This month's Technical Report introduces the PowerShot G5 featuring a 5.0-megapixel CCD and 4x optical zoom lens (equivalent to 35 - 140mm in 35mm film format) released in June 2003.
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| Photo 1 PowerShot G5 |
Concept
of development
The PowerShot G1, an advanced compact digital camera launched in October, 2000
has continued to incorporate enhancements and evolve into the PowerShot G2 with
4.0-megapixel CCD and further through the PowerShot G3 with a 4x optical zoom
lens to the latest PowerShot G5.
The PowerShot G series is highly acclaimed for its beyond-the-class high image
quality as well as strong reliability for business use and advanced features for
creative amateur photographers. The PowerShot G5 (Photo 1) is the latest model
in the G series. It is the successor to the PowerShot G3 and has a luxurious black
body. The development concept is as follows:
Design an advanced compact digital camera that offers the highest image
quality and leading-edge functions
Canon conducted statistical analysis on user's shooting conditions and embodied the findings as "Photographic Space." The PowerShot G5 utilizes this Photographic Space information. By estimating the distance between camera and subject from camera settings such as the zoom focal length (the zoom position of the lens) and peripheral brightness, and referring to the shooting parameters acquired from the previous image, the camera analyzes and predicts the scene just before the image is made.
As a result, the camera has faster, more precise AF, AE and Auto White Balance (AWB) than ever before.
| • High-resolution, 4x
optical zoom lens As with the PowerShot G3, the PowerShot G5 is equipped with a 35 - 140mm (in 35mm film format) 4x optical zoom lens with a maximum aperture of f/2.0 - f/3.0 (see Fig. 1). The lens of the PowerShot G5 consists of eight elements in seven groups. A low dispersion element and an aspherical element are optimally arranged to achieve very good aberration compensation. In addition, the PowerShot G5 optical system has a large aperture of f/2.0 - f/3.0 in a compact system with all lens groups moving to focus. The closest shooting distance of the PowerShot G5, from the front of the barrel in macro mode, is 5cm at wide-angle (74 x 54mm image field) and 15cm at telephoto (55 x 41mm image field). With the use of the Close-up lens 250D (58mm), the minimum image field is 37 x 28mm. |
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The PowerShot G5 features a CCD with approximately 5.0 million effective pixels. Together with the primary color filter, this produces a high-quality image of up to 2,592 x 1,944 pixels.
• Wide range of ISO equivalent speed settings including the high image quality ISO 50
• Compatible with the Exif 2.2 (Exif Print) standard
Feature 2: Advanced functions and comfortable operation
• Numerous manual functions to support photo composition
The PowerShot G5 offers an array of manual functions to ensure the photographer can obtain the intended result exactly.
• Manual exposure
• Manual focus
• Manually adjustable flash power (internal / external)
• Manual white balance (2 positions)
| • AF range
can be set arbitrarily The PowerShot G5 permits the user to move the AF frame to the desired area so that focusing can be performed on the subject in the frame (see Fig. 2) for increased composition creativity. |
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There are two options for the timing at which the flash fires: First-curtain sync (Photo 3-a) in which the flash fires just after the shutter opens; Second-curtain sync (Photo 3-b) in which the flash fires right before the shutter closes. In second-curtain sync mode, moving and glowing subjects can be captured in a true-to-life way.
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| Photo 3-a Using First-Curtain Sync |
Photo 3-b Using Second-Curtain Sync |
In addition to AE bracketing which has been offered since the PowerShot G1, focus bracketing is available with the PowerShot G5. Focus bracketing allows continuous shooting while changing focusing distance, making it easier to attain the desired results. It is ideal for focus-oriented photography such as in macro mode.
• RAW format recording can be selected during rec review
While the PowerShot G5 can record images in RAW format in which processing parameters can be adjusted later and a high-image quality can be obtained from the uncompressed file without any loss of image quality, image shot in standard JPEG file format can also be changed to RAW format by pressing the Function button while the image is displayed right after it is taken.
• Interval shooting function
Like the PowerShot G3, the PowerShot G5 incorporates interval shooting function for fixed-point observation such as flowers blossoming or celestial observations over long periods (up to 100 hours). The shooting interval time can be set from 1 to 60 minutes and 2 to 100 images can be shot.
• Integral neutral density (ND) filter to decrease brightness
The built-in ND filter makes it possible to produce blur effects or to select a slower shutter speed under bright condition without using an external filter. It is also effective when taking images in macro mode using flash where the overexposure is likely. The brightness is decreased by approximately three stops.
| • Shooting modes with
custom modes The PowerShot G5 is equipped with two custom mode positions within shooting modes in the Mode Dial (see Fig. 3), allowing the user to save frequently used shooting modes and various shooting settings. There is no longer any need to configure settings for each photograph. |
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The PowerShot G5 can record movies at 15fps along with audio in two formats, QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) and QQVGA (160 x 120 pixels) for as long as three minutes.
In playback, single-frame forward, fast forward, and fast reverse operations are provided, as well as instantaneous jump to start or end of a movie clip. It is also possible to cut unwanted portions.
• Adoption of Main Dial and Mode Lever
The PowerShot G5 employs the Main Dial, which originated in the EOS-series SLR cameras, so that the users can change shutter speed or aperture without any interruption to shooting posture. The Mode Lever also enables the user to easily switch between shooting and replay modes by one-touch operation.
While in reply mode, the camera can be swithced to shooting mode simply by pressing the shutter button halfway to capture the right moment.
• Three light metering modes
• Photo effects with custom positions
• Shutter speed of 15 to 1/2000 seconds with noise reduction
• Histogram display of playback image
• Audio annotation of up to 60 seconds can be appended during replay
• Enlarged display of image for easy confirmation (approx. 2x to 10x)
• Digital zoom with continuous variation of angle of view (approx. 4.1x)
• Thirteen image quality modes including RAW format
• AE, AF, and FE lock feature enabling fixing focus and exposure
• Vari-angle LCD monitor
• Improved operability with independent Function button
• Real-image optical 4x zoom viewfinder (diopter adjustable)
• Color LCD viewfinder with 100% picture coverage
• ON/OFF selection of AF-assist Beam
• Self timer (2 or 10 seconds)
• International user interface (UI) supporting twelve languages
Feature 3: Extensive system accessories
• Wide converter and Tele-converter are available
To meet a wide variety of photography needs from wide angle to telephoto, the PowerShot G5 can be used with Wide Converter WC-DC58N (Photo 4-a) and Tele-converter TC-DC58N (Photo 4-b).
The Wide Converter converts the focal length of the master lens by a factor of 0.7x, achieving 24.5mm (35mm film-equivalent) wide-angle photography, while the Tele-converter converts the focal lenght by a factor of 1.75x for 245mm (35mm film-equivalent) at telephoto. With the use of the covertion lenses, the PowerShot G5 can cover a 10x angle of view.
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| Photo 4-a Wide Converter | Photo 4-b Tele-converter |
The PowerShot G5 allows the use of the EX Speedlite series of external flash developed for EOS series SLR cameras (Photo 5-a), Macro photography-dedicated flashes, Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX (Photo 5-b) or Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX (Photo 5-c). It also supports Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2.
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| Photo 5-a With Speedlite |
Photo 5-b With Macro Ring Lite |
Photo 5-c With Macro Twin Lite |
But the PowerShot G3, and G5 are capable of manually controlling the light emission of built-in or externally mounted EX Speedlite, prohibiting pre-flash. As a result, advanced lighting with additional flash unit is possible (see Fig. 4).
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| Fig. 4 Multi-flash photography |
• Direct prints with dedicated printers
The PowerShot G5 supports direct printing, enabling the user to print out high-quality images by simply connecting the camera to the CP-300/200/100/10 Card Photo Printers or direct-printing compatible Bubble Jet printers using the dedicated cable. Operation is easily controlled from the camera.
• Computer connections with PTP support
Because the PowerShot G5 supports PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol), driver-less image communication with computers running recent operating systems (Windows XP or Mac OS X 10.1/10.2) is possible.
• "My Camera" function with on-camera content creation function
• Bundled with a comprehensive package of software applications
• Access to "Canon Image Gateway (CIG)" on the Web
• Compatible with USB Interface
This issue of the Technical Report introduces the PowerShot G5. Table 1 depicts major specifications of the PowerShot G5, while Fig. 5 shows the names of exterior parts.
The PowerShot G5 comes with a Kit as shown in Photo 6. There is no recommended retail price.
Table 1 PowerShot G5 Major Specifications
Fig. 5 PowerShot G5 Nomenclature
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| Photo 6 PowerShot G5 Kit |