G3 final review at dcresource.com

[John McMurdo]

I didn't expect the camera to be perfect - and maybe I'm expecting
too much from current technology but..... lets see .....Canon
expects me to be happy with a $1300 CDN camera

Ouch!! Canadian prices. Sony users in Canada have the same issues,
and it does color the way they perceive their cameras,
understandably so. They're paying more than a lot of us are.

Also,you seem to imply that this basic, very significant, imaging
problem is OK because of the "purposes to which the camera is
used".

That's not at all what I'm implying. No one is saying to settle.

What I AM saying is that we've seen some very slightly soft
images (I'd call this far from significant), and we've seen some
very, very sharp images from other users. What is the reason for
the difference? Is it the photographer? Maybe. Is it the camera
being softer than its predecessor? Even if the images are somewhat
soft, can they be taken care of in the normal manner; even users of
DSLR cameras need that. They're paying a lot more.

This is what I meant when I said I don't know what to believe anymore - there doesn't seem to be any uniformity to the sharpness issue. Many images are unsharp but then you see a very sharp image such as Greg Campbell's(?) flash portrait of his daughter. Under some conditions the camera is sharp under many conditions the camera is not so sharp. I am also impressed with BobR's (olyBob's) "day at the beach" pictures but still wish they were sharper

But seriously, I'm not trying to convince you to get the G3. I'm
not even convinced myself.

Although I'm still waiting to see what Phil has to say, I'm leaning toward the Sony 717 - which I think is what you are currrently using. In Canada, the 717 is about $200 more than the G3.

--
JohnMc

 

[Ulysses]

This is what I meant when I said I don't know what to believe
anymore - there doesn't seem to be any uniformity to the sharpness
issue. Many images are unsharp but then you see a very sharp image
such as Greg Campbell's(?) flash portrait of his daughter. Under
some conditions the camera is sharp under many conditions the
camera is not so sharp. I am also impressed with BobR's (olyBob's)
"day at the beach" pictures but still wish they were sharper

I understand. This is what I mean by it perhaps being partly the photographer. Some guys just excel at taking really sharp in-focus images. Others are great at their metering. Still others have a knack for massaging an image to bring out the best color.

Although I'm still waiting to see what Phil has to say, I'm leaning
toward the Sony 717 - which I think is what you are currrently
using. In Canada, the 717 is about $200 more than the G3.

I've been shooting with it occasionally. It's not mine, though. Once I sold my F707 a while back, I decided to expand my education and my horizons. I'm undecided as to what I will do. So while I have the ability to just borrow a F717 from time to time, I'm biding my time. And I'm looking really hard at what things make the G3 a very USABLE camera in terms of accessories and other factors that will make it a good professional quality camera for some of the events and portraits I'm likely to be doing. I don't want to ignore it.

--

Ulysses
Repository of Some of My Stuff
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4291269101

I'm an uncle!!!

 

[tameria11]

just to let u guys know there's a final review for g3 at...

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_g3-review/index.html

I only see his preview, could someone tell me where his final review is, I can't seem to find it on his site even when I click his news release
--
Dave
http://www.pbase.com/tameria11

 

[Jun Austria]

I used my G1 a lot last time for my architectural work. But due to CA problem I upgraded to G2. Now it's back in G3 this will only prevent me for upgrading.

 

[Kenya]

I'll call it when I see it, where is this site that has this fringing comparison, and lets keep our niavete, due to a Nikon bias, at bay.

I also question if the blue halo present in the church photo (Image
28) of DCResource's Final G3 review is really chromatic abberation.

Call it what you will, but it will show up every time there's a bright
light source in the photo. Someone recently posted a standardized
comparison between the G2, G3, and Coolpix 4300. The shot was a
night scene, with a bright street lamp. The G2 had some blooming
and/or fringing, the G3 had very strong fringing, and the 4300 had
practically zero fringing.

RH

 

[amr]

I'm having the same problem...please advise.

TIA,
Amr

just to let u guys know there's a final review for g3 at...

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_g3-review/index.html

I only see his preview, could someone tell me where his final
review is, I can't seem to find it on his site even when I click
his news release
--
Dave
http://www.pbase.com/tameria11

 

[fuben]

Try emptying your browser's cache; it sometimes does that.

TIA,
Amr

just to let u guys know there's a final review for g3 at...

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_g3-review/index.html

I only see his preview, could someone tell me where his final
review is, I can't seem to find it on his site even when I click
his news release
--
Dave
http://www.pbase.com/tameria11

--
Regards,
faux_poster

 

[fuben]

This is the post:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=3745056

I also question if the blue halo present in the church photo (Image
28) of DCResource's Final G3 review is really chromatic abberation.

Call it what you will, but it will show up every time there's a bright
light source in the photo. Someone recently posted a standardized
comparison between the G2, G3, and Coolpix 4300. The shot was a
night scene, with a bright street lamp. The G2 had some blooming
and/or fringing, the G3 had very strong fringing, and the 4300 had
practically zero fringing.

RH

--
Regards,
faux_poster

 

[beluga]

hmm, for those who are familiar with G2, The purple halo can be eliminated by keeping the aperture setting between 3.5 to 5.6

check out this photo:
http://www.pbase.com/image/3450461
The aperture setting was too big and you can see purple halo

Now check this out:
http://www.pbase.com/image/3726132
http://www.pbase.com/image/3726133

If you observe, at F3.5, the purple fringing starts to emarge a little.

The only complain I have is at higher F setting, the star effect becomes more apparent.

-
Juzu

those 3 things are really annoying

Redeye worse than expected (even with repeated tests)
Strange chromatic aberrations (rare, but annoying)
Images not as sharp as the very best 4/5 Megapixel cameras

just to let u guys know there's a final review for g3 at...

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_g3-review/index.html

--
http://www.pbase.com/beluga
[email protected]

 

[fuben]

Wow! Thanks Beluga! That would explain why it happened in the church picture: EXIF info says F2.

hmm, for those who are familiar with G2, The purple halo can be
eliminated by keeping the aperture setting between 3.5 to 5.6

check out this photo:
http://www.pbase.com/image/3450461
The aperture setting was too big and you can see purple halo

Now check this out:
http://www.pbase.com/image/3726132
http://www.pbase.com/image/3726133

If you observe, at F3.5, the purple fringing starts to emarge a
little.

The only complain I have is at higher F setting, the star effect
becomes more apparent.

--
http://www.pbase.com/beluga
[email protected]

--
Regards,
faux_poster

 

[Marc-O]

For your information, most videos editing programs handle MJPEG perfectly, hell, it's a semi-professional video format. You just need to have a software MJPEG codec installed on your maching, there are plenty of free ones you can download on the web

I much prefer the movie mode of the Sony cameras, where you can
record at a higher frame rate than the G3, and you can record
continuously up to the full size of the memory card.

Still, I guess having a movie mode like this is better than
nothing. I just wish that they weren't using Motion JPEG and stuck
with standard MPEG or QuickTime instead. Not all programs will read
or edit these Canon movies.

This would mean I'd need a second camera for my movie modes. :-(

Interesting review. So, the G3 has the best movie mode. That's
good to know. For most video work I use a camcorder but there are
some people uncomfortable in front of a camcorder but have no
problem with a camera. Hmmmm.

--

Ulysses
Repository of Some of My Stuff
http://www.imagestation.com/album/pictures.html?id=4291269101

I'm an uncle!!!

 

[Roberta]

I'm curious...

You've all responded to review discussion of CA, sharpness, and so on (which I too find very disappointing) but noone mentioned the reviewers statement that you can't use filters with the G3. Doesn't that disturb you?

 

[SOL #82371]

G3 is still going to be #1 seller... comparing image quality to other cameras, I would say G3 is the best... For instance.... just look at the sample images for Olympus 5050... is that suppose to impress me? not really, even G3 images I've seen posted here were way better then these ones:

http://www.dcworld.com.hk/gallery_detailS1.asp?PhotoID=34&ImageID=261

 

[Marc-O]

No, as there are plenty of filter adapters coming out shortly, both from Canon and third parties (like the lensmate), in many different diameters

I'm curious...
You've all responded to review discussion of CA, sharpness, and so
on (which I too find very disappointing) but noone mentioned the
reviewers statement that you can't use filters with the G3. Doesn't
that disturb you?

 

[Steve110587]

'somewhat disappointed ??????. OVERREACTION maybe.

redeye: OK, a disappointment, but with post processing options and a hot shoe, it is a very slight disappointment.
chromatic aberations: RARE. RARE. RARE. why worry ?
not as sharp: noticable except if you A-B compare them ?.

Every camera has its excentricities (sp). You will never be satisfied. Same thing with a mate. I married my wife for life (unless Shania or Shakira propose to me) and i am accepting her red eyes, her lack of sharpness and her chromatic aberations (wearing orange pants with a green blouse).

steve

I am somewhat dissappointed now:

those 3 things are really annoying

Redeye worse than expected (even with repeated tests)
Strange chromatic aberrations (rare, but annoying)
Images not as sharp as the very best 4/5 Megapixel cameras

 

[Steve110587]

I know... and he's supposed to be THE GRAND ORACLE of digitals !

"Press the Func. button, and you'll be able to save the image in
RAW format instead of JPEG. I have no idea when you'd ever need
this feature."

..Its odd that he didnt find that feature useful.

 

[Steve110587]

Marc,
N'inquietez vous pas !

When teachers collect in a staff lounge. virtually ALL THEY DO is talk about the bad aspects of the kids they teach. It is lots of fun to knock things down. My wife tells me the same. Don't complain about my daughter, praise her for her good things, she tells me....
BUT IT IS MORE FUN TO COMPLAIN.. isn't it.

"The Canon PowerShot G3 is one of the finest digital cameras on the
market. It offers robust performance, tons of manual controls,
unmatched system expandability, and excellent photo quality. The
DIGIC processor has made the G3 one of the most responsive cameras
I've used."

That sounds pretty damn nice to me...

just to let u guys know there's a final review for g3 at...

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_g3-review/index.html

First - Steve's Digicams gives a completely non commital review of
the G3.
Now - DC Resource has basically done the same thing.

While I have seen some very decent landscapes and portraits taken
with the G3 by participants on this forum - I really have to ask

• why are the pro reviewers so reticent about the G3?

--
JohnMc

 

[Marc-O]

LOL it's fun to complain, not to deal with the complaining

When teachers collect in a staff lounge. virtually ALL THEY DO is
talk about the bad aspects of the kids they teach. It is lots of
fun to knock things down. My wife tells me the same. Don't complain
about my daughter, praise her for her good things, she tells me....
BUT IT IS MORE FUN TO COMPLAIN.. isn't it.

"The Canon PowerShot G3 is one of the finest digital cameras on the
market. It offers robust performance, tons of manual controls,
unmatched system expandability, and excellent photo quality. The
DIGIC processor has made the G3 one of the most responsive cameras
I've used."

That sounds pretty damn nice to me...

just to let u guys know there's a final review for g3 at...

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_g3-review/index.html

First - Steve's Digicams gives a completely non commital review of
the G3.
Now - DC Resource has basically done the same thing.

While I have seen some very decent landscapes and portraits taken
with the G3 by participants on this forum - I really have to ask

• why are the pro reviewers so reticent about the G3?

--
JohnMc

 

[Boris L]

I had a G2 for a few months and now have the G3. I would say that the G3 is much faster and that was my biggest compaint with G2. The G2 did take slightly sharper photos.

Photo quality wise, I can't really tell the difference between G2 and G3 - both take great photos.

I had some problems installing the G3 software with Win 98 - Zoombrowser wouldn't install (while my G2 software installed flawlessly).

G3 is still going to be #1 seller... comparing image quality to
other cameras, I would say G3 is the best... For instance.... just
look at the sample images for Olympus 5050... is that suppose to
impress me? not really, even G3 images I've seen posted here were
way better then these ones:

http://www.dcworld.com.hk/gallery_detailS1.asp?PhotoID=34&ImageID=261

 

[dubrillantes]

I am somewhat dissappointed now:

those 3 things are really annoying

Redeye worse than expected (even with repeated tests)
Strange chromatic aberrations (rare, but annoying)
Images not as sharp as the very best 4/5 Megapixel cameras

It seems that dcresource based the sharpness of G3 from a single image. I agree, the image he posted wasn't as sharp as it should be. But, it could have been caused by several factors, such as camera shake etc. Other pictures i've seen taken with the G3 (from Steve's digicam review) were very impressive and the sharpest among the 4 megapixels.