Canon PowerShot G2Canon updates their very popular G1 with a 4 megapixel CCD and improved color management.<<Camera Modes & Menus :(Previous) | (Next): Video, Power, Software>> Page 10:Image Storage & InterfaceReview First Posted: 08/16/2001 |
Image
Storage and Interface
The G2 uses CompactFlash memory cards for image storage, accommodating both
Type I and II card sizes. This means that the camera is also able to store images
to an IBM MicroDrive for increased storage capacity. A 32MB CompactFlash Type
I memory card is supplied with the camera. Entire CompactFlash cards cannot
be write-protected, however, the G2's Play menu allows you to write-protect
individual image files, protecting them from accidental erasure, unless the
card is formatted.
Still images can be saved at one of four resolutions (2,272 x 1,704, 1,600 x
1,200, 1,024 x 768, or 640 x 480 pixels), while movies are recorded at either
320 x 240 or 160 x 120 pixels. Still images also have three JPEG compression
levels available: Superfine, Fine, and Normal, plus a RAW setting that records
the image straight from the CCD, without any processing. The benefit of the
RAW data file format is that it compresses the image file without any loss in
image quality (the compression can be reversed) and the color isn't adjusted
to match any particular file format, such as RGB TIFF. All of the image color
parameters are kept in their original state. (RAW images require the use of the Canon
software for processing on a computer.)
A full complement of interface software comes with the G2, as does a USB cable
for speedy connection to a PC or Macintosh computer. The G2 connects as a "storage class" device, although drivers need to be loaded for both Mac and Windows, apparently to distinguish between the camera's remote capture and disk drive modes. The G2 downloads images quite quickly, as we clocked it at a transfer rate of 435 KBytes/second when connected to our Mac G4.
Following are the approximate resolution / quality and compression ratios for
a 32MB card (compression numbers are based on our own computations):
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| 2272 x 1704 | Images | 14 | 26 |
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5:1 | 9:1 |
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| 1600 x 1200 | Images |
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One
of the first things any new digicam owner will need is a larger memory card
for their camera: The cards shipped with the units by the manufacturers should
really be considered only "starter" cards, you'll definitely want a higher capacity
card immediately. - Probably at least a 32 megabyte card for a 1.3 or 2 megapixel
camera, 64 megabytes or more for a 3, 4, or 5 megapixel one. (The nice thing
about memory cards is you'll be able to use whatever you buy now with your next
camera too, whenever you upgrade.) To help you shop for a good deal on memory
cards that fit the G2, we've put together a little memory locater, with links
to our price-comparison engine: Just click on the "Memory Wizard" button above
to go to the Canon memory finder, select your camera model , and click the shopping
cart icon next to the card size you're interested in. You'll see a list of matching
entries from the price-comparison database. Pick a vendor & order away! (Pretty
cool, huh?)
Lost Images? - Download this image-recovery program so you'll have it when
you need it...
Since we're talking about memory and image storage, this would be a good time
to mention the following: I get a ton of email from readers who've lost photos
due to a corrupted memory card. It's tragic when it happens, there are few things
more precious than photo memories. Corrupted memory cards can happen with any
card type and any camera manufacturer, nobody's immune. "Stuff happens,"
as they say. A surprising number of "lost" images can be recovered
with an inexpensive, easy to use piece of software though. Given the amount
of email I've gotten on the topic, I now include this paragraph in all my digicam
reviews. The program you need is called PhotoRescue, by DataRescue SA. Read
our review of it if you'd like, but download the program now,
so you'll have it. It doesn't cost a penny until you need it, and even then
it's only $29, with a money back guarantee. So download PhotoRescue for
Windows or PhotoRescue for
Mac while you're thinking of it. (While you're at it, download the PDF
manual and quickstart
guide as well.) Stash the file in a safe place and it'll be there when you need
it. Trust me, needing this is not a matter of if, but when... PhotoRescue
is about the best and easiest tool for recovering digital photos I've seen.
(Disclosure: IR gets a small commission from sales of the product, but I'd highly
recommend the program even if we didn't.) OK, now back to our regularly
scheduled review...
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