Review: Canon G15 flagship compact camera takes a huge step forward

 

Canon's PowerShot G-series cameras were some of the first premium compact cameras to really grab the attention of the professional photographer and the amateur shooter alike. With the PowerShot G15, Canon takes a huge step forward by adding a fast 5x optical zoom lens with a maximum aperture that ranges from f/1.8 at wide to f/2.8 at tele. The camera also boasts a 12-megapixel, 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor to produce sharper images and full 1080p HD video recording (finally). And at the heart of the Canon G15 resides a ton of advanced photographic controls, including a PASM dial and RAW image capture.

One big downside, however, is that Canon took away the articulating LCD monitor for a fixed one to slim down the G15's dimensions. This really limits shooting options and fails to take advantage of the camera's great Macro skills (focusing as close as 1cm!). And yet, despite this omission, the G15 is still not quite pocketable. It also would have been nice to include some WiFi connectivity, or even GPS functionality, but clearly Canon focused on the G15's picture-taking skills rather than to try to cram in wireless features.

And that's a good thing. We liked the Canon G15's great image quality, advanced photographic controls, as well as its easy-to-use dials and refreshingly minimalist menu system. And we have to admit the camera's slimmer design does give it a better, more responsive feel than its predecessors.

So what's our final verdict? Well, you'll have to read our Canon G15 review for our full take on Canon's premium compact digital camera, including gallery shots you can pixel peep, IR lab test results and more.