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Canon G15 is an excellent camera

Started May 8, 2020 | User reviews
Henry Richardson Forum Pro • Posts: 21,956
Canon G15 is an excellent camera
7

When I created this Canon G15 review I mistakenly made it a regular forum post rather than selecting the option to make it a user review. I contacted the dpreview staff and asked them if it was possible for them to change its classification to review, but Jeff Keller replied and said they did not have that capability. He suggested I create a review thread so that is what I have done. I will just link to my earlier post and thread. It is not ideal, but it will do. As a review it is easier to find. Be sure to read my follow-on posts in the thread for more information.

G15: Some thoughts on my new camera

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51305420

Recently I was reminded again about how even our tiny sensor digicams are darn capable and even my lowly Canon G15 would have been a dream years ago.

I selected just a few of my photos taken with various tiny sensor digicams (non-ILC) and created a new, small album of photos:

http://www.bakubo.com/Galleries%202/Digicam%20Praise/index.html

The photos were taken with the following digicams and are in chronological order starting in 2000:

Olympus D-340R
Olympus D-510Z
Minolta D7i
Canon A70
Canon A540
Canon A590IS
Canon S95
Canon G15
Canon G16

All the photos have a caption that includes the year and the name of the camera.

Almost all the photos were taken with the Canon digicams. About 85% in this album were shot as jpegs and the rest were raw. Take a look if you are interested. I have a ton more, but this is a small album to give a flavor.

I am reminded of a Magnum photo exhibition I saw in 2013 called:

Radical Transformation: Magnum Photos into the Digital Age

https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/2013/radical-transformation/

I wrote about it here on dpreview in 2013:

The photos were excellent and the presentation was good too. The prints were of various sizes by many Magnum photographers. I am sure lots of the people on the internet would have hated almost every single photo though because even many of the smaller prints (5x7, 6x9) were not eye cutting sharp when viewed at 3 centimeters. There would have been screaming and derision by the dogmatic extremists with their 10x loupes. Not sure about CA, distortion, and all the other things that so many people are obsessed with since I didn't even bother checking. They were wonderful viewed from a normal viewing distance. Very nice exhibition.

Probably about 90% of the photos in the exhibition were B&W. Some of the photos are famous iconic photos from Capa, Cartier-Bresson, et al that you have seen before.

Later I was walking around with my camera and I sort of wondered if all the photos in the exhibition had been taken with digital cameras if some of them, maybe a bunch of them, would have been deleted in the camera? I imagine these photographers are smart enough to not be over concerned (concerned, of course, but not over concerned) with all the technical details and let those things override what the image looks like and whether it is interesting. Fortunately, the photos had not been deleted.

Most of the photos in the exhibition could have easily been taken with my Canon G15 and the technical quality in many cases would have been even better. Just being able to quickly change ISO or use Auto ISO is a huge advantage. Good ISO from 80 on up to, oh I don't know, 3200. Even 12,800 is usable and quite good compared to just slightly fast film from a long time ago. Especially if shooting in raw. A long time ago ISO 400 film was fast.

Henry Richardson
http://www.bakubo.com

Canon PowerShot G15
12 megapixels • 3 screen • 28 – 140 mm (5×)
Announced: Sep 17, 2012
Henry Richardson's score
4.5
Average community score
4.3
Canon PowerShot G15 Canon PowerShot G16
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Sue Anne Rush
Sue Anne Rush Senior Member • Posts: 6,285
Re: Canon G15 is an excellent camera

Enjoy your camera...................................... I have a G16  ........... and thanks for sharing your pictures

Henry Richardson wrote:

When I created this Canon G15 review I mistakenly made it a regular forum post rather than selecting the option to make it a user review. I contacted the dpreview staff and asked them if it was possible for them to change its classification to review, but Jeff Keller replied and said they did not have that capability. He suggested I create a review thread so that is what I have done. I will just link to my earlier post and thread. It is not ideal, but it will do. As a review it is easier to find. Be sure to read my follow-on posts in the thread for more information.

G15: Some thoughts on my new camera

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/51305420

Recently I was reminded again about how even our tiny sensor digicams are darn capable and even my lowly Canon G15 would have been a dream years ago.

I selected just a few of my photos taken with various tiny sensor digicams (non-ILC) and created a new, small album of photos:

http://www.bakubo.com/Galleries%202/Digicam%20Praise/index.html

The photos were taken with the following digicams and are in chronological order starting in 2000:

Olympus D-340R
Olympus D-510Z
Minolta D7i
Canon A70
Canon A540
Canon A590IS
Canon S95
Canon G15
Canon G16

All the photos have a caption that includes the year and the name of the camera.

Almost all the photos were taken with the Canon digicams. About 85% in this album were shot as jpegs and the rest were raw. Take a look if you are interested. I have a ton more, but this is a small album to give a flavor.

I am reminded of a Magnum photo exhibition I saw in 2013 called:

Radical Transformation: Magnum Photos into the Digital Age

https://www.hrc.utexas.edu/exhibitions/2013/radical-transformation/

I wrote about it here on dpreview in 2013:

The photos were excellent and the presentation was good too. The prints were of various sizes by many Magnum photographers. I am sure lots of the people on the internet would have hated almost every single photo though because even many of the smaller prints (5x7, 6x9) were not eye cutting sharp when viewed at 3 centimeters. There would have been screaming and derision by the dogmatic extremists with their 10x loupes. Not sure about CA, distortion, and all the other things that so many people are obsessed with since I didn't even bother checking. They were wonderful viewed from a normal viewing distance. Very nice exhibition.

Probably about 90% of the photos in the exhibition were B&W. Some of the photos are famous iconic photos from Capa, Cartier-Bresson, et al that you have seen before.

Later I was walking around with my camera and I sort of wondered if all the photos in the exhibition had been taken with digital cameras if some of them, maybe a bunch of them, would have been deleted in the camera? I imagine these photographers are smart enough to not be over concerned (concerned, of course, but not over concerned) with all the technical details and let those things override what the image looks like and whether it is interesting. Fortunately, the photos had not been deleted.

Most of the photos in the exhibition could have easily been taken with my Canon G15 and the technical quality in many cases would have been even better. Just being able to quickly change ISO or use Auto ISO is a huge advantage. Good ISO from 80 on up to, oh I don't know, 3200. Even 12,800 is usable and quite good compared to just slightly fast film from a long time ago. Especially if shooting in raw. A long time ago ISO 400 film was fast.

Henry Richardson
http://www.bakubo.com

 Sue Anne Rush's gear list:Sue Anne Rush's gear list
Canon PowerShot G9 Panasonic Lumix DC-FZ1000 II Canon PowerShot Zoom Canon EOS 7D Canon EOS Rebel T7 +4 more
Corot2 Senior Member • Posts: 1,697
Re: Canon G15 is an excellent camera

Thank you and very well said

I remember not that many years ago seeing some phenomenal photos shot with a Canon s200 which I think is 2 mp when the hight end back then if I recall was 12mp

Some of the greatest photos of all time were shot with secondary cameras

The ability to push yourself with whatever camera you have is what often makes the difference.

One does not develop their skills whenever anything is too easy

-- hide signature --
 Corot2's gear list:Corot2's gear list
Fujifilm X100F Fujifilm X100V Fujifilm X-M1 Fujifilm X-T1 Fujifilm X-E2S +11 more
PhotoRaw Contributing Member • Posts: 521
Re: Canon G15 is an excellent camera
2

Beautiful b&w images, Henry!

Love your Canon PowerShot A590IS shots.

Thanks for sharing.

URVASHI 1002 New Member • Posts: 13
Re: Canon G15 is an excellent camera

yes, its camera quality is very hight. I was also using it. But now i want to buy new one, will you please tell me. which one i buy?

GeraldW Veteran Member • Posts: 8,872
Re: Canon G15 is an excellent camera

I still own and use a G15 and an S95; but both have been largely replaced by the Canon G7X II.  The G7X II lacks an eye level finder, something I miss from the G15; but the G7X II has a larger and better sensor and is much better in low light.  It is about the same weight as the G15, only not quite as tall, so it fits more easily in a pocket.

In my opinion, based on comparator images and galleries, the G7X II is as good or better than the newer G5X II or the G7X III.

The G15 covers 28-140 mm f/1.8-2.8, while the G7X II covers 24-100 mm f/1.8-2.8.  However, I often use the 1.6x digital multiplier setting (8 MP) and that gives 38.4-160 mm equivalent, still at f/1.8-2.8 with very acceptable image quality.  I saved that setting at C on the mode dial.  It gives me some useful additional length, and gives the fastest lens speed (f/1.8) at a significantly longer focal length.

-- hide signature --

Jerry

 GeraldW's gear list:GeraldW's gear list
Canon EOS M5 Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot G15 Canon G7 X II Sony RX10 IV +1 more
Pitman100 Regular Member • Posts: 107
Re: Canon G15 is an excellent camera

GeraldW wrote:

I still own and use a G15 and an S95; but both have been largely replaced by the Canon G7X II. The G7X II lacks an eye level finder, something I miss from the G15; but the G7X II has a larger and better sensor and is much better in low light. It is about the same weight as the G15, only not quite as tall, so it fits more easily in a pocket.

In my opinion, based on comparator images and galleries, the G7X II is as good or better than the newer G5X II or the G7X III.

The G15 covers 28-140 mm f/1.8-2.8, while the G7X II covers 24-100 mm f/1.8-2.8. However, I often use the 1.6x digital multiplier setting (8 MP) and that gives 38.4-160 mm equivalent, still at f/1.8-2.8 with very acceptable image quality. I saved that setting at C on the mode dial. It gives me some useful additional length, and gives the fastest lens speed (f/1.8) at a significantly longer focal length.

G7XII Images Quality better ?? No way !. Sorry but the Lens from the Gx7II and GX7III ist the same. The problem in the corners and edges is also the same.

https://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/canon-g7x-ii/canon-g7x-iiA4.HTM

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