Long
awaited, the 5 megapixel Canon Powershot G5 does not represent a radical
change in styling, or design, from last year's 4 megapixel G3.
In effect, this is a 5-megapixel G3, a fact that may be very welcomed
by current G3 users.
The
Shutter Release with the Zoom Control around it, is
slightly tilted towards the front right.
A
wheel control protrudes out of the top part of the grip area called
the Main Dial. The Main Dial is used to select apertures, shutter
speeds, or combinations of both. It can also be clicked like a mouse
button to lock specific functions. In Playback, it allows switching
back and forth between photos.
A Mode Dial which provides 12 shooting modes (see further
below).
The
Mode Lever which turns the camera on for photography indicated
by an orange LED when pulled to the right, and playback when pushed
to the left, which changes the LED colour to green. A button at the
centre turns off the camera when pressed.
And
last, a small button that serves to start the Continuous shooting
mode, the Self-timer, or set the G5 to use its Remote
Control (included with the camera).
As
with other Canon cameras, the G5's Mode Dial is divided into 2 zones,
each on one side of the Auto Mode. The Creative Zone provides
the P, Tv, Av, M and Custom modes. The Image Zone encompasses the
Scene modes, Stitch Assist mode (Panorama) and the Movie mode:
In
Auto Mode, the G5 is effectively a point and shoot camera.
Most photographic settings, aside from the image size, are controlled
by the camera.
Program
Mode: aperture and shutter speed are automatically selected
by the G5, but the user can change most other photographic settings
such as white balance, compensation, etc.
Shutter
Priority: allows setting the shutter speed with the Main Dial
while the camera sets the aperture. The range of shutter speeds
that are available varies according to the zoom position. In Wide
angle, with apertures between f2 and f3.5, the shutter speeds go
up to 1/1250; while with apertures from f4 to f8 the shutter speeds
extend to 1/2000 sec. At the maximum telephoto setting, the 1/1250
sec is the maximum for apertures from f3 to f5, and 1/2000 sec.
with apertures from f5.6 to f8.
Aperture
Priority: allows setting the aperture (from f2.0 to f8 —
14 apertures) while the camera sets the shutter speed.
Manual
Mode: provides total control over all camera parameters (aperture,
shutter speed and all other functions), and an exposure scale is
shown on the LCD monitor.
Custom
Mode 1 and 2: make it possible to save two sets of user preferences
for most camera parameters available with the P, Tv, Av, and M modes,
including the specific shooting mode itself.
Portrait
mode: uses a wide aperture to blur the background behind the
subject, and is most effective when the telephoto is used.
Landscape
Mode: selects a small aperture to maximize depth of field, the
shutter speeds can be quite slow and a tripod may be required.
Night
Scene Mode: uses a slow shutter speed and the slow synch flash
mode to capture an image that has the background and foreground
correctly exposed.
Stitch
Assist Mode: to capture a horizontal or vertical series of overlapping
images which can be stitched together into a panorama later, using
the software supplied with the G5.
Movie
Mode: captures video clips with sound lasting a maximum of 3
minutes. Two frame sizes are available, 320 x 240 pixels which is
the default, or 160 x 120 pixels. Movie clips are at a 15 frames
per second rate. AE, AF and zoom are set and locked at their current
position at the first frame.
including aperture and shutter speed, and avoids having to rely on the
LCD monitor exclusively.
The
1.8 inch LCD monitor of the G5 can be opened towards the left side
of the camera, rotated 90° down or 180° up which makes it face
the front of the camera, and then allows it to pushed back flat on the
camera's back.
This
flexibility lets the screen be viewable in a variety of positions, from
a macro shot close to the ground, to a group portrait when the screen
is facing front making it possible to check that everyone is in the shot.
Finally, when the camera is not in use, the screen can be protected by
its metal back cover.
The upper ridge of the G5 has four buttons. Three on the left of the viewfinder,
one on the right, with the Omni Controller on the extreme right.
The Omni Controller which is used to navigate the menus, set the white
balance and adjust exposure compensation. (See the Characteristics
section of the review for these functions).
Starting on the left, the first button controls:
the
Flash modes which provide Red-eye Reduction Auto; Auto; Flash
On with Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash Off. The G5 also provides
a first or second curtain flash mode, which is selected in the Recording
menu.
In Playback, the same button can be used to display an index
(9 thumbnails) of the photos that have been captured.
The
middle button of the three on the left of the viewfinder only has a recording
mode function:
selects
the Metering pattern. Evaluative,
the default, or Centre-weighted,
or Spot
which can be set to be at the centre of the frame, or follow the
AF point as it too is selectable.
The third button has
2 functions:
In
the recording mode, the button starts the Macro Mode. In
macro mode, the G5 can focus from 5 to 50 cm (1.95 to 19.5 inches)
when its lens is set to wide angle, and 15 to 50 cm (5.85 to 19.5
inches) at the telephoto end.
In Playback the button serves to jump 9 images at a time, forwards
or backwards.
The small round button to the right of the viewfinder serves to select:
the
Manual Focus mode when recording. When the manual focus mode
is used, the Main Dial is used to adjust the focus. A scale is shown
on the LCD screen, and the centre part of the image is magnified
so that it can be focused precisely.
in Playback, the button serves to add a Voice annotation.
A sound recording can be attached to any still image and can last
up to 60 seconds.
The right side of the
G5's back has all the other external controls:
AE
Lock and FE Lock is labelled with a star. In the recording
modes, the Auto Exposure can be locked (with the LCD monitor turned
on) by pressing the button. With the flash forced On, the button
serves to lock the Flash Exposure.
In Playback, the button serves to delete unwanted photos.
Function
calls up a menu that provides the most commonly required settings.
(See the Characteristics section for a list of these settings).
Controls
the LCD monitor and the information shown on it. Pressing this button
cycles the display from one with no information, to one with information,
and finally to Off.
Two
more buttons are positioned just below the Omni Selector:
this
button is used to confirm some settings [SET] and select the AF
point [].
With the LCD monitor turned on, pressing the button once changes
the rectangle indicating the AF area to green. Then using the Omni
Selector, the AF point can be moved anywhere in the screen allowing
the shot to be taken with an off-centre focus point. Returning the
AF point to the centre is accomplished by holding the AF selector
button in for a couple of seconds.
Calls
up the G5's full menus. (See the Characteristics and the
Interface and Software sections for a complete listing and
explanation of all the functions and settings available through
the various menus.)
In addition to its own internal and effective flash, the G5 is equipped
with a flash shoe. Full synchronization is available with a number of
Canon flash units: Canon Speedlites 220EX, 380EX, 420EX, 550EX, Macro
Ring Lite MR-14EX, or the Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX. A third party flash
can also be used.
The G5 offers an excellent number of precise controls, and is extremely
workable.
].
With the LCD monitor turned on, pressing the button once changes
the rectangle indicating the AF area to green. Then using the Omni
Selector, the AF point can be moved anywhere in the screen allowing
the shot to be taken with an off-centre focus point. Returning the
AF point to the centre is accomplished by holding the AF selector
button in for a couple of seconds.
