Canon PowerShot G1Canon combines dead-easy auto shooting, full manual control, and excellent image quality in a killer3 megapixel!<<Video, Power, Software :(Previous) | (Next): Reference: Datasheet>> Page 12:Test Results & ConclusionReview First Posted: 10/28/2000 |
Test Results
In keeping with our standard
policy, the following comments are condensed, and summarize our key findings.
For a full commentary on each of the test images, see the Canon PowerShot G1's "pictures" page.
As with all
Imaging Resource camera tests, we encourage you to let your own eyes be
the judge of how well the devices performed. Explore the images on the pictures page, to see how well the Canon G1 did, and how
its images compare to other cameras you may be considering
buying.
Overall, the G1 performed very well, with great color balance in
most instances. Automatic and manual white balance settings functioned well,
with good interpretation of most light sources. The indoor tungsten light test
proved a little tricky, however, producing a warm, magenta cast. We also noticed
odd highlights in the indoor portraits. The G1 accurately reproduced the large
color blocks in the Davebox test target with reasonably vibrant color balance,
and tonality was handled very well, as the subtle tonal variations of the Q60
target were completely visible up to the "B" range. The G1's color saturation
adjustments did a great job of controlling color intensity, without
"over-adjusting." Other than the slight casts and odd highlights, the G1 did an
excellent job overall in terms of color.
The results of our resolution
test supported our conclusions from the other test shots we took with the G1:
The camera captures an exceptional amount of detail, easily the equal of any
other 3 megapixel camera we've tested, but its images are just slightly soft,
compared to the sharpest 3 megapixel cameras we've seen. (Easily corrected
post-exposure in an imaging program though.) Numerically, we'd "call" the G1's
resolution as about 800 lines per picture height in both vertical and horizontal
directions, but there's significant detail visible well beyond that point. At
very high spatial frequencies (1100 lines per picture height and above),
moderate color artifacts appears, particularly in the horizontal direction.
Overall, an excellent performance but, contrary to our usual chiding of
manufacturers for using too much sharpening, we'd like to have seen a little
more in the G1's images.
The G1 provides excellent exposure control, with
automatic, program AE, shutter priority, Aperture priority, and manual exposure
modes, as well as several presets for special shooting situations. The user can
also control automatic or manual focus; image sharpness, contrast, and
saturation; spot or center-weighted averaged metering; ISO settings; exposure
compensation (for flash and normal exposures); white balance; and flash
mode.
The G1 performed very well in low-light tests, producing bright,
useable images in 1/16 foot candle (0.67 lux) light readings. (That's really
dark!) At these low levels, and with the resultant long exposure times,
there is only moderate noise present in the images, most notably at the 200 and
400 ISO settings. The 50 and 100 ISO settings showed a very minor noise level.
(We direct readers to Mike Chaney's excellent Qimage Pro program, for a tool
with an amazing ability to remove image noise without significantly affecting
detail.) Detail looks good in each of the low-light images, but color balance is
slightly warm. To put the G1's low-light performance into perspective, an
average city night scene, lit by modern street lamps, has a light level of about
one foot candle. Bottom line, the G1 can probably see better in the dark than
you can!
We found the G1's optical viewfinder to be quite tight, showing
about 85 percent of the final image area at wide angle, and about 82.6 percent
at the telephoto setting. The LCD monitor was much more accurate, showing
approximately 96.5 percent at wide angle, and about 97 percent at telephoto. (We
actually found that, at the telephoto setting, measurements for the LCD monitor
differed just slightly with the image size. It showed 97.0 percent of the image
at 2,048 pixels, 96.9 percent at 1,024 pixels, and 96.8 percent at 640 pixels.)
We like to see LCD monitors perform as close to 100 percent accuracy as
possible, and the G1 comes very close to the mark.
The G1 also performed
well in the macro category, capturing a minimum area of just 3.21 x 2.41 inches
(81.64 x 61.23mm). Color balance is a little cool, but detail and resolution
both look great. The G1's built-in flash does a good job of throttling down for
the macro area, tricked ever so slightly by the shiny coin. Color balance
appears a little blue with the flash exposure, and the large silver coin shows a
few magenta highlights.
Despite some difficulties with color and white
balance under incandescent lighting, the G1 turned in an impressive performance.
Throughout our testing, the camera's exposure controls and features proved
excellent for fine-tuning exposures to achieve optimum results. It also did a
great job in both the macro and low-light categories. Overall, a very solid,
performance with excellent control.
Conclusion
Its compact size, excellent exposure
controls, and unique rotating LCD monitor, make the Canon PowerShot G1 a great
option for novice consumers who want a camera with room to grow, and the RAW
data file format and RemoteCapture computer-control capabilities should also
entice more advanced digicam consumers. Overall, the G1 produces excellent image
quality, good color balance, and is accompanied by a robust software package.
All things considered, we think the G1 is a great solution for anyone who wants
the utility of a fully manual digicam, with the ease of automated control.
Clearly, one of the strongest performers in the three megapixel arena: Canon's
going to sell a lot of these!
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