Canon PowerShot G5 5-megapixel digital camera

Features
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Supplied Software
Specifications

Features

LCD Monitor:  The Canon PowerShot G5 has a flip-out 1.8" color LCD monitor that can be angled. The LCD monitor can be opened up to 180 degrees, and tilted forward 180 degrees or backward 90 degrees. The monitor can also be rotated, then closed so the LCD can be viewed on the back of the camera without protruding. The LCD monitor allows you to view an image before taking a picture and replay images that have been stored in memory.

Optical Viewfinder: In addition to the LCD monitor, the camera has a "real-image" optical zoom viewfinder. There is a diopter adjustment dial to adapt to your vision so that the subject appears in crisp focus. Note: The viewfinder has a field of vision of approximately 83% of the actual shooting image.

Recording Media: The camera records still images, or moving images with mono audio, on Type I and Type II CompactFlash cards. Still images are recorded in JPEG or RAW format. The movies are recorded in AVI format (Image data: Motion JPEG, Audio data: WAVE (monaural)).

DIGIC Imaging Processor and iSAPS Technology: The PowerShot G5 features the new DIGIC Imaging Processor, for even greater picture quality and faster processing speed. The iSAPS (Intelligent Scene Analysis based on Photographic Space) technology produces more accurate autofocus, auto exposure, and auto white balance.

Image Sensor: For optimal image quality, the camera uses a 1/1.8" CCD image sensor with approximately 5.3-million total pixels and 5-million effective pixels.

Image Resolution/Compression: You can change the resolution and compression settings to suit the purpose of the image you're about to shoot. You can choose from the following resolutions: Large (2592 x 1944 pixels), Medium 1 (1600 x 1200 pixels), Medium 2 (1024 x 768 pixels), and Small (640 x 480 pixels). For each resolution, you can set the compression to Superfine, Fine or Normal. To record the CCD output without compression, you can select the RAW file format (see below). Movies can be shot with the following resolution: 320 (320 x 240 pixels) or 160 (160 x 120 pixels).

RAW File Format: The RAW file format records the image data as captured by the camera's CCD without further processing. RAW images are compressed, but the compression is reversible so that a high-quality image can be obtained from the decompressed file without any loss of image quality. Although a RAW file is larger than an equivalent JPEG file, it is still only approximately 1/4 the size of an uncompressed RGB TIFF format file.

Optics: The camera features a powerful 4x optical zoom lens with a fast f2.0 to f3.0 maximum aperture rating. The 4x digital zoom extends the telephoto capabilities to a total zoom of 16x.

Auto Focusing: The PowerShot G5 utilizes a 1-point auto-focus method. You can select a fixed center-point AF zone or a Flexi-zone AF that allows you to move the AF mark left/right/up/down within the frame to focus on an off-centered subject. The camera includes two automatic focus settings: continuous and single. When in the continuous focus mode, the camera is continually focusing on whatever it is aimed at, even when the shutter button is not pressed. This default mode allows you to shoot without missing opportunities. In the single focus mode, the camera only focuses when the shutter button is pressed halfway, conserving battery power.

AF-assist Beam: The AF-assist beam will sometimes emit when the shutter button is pressed halfway to assist focusing in certain conditions, i.e. dark conditions. The AF-assist beam can be turned off. If animals are your subject, turn off the beam when shooting in the dark to avoid startling them.

Manual Focusing: You can easily switch into a manual focusing mode by pressing the dedicated MF button, then manually focusing on the subject using the dial on the front of the camera. The AF frame area becomes magnified in the LCD monitor, making it easier to see when the subject is in focus.

Focus Bracketing: You can shoot three images while the focus changes automatically when shooting with the manual focus. Three ranges (small, medium or large) can be selected. When focus bracketing is used, the camera will shoot an image with the focus in the selected position, then an image with the focus further away, and one with the focus closer.

Focusing Range: The camera features the following focus ranges:

• Normal AF: 20" to infinity

• Macro Mode AF: 2" to 20" (wide angle), 6" to 20 (tele)

• Manual: 2" to infinity (wide), 6" to infinity (tele)

Intelligent Orientation Sensor: The PowerShot G5's Intelligent Orientation Sensor senses whether your images were shot horizontally or vertically. It then adjusts AF, AE, and white balance accordingly and your images will be automatically rotated to the right position for viewing during playback.

Power Save Function: In Shooting Mode, the power will automatically shut off approximately 3 minutes after the last function is accessed. In Replay Mode, the power will automatically shut off approximately 5 minutes after the last function is accessed. While connected to an optional printer, the power will automatically shut off approximately 5 minutes after the last camera function is accessed or printer ceases to print an image. While connected to a computer, a warning message will appear on the computer screen approximately 5 minutes after the last function is accessed. The power will automatically shut off approximately 1 minute later if no functions are accessed. Note: The Power Save Function will not activate during a Slide Show or while the Communication mode is set to PTP.

Flash Modes: You can choose from the following flash modes:

• Auto: the flash fires automatically as required by the light level

• Red-eye Reduction, Auto: the flash may fire automatically as required by the light level. The red-eye reduction lamp fires with each shot.

• Red-eye Reduction, Flash On: red-eye reduction lamp and flash always fire

• Flash On: the flash fires with every shot

• Flash Off: the flash will not fire

Slow-Synchro: Using this feature, the flash timing is adjusted to slow shutter speeds. This reduces the chance that the background will be dark when shots are taken at night or in rooms with artificial lighting. The red-eye reduction lamp fires with each shot.

Flash Timing: The flash timing can be set to 1st-curtain or 2nd-curtain. When 1st-curtain is selected, the flash fires right after the shutter opens, regardless of the shutter speed. When 2nd-curtain is selected, the flash fires right before the shutter closes, regardless of the shutter speed.

Flash Exposure Compensation: For flash photography, you can adjust the flash output from -2EV to +2EV in 1/3EV increments.

Locking the Flash Exposure Setting (FE Lock): You can lock the flash exposure so the exposure settings are correctly adjusted for a particular portion of the subject.

External Flash: If desired, you can attach an external flash to the camera's hot shoe. The camera's auto exposure function will operate with a Canon Speedlite 220EX, 280EX, 420EX, 550EX, Macro Ring Lite MR-14EX, or a Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX. Other flashes may fire manually or not fire at all.

Shooting Modes: The top-mounted Mode Dial lets you choose from the shooting mode you desire. The shooting modes are divided into three categories:

• Auto Shooting Mode: the camera automatically makes most of the settings for you.

• Image Zone Shooting Modes:

  • Portrait: the subject appears sharp and the background appears to fade

  • Landscape: focuses on a distant subject, allowing you to record landscapes

  • Night Scene: use this mode to capture human subjects against the backdrop of an evening sky or night scene

  • Stitch Assist: images are shot in an overlapping series to create a single panoramic image, separate images are stored in memory and later "stitched" together using the supplied software

  • Movie: allows you to record moving images with monaural audio

• Creative Zone Shooting Modes:

  • Program AE: the camera automatically sets the shutter speed and aperture value to match the brightness of the scene

  • Shutter Speed Priority AE: You select a shutter speed between 15 seconds and 1/2000th of a second, and the camera automatically selects an aperture value to match the brightness.

  • Aperture Priority AE: You select an aperture value between F2.0 and F8.0 (13 steps) and the camera automatically selects a shutter speed to match the brightness. 

  • Manual Exposure: the shutter speed and aperture are manually adjusted

  • Custom Settings: you can save frequently used shooting modes and various shooting settings to the custom mode. This camera is equipped with two modes (C1 and C2), allowing you to save two types of custom settings.

Photo Effect Modes: You can choose from the following Photo Effect Modes:

• Vivid: emphasizes the contrast and color saturation to record in bold colors

• Neutral: tones down the contrast and color saturation to record neutral hues

• Low Sharpening: records subjects with softened outlines

• Sepia: records images in sepia tones

• B/W: records images in black and white

• Custom Effect: allows you to set the contrast, sharpness, and color saturation

• Off: records with no effect

Movie Mode: The Movie Mode can be used to shoot movie clips in Motion JPEG format with sound recorded monaurally (WAVE). The movie resolution may be set to 320 x 240 or 160 x 120. For both resolution settings, each movie clip can be up to 3 minutes long. Recording times will vary with the subject and shooting conditions, and recording will automatically stop when the maximum clip time is reached or when the CF card runs out of memory space.

Editing Movies: The Edit function in the movie control panel enables you to cut unwanted portions from the first or second half of a movie clip.

Continuous Shooting Mode: You can use this mode to shoot successive frames while the shutter button is fully pressed. You can select Standard or High Speed Continuous Shooting. In Standard mode, the camera stores approximately 1.5 images per second while the shutter button is held down. In High Speed mode, the camera stores approximately 2 images per second while the shutter button is held down. Images may be recorded in continuous mode until the CompactFlash card is full. (Shooting speed based on Large image, fine compression setting with LCD Monitor off.) 

Intervalometer: You can shoot images at a set interval. This function can be used for fixed-point observation of plants and blooming flowers. The shooting interval time can be set from 1 to 60 minutes and 2 to 100 images can be shot.

Metering Modes: You can select from the following metering modes:

• Evaluative Light Metering: used for standard conditions. The area within the frame is divided into several zones and light is measured based on subject position, brightness, direct light and backlighting.

• Center-Weighted Averaging: averages the exposure from the entire image, but places more weight on the subject at the center

• Spot AE Point: allows you to select Center, which meters the area within the spot AE point at the center of the LCD monitor, or, AF Point, which meters the spot AF point corresponding to the AF frame

Exposure Compensation: If you are shooting against a bright background or strong backlight, you may need to correct the exposure so that the subject doesn't come out too dark. You can set the adjustments from -2 to +2 in 1/3-step increments.

Auto Exposure Bracketing (AEB Mode): In this mode, the camera automatically changes the exposure within a set range to take three shots after you press the shutter button once. You can adjust the AEB setting in 1/3EV steps within the range of -2EV to +2EV of the standard exposure setting. 

Locking the Exposure Setting (AE Lock): You can set the exposure and focus separately. This is effective when the contrast is too strong between the subject and background, or when a subject is backlit.

ND Filter: The brightness can be decreased by setting the ND filter on. This allows you to select a smaller aperture and a slower shutter speed than usual. Standard brightness is decreased to approximately 1/8 with the filter on. Use of a tripod is recommended when using this mode.

White Balance: You can choose from the following white balance settings:

• Auto: the camera sets the white balance automatically according to shooting conditions

• Daylight: for recording outdoors on a bright day

• Cloudy: for recording under overcast, shady or twilight skies

• Tungsten: for recording under tungsten and bulb-type 3-wavelength fluorescent lighting

• Fluorescent: for recording under warm-white, cool-white or warm-white (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting

• Fluorescent H: for recording under daylight fluorescent, or daylight fluorescent-type (3-wavelength) fluorescent lighting

• Custom: allows you to manually set the white balance and store the settings in Custom 1 or Custom 2

ISO Speed: The ISO speed can be set to 50, 100, 200, 400, or Auto.

Self-Timer: The self-timer starts when the shutter button is pressed. The delay time can be set to 10 seconds or 2 seconds.

Sound Annotations: You can attach sound annotations (up to 60 seconds) to an image while in the replay mode.

Slide Show: Images stored on a CompactFlash card can automatically be displayed one-by-one using the Slide Show function. You can display all the stored images or you can customize up to 3 separate slide shows. Up to 998 images can be marked per custom slide show. You can also set the amount of time each image is displayed in a slide show. You can choose 3-10 seconds, 15 seconds, 30 seconds, or Manual. In addition, the repeat function allows you to repeat a slide show after it has finished.

Index Replay: This feature allows you to view nine images at once on the LCD monitor so that you can search for an image quickly.

Image Magnification: When viewing a still picture in Single Image Replay mode, you can magnify the image 2.5x, 5x, or 10x.

Rotating Images: You can rotate an image by 90 or 270 degrees clockwise in the LCD monitor.

Protecting Images: The protect feature allows you to protect important images from accidental erasure.

Power Requirements: The Canon PowerShot G5 is powered by the supplied BP-511 Lithium Ion rechargeable battery pack. The optional BP-512 battery pack can also be used. For long periods of continuous use, or when connected to a computer, it is recommended that the camera be connected to the supplied CA-560 Compact Power Adapter. The battery recharges inside the camera when the camera is connected to the power adapter and the camera power is off. It takes approximately 80 minutes to bring a fully discharged battery pack to about 90% charge (adequate charge for use). It takes approximately 2 more hours to charge it fully. An optional Car Battery Adapter (CR-560) is available from the manufacturer. See below for Battery Performance section.

Wireless Remote: With the supplied WL-DC100 wireless remote, you can operate the camera for shooting or replaying. In the shooting mode, the camera will record the image after a preset delay time of 0, 2, or 10 seconds. You can operate the zoom to compose the image and change the LCD monitor display mode. In the playback mode, you can select the next or previous image, start movie playback, display the index replay, and operate the magnify modes. The IR sensors are located on the front and right side of the camera. 

Direct Print Function: Using the supplied USB cable, you can connect this camera directly to a CP-series printer that supports the Direct Print function. You can also connect the camera directly to certain Canon Bubble Jet printers. In this way, you can make prints directly from the camera without ever having to hook it up to a computer.

Exif Print (Exif 2.2): The Canon PowerShot G5 conforms to "Exif Print", a worldwide standard. Vital camera settings (such as: exposure mode, white balance, exposure time) and scene data are recorded to the image file when it is captured. Printers compatible with "Exif Print" are able to use this information to produce high quality photographs, exactly the way they were intended at the time of capture. This intelligent communication process also allows the printer to correct for poor lighting or mistakes, resulting in photos that can be even better than the originals.

DPOF Print Settings: On your CompactFlash card, you can select which image or images you want to print and how many copies you want. This is convenient for printing images all at once, on optional Canon direct print function compliant printers or at participating photo labs.

DPOF Transfer Order: You can use the camera to specify settings for images that you wish to send by e-mail. The settings used on the camera comply with the Digital Print Order Format (DPOF) standards. Once images are selected for transfer, you can use the supplied software to actually transfer the images to an e-mail program. A maximum of 998 images can be selected per CF card, and are transferred in order from oldest to newest by shooting date.

Trimming Images: If you do not want the entire image to be printed, you can "trim" the image before printing. In the menu, you can specify which portion of the image gets printed. A frame appears around the area you want to print, and it can be moved around the image, rotated and resized until the desired area is in the frame.

Wide Converter and Tele-converter Lens Compatibility: The separately sold Conversion Lens Adapter LA-DC58B is required to use conversion and close-up lenses with this camera, such as the separately sold Wide Converter WC-DC58N, Tele-converter TC-DC58N and Close-up Lens 250D (58 mm).

Inputs and Outputs Notes

Digital Terminal: The PowerShot G5 has a Mini-B Version 2.0 USB terminal to allow you to connect the camera to a compatible computer or compatible Canon printer via the supplied USB cable.

AV Output: The camera's mini-jack output allows you to connect the camera to a TV or video monitor with RCA audio and composite video input jacks using the supplied audio/video cable. You can set the video output to NTSC or PAL.

Supplied Software

Minimum System Requirements:

Specifications

Estimated Image Capacity of Compact Flash Cards:

Battery Performance: