| Canon has today (officially) announced
the five megapixel PowerShot G5. While we are often happy
to respect embargo's (to get what we are told is exclusive
info) it's getting repeatedly more frustrating when you
see so called embargo information published sometimes weeks
ahead of the real announcement (it does make you wonder
if such leaks aren't planned by the manufacturers). The
PowerShot G5 is a camera I feel Canon should have announced
at Photokina last year instead of the G3, it's a essentially
a black bodied, five megapixel version of that camera. Five
megapixel 1/1.8" sensor and a four times optical zoom lens,
the competition will be Sony's DSC-V1 and the recently announced
Nikon Coolpix 5400. List price 899 in Europe, $899 in the
US.
Press Release (Canon Europe):
Canon's 5.0 Megapixel PowerShot G5:
Brimming with features for total control.
Amstelveen, The Netherlands, 2 June, 2003. Canon, a leader
in photographic and imaging technology, today launches the
superbly specified 5.0 Megapixel PowerShot G5. With an extremely
fast f2.0, 4x optical zoom, Canon's most advanced compact
offers serious amateur and professional photographers unrivalled
image quality. 12 shooting modes deliver the sort of flexibility
and versatility typically only found in high-end SLRs.
Canon's proprietary DIGIC (DIGital Imaging Core) processor
delivers consummate image quality with 2 fps speed and efficiencies
in power consumption to help give the PowerShot G5 one of
the longest battery lives of any digital compact on the
market. 450 high-resolution shots can be taken and stored
on a single charge . An extensive range of optional lenses,
flashes and accessories cements the PowerShot G5's position
as a system camera for the serious user. A robust body featuring
metal elements and a stylish black finish gives professional
looks to match its performance.
"The popularity of our G-series amongst professional photographers
has confirmed the need in the market place for a high-end
compact with the functionality of an SLR" explains Hiroshi
Komatsuzaki, Head of Canon Consumer Imaging Europe. "With
5.0 Megapixels, a fast 4x zoom lens and 12 shooting modes,
this is a serious camera designed to meet the stringent
needs of the most demanding of amateur and professional
photographers".
Super fine detail
The PowerShot G5's 5.0 Megapixel CCD sensor delivers the
high resolution expected of a camera in this class, allowing
photo prints up to A3 in size as well as more scope for
image cropping. The reduction of pixel size necessary to
achieve a 5.0 Megapixel CCD calls for extremely high levels
of lens performance. Canon's engineers employed their expertise
in lens and optics technologies to optimally match the lens
to the sensor resolution.
Precision lens technology
Canon's tradition of superb lens quality continues with
a fast f2.0 (W) to f3.0 (T) 4x optical zoom lens, (7.2 to
28.8mm) that is equivalent to a 35-140mm lens in 35mm format.
Chromatic aberration that plagues lesser quality digitals
has been all but eliminated with the incorporation of 2
aspherical elements. Extremely fast and accurate focusing
is achieved by controlling focusing with the movement of
just one rear element. An optical neutral density (ND) filter
- unique to Canon - is built into the lens to reduce light
by 3 stops, permitting creative slow shutter /large aperture
settings in bright conditions. FlexiZone AF/AE allows users
to specify the particular spot in the frame from which to
focus and meter - ideal for off-centre and even on-the-edge
compositions - and focus bracketing takes extra shots focused
in front of and behind the subject.
Flexibility unlimited
A choice of twelve modes gives users complete control over
the camera in every possible shooting situation. Along with
all the fully manual and aperture/shutter priority modes
expected in an advanced digital, the PowerShot G5 includes
two Custom modes for storing preferred camera settings,
Portrait and Landscape modes to minimise/maximise depth
of field appropriately, and a Night Scene mode providing
slow sync speed for realistic shots balancing exposure to
maintain both background and foreground detail. StitchAssist
works in 5 modes to enable precise alignment of up to 26
images for panorama and poster shots that are merged with
supplied PhotoStitch software. 180-second video clips with
sound can be recorded in movie mode. Photo effects include
sepia, vivid colour, black and white, neutral and low sharpening.
A vari-angle 1.8-inch LCD monitor can be fully rotated
to allow for shooting with the camera close to the floor
or high in the air and a mirror image display for easy self-portraits.
For ultimate quality and post processing flexibility, images
can be stored in Canon RAW format - even after a shot has
been taken in JPEG mode. Flexibility is further extended
with a raft of features including ±2 stop Auto Exposure
Bracketing (AEB) in 1/3 stop increments, 1st and 2nd curtain
flash synchronisation and interval shooting for time lapse
photography.
High-end processing, high-end performance
The complex algorithms required to accurately process functions
such as white balance and color rendition have all been
integrated onto Canon's unique high speed DIGIC processor.
This allows the PowerShot G5 to deliver stunning quality
images with no trade-off in camera responsiveness. By keeping
all key functions onto a single chip, power consumption
is also reduced. The PowerShot G5 employs the powerful BP-511
rechargeable Li-Ion battery to allow up to 450 high-resolution
shots or 6 hours playback from a single charge.
System Camera
Canon's wide range of specialised accessories further expands
the capabilities, versatility and creative potential of
the camera. A 0.7x wide converter and 1.75x tele converter
cover a 10x zoom range of 24.5 - 245mm (35mm equivalent).
True macro photography is available with a 58mm close up
lens and professional Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX or Macro Twin
MT-24EX flash units. The PowerShot G5 offers full support
of Canon's extensive EX series Speedlite flash units including
wireless sequential firing of multiple independent banks
of remote flashes, unheard of in competing digital cameras.
Direct Print
Directly connectable to all Canon Direct Print printers,
The PowerShot G5 delivers superb quality photo prints without
needing a PC. Simply connect the camera to a Canon Direct
Print printer; select the desired shot and full colour photo
printing begins. With 5.0 Megapixels, the PowerShot G5 has
the resolution essential for premium-quality large-format
A3 prints.
Software
The PowerShot G5 comes with the following software:
- ZoomBrowzer EX (Windows) & ImageBrowser (Macintosh)
- Central to image management, ZoomBrowser EX / ImageBrowser
files, prints and transfers images between camera and
computer.
- File Viewer Utility - for fast transfer, preview and
conversion of RAW image files.
- Picture Transfer Protocol - PowerShot G5 uses PTP communication
for driverless connection to Windows XP and Mac OS-X (v10.1/v.10.2).
Also included are Canon's PhotoStitch, RemoteCapture and
PhotoRecord software.
All figures quoted are based on Canon's standard testing
method.
Canon PowerShot G5 Specifications
 |
| Sensor |
1/1.8" 5.24 megapixel
(primary CFA) |
| Effective pixels |
5.0 megapixels (JCIA
standard) |
| Image processor |
DIGIC (12 bit) |
| Image sizes |
2592 x 1944
1600 x 1200
1024 x 768
640 x 480 |
| Image quality |
RAW
Super-Fine JPEG
Fine JPEG
Normal JPEG |
| Image formats |
RAW
JPEG (EXIF 2.2)*
* Any image shot as JPEG can be instead saved as RAW
by pressing FUNC during record review |
| Movie clips |
320 x 240, 15 fps,
max 3 mins (including audio)
160 x 120, 15 fps, max 3 mins (including audio)
(3 mins requires high speed CF card) |
| Lens |
4.1x optical
zoom
35 - 140 mm (F2.0 - F3.0)
8 elements in 7 groups (2 aspherical elements)
|
| Digital zoom |
Yes, 3.6x |
| Focus method |
TTL auto-focus
(Continuous or Single)
FlexiZone AF/AE or Centre Point AF
Manual focus
Focus bracketing |
| Focus range |
Normal: 50 cm
- Infinity (19.7 in - Infinity)
Macro wide: 5 - 50 cm (2.0 - 19.7 in)
Macro tele: 15 - 50 cm (5.9 - 19.7 in)
Manual focus: 5/15 cm - Infinity (2.0/5.9
in - Infinity) |
| Exposure control |
Program AE
Shutter Priority AE
Aperture Priority AE
Manual |
| AE Lock |
Yes |
| AE Bracketing |
Yes |
| Exposure compensation |
+/-2.0 EV in 0.3 EV
steps |
| ND Filter |
Internal, menu option |
| Metering method |
Evaluative (linked
to AF point)
Center weighted average
Spot |
| Camera Shooting modes |
Auto
Program
Tv (Shutter Priority)
Av (Aperture Priority)
Manual
Custom 1
Custom 2
Scene
Movie |
| Scene exposure modes |
Portrait
Landscape
Night Portrait
Sports
Stitch Assist |
| White Balance |
Auto
Daylight
Cloudy
Tungsten
Fluorescent
Fluorescent High
Manual Preset 1
Manual Preset 2 |
| Shutter speed |
15 - 1/2000
sec
Wide angle: 1/2000 sec from F4.0 - F8.0 (otherwise
1/1250 sec max)
Telephoto: 1/2000 sec from F5.6 - F8.0 (otherwise
1/1250 sec max) |
| Noise reduction |
For shutter speeds longer
than 1.3 sec |
| ISO sensitivity |
Auto (ISO 50
- 150)
ISO 50
ISO 100
ISO 200
ISO 400 |
| Viewfinder |
Optical |
| LCD Monitor |
1.8" TFT, 118,000
pixels
100% coverage
Tilt, twist and swivel |
| Self Timer |
2 sec
10 sec |
| Continuous shooting |
High: 2.0 fps,
max 8 frames (Large/Fine, LCD off)
Low: 1.5 fps, max 7 frames (Large/Fine, LCD
off) |
| Flash mode |
Auto
Red-eye reduction Auto
Manual Flash On/Off
Slow Sync Speed (first or second curtain) |
| Flash range (ISO 100) |
Normal wide:
0.7 - 5.0 m (2.3 - 16.4 ft)
Normal tele: 0.7 - 4.0 m (2.3 - 13.1 ft) |
| Flash compensation |
+/- 2.0 EV in
0.3 EV steps
FE lock available
Manual flash power output can be set |
| External flash |
Hot shoe
Canon Speedlite 220EX, (380EX), 420EX, 550EX,
Macro-Ring-Lite MR 14EX, Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX,
Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 |
| Timelapse mode |
Interval: 1
- 60 mins
Shots: up to 100 |
| Photo Effect |
Vivid
Neutral
Low Sharpening
Sepia
B&W
Custom (Contrast, Sharpness, Saturation: all
+/-1 level) |
| Playback Operation |
Single
Multi
Movie
Slide Show
Magnify (up to 10x) |
| Orientation Sensor |
Senses horizontal /
vertical orientation of camera |
| Compliance |
DPOF print order
format
ExifPrint (EXIF 2.2) |
| Direct Printing |
Canon CP-10
Canon CP-100
Canon S820D
Canon S830D
Canon S530D |
| Storage |
Compact Flash Type I
or II (Microdrive compatible) |
| Connectivity |
USB 1.1 (Normal
/ PTP)
A/V output |
| Power |
Lithium-Ion BP-511/
BP 5-12 1100 mAh (included & charger) |
| Dimensions |
121 x 74 x 70 mm (4.8
x 2.9 x 2.8 in) |
| Weight (exc. batt) |
410 g (14.5 oz) |
More pictures
Review
Canon Powershot G5 |