Trying out the Canon PowerShot G2, 23 years after it was launched! Replacement BP-511 battery for G2: amzn.to/3VBgBfd Find vintage gear on eBay: rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?icep_ff3=1&pub=5574908462&toolid=10001&campid=5338329149&customid=&ipn=psmain&icep_vectorid=229466&kwid=902099&mtid=824&kw=lg Buy Gordon a coffee: www.paypal.me/cameralabs Gordon's In Camera book: amzn.to/2n61PfI / Amazon uk: amzn.to/2mBqRVZ Cameralabs merchandise: redbubble.com/people/cameralabs/shop Sell your used gear to MPB at: bit.ly/3ULU9yL Buy used gear from MPB at: prf.hn/l/YLqwRAP Lost photos? I recover mine with: www.dpbolvw.net/click-100568658-13808570?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stellarinfo.com%2Fphoto-recovery-software.php Equipment used for producing my videos DJI Osmo Pocket 3: click.dji.com/AIOhqT-LWUFDq-bGk8hD4Q?pm=link MacBook Air 15in (M3): amzn.to/4cPat9S DJI Osmo Pocket 3: click.dji.com/AIOhqT-LWUFDq-bGk8hD4Q?pm=link Panasonic Lumix S5 II: amzn.to/3Hf5IcI Sony A6400: prf.hn/l/pRO0wp5 Sony e 24mm f1.8: amzn.to/2TqWNzk Rode NT USB mic: amzn.to/3AdHcUp Rode Wireless Go II mic: amzn.to/3xkCvGo Rode Lavalier Go mic: amzn.to/3ygzzKY Godox UL150 light: amzn.to/2VpVbXE Godox QR-P70 softbox: amzn.to/3yQfGdF 00:00 - Canon PowerShot G2 intro 01:49 - Canon PowerShot G2 design and controls 05:10 - Canon PowerShot G2 viewfinder and screen 05:37 - Canon PowerShot G2 memory card slot 06:02 - Canon PowerShot G2 ports 06:49 - Canon PowerShot G2 battery 07:29 - Canon PowerShot G2 lens 08:37 - Canon PowerShot G2 sensor vs G1 09:29 - Canon PowerShot G2 ISO and noise test 10:59 - Canon PowerShot G2 using it today 11:31 - Canon PowerShot G2 RAW files 11:58 - Canon PowerShot G2 sample images and videos 14:29 - Canon PowerShot G2 verdict 23 years later! Music: www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
I worked at a camera store in 2002, and whenever we needed to grab a camera from the display case to shoot something around the store, with all of the different makes and models we carried to choose from, we nearly always grabbed the G2. The only times it wasn't the first choice was when we needed very close focusing or a longer focal length, something the G2 required time-consuming accessory attachments to achieve.
Paid $12 CAD for a G2 back in 2019 and got free shipping which cost the seller $14. So they lost money. Put a battery in it. Works as good as new. Amazing camera.
23 years ago I had the worlds smallest 3.2MP camera, Pentax optio 330 iirc , I got it in Canada when I was 16, still have it today and it still works , long life cf cards
@@DinoBytes 70€ with shipping. I need a replacement battery before I take it out because the original one is nearly dead. Other than that it looks like it was never used.
I recently took out my G6 to some local events and loved taking photos with it, gorgeous little camera with everything I'd want in a retro digicam. I've mostly kept to using it as a point and shot (using PASM modes here and there) just to stay in the moment and relive the memories I had as a child growing up with CCD cameras. Great video and I'm looking forward to seeing more retro reviews!
My first powershot was the A95. I progressed onto the G7, both of which i still have from new! These were massive upgrades to my first digital compacts that i had like the 1.3mp Fuji Finepix 1300! It really is crazy now, looking back on cameras seen as vintage when we were buying the latest and greatest at the time! I Remember jumping on DP Review to read of the newest upgrade to sensors, iso, megapixels etc. Lovely to see these cameras getting an outing again, despite the creeping prices. Nostalgia, eh? Great video; thankyou!
Excellent video. Smooth and knowledgeable presentation. I bought my G2 23 years ago and still using it. Although I have other DSLRs the G2 still produces excellent A4 prints.
The G2 was my second digicam. My first digicam was an Olympus C700, which had a super slow 10x zoom lens with a horrible chromatic aberration issue. The Canon was huge upgrade over the Olympus. I ultimately ended up selling the G2 and getting the EOS 10D and the rest is history lol. Love this series, Gordon. Keep it up
Sorry to hear that! You could always try to bag a replacement - I still can't believe you can get them on eBay for less than £30 when later models are hundreds.
Thanks for the video, Gordon. Made me pull out my old G2 and start charging the cheap replacement battery, which probably isn't great anymore. I found the same CF card you use in my camera. Looking forward to find out, if there is still something on it. My camera even still has the original silver lens cap, dangling by a string, and the original silver neck strap. No remote control or original battery charger however.
Definitely worth considering a new battery for it, as it's a classic. If it works you'd be able to sell it for a decent amount as a working model, to better still, start using it again!
This was a wonderful video! By sheer coincidence, I brought my G2 out of mothballs recently after purchasing it used - 20 years ago! For the whole of September I have been shooting with nothing else, and it has really sparked joy in my photography again. It's been over a decade since I last used it, and it is very different to my regular EDC camera - itself a vintage digicam (Lumix LX-7). It's been wonderful capturing the world in Canon colours (that really is a thing, isn't it?). Definitely going to use the G2 more often in future. I've nicknamed it The Silver Brick.
I just bought one of these and re-watched, and subscribed. I used to use a primitive Leica/Panasonic way back when, until I dropped it. Looking forward to playing around with this beast.
I LOVE THESE! It’s so cool to see how we’ve come and old cameras still work fine at making images. Videos such as these are such a cure to GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). I hope to see many more!! Can you do the Nikon D40 sometime?
I actually reviewed the D40 on my main channel when it first came out - see ua-cam.com/video/wkB2nK0qQUM/v-deo.html but forgive the quality as it was 17 years ago! For this channel, I'm concentrating on making videos about cameras that predate my main channel and UA-cam, so pre-2006 mostly.
@@DinoBytes thanks for the blast from the past. Incidentally I had commented on the D40 video 14 years ago and had forgotten about it. What a blast from the past! Thanks for all the good memories and I look forward for more content!
Well you made me pull out my G3 that's been just sitting on a shelf for a long time. I will need to get a new battery for it, but you've inspired me to give it a try again! I seem to remember that it took some pretty nice infrared images when used with a filter!
@@DinoBytes Well you might be able to help. I just got the battery and got it charged. but I can't seem to get it to take a picture. Everything else seems to work fine. Formatted an old card, but when in shooting mode, nothing is on the screen. I hit the shutter and the flash fires, but no picture is taken. So it might no longer work after 20 something years... going to see if I can find a manual online. but it doesn't look good.
@@ToddJacksonPhotography I've seen some cameras do this. It's possible the sensor has broken entirely, or there's something wrong with the live view. Try blindly taking a photo and see if it playsback on screen, or if there's a working file on the card when you read it.
@@DinoBytes I tried it again and I got very dark blue color grids, and then it went away and could not review it any longer. I think you are right and it's the sensor. Well I got a new battery for it, guess I'll have to keep an eye out for a used one. Thanks for the reply, most appreciated! I've been enjoying this channel and all your videos for years!
@@ToddJacksonPhotography thanks! It's unfortunate, but not unusual. I've actually had quite a low success rate with random PowerShot G's that I've bought off eBay untested, about 50 / 50, but equally I've not spent more than £30 on each.
Had Pentax 5MP something back then. A Today's Special Value on THE shopping Channel. Ah, Friday nights in the young family fast lane. £500 from memory. Packed up just when the 300D came out, which I still use from time to time for nostalgia.......Thanks for the trip back😊
Nice review as always! The main difference between G1 and G2 is the use of CYGM filter array on G1. In some situations the colors gets funky, but I like.
@@DinoBytes Yes, next time you can compare the CFA(G1,Powershot Pro90, Nikon 990) and Bayer Array from G2, Olympus Camedia series etc. Always thanks for you vintage videos, I watch all videos from your channel.
Nice! Thumbs up for the raw ability, available batteries and charger, cf card a and a nice size compared to the dslr:s back then! Keep up the good work!
Awesome review. I remember drooling over the g5 in What Digital Camera magazine in the early 2000's. G series had great reviews. I'm still using my Canon powershot g9x. It goes everywhere when I don't take my big Canon 5d3 and 6d2 with me. Just pop it in my pocket. Have a good one.
Again, the CCD sensor produces something special from CMOS. I'm keeping my Ixus 330 to bring on holiday, hoping to capture something half as decent as yours.
Nice! I had the G2 and G3 and both are great. Sold the 2 however and kept the 3. Same sensor but a better processor and lens on the G3 and 12 bit RAW vs 10 bit. Also has more features, it's basically an upgraded G2. Love it and still use it on occasion to this day.
Bought one of these as a present to myself on my 21st birthday in January 2002. Still have it, although it needs a new battery and I'm not entirly sure if it still works - I should pick up a new battery/charger and check it out. I personally still love the design and the colour. Have lots of pictures taken with it still on my computer from all those years ago, and it turned me mostly into a lifelong Canon user - I also previously owned a Canon Digital Rebel (EOS 300D) and currently own an EOS 7D and a Powershot G5X.
I had the Black Edition of this Canon G2 almost mint although the Microdrive it came with was not included, such a fun camera to use loved the output it gives also if you guys find a dead G2 sometimes the problem is just the zoom lever the mechanism inside gets disconnected you can just glue it back tho but such a wierd phenomenon that it makes the camera unable to turn on
I bought the G1X in 2013, and loved it. Great quality photos, but the camera was quirky. I borrowed a G11 for a weekend and though it was great too. Canon made great compacts.
Someone remember the casio's exilim line of cameras back in 2008? I remember hiding one of those pocket cameras to record a concert g3 with Joe satriani, Steve vai and eric Johnson concert. Oh man, 720 and 1080p was a dream back then😂
Although I have been an ardent fan of Nikon photography equipment for 13 years, the Canon G series delights me, I even unexpectedly have 4 of their models in my collection (G2, 5, 6 and 12), amazingly well-thought-out cameras. But still, the G2 is "toomuch" retro, slow and I lack resolution (Our national social network supports photos in 5mpx resolution). My favorite is probably the G6 - the fastest, the most accurate and holds great in the hand. I think you will agree that it can be called the last in the classic series, after it, something strange and wrong began to happen.
@@DinoBytes I can see for myself how the secondary market is going crazy around the G12, the price of this model reaches $300-350 (and it is bought!), while the neighboring 11 and 15 barely reach half of this price. That is, even the more modern G15 is not wanted so much.
I never had one of these back in the day. I bought s Sony Cybershot DSC-P120 in black brand new when I was in Austria around 2004/5 and it served me well . The only digital camera I ever bought new .a few years later I bought a second hand Pentax Optio 750z. I still have both of those and they work . I do have a Powershot G5 that I found in a car I bought at auction around 2010 . Still works but I barely use it I mostly shoot film
Thank you for the review Gordon, it looks like a fun camera. Do you know if the latest version of Canon's Digital Photo Professional will open the raw files? I've still got my PowerShot A60, I'll have to get it and see if it still works.
Had access to the D30, (after traveling with a powershot A40 and being somewhat disappointed purchased a used D60 which used where cheap because of the 300D coming out for a much cheaper price than the 10D , which its self was cheaper than the D60) work then decided to move to the G series for their project documentation cameras so got to play with them a lot, not bad though from the G5 onwards we found them a bit flakey reliability wise - with the G5, G6 and G7 all dying just out of warranty with the lenses not extending properly... coming out at an angle and with the G7 and G9 not opening the lens cover :( -
I have had one of these for 22 years now. Good as new, works perfectly. Your writing of the era may have contributed to my choice :D I paid around 400€ for it since it was a freshly discontinued model. I've been using it again this past year since about the time i saw your G1 review. Found a 2G Sandisk and 512M Lexar cards in my card drawer, both work. Installed a new Cameron Sino main battery and replaced the clock battery. If you're into old cameras, keep in mind the page CCD Sensor Problems in Consumer Imaging Products from Imaging Resource and do not buy any of the cameras listed there unless they have been factory serviced. Unfortunately, the affected sensors had the highest dynamic range and lowest self-noise in the era around 2003, so all the remaining cameras from the affected era are sort of worthless junk, and all the good ones are from before and after. G1 is a weird one though. Instead of the usual Bayer GRGB sensor like on the G2 and just about anything else, it uses a CYGM one, i wonder about that.
I have also just tried my older camera a Sanyo VPC-Z400. This is the weirdest camera i own. To combat weak batteries of the time and weak CCFL backlight, it has a window through which you can power the LCD with the sun, you simply point the top of the camera at the sun and it floods the backlight prism. The lens is also spring loaded, fixing the issue that when the batteries ran out, most of those cameras based on Sierra Imaging chipset and firmware were unable to retract the lens, so you can just cap it over regardless and aren't running around with it vulnerable. The lens has a strong barrel distortion but is otherwise not entirely terrible. But time hasn't been kind to it, now all the buttons and endstop switches are oxidised and not working reliably and there's interference on the screen when the lens motors are running, indicating electrolytic capacitor faults. G2 is free of all these issues, it works like the day i bought it. I also had to buy a new cardreader to use my G2 and other classic cameras. My last cardreader got some CF socket damage, bent pins. When i restored the pins with precision tweezers, the CF slot still wasn't working, must be latch-up damage on the chip from wrong pins touching. This black-silver wedge shaped Hama cardreader was full of issues anyway, cheap garbage, mostly it's the quality of the sockets but the soldering is hideous as well. The CF slot is very shallow, which is not ideal. I dug around and found my old transparent blue Hama from 20+ years ago and that was throwing errors with my relatively new CF cards, i even thought my cards were shot. I dug around and found an internal cardreader that i extracted from a Fujitsu-Siemens 2006 era computer, tried that, you can imagine it took some effort, and it did work, but very slowly. Then i went to a photo store and bought an exact blue transparent Hama cardreader just like the one i had prior, Taiwanese made, not mainland China, and it works WONDERFULLY. Maybe newer chip, newer firmware, same good sockets looks like.
thanks for your comments and memories! Yes, many of these older cameras fail in different ways, so for me it's more about having fun - and recycling - rather than chasing a unicorn image quality. My old Sony F1 has a transflective screen that looks best of all in direct sunlight!
@@DinoBytes I have 3 cameras that died of sensor pest, a Canon Powershot S1 IS and two periscope-lens pocket Minolta Dimage ones, X20 i think and something else. Pentax Optio W10 waterproof camera with horizontally packaged periscope lens had its battery balloon up in it, and i seem to have dinged the screen backlight while extracting the battery, not sure what to do about it, whether it shares screen with bonded on flatflex with some cheaper Optio. It was so easy to run around with because it boots quickly and the transflective screen dealt adequately with extreme amount of sunlight, just a great adventure/action camera which shoots beautiful pictures with punchy colour.
I picked one of these up ( I honestly can't remember if it was a G1 or a G2) in a thrift shop priced at about $7.00 Canadian. Then put it back on the shelf because it had no battery and no way to tell if it even worked. Been kicking myself ever since asking myself for just $7 why didn't I take a chance on it?
Great video as usual! It is surely a coincidence, but the dancing people in the video somehow match the music 😂 16:22 you say it, my man, you say it. It took me a while to get some older cameras for reasonable prices, not like 300 € for a Sony F707...like some for real wanted 🙄
Thanks! I was photographing the sunset while about a hundred people were having a silent disco around me! PS - yes, it's about patience these days, I have alerts on eBay set for all the models I'm after and eventually one appears at a reasonable price.
Yes, the alerts are useful, often however one still must be very quick with highly demanded models. I once saw an Sony F828 with no accessories offered for 160 €, I tried several more reasonable price offers, but the seller declined. After several reposts he sold it for 89 € to someone else, lol. I got a much better deal later, 84 € for a F828 with several cards, flash, IR lamp, charger, bag and book.
I got mine in 2002, because, as you said, the 10D, and even the 300D, were out of reach moneywise. Frustratingly long power on to shot timings made me lose many shots if it happened to be turned off. That was thoroughly resolved when Nikon launched the D70 for us consumers, two years later. Also the most affordable in that regard.
@@VietnameseCosmonaut I might do at some point, but my priority is to make videos about cameras before I started on UA-cam, so pretty much pre-2006 for now.
I’m fascinated to know what will be the CCD sensor of the future - the tech people refuse to accept has been surpassed. Will we suddenly decide that they don’t make IBIS like they did in the 2020s, or that actually rolling shutter is retro and really desirable?
Ha ha ha! I know what you mean. I don't believe CCD is the holy grail many people think it is. It's just a bit different, and sadly in many cases worse as the tech has deteriorated over time. Certainly when CCD was mature and CMOS was new, the former looked better for photos, but now CMOS is way ahead.
My brother still has this camera. He got ot when it was released in college. 🤔 Actually he has the G3 b/c the grip was changed. My cousin has the G1. We all went to the same college and the G2, I think was the worst of the G1/G3. Classmates had some problems back then and our school replaced them with the G3. I was given the S1is. Battery hog of a camera.
Agreed on later G series prices are nuts. I gave my mom a G12 about 12 years ago because it was only worth maybe a hundred bucks. She barely used it and after she passes away I took it back for nostalgia. Looking at the prices now? Selling it for inheritance and my mom would be the first to say "Sell it!" Like if someone wants to pay $500 for it? Sold. 😂 But to me its worth maybe a hundred bucks at best, probably less.
If you can put in a working battery and card, you can sell it as working and get a premium price for it. But yes for me, I'd struggle to pay more than about £50 for any in this series.
@@DinoBytes The G16 was pretty amazing. Maaaaaaaay for that one i would pay $100 CAD for but thats about it. All those G1X things are so big you may as well have a small rebel DSLR instead.
I picked up this camera in mint condition fully working for $15 , its amazing for G2 camera it can take awesome pictures at only 146 megabytes per picture , you can take pictures and total darkness and you wouldn't even know it from the Pic.The flash sync sequence is perfect , I have a 32GB CF card I can take 999 pictures lol you wouldn't know if it was taken with a 4 megapixel or a 16 or 20 megapixel camera , it takes better pictures than my Nikon j 1 at 16 Megapixel , obviously Cannon put all their R&D Research into the picture Development Technology if you come across this camera don't look to take awesome video , You want to take awesome pics this is the camera ...
I think the clamour to get a Fuji X100V has ignited the whole compact camera market. Like you say, cameras like a Canon G16 (which you could bag for a hundred quid a few years ago) are going for 300-400 quid today. That's just ridiculous, considering you can get an immaculate 5D Mk2 body for that sort of money, and I just grabbed a 5D "classic" from MPB for £200. I can't justify spending more on an old Compact camera than a 5D mk1, because no "vintage" compact can match a 5D with a nifty-fifty on it.
I bought the original 5D and loved it at the time, but I feel it's become a bit of a unicorn, with people's expectations and memories being a bit higher than perhaps it deserves. I'm going to buy one and retest it to see if it lives up to its current expectations! I recall the sensor being noisier than I expected and the screen being quite dim, but we'll see! Equally though, you're right, it's still going to thrash any digicam!
I remember these G series cameras were quite well regarded among Macro photographers. Its a shame these high end compact cameras have almost all died out in recent years with now only Leica, Fuji and Ricoh still putting any effort into making fixed lens compacts while Sony(RX) seem to be on their way out and Canon completely abandoning the segment.
Yeah, it's amazing how the demand isn't being addressed. That said, the recycler in me does like seeing loads of old digicams enjoying a second or third life!
Trying out the Canon PowerShot G2, 23 years after it was launched!
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00:00 - Canon PowerShot G2 intro
01:49 - Canon PowerShot G2 design and controls
05:10 - Canon PowerShot G2 viewfinder and screen
05:37 - Canon PowerShot G2 memory card slot
06:02 - Canon PowerShot G2 ports
06:49 - Canon PowerShot G2 battery
07:29 - Canon PowerShot G2 lens
08:37 - Canon PowerShot G2 sensor vs G1
09:29 - Canon PowerShot G2 ISO and noise test
10:59 - Canon PowerShot G2 using it today
11:31 - Canon PowerShot G2 RAW files
11:58 - Canon PowerShot G2 sample images and videos
14:29 - Canon PowerShot G2 verdict 23 years later!
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I love this series!
Thanks, many more to come!
Raw, F2.0 lens, CCD sensor, flip out screen, what's not to love. I own two of them!
Hope you still take them out!
I worked at a camera store in 2002, and whenever we needed to grab a camera from the display case to shoot something around the store, with all of the different makes and models we carried to choose from, we nearly always grabbed the G2. The only times it wasn't the first choice was when we needed very close focusing or a longer focal length, something the G2 required time-consuming accessory attachments to achieve.
Nice to hear! It was - and still is - a feature packed camera...
Paid $12 CAD for a G2 back in 2019 and got free shipping which cost the seller $14. So they lost money. Put a battery in it. Works as good as new. Amazing camera.
You beat me, that's an amazing price!
The vintage video aesthetic look of the new Kodak Super 8 at a fraction of the cost 😂
I know, right, I actually quite like it!
23 years ago I had the worlds smallest 3.2MP camera, Pentax optio 330 iirc , I got it in Canada when I was 16, still have it today and it still works , long life cf cards
Pentax did some great models, I need to include some in these reviews...
Perfect timing. I've just bought one from eBay in perfect condition and am really excited to try it out!
Nice one! How much did you pay?
@@DinoBytes 70€ with shipping. I need a replacement battery before I take it out because the original one is nearly dead. Other than that it looks like it was never used.
I love these retro-review videos, thanks!
Thanks for watching!
Bought my G2 new in 2001 and still have it (it's working as well as when new). Lovely little camera then, and lovely little camera now.
I recently took out my G6 to some local events and loved taking photos with it, gorgeous little camera with everything I'd want in a retro digicam. I've mostly kept to using it as a point and shot (using PASM modes here and there) just to stay in the moment and relive the memories I had as a child growing up with CCD cameras. Great video and I'm looking forward to seeing more retro reviews!
Glad to hear it's still getting some use!
My first powershot was the A95. I progressed onto the G7, both of which i still have from new! These were massive upgrades to my first digital compacts that i had like the 1.3mp Fuji Finepix 1300!
It really is crazy now, looking back on cameras seen as vintage when we were buying the latest and greatest at the time! I Remember jumping on DP Review to read of the newest upgrade to sensors, iso, megapixels etc.
Lovely to see these cameras getting an outing again, despite the creeping prices. Nostalgia, eh?
Great video; thankyou!
You're welcome, I still have an S90 and S95 too!
Excellent video. Smooth and knowledgeable presentation. I bought my G2 23 years ago and still using it. Although I have other DSLRs the G2 still produces excellent A4 prints.
Thanks, and glad to hear you're still using it!
The G2 was my second digicam. My first digicam was an Olympus C700, which had a super slow 10x zoom lens with a horrible chromatic aberration issue. The Canon was huge upgrade over the Olympus. I ultimately ended up selling the G2 and getting the EOS 10D and the rest is history lol. Love this series, Gordon. Keep it up
Thanks! I have a 10x Olympus in my queue of cameras to re review; I hope it won't be too traumatic for you!
one of my favorite cameras ever! Too bad mine has a few stuck pixels.
Sorry to hear that! You could always try to bag a replacement - I still can't believe you can get them on eBay for less than £30 when later models are hundreds.
Nice one! I only used my fire department's G1 a couple of times but it already felt ancient in 2009 and it was retired shortly after.
Yeah after 8 years it'd just feel old and basic. At least 10 years after that it can enjoy some vintage forgiveness!
Thanks for the video, Gordon. Made me pull out my old G2 and start charging the cheap replacement battery, which probably isn't great anymore. I found the same CF card you use in my camera. Looking forward to find out, if there is still something on it. My camera even still has the original silver lens cap, dangling by a string, and the original silver neck strap. No remote control or original battery charger however.
Definitely worth considering a new battery for it, as it's a classic. If it works you'd be able to sell it for a decent amount as a working model, to better still, start using it again!
This was a wonderful video! By sheer coincidence, I brought my G2 out of mothballs recently after purchasing it used - 20 years ago! For the whole of September I have been shooting with nothing else, and it has really sparked joy in my photography again. It's been over a decade since I last used it, and it is very different to my regular EDC camera - itself a vintage digicam (Lumix LX-7). It's been wonderful capturing the world in Canon colours (that really is a thing, isn't it?). Definitely going to use the G2 more often in future. I've nicknamed it The Silver Brick.
Thanks! Glad you're using yours again!
I just bought one of these and re-watched, and subscribed. I used to use a primitive Leica/Panasonic way back when, until I dropped it. Looking forward to playing around with this beast.
Thanks for watching and hope you enjoy it - I think it's really good for the money, so long as it's less than $50 or £50!
I LOVE THESE! It’s so cool to see how we’ve come and old cameras still work fine at making images. Videos such as these are such a cure to GAS (gear acquisition syndrome). I hope to see many more!! Can you do the Nikon D40 sometime?
I actually reviewed the D40 on my main channel when it first came out - see ua-cam.com/video/wkB2nK0qQUM/v-deo.html but forgive the quality as it was 17 years ago! For this channel, I'm concentrating on making videos about cameras that predate my main channel and UA-cam, so pre-2006 mostly.
@@DinoBytes thanks for the blast from the past. Incidentally I had commented on the D40 video 14 years ago and had forgotten about it. What a blast from the past! Thanks for all the good memories and I look forward for more content!
@@LiquidTurbo ha ha, that's brilliant! Hope you watched it all again!
I got one a few months ago and I love it! need new battery and charger but love it nonetheless. Love the colors that come out of this camera
Hope you get it working!
Well you made me pull out my G3 that's been just sitting on a shelf for a long time. I will need to get a new battery for it, but you've inspired me to give it a try again! I seem to remember that it took some pretty nice infrared images when used with a filter!
Let me know how you get on!
@@DinoBytes Well you might be able to help. I just got the battery and got it charged. but I can't seem to get it to take a picture. Everything else seems to work fine. Formatted an old card, but when in shooting mode, nothing is on the screen. I hit the shutter and the flash fires, but no picture is taken. So it might no longer work after 20 something years... going to see if I can find a manual online. but it doesn't look good.
@@ToddJacksonPhotography I've seen some cameras do this. It's possible the sensor has broken entirely, or there's something wrong with the live view. Try blindly taking a photo and see if it playsback on screen, or if there's a working file on the card when you read it.
@@DinoBytes I tried it again and I got very dark blue color grids, and then it went away and could not review it any longer. I think you are right and it's the sensor. Well I got a new battery for it, guess I'll have to keep an eye out for a used one. Thanks for the reply, most appreciated! I've been enjoying this channel and all your videos for years!
@@ToddJacksonPhotography thanks! It's unfortunate, but not unusual. I've actually had quite a low success rate with random PowerShot G's that I've bought off eBay untested, about 50 / 50, but equally I've not spent more than £30 on each.
This was my very first digital camera, absolutely loved it! From this I went to the G3, and G5 was my last.
Was the G5 your last digital camera, or last in this series? I actually have a working G3 and G5 waiting for future videos, so look out for them!
I had a G2 for several years and I got great use out of it. I even printed a few pictures from it at 13X17 inches.
It's surprising how big the images could be printed, but I don't think I went beyond 10x8. Good effort!
Fantastic review !! Love it.
Thankyou!
Had Pentax 5MP something back then. A Today's Special Value on THE shopping Channel. Ah, Friday nights in the young family fast lane. £500 from memory. Packed up just when the 300D came out, which I still use from time to time for nostalgia.......Thanks for the trip back😊
You're welcome, I must get some casios soon...
Nice review as always! The main difference between G1 and G2 is the use of CYGM filter array on G1. In some situations the colors gets funky, but I like.
Yeah, I should have mentioned the CFA was different...
@@DinoBytes Yes, next time you can compare the CFA(G1,Powershot Pro90, Nikon 990) and Bayer Array from G2, Olympus Camedia series etc. Always thanks for you vintage videos, I watch all videos from your channel.
@@gerworks Thankyou! I'm actually testing the Nikon 990 as we speak...
Nice!
Thumbs up for the raw ability, available batteries and charger, cf card a and a nice size compared to the dslr:s back then!
Keep up the good work!
Thanks, it had a lot going for it!
The pics looks fine for today
I think so
Awesome review. I remember drooling over the g5 in What Digital Camera magazine in the early 2000's. G series had great reviews. I'm still using my Canon powershot g9x. It goes everywhere when I don't take my big Canon 5d3 and 6d2 with me. Just pop it in my pocket. Have a good one.
Thanks! I have a G3 and G5 waiting for me on my desk as we speak!
Great Video! Awesome camera! Thank you!!
Thanks!
The 4mp sensor in The G2, S400, S45 is amazing. I have an S45 and it still surprises me.
Yes, it still makes very usable images, and so many cameras had one, there's loads out there. no need to pay through the nose!
Again, the CCD sensor produces something special from CMOS. I'm keeping my Ixus 330 to bring on holiday, hoping to capture something half as decent as yours.
Thanks! Hope you have great trip!
Nice! I had the G2 and G3 and both are great. Sold the 2 however and kept the 3. Same sensor but a better processor and lens on the G3 and 12 bit RAW vs 10 bit. Also has more features, it's basically an upgraded G2. Love it and still use it on occasion to this day.
Nice one! I have a working G3, and G5, waiting for my attention! But probably that COOLPIX 990 first...
Loving this series Gordon, keep them coming. I have playing around with Sony's MicroMV format Handycams recently inc the Sony DCR-IP45E
Thanks! Yeah, I wonder if I should include some camcorders... I would need to get an old computer working with firewire though.
@@DinoBytes I have a modern desktop with a firewire card and an older 2003 HP laptop with Windows XP and firewire.
@@Raptor50aus always good to keep them going!
Bought one of these as a present to myself on my 21st birthday in January 2002. Still have it, although it needs a new battery and I'm not entirly sure if it still works - I should pick up a new battery/charger and check it out. I personally still love the design and the colour. Have lots of pictures taken with it still on my computer from all those years ago, and it turned me mostly into a lifelong Canon user - I also previously owned a Canon Digital Rebel (EOS 300D) and currently own an EOS 7D and a Powershot G5X.
If it's not been knocked around, I'd say there's a good chance it'll work with a charged battery. Your original battery may not charge now though
This was my first digital camera coming from a Pentax ME-Super. I've been a Canon shooter ever since.
Nice! I loved the ME Super and still have my MX
I had the Black Edition of this Canon G2 almost mint although the Microdrive it came with was not included, such a fun camera to use loved the output it gives also if you guys find a dead G2 sometimes the problem is just the zoom lever the mechanism inside gets disconnected you can just glue it back tho but such a wierd phenomenon that it makes the camera unable to turn on
Thanks, that's a good tip!
I bought the G1X in 2013, and loved it. Great quality photos, but the camera was quirky. I borrowed a G11 for a weekend and though it was great too. Canon made great compacts.
They were nice...
Reminds me of my first digital camera, the Canon S40
Yes, the S series were a nice smaller option
Someone remember the casio's exilim line of cameras back in 2008? I remember hiding one of those pocket cameras to record a concert g3 with Joe satriani, Steve vai and eric Johnson concert. Oh man, 720 and 1080p was a dream back then😂
I do remember the exilims and keep meaning to properly document the Casio story.
Although I have been an ardent fan of Nikon photography equipment for 13 years, the Canon G series delights me, I even unexpectedly have 4 of their models in my collection (G2, 5, 6 and 12), amazingly well-thought-out cameras. But still, the G2 is "toomuch" retro, slow and I lack resolution (Our national social network supports photos in 5mpx resolution). My favorite is probably the G6 - the fastest, the most accurate and holds great in the hand. I think you will agree that it can be called the last in the classic series, after it, something strange and wrong began to happen.
Nice collection! I hope to re-review ALL of the PowerShot G cameras, and I have the first few, but the later ones are becoming a bit expensive...
@@DinoBytes I can see for myself how the secondary market is going crazy around the G12, the price of this model reaches $300-350 (and it is bought!), while the neighboring 11 and 15 barely reach half of this price. That is, even the more modern G15 is not wanted so much.
@@ARIMF I know, it's mad. I really want to debunk this side of the market, none of them are worth that much.
Think that lens was also used on the odd Casio digicam of that time.
Very likely, it was on a lot of cameras!
I never had one of these back in the day. I bought s Sony Cybershot DSC-P120 in black brand new when I was in Austria around 2004/5 and it served me well . The only digital camera I ever bought new .a few years later I bought a second hand Pentax Optio 750z. I still have both of those and they work . I do have a Powershot G5 that I found in a car I bought at auction around 2010 . Still works but I barely use it I mostly shoot film
You should've filmed the whole review on that camera
Yeah... maybe!
Thank you for the review Gordon, it looks like a fun camera. Do you know if the latest version of Canon's Digital Photo Professional will open the raw files?
I've still got my PowerShot A60, I'll have to get it and see if it still works.
Not sure about DPP, certainly an older version would though.
@@DinoBytes thank you 👍
I still have a camera like this.
Do you still use it?
Had access to the D30, (after traveling with a powershot A40 and being somewhat disappointed purchased a used D60 which used where cheap because of the 300D coming out for a much cheaper price than the 10D , which its self was cheaper than the D60) work then decided to move to the G series for their project documentation cameras so got to play with them a lot, not bad though from the G5 onwards we found them a bit flakey reliability wise - with the G5, G6 and G7 all dying just out of warranty with the lenses not extending properly... coming out at an angle and with the G7 and G9 not opening the lens cover :( -
I hope the Olympus E-1 and Nikon D200 are on your backlog.
Yes! I'm keeping an eye open for an affordable E1 and should redo the D200 before Christmas
I have had one of these for 22 years now. Good as new, works perfectly. Your writing of the era may have contributed to my choice :D I paid around 400€ for it since it was a freshly discontinued model. I've been using it again this past year since about the time i saw your G1 review. Found a 2G Sandisk and 512M Lexar cards in my card drawer, both work. Installed a new Cameron Sino main battery and replaced the clock battery.
If you're into old cameras, keep in mind the page CCD Sensor Problems in Consumer Imaging Products from Imaging Resource and do not buy any of the cameras listed there unless they have been factory serviced. Unfortunately, the affected sensors had the highest dynamic range and lowest self-noise in the era around 2003, so all the remaining cameras from the affected era are sort of worthless junk, and all the good ones are from before and after.
G1 is a weird one though. Instead of the usual Bayer GRGB sensor like on the G2 and just about anything else, it uses a CYGM one, i wonder about that.
I have also just tried my older camera a Sanyo VPC-Z400. This is the weirdest camera i own. To combat weak batteries of the time and weak CCFL backlight, it has a window through which you can power the LCD with the sun, you simply point the top of the camera at the sun and it floods the backlight prism. The lens is also spring loaded, fixing the issue that when the batteries ran out, most of those cameras based on Sierra Imaging chipset and firmware were unable to retract the lens, so you can just cap it over regardless and aren't running around with it vulnerable. The lens has a strong barrel distortion but is otherwise not entirely terrible.
But time hasn't been kind to it, now all the buttons and endstop switches are oxidised and not working reliably and there's interference on the screen when the lens motors are running, indicating electrolytic capacitor faults. G2 is free of all these issues, it works like the day i bought it.
I also had to buy a new cardreader to use my G2 and other classic cameras. My last cardreader got some CF socket damage, bent pins. When i restored the pins with precision tweezers, the CF slot still wasn't working, must be latch-up damage on the chip from wrong pins touching. This black-silver wedge shaped Hama cardreader was full of issues anyway, cheap garbage, mostly it's the quality of the sockets but the soldering is hideous as well. The CF slot is very shallow, which is not ideal. I dug around and found my old transparent blue Hama from 20+ years ago and that was throwing errors with my relatively new CF cards, i even thought my cards were shot. I dug around and found an internal cardreader that i extracted from a Fujitsu-Siemens 2006 era computer, tried that, you can imagine it took some effort, and it did work, but very slowly. Then i went to a photo store and bought an exact blue transparent Hama cardreader just like the one i had prior, Taiwanese made, not mainland China, and it works WONDERFULLY. Maybe newer chip, newer firmware, same good sockets looks like.
thanks for your comments and memories! Yes, many of these older cameras fail in different ways, so for me it's more about having fun - and recycling - rather than chasing a unicorn image quality. My old Sony F1 has a transflective screen that looks best of all in direct sunlight!
@@DinoBytes I have 3 cameras that died of sensor pest, a Canon Powershot S1 IS and two periscope-lens pocket Minolta Dimage ones, X20 i think and something else.
Pentax Optio W10 waterproof camera with horizontally packaged periscope lens had its battery balloon up in it, and i seem to have dinged the screen backlight while extracting the battery, not sure what to do about it, whether it shares screen with bonded on flatflex with some cheaper Optio. It was so easy to run around with because it boots quickly and the transflective screen dealt adequately with extreme amount of sunlight, just a great adventure/action camera which shoots beautiful pictures with punchy colour.
@@SianaGearz sorry for your losses!
I say the photos look pretty darn good. And it sure is a lot faster and cheaper than an old 35 mm point and shoot.
Definitely!
My first digital camera was a Kodak MC3. Video, photo and MP3 player in one! Lol
Nice!
I picked one of these up ( I honestly can't remember if it was a G1 or a G2) in a thrift shop priced at about $7.00 Canadian. Then put it back on the shelf because it had no battery and no way to tell if it even worked. Been kicking myself ever since asking myself for just $7 why didn't I take a chance on it?
I sometimes take common batteries to places I know they'll have a bunch of old cameras, just in case!
I always enjoy shooting with older cameras like these
My trusty Kodak has a certain charm to it that my new cameras just can’t match
Glad you're still using them!
Great video as usual! It is surely a coincidence, but the dancing people in the video somehow match the music 😂
16:22 you say it, my man, you say it. It took me a while to get some older cameras for reasonable prices, not like 300 € for a Sony F707...like some for real wanted 🙄
Thanks! I was photographing the sunset while about a hundred people were having a silent disco around me! PS - yes, it's about patience these days, I have alerts on eBay set for all the models I'm after and eventually one appears at a reasonable price.
Yes, the alerts are useful, often however one still must be very quick with highly demanded models.
I once saw an Sony F828 with no accessories offered for 160 €, I tried several more reasonable price offers, but the seller declined. After several reposts he sold it for 89 € to someone else, lol. I got a much better deal later, 84 € for a F828 with several cards, flash, IR lamp, charger, bag and book.
I got mine in 2002, because, as you said, the 10D, and even the 300D, were out of reach moneywise.
Frustratingly long power on to shot timings made me lose many shots if it happened to be turned off.
That was thoroughly resolved when Nikon launched the D70 for us consumers, two years later.
Also the most affordable in that regard.
Yep, the startup times weren't great.
Please do a video on the Canon Powershot G10!
I already did on my main channel 15 years ago! See ua-cam.com/video/kHcI7Doc6v8/v-deo.html
@@DinoBytes oh my god! but do it 15 years later if you can.....!?
@@VietnameseCosmonaut I might do at some point, but my priority is to make videos about cameras before I started on UA-cam, so pretty much pre-2006 for now.
@@DinoBytes ok, but your videos is extremely well-made!
My earliest G is the G7 at 10 Mp, which I still have.
Nice! I hope you still use it!
@@DinoBytes no, unfortunately too many cameras. The camera that would take its place is my Ricoh GR3.
Great video, as usual. Funny that if you post those pictures on Instagram, no one will notice that they were taken with a 23 yo camera!
Exactly! And if I posted the video files, they'd love the aesthetic!
I’m fascinated to know what will be the CCD sensor of the future - the tech people refuse to accept has been surpassed. Will we suddenly decide that they don’t make IBIS like they did in the 2020s, or that actually rolling shutter is retro and really desirable?
Ha ha ha! I know what you mean. I don't believe CCD is the holy grail many people think it is. It's just a bit different, and sadly in many cases worse as the tech has deteriorated over time. Certainly when CCD was mature and CMOS was new, the former looked better for photos, but now CMOS is way ahead.
my first serious digital compact was a small 4MP Contax i4R and Ii still regret I sold it .
See if you can track one down on eBay
@@DinoBytes Oh there's plenty allright, but they ask over 400 dollar, that is why I regret I sold it TOO SOON 😂😂
new video yayyyyyy.
Glad you're here!
@@DinoBytes I always set your channel to notify me
@@wizard1515 thanks! I think Sanyo made a lot of the innards back then
I must confess, I'm a geek and love old cameras. The photos on this camera were fine. However, video is a different matter😮
I kinda like that video style!
@@DinoBytes fair enough.
My brother still has this camera. He got ot when it was released in college.
🤔 Actually he has the G3 b/c the grip was changed.
My cousin has the G1.
We all went to the same college and the G2, I think was the worst of the G1/G3. Classmates had some problems back then and our school replaced them with the G3. I was given the S1is. Battery hog of a camera.
interesting content as usual :)
Thanks!
😱🥳🥳🥰
Agreed on later G series prices are nuts. I gave my mom a G12 about 12 years ago because it was only worth maybe a hundred bucks. She barely used it and after she passes away I took it back for nostalgia. Looking at the prices now? Selling it for inheritance and my mom would be the first to say "Sell it!" Like if someone wants to pay $500 for it? Sold. 😂 But to me its worth maybe a hundred bucks at best, probably less.
If you can put in a working battery and card, you can sell it as working and get a premium price for it. But yes for me, I'd struggle to pay more than about £50 for any in this series.
@@DinoBytes The G16 was pretty amazing. Maaaaaaaay for that one i would pay $100 CAD for but thats about it. All those G1X things are so big you may as well have a small rebel DSLR instead.
I wish I retained my Olympus C-8080 camera.
Nice camera, but you can pick them up on eBay
I picked up this camera in mint condition fully working for $15 , its amazing for G2 camera it can take awesome pictures at only 146 megabytes per picture , you can take pictures and total darkness and you wouldn't even know it from the Pic.The flash sync sequence is perfect , I have a 32GB CF card I can take 999 pictures lol you wouldn't know if it was taken with a 4 megapixel or a 16 or 20 megapixel camera , it takes better pictures than my Nikon j 1 at 16 Megapixel , obviously Cannon put all their R&D Research into the picture Development Technology if you come across this camera don't look to take awesome video , You want to take awesome pics this is the camera ...
It's one of my favourites and still available at decent prices
I think the clamour to get a Fuji X100V has ignited the whole compact camera market. Like you say, cameras like a Canon G16 (which you could bag for a hundred quid a few years ago) are going for 300-400 quid today. That's just ridiculous, considering you can get an immaculate 5D Mk2 body for that sort of money, and I just grabbed a 5D "classic" from MPB for £200.
I can't justify spending more on an old Compact camera than a 5D mk1, because no "vintage" compact can match a 5D with a nifty-fifty on it.
I bought the original 5D and loved it at the time, but I feel it's become a bit of a unicorn, with people's expectations and memories being a bit higher than perhaps it deserves. I'm going to buy one and retest it to see if it lives up to its current expectations! I recall the sensor being noisier than I expected and the screen being quite dim, but we'll see! Equally though, you're right, it's still going to thrash any digicam!
I remember these G series cameras were quite well regarded among Macro photographers. Its a shame these high end compact cameras have almost all died out in recent years with now only Leica, Fuji and Ricoh still putting any effort into making fixed lens compacts while Sony(RX) seem to be on their way out and Canon completely abandoning the segment.
Smartphones killed them off unfortunatley
Yeah, it's amazing how the demand isn't being addressed. That said, the recycler in me does like seeing loads of old digicams enjoying a second or third life!
Wow. This guy sure knows his stuff, he should think about a career in camera reviews.
Not sure he could hack it for long!