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G-series vs other Powershots - IQ comparison for beginners

Started Mar 20, 2016 | Discussions
OP patriot07 Senior Member • Posts: 1,090
Re: G-series vs other Powershots - IQ comparison for beginners

mfait wrote:

I think you mean G9x

You can compare the first 3 cameras here. The last 2 are not available for comparison.

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/image-comparison?attr18=daylight&attr13_0=canon_g9x&attr13_1=canon_s120&attr13_2=canon_g16&attr13_3=canon_sx60hs&attr15_0=jpeg&attr15_1=jpeg&attr15_2=jpeg&attr15_3=jpeg&attr16_0=125&attr16_1=100&attr16_2=100&attr16_3=100&normalization=full&widget=1&x=0&y=0

This will give you an excellent idea of IQ. You can pic different parts of the test image and different ISO's.

The last 2 cameras are high zoom, smaller sensor, and will have lower IQ compared to the first three.

Great link, thank you so much!

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OP patriot07 Senior Member • Posts: 1,090
Re: G-series vs other Powershots - IQ comparison for beginners

RedFox88 wrote:

patriot07 wrote:

FIL is looking for my advice on a new camera. I'm a Nikon DSLR user, and I love my D7100. But I've had great luck with Canon p&s back in the day, and I know the in-laws like Canon more. So I have a few questions for the DPR experts about the differences between them.

They are mainly looking for a camera for family pictures and the FIL wants a quality camera for pictures of the homes he's remodeling so he can eventually build a gallery for his website. Budget is definitely <$400, but preferably <$250, meaning the G9 and G16 are probably the only G-series models in consideration. A huge zoom range isn't desired or necessary. It's really a question of how big the IQ differences are between the two lineups.

When reading Canon specs on sensor size, does 1/1.7" mean (1/1.7*25.4) = 14.94mm? Assuming so, that's a nice step up from entry-level p&s, but still a good bit smaller than even the APS-C/DX sensor size for DSLRs.

I'm mainly comparing the following models:

G9 - $429 - 25mm sensor, 20MP, ISO 125-12,800, 28-84mm FL

G16 - $379 - 15mm sensor, 12MP, ISO 100-12,800, 28-140mm FL

S120 - $449 - 15mm sensor, 12MP, ISO 80-12,800, 28-140mm FL, touch screen

Elph 170 IS - $109 - 11mm sensor, 20MP, ISO 80-1,600, 25-300mm FL

Elph 350 HS - $159 - 11mm sensor, 20MP, ISO 80-3,200, 25-300mm FL

This us a spec comparison not an IQ COMPARISON.

Understood.  I posted a brief spec comparison and was asking DPR users for an IQ comparison.

Is the main difference between the expensive ones and the Elph series going to be in low light, or are they going to take noticeably better pictures all the time? Seems to me like the Elph might not be appreciably different quality than a smartphone, but you do get the zoom capability. Are there other models I should be looking at? What would your recommendation be?

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moris Senior Member • Posts: 1,333
Re: G-series vs other Powershots - IQ comparison for beginners
2

I think  you get better low-light photos with larger sensors.

I have G1X and I'm very happy with it.

Consider finding a good G1X.

Moris

damian5000 Senior Member • Posts: 1,948
Re: G-series vs other Powershots - IQ comparison for beginners

patriot07 wrote:

damian5000 wrote:

patriot07 wrote:

damian5000 wrote:

If the interior shots are well lit, you should be fine with any decent camera. Lighting and post processing are going to be more important than the camera, assuming you start with something decent... S120, g16, g7x. Any of these will be more than up to the task.

There will be no pp or external lighting. Does that change your opinion?

That will depend on the natural light if it's indoor shots. If low light, then the 1" or bigger sensor is probably what you want... Though at typical web sizes, the difference may not tell.

If well lit, then sensor size won't matter much, if at all...

No offense, but to not PP shots for professional portfolio or anything other than social sharing/casual shots would be foolish and shoddy.

I don't mean need to shoot RAW and labor over the images for hours, generally curves/levels/brightness/exposure/saturation and unsharp mask will do wonders.

You're preaching to the choir. I have a D7100 and am not shy about using Lightroom. But it's just not going to happen with the FIL. He's looking to take pictures that are less blurry and grainy. Agree with you, but I'm just being realistic.

If that's the case, I'd go with one of the 1" sensor cameras (assuming indoors not well lit).

You should take this guy aside and teach him a few quick photoshop edits. In 30 seconds or less he can vastly improve the picture with a few simple edits.

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(unknown member) Forum Pro • Posts: 12,611
Re: G-series vs other Powershots - IQ comparison for beginners
1

I`d actually look at a mirrorless. sony A5000 apsc $448 with 16-50 (24-75mm equiv), or a pany gm1 with 12-32 (24-64mm) or Olympus epl5 with 14-42 $399

sony has modes like handheld twilight which is great. auto hdr as well. the kit lens is ok if shooting jpegs . large sensor.

(unknown member) Veteran Member • Posts: 6,192
Re: G-series vs other Powershots - IQ comparison for beginners

patriot07 wrote:

Mark9473 wrote:

patriot07 wrote:

When reading Canon specs on sensor size, does 1/1.7" mean (1/1.7*25.4) = 14.94mm? Assuming so, that's a nice step up from entry-level p&s, but still a good bit smaller than even the APS-C/DX sensor size for DSLRs.

Unfortunately, all sensor sizes other than FF are quite a bit smaller than what their name seems to imply. 1/1.7" sensors are actually only 7.6 x 5.7 mm i.e. 9.5 mm diagonally = 0.37 inch instead of 1/1.7" = 0.59".

See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image_sensor_format#Common_image_sensor_formats

Is the main difference between the expensive ones and the Elph series going to be in low light, or are they going to take noticeably better pictures all the time?

You can compare image quality for many cameras on this site: https://www.imaging-resource.com/IMCOMP/COMPS01.HTM (click on "all cameras" at the top for the older ones).

When comparing different models, keep in mind that a slower lens makes the camera select a higher ISO sooner - but I'm sure you knew that.

Thanks for the reply. To your last point - do p&s cameras suffer from the same degradation in sharpness wide open as DSLRs do?

Compacts get criticised more severely in reviews for it. If you read most reviews you would not believe it was ever a problem in ILC lenses. In fact with many prime lenses softness is considered a charming part of their character.

OP patriot07 Senior Member • Posts: 1,090
Re: G-series vs other Powershots - IQ comparison for beginners
2

Found a refurbished G1x on Canon's site for $269. Seems like exactly what I'm looking for. Big sensor, good price, good lens. Thanks to all for your insight and the links you posted. I think he'll be really happy with it.

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Jay_B Regular Member • Posts: 447
Excellent choice!
1

patriot07 wrote:

Found a refurbished G1x on Canon's site for $269. Seems like exactly what I'm looking for. Big sensor, good price, good lens. Thanks to all for your insight and the links you posted. I think he'll be really happy with it.

I owned one of those, took it to Europe, loved shooting with it. The focus can be slow at times, but the Image Quality is excellent!

-- hide signature --

Jay B.
"No...really...my camera made me do it..."

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RedFox88 Forum Pro • Posts: 30,738
Re: Excellent choice!

Jay_B wrote:

patriot07 wrote:

Found a refurbished G1x on Canon's site for $269. Seems like exactly what I'm looking for. Big sensor, good price, good lens. Thanks to all for your insight and the links you posted. I think he'll be really happy with it.

I owned one of those, took it to Europe, loved shooting with it. The focus can be slow at times,

Yes a slow aperture lens that focuses slow like the G12 and older G series.

but the Image Quality is excellent!

-- hide signature --

Jay B.
"No...really...my camera made me do it..."

crashpc Veteran Member • Posts: 7,235
Re: Excellent choice!
1

RedFox88 wrote:

Jay_B wrote:

patriot07 wrote:

Found a refurbished G1x on Canon's site for $269. Seems like exactly what I'm looking for. Big sensor, good price, good lens. Thanks to all for your insight and the links you posted. I think he'll be really happy with it.

I owned one of those, took it to Europe, loved shooting with it. The focus can be slow at times,

Yes a slow aperture lens that focuses slow like the G12 and older G series.

Yes. Speed might be important for you, but it might not be for all of us. Please, wish us more of this trouble-less luck, and we'll wish you more cameras better suited for you...

but the Image Quality is excellent!

-- hide signature --

Jay B.
"No...really...my camera made me do it..."

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OP patriot07 Senior Member • Posts: 1,090
Re: Excellent choice!

crashpc wrote:

RedFox88 wrote:

Jay_B wrote:

patriot07 wrote:

Found a refurbished G1x on Canon's site for $269. Seems like exactly what I'm looking for. Big sensor, good price, good lens. Thanks to all for your insight and the links you posted. I think he'll be really happy with it.

I owned one of those, took it to Europe, loved shooting with it. The focus can be slow at times,

Yes a slow aperture lens that focuses slow like the G12 and older G series.

Yes. Speed might be important for you, but it might not be for all of us. Please, wish us more of this trouble-less luck, and we'll wish you more cameras better suited for you...

but the Image Quality is excellent!

A fast lens is not important for dof reasons.  It's only an issue for low light reasons for my FIL.  This one is still f2.8 at the wide end, which is where most of his photos will be.  Should work just fine for his needs.  Definitely as well or better than any other sub-$300 camera I could find.

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