G1 or other camera?

[Stenu]

Hi,

Maybe this is not the best place to ask question like this, but I'll give a try anyway ;-)

I'm going to buy a digital camera and now I'm wondering which one. I have allready Canon EOS 10 and I like it very much and I think that G1 would work with same logic? D30 is far out from my budget, so don't bother to offer it.

Key features is size, at least 3MP, good quality of objective and overall good quality. Isn't G1 a quite old model allready? External flash is good, but not necessary.

In Finland I have found the lowest price to be something like 5300 FIM (about $900), and 340MB MicrDrive ~2000 FIM (about $350). So, are there other good models nearly this price?

Thanks,
Jan Stenberg

[polak187]

The only camera out there that you can compare G1 to will be coolpix 990 (5).

Coolpix will have better manual focus, better metering system and better macro. Also Lens attachments made by Nikon are nicer and available in better focal lengths than for Canon. I love fisheye and after going through hell I got one for my G1 and it's still not it. New 995 will have a longer zoom than G1.


Canon G1 has a faster lens. Battery life is 3 to 4 times longer than on the coolpix. G1 is more durable. It accepts Microdrives. You can pop any flash you want on the hot shoe. Controls are spaced out, which makes them easy to use. Using an adapter you can mount 49mm/52mm accessories on the camera. Much nicer interface and software collection is supplied with the camera. 50 iso setting offers "grainless" pictures.

I'm a big Nikon fan. I owned a 950 and at my job I work with 990. Whatever lens Nikon comes out for my 35mm; if I have any use for it I buy it regardless of the reviews. Somehow I found Canon G1 more reliable than Coolpixes. Right now when all the prices are comming down G1 will be a nice value for the buck. Still at the end it's your own choice.

[Kid Moe]

When I was deciding on a 3.3 MP camera, I narrowed my choices to the Sony DSC-S75, Nikon Coolpix 990, and Canon G1.

All three cameras cost $1200 ($800 US) in Canada (except the Nikon which is $1150 ($767 US). So price was no longer a factor.

There were several reasons I didn't buy the Sony.
1) The memory is proprietary and more expensive than Compact Flash cards.

2) Sony doesn't have as many features as the Canon G1. Such as hot-shoe, 50 ISO sensitivity, etc...

3) Sony comes with only 8MB Canon comes with 16MB, and supports IBM microdrives.

Well there are many things the Sony does better such as providing more intermediate resolutions. And the Sony looks nicer. But overall the Canon wins on having more features.

As for the Nikon. It too, is a very good camera, but I must admit that a large factor in deciding against the Nikon was the fact that it looked to "gimicky". I personally want a camera that looks simple and understated.

Finally. The Canon Powershot G1 has received the most Specification clicks at www.dpreview.com . Therefore, I reason that it is likely the most common 3.3MP camera out there. That leads me to believe that getting support or advice (from Canon or from Forums like this) will be more available to me. Also, I hope, as do many people here, that Canon will keep making accessories (lenses, adapters,etc..) for this camera.

Ok.. thats enough rambling for now.. hope that helps you decide.

--
Kid Moe

[Stenu]

Thanks for you two!

I ordered G1 and I'll get it today! Sadly I have to wait MicroDrive for a week or two, but I think it is worth to wait ;-)

Luckily my wife wants a digital camera too, so I had not so hard to give a reasons to buy this one. Normally my toys are definitely something what my wife doesn't even want to see :-)

[maple]

Hi, this is my first post here and I am very excited to be a part of this community.

I am on the verge of making my first major Canon purchase, but cannot decide between the G1 and the Pro90IS. Maybe someone can say something? These are the stuff that are important to me:

(1) Good battery life
(2) Handy, portable
(3) Excellent resolution for printing up to A4 size
(4) Sharp, vibrant images
(5) Good zoom is a plus

Based on the above, it seems that the difference between the G1 and the Pro90 boils down to zoom and resolution. So the main question is whether 2.64 megapixels on the Pro90 is sufficient for a super printout of up to A4 size? If it is, then I will decide on the Pro90 as it affords a 10X zoom as opposed to 3X on the G1. Size wise the G1 is smaller and more handy, but the Pro90 does have a professional look and feel to it.

Can someone help, please? I have been sitting on this for weeks and feel that the time would be better spent practising the shots! Thanks!

Maple