Canon PowerShot Pro1 - quality that runs out quickly. Canon compact camera software (using the Canon PowerShot G7 camera kit as an example) Comparison with similar cameras from other manufacturers

"Fotosklad.ru"

Smartphones these days have replaced entry-level compact cameras as the go-to camera for everyday photography, but there's one caveat that's preventing smartphones from completely pushing compacts out of their niche. And this nuance is called “long zoom”. If you really need a well-detailed distant picture, the only practical solution is either a camera with interchangeable telephoto lenses or a compact with similar parameters.

The Canon PowerShot SX730 HS falls into the latter camp. The 24-960mm 35mm-equivalent lens shoots further than any average DSLR optic can handle. Of course, DSLRs and mirrorless cameras with larger sensors have more advantages, but if you're looking for a compact pocket camera, the SX730 is a good solution.

With such focal length parameters, the device does not have many competitors in the compact category: Panasonic Lumix ZS70 / TZ90, Nikon Coolpix A900 and Sony Cyber-shot WX500. Panasonic Lumix ZS100 / TZ100 can also be included in this list, but with a 1-inch sensor size it will be far ahead, and this camera costs more.

Peculiarities

As with most cameras, the size of the photosensor plays a big role in the quality of the final image. In the SX730 HS its size is 1/2.3 inches. It's the smallest sensor of its kind, although the back-illuminated technology should help capture more light. The matrix resolution is 20.3 megapixels, like its predecessor SX720 HS. The brain of the device is the Canon DIGIC 6 processor.

In order to smooth out aberrations on such a wide-range lens, Canon had to resort to very low dispersion aspherical lenses. In order to reduce noise when shooting in low light conditions at long focus, a three-step optical stabilizer was installed on board the camera for shooting photos and a 5-axis optical stabilizer for shooting video.

Like its competitors, the Canon SX730 HS has a three-inch display that can be rotated on a vertical axis for taking selfies. This is facilitated by selfie modes such as self-portrait and facial skin smoothing. Such features, complete with built-in Wi-Fi, NFC and always-on Bluetooth, make it easy to share pictures on social networks. There is no doubt what market this camera is aimed at.

GPS is not included as standard, but you can always connect the camera via Bluetooth to your smartphone and use its location data. There is the familiar PASM wheel and manual exposure control with compensation in 1/3 increments.

Unlike 4K competitors such as the Panasonic Lumix TZ90 and Nikon Coolpix A900, the camera supports video recording in a maximum of FullHD mode. If you don't shoot video, this shouldn't bother you, especially since the FullHD picture comes with a frame rate of 60 fps. But Canon's reluctance to include 4K shooting in anything other than its most expensive models is frustrating, especially as this capability becomes standard across all classes of cameras.

Assembly

The camera body is made of polycarbonate with very pleasant rubber inserts in the area of ​​the front grip and thumb. The sleek body of the Canon PowerShot SX730 HS feels like it's made from premium materials. The LCD screen stays firmly in place, unlike some competitors whose flimsy screen designs sometimes don't inspire confidence.

There are nice rubber inserts on the right side front and back for better grip.

As with most cameras of this level, the display sits on a single hinge. This means that the display can only rotate in one direction - up. This fact may upset those who like to shoot with their hands raised.

In any case, the overall impression of the build quality is that the camera is built very neatly and solidly, there are no weak points, and the size of the compact allows it to easily fit into a pocket, unlike some competitors, which are too large for this.

Considering the large movable LCD display and the modest dimensions of the case, the buttons on the rear panel are located very tightly, and the panel itself is small and slightly pressed into the case. This makes it difficult to turn the device and hold the lens towards you, and without getting the screen dirty (especially if the flash on top is already extended). The option with an already extended display saves the situation.

Autofocus

The PowerShot SX730 HS uses a standard and proven nine-zone contrast AF system. Face focusing is also available, which helps you focus more accurately. In addition, you can choose the size of the central area to focus on: normal or reduced.

There is autofocus tracking. A macro photography function is available, with which you can shoot subjects from an incredible distance of 1 cm. There is also a manual focus mode.

Autofocus works very well. The camera focuses almost instantly at wide angles, and you can press the shutter button all the way down—there's almost never a need to pause while focusing. In telephoto mode, the time required to focus takes a little longer, but even then there are no complaints about the speed of the autofocus system.

In medium to low light conditions, the green AF beam makes focusing easy for the system and really reduces the time it takes to take a shot. The noise displayed on the screen in these conditions makes it difficult to focus more accurately, but if you rely on the camera's sensors and keep an eye on the hand-shake warning icon, you'll get mostly acceptably sharp photos.

But what the PowerShot SX730 HS doesn't have is a touch screen. It could help focus on certain points in the composition - in some cases this helps a lot. But, in general, this can hardly be called a strong omission. This will cause more problems for selfie lovers, but still the lack of the ability to manually set an autofocus point is disappointing.

Exploitation

Thanks to the DIGIC 6 processor onboard the camera (not the latest, but not so old that it matters), the PowerShot SX730 HS is quite pleasant to use.

The camera takes just over one second to become fully operational after being turned on. But this, of course, does not count the time spent zooming. In addition, you can simply enter the viewing mode of captured photos by pressing the corresponding button. In this case, the lens will remain inside the body.

In burst mode, the camera is capable of 5.9 frames per second, while at the start it produces 7-8 frames per second. Obviously, the latest DIGIC 7 processor is capable of more, but apparently Canon believes that this is enough for the target audience of compact cameras.

The type of memory card used in the camera is known to greatly affect the burst shooting speed. With a good memory card, you can take 16-17 pictures in 2 seconds, but only in jpeg format - the PowerShot SX730 HS does not support shooting in raw.

The screen on the camera is not the brightest by default, but the brightness is easy to adjust through the camera menu. In good lighting, the display produces excellent images, but loses detail when photographing in low light, especially in noisy and low-contrast environments.

Canon claims that one battery charge will last for 250 shots in normal mode and 355 shots in eco mode. It is very convenient that you can charge the camera via a regular USB port, which eliminates the need to carry a separate charger with you. On the other hand, Canon did not include a USB cable in the box. However, a traditional charger is included in the kit.

Image quality

In general, we can admit that the quality of images obtained from the PowerShot SX730 HS is very good. Exposure is set very accurately: in most cases, the balance between shadows, midtones and highlights is optimal, although it happens that highlights sometimes lose detail. It's a pity, but there are no tools for correcting highlight areas. But there is a function called i-Contrast, which allows you to add a little detail to the shadow areas if the photo is underexposed.

In the “My Colors” menu, you can enable filters such as “Vivid”, “Neutral”, “Black and White”. In standard mode, combined with automatic white balance, the pictures are quite good, but sometimes they lack saturation. Therefore, you can either apply filters or adjust the white balance.

The stabilization system works effectively, it has the most positive effect on image sharpness. Handheld you can get a stable picture at a shutter speed of 1/20 and even longer if you try. However, at a long focus it is worth taking several pictures at once, since the camera sometimes behaves inconsistently at a large zoom.

At short focal length, the image quality is commendable, while in telephoto mode, as in any other similar device, image distortion begins to be pulled out by noise reduction. However, chromatic aberrations and distortions in the corners are still noticeable. Noise is very noticeable even at ISO 1600, which is, in principle, expected for such a camera.

Unlike competitors from Panasonic, the Canon PowerShot SX730 HS cannot shoot in raw format. This is not uncommon on cameras like this and is far from necessary, because there is only so much you can get out of such a small sensor. Some people certainly don't see the point in shooting in jpeg, but Canon at least has a set of tweaks in the form of “My Colors” and i-Contrast and other ways to change the image.

The quality of video and audio is average. In good lighting and shooting at 60 frames per second, you will most likely be pleased with the results, but in slightly worse conditions the image clarity deteriorates. On the other hand, similar models from other manufacturers are capable of shooting in 4K resolution, and in this they can give odds to the PowerShot SX730 HS.

Shooting during the day

Shooting at dusk

Bottom line

The Canon PowerShot SX730 HS is a double-edged sword. The good news is that the camera is well-built, pleasant to use, and responsive in most situations. In terms of image quality, it doesn't disappoint either, although it leaves little wiggle room for working on the final image. If you're looking for a modern camera with a wide focal length range (and that's the deciding factor), then the SX730 HS is a good choice.

The other side of the coin is that most competitors have a number of features that this unit does not have. 4K video, touch screen, electronic level, even the option to determine the focal point - if you need at least one of these options, then it is better to look at models from other manufacturers. The viewfinder and raw-format shooting are not determining factors for cameras in this price range, but are also found in other cameras in this price segment.

As for working with different shooting modes, everything is not so bad here either. Using the ring switch, you can select the desired program without being distracted from the lens. The overall picture is somewhat clouded by the fact that manual adjustment is quite inconvenient to do on the fly, which is due to some inconvenience of the scroll wheel. The camera does a very good job of capturing complex landscapes with people in them. But macro photography is of average quality, despite the fact that the Super Macro option has appeared in the menu. However, manual adjustment can only be used for non-standard shooting.

The built-in flash “pops out” very effectively

The built-in programs are sufficient in most cases. It is possible to record in RAW format, which in this camera uses lossless compression and takes up relatively little space: about 7 MB. A picture recorded in JPEG format weighs on average 2.5-4 MB. I was pleased with the recording speed: in the case of JPEG, there is no delay at all. RAW takes a little longer to record (4 to 10 seconds). If you use a Memory Stick memory card with the Sony DSC-F828, then Canon clearly wins in terms of recording speed. In the case of Compact Flash, the figures are approximately equal. Perhaps the biggest drawback of the Canon camera is its battery life. In maximum power consumption mode (LCD and flash on), the battery lasts for 100-120 frames (working time is about an hour and a half), which, of course, is very short.

Conclusion

While the boundaries between professional and amateur photography are very arbitrary, it is worth saying that the professionalism of a camera primarily depends not on the number of megapixels, but on the set of functions and resource. We can easily talk about a professional 4-megapixel camera, and at the same time about an amateur 5-megapixel camera. From this point of view, PowerShot Pro1 is still an amateur device. Despite the fact that the camera has the ability to manually control the shooting process, supports the RAW format, and the ability to work with professional flashes, its quality is still quite far from professional. Even the appearance suggests that this is a camera for amateurs who want high quality photos. Thanks to one of the main advantages of the camera and Canon's special pride - the professional L series lens, the pictures come out quite good.

The average price in Russia is 28,000 rubles.

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Until recently, the PowerShot G series was famous for its designers’ extremely serious approach to solving the hardware interface. In their desire to make a truly convenient and useful auxiliary tool for a professional photographer with a SLR camera, they poured a maximum of buttons, wheels and multi-level selectors onto the body of the devices.

Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II

13.1 MP 24-120 mm 5x 3” 35,100 rubles.

Like many devices with large sensors and built-in optics, the PowerShot G1 X Mark II is classified as a compact device only on a formal basis. In terms of dimensions, weight, ergonomics, and functional equipment, it is much more similar to a “system” camera. In many ways, these dimensions are determined by the format of the light receiver. With dimensions of 18.7 x 14.0 mm, it differs only slightly from APS-C format sensors. To illuminate it completely, a fairly large optics is required, located at a considerable distance from its surface. If we compare the G1 X Mark II with other compacts in our selection of APS-C format and larger in total dimensions, it turns out that Canon is larger than all of them, even the full-frame Sony Cyber-shot. But you need to take into account that more “miniature” competitors are equipped with either fixed optics or low-power zooms. While the five-fold zoom lens, of course, provides the photographer with much greater freedom in choosing framing, magnification and perspective.

Until recently, the PowerShot G series was famous for its designers’ extremely serious approach to solving the hardware interface. In their desire to make a truly convenient and useful auxiliary tool for a professional photographer with a SLR camera, they poured a maximum of buttons, wheels and multi-level selectors onto the body of the devices. In the G1 X Mark II, the concept was revised, everything unnecessary was removed from the top panel, and at the same time cutting off a certain number of millimeters from the dimensions of its predecessor. Two multifunctional rings on the lens take on the function of changing various parameters depending on the current mode. Without taking up useful space on the body, they perfectly perform the tasks assigned to them.

Following the example of a number of other manufacturers, Canon chose to make the viewfinder an option on the G1X Mark II. The EVF-DC1 electronic eyepiece with 2.36 million dots and a 90-degree upward rotation mechanism can be purchased separately and installed in the camera’s hot shoe. It, like all similar solutions, is not cheap, but it is much better in quality and much more useful than the optical eye of previous models. And it doesn’t take up space in the case.

The camera is tightly integrated into the Canon EOS system. The user can expand the capabilities of the camera by installing proprietary Speedlites or transmitters and use the same remote controls as on DSLRs via the E3 port. To protect the optics from reflections and glare, an optional hood is offered, and a variety of filters can be screwed onto the lens via an adapter with a 58 mm thread.

The creative toolkit is also designed for experienced photographers who understand what they want to get in a photo and by what means it can be done. Such buyers will appreciate the camera's specialized features, such as support for synchronization with external flashes at fast shutter speeds up to 1/4000 s, the ability to save images in 14-bit RAW format, and real-time and exposure-corrected histogram display. A significant disadvantage for some will be the virtual absence of burst shooting. A nice addition is the presence of Wi-Fi and NFC modules.

Specifications:

	Manufacturer
Average price*
Size, inches
Effective pixels, million
ISO sensitivity**
Lens, focusing	Eq. Focal length, mm
Photography	Image stabilization***
Aperture values
Manual focus
Macro mode, MDF, cm
Shutter speed range, sec
Story programs
Manual white balance
Work built-in flashes, m
Connection external flash
3:2 aspect ratio
16:9 aspect ratio
Video and sound	Video, pixels
Video sound
Audio comments
Dictaphone
	LCD monitor, inches
Viewfinder****
Memory cards
Internal memory, MB
Nutrition*****
Dimensions, mm
Announcement date

Canon PowerShot G7 X

Canon PowerShot G7 X

20.1 MP 24-100 mm 4.2x 3” 30,300 rubles.

The new G7 X is Canon's attempt to further segment the vast high-end Power-shot compact class. In the pocket form factor of the S series devices, the developers tried to realize the maximum level of quality and functionality of the Gx X models. There is no physical opportunity to combine a relatively small body with a large 1.5-inch proprietary sensor, and therefore a rather unusual decision was made for the company: turn to third-party developments. This is how the first inch format camera appeared in Canon’s arsenal. CMOS, built using back-illumination technology, makes it possible to obtain static images with a resolution of 20 megapixels and video in Full HD format with a frequency of up to 60 frames/s with progressive scan. Thanks to the presence of such a sensor, the G7 X did not have many competitors: three generations of Sony RX100 and the newly acquired Panasonic FZ1000. Compared to them, the camera stands out due to its optics that are more interesting in terms of characteristics. It has the largest zoom range while maintaining a high maximum aperture.

There is a control ring around the lens, first used in Power-shot S series cameras. However, this design element has evolved significantly since then. For each shooting mode, the user is asked to select one of several parameters that can be changed directly by turning the ring. These could be exposure values, focal length or focusing distance, color temperature correction, and even the degree of dynamic range expansion. Almost all the buttons on the camera body can be reassigned to perform the actions desired by the photographer. So, in terms of customization, the G7 X can easily compete with the recognized leaders in this field - cameras from Olympus and Ricoh. The only setting that cannot be set on the customizable keys and wheels is exposure compensation. In the best traditions of the Power-shot G series devices, a separate control wheel is provided for it, neatly hidden under the shooting mode selector. In addition to the ring around the lens, a wheel on the rear panel and several buttons with preset and reconfigurable functionality, a touch interface is also offered for controlling the camera. The 180-degree flip-up screen is touch-sensitive, and the software menu is optimized for finger navigation and parameter changes.

With a built-in flash with a guide number of 7, the camera's built-in strobe capabilities are limited. Perhaps this was done deliberately in order to separate the models of the series into different segments. It is clear that the “hot shoe” would be difficult to fit on the narrow top panel. But there is no support for remote control of Speedlites.

Specifications:

	Manufacturer
Average price*
Size, inches
Effective pixels, million
ISO sensitivity**
Lens, focusing	Eq. Focal length, mm
Zoom, magnification (optical/digital)
Photography	Image stabilization***
Aperture values
Manual focus
Macro mode, MDF, cm
Shutter speed range, sec
Story programs
Manual white balance
Work built-in flashes, m
Connection external flash
3:2 aspect ratio
16:9 aspect ratio
Video and sound	Video, pixels
Video sound
Audio comments
Dictaphone
	LCD monitor, inches
LCD monitor resolution, thousand pixels
Viewfinder****
Memory cards
Internal memory, MB
Nutrition*****
Dimensions, mm
Announcement date

Canon PowerShot G16

Canon PowerShot G16

12 MP 28-140 mm 5x 3” 21,800 rubles.

It would seem that, against the backdrop of the latest models with the letter X in the index, the classic representative of the PowerShot G series no longer looks as attractive as many of its predecessors, which over the past 15 years have been the undisputed flagships of Canon’s compact line. However, this is not a reason to write him off.

In our difficult times, the difference of almost 9,000 rubles compared to the G7 X feels almost like an abyss. At the same time, the G16, while inferior in picture quality, works much faster and is noticeably more responsive in terms of control. The autofocus system using the contrast detection method here has less lag and fails less often. So the camera works well at 5.7 frames/s in burst shooting mode with focus tracking. With a fixed focus, the G16 is capable of taking from 12.2 to 9.3 shots in one second in almost endless series.

The five-fold aperture zoom may not be as wide in the angle of view as in older models, but it is longer in the telephoto position. Let's say portrait photography with him will be more interesting. The minimum focusing distance of this optics is only 1 cm. Natural-scale shooting with the G16 without additional devices, of course, will not be possible anyway, but it gives much more impressive close-ups of small objects than the G1 X Mark II and G7 X can offer. Fast aperture The optics are complemented by the ability to set a short shutter speed of 1/4000 s and a built-in plug-in neutral density filter that reduces exposure by 3 steps. When using an external flash, the pulse will be synchronized over the entire shutter speed range, the built-in flash will only synchronize up to 1/2000 s, but in most cases this is sufficient. Thanks to this set of functions, even in sunny weather when using additional fill lighting, the photographer can work with the minimum depth of field available for the G16.

Even though the camera was released over a year ago, it already uses the now popular 5-axis vibration compensation system with an efficiency of 3.5 EV stops. It has proven itself well in video mode, which in itself is quite good both in quality and functionality. And in this parameter, the G16 outperforms the G1 X Mark II.

When comparing this camera to the G7 X, one cannot help but notice its tighter integration into the EOS system. This will play into the hands of photographers who already have a Canon DSLR and are looking for a more compact and lighter addition: the current flagship may be too heavy for these purposes.

In addition to an extensive arsenal of more or less familiar shooting modes, the camera has a set of astrophotography programs. The G16 self-exposes and stacks frames for crisp starry skies or star trails. She even knows how to shoot a spectacular astronomical time-lapse, or rather, independently assemble frames into a video during time-lapse shooting. Shooting regular scenes is made easier with the simultaneous recording of two frames in RAW format with different aspect ratios. There was also the integration of a wireless data transmission and control module.

Specifications:

	Manufacturer
Average price*
Size, inches
Effective pixels, million
ISO sensitivity**
Lens, focusing	Eq. Focal length, mm
Zoom, magnification (optical/digital)
Photography	Image stabilization***
Aperture values
Manual focus
Macro mode, MDF, cm
Shutter speed range, sec
Story programs
Manual white balance
Work built-in flashes, m
Connection external flash
3:2 aspect ratio
16:9 aspect ratio
Video and sound	Video, pixels
Video sound
Audio comments
Dictaphone
	LCD monitor, inches
LCD monitor resolution, thousand pixels
Viewfinder****
Memory cards
Internal memory, MB
Nutrition*****
Dimensions, mm
Announcement date

Canon PowerShot S120

Canon PowerShot S120

12 MP 24-120 mm 5x 3” 16,900 rubles.

The PowerShot S120 and G16 are related to each other in the same way as the G7 X and G1 X Mark II: roughly the same performance electronics, presented in one case in a pocket format, in the other in a larger, but more ergonomic case with greater expandability. The camera is based on a powerful Digic 6 processor and a 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor with a relatively small number of photodiodes, but with decent light sensitivity and signal-to-noise ratio. The smaller incarnation of the G16 maintains the same fast burst speeds as well as accurate and fast autofocus.

Since the design of the G7 X was copied from the PowerShot S120, everything said earlier regarding the design and control features of the older camera is also relevant for the younger one. The only difference is that the touchscreen is built-in and not rotatable. In addition, the resolution of a three-inch matrix is ​​lower and amounts to 922 thousand dots, but, in our opinion, the difference with 1044 thousand dots will not be so fundamental.

The entire set of G16 programs is reproduced, including astrophotography video, and the set of manual settings of the top-class camera is almost completely presented. HDR shooting is supported in 3 automatic exposures at high speed, which allows you to avoid the use of a tripod and at the same time obtain images without unwanted ghosting of the boundaries of objects.

Naturally, the reduced body did not allow all the necessary buttons and control wheels to be placed on the camera, but their disadvantage is compensated by the presence of a touch display. In addition, the remaining buttons turned out to be quite large in area, and therefore the photographer will have fewer problems with operating the camera while wearing gloves. There is no hot shoe - just a built-in flash. The developers did not forget to build in a Wi-Fi interface, through which the camera can receive data about the location where the photographs were taken from a mobile device equipped with GPS or GLONASS. Software for Apple iOS and Google Android mobile operating systems gives remote access to a large number of camera shooting settings. The most significant photographic difference of the S120 is its wider, but slower, 5x zoom than the G16. In the telephoto position, the maximum aperture closes to f/5.7. But the price of the device turned out to be much more affordable than other representatives of the older segment of the Canon PowerShot line.

Specifications:

	Manufacturer
Average price*
Size, inches
Effective pixels, million
ISO sensitivity**
Lens, focusing	Eq. Focal length, mm
Zoom, magnification (optical/digital)
Photography	Image stabilization***
Aperture values
Manual focus
Macro mode, MDF, cm
Shutter speed range, sec
Story programs
Manual white balance
Work built-in flashes, m
Connection external flash
3:2 aspect ratio
16:9 aspect ratio
Video and sound	Video, pixels
Video sound
Audio comments
Dictaphone
	LCD monitor, inches
LCD monitor resolution, thousand pixels
Viewfinder****
Memory cards
Internal memory, MB
Nutrition*****
Dimensions, mm
Announcement date

The two-year gap between the penultimate and last G1 camera models has many amateur photographers thinking that Canon has stopped producing these cameras. But it turned out that everything was completely different. On the contrary, Canon not only continued to produce compacts, but also made them even better.

The G15 features a new 12.1-megapixel CMOS sensor, replacing the 10-megapixel CCD sensor found in its predecessor, the G12. It also has a 5x zoom lens and, although the focal length of the lens remains the same, it is now much brighter. Interestingly, the G15 is much thinner, lighter and more compact than its predecessor, although the technical capabilities have only improved. In many ways, the camera owes its miniature size to the absence of a tilting screen, which, although it helps when shooting, makes the camera more cumbersome.

The new sensor and Digic 5 image processor give the G15 superior features such as high-quality 1080p24 Full HD video recording, in-camera cropping and more.

The Nikon P7700 compact is similar to the G15 in many ways and is its main competitor. The P7700 offers similar video recording modes and has a longer lens focal length. It's important to note that it has a great display, but no optical viewfinder, and it's larger and heavier than the G15. In our review, we'll compare these two cameras and the quality of their images to decide which compact camera is better.

(tab=Introduction)

Exterior design of Canon PowerShot G15

The Canon PowerShot G15 has an interesting design, maintaining the retro style of its predecessors in the PowerShot G series. It is much smaller than the G12, largely due to the fact that the articulating screen has been replaced by a 3-inch fixed display that is 8mm cut into the camera. That's not to say that the PowerShot G15 is very thin, but it is comfortable and fits easily into your pocket. The camera dimensions correspond to 107x76x40mm, and the weight including battery is 352 grams. While the previous model had parameters of 112x76x48mm and weighed 401 grams. As you can see, G15 is 5 mm narrower than G12.

Nikon Coolpix P7700 is bulkier and rounder. Its dimensions correspond to 119x73x50mm, and it weighs 392 grams with battery and memory card. Due to the fact that this camera is wider, it may not fit into a pocket, and you will have to purchase a case for it. The P7700's wider body is thanks to the articulating screen, which makes the camera appear larger.

In terms of styling and physical controls, the G15 is very similar to a miniature version of the G1 X. While the G1X itself is similar to the G12. The top panel of the G1X and G15 differs only in that the G15 has exposure compensation buttons there. This arrangement of buttons is very convenient when shooting, when you need to adjust quickly and accurately. Additionally, ISO is now adjustable using the control dial on the rear panel.

The flash is completely invisible when turned off, rising from the top left corner and located at a relatively large distance from the lens. The flash is activated with the flick of a switch. By raising the flash and keeping it away from the lens when turned on, red-eye is reduced. The flash has a range of about 7 meters. The camera is also equipped with a standard hot shoe, which can be used to mount an external Speedlite.

There are 15 settings in the top left corner, including custom white balance and autofocus tracking. There you can also switch between RAW and JPEG modes. In addition, the new model has a video recording button located in the upper right corner.

As for the availability of connectors in the G15, the camera is equipped with Mini USB and Mini HDMI ports, as well as a connector for connecting an additional RS-60E3 cable for remote control. Unfortunately, there is no port for connecting a microphone. There is a hot shoe, but it still does not support the full range of Canon Speedlite flashes and those that can be connected will not work automatically; you will have to manually configure the external flash. In addition, the camera does not support either GPS or Wi-Fi.

The G15 runs on the same NB-10L lithium-ion battery as the Canon G1 X. According to the specifications, one charge will last for 350 shots.

LCD and viewfinder in Canon PowerShot G15

The PowerShot G15 features a fixed 3-inch LCD display with a resolution of 922k dots. For many fans of the G series cameras, it was a big disappointment to abandon the rotating display and return to a fixed display. As mentioned earlier, the fixed position of the screen makes the camera more compact, while the rotating screen increases the width of the camera. If you are a fan of a rotating display, then turn your attention to the Nikon Coolpix P7700 or the same camera from Canon - the G1 X, although both models are heavier and larger than the G15.

The G15's display is brighter and clearer, and the playback image quality is excellent. You can also control the brightness in the menu, which won't help much in bright sunlight, but at least you have an optical viewfinder that will be easy to focus in any circumstance.

The optical viewfinder has been a feature of all G-series PowerShots since the introduction of the G1 in September 2000. Of course, using a viewfinder has its undeniable advantages. You'll be able to focus in bright sunlight, you'll be able to hold the camera more securely in your hands, and, of course, the battery will last longer. As stated in the specifications, if you focus with the viewfinder, the battery will last for 770 frames, and if with an LCD display, then for 350 frames.

Lens and image stabilization in the Canon PowerShot G15

The PowerShot G15 has a 5x optical zoom lens with a focal length range of 28mm to 140mm (35mm equivalent), the same as previous models, but now the lens is much brighter, with an aperture range of f1.8 to 2.8. If we talk about the main competitor, the Nikon Coolpix P7700, then the focal length of its lens is in the range from 28 to 200 mm, and the aperture number is f2.

The benefit of a bright aperture is twofold. This obviously gives the G15 the ability to take better photos in low light conditions. You can shoot at ISO 200, while another camera would have to set the ISO to somewhere around 500. You also have the option to shoot at a faster shutter speed.

Canon PowerShot G15 wide angle at 6.1mm Canon PowerShot G15 telephoto at 30.5

Another advantage of a bright lens combined with a large sensor is the ability to photograph with a shallow depth of field. The G15's sized sensor is only slightly larger than the typical 1/2.3-inch sensor found in other cameras, but that doesn't mean you can't take photos with shallow depth of field. Depth of field decreases as the focal length increases, and since even at the maximum focal length of 140mm the camera is capable of capturing bright images, you can confidently photograph and, as a result, get beautiful blur in your photos.

To compare the depth of field in the PowerShot G15 and Coolpix P7700, the camera lenses were set to their maximum focal lengths, 140mm for the G15 and 200mm for the P7700. Both cameras zoomed in quite well, but with the G15 you'll have to get closer to get the same zoom as the Nikon P7700, as the difference is quite significant. The G15 has a brighter aperture at its maximum zoom of f2.8, while its competitor's aperture is only f4. In fact, both cameras showed the same result, and it is difficult to say which of them has greater depth of field, but due to the fact that the G15 is brighter, it has more advantages.

Depth of field. PowerShot G15 at 30.5mm (140mm equivalent) 100 ISO F2.8 Depth of field. Coolpix P7700 at 42.8mm (200mm equivalent) 100 ISO F4

For the second shot, the focal length was set to the optimal focal length for a portrait, so that the head and shoulders were included in the frame. The aperture was opened as wide as possible, that is, we have values ​​of f2.8 for the G15 and f3.5 for the P7700. The background is a little blurry in both camera photos, although not as much as it would be if we were shooting with an APS C DSLR with an equivalent aperture. The background in the photo taken with the PowerShot G15 is better blurred than in the image taken with the Coolpix P7700.

Portrait. PowerShot G15 at 30.5mm (140mm equivalent) f2.8 200 ISO Portrait. Coolpix P7700 at 28.4mm (135mm equivalent) F3.5 200 ISO

The PowerShot G15 lens has optical image stabilization, which allows you to take clear photos even at long shutter speeds without a tripod. To verify this, we adjusted the lens and set it to its maximum telescopic position - 140mm focal length - and then took several photos without using a tripod in shutter priority mode. The shutter speed gradually decreased.

As you can see, from the examples below, it was possible to get a sharp photo without camera shake at a value of 1/5. Of course, if we were photographing with the camera mounted on a tripod, we could set a slower shutter speed and achieve equally impressive results, but this experiment proves that even without special equipment you can take clear photos with a slow shutter speed.

100% view, 30.5mm, 200 ISO 1/5th stabilization off 100% view, 30.5mm, 200 ISO 1/5th stabilization enabled

Shooting modes in Canon PowerShot G15

By setting the G15 to aperture priority mode, you can select from f2.0 to f8. If you set the camera to shutter priority mode, you can shoot at shutter speeds from 1/4000 to 15 seconds with an impressive maximum flash sync of 1/2000. Exposure compensation is available in a range of +/-3EV in 0.3EV increments. On the top panel of the G15 there is a special dial with exposure settings, but all this is done intuitively.

Aperture priority really allows you to choose the perfect F aperture number, while shutter priority allows you to deliberately choose a slower shutter speed to achieve beautiful motion blur, such as water or race cars. In addition, thanks to the manual mode, you can adjust both shutter speed and aperture yourself, determining the ideal combination of values ​​for yourself.

The PowerShot G15 has facial recognition capabilities, and the camera can also detect lighting levels. The G15 is also able to detect whether a person is in motion and whether there are strong shadows on the face. For each case, the exposure and flash are adjusted in accordance with the conditions in which the shooting takes place, in addition, the camera can slightly change the tonality of the colors in the frame, depending on the time of day. All this information is processed by the Digic 5 image processor, the processor in the new camera is much more powerful than the previous model. It is capable of detecting more complex scenes and provides better results in a wider range of possible situations than the G12 - DIGIC 4 processor did.

If you're going to shoot in auto mode, you can trust the G15 to fully adjust the basic parameters, like other recent Canon compacts, the camera perfectly recognizes scenes and selects the optimal settings for each frame. In practice, the camera works great in portrait mode, which combines facial recognition capabilities. The camera recognizes a face immediately when you point the camera at a person.

If you love shooting in auto mode but want more control over the camera, turning the mode dial to SCN gives you 10 shooting options. Like other Canon cameras, the G15 uses the SCN position to use various modes such as High Speed ​​Shooting, Manual NIGHT Mode, Panorama Mode, and so on.

With the camera you can shoot in creative modes, as well as use filters that will give your photos more originality. Among the available filter options and modes you will find HDR, Fisheye, Miniature Effect, Toy Effect, Poster Effect, Nostalgia, Soft Focus, Monochrome, Color Filters, etc. Just like in the previous model, when working in HDR mode, the camera automatically combines three images with different exposures and different tonal ranges into one frame.

Here are examples of images created using the filters, effects and modes that exist in the G15

HDR Nostalgia effect Fish eye

Toy effect Bright lighting Poster effect

Technical features of Canon PowerShot G15

The G15's compact size makes it easy to take with you at all times by simply putting the camera in your pocket. And the fact that because of this we had to sacrifice a rotating LCD display does not upset many photographers at all. But if you shoot a lot of video or are used to taking photos at a low angle, then most likely this innovation will cause you some inconvenience. The G15 is ready to start working approximately one and a half seconds after switching on. The camera has an automatic lens cover that opens immediately when turned on. In turn, the Nikon Coolpix P7700 is equipped with an external cover that you can lose or forget to open all the time. But again, these are all individual preferences.

One of the features of the G series that makes it attractive to enthusiasts is the inclusion of physical controls and the ability to change shooting modes and exposure manually. ISO settings are available on the top panel, where there is a dial with marks of possible ISO values. The ability to change settings for exposure, aperture, shutter speed, all provide a wide range of possible settings and maximum physical control.

When shooting, the screen offers a choice of two focusing options: through the LCD monitor or through the optical viewfinder. It would be much better if the Canon G15 had a sensor that detects the position of the eyes and automatically sets the focusing method. The display has a lot of information and all kinds of settings. This shows information about exposure mode, battery level, number of frames remaining/video recording time, ISO, and metering mode. As soon as the shutter button is pressed down a little, this information will appear on the screen, and you will also see numerical readings of aperture and shutter speed in those modes where they can be changed manually.

The screen displays a histogram, a square frame grid and an on-axis electronic level. This information is very helpful when shooting, so I would like to have access to it even when focusing through the viewfinder. But Canon did not provide us with such an opportunity. That is, if you want to use a histogram, grid, or level while shooting with the viewfinder, you need to double-click the control wheel to first turn off the display and then return to the starting position and view the data. That is, if you take a lot of photos, but at the same time carefully monitor every shot, you will have to constantly turn off the display, look at what you need, and then turn it on again. And this is another argument in favor of the eye position sensor.

The G15 has the same settings menu as all PowerShot cameras. Essentially, the menu consists of tabs with possible selection of shooting parameters, in addition, there is the so-called “My Menu”, to which you can add up to five favorite or frequently used menu settings. But the most commonly used shooting functions can be found in the FUNC menu, when you press the center button on the command dial. Here you get quick access to white balance, exposure bracketing, modes, timer, built-in neutral density filter, and quality options for photos and videos.

The PowerShot G15 offers a wide range of settings. Two positions on the mode dial, C1 and C2, allow you to save the entire configuration of shooting settings, including shooting mode, metering mode, exposure compensation, ISO settings, bracketing, and even zoom position and focus. The quick access button on the top left of the rear panel can be assigned to one of fifteen settings, including custom white balance, self-timer mode, ND filter, and autofocus lock.

Autofocus in Canon PowerShot G15

The PowerShot G15 has the same three AF ​​modes as the G12, S110 and G1 X:. FlexiZone, AiAF and Tracking Autofocus. As before, FlexiZone mode focuses the camera on a single area that can be positioned almost anywhere on the screen, and you can choose from two different sizes for the AF zone in AiAF mode. This mode provides face recognition if a person was detected in the frame or switches to the traditional nine areas if the person was not detected in the frame.

Tracking AF appears as a cross in the center of the screen, which must be placed on the subject you want to follow. After pressing the autofocus button, the camera will try to track the selected subject. The G15 automatically turns on the Servo AF option in AF Servo mode, allowing you to continually adjust autofocus. When using this mode, autofocus tracking worked very well and managed to track the movements of the subjects, keeping them in focus, of course, as long as they were within the focusing range.

The G15 also offers Blink Detection when shooting portraits. If you use this function, every time a person blinks in the frame, the system will notify you about it. In practice, this is indicated by a flashing face icon in the corner of the screen as a warning immediately after a failed shot. This function will only work if you have previously taken at least one successful shot of this person.

By pressing the left button of the dial located on the rear panel you can select manual focusing mode. When manually focusing, you can use the wheel to adjust the focal length, and the change in zoom will be indicated on the screen. Even if an object is very close, or even if you are several meters away from it, it is quite difficult to determine how sharp it is. Therefore, manual focusing is best used for close-up shots of static objects. If you find it difficult to shoot manually, you can use additional help. The G15 has special options that help you achieve precise manual focusing. One of these options is focus mode, in which the camera takes three frames: one with the focus parameters you manually set, the other two frames when focusing a little closer and further from where you focused. This way, when viewing photos, you can choose the clearest and sharpest frame.

Continuous shooting with Canon PowerShot G15

Of course, the Canon G15 is not just a point-and-shoot camera, it has a lot of capabilities that are not found in conventional compact cameras and continuous shooting is no exception. Continuous shooting with the G15 is much better than a regular compact, but worse than the Canon. The G15 has a continuous shooting speed of about 2.1 fps without autofocus, and just 0.9 fps with autofocus in Live View mode. Yes, this is undoubtedly a very weak indicator, and G15 owners can only console themselves with the fact that this speed is slightly better than the continuous shooting speed of the G1 X, which at the same time has a larger sensor.

While continuous shooting isn't very fast, the camera does have a high-speed HQ burst mode that increases the speed to 10 frames per second, ten frames at a time, so you can catch one second of action. After 10 frames are taken, the camera continues to take pictures as usual. Also, don't forget that the burst speed will be slower if you take photos on a memory card that already has photos on it.

Sensor Canon PowerShot G15

The PowerShot G15 has a 12-megapixel CMOS sensor and a Digic 5 image processor. The previous model had a 10-megapixel sensor and a DIGIC 4 processor. The physical sensor size remains the same - 1/1.7 inch, the same size and matrix as the PowerShot S110 . The 1/1.7" sensor is slightly larger than the 1/2.3" sensor found on most compact cameras. At the same time, the Nikon P7700 has a matrix the same size as the PowerShot G15.

The G15's ISO sensitivity ranges from ISO 80 to ISO 12800 and its shutter speed ranges from 15 to 1/4000 sec. The camera saves JPEG files in one of two compression settings to choose from. The best JPEG format is Superfine, which will give you images around 5 and 6 MB in size.

To see what kind of photos the PowerShot G15 takes in practice, look at examples of images taken with the Canon G15 in one of the sections of our article, and also check out a comparison of the quality of images taken with the Canon G15 and Nikon P7700 at different ISO values.

(tab=Shooting video)

Video recording from Canon PowerShot G15

In the previous model you had the opportunity to shoot video with a resolution of 720p, now you can shoot even higher quality and clear Full HD video with a resolution of 1080p. The G15 gives you the freedom to choose the resolution and frequency that suits you, giving you the options of 1080/24p, 720/30p or 640x480/30p. In addition to the Miniature Effect, which can be used during video recording, you will be able to select special effects and functions designed exclusively for video recording. The G15 has a Super Slow feature that allows you to use incredible frame rates, so you can get stunning slow-motion effects later on. So you have the option to shoot at 640 x 480 at 120 fps and 320 x 240 at 240 fps. When shooting at this rate, you will end up with an image that plays back 4x or 8x slower, respectively. When shooting with Miniature Effect, you can record videos at 640x480 or 1280x720 resolution. The video below was shot at 640x480 resolution for one minute, but at 5x speedup, making the minute-long recording play back in 12 seconds (there are also 10x and 20x speedups).

Miniature effect with 640 x 480 resolution and 5x acceleration

Unlike the PowerShot G12, you can zoom while shooting with the G15 and still have the camera autofocus and tracking. On the downside, unlike DSLRs, you don't have the ability to select the recording frequency, nor do you have the option to manually adjust exposure, but there are certain limits to the length of your video clip. The video can last no more than half an hour or will last until it reaches 4 GB, if you shoot in 1080p and 720p formats, then you will get 4 GB in 14 and 20 minutes, respectively.

Audio is recorded using the built-in stereo microphone, but unfortunately there is no jack for connecting an external microphone, like the G1 X. Now let's look at some examples of video recordings made with the G15. Let's evaluate the camera's capabilities and image quality.

Example video shot with Canon PowerShot G15 No. 1: Shooting outdoors, cloudy, without a tripod

This and all videos were shot at 1080p24 resolution using the PowerShot G15. Despite the fact that the lighting is not very strong, the exposure is set perfectly, and the image stabilization is at the highest level. Thanks to the built-in stereo microphone, good sound is obtained, while the sound from autofocus and lens operation is completely inaudible.

Example video shot with Canon PowerShot G15 sample No. 2: Outdoors, sunny, using a tripod

So the shooting was carried out using a tripod, image stabilization was disabled. In general, despite the too bright sunlight, the image turned out to be of high quality. Automatic exposure handled brightness changes well. Again, you can't hear autofocus or lens operation when zooming.

Example video shot with Canon PowerShot G15 No. 3: Indoors, low light, no tripod

The lighting in the room is very poor, so as a result, we see a slight noise in the image. Autofocus in the G15 does not work immediately at the beginning of shooting, and this is the first time. Automatic exposure control shows good results, but white balance is not very good, especially at the end of the recording

Example video shot with Canon PowerShot G15 No. 4: Continuous autofocus

The camera first focuses on the cup of coffee, then on the bar counter, and then returns to the cup again. As you can see, autofocus works very clearly and quickly, the transition is smooth and beautiful. The performance is impressive. In addition, despite poor lighting, the image is clear and sharp, with good color reproduction.

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Comparison of image quality between Canon G15 and Nikon P7700

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To compare the real-world performance of the Canon PowerShot G15 and Nikon Coolpix P7700 compact cameras, photos were taken within minutes of each other using both cameras' best JPEG settings.

The lens focal length was set to its widest possible angle, 6.1mm in the G15 and 6mm in the P7700. At the same time, the field of view of the cameras turned out to be almost the same.

Image stabilization was disabled due to the shooting using a tripod, but other settings remained at default.

The image above was taken with a Canon PowerShot G15. The camera was set in aperture priority mode with an aperture of f4 and a sensitivity of 80 ISO. Exposure compensation was set to -2/3EV. We did the same with the Nikon Coolpix P7700, that is, the exposure was set in the same way. We achieved the most similar results in both lighting and focal length to objects.

So, what do these photos tell us, and what can we conclude about the G15's image quality? In general, the photographs are very good, it is a little disappointing that due to exposure correction, the images in some places were too bright and the picture came out too bright. Images taken with the Coolpix P7700 appear darker and that doesn't look very nice either. Overall, we see a good level of detail in photos taken with both cameras. And most importantly, the quality of these images is much better than the quality of images taken using a regular point-and-shoot camera with a 1/2.3-inch matrix. On the downside, the images aren't as attractive as they would be with a DSLR, but that's not surprising.

The first shot seems too soft, especially if you pay attention to small details, however, we do not notice any noise or artifacts. The good news is that the house, standing on a hill, is clear and sharp, with a clearly defined outline. In this case, the P7700 took a sharper photo, but there is a bit of noise on the hill in this image.

Canon PowerShot G15, f4, ISO 80 Nikon Coolpix P7700, f4, ISO 80

The second image also looks blurry, especially in the lighthouse area, the edges of the houses and the island appear to be slightly backlit. The image taken by the P7700 looks a little dimmer.

Canon PowerShot G15, f4, ISO 80 Nikon Coolpix P7700, f4, ISO 80

In the third image we see that the G15 showed excellent results. The image is detailed, bright, without noise and artifacts. Again, it doesn't seem to be as clear or sharp as the competitor's image, but it's not as grainy either.

Canon PowerShot G15, f4, ISO 80 Nikon Coolpix P7700, f4, ISO 80

The fourth image looks the most attractive. This picture turned out to be the clearest and sharpest, it is clear that the focusing worked perfectly. Tonality and detail are conveyed at the highest level.

To summarize our experiment, we should also summarize the overall comparison of image quality with the Nikon Coolpix P7700. Nikon showed very decent results, the image quality is not at all behind the photos taken with the G15, moreover, the images seem sharper, small details are better visible. There was a slight graininess in some images and the overall brightness of the photos was lower than the Canon camera.

Comparison of noise level in photographs of Canon PowerShot G15 and Nikon Coolpix P7700

To compare noise levels, photographs of the PowerShot G15 and Nikon Coolpix P7700 were taken under exactly the same conditions, only a few minutes apart. In this case, the best JPEG quality was used for both cameras.

The focal length of the lens was set to its maximum wide-angle value, that is, 6.1mm for the G15 and 6mm for the P7700. At the same time, the review turned out to be almost the same.

Image stabilization was disabled due to the shooting using a tripod, but other settings remained at default.

The image above was taken with a Canon PowerShot G15. The camera was set to aperture priority mode at f2, with sensitivity set to ISO 80. Exposure compensation is set to +1EV in order to produce a brighter image.

(Pictures taken with PowerShot G15 are on the left, Nikon Coolpix P770 on the right)

At ISO 80, the PowerShot G15 performs fairly well, with some structure visible on the wall that could be mistaken for noise, but it's not significant at all. Images taken with the Coolpix P7700 look much sharper without any noise.

At 100 ISO we see that the picture has become clearer, the text is more readable, the changes are minor but noticeable. The image taken by the competing camera remained virtually unchanged.

At 200ISO, detail increases and text is now clearly legible. The noise level of the G15 remained the same, which cannot be said about the other camera. The P7700's image is now grainy.

The noise level at 400 ISO started to increase and is now more noticeable, especially at the edges between the slab and the wall. Overall, the G15's performance at ISO 400 is good, and values ​​in the ISO 80-400 range can be used for everyday shooting. The P7700's image is starting to look unattractive at this point.

At 800 ISO the image deteriorated further. Edge definition disappears and noise increases.

At 1600 ISO, text becomes completely illegible and image details become incomprehensible. In the P7700 image the noise is already very obvious.

At ISO 3200, the entire image turned into a blurry picture, in which it is difficult to make out not only the text, but also the image as a whole.

Of course, at ISO 6400 and 12800, the photos looked very grainy. If you look at the photo as a whole, it doesn’t look so terrible, but if you just zoom in a little closer to the image, it immediately becomes obvious how dirty the image is and completely unattractive.

Comparing the G15 to the Nikon Coolpix P7700, the PowerShot G15's early images looked dull and blurry. The P7700's photos at ISO 80 and 100 look very clear and sharp, with beautiful detail. At ISO 200 and ISO 400, Nikon photos looked noisy, and as the sensitivity increased, the images became grainy. This becomes especially noticeable at 1600ISO. To summarize, it is fair to say that the Nikon Coolpix P7700 showed the best result. Photos taken with this camera, while starting to get noisier at lower ISOs, were initially sharper.

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Sample images taken with the Canon PowerShot G15

The photos below were taken with a Canon PowerShot G15 in auto mode. The G15's settings were set to the best possible quality to produce the best possible images. White balance was set automatically, and image stabilization was also turned on for those pictures that were taken without using a tripod.

All images below are available for closer viewing on Flickr.com. To view the original, just click on the photo.

Landscape: 2.99MB, auto, 1/500, f2.8, ISO 80, 6.1-30.5mm at 6.1mm (28mm equivalent)

Landscape: 3.14MB, auto, 1/500, f2.8, ISO 100, 6.1-30.5mm at 6.1mm (28mm equivalent)

Landscape: 3.39MB, Auto, 1/1250, F2.8, ISO 200, 6.1-30.5 at 30.5mm (140mm equivalent) Indoor: 2.98MB, auto, 1/320, f2.8, ISO 400, 6.1-30.5mm at 6.1mm (28mm equivalent)

Indoor: 3.10MB, Auto, 1/1250, F2.8, ISO 800, [email protected] (140mm equivalent)

Indoor: 2.71MB, auto, 1/15, f1.8, ISO 1600, 6.1-30.5mm at 6.1mm (28mm equivalent)

(tab=Conclusions)

conclusions

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The Canon PowerShot G15 is the latest in the G line of PowerShots, aimed at enthusiasts who want a compact, lightweight camera that takes good, high-quality photos.

The PowerShot G15 replaces the G12, which was released back in September 2010. As you know, two years is a pretty long time in the digital world, so Canon had to make the G15 an even more advanced camera than its predecessors in order for the new model to outperform its competitors.

In addition to conventional point-and-shoot cameras, which are the main competitors of the PowerShot G15, there are also pseudo-mirror cameras with interchangeable lenses, the popularity of which is constantly growing around the world. Of course, a compact camera is more affordable, and besides, not everyone wants to worry about interchangeable optics, so we can say that point-and-shoot cameras still have their own consumer market, with their own needs and requirements. It must be said that Canon has done a very fruitful job of meeting the requirements of its customers.

The G15 has a beautifully bright f1.8-2.8 lens and excellent optical image stabilization. Working together, these components give you the ability to not only take high-quality images in low light conditions, but also allow you to focus over long distances without losing quality. Plus, when you zoom in, you can get fairly shallow depth of field in portrait and macro photos that is nearly impossible with a regular compact camera.

But before we announce the final verdict on the Canon PowerShot G15, let's summarize the comparison of this camera with its main competitor - Nikon Coolpix P7700

Comparison with Nikon Coolpix P7700

Nikon Coolpix P7700 is quite an interesting compact camera model. Many amateur photographers may choose this particular camera due to a number of very compelling arguments. To begin with, the P7700 has a rotating 3-inch LCD display with a resolution of 921 thousand dots. This, of course, makes the P7700 larger and heavier, but it also makes video recording more convenient.

The P7700 has a multi-function dial that can be used to adjust sensitivity, white balance, quality settings and bracketing. It also has two programmable function buttons and three custom mode positions, while the G15 only has two. Additionally, the P7700 has controls on both the front and rear panels.

Both cameras have matrices of the same size, namely 1/1.7 inches, and a resolution of 12 megapixels. Our camera performance comparisons showed that the quality of images taken with the Nikon Coolpix P7700 was better than that of the Canon PowerShot G15. Both cameras have the same wide-angle focal length of 28mm, but the G15's telephoto is 140mm, while the P7700's is 200mm. Despite this, the G15 has a brighter lens with an aperture of f1.8-2.8, while the P7700 has an aperture of f2-4, allowing lower ISO settings to be used in the same shooting conditions.

Both models have a standard built-in flash, but the P7700 lacks a viewfinder while its competitor, the G15, has an optical viewfinder. To summarize, the important things to note are that the Coolpix P7700 is larger and heavier, has more physical controls and more camera setup options, it doesn't have as bright a lens although the lens has a larger telescopic zoom, and it also lacks an optical viewfinder. When purchasing this or that camera, decide for yourself which features are paramount for you and what you can sacrifice, and then it will be easier to make a choice in favor of the G15 or P7700.

Final verdict on the Canon PowerShot G15

PowerShot G15 is a worthy successor to the G12. Canon has done a lot of work to monitor the market and improve its compact, installing an excellent matrix and a good image processor in the camera, and also abandoned the rotating display to make the camera more compact.

Of course, some points were not taken into account. Although the viewfinder is present in the model, the sensor that determines the position of the eyes is sorely lacking. As for the display, it could be made touch-sensitive, this would make it possible to install touch focusing on the camera. Adding Wi-Fi and GPS would also give the camera more of an edge over many of its competitors.

Despite these shortcomings, the G15 is a compact camera that lets you take stunning, detailed, and clear photos and videos, even in low-light conditions. A high-quality large matrix, an excellent image processor and, of course, a bright lens will help you with this. The original functions and effects that this camera is equipped with will make shooting more fun. Plus, all these impressive technical and functional features are packed into a compact and stylish design.

In the modern world, it is difficult to imagine an event without photographs that capture sincere smiles and genuine emotions. Whether it's a trip, an outing, or just hanging out at home, you always need a camera. It is especially important that it be ergonomic and easy to carry, but today most people for some reason run headlong for huge cameras, naively believing that the larger the device, the better photographs can be taken with it. This is by no means true: ultra-large sizes are needed for professional cameras, but not for household ones. And then you will see this for yourself using the example of our TOP 3 best Canon PowerShot cameras 2017.

Camera Canon PowerShot SX430 IS

Canon cameras have long been market leaders and their PowerShot line is proof of this. Small and remote - this is how you can briefly describe the SX430.

1. Appearance. The Canon PowerShot SX430 IS camera in the younger version, as in the older one, retains its usual, recognizable, and at the same time stylish appearance. It’s quite difficult to describe the design of such a camera, because it’s easier to see everything in the picture - it’s a boring design, black color and old Canon shapes, nothing new. Among the interface features, there is a stylish zoom ring next to the on/off button on the top edge of the part of the camera that you clasp with your hand when shooting. Otherwise, all the buttons are almost standard and are located the same, with the exception of the Wi-Fi activation button on the front panel. The dimensions of the device are 104.4x69.1x85.1 mm and weighs 323 grams with battery and memory card. This is the first advantage of this model - its compactness. Of course, not to the extent that the device fits in a pants pocket, but the Canon PowerShot SX430 IS certainly won’t take up much space in a bag or backpack. Additionally, it is worth noting that the operating temperature is in the range of 0–40 degrees, and humidity is from 10 to 90%.
2. Possibilities. The next plus for which this class of cameras is valued is the super-zoom. In this model, its multiplicity is 45X. Yes, yes, that’s right, this means that when shooting you can reduce the distance to the object by 45 times without virtually losing quality. But that's not all, the Canon Powershot CX430 IS camera has a 20-megapixel sensor that allows you to take excellent photos both day and night. The internal interface of the camera is intuitive and equipped with very wide settings, including the SmartAuto mode, which will be discussed later. A nice bonus is support for NFC and Wi-Fi, which greatly simplifies file transfer and makes the process faster and “smarter.” In the era of smart technology, perhaps any device should be equipped with the ability to wirelessly transfer data or pair with other devices, and Canon meets the requirements here. The connection is always stable, file exchange is fast - adding wireless charging and a cable connector doesn’t seem to be needed at all. Maybe this is the future of the camera industry.
3. Display. The Canon PowerShot SX430 IS is equipped with a 3-inch TFT LCD screen. Its diagonal is 7.5 cm. Brightness is adjusted at five levels. Additionally, there is a Quick-bright function.
4. Photos. As befits most cameras, video capabilities are weak. The Canon PowerShot SX430 IS can only record videos in resolutions up to 720p, which won’t surprise anyone in 2017. But the photography capabilities are at an excellent level. Of course, regarding the price and class of the device. Photos during the day turn out very natural, high-quality detail is visible, and in good lighting there is no noise. At night the device behaves better than you might expect. Apparently, this is due to the matrix or pixel sizes, but the manufacturer prefers to keep silent about the secret of night photographs. They monitor the minimum amount of noise. The device runs on a DIGIC 4+ processor. The aperture is f/3.5–f/6.8, and the focal length ranges from 4.3 to 193.5 mm. Additionally, intelligent and improved dynamic image stabilization are provided.
5. SmartAuto mode. This is a unique development from Canon that makes their cameras even smarter and allows you to enjoy modern technology in the literal sense of the expression. In practice, the mode consists of completely “giving the steering wheel” to the device without interfering with the plots of its activity, of which there are as many as 32. It is impossible to describe them all briefly, since each gives the user ample opportunities and high-quality photos, but we can show all the delights of this mode on example of several stories. There is a facial recognition function here - you enter the appearance of a person’s face with his name once, and in all subsequent frames the camera will recognize him and immediately sign his name, as if signaling that they are familiar. But this is only the beginning, it is much more interesting how this plot works with children. If you have a child's face in mind, the Canon PowerShot Sx430 understands this and then, when taking a photo, automatically makes the process of creating that photo as tailored as possible to the situation. Specifically, it removes all sorts of noise from autofocus, photo sound, flash, and individually adjusts the exposure in automatic mode - that is, it does everything to ensure that your baby’s photo turns out to be of the highest quality. Don't forget that the device does not go beyond the most affordable line of Canon devices.
6. Autonomy and delivery set. The Canon PowerShot Sx430 IS comes with the WS-DC12 Wrist Strap, NB-11LH Rechargeable Battery, CB-2LFE Charger, Power Cord for Charging and Transferring Files, Lens Cap and User's Manual. On one charge, the device can shoot about 195 frames or 260 in eco mode. Many people don’t understand why a camera needs NFC support and may consider it an attractive but useless feature. However, the Kenon company does not do anything for nothing, and this particular function is needed to interface with Connect Station to optimize the storage and transmission of media content.

According to the description, the Canon PowerShot Sx430 IS has no equal in this price segment. But in any case, before buying online, we advise you to go to the store and test the camera, modes yourself and ask the sales consultant everything that interests you.

The price of Canon PowerShot Sx430 IS in Russia is 16,000 rubles. Unpacking the device in the video below:

Camera Canon PowerShot SX730 HS

Without getting hung up on the great variety of intermediate models, we immediately move on to the older version - the SX730 HS. This camera is positioned in a higher class, and now we’ll tell you why.

1. Appearance. This model from Canon is already further than the previous one, it has moved away from the appearance of SLR cameras and is similar to a classic camera. Whether this is good or bad is up to you to decide; in fact, the filling does not suffer from this in any way. The Canon Powershot ES X730 XC camera has a glossy, pleasant-to-touch, rectangular plastic body with smoothed and sometimes sharp curves, and a protruding impressive lens. The dimensions of the device are 110.1x63.8x39.9 mm and weighs 300 grams. Here the main controls, namely the on/off button, the zoom ring and mode selection are placed on the top end. In addition to the screen, the front panel contains buttons for controlling the camera interface. One of the unique features is that the camera is equipped with a flash that comes out from the top end. This is unusual compared to similar cameras from other manufacturers. The quality and expediency of use, of course, remains on the conscience of the developer, but this feature looks really beautiful and futuristic. Another feature is the screen, which does not sit in one place - the user has the opportunity to “open” it by lifting it up and thus creating a selfie camera. It is not clear what the manufacturer’s idea was, but apparently, now we will increasingly see people in parks trying to take a selfie with a camera.
2. Possibilities. This compact body houses a 20.3 megapixel CMOS wide-angle sensor with 40x zoom capability. The previous model allowed for greater zoom, but here the optical zoom has been reduced in order to save the potential for increasing the quality of photos. The device runs on a DIGIC 6 processor with iSAP technology. In addition to Wi-Fi pairing and NFC, the Canon PowerShot Sx730 HS camera supports Bluetooth, thanks to which there is a continuous connection with your smartphone while shooting, opening up even more possibilities. Also, it is worth noting that here, like the previous model, there is support for the ZoomPlus function, which allows you to double the zoom ratio. Among the unique features of this model, it is worth highlighting the support for SmartAuto mode with 58 scenes, in contrast to the previous model, where there were only 32. Thanks to wireless modules, the camera can be used in conjunction with various accessories, such as Connect Station, which was described above, or various Canon printers for fast photo printing.
3. Photos. The average user is not interested in detailed technical specifications, because to understand them, you need to spend a lot of time studying the topic. What is much more interesting in the matter of choosing a camera is its practical application, namely, how it takes pictures. And here it should be noted that the Canon PowerShot SX730 HS camera stands, if not head and shoulders above its younger brother SX430, then at least takes better photographs. This is mainly due to a different lens matrix and internal photo creation algorithms. The older model is the older one, what can I say here. The focal length ranges from 4.3 to 172 mm, and the aperture ratio is f/3.3–f/6.9. Daytime shots can be taken at a maximum resolution of 5184x3888 pixels - impressive for those unfamiliar with the world of photography. In fact, the indicator is quite ordinary, but as befits such devices, the detail of the images is at a very high level, there is no noise in daytime photos, the macro mode also works very well and, what is more interesting, the SmartAuto mode is better optimized in this model. In addition to more scenes, it works faster and the focus is more active. This allows you to fully enjoy the camera. Video is recorded in Full HD - 1920x1080 It should be noted that the previous model also did not have any serious shortcomings, but everything works slower and as if with effort, but here this problem has been completely eliminated.
4. Display and autonomy. The Canon PowerShot SX730 HS is equipped with a rotating TFT LCD display. Its diagonal is 3 inches (7.5 cm). Brightness can be adjusted manually or increased quickly using the Quick-bright function. Autonomous operation is provided by a lithium-ion battery NB-13L. On one charge, the user can take almost 250 pictures, and if you turn on eco mode, then as many as 355.

As you can see, the Canon PowerShot SX730 HS camera is conceptually different from the previous device under review, and this is already noticeable in its external component. If the 430th model relied on a discreet design with an emphasis on belonging to SLR cameras, then the 730th completely departed from this path, and here the manufacturer has already embodied its unique image. It starts with the form factor and ends with the hardware. In general, this approach is much more pleasing than simply constantly improving software in the same package, as some other manufacturers do.

The Canon PowerShot SX730 HS is a good camera model that can serve as either the first device of this class or replace an outdated previous gadget.

The price of Canon PowerShot Sx730 HS in Russia is 24,000 rubles.

Camera Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II

This device is even closer to the authentic appearance of cameras as a class of devices than the previous model under review. Let's find out what it can do:

1. Appearance The Canon Powershot J9 X Mark 2 creates a very skeptical first impression due to its small size. They measure 98x31.3x57.9 mm, and the camera weighs 206 grams including battery and memory card. Unlike the first camera in our TOP, this model shows its class affiliation not only with its compact size, but also with its appearance. The rectangular shape is housed in a beautiful gray plastic case with brown inserts. This gives the Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II an authenticity and some “old school” feel that will appeal to many photographers. Unfortunately, modern manufacturers have moved far from it.
2. Possibilities. The Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II is equipped with a 20.1-megapixel high-aperture CMOS sensor with 1.0 type back illumination. Like previous camera models from Canon, the Mark II supports unique IS technology, which allows you to take clear and detailed pictures in all weather conditions and lighting conditions. In addition, the device is equipped with Wi-fi, Bluetooth and NFC. The lens allows you to achieve only three times optical zoom, which is not very encouraging. True, digital comes to the rescue, giving a 12X approximation in combination. Here, like the previous model, there is a flash, stylishly hidden at the top end of the device. Of course, the manufacturer is modestly silent about the advisability of its use. The device runs on a DIGIC 7 processor. The aperture ratio is f/2.0–f/4.9.
3. Photos. Photos taken with the Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II will be of slightly lower quality than with the previous 2 models reviewed. This is not noticeable when shooting during the day or in Auto mode, but it becomes clear if the camera is used by a person who requires a little more from the device than a couple of daytime photos in Auto mode. This is where the very compactness that we praised at the beginning comes into play. In fact, these 2 parameters cancel each other out and cannot simultaneously be at the optimal level. The maximum video resolution is Full HD at 60 frames per second, which is a good indicator. The photo, respectively, is 5472x3648 pixels. These media options give the user a lot of post-processing options, considering it's just a camera.
4. Autonomy and display. The Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II camera is equipped with a 3-inch diagonal LCD touch screen. Like previous models, the brightness is adjustable and there is a Quick-bright function. An additional option for night playback is available - Night Display. The entire control panel is covered with reinforced glass. Autonomous operation is ensured by a lithium-ion battery NB-13L. From one charge the user can take up to 235 photos

This model is even more compact than the previous two, which somewhat affected the quality of the images, but in general, we can say that the manufacturer’s idea for the Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II camera was a success - it managed to combine compactness and good performance.

Far from being large in size and positioned as a professional device, the Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II can still deliver quality images.

As you can see, the range of available cameras, even from one manufacturer, is quite extensive. And today we were convinced of this by the example of Kenon. There are both expensive and cheap, both small and large, with a huge range of capabilities and those with a minimum of modes available. In any case, you need to approach the choice of any device, and especially such as a camera, thoroughly and consider several options at once. From today's TOP 3 best Canon PowerShot 2017 cameras, there is plenty to choose from.