The Canon PowerShot G is a series of digital cameras released by Canon. The G series cameras are Canon's flagship models aimed at prosumer photography enthusiasts desiring more flexibility than a point-and-shoot without the bulk of a dSLR. The G series offers features such as a hot shoe for an external Canon EX flashgun, the use of a lithium ion battery, a flip-out-and-twist LCD, RAW image format capture, a lens with a wider maximum aperture, remote capture, and faster electronics. However, with the release of the G7, RAW image support, remote capture, and a flip-and-twist LCD have been removed; RAW support was restored in the G9. There are seven models in the series, the latest being the G9 in 2007.
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Main specifications
| # | Megapixels | Maximum resolution | Optical Zoom (35mm equivalent) | Aperture Range | LCD | Announced | Notes | Image |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G1 | 3.3 | 2048 x 1536 | 3x (34-102mm) | F2.0-F2.5 | 1.8" vari-angle | September 2000 | First member of the Powershot G series. | |
| G2 | 4 | 2272 x 1704 | August 2001 |  |
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| G3 | 4 | 2272 x 1704 | 4x (35-140mm) | F2.0-F3.0 | September 2002 | Introduction of DiG!C processor. Introduction of internal neutral density filter. |  |
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| G5 | 5 | 2592 x 1944 | June 2003 | |||||
| G6 | 7.1 | 3072 x 2304 | 2.0" vari-angle | August 2004 | ||||
| G7 | 10 | 3648 x 2736 | 6x (35-210mm) | F2.8-F4.8 | 2.5" fixed | September 2006 | Introduction of DiG!C III processor. Introduction of a new lens brought a 1cm macro mode and lens shift optical image stabilisation. Maximum sensitivity of ISO 3200. Face detection auto focus. The only G series camera to lack RAW mode capture. |  |
| G9 | 12.1 | 4000 x 3000 | 3.0" fixed. | August 2007 | Similar to the G7. Most notable changes were reintroduction of RAW image format capture, a better LCD, and a new sensor. |  |
G1 to G6
Common features across the early G series were:
- A fast lens (minimum F number of 2.0).
- A flip out and twist LCD, along with a smaller status LCD on the top of the camera.
- RAW image format capture.
- 1/1.8" CCD sensor.
- Manual selection of aperture and shutter priority.
- Custom white balance.
- Built in flash.
- Hot-shoe for external flash.
- USB connectivity.
- A Compact Flash card slot.
- Availability of optional wide and teleconverter lenses.
- Canon’s proprietary EOS shooting modes, allowing the photographer to select different exposure settings for different environments.
- Included infrared remote control.
- In-built neutral density filter from the G3 onwards.
- Lithium ion battery.
G7 to G9
The G7 marked a major change in the G series. Prior to the G7 a fast lens, RAW image format capture, and a tilt-and-swivel LCD were all considered hallmark features of a G series camera. Some of the major changes included:
- Introduction of a lens with a minimum F number of 2.8, up from 2.0 in other G series cameras. Aside from being slower this lens introduced many improvements such as optical image stabilisation, a higher zoom range (6x), and a macro mode that can focus as close as 1cm. The lens can also retract completely into the camera.
- Change to a fixed LCD rather than a tilt-and-swivel model. The fixed LCD was larger (2.5" versus 2.0" on the G6) and increased the number of pixels by 75%.
- No RAW image format capture (JPEG only). (G7 only)
- No infrared remote control.
- Change from Compact Flash to SDHC card storage.
- Change to a slimmer battery (sourced from the Canon EOS 350D/400D DSLRs and camcorders) capable of less shots per charge.
- Black, mostly metal, body.
Many of the changes made allowed the G7 to be significantly slimmer than previous G series cameras (e.g., the thickness of the G7 is 4.25cm while the G6 is 7.3cm), making it more portable. The G9 reintroduced RAW image format capture support. Other changes included an improved LCD (larger, higher resolution), and a change in sensor size to 1/1.7".
Reasons for the exclusion of PowerShot G4 & G8
Canon, based in Japan, omitted the number 4 from the range due to cultural superstition.
- "The word "four" is read as "si" in Chinese Mandarin and "shi" in Japanese, a close homonym for the word for death in both languages and in the Cantonese dialect spoken in Hong Kong." [1]
Amateur Photographer also supported this:
- "the truth behind the leap from 3 to 5 is one based on cultural superstition — in Japan, the number 4 is considered unlucky. This is because the pronunciation of 4 — “shi” — is the same pronunciation as death. This is the reason why the EOS range jumps from the EOS 3 to EOS 5, and why the latest IXUS digital compacts bucks the trend of the IXUS v2 and IXUS v3 models by becoming the IXUS 400. Indeed, to find a Canon camera with a model number 4 you have to look back as far as the 1950s to the Canon IV."
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