The Power of a Point-and-Shoot: The Canon G11 takes a Hike
Camel's Hump, The Long Trail, Vermont
When I am working, I have no problem carrying 40+ pounds of camera equipment. When I am hiking…
When I leave the trailhead, I am already packing 35 or so pounds of gear. Water (2 pounds per liter; I carry 4 liters on most hikes), rain gear, survival gear, extra layers, food, maps and guidebooks, all of that stuff adds up.
Packing a camera body, a lens or 2, filters, batteries…it adds extra weight that on most hikes just is not worth it for me. If I set out to make beautiful landscapes, I bravely put up with the extra weight. For the most part, these landscapes are found around a half of a mile from where I park.
I have been searching for a point and shoot that offers some very specific features. I want manual control over the camera. I want to shoot RAW. I do not want to have to navigate 100′s of menus. I want a wide angle (at least a 28mm equiv. lens) I want something substantial to hold on to, not something too plastic or flimsy.
Camel's Hump, The Long Trail, Vermont
Canon’s G series cameras have been “almost there” for years. They increase the resolution enough, but don’t have a wide angle. They add a wide angle, but take away the articulating screen. Like most photographers though, I want it all.
Out comes the G11.
Wide angle? Check.
RAW capabilities? Check.
Articulating screen? Check. (Not a gotta have, but definitely nice)
Solid feel? Check.
Manual control over shutter speed and aperture? Check.
Easy to use menus and layout? Check!
Let’s kick some tires!
The bald summit of Camel's Hump looms over The Long Trail in Vermont.
First, the details of the hike. I met my friend Adam at 7am on a cloudy Sunday morning in Montreal to start the drive to Camel’s Hump in Vermont. The summit is the third tallest in Vermont, at 4083 feet it is Vermont’s highest undeveloped peak.
To access the summit, you have to follow Vermont’s Long Trail, possibly one of my favorite hiking trails. Check it out here: https://www.greenmountainclub.org/page.php?id=2 The Green Mountain Club do an incredible job of maintaining the trail and making sure it is well blazed, all 273 miles of it! I cannot stress the importance of a proper map enough…you don’t want to get lost out there!
After scouring my maps and online reviews, we decided to ascend using the Forest City trail to gain access to the Long Trail, make the final push to the summit northbound along the LT, and once the summit is reached we would descend using the Burrows trail. As you climb northbound, the terrain is a lot more rugged and challenging with lots of fun, non technical scrambles. Perfect!
Camel's Hump, The Long Trail, Vermont
In the past, I would usually lug my 5dMkII with a 24-70 f/2.8 in my pack. I made some nice photographs, but it really slowed us down. Constantly stopping to pull out the camera, shoot then put it away…what a pain in the butt!
Don’t get me wrong, if I am shooting for editorial or commercial purposes, I’ll bring the gear. When I want a Sunday away with a few friends hiking, I am less likely to bring the kit along with me.
The first benefit of the G11…it’s size! The camera fit in an old pouch I had lying around my office, and hung perfectly from my pack’s hip-belt. It was always ready for a quick grab and shoot.
Mostly, I wasn’t paranoid about falling and breaking $5000+ of gear!
Green Mountain Club caretakers sit on the 4083ft. summit of Camel's Hump on the Long Trail in Vermont. The caretakers are there to assure the safety of the hikers as well as that of the fragile alpine vegetation.
One of the biggest problems I always had with P+S cameras is the shutter lag, the time between when you press the shutter button and the moment the camera actually takes the photo. On some models, the lag can be almost a second…
The biggest piece of advice I can offer is the same trick you use on your D-SLR, half-press your shutter button to pre-focus. This way when you are ready to make the photo, the camera is ready too.
I shoot everything in RAW, and this is one of the biggest advantages of the G11. This way I know that while I try to nail the exposure and white balance in camera, I know that I have the ability to non destructively adjust my levels using Adobe Lightroom.
One of the features I really enjoyed on the G11 were its knobs. On the top plate of the camera, you have a wheel to select your shooting mode, under that there is an ISO selection wheel, and next to the hot shoe there is an exposure compensation wheel. Finally!
When I am working, I shoot in manual. I like the feeling of control over my camera. I like knowing exactly what the camera is doing… unless I’m hiking, balancing on a ledge with the possibility of slipping and breaking limbs. This is where Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority came in. I could easily set my aperture to, say, f/8, and shoot away.
But here is the fun part…if I didn’t like what I was getting on the LCD preview (too dark, too light) it took a quick turn of the exposure compensation dial to get the desired exposure. Thanks Canon!
Aesthetically, the camera felt substantial in my hands, and the knobs and buttons were easy to use and logically placed. It is a welcome departure from the usual plastic P+S cameras, which in my mind the “P” and “S” stand for something other than Point and Shoot. The G11 actually reminded me of the feel I got from older rangefinder cameras. The nice part is that the camera, being as light as it is, will certainly not break your back…it is sure to find its way into your pack.
The most important part: the quality of the photographs themselves. To be truthful, I am very impressed! Sure, if I was to compare the quality of these images to my 5dMkII or my 1dMkIII, it is not on the same level. But it is surprisingly good. I would not photograph an assignment with the G11, but it may just become my recreational camera.
Hikers climb the north side of Camel's Hump via the Long Trail in Vermont.
So, what is my conclusion in this totally subjective non scientific test of the Canon G11. I like it. I really like it.
Sure, it would be nice to have a CMOS sensor instead of a CCD, but that will probably be found in the G12, along with HD video. It would also be nice if it was weather-proof so it can really be a “go anywhere” camera. After all, the most expensive and technologically advanced SLR will not do you any good sitting on your shelf because it is too heavy. This is where a camera like the G11 is beneficial. It is light, gives you control, and the image quality is definitely acceptable.
The G11 has found its place in my pack, and I am sure it will help me record my future adventures.
Camel's Hump, The Long Trail, Vermont
Canon G11 Photo courtesy of Canon Canada
Canadian Price: $569.99 http://www.vistek.ca/store/DigitalCameras/245445/canon-powershot-g11-digital-camera.aspx
USD Price: $449.99
http://www.adorama.com/ICAG11.html
August 10, 2010 at 6:37 pm
Hi Tim!
Very good report on the G11.
I definitely have the same problem when hiking.
My SLR gear is much too heavy and it costs me lot of time to take a shot.
I was searching for a light, small camera which gives my overall control and can write RAWs.
I came to the same conclusion and ordered a G11.
It should be delivered by the end of this week and I can test it on the weekend.
After reading your experience I’m pretty sure that was the right choice.
Thank you and greetings from Austria
Frank
September 27, 2010 at 2:15 am
I enjoyed reading this as its a real hands on review of the G11 and not too much on the technical sides.
Bought the G11 just under a year ago and have taken it everywhere I go.
I love the photos it produces, so much that its inspired me to create a photoblog about it.
September 2, 2011 at 11:15 pm
I stumbled on this site. It is very good! You have made some points I did not know. Thank you!