Some thoughts about the G11 as a traveller's only camera

Hi,

Was in San Francisco at the end of October, and brought my Nikon D90 + Sigma 17-50 2.8 OS, + my old 70-210 AFG, + my G11.

I’ve decided to take only the G11 for my next trip (to India). The G11 gave me such good pictures, that I think they would not be that much better with the DSLR, even in low light.

Thanks to the 2.8 lens, I barely use the G11 above iso 400. At such sensitivity, image quality is surprisingly good for a compact.

See this one, shot at 1/13s, iso 400, F2.8. The level of detail, even at 100%, is excellent.



Having the camera with me all the time allows for taking pictures when walking in the street, like this one :



or this one :



The following was shot with the D90 and the 17-50. Of course, it would have been more difficult to get this kind of picture with the G11:



I was there, so I grabbed the D90 and shot some nice pictures. But that's not the kind of pictures I'm looking after when I'm travelling.

So, until Canon (or another manufacturer) releases a compact with a usable viewfinder and the image quality and ergonomics of the G11, the latter will be my only camera when travelling.

The Fuji X10 is not that camera : I’m waiting for a Viewfinder with focus point, aperture, speed, iso, exp comp. displayed in the VF, be it electronic or optical.

If you’re interested, you can have a look at my San Francisco, Las Vegas, Monolake, Death Valley pictures here :
http://a.barelier.free.fr/San_Francisco_2011/index.html#
Not sure you’ll distinguish between the D90 and the G11 pictures.
André

YOu build a very compelling case for the g11.

hi:

i find myself doing the same. When traveling, leaving my dslr home and taking my g11 with me..So much easier, then all those lenses and added bulk

I have an SLR kit, but for "non-photo trips" where photography isn't the center of attention, I decided to get two separate cameras for travel. I bought an S100 for where telephoto isn't needed, and an SX40 for when telephoto is needed. Of course, not everyone can spend or wants to spend that kind of money on optional cameras. I've only actually used the S100 on a trip, but loved the portability.

My thinking is that I'd just as soon carry an SLR with a kit lens as carry something like the G11 or G12, (since either one is going to have to dangle on a strap unless I'm wearing a jacket or something similar) but not everyone feels that way. I'm glad you are happy with your choice.

andrbar said:

The Fuji X10 is not that camera : I’m waiting for a Viewfinder with focus point, aperture, speed, iso, exp comp. displayed in the VF, be it electronic or optical.

Click to expand...

Maybe they're not the right size or something, but I believe the lx5 and xz-1 have an evf available? The xz-1 from the reviews has a really sharp lens, even in the corners. The lx5's autofocus speed in phenomenal (I couldn't distinguish it from a t2i when I tried it, whereas I definitely could with an s95, g12, p7000).

Enjoyed your images.

I feel the same way about my older G10.

The first time we took the family to Disney I brought a Canon 30D and a 24-105mm L lens along.

The second time we took the family to Disney I brought a G10. Wished I had stuck in a Gorillapod for a few things, but otherwise it did everything the DSLR did in a smaller package. This is important if you are traveling with young children and crabby adults. : )

The new generation of compact cameras continues to amaze and delight. And as you pointed out, it is easier to get images when you have the camera in hand. Thanks for posting those.

DL

It seems I'm not alone leaving the DSLR at home when travelling, but wanting a good compact.

Paul, about the ZX1 and LX5, yes, both are very good cameras, and you can add a EVF to both.
The Oly has a superb lens, and image quality is OK.

I don't like its short battery life and I'd like an integrated VF, so that I can put the camera in my belt bag easily, and grab it quickly every time I see something interesting to photograph. I'm afraid an attached EVF would make things more difficult.
Same thing with the LX5, (which seems to have better battery life than the XZ1).

I'm not in a hurry. The G11 does the job, and very well. The articulated LCD makes for the lack of a really usable OVF, and battery life is excellent. I hate having to refill the battery every day.

I know the XZ1 and LX5 have a tiltable additional EVF. It's very useful (my 1rst digital camera was a Minolta A2) but, for the time being, I'm a happy camper with the G11 and its articulated LCD.

Not sure I could have shot these with the D90 :

(shot in raw, and processed with Camera raw, which IMO does a much better job than Canon DPP)





Regards

PaulRivers said:

andrbar said:

The Fuji X10 is not that camera : I’m waiting for a Viewfinder with focus point, aperture, speed, iso, exp comp. displayed in the VF, be it electronic or optical.

Click to expand...

Maybe they're not the right size or something, but I believe the lx5 and xz-1 have an evf available? The xz-1 from the reviews has a really sharp lens, even in the corners. The lx5's autofocus speed in phenomenal (I couldn't distinguish it from a t2i when I tried it, whereas I definitely could with an s95, g12, p7000).

Click to expand...

Hi,
Thanks for the comments.

I found a very light and small tripod, which I store in the same belt bag where I have the camera. Very handy, when you're with your family, and want to take a picture with everybody in, including yourself !

http://www.digit-photo.com/Trepieds_monopodes-aFA0031/BILORA_Mini_Pod-rBILORA1002.html#0

BTW, aren't you a Minolta user ?

Quicksilver said:

Enjoyed your images.

I feel the same way about my older G10.

The first time we took the family to Disney I brought a Canon 30D and a 24-105mm L lens along.

The second time we took the family to Disney I brought a G10. Wished I had stuck in a Gorillapod for a few things, but otherwise it did everything the DSLR did in a smaller package. This is important if you are traveling with young children and crabby adults. : )

The new generation of compact cameras continues to amaze and delight. And as you pointed out, it is easier to get images when you have the camera in hand. Thanks for posting those.

DL

Click to expand...

andrbar said:

I don't like its short battery life and I'd like an integrated VF, so that I can put the camera in my belt bag easily, and grab it quickly every time I see something interesting to photograph. I'm afraid an attached EVF would make things more difficult.
Same thing with the LX5, (which seems to have better battery life than the XZ1).

Click to expand...

Yeah...I'd want to see it in person to. In theory one would think they could just leave the EVF on, but I've heard of people taking it on and off so don't know how well that would work, just wanted to mention it in case you hadn't heard of it before.

André BARELIER said:

I'm not in a hurry. The G11 does the job, and very well. The articulated LCD makes for the lack of a really usable OVF, and battery life is excellent. I hate having to refill the battery every day.

Click to expand...

Yeah...one thing I did was buy a second battery off amazon ($8). I leave one battery charging on the charger, while the other one is in the camera. When I transfer my pics I switch which battery is in the camera, this way I avoid any of that "oops I forgot to grab the camera, forgot to put the battery in the camera, don't have time to grab it", etc etc stuff. Thought obviously this works if you're staying in the same room, doesn't work very well if you're moving hotels every day or don't have power.

This is all just fyi, nice pics.

andrbar said:

Not sure you’ll distinguish between the D90 and the G11 pictures.
André

Click to expand...

I bought a DSLR early this year, have learned a lot from it, and thoroughly enjoy it. That said, it's an anachronism. It is a 1970 SLR with a computer where the film used to be, a sensor where the film plane was and a battery where the take-up spool was located. Just as the SLR swept away the ubiquitous Speed Graphic, digital technology is in the process of redefining camera design concepts. The fact that very high quality photographs come out of smaller cameras like the G11 is amazing.

I still have a hard time leaving my DSLR at home, just because it's relatively new and because it's there. But, lately I've taken up with the G11 again. I stuff it in a somewhat larger than necessary Lowepro Z30 bag along with a spare battery and SD card, deploy the bag strap as an auxiliary belt and I am combat ready.
--
Editor Bob

I discovered this in 2008 with my even older G9, after carrying a gaggle of slr gear , film AND digital, plust video cam, and using only the g9. I know the g12 video is even better. Only thing I add is a small folding bogen 209 with a small gitzo BH.

I recall a couple of years ago reading some travel photog blogs by people that actually make money on travel photography coming to the same conclusion. My back and shoulder thank me, and what a joy to go through the airport line in check in with only a small bag, well joy is relative lol.