I've actually still shoot film, the vast majority of the time, but I bought my mom a G-10 for her birthday last year and spent a few weeks with the camera so I could well teach her how to use it. I have since borrowed it several times and was actually about to buy my own G-10, but when I heard about G-11, so I thought I would wait and buy the new upgraded version. I'm glad I did just that. To me, this camera is worth upgrading to just swivel LCD view screen on the back. I can not tell you how many times I have shot outdoors and was quite unable to see the LCD screen even when you shaded it with one of your hands. Adding the swivel option virtually eliminates this problem. This opportunity is so nice when shooting outdoors, I think, frankly, about upgrading my mom's camera for a single reason why she did not have the best vision, which means that if I have problems seeing in the viewfinder, I can only imagine how difficult it is for her to see it.
The next best thing I've noticed about this camera is the better film speeds. I've already done a lot of tests with the G-11 and say they have improved the speed rating is a big understatement, especially in the higher film speed settings. I was very reluctant to use a film speed of 400 G-10 but I use speeds above 800 with G-11. Depending on the conditions your shooting, you should see everything from 1.0 to 2.0 stop difference. I did some tests, where the G-11 images taken at 800, which was essentially equivalent to a 200 G-10. I was hoping for an improvement in this area, but was not expecting that big of an improvement.
The next major improvement is to be in auto mode. I tested the auto mode with extensive G-10 as it should be the state, my mother spent the most, at least from the gate and I was impressed. There were too many shooting situations to figure that easily fooled the camera to take pictures with the settings that were less than optimal. You will still get good results, but it certainly needs improvement, and they have done just that. Running the same tests I did with G-10 clearly showed that this camera is much better to choose an appropriate shooting mode. Certain conditions, drastic improvements. This is probably the second biggest reason why I will probably upgrade my mom's camera for a G-11.
Many people were affected by the G-11, because it actually has a smaller image size than G-10. G-10 has a 14.7 MP size and G-11 has a 10 MP size. All in all, there is a 32% reduction in maximum size. People who have a strong understanding of digital image sensors did not have to worry about because the MP size is not the most important aspect of an imaging chip. Details such as dynamic range, image noise and low light is just as important if not more important, when discussing the overall image quality. I for one have always hated the MP war as we passed the quality that most people will be happy with for a long time ago. It has become basically a numbers game, where people believe that bigger is better, and they just do not seem to understand that they will never have such a high MP pictures. So I tip the hat to Canon for taking this very bold step, because it is the first time we've seen lower resolution in a line of cameras that are still developing. IMO, this is the white flag, which means war in the MP finally coming to an end and we will finally see companies focusing on these other equally important image qualities as much as they have with the MP size. In terms of image quality of the new sensor, its brilliant! I immediately noticed a difference in the overall quality of the images. They seem richer with much less compression on the higher and lower. If I had the choice to choose between G-10 sensor and G-11 sensor, I would take the G-11 sensor, every time. Again, a big tip of the hat to Canon for daring to choose to go that route with the G-11 sensor.
G-11 retains the same 5x optical zoom from G-10, if your ignorance is equivalent to a 28mm to 140mm lens. It is also the same aperture settings from f/2.8 to f/4.5, depending on the zoom setting. Shutter speeds from 1 / 4 000 to 15 seconds, and it has the same proportions as the G-10 (evaluative, center weighted and spot). Fortunately, they make no changes to the manual ring on top of the camera as this is easily one of my favorite aspects of these cameras. ISO speed and the camera mode caller, you can quickly and easily change the key settings. I am an old school photographer, so I still prefer to call buttons. IMO the best set of all points and shoots on the market.
2 Other notable improvements include an improved flash sync speed 1 / 2000 and a high-definition HDMI connector (Do not worry, it still has a USB 2.0 connection).
The bottom line is that Canon has taken the G-10, which was easily one of the best point and shoot on the market and made some great improvements that have taken this camera line to a whole new level. If you are one of those who care more about how many MPs have your camera than the actual image quality of the camera, then you should stick with G-10. However, if you are more interested in image quality than MP then throw everything you do, list your G-10 on eBay and run out and buy G-11. Image quality, better sound and reverse LCD makes this camera is definitely worth every penny.
The only negative I can say about this camera is compared to Canon's ignorance regarding the lack of common thread size filters. How hard would it be to design this camera, so it was a 52 or 58 mm threaded aperture? Believe me when I say that it would be extremely easy. At least they could design it so that all you needed was a simple step up ring for 52 mm or 58 mm. Instead, leave out the wires completely and make you go out and spend a hundred bucks on a third-party aluminum lens tube, which then allows you to use 58mm and 72mm filters. The "Plastic" Canon Lens tube is not even an option because it is so poorly designed. It just really irritates me that Canon completely ignore this aspect of this camera. Honestly threaded lens openings should be mandatory for all cameras, even point and shoots. Again, it would be extremely easy to change.
Total G-11 is simply a fantastic, must buy, camera.
5 stars!
Edit ......
The more I thought about it the more I thought I would come here and be more specific in relation to the lens related problem. While Amazon will not allow me to write the name of the company that produces pipes of aluminum lens that people will buy if they want to use filters with G-10 and G-11, I can be specific with respect to which you absolutely should not buy , which, ironically, it is made by Canon. The lens tube that you should stay away from LA-DC58K Lens Adapter, and here's a link to this item.
Canon LA-DC58K Conversion Lens Adapter for Canon G10 Digital Cameras
There are several problems with the LA DC58K. Firstly, it is plastic, which means that the overall quality is much lower than the other options on the market, in addition to plastic threads never a good idea because they wear out over time making it harder and harder to correctly screw things in, as it ages. This simply does not happen with brass or aluminum cables. The biggest problem with LA DC58K is that it does not fit properly on the camera. Once installed, it will be 100 free movement, in other words, it should have a nice sound, fit and it's just not what you get with LA DC58K. It rattles around and are quite unstable when mounted in the camera and this is simply unforgivable. As if this were not enough, you also get heavy vignetting at wide angle and the hose is not long enough, so it limits the full zoom capability. I have honestly no idea how this enhancement had to go to market in its current state.
I know it may seem incredible that Canon can design an accessory for one of their flagship models that have so many problems, but think it everything I wrote is 100% correct. I am one of those unfortunate people who ordered LA DC58K. It was absolutely disgusting and was packed up and returned after less than an hour's use. It's a shame that I can not give the name of the company that makes aluminum version, but since it is not sold on Amazon's against their policy to list it. Just Google "aluminum tube lens, Canon G10," and you will easily find the company that produces it.
