[Pavel]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0908/09081908canong11.asp

Matthew - It took years but it did happen. Where can I buy? (For my wife of course)

Pavel

[matthew]

Almost perfect, but not quite.

- still the small sensor, but I'm glad to see that the megapixel race is finally over. (Or rather, it was over a while ago, and the LX3 won.)
- no HD video. I know it sounds silly, but this is becoming a big deal, and it's enough to stop me from buying one.

Maybe the G12?

It's good to see the line evolving, but this isn't that big a change from the G10 - the swivel screen is the other feature (along with raw recording) that Canon dropped with the G7, so that's more of a restoration than an innovation. Still, I have no doubt it'll be a great camera, and better than the one that it replaces... just like the G10 and G9 were.

[Pavel]

The small sensor means smaller, lighter camera. Also note the built in ND filter - that is new and useful to me, although a polarizer would be welcome as well. I really do not care all that much about the sensor size, as long as the noise is kept low without smearing the detail.

[Toad]

Its interesting - I am in the market for a truly pocketable camera. I don't think the G11 is it, though. I was looking at the Olympus Pen - but the lens is too slow (3.5-5.6) and it isn't really a pocketable size IMO.

The winner (in my mind) is the Panasonic LX3 (also sold as the Leica D-Lux 4). It is *much* smaller than the Olympus or the Canon - and at the end of the day, that is what a pocket camera really needs to be. The LX3 lens is astonishingly sharp and a superb F2.0-2.8.

Pity it only zooms to 60mm, but I know that getting a quality camera in a truly pocketable size requires some compromises. I think telephoto range is a good tredeoff against lens speed. Also, I have seen images from the D-Lux 4 and in this case, sensor size is a good compromise against overall camera size - because the quality of the images from that sensor are superb - even in low light situations.

The Olympus is interesting, but some of its key features don't make a lot of sense to me. Why do I want to change lenses on a pocket camera? It defeats the purpose to carry extra gear. This would only really be important if I planned to ditch my DSLR - which I don't. The Olympus has a larger sensor - but its screen is not very good - and its just too big. Briefcase size - not pocket size. Ditto with the G11. Not taking anything away from these cameras - just not what I am looking for right now.

[Pavel]

I would consider Canon S90 - basically G11 with different body and lens. I never saw it, but believe it to be pocketable. I value optical viewfinder too much to go with camera without it (like LX3).

Pavel

[matthew]

I missed the announcement for the S90, but I have to agree that it's a very interesting camera. I liked the S70/80 back-in-the-day, and am glad to see Canon bringing this size back. But again, no HD video...

[Pavel]

How about the small viewfinder? Is that an issue?

[Toad]

No viewfinder is a serious issue to me - that is why I have not purchased the D-Lux 4. There is a new breed of small cameras hitting the market now. Pro photographers have spoken that they want a camera like this. Let's see who bellies up to the bar...

[Pavel]

Toad, there is a viewfinder, it is just that it is small. The alternative is an electronic viewfinder, which is getting quite good in good lighting I think or a DSLR. I played with G10 before, but I do not remember what I thought of the viewfinder. It is getting mixed reviews.

[enviroguy]

The Canon S90 appears to be the baby brother of perhaps the G11. An interesting camera to be sure. I would miss the hot shoe for an external flash for photos at a greater distance than say 8 feet. Also, there is NO optical viewfinder (see photos of the camera from the back ). The only way to compose the picture is to hold the camera at arms length and try to view the LCD display that will likely be dim in bright sunlighlight. Some may not see this latter deficiency as a problem, but it's critical for my kind of photography. Thre would have to be plenty of other compelling reasons for me to spend $430 US for this particular camera.

.....Dennis

http://gizmodo.com/5340721/canon-s90-wit...ro-wannabe

[Toad]

The Canon S90 appears to be the baby brother of perhaps the G11. An interesting camera to be sure. I would miss the hot shoe for an external flash for photos at a greater distance than say 8 feet. Also, there is NO optical viewfinder (see photos of the camera from the back ). The only way to compose the picture is to hold the camera at arms length and try to view the LCD display that will likely be dim in bright sunlighlight. Some may not see this latter deficiency as a problem, but it's critical for my kind of photography. Thre would have to be plenty of other compelling reasons for me to spend $430 US for this particular camera.

.....Dennis

http://gizmodo.com/5340721/canon-s90-wit...ro-wannabe

...and its ugly.

[matthew]

...and its ugly.

No, the D10 is ugly.

The camera that I'm interested in is the SD940. It's just slightly thicker than the SD780, which was a little jewel, but has a lens that reaches down to 28mm-e and f/2.8. Plus, it's an entry-level Elph, which means it'll probably avoid the horrid little spinning dial thingy that makes it impossible to get the right settings on the 'better' cameras. (But no, it loses the SD780's optical pointing device.) It might just be the one to add (another) Canon Elph to my collection.

(The 940 does record HD movies.)

[Pavel]

OK Matthew, when will you have the G11 and at what price? (List = $599 in Canada)

[matthew]

List is $599, Aden is at $529.99. As for when, that'll be entirely up to Canon Canada - all of the stores in Toronto will get it at the same time, whenever that will be. I don't know anything in particular about the date beyond "October 2009".

(As soon as I see one, I'll give you a call; alternatively I can get your info for a pre-order when I'm back at work on Monday.)

Someone showed me a neat trick: go to aden camera dot com (I don't want to link to them directly) and search for "soon". It'll show all of the things they don't have yet, including the S90 (which matches the G11 at $530, but will be available in "September 2009".)

[Toad]

List is $599, Aden is at $529.99. As for when, that'll be entirely up to Canon Canada - all of the stores in Toronto will get it at the same time, whenever that will be. I don't know anything in particular about the date beyond "October 2009".

(As soon as I see one, I'll give you a call; alternatively I can get your info for a pre-order when I'm back at work on Monday.)

Someone showed me a neat trick: go to aden camera dot com (I don't want to link to them directly) and search for "soon". It'll show all of the things they don't have yet, including the S90 (which matches the G11 at $530, but will be available in "September 2009".)

No good for me - it doesn't do RAW as far as I can tell - and that's a deal breaker.

[matthew]

Of the cameras announced, both the G11 and S90 will record in raw. (Imaging Resource gas a good page for the S90, at http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/PS90/PS90A.HTM.)

[shuttertalk]

More S90 love here:
http://www.dpreview.com/news/0908/090819...andson.asp
http://www.letsgodigital.org/en/22932/ca...rshot-s90/

I'm really liking the manual zoom ring thing - which can be reassigned to different functions. Oh and the f/2.0 stabilised zoom lens is very nice too.

[Pavel]

Let us see who finds the first decent review of G11 and posts it here. Flicker already has about a dozen G11 sites salivating and in anticipation (no mosts, no discussions, no members). Nikon D300 group has 11,766 members (only). Prepare for endless discussions of Canon vs Nikon vs Fuji and G11 vs DSLR and G11 vs 3/4 systen vs Leica. Did I leave anything out?

[Pavel]

Here is a test showing that (if I can evaluate the samples) all is well to about ISO 200. ISO 400 shows some smearing but no visible noise at the resolution showed. ISO 800 shows signs of color shift (?) and clearly more softness, even though the results are still tolerable. ISO 1600 is a bridge too far for me. Matthew, how do you read it? http://www.digitalversus.com/news_id-10463.html#

[enviroguy]

Pavel, stop stressing about it...You'll make yourself crazy. You know that you want it. Just go out and order the damn thing (for your wife, of course).

Regards.....Dennis

[Pavel]

October Dennis. Unless Czech Republic will embeggar us in September.

Pavel

[shuttertalk]

Uh oh... lock your wallets up guys and gals, Panasonic just announced the DMC-GF1 a interchangeable lens, micro four thirds camera in a compact format. It's directly comparable to the recently launched Olympus E-P1 and is marketed as the "world's smallest and lightest digital interchangeable lens system camera with a built-in flash". Note the last bit - "with a built-in flash" because it's actually bigger than the Olympus E-P1 but the E-P1 doesn't have a built-in flash. Also, the GF1 has built in sensor stabilisation.

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0909/090902...dmcgf1.asp
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/PanasonicGF1/

Let the drooling begin anew!

[Pavel]

Hmmmm - also with electronic viewfinder - which I do not want. I also do not want to start another lens collection. It is something I would consider if I was just starting. There is also a very limited range of lenses and they are $$$$$$$$$$$$

[NT73]

The panasonic ultra zoom is not a pocket size camera. My B- in- L has one.

The big issue seems to be the missing eye viewfinder. I find it very taxing when the sun is shining brightly.
I have contemplated making a small cardboard or alloy viewfinder (which obviously wont work when zoomed out ) but I wonder if you could put a small wire frame into one end to give the smallest size you would see.
With the panasonic it would stick over a couple of holes on the top. I forget what they are for (not microphone)
( Similar to what they had on the old land cameras.)
My TZ5 is taking some reasonable out and about shots.

[matthew]

The G11 has hit the stores, and I have to say that I'm not as impressed by its build quality. It's good, but it doesn't have the same feel as the G10 and G9 did. The controls are still nice, and I'm sure that the image quality has improved, but personally I'd be waiting to see the S90 - same sensor, brighter lens - before buying a G11.

Focusing with the Panasonic FZ35/38 at the long end of the zoom is sloooow. I wanted to want one, but bought a Canon SX20 instead.