The all-in-one that won't let you down.
rating: 5
Beyond the fact that this camera has accomplished everything it set out to do, the powershot G1 is just the pinnacle of camera technology bundled into a package that most middle market people can afford. To give you some piece of information that is helpful; stuff you might not hear about elsewhere i'll list a few attributes from the PowerShot G1. 1. The little cover which is the plug for the powersuply/usb connector is quite flimsy, but with some care won't break. Just have to watch out for it. 2. Get a decent Operating System like Windows 2000 that won't crash every two seconds with the use/development of the pictures on-line. I have a Pentium III 600 with 8mb video card and windows 98 Sec edition, and that thing would not handle the Canon ZoomBrowser Product that came with the camera. However i got windows 2000 loaded with a new 32Mb NVIDIA Video Card, and now the thing is yet to crash... SO smoothe... I forgive it... 3. Don't be fooled with the 16Mb FlashCard (Give it to the kids to use as a coaster for their toy tea-pot set, because it has no other use). Go out, budget an extra card (i.e. 128 or 1GB Microdrive) its so much more worth it to get the extra space and keep your setting to LARGE (SUPERFINE QUALITY) because the quality of that print is so superior to its counterpart digital 3+MEGAPIXEL cameras'... The petty downsides are very very nitpicky, and you will find these "issues" on 90% of camera's... Some cameras will have a set of features, but lack in others... While others have different features, but lack in others as well... The Powershot G1 has all the features you can ask for. A quick List of Pluses (just to be fair because i talked about the minuses) 1. The Optical Zoom is quick and provides VERY high quality shots. (Not to mention that the Additional Lenses you can buy will bring you so close to the action you'll need to buy cheaper seats to get further away from the action) (Sitting at glass level at a hockey game, i can get a photo of a Goalie from head to toe, with about 2 inches in top and bottom of image with the 1.5x lens)... 2.The LCD flips out, allows for weird angled camera manipulation, (in a crowd, or under things etc..) You can put the camera anywhere at arms length to take very unique photos. It also closes face-in to prevent scratching between shoots... LCD high quality, and feels really sturdy. 3.It has the capability of a HUGE SLR/DIGITAL camera all in a small package. Slightly heavy but Very small for its power. People will see you with this thing, and think you have some 80 dollar camera, when it really has capabilities beyond the intermediate camera enthusiast. 4.Interface/Menus are easy to work with. 5. Taking a picture, loading it to the on-line software, touching up, and presenting (email/website) takes LITERALLY less than a minute. (provied you are near your computer)... 6. Expandability is amazing. It is FLASH 1 AND 2 compatible (if you don't know what that is; check it out because that is an important part of a digicam)... (very good quality) this means its compatible with IBM's Microdrives, and Normal Flash Cards... 7. Litium Rechargable bateries are absolutly amazing. I have a 128mb, 192mb, and 64mb FC card, along with the provided 16Mb card, and i filled them all up at a bruins game (about 200 pics), and the batery icon just began to show some degredation. The only reason you might need an extra battery is if you are on lengthy vacations AWAY from powersources... this also leaves room for improvement, you can get stuff like the "car outlet" reacharge station (which charges two at a time) or use the provided "regular power source" to recharge them... 8. I could go on... but email me for about question you have... Overall, i'm very happy with the camera. I've had it for 6 months, and have never been disatisfied. I might add that to get the highest quality from the photos, (if you print your own) make sure you understand about DPI. I tried printing some of my shots (and was somewhat disapointed) but found out that i had set my dpi to 72 on the images i had... When i set it over 300dpi, i was absolutly amazed! And you will be too. _____
I've added this part, because it has been a year since i wrote this original review. Note only this change:
There are two newer version of this camera out (As you probably know): The Powershot G2, and G3. If i were in the market today for a Digital Camera, (after seeing, and reading what i have) i would try to find a deal for a G1, or G2. The Newer versions (G2, and G3) don't have enough "extra" or "more" or "additions" to warrant the extra cost. New versions should only drive the old versions price down. I'd say the G1 would be a steal at 400-500 bucks. See if you can find a NEW G1, and make sure its a reliable source, and i'll tell you, you can't go wrong. :)
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