Just posted: Canon Powershot G15 review

I'm not quite sure what you are asking, but I think I have an idea. Just let me know if I'm off base.

To me image quality is rated on a cameras raw performance. How the processing and firmware handle the raw files for Jpeg output to me isn't "clean", and often enough I don't think manufacturers get Jpeg output right. Few seem too. Pentax, Nikon, Olympus, and Leica can be counted on generally speaking to be leaders in this department (Canon does good with DSLRS). The rest... well...

So with that said, Raw is an important part of the evaluation of a cameras capabilities. One not need to tap into them in order for me to determine how capable a camera is. Raw is simply the benchmark test for a camera. How much a user decides to tap into it's potential is strictly up to the user.

In my opinion the G15's Jpegs could use a lot of improvement, but I err on the side of keeping detail vs. blurring it out with noise reduction.

Carl

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