I shoot Nikon (D2Xs & D300) but I am looking for a small light camera for travel and the Canon G11 seems to be a good choice. I know it's blasphemy to inquire about a "Canon" camera in the Nikon forum but this is the "place" I visit every day and so I am asking here. Has anyone shot with this camera? Opinions please. Or - can you recommend a Nikon P&S Camera? I am interested in a camera without interchangeable lens, decent built in flash, and excellent image quality. It will be used for family photos and I do not need long telephoto capabilities. Bill
I had an LX3 and sold it (for more than I paid!). It's an awesome little camera, but zoom just wasn't quite long enough (one can rave about how wide it is, but that's just not my shooting style, 60mm equiv at the long end just isn't quite enough for me). Plus Aperture (still) doesn't support Panny's RAW for their cameras that need distortion correction in RAW. The Canon S90 looks like it will be my next P&S.
D700 + D300 + SD880 (chosen for size and wide angle range). The G11, G10 and the SD880 are among a very short list of point and shoots that go as wide as 28mm which I find is one of my favorite features.
There's the added benefit of being able to hack a Canon with the CHDK Utility...I don't recall seeing if they released a working version for the G11 yet but it's something to keep an eye out for if and when they do.
You can add features like intervalometers, super high speed sync (few have managed 1/8000th sync to do water drop shots)...and the list goes on. It would be less useful on the Gseries since they're manual already, but it's an interesting hack nevertheless
Thanks for all the replies and information! I'll sort it out for a few days and try to handle the two or three cameras that fit my needs best.
Poisonpill - I had a Nikon D40 (stolen w/a Nikon 70-300 AFS G lens on it!). It was one of the most fun to use cameras I have ever had. It sells at B&H for about $470., which is a little less than the Canon G11 - going for $500., also at B&H.
On size - D40: 3.7" X 5" X 2.5", weight without battery or lens - 17 oz.
Canon G11: 4.41" X 3" X 1.9", weight - body only - 12.5 oz.
Both the Nikon D40 and the Canon G11 are pushing the upper limits of size for my use - the Canon S90 looks good.
Honestly, for me, buying a high end DSLR is an easier choice to make than getting the right P&S
Thanks again - I have been a member here since 2004 and visit FM almost every day. I still learn and get a lot of good advice here and I find the Nikon forum section a really good group of photographers!
S90 S90 or the s90 it is very nice from my standpoint. Fit in pocket good macro. Fast f2 at 28mm 28-105 lens great at 400 iso passable sometimes at 800. Nothing real close til next week
I'll echo the point that this question is not off topic. I myself consider the Panasonic Lumix LX3 to be the perfect Nikon D700 accessory. It's with me on tough mountain climbs when my D700 would be too heavy by far, and its 24-60 mm equivalent lens is similiar to my favorite 24-70mm lens on the Nikon.
The Canon D11 is also worth considering--it's just optimized for a different set of parameters. The wide angle capability of the Lumix, along with the fast, superb Leica lens, sold me.
My on-line research on the Canon G11 indicates that shutter lag, or - the delay between depressing the shutter to take a photo and the actual recording of the image, is somewhat of a problem. Family photos for me includes people and dogs/puppies and I need a very quick shutter response in a P&S camera. Can any G11 owners comment on this aspect of the camera?
Thanks,
Bill
I had a g9, so I cant comment about the features, but if you're looking for a pocket camera, the Canon G series will not fit the bill. The reason I sold the G9 was because I figured if I was carrying that thing around, I might as well carry a DSLR and get all its benefits over teh G series. For a true pocket camera, I think its hard to beat the Lumix series, personally. I have an older one DMC-01, or something like that, and in the right light it takes amazing pictures, and have had many pictures published in the local newspaper and magazine taken with that camera.
elmoreman wrote:
I had a g9, so I cant comment about the features, but if you're looking for a pocket camera, the Canon G series will not fit the bill. The reason I sold the G9 was because I figured if I was carrying that thing around, I might as well carry a DSLR and get all its benefits over teh G series. For a true pocket camera, I think its hard to beat the Lumix series, personally. I have an older one DMC-01, or something like that, and in the right light it takes amazing pictures, and have had many pictures published in the local newspaper and magazine taken with that camera....Show more →
Funny that we all have different ideas. I like the G11 because it does not feel too small and if fits well in my jacket pocket or "cargo shorts" pocket(s).
I love my LX-3. Great camera capable of taking fantastic pics. Have heard great things about the S90. If you are willing to spend the money, I would definitely consider the M4/3s system, which seems like the serious photographers dream second collection.
