G1 vs. A20 dilemma

I guess the question goes down to: Does 1M more pixels worth the doubling price between G1 and A20? I know G1 is definitely a better build and a lot of manual controls, but for a mostly point-and-shot guy, the more important factors are picture quality and ease of use. Is G1 so significantly better than A20 that the investment should double at today's price? On reading the reviews, A20 - the cheaper one - seems have more satisfactory users than G1, or should I say, A20's owners are surprisingly more satisfied and happy than G1 owners. I wonder why, the latter being more picky because of the higher cost?

Yin,

If your a point and shoot guy, go for the A20. My girlfriend just got one and she loves it. It takes great pictures and you just can't beat the price. If you want manual controls go for the G1. I had a G1 and now have a Pro90, I wanted more zoom than the G1 could offer. We have a friend who's got a DC4800 and he couldn't believe the quality of the pictures from the A20 (they were actually alot better than his DC4800 which is a 3.1 mp camera). Were getting ready to go to Branson, MO for the weekend and she'll be taking alot of pics with the A20 and I hope to have some posted when we return. If you plan on printing photo's any larger than 8 x 10 than go with the G1. I've printed a few 8 x 10's with her A20 and they look pretty good, although a bit grainy. Anything bigger though and you'd better get the G1.

Good luck in your decision!

Stephen

yin said:

I guess the question goes down to: Does 1M more pixels worth the
doubling price between G1 and A20? I know G1 is definitely a better
build and a lot of manual controls, but for a mostly point-and-shot
guy, the more important factors are picture quality and ease of
use. Is G1 so significantly better than A20 that the investment
should double at today's price? On reading the reviews, A20 - the
cheaper one - seems have more satisfactory users than G1, or should
I say, A20's owners are surprisingly more satisfied and happy than
G1 owners. I wonder why, the latter being more picky because of the
higher cost?

Click to expand...

Yin- I've had my A20 for about 2 weeks now. If speed makes any difference to you, check this website's reviews for those two cameras' 'timings and sizes' pages.. the A20 is a faster camera to use than the G1; it's smaller and easier to carry around too, so you are likely to take it with you more places. Most of my photos are of kids and dogs, so the snappy speed does matter to me. I'm very happy with mine; it's a keeper! -Katie

yin said:

I guess the question goes down to: Does 1M more pixels worth the
doubling price between G1 and A20? I know G1 is definitely a better
build and a lot of manual controls, but for a mostly point-and-shot
guy, the more important factors are picture quality and ease of
use. Is G1 so significantly better than A20 that the investment
should double at today's price? On reading the reviews, A20 - the
cheaper one - seems have more satisfactory users than G1, or should
I say, A20's owners are surprisingly more satisfied and happy than
G1 owners. I wonder why, the latter being more picky because of the
higher cost?

Click to expand...

You can't compare these two cameras. They are in two diff categories. However, if you are point and shot and archive type of photographer, then I will recommend A20 to you.

For 2.1MP P&S camera, I believer A20 is the best in this class. Virtually no chromatic abberation is very very import for outdoor sunny shot. For indoor shot, you better switch to auto and let the camera select the best setting. Anyway, the indoor shot is not very good for A20, and all other P&S digital camera. Also, the body style of A20 is a lot more comfortable for you hand.

For G1, there is a lot of competition in the 3.1MP semi-pro class. And G1 is not the best. Slow lense, poor body shape, heavy and bulky. This is a type of camera that you won't bring with you all the time.

If you shot outdoor most of the time, and don't need manual setting, then there is nothing better than A20 at this moment.

yin said:

I guess the question goes down to: Does 1M more pixels worth the
doubling price between G1 and A20? I know G1 is definitely a better
build and a lot of manual controls, but for a mostly point-and-shot
guy, the more important factors are picture quality and ease of
use. Is G1 so significantly better than A20 that the investment
should double at today's price? On reading the reviews, A20 - the
cheaper one - seems have more satisfactory users than G1, or should
I say, A20's owners are surprisingly more satisfied and happy than
G1 owners. I wonder why, the latter being more picky because of the
higher cost?

Click to expand...

Thanks! All of you. Looks like you all recommand A20 over G1. Interesting. This confirms my observation that A20 is a master in her domain while G1 struggles in her category. Then my choice is not between the 2 models but between 2 categories (markets): fast point-and-shot at lower pixels versus slow control at higher pixels.

Still a dilemma, isn't it?

yin said:

Thanks! All of you. Looks like you all recommand A20 over G1.
Interesting. This confirms my observation that A20 is a master in
her domain while G1 struggles in her category. Then my choice is
not between the 2 models but between 2 categories (markets): fast
point-and-shot at lower pixels versus slow control at higher pixels.

Still a dilemma, isn't it?

Click to expand...

The G1 struggles in her category ?? Where did you get that idea from ??

Since it came out the G1 has been the hottest camera around. If you doubt if then check the hitlist of most clicked on camera's on the news page. The G1 has held the topspot for 7 straight months.

Indeed the G1 "struggles" so much that all of the major competitors have felt compelled to come out with upgrades of their camera's in that market. S

As for the A20...check out this thread before you decide:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=1141887

dh

Interesting point of view. I own the G1 and think that it is one of the best 3MPs around. Its quality challenges that of the new 4MP Sony S85 (which doesn't even ship for 3 months). However, I would still recommend you buy the A20.

Why?

• It's cheaper.
• It's still pretty good quality.
• The G1 is expected to be replaced or upgraded in the next few months, whereas the A20 is a newly announced camera.

If you need a camera with features, the G1 is the way to go. If you can wait, then wait for its replacement. But the A20 is cheap enough that you can buy it now, and not be upset about replacing it in a year or two. (And the accessories you buy may be usable in the new camera.)

The picture quality and low-light capabilities of the G1 defeat that of the A20 (and almost every one of its competitors.) But don't buy it now unless you have to -- Sony just announced the first consumer-level 4MP, and the Dimage 5MP comes out next month. Canon must respond, and that response may well be the G1's replacement.

jk

P.S. The Nikon 950 was the 2MP camera to beat last year (in picture quality). The current generation of cameras use that as the baseline -- quality is as good as the 950, if not better.

yin said:

Thanks! All of you. Looks like you all recommand A20 over G1.
Interesting. This confirms my observation that A20 is a master in
her domain while G1 struggles in her category. Then my choice is
not between the 2 models but between 2 categories (markets): fast
point-and-shot at lower pixels versus slow control at higher pixels.

Still a dilemma, isn't it?

Click to expand...

Yin, you have basically answered your own question. If you are looking for a point and shoot camera, why waste time with more complicated (and possibly less reliable) models? A20 users are some of the most contented people that I know, never a complaint, always happy and shooting pictures wherever they go. G1 users are mostly here at the bulletin board, because we have other concerns (dead pixels, hot pixels, bad DC/DC Converter Things among them). Yes G1 users are more picky, but that is part of the G1 life.
Jorge

Yes yin, you are gradually becoming a master at distinguishing between the two models. I must ask, why do say that "A20 is a master in HER category", how do you know that cameras are feminine, I always have called my Canons by masculine names ("good old boy", "master's best friend", "his hot/dead pixels").
Jorge

yin said:

Thanks! All of you. Looks like you all recommand A20 over G1.
Interesting. This confirms my observation that A20 is a master in
her domain while G1 struggles in her category. Then my choice is
not between the 2 models but between 2 categories (markets): fast
point-and-shot at lower pixels versus slow control at higher pixels.

Still a dilemma, isn't it?

Click to expand...

Jorge, I do think A20 is more feminine - light weight and curvy body design, while the G1 is more masculine - heavy, bulky, and flat body design.

Jorge said:

yin said:

Thanks! All of you. Looks like you all recommand A20 over G1.
Interesting. This confirms my observation that A20 is a master in
her domain while G1 struggles in her category. Then my choice is
not between the 2 models but between 2 categories (markets): fast
point-and-shot at lower pixels versus slow control at higher pixels.

Still a dilemma, isn't it?

Click to expand...

Click to expand...