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Canon PowerShot G6

Latest update to a superb standard
(by Conrad H. Blickenstorfer)

The Canon PowerShot is a large, heavy prosumer class camera with a storied history and superb reputation. Weighing almost a pound and sporting a SLR-size power bulge, the G6 will never be mistaken for anything that even remotely fits into a pocket. This is a serious camera for people who are serious about photography. Everything about the G6 is designed to be of maximum possible usefulness for the job at hand. The large matte silver body feels a bit plasticky, but it is certainly designed to comfortably fit into even the largest hand. The Li-Ion battery is massive, almost camcorder style. In addition to the LCD, there is a large SLR-style information display on top of the camera. Those used to be common in digital cameras but have almost disappeared, much to the chagrin of serious photographers who want to see settings at all times.

The Canon PowerShot is a large, heavy prosumer class camera with a storied history and superb reputation. Weighing almost a pound and sporting a SLR-size power bulge, the G6 will never be mistaken for anything that even remotely fits into a pocket. This is a serious camera for people who are serious about photography. Everything about the G6 is designed to be of maximum possible usefulness for the job at hand. The large matte silver body feels a bit plasticky, but it is certainly designed to comfortably fit into even the largest hand. The Li-Ion battery is massive, almost camcorder style. In addition to the LCD, there is a large SLR-style information display on top of the camera. Those used to be common in digital cameras but have almost disappeared, much to the chagrin of serious photographers who want to see settings at all times. The 4X optical zoom covers the 35-140 millimeter equivalent.

The lens is very high quality and very fast (f/2.0), the fastest, in fact, in this entire lineup. The anti-reflective LCD measures 2 inches diagonally÷large enough for a digital camera but we'd like it even larger in a camera this size. The LCD is of the flip/rotate variety, which adds a lot of flexibility to picture taking. The anti-reflective coating makes the otherwise marginal LCD fairly viewable outdoors, but in case you need to use the optical viewfinder, it is one of the most pleasant to use thanks to good diopter adjustment and a round lens sitting in front of it that makes it bright and easy to find. Though the camera has a powerful internal flash, it also has a standard shoe (and a metal tripod thread).

In the buzzword department, Canonās DIGIC image processor crunches through pictures faster, improves autofocus, and reduces noise. Something called iSAPS uses a large internal image database to recognize scenery and apply the best possible exposure and white balance. A 9-point autofocus allows you to keep off-center subjects perfectly sharp. There is also a way to manually move a small rectangle around the display. That is what the camera will focus on. And, as youād expect from a camera of this caliber, there is ample opportunity to exert manual control for those who like to do it the old fashioned way.

All of this requires a good number of dials, levers, wheels and buttons, as well as extensive menus. No matter what surface of the G6 you peruse, it'll be littered with controls. Despite cryptic icons, most are fairly self-explanatory, but it definitely pays to spend some quality time with the user manuals. I use the plural because Canon provides several, the 207-page User Guide, the 102-page Software Starter Guide, and the 35-page Direct Print User Guide. And that's in addition to a very extensive Quick Start Guide. So prepare to hit the books! We like the software: ArcSoft PhotoStudio and VideoImpressions plus a Solution Disk with ImageBrowser, PhotoStitch, PhotoRecord, etc.

Comparing the G6 with the more compact PowerShot S70, both share inherent goodness and Canon technology. Both are workmanlike rather than flashy. The G6 is much larger and has many more controls to get the most out of the camera. Unfortunately, the two share a weak movie with a 30 second limitation and a slow 10 fps speed in its highest (640 x 480) resolution. This may not matter to the G6's target audience, but it is a weakness nevertheless.

What you get with the Canon PowerShot G6 is a large, conventional camera that provides all the tools to take the best pictures possible. However, this camera does best with knowledgeable use of its manual controls. In automatic mode, macro shots can be sub-optimal and other shots grainy. So hit those manuals.

We like:

  • Excellent image quality when used right
  • Extensive manual controls
  • LCD status display in addition to swivel LCD
Not so much:
  • Large, aging overall design
  • Weak movie mode
  • Fairly steep learning curve
Specifications Canon PowerShot G6
Status NA
Camera Type Standard
Size 4.1 x 2.9 x 2.9
Weight (oz.) 13.4 w/o battery
Effective Pixels 7.1 mp
CCD Type 1/1.8
Max pixel size 3072 x 2304
File formats RAW, JPEG, AVI
Compression Superfine, fine, normal
Movie recording (best) 30 sec @ 10fps
Max movie pixels 640 x 480
Voice recording 60 sec sound clips
Lens NA
Focal length 7.2-28.8mm (35-140mm)
Zoom (optical/digital) 4X/4X
Aperture f/2.0 - f/8.0
Focus modes AF, AF lock, manual
Focus minimum/macro 2 inches, 1.7 feet
Shutter speed 1/2000 to 15 sec
Sensitivity (ISO) auto/50/100/200/400
Autofocus system 9 AAF/1-point AF
Metering Eval/center/spot
White-balance modes auto, 6 presets, 2 custom
Shooting modes P/A/S/M/movie
Exposure compensation +/-2EV in 1/3 steps
Viewfinder Type Real-image optical
LCD size 2.0" LCD (118k)
LCD type outdoor viewable
LCD construction flip/rotate
Flash type built-in + shoe
Flash range up to 16 feet
Flash modes 4
Camera internal memory none
Storage Medium CF Card (32MB incl)
I/O USB/AV
Battery type Li-Ion BP-511A (7.4V, 1390mAh)
CIPA Battery life (LCD/off) 300 images
Street Price $499
Contact www.canonusa.com

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