History of Canon's S & G series cameras

I have been interested in this for some time, and thought perhaps some other long term Canon compact owners might find it interesting.

In looking up this data (it's all here on DPReview under Cameras>Canon) I found a few surprises.  The first being that the two series didn't start with the larger G series; but 1999 with the S10.  As most of you will probably already realize, Most of the G & S series are in pairs using the same sensor and processor in a smaller and larger package.  So, in general, each new model of a G is accompanied by an equivalent S series model.  There are, however, a few exceptions and there are  more S series (14) than there are G's (12) and 3 SD's that filled in for the missing S's from 2006-2008.

In 2001, the G2 was issued at 3 MP; but there were two S's, the S30 & S40 at 3 & 4 MP respectively.  Then in 2002 the 4 MP G3 came out along with the 4 MP S45.

In 2003 the G5 and S50 came out; but in 2004 we had the 7 MP G6 and two S's, the 7 MP S70, and the S60 at 5 MP.  The S60 & S70 having the first lenses to extend to 28 mm.  I really liked the color on the S70 and would like to have another for my "nostalgia" collection.

In 2005, there was no new G series camera; but Canon brought out the S80, the first S to use SD cards.  It was no better than the S70, and had an unfortunately placed mode dial on the end of the camera that got reset every time I took it out of my pocket or pulled it out of its case.  This also marked the end of the sliding "clamshell" front cover.

In 2006, we got the G7, the first G with IS.  There was no S.  Instead Canon started something new, a series of SD cameras that used the same sensor and processor as the G of that year.  So in 2006 we had the SD900 Ti, in 2007 we had the G9 and SD950IS the first SD with a 1/1.7" sensor and IS; and in 2008, the G10 with 14.7 MP and the equivalent SD990IS.  I thought the SD950IS was a particularly nice camera with its curvy (almost voluptuous) titanium shell.

Then in 2009, the G11 and the S90 with low noise sensors and processing.  In 2010 the G12 got a front wheel, and the S95 got some slightly rearranged control locations; but they were basically the G11 and S90.  The G15 came out in 2012, along with the S100, and a little later the S110.  The last of the series of G & S with 1/1.7" sensors was the G16 and S120.

I still have my S90, mainly for nostalgia and its CCD sensor and great color; but my G15 was replaced by the G7X II with a 1" sensor.

The G1 came out in 2000 with 3.3 MP ccd sensor. The same sensor was used in a number of other cameras, and notably used a C-M-Y-G color scheme.

The G2 came in 2001 with a 4 MP ccd using the now conventional R-G-B-G configuration.

Thanks for the info.  That didn't show up on the DPReview short list.  Have you sampled the output of those cameras?  And if so, how much difference in color do you see?

I have the G1, and it still works. Magenta in blue skies, and horrible CA in high contrast situations, detracted from landscape photos. Editing in Lab  mode helped the color.

Yes, CA and color in the early years was a big problem.  I am in the midst of putting together a small collection of Canon P&S models with CCD sensors I have owned and particularly liked.  So far I have a late production Pro 1, S5IS, S90, SD950IS, A710IS, and A720IS.  I also want to add an S70 and G7, and maybe a G3.  I'm doing it mostly for fun and nostalgia; but also for occasional use.

My daily users are an FZ1000, FZ200, G7X II, and an SX260HS.  Those four do pretty much everything I need; although a second A710IS lives in my car 24/7.  I also have an Olympus TCON-17x  for use on the FZ200, giving 1020 mm at f/2.8 with good sharpness.

I enjoy using Canon .... thanks for the info

GeraldW wrote:

I have been interested in this for some time, and thought perhaps some other long term Canon compact owners might find it interesting.

In looking up this data (it's all here on DPReview under Cameras>Canon) I found a few surprises. The first being that the two series didn't start with the larger G series; but 1999 with the S10. As most of you will probably already realize, Most of the G & S series are in pairs using the same sensor and processor in a smaller and larger package. So, in general, each new model of a G is accompanied by an equivalent S series model. There are, however, a few exceptions and there are more S series (14) than there are G's (12) and 3 SD's that filled in for the missing S's from 2006-2008.

In 2001, the G2 was issued at 3 MP; but there were two S's, the S30 & S40 at 3 & 4 MP respectively. Then in 2002 the 4 MP G3 came out along with the 4 MP S45.

In 2003 the G5 and S50 came out; but in 2004 we had the 7 MP G6 and two S's, the 7 MP S70, and the S60 at 5 MP. The S60 & S70 having the first lenses to extend to 28 mm. I really liked the color on the S70 and would like to have another for my "nostalgia" collection.

In 2005, there was no new G series camera; but Canon brought out the S80, the first S to use SD cards. It was no better than the S70, and had an unfortunately placed mode dial on the end of the camera that got reset every time I took it out of my pocket or pulled it out of its case. This also marked the end of the sliding "clamshell" front cover.

In 2006, we got the G7, the first G with IS. There was no S. Instead Canon started something new, a series of SD cameras that used the same sensor and processor as the G of that year. So in 2006 we had the SD900 Ti, in 2007 we had the G9 and SD950IS the first SD with a 1/1.7" sensor and IS; and in 2008, the G10 with 14.7 MP and the equivalent SD990IS. I thought the SD950IS was a particularly nice camera with its curvy (almost voluptuous) titanium shell.

Then in 2009, the G11 and the S90 with low noise sensors and processing. In 2010 the G12 got a front wheel, and the S95 got some slightly rearranged control locations; but they were basically the G11 and S90. The G15 came out in 2012, along with the S100, and a little later the S110. The last of the series of G & S with 1/1.7" sensors was the G16 and S120.

I still have my S90, mainly for nostalgia and its CCD sensor and great color; but my G15 was replaced by the G7X II with a 1" sensor.

A very interesting thread, thanks for the info.

My first was the G9 which I liked, then the G10 which in terms of handling was a pleasure to use but no great improvement in iq other than in very good light. Then came the G11, G12 and G15, all good but I never took to the latter. Now the G1x on the way (belatedly).

I find the range of G cameras very confusing now with all sorts of numbers and versions, getting too old to keep up.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane. My first digital was the original S100 (Digital Elph), which has a 2MP sensor. I loved that camera, which I still own, and took thousands of shots with it, and printed a bunch at 8.5 X 11. I also bought, and still have, the S45, which was the first digital I had with manual controls, different ISO settings (all the way up to a noisy 400), and RAW capability (which I only used a couple of times, to see what the big deal was). Regarding RAW, it has a cool feature, which I haven't seen on other cameras. In JPEG mode, if you wanted to save the shot you'd just taken in RAW, you could press a button while the shot was still visible in review, and the RAW would be saved. I also have a couple of the SD series, including a curvy 8MP model (I'm blanking on the model number right now). And I have the more recent S100, which is amazingly compact for the quality of images it produces. They all just gather dust now, though, because I also have the G7XII, the M6 (and M), and 7DII (and 20D). It wasn't until I typed this post that I really thought about the insanely large collection of unused digital cameras I have lying around in my study. I've only sold three digital cameras to help buy an upgrade: the 300D, to upgrade to 20D; the 50D, to upgrade to 7D; and the 7D, to upgrade to 7DII. The rest have lost so much of their value, by the time I wasn't using them anymore, that it didn't seem worth it to try to sell them.

Glad you enjoyed my post.  The S90 uses a modern battery warning.  3 bars inside the outline of a battery.  But it's just as unreliable as all the other Canon battery life indicators.  Great little camera though.  I have carried an S90, and for a while an S95; since 2009 on many many land trips and cruises.  I actually preferred the S90 over the "improved" S95.  The Franiec grip works on either camera and just transforms the feel in my hand.

The rear wheel around the four-way cluster on the rear is easily moved when you grip the camera.  Lensmate came out with the Rear Wheel Solution Ring. which nicely solves the issue.  Lensmate still has those for $6, and I recommend it highly.

The Franiec front grip is out of production; but B&H has the Flip-bac stick-on silicone rubber grips.  Only $10.  I used the G2 on my S95.  Otherwise, handling the S90/95 is like holding a used bar of soap.

I stopped my thread at the G & S models, without the X suffix; although I do have the G7X Mk II and like it a lot.  The rest of the G_X cameras bear watching, as we should be seeing the G3X Mk II and G5X Mk II shortly.  I also have a hunch that the new G1X MkIII may be the basis for a modular line of cameras with the same basic body and controls; but with different sensors and lenses for different uses.

Thanks for the nice reply.  My first digital was a Kodak DX-6440 (4 MP).  It got me started; but didn't last long and was replaced by the Canon G5.  Noisy sensor; but good at low ISO and had really good resistance to highlight clipping.  After that I moved up to the 20D.  After walking around Rome all day with the 20D and a Sigma 18-125 lens, I was hot and tired, and my neck hurt.  I was about to see if it could swim the Tiber.  For most of the rest of our trip (a 14 day cruise) I used my 70D.  After we got back home, I bought a Canon Pro 1 as a travel replacement for the 20D and just kept the 20D for stuff near home or on car trips.  The Pro 1 was half the weight of the 20D and 18-125.

Speaking of the Pro 1, I've always considered it as a plussed up member of the G series.  The sensor on the Pro 1 was an 8 MP 2/3" by Sony.  ISO settings were way off - by about a full stop, so ISO 50 was actually 100, 200 = 400, and the noisy 400 = 800.  With the fast f/2.4-3.5 lens it did fairly well in low light, and the noise was fine grained, so even an ISO 400 shot printed pretty well at 8" x 10".  I'm about to get my Pro 1 collection of camera and accessories back from my daughter.

I've been waiting since the Pro 1 was discontinued in 2006 for Canon to produce the Pro 2.  It has never come!

Took a little digging.  For the grip go to Flipbac.com.  They have a nice description of the four grips they make and show the G2 grip on the S95.  The narrower G3 also works well.

Looks like B&H no longer carries the brand.  Amazon does, or I think you can go direct to Flipbac.

As for Lensmate, click on Contact in their home page, and send an e mail to susan.sales.  That's Susan Doel who started the business.  Ask her for availability.  They also fit around the cluster on a lot of other cameras including the Canon SX230HS and SX260HS, and several Panasonics in the FZ series.

GeraldW wrote:

Looks like B&H no longer carries the brand. Amazon does, or I think you can go direct to Flipbac.

B&H does in fact still carry Flipbac:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=flipbac&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ps

Just added one to the wife's M100.

I just went there for ANAYV and couldn't find it.  I may have hyphenated the name.  Anyway, many thanks.