aug 20, 2009 15:03
Congrats on your new purchase. I have owned the G10 before. Let me tell you that the G10 is quite an amazing piece of engineering achievement.
Its 14.7mpx sensor coupled with the lens can out-resolve even the best 10mpx dSLRs. That is no easy feat given that other similar spec'ed PnS in the market struggles even to match other 10mpx PnS. At base ISO, the PQ is definitely the best out there.
The 28-140mm range is definitely a lot more useful than the 24-60mm managed by the LX3 in real life situation. UWA at 24mm may be useful in certain condition but most photographers find 28mm to be sufficient and easier to frame. UWA takes in too much into the frame which are a little more tricky to manage effectively. The extra zoom would really be useful when you are shooting a performance or exhibition from a distance.
Many photographers also find the G10's color to be a lot more pleasing. The LX3 has a strange tone curve and is a little more punchy, making the pictures more artificial. Amateurs like the punchy colors but many enthusiasts find it yucky.
Other things to like about the G10 is the fact that it is compatible with Canon flashes (with some caveats), shutter triggers and flash triggers. Essentially, you can walk into a studio with a G10 and take professional looking shots studio lighting equipments. I am not sure how compatible Panny's flash system is with studio flashes. But if it is a Canon, there is often less issue...
The critics of G10 mainly harp on the poor high ISO performance. Just as many are guilty to be obsessed with pixel counts, others are obsessed with high iso performance. People want a PnS to shoot low noise images at ISO800. Apparently the LX3 is also crappy at ISO 800 but many reviewers find it a little better than the G10. This is the area that the G11 tries to improve by lowering the pixel count.
Apart from that the G11 also adds in the following interesting features that make it perform even closer to a dSLR:
1) Max shutter speed of 1/4000 (equivalent to 500D!)
2) Flash Sync speed of 1/2000 (you can take water droplets with this)
As for the m4/3 cameras like the E-P1 and the upcoming GF-1, I have owned the E-P1 and the G1 before. Sold them off after a month.
The thing is, I don't think m43 is better than my APS-C dSLR. The m4/3 is compact only if no lens is attached. Even with the small 14-42, it is a whole lot bigger than G10 or the LX3. If you buy an m43 and don't invest in lenses, that is quite dumb but if you invest in lenses, that would be a whole new dSLR system.
This is why I now own a real PnS, the Fujifilm f200 EXR. If I needed an SLR, I will carry an dSLR. Otherwise, I will want something that fits into my pocket. Sadly the LX3 nor the G10 fits my jeans pocket. Oh, and that lens cap of the LX3 is a complete pain...you will definitely drop it on tarmac one of these days.
So, I think I will be more interested in the S90 than the G11. Same sensor, same IQ, half the size.
Owning both the G10 and G11 would be really dumb BUT owning the G10 and the S90 at the same time... especially if you pretend that the S90 is for your wife/girlfriend, may just work.
Aug 20, 2009 15:03
ks20isniceshit says...
Read Canon Rumors, they may not be spot on but at least you know something new is coming soon.
www.canonrumors.com...
Aug 20, 2009 16:11
Read Canon Rumors, they may not be spot on but at least you know something new is coming soon.
www.canonrumors.com...
Aug 20, 2009 16:11
To post comments, you need to become a member. It's FREE.
About Nicholas Aaron Khoo
Nicknamed "Gadget Boy" by friends at age 18 because he used to scribble Grafitti on a PalmPilot faster than most would type, Nicholas Aaron Khoo is web developer turned technopreneur and Singapore tech blogger who also pretends to do strategic advisory for tech startups and 'un'Fortune 500s (when he's not pretending to be the gadget-loaded Batman). A digital nomad, his tech interests range from gadgets, games, tech trends, social media, security, and just about anything that runs on 1s and 0s. See his industry affiliations here.
Twitter . Contact Nic
Recent Comments
Geekonomics:
@scoobydoo - John answered your question already :) The touch-sensitive center selector is a very interesting feature indeed. Definitely ... more »
Most Discussed
8-megapix PDA-phone camera--Samsung Innov8 (45 comments)
Play FIFA online for free! (43 comments)
O2 closes Asia office and stops making devices! (38 comments)
Finally, Nokia's answer to the iPhone? (32 comments)
Taking a good look at the Nokia N96 (23 comments)
Should Facebook setup office in Southeast Asia? (22 comments)
Browse Archive
JanuarySponsored links
Olympus PEN, EP-1 & EP-2
Not a Compact. Not an SLR... It's a PEN!
The new Citi DIVIDEND World MasterCard
Get up to 5% cash back for every dollar charged to your card.
Win an ASUS UL Series Notebook!
Answer 3 simple questions and stand a chance to win an ASUS UL80Vt notebook worth over $1500!
Crack the code
Crack the code with Western Digital and stand to win the new PS3 (slim gaming console).
Just right. Nothing more.
The VAIO X Series. It’s everything you desire and nothing you don’t.
Samsung Camera, Two LCDs.
Twice the fun of any camera. Dual LCD makes it easy.
CNET Asia is now on Facebook!
Be part of the most happening tech community in Asia on Facebook
CNET Asia TV
Watch gadget reviews, quick tips, movie trailers and more for FREE.
