Canon's G1 was my second digital camera, and the first to be what is the norm in today's models: zoom lens, video recording, and so on. (Yah, my first from 1999 did neither.) It was $1200. Ouch!
After it got dunked in the Pacific Ocean (while I was breaking my leg), I got the S1is, and have stuck to it since. I'm on my third S1is, because it has what newer G models lacked: lower resolution and the swivel LCD screen.
That's right: lower resolution makes for better photos, because they are clean -- no interpixel noise. (3 megapixels in the case of the original G1 and S1 models.)
The megapixel race has been as detrimental to consumers as global warming. More megapixels mean more noise, especially when coupled with high ISO modes.
This is why I was glad to read that Canon understands the problem of too many pixels with the new G11 model: it reduces the sensor from 14.7 to 10 megapixels. Their marketing department probably prevented the engineers from going even lower. (Fewer pixels means larger pixels and so less noise.)
Canon remembered to add back the infinitely useful swivel screen. Now, I am just waiting for them to up the digital zoom to 10x, and I'll buy one again. (Current zoom is just 5x.) Well, and they should get the maximum aperture back to f2.0 (from the current f2.8), as well as re-introduce optical zooming during movie mode.
Here's hoping for G12!
After it got dunked in the Pacific Ocean (while I was breaking my leg), I got the S1is, and have stuck to it since. I'm on my third S1is, because it has what newer G models lacked: lower resolution and the swivel LCD screen.
That's right: lower resolution makes for better photos, because they are clean -- no interpixel noise. (3 megapixels in the case of the original G1 and S1 models.)
The megapixel race has been as detrimental to consumers as global warming. More megapixels mean more noise, especially when coupled with high ISO modes.
This is why I was glad to read that Canon understands the problem of too many pixels with the new G11 model: it reduces the sensor from 14.7 to 10 megapixels. Their marketing department probably prevented the engineers from going even lower. (Fewer pixels means larger pixels and so less noise.)
Canon remembered to add back the infinitely useful swivel screen. Now, I am just waiting for them to up the digital zoom to 10x, and I'll buy one again. (Current zoom is just 5x.) Well, and they should get the maximum aperture back to f2.0 (from the current f2.8), as well as re-introduce optical zooming during movie mode.
Here's hoping for G12!
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