A New Addition to the PowerShot Series: the PowerShot G1
Canon Marketing
(M) Sdn Bhd is proud to announce the latest digital model to join its popular PowerShot
series, the new PowerShot G1, which is the company's most fully-featured 3.3 megapixel
camera to date. This new camera represents Canon's continued commitment to making
digital photography easy and fun for consumers while delivering the image quality,
operational ease and creative control that have made Canon the number one brand in
cameras among professionals and amateurs alike. The PowerShot G1 is a classic example
of Canon's expertise in camera engineering that represents Canon's prowess in making
complex technology accessible, useful, functional and even fun.
The new G1 tops Canon's current lineup of PowerShot-series cameras and stands out
from all other models in the highly competitive 3-megapixel, 3x zoom digital camera
category by offering a comprehensive set of desirable features including a variable-angle
LCD monitor that rotates up to 270 degrees, plus full compatibility with Type I and
II CompactFlash memory cards, including high-capacity IBM® microdrives.
Like other cameras in the PowerShot line, the G1 looks, feels and operates like a
conventional 35mm camera, making the transition to digital less intimidating. Numerous
camera features ranging from Canon's signature "Green Zone" for fully automated
operation to multiple manual control settings make the G1 attractive to a wide range
of users.
Other camera features include a high-resolution, 34mm-102mm (35mm equivalent) f/2.0-2.5
3x zoom lens; 12 EOS System-based picture-taking modes; a wide exposure sensitivity
range (equivalent to ISO 50-400); shutter speeds from 8 seconds to 1/1000 second;
an iris diaphragm; built-in flash with five control modes; compatibility with Canon
EX-series Speedlites; an optical viewfinder with dioptric correction; a wireless
remote controller; and a high-capacity lithium-ion battery power that can be recharged
in the camera. The camera even has an optional audible "shutter click"
indicating that a photograph has been taken.
In addition, the Canon PowerShot G1 offers numerous advanced digital features including
a 1/1.8-inch CCD with 3.34 million pixels; high-speed plug-and-play USB data transfer
plus optional RS-232C serial interface; switchable video output format (NTSC/PAL);
and a wide selection of image quality settings including multiple recording formats
as well as adjustments for contrast, sharpness and color saturation.
The PowerShot G1 allows users to produce full-color or black-and-white high-resolution
images up to 2048 x 1536 pixels. The camera also offers two additional resolution
settings of 1024 x 768 (Middle mode) and 640 x 480 (Small mode), which is ideal for
on-screen applications, such as Web sites and CD-ROMs and allows more images to be
recorded on a single CompactFlash memory card.
The ability of the G1 to obtain the full potential of its 3.3 megapixel CCD is due
to the camera's dedicated digital signal processing integrated circuit (IC) which
achieves high-speed and complete processing of image detail. Images can be recorded
as JPEG files at any resolution setting, with a choice of Super-Fine, Fine or Normal
compression settings.
Additionally,
the G1 is capable of capturing enhanced color depth up to 30 bits in RGB mode at
full resolution due to a new RAW mode developed for the camera. The biggest advantage
of RAW mode is that it preserves maximum image quality, since data is recorded to
the memory card directly from the CCD without degradation. RAW mode uses numerically
lossless reversible compression, which means the stored data requires far less space
than other lossless formats. The G1 stores a 2048 x 1536 pixel RAW file in approximately
2.5MB of space while other cameras require as much as 9.4MB for an uncompressed TIFF.
Not only is Canon's method more economical and convenient, original image data can
be completely restored, as opposed to other file formats such as JPEG or TIFF, which
typically throw away some of the data. With Canon's RAW file format, users can adjust
image quality parameters such as bit depth, white balance, contrast, sharpness, and
color saturation, which can then be applied to the image data with Canon's bundled
software, including ZoomBrowser EX 2.4, ImageBrowser 1.4, TWAIN Driver 3.4, and Plug-In
Module 3.4 and saved in a TIFF, BMP, JPEG, or other graphical file format.
The PowerShot G1 has been improved relative to all previous PowerShot cameras in
the area of shutter button response time and shot-to-shot intervals. AF and AE are
completed within 0.7 seconds after pressing the shutter button halfway, and exposure
begins only 0.07 seconds after pressing the shutter button all the way down from
the halfway point. In single frame mode, the shot-to-shot lag time is only 1.8 seconds.
A built-in buffer memory supports continuous shooting of up to 10 consecutive Large/Fine
JPEGs at 1.7 frames per second when the LCD monitor and flash are shut off.
Multiple Manual Settings
Many digital cameras claim to have fully manual features when the reality is the
"manual" settings are minor overrides of automatic features. With the G1,
however, photographers have true manual control over shutter speeds, apertures, focusing
and even the camera's metering pattern. In addition, the G1 provides an Image Zone
setting offering a series of pre-programmed exposure modes for specific shooting
situations.
Manual settings available with the PowerShot G1 include:
Manual Exposure for complete control over shutter speeds and apertures. Manual Focus
for extreme close-ups and low-contrast scenes. Exposure Compensation and Auto Exposure
Bracketing (AEB) up to +/-2EV in 1/3-step increments. AEB allows photographers to
make three exposures (normal, over, and under according to the camera's meter) with
a single release of the shutter. Flash Exposure Compensation lets photographers intentionally
and independently adjust flash illumination to fine-tune lighting ratios between
subject and background in fill-flash situations. Spot Metering for effective exposure
control in backlit situations and other adverse shooting conditions.
AE/AF Lock allows photographers to lock in the focus point and exposure for a specific
area of a scene, then recompose and shoot without losing the settings. The AE Lock
function is especially effective when the G1 is set for spot metering. Slow Shutter
Speeds for times when flash is not permitted such as theatres and museums. The G1
is capable of recording exposures up to 8 seconds when the camera is set to the shutter-priority
AE or manual mode. A special noise reduction feature virtually eliminates digital
"noise" for exposures of 1.3 seconds or longer. Five Flash Control Modes
including On, Off, Auto, Auto with Red-Eye Reduction and Forced Flash with Red-Eye
Reduction Macro Mode for close-up photography
Additional Camera Features
The PowerShot G1 offers a number of features new for Canon including its Movie Mode.
While in this mode, the G1 can record a QVGA (320 x 240 pixel) digital movie clip
with audio at 15 frames per second for approximately 30 seconds. Saved as an AVI
file, the movie can then be played back on the camera's LCD monitor, a TV monitor
using the supplied audio-video cable or on a compatible personal computer.
The PowerShot G1 also incorporates a series of Programmed Image Control modes that
are easily set by using the Mode Dial on the top of the camera. In the Auto mode,
the camera sets all the parameters for exposure while the user simply sets the resolution
and compression settings. In the Pan Focus mode, the lens is set to its wide-angle
focal length and hyperfocal distance to achieve the greatest depth-of-field. The
Portrait mode automatically sets a larger aperture to achieve minimum depth-of-field
for a blurred background.
The Landscape mode sets the optimum aperture for expanded depth-of-field from foreground
to background while continuing to focus on the main subject. In the Night Scene mode,
the camera properly exposes the foreground subject with flash and sets a slow shutter
speed for correct exposure of illuminated backgrounds. The Black-and-White mode allows
users to create beautiful black-and-white images. Stitch Assist helps users create
seamless panoramas by using the LCD monitor to align images while shooting.
In the Creative Zone of the Mode Dial, users can select between Program, Shutter
Priority, Aperture Priority or Manual exposure control. These settings also provide
access to a host of other camera features such as single or continuous autofocus,
spot metering and AE lock, various forms of exposure compensation, plus manual and
custom white balance settings and much more.
Instant Picture Playback
PowerShot G1 users can switch between picture-taking and playback modes in an instant.
Unless the Main Dial is in the off position for more than 0.8 seconds, the lens stays
out and the retraction time is eliminated. This allows photographers to take a number
of pictures, review them and quickly return to the picture-taking mode.
The experienced photographer will find it easy to maneuver around the PowerShot G1's
auto, manual and creative shooting modes. Similar to Canon's EOS System cameras,
the User Interface (UI) is clear and concise with graphical icons that are universally
understood. The main dial of the camera is used to set the camera for picture-taking,
playback and PC download, while the Mode Dial is used to set the camera's 12 EOS-based
picture-taking modes such as Auto, Programmed Image Control Zone, and Creative Zone.
Popular features such as macro mode, metering pattern, exposure compensation and
flash have their own buttons. A four-position Omni Selector is used to change menu
settings and select images during playback.
The PowerShot G1 is powered by a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that has about
the same capacity, yet half the weight, as nickel-hydride, with no memory effect.
Image Management Software
Bundled with a suite of programs enabling image management, editing compositing and
printing, the PowerShot G1 comes with Adobe PhotoShop 5.0 LE and Apple QuickTime
4.1, ZoomBrowser EX 2.4 (for PC) and ImageBrowser 1.4 (for Mac); PhotoRecord 1.2
(Windows only); and PhotoStitch 3.1. RemoteCapture 1.1 is a newly developed software
application for Mac and PC that enables a USB-connected G1 camera to be controlled
by a personal computer. Many camera settings such as focal length, resolution, compression,
flash mode, etc., can be adjusted from compatible personal computers and the images
can be recorded directly to the PC.
New System Accessories
The PowerShot G1 now offers even greater creative flexibility with new lens converters
and adapters. The WC-DC58 Wide Angle Converter widens the focal length of the camera's
lens by approximately 0.8x, giving the camera an effective wide angle of 27mm. The
TC-DC58 Tele Converter extends the camera's longest focal length from 102mm to 153mm.
Minimum focusing range of the Tele Converter is 1.3 feet to infinity with the camera
lens zoomed to its telephoto position.
The Close-Up Lens 250D has a working distance of approximately 4.7 to 7.9 inches
from the front of the lens.
The Conversion Lens Adapter LA-DC58 allows the Tele Converter, Wide Angle Converter
and Close-up Lens to be retrofitted onto the G1 body. As a stand alone the conversion
adapter accepts any 58mm filter. The new PowerShot G1 is supplied with the following
standard accessories: USB Interface Cable, AV Cable; Remote Controller; Neck Strap;
a 16MB CompactFlash Card; BP-511 rechargeable battery and CA-560 Compact Power Adapter;
AC Cable and bundled software.