Don't let anyone throw you on the Casio. It has as many
advanced settings, actually more, than the G-1. It does not
have the hotshoe, the ISO 50 capability, and it doesn't have
the focus assist lamp. It does have a p-mode that is pretty much
fool proof unless you really try to mess the shot up. It has a
continuously variable shutter that exactly meters each scene
to the exact exposure the meter says is required. It has all of
the other modes that the G-1 has except the actual stitch assist
in camera. It is not crippled by any 1/1000s at f-8 only limitation,
and the flash is not limited to full aperture or slow sync times.
It has a hidden key stroke bulb mode that will go out to 30
seconds. It's bad points are that the close macro is not good.
You need to give it a little more distance. It does not have a
hotshoe, like I said, so you are limited to slaves for situations
requiring off camera flash. It does not have lens threads, altho
the newer 3500 does. There is a lens thread adaptor available
for it tho. It is easier to hold, easier to learn, takes better point
and shoot pictures, and will do things the G-1 can't, like stop
action high speed photos in situations where f-2 is needed
because of lighting conditions. It will allow you to use fill flash,
even at high speed shutters and high f-stops if needed. At
ISO 100, the image quality between the two is very very close.
At ISO 50, the G-1 wins, if you are good enough to make the
G-1 get it right. The 3500 even includes selectable best shot
modes on the cd, and in the camera that set the camera up
for different circumstances. The G-1 is built better, and the
lithium ion battery is nice. The Casio is easier to hold, use, and
it uses rechargable AA nihms. In the end, the G-1 wins for
absolute possible image quality, hotshoe, and build quality. The
Casio blows it away for ease of use, comfort using it, and
creative control. If the Casio had a hotshoe, ISO 50, and a focus
assist lamp, there would be no comparing the two cameras
at all. I am not reading stats. I have owned and used both.
OOOps, I forgot one of the G-1 strengths. The swivel LCD.
This is a biggy if you need it to keep from having to get down
on the ground to see the LCD for a macro, or for looking over
a crowd with the G-1. I use the LCD snapped into it's recess
well over 90 percent of the time. It is also reversible for
storage and protection. If you want to learn, and don't mind
messing up some shots, the G-1 is a good camera. If you
want a point and shoot, buy the Casio. It has a lot more
creative controls than you will use for a long time. If you want
or need more after 10,000 shots, that is another discussion.
The 3500 is actually the perfect beginners camera as the best
shot modes actually teach you the correct settings for different
situations, if you take time to study their settings, and there
are a bunch of special set ups included on the disk. My wife
believes you turn a camera on, point it, and push the little
button. She is not real fond of the zoom even. She can use the
Casio successfully. She hates the G-1. My 13 year old was
using the priority modes in the Casio in about 500 shots, with
good success. Not slamming the G-1. It is a very good camera.
The Casio is just a better beginner camera at half the cost.
If you are looking for an excellent point & shoot that produces
better shots than a lot of camera's set on manual, then I would go
for the Sony S70. Each photo you take comes out great and there is
no need to waste time in changing settings.
Don't waste your time with the G1 if you are a beginner. For
advanced users - that's a different story.
Stevo
Daniel,
If you only use the camera as a point and shoot then you would be
better off to spend less money on something else. However if you
want to grow as a photographer I highly recommend the G1. I have
had mine a month and taken over 800 pictures and I love it. It
will allow you to grow and I think it is user friendly. No one has
mentioned how on a lot of digital cameras you have to scroll
through menus to do many of the thing the G1 allows you to do with
the push of a button. My dad has an Olympus 2030 I believe is the
number it is a 2000 something at any rate and I hate using it. I
do not like having to go through menus to use it manually. Now you
will have to do some reading to get the most out of the camera--by
that I mean get a hold of a basic photography book (Kodak makes a
ton of them) to learn things like apeture, shutter speed and
exposure. But this reading will only allow you to enjoy the camera
more it is not a necessity for its use. I hope this helps.
Dennis U.
