Canon PowerShot G1 X - a compact for the dedicated DSLR enthusiast

DSLRs vs mirrorless cameras. I share my experience.

The topic of mirrorless cameras has now become very relevant and is actively discussed in numerous reviews. Everyone is assured that mirrorless cameras are our future, and SLR cameras are becoming a thing of the past along with film cameras. Next I will tell you why this is obvious nonsense.

I will share my experience. I shot with Canon DSLRs for 15 years: first 300D, then 5D mark II and III. I currently shoot with a Canon EOS R, am also selling a Panasonic G7 and recently bought a Fuji X-T20.

How did it all start?

My first acquaintance with mirrorless cameras happened at the Photomob 2017 exhibition. Such events are exactly what you need in order to broaden your horizons and discover something new. There I was able to touch mirrorless cameras from Sony, Panasonic, Olympus and they did not make an impression on me. Or rather, even then I was amazed by the example of Sony, how it was possible to make such inconvenient and expensive cameras.

At the same time, they gave me a Panasonic GH5 to test, which also did not impress me. There were feelings - well, yes, 4k 60fps and what? A double crop sensor that produces mediocre photos for $2000. The lenses are at the price of full-frame ones, and the electronic viewfinder and autofocus system are in no way conducive to serious photography.

A year later, I decided to try 4K video with the purchase of a Panasonic G7 and was very pleasantly surprised that for the money you can get such a detailed video. The 4K format is very convenient for editing and production work. Primarily for video reviews. Plus, the Panasonic G7 has an extremely convenient rotating touch screen, which is indispensable for video reviews.

At the same time, for most of my work I used the Canon 5D mark III and did not see a replacement for it. And I’ll still tell you, if you seriously take photographs and don’t shoot video, don’t even look towards mirrorless cameras .

In 2018, they announced the new Canon R system, which seemed exorbitantly expensive and pointless to me at the time. I looked towards the Canon 5D mark IV, but did not see any real advantages in it compared to the mark3. In terms of video, he was very put off by the huge bitrate of 400 Mbit and the 4K crop, in which you can’t wear cropped EF-S lenses.

At the beginning of 2019, I received a Sony A7R II for testing and realized that I no longer wanted to pick up Sony cameras. Review via link.

I recently tested the Fuji X-T3. The camera left a very positive impression, but as a professional camera I cannot consider this technique.

However, I really liked the retro design and photo quality, so I bought myself a junior camera from the previous line - Fuji X-T20 - for photography on vacation and while traveling. A review of the X-T20 will follow.

But the turning point was the Canon EOS R test. Canon, whose products I have been praising for years, deigned to give me equipment for testing. Previously, I only bought, rented or borrowed everything.

I had no intention of switching to mirrorless, it was just curiosity. But once you pick up the Canon R, you realize that everything is serious. Comfortable grip - you don’t feel like you’re holding something unclear. Huge, albeit electronic, viewfinder. Bright screen. In general, everything is only the best. I did not feel the compromises that are present in other previously tested equipment. And most importantly - the matrix is from 5d mark IV, no micro 4/3 and other things. I don’t want to re-review the Canon R here, I’ll just say that I, an inveterate DSLR guy, was captivated by this camera. I realized that this is not a toy, but a real tool for high-quality photos and 4k videos, without the painful shortcomings/shortcomings found in other brands.

The main disadvantage of mirrorless cameras is the viewfinder

The only compromise was and remains the electronic viewfinder. An electronic screen, instead of reflecting reality through a mirror, inevitably creates obstacles in work. When reporting, it slows down your reaction to what is happening and forces you to switch more while shooting. I'm talking about work now, not about taking photos for myself. When shooting in a studio or working with flash, it also causes some difficulties.

What is convenient with such a viewfinder is shooting video, because you can look not only at the screen, but also through the viewfinder, as happens in video cameras. In terms of photography, I’m getting used to it, adjusting and we’ll see... what happens in a year.

I upgraded to the Canon EOS R for the excellent 4K video with autofocus and for the rotating screen. Plus, I'm tired of carrying around the heavy 5d mark III. At the same time, I knew and agreed with the main compromise of mirrorless cameras - the electronic viewfinder. Moreover, reporting does not take first place in my work. For example, in interior photography, a rotating screen is much more important to me than a viewfinder.

I would like to make a reservation; first of all, I am now talking about ease of use. Nowadays almost all cameras take good pictures and for the quality of the photo it doesn’t matter at all whether you shoot with a Canon, Nikon, Fuji or Sony DSLR/mirrorless camera. By the way, raw files from full-frame Sony cameras are the standard for the capabilities of modern cameras.

My idea is that when working, ease of use comes first, not technical parameters, number of fps, etc. In terms of convenience , it is more pleasant to take photographs with DSLRs than with mirrorless cameras . And for professional reportage photographers, they will always be relevant, no matter what reviewers on YouTube and armchair analysts say in the comments to the same reviews.

And also about outdated DSLRs...

Theses about new technologies and the lack of alternative to switching to mirrorless cameras are promoted by brands that have only mirrorless cameras in their lines, these are: Fuji, Sony, Panasonic, Olympus . If you talk to representatives of Canon or Nikon , they will very reasonably explain what DSLRs are for and what mirrorless cameras are for.

They have the opportunity to say this because... They produce any equipment - both mirrorless and DSLR. The first group of companies is limited in their capabilities, which affects their rhetoric.

So, for example, at one exhibition I asked a Nikon representative whether they would be discontinuing their line of SLR cameras. He looked at me strangely and said no, of course not.

You know, I really like Nikon DSLRs for their grip and ergonomics. And by the way, their dynamic range is stronger than Canon. DSLRs are not toys for amateur photography , like compacts from Fuji or Sony that shoot amazing 4K video. It’s just that each technique has its own purpose.

Watch my videos on the topic of choosing DSLRs versus mirrorless cameras:

Do you need to shoot in 4K?

mirrorless through the eyes of a dedicated DSLR enthusiast. maybe it will be useful for someone)

#1 Darkside

I just decided to write a short note about the mirrorless camera - maybe someone will be interested in the experience)

literally 1.5 years ago, foaming at the mouth, he argued that mirrorless cameras are something out of this world. A little time has passed and I am the (proud) owner of a mirrorless camera. Why?

Well, for starters, my experience: there are many more Soviet DSLRs (Kiev 15, 19), rangefinders such as Elektra 119 and Sokol 2.
From the number, I probably changed about a dozen cameras - there is something to compare with - the most significant ones were Canon eos 400d, Canon g12, nikon d5100, have experience with Canon 5d mark2

Despite the fact that I now have a Nikon D5100 - our love, so to speak, “did not work out” - for me Nikon remains a thing in itself, the organization of work - the convenience and logic of work with Canon is personally closer to me - well, it’s already a matter of taste and color .

I need a DSLR for pleasure and reportage shooting and video; it is from this point of view that I share my impressions.

In general, I began to notice that DSLRs (including Nikon) began to irritate me, to put it mildly - the heavy weight and size, first of all.
The magic of the mirror receded in favor of practicality. Yes - quality rules - but it comes at the price of enormous weight and size - I decided for myself that it was not worth it - and the long agony of choosing what to buy began. The last straw was a trip to Turkey, where the rather large Nikon 5100 really got in the way of all sorts of excursions and walks around the city and simply took up a lot of space in the suitcase with all the bells and whistles. And taking into account the unimportant video - which clogs up any flash drive almost instantly - and the quality is clearly not brilliant - I made priorities for myself: 1 Matrix size - 1/1.7″ minimum value.
2 weight - less than 300 grams and such small sizes
3 Video. everyone knows that 1 minute of video, for example, of a Roman amphitheater gives more to a person for perception than 100 photos; especially since the time to take 100 photos must also be taken into account. so: video format is only AVCHD

In terms of parameter 3 alone, all Nikon and Canon cameras were fundamentally unsuitable; only Sony and Panasonic remained. Given my dislike for everything with the Sony inscription (although I won’t scold the mirror matrix of the Nex), the choice fell on Panasonic. The Nex shoots perfectly, but due to the larger matrix, the size is already the size of a whale (if it’s not a pancake) - it doesn’t suit compactness, and the illogicality and confusion of many of the settings hidden in the Nex menu is not criticized only by the lazy - and also because it has flashes Nexes have a problem - they are only external (I don’t take new models into account) then the choice was obvious

so Panasonic Lumix GF3. what is typical is that on the camera, the inscription “Panasonic” is written on the flash body in small print, and Lumix is almost on the floor of the body, the aluminum body fits nicely in a small hand, both in front and behind there are protrusions for a comfortable grip, the camera does not struggle slip out of your hands.

The body is made in Japan, the lens is made in China - as always from Panasonic - a very rich set - including a lens hood and a stylus.

The main highlight of the camera is the touch screen. The only negative is that it is resistive and not capacitive, therefore it only responds to single pressure. speed and responsiveness are acceptable.

Autofocus speed after point-and-shoot cameras is almost instantaneous; in the dark, autofocus sometimes misses, but everything is very, very good.
The GF3's autofocus is the fastest in its class. — there is no loss to DSLRs. serial speed is about 4 frames per second. excellent result!

kit lens 3.5-5.6 - comparable to a kit from amateur Canons - that is, if you don’t find fault, it’s not bad - naturally better than any point-and-shoot cameras. for example, a whale on a Nikon 5100 will be sharper in detail; there is a noticeable drop in sharpness at the edges of the image, but it is within reason. Well, yes, the camera washes the background perfectly; there is no difference with DSLRs in this parameter.

Now the important point is the ISO value and noise. I didn’t expect miracles - and in principle I didn’t get them - about a step lower than DSLRs - and 2-3 steps higher than soap dishes - for example, on my Canon g10 ISO 400 was conditionally working - with Panasonic the same noise starts at ISO 1600. minimum value ISO-160, maximum - 6400. The last and penultimate values - that is, ISO 3200-6400 - pure marketing - noise is unacceptable - colors are knocked out - poor quality is noticeable even on the camera display. ISO 800 is conditionally working. degradation of colors and loss of detail with 100% crop are already noticeable. If you don’t look at the crop, you can safely shoot at ISO 800 and print at 10*15 too. ISO 1600 - well, what can I say - don’t expect miracles - but if necessary, it works and if you don’t require the ringing of Elkov optics and full-frame quality, sometimes it will suit you)))

Naturally, shooting in RAW and RAW+ZHPEG are supported. there is breaking +/- 2Ev in 1/3 step increments - which is also pleasing. 5 levels of clarity and 5 levels of noise reduction. The difference is clearly visible, in general it’s worth mentioning the programmable Fn key - with an assignable action - where you can display any parameter - for example, I displayed the effects settings, from where you can also simply and conveniently adjust color, clarity, noise reduction - everything is done in a fraction of seconds - for this Special thanks to Panasonic.

Touch screen. Those who think that they can do without it, well, they are right in some ways. My girlfriend refused to use it for a long time, believing that “it’s not a weave, but it would be better if they made it like the buttons on my DSLR.” after showing the correct operation of the touch screen, setting up the quick menu (where you can display 8 parameters out of 24 - including burst shooting - metering modes - autofocus, bb), the ability to shoot by pressing the screen - her opinion quickly changed to “convenient”. By the way, regarding shooting by pressing the screen - you click on the desired area of the screen, the device focuses on this area and immediately shoots. The entire operation takes fractions of seconds. The face memory function works - and without any complaints - the device remembers up to 6 faces of different people and automatically focuses on them when they are in the frame. In general, the functionality of the device is extremely rich and varied. Everyone can find something of their own.

Video. Here we can quite limit ourselves to the word - it is good. But I’ll write in a little more detail - the device gives quite a lot of settings for video. The AVCHD mode I mentioned works great. What is characteristic is that the bitrate size for HD and Full HD video is the same, that is, the video will “weigh” the same. MJPEG codec gives a bitrate of 36000 k/bit and mono sound, AVCHD has a bitrate from 19000 k/bit to 8000 k/bit, stereo sound, 256 k/bit. Autofocus works, albeit not very fast, but you can zoom easily while shooting, no problems. There is also a rare function - microphone sensitivity level. It may seem useless to some, but for example, try filming a concert without it. When watching the video, you will only hear wheezing and rumble. Sensitivity indication can be shown on the display.

Battery. everything is simple here - about 600-650 shots, about 15% of them with flash.

The flash is built-in, guide number 6. You can’t expect miracles from it, the camera here is at the level of ordinary point-and-shoot cameras, there are no flash power settings.

Even with the kit, the device still fits in a jacket pocket, has rich functionality and a very inexpensive price - unfortunately, this price is in Russia. Having been to Tsum, I sadly thought that neither good prices nor the fashion for mirrorless cameras had reached us. The shelves are filled with mirrors and soap dishes for crazy money.

Of course, mirrorless is a compromise. But the compromise is better than clumsy ultrazooms with a 50x zoom or top-end compacts. I made my choice. Now a mirrorless camera is my No. 1 device. A DSLR is when you need a sonorous shot “for centuries” and a wow effect

I hope this material will be useful to someone when choosing)

Canon PowerShot G10 - owner reviews

Before buying a Canon PowerShot G10, I would like to read reviews about it from the owners, those people who have already bought and been using the product for some time. On this page you can read customer opinions about the product. After reading the reviews, study the characteristics, look at prices, watch video reviews, select an online store and buy. If you are the owner of this device, then leave your review on the owners forum page. Average price: 2023 rub.

Pros: great camera. If the lighting is good, the pictures turn out great. color rendition is excellent.

Disadvantages: I don’t really like the portrait mode, but if you tinker with the settings you can get a great photo.

Comment: Good camera. Comfortable. Quite high quality photographs. Of course, not a DSLR, but for a point-and-shoot camera the photos are simply wonderful. If they hadn't stolen it from me, I would have continued to use it. I've been using it perfectly for 5 years and not a single comment about it. or rather, it wasn’t.

Pros: Good camera. I've been with him for 5 years already!

Disadvantages: One screw from the bottom cover was unscrewed and lost.

Comment: The photos are good. The device is also extremely suitable for training.

Pros: Wonderful photos and videos.
The battery lasts a long time.
On vacation, if I take photos (usually 100-200) and videos all day long, almost without turning off the camera, the charge lasts for the whole day. Even in the cold. Excellent macro photography.
No chips or scratches in two years.

Disadvantages: In video mode, it is better not to zoom in - terrible noise appears.
Sometimes he doesn't want to focus.

Comment: Great model! Of course, it doesn’t look like professional equipment, but it’s no longer a soap dish. I use it in a variety of conditions, sometimes quite extreme. Together we survived a kayaking trip in pouring rain without a protective cover, wind with sand, sweltering heat and frost.

Advantages: 1. Excellent photos, 2. Good macro mode, 3. Comfortable (fits clearly in the hand, huge screen, solid appearance), 4. Manual settings - at your fingertips))), 5. Capacious battery, 6. Fast operation, 7. wide angle.
. In general, we could list them for a long time. )))

Disadvantages: 1. No rotating display, 2. Very expensive accessories, 3. A little noise in low light 4. Inconvenient optical viewfinder.

Comment: The listed disadvantages are quite minor!
I just fell in love with this device. During the day, the photos are at the level of slightly outdated DSLRs such as 350 Canon and 40 Nikon, or even better (although it’s difficult to compare - 6MP and 15MP). I just started testing it! See photos here - https://club.foto.ru/camera/model.php?mod_ >

Advantages: There are more than enough settings, convenient wheel control, robust body, curtains.

Disadvantages: Too many pixels, noticeable noise even at 200 ISO. The screen greatly embellishes the pictures.

Comment: It’s only good for shooting in manual mode; for automatic shots, it’s stupid to buy - it’s too bulky. ASSEMBLY QUALITY DISAPPOINTED - 2 case screws unscrewed themselves and got lost (the device was used very rarely). IMHO it is better to take an inexpensive DSLR.

Advantages: A wonderful device, it consists of only advantages.

Disadvantages: Video resolution at 30 fps could have been higher.

Comment: I actually wanted to get a DSLR, but the DSLR dimensions really confused me, so I decided to compromise between quality and compactness and bought the G10. I'm happy with the purchase, I don't want a DSLR anymore.

Advantages: Leader in its class. I use it as an addition to a full-format DSLR (Canon 5D). It is very convenient to use. Great lens, LCD screen is amazing. Made decent portraits up to A3.

Disadvantages: The flash is rather weak (although I use it extremely rarely), the video is weak (there is no optical zoom during shooting), the sound is mono.

Comment: An excellent device in its class.

Pros: Color rendition, focusing, ergonomics, number of settings, long battery life. Great camera.

Disadvantages: The price is high, for that amount you can think about buying a DSLR)))

Comment: Not a DSLR, but not a point-and-shoot camera either. If you already have a good understanding of the settings, but you can’t scrape together the money for a DSLR with a good lens, it’s quite enough to produce decent work in capable hands and with a developed imagination)))

Advantages: Excellent picture quality and sharpness at ISO-80, convenient location of external controls, capacious battery, large and clear screen.

Disadvantages: The dynamic range of the image could have been greater. With 15 megapixels on such a matrix it’s still too much - 10 would be enough. Weak video, with such a processor the camera could easily handle FulHD (probably disabled for marketing reasons - we’re waiting for the firmware). When recording video, the microphone picks up a lot of extraneous noise.

Comment: My previous camera was Nikon P5100, with which I could not find mutual understanding and finally, after a year of torment, I got rid of it - unpredictable shooting results, soapy landscapes and terrible brakes.
After the test drive, I concluded that the Canon G10 is an order of magnitude superior to it in all respects, and finally I feel satisfied with my new acquisition! I highly recommend it for those who like to achieve maximum results through a variety of manual settings and RAW, as well as those who don’t want to carry kilograms of mirrors with them.

Pros: I’ve been using it for six months, I’ve tested it in all conditions. Magnificent photographs up to A4, with increased print resolution. So far, nothing better has been found for such dimensions and weight, although I have been looking for it. For the average user, the photo quality is much higher than necessary.

Disadvantages: No disadvantages were found with such dimensions and weight. And of course, there is no need to compare with Hassels and Sinars.

Comment: The biggest advantage is that you can instantly grab the camera from under your outerwear and quickly release the shutter. Super good program “3200”, absolutely instant release and the ability to process images of a different order of quality in essence.

Advantages: 1) many settings
2) exposure wheel (very convenient)
3) high-quality shockproof case (from one and a half meters to the floor with the battery compartment cover - everything is fine, although the battery flew out, but this is because of the spring on the cover)
4) convenient ergonomics (everything is at your fingertips)
5) clear and simple menu
6) noticeable weight (with a hangover it well compensates for hand tremors 🙂 )
7) flash shoe and tripod socket
Long battery life, about 500-600 and even 700 photos without flash ( unless you look at the photo on the screen or shoot through the viewfinder)

Disadvantages: 1) mediocre video, and even only digital zoom, so you can forget about changing the distance to the subject without using your feet
2) annoying green backlight, but you can’t do without it
3) in automatic mode, photos can turn out much worse (especially when low light) than in manual
4) strong noise above ISO400, and sometimes even ISO100 (but this is the case on almost all compacts)
4) quite expensive and rare accessories (battery - more than 2500 rubles, converter adapter - more than 1000 rubles, teleconverter - more than 8000 rubles etc.), so be prepared to invest money and time in searching for accessories

Comment: I have already taken more than 3000 photos.
I am very pleased with the device. With the right hands and a normal head (by the way, the manual is well written, I highly recommend you read it) it shoots perfectly for a compact. Immediately after purchase, you need to purchase a protective film for the screen (a thick one that needs to be cut to fit the shape of the screen), a warm, waterproof case (the metal case gets very cold in winter and warm in summer, and humidity is always bad for equipment), a cleaning pencil with a dust brush for optics and then it will serve you for a long time and will delight you with good photo memories.
🙂 An excellent choice for travelers who value size and weight, like a second camera to a DSLR, and for those who want to try their hand at photography (everything for this is included). If you just click on a button or show off “professional design”, and also if the video is important (for YouTube it is normal), then look for something cheaper.

Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 Canon EF

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Best review

Advantages: — Macro photography scale; — the structure is strong; — the lens is deeply hidden; - lens hood included.

Disadvantages: — loud engine noise; — moving “trunk”

A good macro lens for a beginner DSLR photographer. Focuses quickly and is intuitive. Excellent as a portrait painter. Bye.

Description

Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 Canon EF lens with moisture and dust protection

Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 Canon EF is a lens with unlimited capabilities and decent technical characteristics. This model, like all other representatives of the SP series, has received an improved design, image stabilizer and redesigned electronics.

Execution

The body is made of durable plastic. This fact may upset some buyers, but given the light weight of the product (550 grams) and monolithic design, it becomes clear that the developers have thought through the best option. The oversized focus ring has a tractor-like surface that does not slip. It turns without jerking.

The case is protected from moisture, dust and other phenomena. Rubber pads, which can be seen near the bayonet mount, and an optical design are used as protection. It provides for the movement of the lens, without the need to extend the trunk in the process of aiming at small objects. The face lens does not rotate. For this reason, you can use gradient, polarizing filters.

Tamron SP AF Lens Focusing

Limit - work starts from infinity and up to 45 cm. In the limited position, the accessory can be used for classical purposes - landscapes, portraits, shooting large objects. The maximum magnification is 1:3.
Full – the owner has access to the entire range from 29 cm to infinity. In the full position, you can shoot macro and other scenes. But in this mode, focusing is slow.

The presented device is equipped with a mode switch. To change the automatic mode to manual, you need to pull the ring towards you. This wide-grip item is rubberized and is comfortable to use.

Diaphragm

The maximum aperture here is F/2.8, but it is available in infinity mode. With such an aperture you can take a full-length portrait, a shot up to the waist of a person - at F/3.2. With MDF the result is F/5.6.

Tamron SP AF 90mm F/2.8 Di MACRO 1:1 is a macro lens that performs its main function - controlling the depth of field during shooting. There are 9 aperture blades, which form an interesting and smooth bokeh in the out-of-focus area.

Photo quality

The main characteristic that all users pay attention to is the special sharpness in photographs. There is no distortion here, which is why portrait shots are of high quality. The lens tolerates side and back light. The transition from sharp to unsharp zones is smooth, which is why it is called a gradient. This effect can be seen by taking several frames.

The presented device is perfect for full-frame cameras that shoot 1:1 macro.