Canon G3 or Powershot S50

[melvyn]

Firstly, just joined the forum, looks great.

I am unable to decide between the G3 or S50, which is the best camera?

Do you all think that a G4 is on the cards, if so when.

Should I wait?

Melvyn

[BruceW]

melvyn,

I don't know about the G4.
I have the G3 and have only seen a few comments on the S50. The key differences seem to b:

- S50 has 5MP vs 4MP of G3
- G3 has 4x optical zoom vs 3x of S50
- G3 has f2.0 lens vs f2.8 of S50
- G3 has hot shoe. S50 does not
- G3 has swivel LCD. S50 does not.
- G3 comes with remote control. Not sure about S50.


I don't believe the extra resolution of the S50 outways all the other advantages of the G3. Of course you pay more for the G3. If you intend doing much flash photography, it a no brainer, get the G3.


Bruce

[Dana]

- G3 has 4x optical zoom vs 3x of S50
- G3 has f2.0 lens vs f2.8 of S50
- G3 has hot shoe. S50 does not
- G3 has swivel LCD. S50 does not.
- G3 comes with remote control. Not sure about S50.

You are correct - S50 does not include a remote.

The above features are what sold me on the G3 over the S45 (4 MP) or S50. Also important was the built-in ability of the G3 to take additional lenses. On the SXX series there are options, but I didn't like the system which made use a bracket attached to the tripod mount.

However,

If you intend doing much flash photography, it a no brainer, get the G3.

...this is very true only if you are also planning on using an external flash. The internal flash on the G3 is poorly placed (blocked by the lens barrel) and one of the weaknesses (along w/the optical viewfinder being blocked as well) of the camera for me. Two other differences:

- Heavier and bulkier than the Sxx series (it is quite large in my wife's small hands)
- More expensive :-)

Dana

[melvyn]

Thank you Bruce and Dana for your advice.

Melvyn

[satnitefever]

The S50 is expensiver than the G3, thats abit of a suprise although even though the S50 has just recently been in the market..

[Dana]

The S50 is expensiver than the G3, thats abit of a suprise

I think we're both right. :-) I've seen the S50 less thand and more than the G3.

B&H Video has the S50 for $539, G3 for $599. I got my G3 for $560 from Dell (not tax or shipping). I've seen the S50 for less than $500, haven't seen the G3 quite that low yet. So I think they may in fact be very close in price right now, depending on where you shop.

And in a few months each will be down to $200, given the rate of technological change! :-)

Dana

[satnitefever]

Oh I apologize for that Dana, I should rephrase that, bad grammer (heh)

Should have been a question mark after "the G3"

I interpreted the wrong way at first

[Dana]

No apology required! :-) I was not bothered at all. Thanks for helping to make sure the information was correct.

Dana

[DigPic]

I would say get both....you need the little one to always have handy and the bigger g3 for the rest that doesn't need the dslr!!!!! ;)

[MIckley]

Melvyn
As I was researching on a digital camera issue I had the same exact question G3 or S50.
I'm glad I got G3.
I might refer you to stevedigicams.com. he got pretty thorough reviews including technical information, personal impression about product and (what is the most important) sample pictures for each and every camera.
This reviews actually answered all of my questions, and helped me to make decision.
Few things I had in mind when buying a camera It had to be speedy (as I take a lots of pictures of my kids, and every time pressing a shutter and seeing an ankle or an edge of an ear instead of a whole kid is frustrating).
It had to have a good quality. (Having used s30 3.2Mpx for a considerable time I learned that this quality is sufficient for 8 x 11 enlargements and just perfect for 4 x 6 photoalbum pics.) So 4 Mpx was even better. (Sure 5 Mpx of s50 sounded even more sweet. But according to steve's s50 was much slower.)
A swivel screen to me was rather important. (Using s30 I really missed it sometime). BTW the speed issue was also present with S30.

S50 is a new product therefore they used all the cool features like DIGIC processor, fancy 9 point focusing system and so forth. Its pocket size, its made of metal and its 5Mpx. (I was In doubt till the last moment).
But G3 is much faster (by that I mean time between shutter pressed/lagged->picture taken). It has bigger lens (which allowes more light and widens a scope of light conditions camera will work well in. Plus the ability of adding lenses). Its more packed with features (after all its flagship of a powershot line) and stuff (somebody mentioned remote, I like the fact that it goes with Photoshop LE in the box.)
So judge from your own needs. If you don't need faster camera response time, or swivel screen or whatever g3 is famos for, then definetely go with s50. Otherwise you know the answer.:)

[Dana]

Forgot - a significant advantage for any camera is a fast lens...that always helps out in a range of situations, providing more flexibility, especially on a zoom camera where zooming in reduces light to the CCD.

S50 - max apeture = 2.8
G3 - max apeture = 3.0

Also, the G3 provides two "Custom" settings you can save and recall using the program dial, the S50 only one.

Dana

[geoff3dnz]

The G3's maximum aperture is f2.0, not f3.0

:)

Geoff

[Dana]

The G3's maximum aperture is f2.0, not f3.0

Absolutely right - I'm afraid I typo'd. :-)

Aperture on G3 is 2.0 (wide) - 3.0 (tele).

And I think we'd be remiss if we didn't mention a G3 weakness - autofocus can hunt and miss, especially in low light situations. That's the biggest "miss" on the G3 for me.

Dana

[satnitefever]

dana wrote:
The G3's maximum aperture is f2.0, not f3.0

Absolutely right - I'm afraid I typo'd. :-)

Aperture on G3 is 2.0 (wide) - 3.0 (tele).

And I think we'd be remiss if we didn't mention a G3 weakness - autofocus can hunt and miss, especially in low light situations. That's the biggest "miss" on the G3 for me.

Dana
Yeah thats true, but it dosen't bother some like me, because I use manual focus which turns out very well..