G6 poor in low light!

hi, i've just joined.

top of my christmas list holds a spot for G6 (or Pro1?).
but from many reviews i've read, many mention the poor auto focus at low lights, which is what worries me. (i plan on taking many photos at night / low light situations.)
i'm wondering if any of you G6 users have come across the problem, and if it's as bad as some reviewers state?

also, i'm very fascinated with VERY close macro shots, but the cam only allowes 5cm the very closest. does anyone have example macro shots to show off?
(i've tried macro on A620, and it focused only few milimeters away! which is very impressive!)

Most of those who complain about the G6 in low light have dSLRs. Pretty much all small sensor cameras have problems in low light. Some of the newer ones advertise superior low light performance, but then you find out they just have aggressive noise reduction in the software. Heck, I can use Noise Ninja.

Low light performance certainly is not the G6's strong suit, but you can work with it a little and get good results.

I personally have not found low light focusing to be a problem. But then again my former camera did not have an AF assist light. The AF assist light for me has been a tremendous help.

If you want to see what a G6 can do in macro look at the pics I posted in this thread

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=119247

When I have that problems shooting indoors I just move focus sqare somewhere with contrast colors, and then, half press again, that's work good for me.

The G6 IS poor in low light. Focusing is really slow and hit or miss. Of course my SLR is far better, but there are plenty of other cameras (fuji, casio etc) which do a much better job in low light. When I zoom in at max zoom on the G6 it simply can't focus at all in indoor lighting. I need to ease up on the zoom a bit and then it decides to behave better.

I took this in low light indoors with a G6. Christmas tree lights were the main light source.

http://homepage.hispee​d.ch/flowe/digifoto/hf​d_dof.htm

Prior to shooting in low light conditions, go to the above web site, print out the hyperfocal chart (G3-G6 use the same lens), paste it in your LCD well, and use it. Then chant 3 times:

"Evilllll shutter lag and low light autofocus demons, BEGONE. Yee holdeth no dominion over my G(insert number) camera. I cast thee OUT".

I now pronounce you clean. Go and see the orange box no more.

Also works well for you landscape guys craving foreground details and a must for you pano-heads. For lowlight macros, I suggest a different chant.

First, make sure you have read and understand everything on page 44 of your Users Manual - especially with regard to turning off the AF-assist Beam.
On Page 49 note the menu setting for the AF-assist Beam.
Assuming that your AF mode is set to Single (page 114), be advised that pressing the shutter half way down is only part of the story. You then should make sure that you have given it time to focus. Furthermore, you must note the yellow warning lamp in regard t focus difficulties. No point in shooting in AF mode if it's telling you there's a problem

Having said all that, what do you do if it is not Auto-focusing properly. Obviously it's time for manual focusing. Simply press the button for manual focusing (I didn't look that one up, so I'm assuming it's the same as on my G5.) Next, estimate the distance in meters and set your manual focus to whatever is your estimate of the distance to the subject and fire away.

A word of caution regarding on "what" to focus. Don't try to focus on something that is bland - focus on something with contrasty detail. In other words, the AF mechanism looks for a situation where it can find an "optimum" contrast. If the subject has no detail in the area you are pointing at, then it can search all day and all night and not recognize that anything is there. In other words, don't try to focus on a blank wall - find something with vertical lines (or horizontal lines - I can't remember to which it is most sensitive) and focus on that. Here's a trick that I use. Find something in the part of the scene that is at the same distance as is the subject but is in brighter light and focus on that. Then without releasing, swing around to your real subject and fire away.

I just recently bought a 20D because of focusing issues. I still like the G6 though. Good camera. Trying to get shots of my grandson were just too hard for me. One thing about the focus light is that is doesn't always come on. If there is enough ambient light in the room as assumed by the camera it doesn't turn on the focus light. Sometimes it would have helped focus if it had fired all the time. It puts up a focus pattern but it isn't very sharp but the extra light does help. In a dark room the light actually will let it focus but in an okay lit room but still not very bright the assist light might not go off and make focusing harder. That was the situations I was shooting in. If you do get a G6 one of those led lights that attach to the tripod mount would help it focus in certain situations. Also, sometimes if it doesn't get the focus turn it sideways and try. This gives it a different frame of view to focus against. Has helped me many a time to get a focus lock. You'll really enjoy shooting with a G6 if you get one. I'd recommend an external flash if you do. Will greatly improve your indoor pictures. I wish my 20D had the flip out LCD like my G6 does.