This month's Technical Report introduces the PowerShot G6 featuring a 7.1-megapixel CCD and 4x optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent: 35-140mm) released in September 2004.
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 G6 (see Photo 1), successor to the PowerShot G5, has completely renewed its design and CCD and enhanced features. The development concept is as follows:
Design a compact digital camera offering higher image quality and more advanced functions than previous PowerShot G series models
Feature 1: High image quality
CCD sensor with 7.1 million effective pixels (approx.)
The PowerShot G6 features a CCD with about 7.1 million effective pixels. Together with the primary color filter, it produces high resolution with up to 3072 x 2304 pixels. It also has five recording pixel modes: Large, Middle1, Middle2, Mddle3, and Small, along with three compression levels, and 15 combinations of recording pixel.
The PowerShot G6 also has RAW mode in which processing parameters can be adjusted.
High-resolution 4x optical zoom lens
As with the PowerShot G5, the PowerShot G6 has a 4x optical zoom lens (35mm equivalent: 35-140mm) with a variable maximum aperture of f/2.0-f/3.0. A low dispersion element and an aspherical element help achieve very good aberration compensation.
In addition, the spectral characteristics of the optical system have been optimized for the sensitivity characteristics of the CCD, while the color reproduction parameters for image processing have also been fine-tuned. As a result, the false color that is often generated around the edges of subject taken against a very bright background is greatly reduced, achieving the high image quality required of PowerShot G series cameras.
Table 1 shows the closest shooting distance and focusing range of the PowerShot G6, including with optional accessories.
High quality image processing with DIGIC, Digital Imaging Processor
High-precision AE/AWB based on iSAPS technology
Wide range of ISO equivalent speed settings including the high image quality ISO 50
| Shooting Distance | Field of view (at minimum shooting distance) |
|||
| Wide end | Telephoto end | Wide end | Telephoto end | |
| Normal shooting | 50cm - infinity | 50cm - infinity | — | — |
| Macro shooting | 5 - 50cm | 15 - 50cm | 75 x 55mm | 56 x 42mm |
| Manual Focus shooting | 5cm - infinity | 15cm - infinity | 75 x 55mm | 56 x 42mm |
| Super Macro shooting | 5 - 20cm (W - 86mm equiv.) | 48 x 36mm | 24 x 18mm (86mm equiv.) |
|
| Super Macro + Manual Focus shooting |
5 - 20cm (W - 86mm equiv.) | 48 x 36mm | 24 x 18mm (86mm equiv.) |
|
| Macro shooting + Close-up lens |
4 - 25cm | 10 - 25cm | 68 x 51mm | 38 x 28mm |
| Super Macro shooting + Close-up lens | 4 - 11cm (W − 86mm equiv.) | 44 x 33mm | 22 x 17mm (86mm equiv.) |
|
| Normal shooting + Tele-converter |
— | 160cm - infinity | — | — |
| Normal shooting + Wide converter |
20cm - infinity | — | — | — |
Feature 2: Advanced functions
9-point AiAF or 1-point AF can be selected
In addition to 1-point AF (switchable between FlexiZone and Center-fixed) employed in the previous PowerShot G series cameras, the PowerShot G6 offers 9-point AiAF adopted in the PowerShot S/A series and IXY DIGITAL series cameras. Table 2 shows the combinations of shooting modes and AF frames.
| Creative Zone | Auto | Image Zone | Stitch / Movie | ||
| Normal shooting | Macro shooting | ||||
| 9-point AiAF | Available | Available | Available | Available | Not available |
| FlexiZone | Available | Not available | Not available | Not available | Not available |
| Center fixed | Available | Available | Available | Not available | Available |
The PowerShot G6 is equipped with the Safety Shift function. This function allows the camera to automatically shift the shutter speed or aperture to obtain optimum exposure when the user-selected exposure setting in shutter speed or aperture priority mode cannot obtain it.
JPEG image contained in the RAW file
When shooting in RAW mode, a JPEG image is simultaneously saved within the RAW image data. In earlier models, the JPEG image was limited to 640 x 480 pixels. The PowerShot G6 allows users to select from the following five settings: 3072 x 2304, 2592 x 1944, 2048 x 1536, 1600 x 1200, and 640 x 480 pixels.
Movie recording at 640 x 480 pixels
The PowerShot G6 offers 320 x 240 and 160 x 120 movies recording at 15 fps for up to about 3 minutes as well as 640 x 480 movies recording at 10 fps for up to about 30 seconds.
Furthermore, the ND filter On/Off function, which was only enabled for still images in earlier models, now works in movie mode also. This function effectively reduces smear, which is likely to appear while shooting movies because the mechanical shutter cannot be used.
Super macro shooting mode
In addition to the standard Macro function, the PowerShot G6 has a super macro function that enables users to focus as close as 5cm from the subject (measured from the tip of the lens) when the focal length is between 35mm and 86mm (35mm equivalent) (see Fig. 1). The maximum recording pixel is 2048 x 1536.
This feature allows users to send captured images to the PC easily. The menu offers five different types of transfer, as follows.
| (1) All Images | : Transfers all Images |
| (2) New Images | : Transfers all the images that have not been previously transferred |
| (3) DPOF Trans. Images | : Transfers the images with DPOF Transfer Order settings |
| (4) Select & Transfer | : Transfers the selected images |
| (5) Wallpaper | : Transfers the selected images to display on the computer desktop |
Compact, high-efficiency light guide flash with first-curtain and second-curtain sync
Two bracketing functions (AE/Focus)
RAW format recording can be selected during record review
Interval shooting function
Super Intelligent (SI) sensor for automatic detection of vertical/horizontal photography
Three light metering modes
Photo effects with custom positions
Histogram display of playback image
Audio annotation of up to 60 seconds can be appended during replay
AE, AF, and FE lock feature enabling fixing focus and exposure
ON/OFF selection of AF-assist Beam
Feature 3: Comfortable operation
Higher speed AF
In general, the AF speed and AF accuracy are in an antithetical relationship.
The PowerShot G6 has achieved shortening AF time significantly while maintaining focusing precision by making better use of iSAPS technology and improving the AF algorithm.
As a result, the PowerShot G6 succeeds in increasing AF speed by approximately 55% in Continuous mode and 45% in one-shot mode.
Quicker start and turn-off
The PowerShot G6 has shortened startup time (from power-on until the camera is ready to shoot) to 3.0 sec. compared to the PowerShot G5 time of 3.8 sec. (with the LCD monitor on) and from 3.0 sec. to 2.5 sec. (with LCD monitor off).
The PowerShot G6 also improves its responsiveness significantly by the shooting lens retracting immediately after power is turned off.
Higher-speed zooming
Zooming speed from wide-angle to telephoto is shortened to about 1.8 sec. from 2.5 sec. of the PowerShot G5.
2.0'' Vari-angle LCD monitor
The vari-angle LCD monitor has been increased from 1.8'' to 2.0'', improving visibility.
Display panel backlight
As with the PowerShot Pro1, the PowerShot G6 is equipped with display panel backlighting, allowing the panel to be read in the dark.
Elimination of viewfinder vignetting
By rearranging the viewfinder and objective lens positions, the PowerShot G6 prevents the vignetting in the viewfinder that occurred with the PowerShot G5.
Improved operation with enhanced UI display
The PowerShot G6 has remarkably improved visibility of the LCD monitor UI display, especially the menu display, with enlarged and moving icons in the control menus.
UI supporting fourteen languages
| The PowerShot G6 has fourteen UI languages
that can be displayed on the LCD monitor. This includes two new languages, Russian
and Portuguese, in addition to twelve languages in the PowerShot G5, allowing
more users to operate in their native languages (see Fig. 2). |
|
Enlarged display of image for easy confirmation (approx. 2x to 10x)
Feature 4: Full range of print features
The PowerShot G6 supports direct printing, enabling the user to print out high-quality images by simply connecting the camera to the newly released SELPHY series CP500/400 (see photo 2) and DS700 Compact Photo Printers, the previous CP series printers, or PIXUS direct-printing compatible printers using the dedicated cable.
The PowerShot G6 enables users to crop, layout and print a recorded image in specified sizes using a CP printer.
The PowerShot G6 offers a selection of 28 different sizes covering typical ID photo sizes for many countries and regions throughout the world.
Movie Print
This function allows users to print an index print sheet of a series of frames selected from a recorded movie at intervals using a CP printer.
The interval is automatically calculated based on the length of the movie and the number of still images to fill the sheet.
PictBridge support
The PowerShot G6 supports PictBridge, the new industrial standard established last year (2003). This enables directly connecting the camera to any PictBridge compatible printer regardless of the manufacturer.
Feature 5: Extensive system accessories
Compatible with EX-series Speedlites and accessories
The PowerShot G6 is compatible with the EX Speedlite series including the new 580 EX and the Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX or Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX for macro photography. It also is compatible with the Speedlite Transmitter ST-E2.
Optional wide converter and tele-converter
As with earlier models, the PowerShot G6 accepts the optional Tele-converter TC-DC58N, which increases the focal length of the master lens to 1.75x, and the Wide converter WC-DC58N, which reduces the focal length of the master lens to 0.7x.
Optional lens hood
As an option, the lens hood (see Photo 3) is available. It is very effective in backlit situations.
Feature 6: Digital communication
Bundled with a comprehensive package of software applications
The application software, ZoomBrowser EX (Windows) and ImageBrowser (Macintosh) have been greatly upgraded (see Fig. 3). These applications enable users to take full advantage of the PowerShot G6's high image quality.
''My Camera'' function with on-camera content creation function
This issue of the Technical Report introduces the PowerShot G6. Table 3 shows the major specifications comparison between the PowerShot G6 and the PowerShot G5, while Fig. 4 shows the names of exterior controls and parts. The PowerShot G6 Kit comes as shown in Photo 4. There is no recommended retail price.
Table 3 Major Specifications Comparison between PowerShot G6 and PowerShot G5
Fig. 4 Nomenclature
