The Canon PowerShot G3 ($799) is an evolutionary, rather than revolutionary upgrade of the PowerShot G2 battery code bp-511 . But Canon has added more than just bells and whistles. Here's what's new with the G3 np-bg1 :
New DIGIC image processor - noticeable improvement in photo quality, plus faster performance
Totally new 4X zoom lens
New FlexiZone auto focus
Refined body design
Now records up to 3 minutes of video with sound; editable in playback mode
Built-in neutral density filter
Support for wireless flashes
New iSAPS technology
You're probably confused by that last item. iSAPS stands for Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space (what a mouthful). The system is a database of photographic data, which has been accumulated by Canon over the last 60 years. When you press the shutter release button halfway, the G3 canon bp-511 compares the current scene to the scenes in the database, and choose the best settings for that situation.
According to Canon, one of the key advantages to this new feature is a reduction in shutter lag time compared to earlier models like the G2. The G3 spends less time hunting for focus because it already "knows" how far the subject should be based on statistical analysis of other photos shot at the same focal length and light level. Pretty slick!
So that's the iSAPS system -- now learn about the other new G3 bp511 features in our review!
What's in the Box?
The PowerShot G3 has an excellent bundle. Inside the box, you'll find:
The 4.0 Mpixel Canon PowerShot G3 camera
32MB CompactFlash card
BP-511 Li-ion rechargeable battery
AC Adapter / battery charger
Neck strap
Lens cap w/strap
Wireless remote control
USB cable
A/V cable
CD-ROM featuring Canon Digital Camera Solutions and drivers
205 page camera manual + software manual (both printed)
The PowerShot G3 is ready to go right out of the box. The only minor quibble np-bg1 I have is the 32MB memory card. Sure it's a good start, but you should plan on buying a much larger card right away if you want to get serious about digital photography.
The G3 uses the same BP-511 Li-ion battery as its predecessor. The battery has a very respectable 8.1 Watt/hours of power. For the sake of comparison, the EN-EL1 battery used by the Nikon Coolpix 5700 is 5.0 Wh and the NP-FM50 on the Sony DSC-F717 is 8.5 Wh. Canon says that you'll shoot about 750 pictures per charge with 50% LCD usage; you can stay in playback mode for 6 hours on a single charge.
When it's time to recharge, you just plug in the included AC adapter. This same AC adapter can be used to power the camera sony np-bg1 in the studio, or if you're just transferring photos to your computer. Charging the battery takes about 80 minutes.
The downside with proprietary batteries like the BP-511 is the cost ($60) and the fact that you can't use standard batteries (as you can with AA-based cameras) if you're in a bind. That's why I usually prefer cameras that use AA batteries.
The G3 includes a lens cap and strap to protect your lens. I must say I'm happy that everyone seems to be including both the cap and retaining strap these days.
Another nice surprise is the inclusion of the WL-DC100 discount np-bg1 wireless remote control (shown above). You can control the camera in both record and playback mode with this device.
Like the PowerShot G2, the G3 is an accessory lovers dream. There are even some new options available. In the lens department, you can use the WC-DC58N wide-angle converter ($199) to shorten the focal length to 24mm, or the TC-DC58N tele converter ($129) to bring the top end up to 240mm. I tried both of these and was impressed with the results. A 58mm close-up lens ($125) is also available. Note that the LA-DC58B conversion lens adapter ($24) is required in order to use these.
The G3 is compatible not only with EX-series Speedlites, but also the Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX ($750), Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX ($1100), and the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2 ($340).
Other accessories include a soft carrying case and dual battery charger w/car power adapter ($180).
The G3 can also print directly to Canon's CP-10, CP-100, S830D, and S530D photo printers.
The Canon PowerShot G3 is one of the finest digital cameras on the market. It offers robust performance, tons of manual controls, unmatched system expandability, and excellent photo quality. The DIGIC processor has made the G3 one of the most responsive cameras I've used. The playback and movie modes are some of the best out there, as well. The neutral density filter is a nice bonus, but my guess is that the average shooter probably won't use it. But it's not a perfect camera. The redeye and strange (but rare) purple fringing that I noticed were surprising for a camera of the G3's caliber. The diopter correction knob was hard to use, and I didn't care for the view of the lens through the optical viewfinder at wide-angle.
Now for the million dollar question: is the G3 the best 4 or 5 Megapixel camera out there? Guess what, I'm not going to answer. I don't think there is one camera that is best for everyone (I mean that honestly, not as a cop out). The G3 is definitely a contender that goes up nicely against cameras from Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, and Sony. Do your research and you (rather than me) can decide what the perfect camera is for your needs.
If I was a PowerShot G2 owner, I probably wouldn't race out and upgrade. If I was deciding between a G2 and G3, I'd pony up the extra cash for the G3. My main reasons for doing so would be the DIGIC processor and the 4X zoom lens.
So I hope this helped somewhat in your decision making!
What I liked:
Excellent photo quality in most situations
Amazing expandability in terms of lenses, flashes
Super fast performance
4X zoom a nice change from the usual 3X zooms
Impressive movie, playback modes
Has an AF illuminator lamp
Tons of manual controls
FlexiZone focusing system lets you focus on any area of frame
Great software bundle
What I didn't care for:
Redeye worse than expected (even with repeated tests)
Strange chromatic aberrations (rare, but annoying)
Images not as sharp as the very best 4/5 Megapixel cameras
Diopter correction knob difficult to operate
Lens blocks view from optical viewfinder at wide angles
