Canon PowerShot G5 against an old Nikon FTn
Last Updated Nov. 1, 2003
I bought a Canon PowerShot G5 in early August 2003 and was eager to not only see how good it is, but also how a state-of-the-art 5 Mpix digital camera compares to an old trusted workhorse like my Nikon FTn (bought used in 1975) equipped with mid-70's prime lenses.
This review has very simple objectives:
1) To let potential buyers of this camera know what they are going to get with a PowerShot G5;
2) How sharp the images produced by this camera are, whether there is some discernable difference between the RAW/TIFF format and two of the JPEG (Super Fine and Fine) compression methods supported by the Canon PowerShot G5.
3) How it compares to my old, but trusted, workhorse SLR: the Nikon FTn with a 24mm/2.8 lens (a reputed sharp wide-angle lens).
If you are more interested in feeds, feeds and raw specs, other reviews and publications on the Canon PowerShot G5 would be more appropriate.
My opinion of the Canon G5:
Positive: after having fired over hundred shots or so with this new camera, I have to say that it is packed with features, light and small enough to carry around you during an outing, especially when compared to a Nikon FTn. The transfer speed with the USB-2 interface (my computer is equipped with USB-1) is very acceptable: approximately 10 seconds per image shot in RAW or Super high resolution mode. The RAW to TIFF conversion program is very convenient. The battery life is good for almost one hundred shots. The images produced by this camera are generally very sharp (see my tests below).
Negative: until this day, I am still very annoyed by the shutter delay, typical of any consumer digital cameras, which often times makes me miss freezing the exact facial expression or gesture of my subjects. Generally speaking, consumer digital cameras like the Canon PowerShot G5 are not the appropriate tool for taking action pictures because of the delay between the time you press the release button and the time the image is captured, let alone the extra delay it needs to write data onto the memory card. I really question the usefulness of the continuous firing mode of this camera and of the others that offer such a feature, unless you are satisfied with low-resolution images. I heard that if you turn off the Auto White Balance function it will reduce the delay, I tried it and found no noticeable difference. I found out that the real culprit for the delay is the AUTOFOCUS function, if you switch to Manual Focus, the Canon PowerShot G5 will fire instantaneously, just like a regular 35mm camera, except that it needs a second or so to register the image in the memory card. In some instances I noticed that the AUTOeverything settings would dictate that a picture be taken with 1/1000 sec. and F4.0 in a clear day, which is certainly not an optimal combination of speed and aperture in everyday use.
Wide-Angle and Tele auxiliary lenses:
I bought these accessories and, after a few hours of tests, decided to return them for two good reasons:
1) No substantial difference: there is so little visible difference between the add-on Wide-Angle lens (equivalent to a 24mm lens on a 35mm camera) and the standard zoom lens set at 7.2mm (equivalent to a 35mm lens on a 35mm camera), and between the Tele lens (equivalent to a 220mm lens on a 35mm camera) and the standard zoom set at 28.8mm (equivalent to a 140mm lens on a 35mm camera) that I was not convinced of the financial justification of such an expense.
2) Cumbersomeness: it order to install the auxiliary lens, one has to take the zoom protector and install a special lens adapter then the auxiliary lens on it. Not only the whole operation takes time, but finding storage room in a typical light-weight carrying case is not trivial either. All in all it is a big price to pay for such a small improvement in view angle.
The Tests:
I did not conduct a series of tests that could qualify as scientifically rigorous, but I believe they are thorough enough to allow me to draw some conclusions that will help other people to have an idea of how good a state-of-the-art (consumer level) 5 Mpix digital camera is today and also (more to satisfy my personal curiosity) how it compares to my 30-year+ trusted SLR, the Nikon FTn.
1) WIDE-ANGLE: tests with the zoom set to its shortest focal length (7.2mm, or an equivalent to a 35mm lens on a 35mm camera).
2) TELE: tests with the zoom set to its longest optical focal length (28.8mm, or an equivalent to a 35mm lens on a 35mm camera).
3) Canon PowerShot G5 versus Nikon FTn-24mm/2.8: comparison between pictures taken with these two cameras.
4) Canon G5 in MACRO mode.
Conclusion:
I have to admit that the results (especially after having been massaged by Photoshop or equivalent picture editing program) generated by the Canon PowerShot G5 are more than adequate for 95% of the usage that one would likely make of a picture. I like the total control the owner of this camera can have over the AUTOeverything settings.
I recommend you take most of your pictures in JPEG Fine compression mode, then spend some time in Photoshop (or any equivalent software) to further enhance the quality of the image recorded by the camera. This recommendation is supported by the following analysis I did: I compared the 3 versions and found that the TIFF version is a little bit smoother when viewed at 200% of their actual size on my computer screen, but at 100% of their size there is no visible difference. I then went on to print these 3 files in BEST mode at 100% scale on an HP PSC-750 inkjet printer with Epson photo quality paper, I have to admit that I, again, failed to see ANY difference between the 3 versions except maybe a slightly better tonal rendition for the TIFF version. Another evidence that JPEG Fine compression mode is the optimal one for the Canon PowerShot G5 is the fact that Canon has chosen it to be the DEFAULT resolution setting on the PowerShot G5. Last but not least, this compression mode also allows me to store almost 400 pictures with a 512 MB memory card.
In addition to the high sharpness quality of the pictures, a 5 Mpix camera also offers the convenience and advantages of digital photography:
- Instant images;
- Infinitely alterable medium;
- Easy and NO COST INVOLVED when sharing images around;
- Never again will you see dust and other unwanted particles on your images;
- Never again will the colors fade over time;
- No need to waste time and money on a film scanner;
- Easy to store, file and FIND your images;
- Lower cost per good picture that you want to keep (we all know that less than 5% of the pictures we take are worth keeping);
- Etc.
Vuthy Chrun
Don't forget to visit the camera collector site
You are encouraged to join this forum ( http://www.forums.photo-direct.net/photographer/ ) to further exchange info and opinions on this camera.
You can also read about my Minolta DiMAGE Scan Elite 5400 review at http://www.photo-direct.net/cameras/Scan_Elite_5400-text.htm