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Canon PowerShot G11 reviews
You can find here the most interesting reviews / ratings from the well-known expert sites about the Canon PowerShot G11 Camera. Here are the reviewers:
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- 16 November 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 06 November 2009 - |
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- 3 |
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- 30 October 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 26 October 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 26 October 2009 - |
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- 0 |
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- 26 October 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 22 October 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 20 October 2009 - |
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- 4 |
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- 19 October 2009 - |
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- 4.5 |
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- 13 October 2009 - |
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- 4 |
Camera Labs 's conclusion / rating - 16 November 2009 |
“ The PowerShot G11 continues Canon’s strategy for recent G-series models by essentially taking the previous version, adding a handful of new features and reinstating some from earlier classics. In the former camp, the G11 now features scene detection, new Low Light and Quick Shot modes, along with an HDMI port, while in the latter category we can finally welcome back a flip-out screen, not seen on the PowerShot G-series since the G6 back in 2004. Indeed it seems amazing we’re still playing catch-up in some respects with a model that’s over five years old – who knows, next year we might even see the return of an optically bright lens, especially now the recent S90 has dipped a toe in that particular pond.
The headline feature of the G11 is its low light capability with Canon taking a sensible reverse-turn on its earlier obsession with Megapixels. It works too, with the G11’s lower resolution allowing it to perform at least one stop better than its predecessor, and while the Low Light mode ain’t pretty at a reduced resolution of 2.5 Megapixels, it’s still impressive to shoot in near darkness without a flash at 12,800 ISO.
Interestingly though this doesn’t necessarily make the G11 a better camera than its predecessor. Sure the flip-out screen is a nice addition, but if you can force yourself to shoot at the lowest sensitivities, you can exploit the earlier G10’s higher resolution for slightly more detailed images without incurring too much noise. Canon seems to realise this and the G10 should remain on sale alongside the G11 at least until stocks last. So that makes the decision easy: if you’re happy shooting at the lowest sensitivities, get the G10, but if you want better quality at higher ISOs or fancy the flip-out screen, then get the G11.
But that’s just considering Canon’s world. While Panasonic may not have updated its LX3 this year, the G11 is not without new competition in the high-end compact market. The past year has seen the introduction of the Micro Four Thirds format with the highly compelling Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic GF1 targeting the same audience who’d normally be weighing-up the Lumix LX and PowerShot G models.
The G11 may have improved noise levels over the G10 and most traditional compacts, but can’t compete with the physically larger sensors of the E-P1 and GF1. The G11 may also have a nice built-in 5x zoom with stabilisation, 28mm wide angle and great close-up capabilities, but the E-P1 and GF1 have the benefit of removeable lenses and a range which already includes ultra-wide zooms, telephotos and fast primes. Sure, fitting anything but the pancake primes will make the E-P1 and GF1 bigger overall than the G11, but they’re still much smaller than a DSLR. And while neither the E-P1 nor GF1 have a flip-out screen nor a built-in optical viewfinder, they do have 720p HD video, a killer feature that’s sorely lacking on the G11.
Of course the E-P1 and GF1 also cost over 50% more than the G11, but while this would normally make them an unfair comparison in other categories, the fact is all three are targeting the same market: generally well-heeled photographers who are willing to adjust their budget for a quality compact with manual controls to act as a partner for a DSLR, or in some cases, a replacement.
This places the PowerShot G11 in a tricky position. If you’re willing to shoot at the lowest sensitivities, the earlier G10 will out-resolve it, and if you’re really serious about decent low light performance, you should be looking at a camera with a bigger sensor, like the E-P1 or GF1. Or if you’re after a compact with a different feature-set to complement an existing DSLR, the PowerShot SX20 IS or S90 are also compelling options.
That’s not to say the G11 is a poor camera – on the contrary it’s a really nice piece of kit which handles well, performs better than most traditional compacts in low light, and comes recommend if it fits your needs or budget. But we believe much of its target audience would be better-served by a Micro Four Thirds model, or an alternative PowerShot such as the G10, S90 or even SX20 IS.
Canon has to think very carefully about the future direction of the G-series. It’s been a wonderful range but as the company dawdled at reinstating killer features of models-past, the competition has moved on to deliver the enthusiast’s dream of a big sensor and removeable lenses in a compact body with the bonus of HD video – and even at a 50% higher price, that’s a tough proposition to beat... ”
Camera Labs's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
DigitalCameraInfo 's conclusion / rating - 06 November 2009 |
“ The PowerShot SX120 is the big winner in terms of price: at $250, it is about half the price of the G11. But the SX120 was no slouch, scoring nearly equal or better than the G11 in our tests of noise, color and image stabilization. The G11 had the edge in our resolution tests, though, because the images remained sharp across the zoom range, while the images captured by the SX120 at the longer zoom settings were a little soft. It is worth noting that the SX120 has a longer zoom lens, though, going out to 10x rather than the 5x of the G11... ”
DigitalCameraInfo's rating: |
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- 3 |
Complete review here
DigitalCameraReview 's conclusion / rating - 30 October 2009 |
“ When Canon brought out the successor to the G10 and dropped resolution from 14.7 to 10 megapixels, some eyebrows may have been raised. The trend in compact digitals has been to keep bumping up resolution (while not necessarily keeping pace with physical sensor size), but Canon heard some grumbling about the G10's noise performance and, to their credit, responded.
The G11 is a wonderful combination of a lens with very good optical performance, good auto focus and shutter performance, and lowered resolution on the same physical-sized sensor that produces excellent noise performance for a compact digital. Image quality from the G11 is the best overall of any compact digital I've ever reviewed - at 100% enlargements the images are quite clean, without the artifacts that seem to pop up to one degree or another in the other guys.
The viewfinder is poor for image composition due to its inaccuracy (77% coverage), but that's about the end of the gripes for this camera. It's bigger and heavier than the typical 5x point and shoots and the MSRP is bumping entry-level DSLR territory at $500, but the camera offers something for everyone - full auto controls, scene shooting options, face detection et.al. for the new user, and manual controls with DSLR-like adjustability (and RAW) for the more experienced shooter... ”
DigitalCameraReview's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
Gizmodo 's conclusion / rating - 26 October 2009 |
“ I like this camera a lot. It's what I'd reach for whenever I wouldn't feel like tugging along a honkin' DSLR, and I'd feel like I wasn't sacrificing too much. The real question, I think, it how it stacks up against Panasonic's Lumix LX3, which is in the same demographic—a lauded $500 point-and-shoot—and outgunned the G10 in many respects (though the G10 tried to cram 14 megapixels onto the same-sized sensor the G11 only squeezes 10 megapixels onto). The slightly cheaper S90 offers the same sensor as the G11 as well, and inside of a pocketable body—though you lose perks like the dedicated control dials and a viewfinder, as far as that's a perk on the G11... ”
Complete review here
Luminous-landscape 's conclusion / rating - 26 October 2009 |
“ Is the Canon G11 a good buy? I believe so, considering that one gets a really solid camera with decent lens, articulated LCD, manual controls, and decent image quality at low ISO. But, while the higher ISO (anything above 200) are better than its predecessor the G10, on an absolute scale they are not really acceptable to my eyes for anything except record shots and snapshots. The extra resolution of the G10 seems to me to be a trade-off that many photographers might end up preferring.
And as for comparisons with the new generation of pocket-sized large-sensor cameras, these cost quite a bit more money (up there with entry level DSLRs) but they produce far superior image quality.
Having said all of that, for the money the G11 offers good value for many photographers, and its articulated LCD and optical viewfinder make it somewhat unique in this marketplace. That's the primary reason for my "Recommended" stamp. But don't expect the drop to 10MP from 15MP on the previous model to be a magic bullet. It isn't. The game has changed, and for low noise, high quality images there are now new and interesting alternatives in the medium-sized pocket camera arena. There is also a new strong competitor to the G11, in the shirt-pocket sized camera segment, in the form of Canon's own Powershot S90, which uses the same sensor and image processing chip as the G11, and which will be reviewed on these pages shortly... ”
Luminous-landscape's rating: |
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- 0 |
Complete review here
Pocket-lint 's conclusion / rating - 26 October 2009 |
“ Solid feel contender for enthusiastic amateurs wanting a more portable back up for their existing DSLR, without sacrificing too much in the way of manual control. Shame no HD video though, and the price may cause eyes to water ... ”
Pocket-lint's rating: |
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- 4 |
Complete review here
PhotographyBLOG 's conclusion / rating - 22 October 2009 |
“ Priced exactly the same as its still current predecessor in the G10, the G11 offers the advantage of a flexible LCD screen plus higher ISO options. If neither is particularly important and a higher resolution will serve better, then the older G10 is the one to go for.
With the G11 taken on its own terms, although the lens in use can't be swapped, the broader than average 28-140mm equivalent focal range makes for a wealth of creative possibilities from landscapes to portraiture.
But perhaps the most notable thing about the G11 is that Canon has stopped playing the numbers game and is trusting the camera's target audience to realize that there's more to digital photography than ever increasing helpings of megapixels with each successive product.
For us though, it doesn't quite hold up to its manufacturer's claim of this being the ‘ultimate' compact - particularly when you've had the opportunity to swap lenses as on the competing Olympus Pen and Panasonic GF1 Micro Four Thirds models, the latter being a near ringer for the Canon in terms of size, shape and form. But then, with those models lenses cost extra, and with the G11 you have mostly everything you'd want in one neat package, which shouldn't be underestimated... ”
PhotographyBLOG's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
ePhotozine 's conclusion / rating - 20 October 2009 |
“ It's certainly a camera packed with features and that's something I've always liked about the Canon G series. For the photographer who wants to go out and get quality results without the need for a full DSLR system, the G11 is perfect and I think the drop in resolution was the right way to go judging by the performance and noise tests. Images are sharp and nicely exposed and I like the fun aspect of the camera as well as the serious attributes it can bring to photography.
Is it worth £499? The same price can get you the Leica D-Lux 4 which is older but has a higher prestige to it. It's also the same price as some DSLRs and that's the unfortunate point; it's a compact. Sure, it's a high spec compact with a lot to offer and in some cases, a better performance but it's a compact nonetheless.
If you're in the situation where you need a camera for taking on holidays but you don't want to compromise on performance or you're looking for a special Christmas gift for a keen photographer, then the Canon Powershot G11 is a camera definately worth getting... ”
Complete review here
WhatDigitalCamera 's conclusion / rating - 19 October 2009 |
“ In the world of advanced compacts, the G series from Canon has long been regarded as one of the best. While the models aren't always as small as some other advanced compacts on the market, the sturdy design and advanced feature-set mean that they are always a popular model - either as a DSLR companion or as a more advanced model in a standalone capacity. The G11 continues this rich tradition and the improvements over the G10 are well received. The reduction of resolution means that noise is much better controlled at higher ISO settings, while the vari-angle LCD screen is one of the best on the market. So, while obtaining a G11 does mean parting with a substantial whack of cash, if you do decide to purchase then you'll undoubtedly be bagging yourself an excellent camera that should last many years... ”
WhatDigitalCamera's rating: |
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- 4.5 |
Complete review here
CNET UK 's conclusion / rating - 13 October 2009 |
“ The Canon PowerShot G11 is certainly one of the best serious compacts on the market, but you've got to ask yourself just how much you ought to be spending on any camera with a 1/1.7-inch sensor, especially given the emergence of the new breed of large-sensor hybrids, like the Olympus E-P1 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1... ”
Complete review here
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