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Canon PowerShot G1 Canon combines dead-easy auto shooting, full manual control, and excellent image quality in a killer3 megapixel! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PowerShot G1 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User Interface Review First Posted: 10/28/2000

Operation and User Interface
Though its combination of control buttons and dials may seem a little complicated at first glance, the G1's user interface is actually very straightforward. We generally prefer to change as many exposure settings as possible without resorting to the LCD menu, and the G1 provides a fair amount of such external control. The camera controls are somewhat spread out, but you could conceivably operate the camera one-handed and still access the majority of the buttons. We appreciated the small status display panel on top of the camera, which allows you to check current camera settings without having to activate the LCD monitor (a battery conservation feature). We also enjoyed shooting with the rotating LCD screen, which made composing shots from odd angles a little easier to manage. The ability to flip the monitor all the way around to face the back panel was great for keeping fingerprint smudges off of the screen when handling the camera.

Though we missed the security of a bulky hand-grip, it made sense to keep this already substantial camera down in size, and the small finger grips on the front and back of the camera provide a reasonably firm hold. The only control feature we had a hard time operating was the power dial, which is difficult to turn with just one finger or thumb (especially one-handed). We found the force required to turn the dial from the Shooting mode to the Off position actually pushed it beyond the target setting and on to the Replay mode. A two-finger approach worked a little better; gripping the front and back of the dial with a thumb and index finger provided just enough control to do the job right. Take note that when using the Mode dial, the settings align with a very small and inconspicuous marker jutting from the base of the flash hot shoe mount; it's easy to miss if you're not paying attention.


Control Enumeration


Zoom Toggle: Encircling the shutter button on top of the camera is toggle switch that controls the optical zoom in any record mode. Pushing it to the left gives you wide-angle and pushing it to the right zooms into telephoto.

Shutter Button: In the center of the zoom toggle switch is the shutter button. When halfway depressed, it sets focus and exposure; when fully depressed, it trips the shutter release. In the Self-Timer/Wireless mode (see below), fully depressing the shutter button triggers a 12-second countdown before the shutter is released. Holding the shutter button down after an exposure displays the captured image on the LCD monitor for as long as you hold it down. You can also program the camera to provide an automatic 2- or 10-second display of the captured image by setting the Review value in the Record menu.


Contiuous/Self-Timer/Wireless Controller Button: Located just behind the shutter button and zoom toggle switch, this button cycles between the Continuous Shooting, Self-Timer/Wireless Control, and Single frame recording modes.


Mode Dial: To the left of the Continous/Self-Timer button, and sitting on top of the camera's power control, this notched dial is used to select the camera's shooting modes. Olympus divides these functions into two categories: Image Zone and Creative Zone. Their options are as follows:

Creative Zone

• Manual (M): Provides complete control over all exposure settings, including shutter speed and lens aperture.
• Aperture-Priority AE (Tv): Allows you to set the lens aperture from f/2.0 to f/8.0 (depending on the zoom setting), while the camera controls the shutter speed. In this mode, you maintain control over all other exposure variables.
• Shutter-Speed Priority (AE): Allows you to control the shutter speed settings from 1/1,000 to 8 seconds, while the camera controls the aperture. All other exposure settings are available.
• Program AE (P): Places the camera in control of shutter speed and lens aperture, while you maintain control over everything else (i.e., white balance, ISO, metering, exposure compensation, flash, etc.).
• Auto: The camera controls everything about the exposure, except for flash mode and the image size and quality settings.

Image Zone

• Pan Focus: Fixes the camera's lens at the widest angle setting, so that close-up and distant subjects will remain within the depth-of-field. Best used for sports or fast-action photography.
• Portrait: Uses a large aperture setting to blur the background and keep the primary subject in sharp focus.
• Landscape: Employs a small aperture setting to keep both the background and foreground in focus.
• Night Scene: Uses slower shutter speeds and flash to even out nighttime exposures. The slow shutter speed allows more ambient light to be recorded in the low-light areas, while the flash freezes the subject. The red-eye reduction mode can be used with this exposure mode to eliminate red-eye in night portraits.
• Black and White: Records the image in black-and-white monotone.
• Stitch-Assist: Allows you to record a series of images, either horizontally, vertically, or in a clockwise, 360-degree pattern, to be "stitched" together into one large image or panorama on a computer.
• Movie: Records up to 30 seconds of moving images with sound, at approximately 15 frames per second.

Main/Power Dial: Located directly beneath the Mode dial, this larger notched dial controls the camera's operating mode. The following options are available:

• Shooting Mode: Sets up the camera to record still or moving images, using a variety of exposure modes. When the dial is set to a record position, the lens telescopes out from the camera body.
• Power Off: Powers the camera off, and signals the lens to retract back into the lens barrel.
• Replay Mode: Frequently referred to as "playback" mode, this function allows you to scroll through captured images, as well as erase, protect, or rotate them; make a slide show; or set them up for printing on a Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) device.
• PC Connection Mode: Sets up the camera for connecting to a computer, for either image download or remote control.

Omni Selector Arrow Pad: Positioned in the top right corner of the back panel, this rocker pad features four arrows, one in each cardinal direction. In any settings menu, these arrows navigate through menu options. In shooting modes, the left and right arrows work in conjunction with several exposure controls to adjust settings. When manual focus is enabled, the up and down arrows manually adjust focus. In manual exposure mode, the left and right arrows set the shutter speed, while the up and down arrows set the lens aperture. In aperture and shutter-speed priority modes, the left and right arrows adjust the designated exposure variable. When using the four-function exposure compensation button, the arrows help you select exposure variation in the three exposure conpensation functions, and it scrolls through white balance settings. In playback mode, the right and left arrows scroll through captured images. When the Magnifying Images mode is enabled, all four arrows allow you to move around within the enlarged image to examine detail.


Menu Button: Just beneath the Omni selector is the Menu button, which calls up the Record and Setup menus on the LCD display in all camera modes. A second press of the Menu button cancels the menu display.


Set Button: To the left of the Menu button, this button confirms or sets any on-screen menu selections. While in record mode, you can depress the button immediately after capture to bring up a review of the recorded image. It will stay on screen as long as you hold down the button. In playback mode, it sets menu options and plays back movie files.


* Button: Located to the right of the LCD monitor, this button serves as the Auto Exposure (AE) lock and Flash Exposure (FE) lock button in record mode. When Review mode is active, pressing this button pulls up an erase menu for erasing the image.


Exposure Compensation Button: Immediately below the * button, this four-function button scrolls through four shooting adjustments: exposure compensation, white balance, flash exposure compensation, and auto exposure bracketing. When set on exposure compensation (press the button one time), you can use the right and left arrow buttons to control the exposure compensation from -2 to +2 EV in one-third-step increments. The white balance setting (press two times) lets you choose the white balance value from Automatic, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Flash, and Custom. Flash exposure compensation (press three times) works similarly to the standard exposure compensation function, by adjusting the flash intensity from -2 to +2 EV in one-third-step increments. Finally, the auto exposure bracketing mode allows you to take a series of three images at different exposure variations.


Display Button: Just beneath the exposure compensation button, the Display button controls the LCD monitor's display mode. In record mode, this button turns on the image display with the first press, activates the information display with the second press, and cancels both with the third press. In playback mode, the button cycles through the captured image information displays.


Macro/Jump Button: Located over the top right corner of the LCD monitor, this button accesses the Macro function when the camera is in record mode. In playback mode, it pulls up the "jump bar." When the jump bar is displayed, the right and left arrow buttons jump either nine images forward or nine images backward.


Metering/Enlarge Button: To the left of the Macro/Jump button, this control places the camera in either spot or center-weighted average metering modes when the camera is in record mode. In playback mode, this button digitally enlarges the captured image on the LCD screen, for close-up viewing of fine details.


Diopter Adjustment Lever: Hiding on the left side of the optical viewfinder eyepiece, in a recessed niche, this lever adjusts the optical viewfinder's focus to accommodate eyeglass wearers.


Flash/Index Display Button: Positioned in the very top left corner of the back panel, this button cycles through the automatic, red-eye reduction, auto, red-eye reduction (normal), flash on, and flash off internal flash modes. In playback mode, this button displays up to nine images at a time, in a thumbnail index format, on the LCD screen.


Manual Focus Button: Located on the speaker side of the camera (closest to the lens), this button puts the camera into manual focus mode, or returns it to autofocus, when in record mode.


Battery Cover Lock: This sliding latch is located on the bottom panel of the camera, next to the battery compartment door. Sliding the switch locks and unlocks the battery compartment.