PowerShot G15
4.8
5
17
17
Recent Purchase: Canon G15
A few weeks ago when visiting NYC, I went to the B & H Camera Store, stopping at the Canon kiosk on the 2nd floor. While I'd researched the Canon Powershot G15 as well as competitor cameras online, I wanted, as a longtime Canon user, to experience a demonstration with Canon first. After doing so, I bought a G15, and have used it extensively since then.
Previously, for the past 4 or 5 years, my camera of choice was the Canon Powershot G10. It was a real workhorse for fine art photography, street and tabletop photography, as well as for photo assignments for a local weekly newspaper. It's versatility was its best feature and I could take it anywhere. But, after using the new G15 for the past few weeks, I noticed significantly improved image quality to go along with its versatility.
Compared to the G10, whose exposure settings range from -2 to +2, the G15 settings range from -3 to +3. As someone who needs and shoots Macro 60% of the time, I found that the Macro setting on the G15 offered better resolution and a greater sense of detail than the G10, including other brands I'd tried. Macro focusing using the G15 is now easier and more accurate, producing a significant decrease in unfocused or blurry close-up results. But, the real surprise, and probably the most useful feature of the G15 for me is its automatic image stabilization setting which, of course, influences all the photos one will take with the camera.
To cite an extreme example that occurred when visiting the American Museum of Natural History last week, I took photos of a "Huasteca" stone sculpture from Mexico, a subject I'd taken pictures of in the past. Because of the chronically low-light situation in the Museum, I can't recall any of my previous pictures of that particular sculpture ever being usable due to camera noise, shake or blur. However, when using the new G15, the results were entirely different. Dubious about taking any photos of that and other sculptures under those conditions - the ceiling light above the "Huasteca" sculpture was burned out and the ambient light very poor - I reluctantly set the exposure to show just enough detail, then took several hand-held pictures expecting the same results as in the past. When I imported those and other low-light photos into my computer, I was amazed at the startling results. The pictures were not only correctly exposed but there was no sign of shake or blur and I didn't notice any noise either! That was the litmus test that I'd made the right decision by buying the G15.
Another bonus provided by the great improvement in the image stabilization setting, is that moving objects such as active grandchildren can now be photographed with much less "blur" than before - a considerable accomplishment.
However, I have two caveats: like the G10, the G15 has problems accurately reproducing various hues of Red and Orange, especially when shooting roses, for example. A second concern of mine is the megapixel count of 12.1 as opposed to 14.7 on the G10, one of the reasons I held out so long buying a new camera. I'm hoping to see a 16-18 megapixel camera from Canon in the not too distant future, making Canon more competitive with other brands with higher megapixel counts combined with the appropriate sensors. Other than that, the G15 is still a remarkably versatile camera that produces outstanding, high quality images that can be comfortably enlarged to 16" X 20". And with a higher megapixel count in the near future, the possibility of even bigger enlargements will be possible, something that bodes well for my fine art work. I like small cameras and big photos.
Since 9/11, I need to carry a camera at all times, and as much as the G10 was a durable tool for so long, I'm extremely pleased at the higher quality photos I've gotten so far from the G15. Had I read a user's review like mine a few months after the G15 was introduced, I would've bought one sooner.
I highly recommend the Canon G15.
May 20, 2013
Excellent but fragile
I have used most of the 'G' range, exception the G5, and my favorite the G10. I love the fixed screen - its slim robust and does not require opening and closing to use the camera. The image results outstanding - and I have compared to 4/3rds cameras and its even better that my G1x. BUT the body finish of the G15 is fragile and easily damaged, mine chipped in no time and made a nice camera look very second hand after a couple of outings. So I invite Canon to comment and return the G15 finish to the robust tough finish of the G10/11/12
April 13, 2013
Nice Camera
Nice Camera! Well built. NOTE: The aperture only goes down to f8.0. No f16 and no f22.
March 14, 2013
Best Pocket Pro
I have two DSLRs and five lenses. I have been shooting professionally for many years, but sometimes, I get tired of packing all my stuff. I bought the G15 in the hopes of finding a top of the line pocket camera. Well.....this is the one for me. Listen....it's not a DSLR...OK. But for all around shooting...it is phenomenal. And it has many sweet features, like 10fps and night shots mode that really come in handy.
I love it.
March 3, 2013
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