Canon PowerShot G3 The third generation of Canon's popular G model retains last year's 4 megapixel CCD, but brings a 4X zoom lens and a host of other improvements. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet G3 Photo Gallery! G3 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on G3 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Executive Overview :(Previous) | (Next): Viewfinder>> Page 3:Design Review First Posted: 9/16/2002

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Design

Building upon the solid body design of the previously-released PowerShot G2, Canon has introduced subtle improvements in the G3's overall body design, although differences in the overall visual aesthetic are more evident. The body is almost identical in size to the G2, but a more sharply-angled handgrip on the right side of the camera provides more secure purchase for your fingers than did the grip on the G2.

The G3 measures 4.7 x 2.7 x 3.0 inches (120 x 69 x 77mm), and is just slightly lighter than the G2, at 17.3 ounces (494 grams) with the battery pack and CompactFlash card installed. The G3 can fit into a very large coat pocket or purse, or it can be carried with the half-inch neck strap. For extended location shooting, I highly recommend investing in a small, padded camera case.

The G3's flat front panel houses the lens, optical viewfinder window, built-in flash, autofocus assist light, microphone, and remote control sensor. The 4x zoom lens telescopes out about an inch from the camera body when the G3 is powered on, and retracts when the camera is powered off. The lens is protected by a small plastic lens cap, tethered to the camera body with an attached cord. The microphone, which is barely visible next to the camera lens, records sound to accompany in-camera movies. A thick, somewhat angular hand grip on the right side of the camera provides a more secure grip than more rounded protrusion on the previous G2, giving your fingers a bit more traction on the camera body. Also visible on the front panel is a small button below and to the right of the lens. This is a latch for the new bayonet-mount for accessory lenses. Pressing this latch lets you twist and remove the cosmetic lens barrel shroud, revealing a set of mounting flanges to which Canon's new lens adapter barrel will attach. While I had no complaints about the accessory threads on the previous G2, the bayonet mount of the G3 offers a much faster means of attaching and removing accessory lenses. (Big kudos to Canon for this subtle improvement.)

On the right side of the camera is a sliding/hinged door that accesses the CompactFlash slot, accommodating both Type I and II CompactFlash cards. At the top of the right side is an eyelet for attaching one end of the neck strap.

The left side of the camera has a speaker for playing back recorded sound, and a set of jacks for the A/V output, USB connection, and DC input for the included AC adapter/battery charger. All the jacks are protected by a hard plastic door that swings open to reveal the connectors. At the top of the left panel is the other neck strap attachment eyelet.

The G3's top panel features a small status display window; an external flash hot shoe; a Main Power dial (now a separate control, vs the arrangement on the G2, which placed the power control underneath the mode dial); a Mode dial, with shooting and exposure options; a Zoom Lever; a Shutter button; and a Continuous Drive / Self-Timer / Wireless Controller button. I always appreciate status display panels like the one on the G3, as they report camera settings and other miscellaneous information, without the need for powering up the LCD monitor. Moving the power switch out from under the mode dial makes it a bit more obvious and accessible, and easier to actuate, in my opinion. An interesting detail is that this control is normally locked to prevent accidental actuation in your camera bag. It's released when y ou place your finger on it, pressing in the small button at its rear. I'd previously complained that both the mode and power dial required a two-finger grip to turn them, and am happy to report that Canon heard that objection and has now made both dials easy to actuate with your thumb alone. I did have the feeling with the prototype G3 though, that the power switch was a bit insubstantial - It felt like it could be prone to damage if it got knocked against something while you were carrying the camera around your neck. Another interesting ergonomic wrinkle is that the shutter button on the G3 is now angled toward the right side of the camera, to match the angle of your index finger, as it wraps around the grip. Not a big thing, but the angled shutter button did fit my finger more naturally as I worked with the camera.

The majority of the exposure controls are located on the camera's back panel, along with the optical viewfinder and LCD monitor. The G2's eye-level optical viewfinder features a diopter adjustment switch on the left and two LEDs that report camera status. The swiveling LCD monitor pops out of the camera back and rotates 270 degrees when fully extended. You can fold it back into its storage compartment with the monitor facing outward or leave it extended and turn the screen to accommodate a variety of shooting angles. Finally, the monitor can be turned around and popped back into the panel face-down, protecting it from accidental scratches and fingerprints. On the G3, the Four Way Arrow pad ("omni controller," in Canon parlance) protrudes slightly from the back of the camera, creating a thumb rest that provides counter support to the large hand grip on the front of the camera.

Control layout on the back of the G3 is quite similar to that of the G2. The macro and metering pattern buttons have been moved over to the left of the optical viewfinder eyepiece, and their place is now occupied by the Manual Focus/Audio recording button, which appeared on the left side of the G2. The other buttons on the back panel are in the same locations as before, but what was formerly labeled the Exposure Compensation/White Balance/AutoExposure Bracketing/Flash Exposure Compensation button is now simply referred to as the "FUNC" button. As we'll see later in this review, the menu structure associated with the FUNC button has changed quite a bit, providing more control and flexibility than seen in the G2. - Rather than requiring multiple presses of the FUNC button to step through the various options it controls, a tabbed menu interface now lets you scroll quickly through the available options with the Omni Controller, while the "*" key toggles additional options on some of the menus. Exposure compensation and white balance functions are now accessed more directly via the Omni Controller itself, while the sub-menus of the FUNC button let you adjust ISO, Image Effects (including direct contrast/sharpness/saturation adjustments), exposure and focus bracketing, flash exposure compensation, and image size and quality. - Overall, the modifications in the FUNC menu and Omni Controller options make a lot more camera functions much more easily accessible.

The G3's bottom panel is reasonably flat, with a sliding door to the battery compartment and a threaded metal tripod mount. The tripod mount is positioned just slightly off-center (to the left of the lens), most likely to allow clearance for the bottom of the lens mechanism. Because the battery door and tripod mount are so close to one another, it would be difficult to make quick battery changes while working with a tripod. However, the side-access of the DC In slot should remedy any power concerns when shooting in the studio.

Accompanying the camera is the same small infrared Remote Control we saw with the G2, with a working range of up to 16.4 feet (5 meters). By activating the Continuous / Self-Timer / Wireless Controller button in Shooting mode, you can use the Remote to fire the shutter, adjust the optical zoom, or scroll through the LCD display screens without coming in contact with the camera body. This works well with the rotating LCD monitor, because you can mount the camera on a tripod and compose the subject while standing in front of the camera. The Remote also offers several playback functions, which are useful when viewing images on a television screen. The Index display and Replay zoom buttons on the bottom of the Remote Control enable you to view up to nine thumbnail images at a time, or enlarge one captured image on the LCD monitor. The four arrow buttons on the Remote give you the same capabilities as the Four Way Arrow pad on the back of the camera, permitting you to scroll through stored images or maneuver within a larger one. Depressing the Remote's Shutter button while in Replay mode lets you play movie files on the camera's monitor or a television. As with the G2, I was glad to see the inclusion of this simple gadget as a standard feature on the G3, especially given its video capabilities, which allow the camera to be used as a presentation tool. A very welcome enhancement relative to the wireless remote is a new option for zero delay for remote shutter release: The G2 had a minimum of 2 seconds for remote release, limiting the remote's usefulness.

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