Canon PowerShot G3 4MP Digital Camera w/ 4x Optical Zoom
It's all up to you with the PowerShot G3. With its 4.0-megapixel CCD sensor providing amazing resolution images, which stay sharp even when printing up to A3, this digital camera is destined to capture your imagination as well as super sharp images. The secret behind the PowerShot G3 isn't just one innovative feature. It's the intuitive way all of its advanced technology works together to make tricky shots look simple. The PowerShot G3 lens is in a league of its own. It is a super-quick, high-resolution 4x optical zoom lens (f2.0 - 3.0) with a focal length of 7.2 to 28.8mm (35 - 140mm equivalent in 35mm format). This gives you a larger zoom range and a faster aperture, especially useful in low light conditions. This camera also features Canon's new, high-performance DIGIC (DIGital Imaging Core) processor for superb color reproduction, fast operation and long battery life. Combine this with the iSAPS (intelligent Scene Analysis based on PhotoSpace) technology, which allows faster auto-focusing, accurate auto-exposure and precise auto white balancing you can be sure you'll achieve faithful image reproduction.The PowerShot G3 contains a full set of scene-based and creative shooting modes, as well as a custom mode where you can set and store parameters to suit your photographic style. What's more, the PowerShot G3 has separate shutter and aperture functions, offering you extensive manual control in a digital camera. Open shutter, closed aperture, less light for longer - whichever you choose, your options are wide open. You'll also find FlexiZone AF/AE and Focus bracketing, to ensure you can achieve perfect focus and exposure. Ergonomic and comfortable in the hand, the camera has a maneuverable LCD screen, while a jog dial combined with the Function button makes it simple to navigate through the creative options.Product Details
Features
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
Few digital camera lines have been as successfully branded as Canon's Powershot. And the best known in that line was the powerful and fun to use G2. Now, Canon's following it up with their G3, which has the same four megapixels of resolution but now offers an improved 4X optical zoom and other updated features.
With a revamped body, the G3 feels a bit more comfortable in the hands. A mid-sized camera, you'll notice it hanging around your neck, but its 14.5 ounce frame won't weigh you down terribly. With a high-speed CompactFlash card, the G3 can take video clips of up to three minutes complete with sound.
You'll want to consider an upgrade to one of those cards, as the G3 ships with only a 32 MB standard CF card--not bad for bundled memory, but you'll be happier with more storage room. Images taken at the highest resolution quickly filled up the 32 MB card, but were highly detailed as well as bright with realistic colors.
The G3 features the same large, bright 1.8-inch LCD as its predecessor, making it easy to frame your shot in anything except direct sunlight. Like earlier G models, the LCD flips out and can be rotated around completely, letting you view it from any angle.
This works well with the G3's two options for self-timing, 2 and 10 seconds, so you can see what you're doing from the target viewpoint. And the G3's above-industry-standard 4x optical zoom lets you get in closer than the G2's 3x zoom as well.
Compatible with Canon's Direct Print feature, you can output images from the G3 directly to any of Canon's Direct Print line of printers. The G3 is a great choice for a 4 megapixel, 4x optical zoom camera with a wealth of features. --J. Curtis
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Amazon.com Product Description
Quite simply, the Canon PowerShot G3 is an elegant, easy-to-use joy of a digital camera that will satisfy the needs of the most demanding professional or advanced amateur photographer. It boasts an impressive 4-megapixel resolution, a 4x optical zoom, and a bright LCD monitor that swivels off to the side of the camera and tilts up and down as needed. It also provides a bevy of manual creative controls in addition to its fully automatic mode.
Optics and Resolution
The PowerShot G3 owes its brilliantly detailed images to a high-resolution, 4-megapixel CCD that delivers a postcard-size image with no visible pixilation. On-chip primary color filters provide vivid and realistic color without the noisiness associated with other primary-color filters. The G3 can capture images at resolutions of 2,272 x 1,704; 1,600 x 1,200; 1,024 x 768; and 640 x 480. This range allows for prints up to 11 by 14 inches, as well as easy-to-upload images for the Web and e-mail.
The G3's lens features a 4x optical zoom, the first on a PowerShot camera, which moves from wide-angle to extreme telephoto with the touch of a finger. The lens aperture is a large and bright f2.0-f3.0, so you can shoot in low light without flash. The G3 also features a 3.6x digital zoom that when combined with the 4x optical gives you a total zoom of 14x.
Storage and Transfer
Images are stored on Type I or II CompactFlash memory cards. The included 32 MB card will store approximately 27 images at 2,272 x 1,704 pixels (at large/fine settings). Images can be downloaded to either a Mac or PC via USB storage-class connectivity, which means it can be connected to any USB-based Windows Me/2000/XP and Mac OS 8.6 or later computer without installing any software.
Movie Mode
In addition to taking still photos, the PowerShot G3 can also record movie clips of up to 3 minutes. You can choose from either 160 x 120 or 320 x 240 pixel video formats.
More Features
The G3's electronic dial, with its independent mode dial and lever, replaces the functions of the previous two-stage main dial and mode dial. The control layout is functional and simple to use. The display panel at the top of the large, 1.8-inch LCD monitor has been redesigned for a clear layout of icons, and larger fonts make the menus easy to read.
Exposure metering is selectable among evaluative, center-weighted average, or spot. AE lock and FE lock let you store ideal auto and flash exposures until you're ready to shoot, while the exposure compensation enables you to adjust the exposure up or down as much as two full stops.
You can add power to the PowerShot G3 by adding optional components, from Canon's EX series Speedlight external flashes (which connect easily to the G3's hot shoe) to a variety of converters and conversion lenses.
Power, Size, and Contents
The camera is powered by a proprietary Canon rechargeable lithium-ion battery (included), and measures 4.8 by 3.0 by 2.5 inches and 14.5 ounces. This package includes the PowerShot G3 digital camera, a 32 MB CompactFlash card, a lithium battery (model BP-511), a compact power adapter (model CA-560), a wireless controller, USB and AV cables, neck strap, and a CD-ROM with Photoshop LE imaging software and USB drivers for Windows and Mac.
From the Manufacturer
The 4.0 megapixel PowerShot G3 uses a new proprietary dedicated signal processor called DIGIC which provides better image quality, increased processing speed, faster AF and uses less power. Canon has increased the zoom range of the G3’s built-in lens to 35-140mm (4x optical / 3.6x digital / 14x combined) while maintaining a maximum aperture range of f/2.0-3.0, thus offering the widest zoom range and largest aperture of any current Canon PowerShot model. Other features of the camera include 12 EOS System-based shooting modes for customizing the camera to the user’s shooting style; a new Wide-Area FlexiZone AF/AE system which allow users to focus on off-center subjects without repositioning the camera; Spot Metering; and Zoom Playback up to 10X. A new Intelligent Orientation Sensor automatically rotates images for proper viewing during playback. And like other PowerShot-series cameras, the PowerShot G3 has a Direct Print function that is compatible with Canon’s CP-10 a! nd CP-100 dye-sublimation printers as well as Bubble Jet Direct photo printers for fast, high-quality photos from wallet size up to letter size (8.5 x 11-inches).
4.0 Megapixel CCD
The PowerShot G3 owes its brilliantly detailed images to a high-resolution 1/1.8" 4.0 megapixel CCD. On-chip primary filters provide vivid and realistic colors without the noise associated with other filters.
4x Optical, 3.6x Digital, 14x Combined Zoom
The G3's lens features a 4x optical zoom, the first on a PowerShot camera that moves from wide-angle to extreme telephoto with the touch of a finger. The lens aperture is a large and bright f/2.0-3.0 so you can shoot in low light without flash.The G3 also features a 3.6x digital zoom that when combined with the 4x optical, gives you a total zoom of 14x.
Advanced Shooting Functions
FlexiZone AF/AE allows the user to focus on a subject almost anywhere in the picture. The autofocus assist beam can be turned on or off according to the needs of the photographer. Like other G-series cameras, the G3 features EOS-based modes for shooting in virtually any circumstance. These modes include a Custom Mode with 2 settings so that users can set their own parameters. Custom ModeUser controls and stores all settings for preferred effects.ManualThe user has complete control of aperture and shutter speed. Aperture PriorityThe user has complete control of aperture and shutter speed.Shutter Speed PriorityThe user selects the shutter speed. Canon's noise reduction system makes a very slow speed possible.ProgramExposure compensation are available at the touch of a button.
Auto
The camera sets all parameters for the user.
Portrait
The camera selects a larger aperture, focusing the subject, blurring the background.
Landscape
The camera opts for a smaller aperture.
Night Scene
Background exposure and slow-sync flash for a night scene or sunset.
Stitch Assist
Precise combination of images for a panoramic effect.MovieLonger recording than ever-up to 3 minutes at 320 x 240 resolution!
DIGIC and iSAPS Technology
The G3's DIGIC Imaging Processor improves image quality, enhances autofocus accuracy and increases processing speed for sharper images that can be shot faster.Canon's iSAPS technology meaningfully relates peripheral brightness and the zoom position of the lens to pre calculate the distance between the camera and the subject.
Improved Movie Mode and My Camera Function
The G3's improved Movie Mode now lets you take individual clips with sound up to 3 minutes long.My Camera Function lets you personalize the start-up image, start-up sound and operation sounds with your own selections using software provided with the camera.
Intelligent Orientation Sensor
This sensor can tell whether your images were shot horizontally or vertically and then adjust the AF, AE and white balance accordingly. Images are automatically rotated to the correct orientation during playback and downloading.
Customer Reviews
At its introduction, a real powerhouse
When I bought this camera 3 years ago, it was the advanced "point-n-shoot" I had been waiting for. While it's outdated now, it's successors (the most recent is the just-launched G7) have continued Canon's tradition of knowing their users. This camera let's me do nearly everything to which I was accustomed with my film slr. It can be fully automatic, (almost) completely manual (you can't expose the same frame/file multiple times, as in a film camera). It has a choice of metering modes, though no spot meter - however I've rarely found this to be too sore a point). And it let's me be creative and experiments.
My main gripes:
1. Autofocus is not speedy nor as accurate as as a film slr.
2. Battery life is much less than a film camera (as are most digicams).
3. It only records up to ISO400, and there's some noise and fringing in the shadows in low light at that speed.
4. Lens does not have a fixed maximum aperature, however, at the lens' widest angle max aperature is a robust F/2.
5.It now seems a bit clunky, physically.
I'm looking forward to upgrading to my first DSLR shortly. Can't wait to have the resolution, speed, and lens interchangeability that I so enjoyed on my old Elan.
That said, if you're looking for an advanced fixed lens point and shot, don't hesistate to try out the latest in the Canon Powershot line.
Malfunctions, poor cust. service, insulting Upgrade Program
Initially a nice camera. However, while I was stationed in Iraq the camera suffered from an E24 error while it was with my wife in Germany. I chose not to take the camera to Iraq out of fear that it would be damaged. Instead, to my suprise, it was damaged in Germany for no apparant reason, atleast not one due to poor handling. My wife mailed the camera to the Canon repair shop in the States. They returned the camera in working order. The repairs were completed free of charge since it was in the time period of the one year warranty. On the day I returend from Iraq (6 months later after the first repair) a friend took a photo of us at the reception ceremony. The camera relapsed into the same state as before - an E24 error. The LCD screen would not display any data. The camera therefore completely shut itself off, a feature that was later explained to me by a Canon representative that is used to protect the camera from further damage. I spoke with a repair representative about what appears to me to be an easy fix. I was told that since my warranty had expired I would have to pay a minimum of $187 to a maximum of $500 for the repairs. Keep in mind this was told to me prior to any Canon technician ever even looked at the camera. I asked if that would still be the charge if it was a fix as simple as a loose screw and they told me that was an accurate assumption. I then asked if I would be required to pay if it was found that the problem was related to the initial repair having not been done properly while under warranty, again they responded that I would. They then informed me of an "Upgrade Program". They told me I could send them my G3, and pay them an additional $300, and in return I would receive a REFURBISHED G5! Not a new one, REFURBISHED! If I were to accept that offer I would end up paying $950 for a refurbished Canon G5 ($300 + the original $650 for the G3). I was insulted to say the least. I'm willing to bet that those refurbished G5's are part of a program that they have for an upgrade to the G6 for the G5 users that have the same issue as I. What a scam! What a pathetic customer service department! What an insult to an American soldier that just returned from a 13 month deployment in Iraq! Oh yeah, the company is Japanese, they don't care anyway;)
But by the way, I do own another Canon Powershot A20, 2.1 MP. I've owned it for over 3 years and it has been a great camera. I believe Canon is the best brand out there. But as for their repair assistance, customer service, and warranty policy - they are simply an insult!
Tim
An unhappy American soldier...
This is a great camera!
I bought my G3 in September of 2003 after my SLR took a dump 3 weeks before my baby was due. I have NEVER been disappointed. Granted, if I had the money, I would have gone for something better, but this was the BEST I could have gotten for my money. Some reviewers have commented on the camera not being worth the price - you must not have shopped around! I found mine, brand new, for $460 from a reputable online camera store.
My pictures turn out great most of the time. I agree with the slow focus time, but you can't get everything with a prosumer camera. I love the neverending list of options this camera offers (from flash output to f-stops to white balance, etc. etc.).
When I have the money saved up I'll be buying the Canon digital rebel, but until then I am very satisfied with my G3.
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