When I first saw the G11, it was like love at first sight. I liked the heft, I realize some of you might not like the weight but being old-fashioned and accustomed to old cameras like the Kodak Retina pocket cameras I did not mind the weight.
Now let’s get down to business. I wanted a camera that I would carry all the time and have it as an emergency unit when not carrying my DSLR. I wanted what I call a “restaurant camera” – something that I could use in low light levels and still have a decent picture. The unit amazed me in its “Candle light” mode. Though the pictures were of a lower resolution they were at least comparable to pictures that I had taken in the past using a full size 35mm SLR and Tri-x film. In a way I found the noise a bit less with the G11 in comparison. So my first need was fulfilled magnificently. I was amazed at the manual mode that when used in conjunction with the moveable rear LCD viewer let you actually see what the exposure was going to look at when you change the shutter speed or the aperture. You do not have to shoot first and then check in the LCD the actual result. I consider the manual mode to be great when you are working with light situations that you want to control how the final image should look.
You do not have to let the camera’s electronics dictate your final result. Granted, you can use the camera in auto and just use the plus or minus dial to force the pictures to over or under expose. In manual mode you see the result immediately. I particularly like the fact that the flash can be turned off even in Auto mode so you can use the camera discreetly in a museum and not be embarrassed by the flash going off unexpectedly. In my opinion the auto white balance is great in full auto mode. The Av mode let you control depth of field up to a point, it is not as effective as it is with a DSLR and a fast lens but that is the nature of the beast when using small CCD units. The small lenses that are used in point and shoots have a greater depth of field inherently. The foldout, swivel LCD monitor lets you place the camera in a very low position like even the floor and photograph a pet at is own height, or hold it over your head and take a picture over the crowds heads in front of you. Try that with most DSLRS. At this writing Nikon has introduced this item on one of their DSLRS. I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants a camera that can go anywhere pretty much and that can take pictures under most average situations.
This is not a catch a bird on the fly or an action camera but it will perform extremely well in the situations for which it was designed. Money well spent.
Douglas John Vergara – 12-28-2009
