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Canon PowerShot G1 Canon combines dead-easy auto shooting, full manual control, and excellent image quality in a killer3 megapixel! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PowerShot G1 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 --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Viewfinder :(Previous) | (Next): Exposure & Flash>> Page 5:Optics Review First Posted: 10/28/2000

Optics
The G1 features a built-in, 3X, 7-21mm zoom lens (equivalent to a 34-102mm lens on a 35mm camera). When the camera is powered on, the lens telescopes out from the camera body into its operating position, then retracts again when the camera is shut off. A plastic lens cap protects the lens when not in use, and features a small tether to attach it to the camera body. Focus can be automatically or manually controlled, with a range of 2.3 feet (70cm) to infinity in normal mode. Macro mode features a focus range of 2.4 inches to 2.4 feet (6 to 70cm). The aperture adjusts automatically or manually, with an f/2.0-f/8.0 range, depending on the zoom setting.

Manual focus is activated by depressing the Manual Focus button on the left side of the camera. As it's held down, a distance indicator appears on the LCD monitor, providing a reference scale for focusing. The up and down arrows of the Omni selector are used to focus on the subject in the monitor (the top of the scale represents infinity). Although the LCD scale is not marked numerically, the Canon G1 Camera User Guide provides an approximate scale in feet and meters on page 74 for reference.

When shooting in Autofocus mode, the G1 offers both Continuous and Single Autofocus functions. In Continuous mode, the camera is constantly adjusting focus, even when the shutter button is not depressed halfway. In Single mode, the camera focuses only when the shutter button is depressed halfway, which helps to conserve battery power. A Pan focus mode is also provided as a preset exposure on the Mode dial. It fixes the lens at the widest possible angle, allowing you to photograph at any distance (25.6 inches/65cm to infinity), without having to refocus on close-up or far-away subjects. This mode is great for fast-paced action, when subjects are in constant movement.

Digital zoom is controlled within the camera�s Record menu, with options for 2X or 4X enlargement. Digital Telephoto is not available when shooting with the G1�s Continuous Shooting or Movie modes, or when using the RAW file format. It�s important to note that the digital zoom simply enlarges the center of the CCD image, ultimately resulting in some image degradation. (Loss of image quality often shows up as increased noise or reduced image sharpness.) The good news is that the G1 accommodates several optional lens converters with a lens adaptor kit. Options include a wide-angle WC-DC58 conversion lens, which augments the lens focal length by a factor of 0.8; a tele-converter TC-DC58, which increases the lens' focal length by a factor of 1.5; and a close-up lens 250D, which brings the camera's focusing range down to 4.7-7.9 inches (12-20cm) in Macro mode.

Optical distortion on the G1 is moderately high at the wide-angle end, as we measured approximately 0.5 percent barrel distortion. The telephoto end fared much better, showing only about two pixels of pincushion distortion. Chromatic aberration is also relatively low, with about one or two pixels of coloration on each side of the black target lines. (This distortion is visible as a very slight colored fringe around the objects at the edges of the field of view on the resolution target.) All distortion figures are lower than average among digicams we've tested.