1. Uses CompactFlash memory cards (allowed me to use the same cards I was using in my previous digital) 2. Produces high quality images (especially when set at the 5 Megapixel maximum resolution setting and at ISO 50) 3. Noise reduction feature on timed exposures taken with a shutter speed of 1.3 seconds or longer produces high quality images 4. Good zoom lens range (since I would have been happy with only a 35-85mm 35mm equivalent zoom range, I am more than pleased with the 35-140mm 35mm equivalent zoom range) 5. Panoramic (Stitch) mode useful as a substitute for a wider angle lens 6. Movie mode (I need this feature for recording dance routines) 7. Automatic features (auto exposure, auto focus, auto ISO, auto white balance) 8. Built-in flash good for close-up shots and makes a good fill light 9. Hot shoe (allows me to attach external flash or radio slave trigger) 10. Two user customizable mode settings 11. Two user customizable white balance settings 12. Adjustable exposure settings (aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual exposure modes) 13. Automatic and manual focus control 14. Optical viewfinder has built-in diopter adjustment 15. Adjustable LCD display (great for ground level and over head shots and copy stand work) 16. The three types of exposure meters (spot, center weighted, and evaluative) are very accurate 17. Image histogram useful for analyzing exposure 18. Built-in neutral density filter useful for times when you need to reduce light level by 3 f/stops 19. Wireless remote control feature 20. Self-timer useful for times when you don’t have the wireless remote controller with you 21. ISO settings from 50 to 400 (one digital camera I was considering did not offer ISO settings below 200) 22. Light meter exposure compensation feature 23. Flash exposure compensation feature 24. Light meter bracketing feature 25. Flash bracketing feature 26. Focus bracketing feature 27. Image contrast control feature 28. Color saturation control feature 29. Image sharpening control feature 30. Intervalometer for timed exposures 31. Nice shape (reminds me of a Leica rangefinder) 32. Quiet operation (totally silent operation great for candids and street shooting) 33. Close-up feature (produces great close-up shots by itself or with +1, +3, +5, and +10 supplemental diopter lenses) 34. Able to do a lot of shooting on one battery charge

1. Unable to lock settings (this is my biggest complaint because my right thumb tends to accidentally activate the menu and the white balance buttons) 2. Unable to lock Mode dial (I have accidentally rotated the dial and ended up shooting in a mode that I did not want) 3. Lens does not have filter thread (I replaced the lens housing with a “Lens Mate” brand housing which has filter threads and allows me to attach my 52mm filters and supplemental close-up lenses) 4. Portrait mode turns flash on (there are times when I don’t want to take a natural light portrait with flash) 5. Landscape mode sets the focus on infinity (I wish it set the focus to the hyper focal distance instead) 6. Object placed in hot shoe closes mechanical switch that turns off the built-in flash (there are times when I want to shoot with an external flash unit attached to the hot shoe of the camera via a long sync cord and also use the built-in flash as a fill light. 7. Non-Canon external flash units must use a hot shoe voltage regulator to prevent damaging the camera electronics. 8. G5 is a much better sounding model name than CoolPix or FinePix. 9. Wireless remote control operational range of 3 to 5 meters is too short for my needs. 10. Optical finder is not accurate (parallax accounts for some of the inaccuracy but viewfinder also displays less than 100% of the image that is actually captured). 11. LCD is not accurate (LCD is more accurate that optical finder but it displays slightly less than 100% of the image that is actually captured). 12. Long shutter delay (makes it very difficult to shoot fast moving subjects) 13. Slow auto focus (makes it very difficult to shoot fast moving subjects) 14. No provision to attach standard cable release In order to reduce the long shutter delay when I use this camera for shooting fast moving subjects, I do the following: • Turn the LCD off so the camera does not have to waste time displaying the image. • Use ISO 400 instead of automatic ISO so the camera does not have to waste time determining the ISO • Use specific white balance instead of automatic white balance so the camera does not have to waste time determining the white balance. • Instead of using the auto focus feature, I use manual focus and focus on a specific distance so the camera does not have to waste time determining the subject

In 2002, I purchased my first digital camera – a fixed prime lens 2 mega pixel model with an optical viewfinder. I hoped that it would meet my digital photographic needs until the prices for professional-quality digital cameras dropped to a reasonable level. Regretfully, my 2 meg digital camera did not last long. Within two years, not only was it broken; but the manufacturer had also discontinued it. Since its value had dropped drastically, it was more economical to replace it than to repair it. I replaced it with a pre-owned 5 meg Canon PowerShot G5 for $379.99. When I shoot for a customer, I normally shoot film. However, when the customer needs the image in a hurry, I use digital. Here are other reasons why I need to use a digital camera: 1. To use instead of Polaroid to perform test shots for film cameras. 2. To be able to offer a digital service to customers who prefer digital images. 3. When I am shooting for myself I prefer digital because it is less expensive than film. 4. When I want to experiment with new techniques, not only is digital less expensive than film but I am able to see the results of my experiment immediately.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

2 MB point & shoot

-small and light -good battery life -sharp lens -fast lens - f2 lets me use the camera at ISO 100 even on subways

-I would have preferred to see a 28mm equiv. wide angle option as opposed to the 35mm equiv. that is on the camera now. -I would prefer to see information displayed in the optical viewfinder as well as on the led display on top and the viewing screen

I love this machine. It is small, I love the flip-out viewer that lets me take pics from waist-level and the lens is tack sharp. For street shooting, I have had to learn to prefocus the lense in manual (setting the distance to about 2 meters and using f8 or 5.6 gives pretty good depth of field particularly when leaving the lens at its widest angle). However, it works and I have been able to avoid many (but not all!) of the lag problems that are afflict digital shooting.

Customer Service

n/a

Similar Products Used:

Various film rangefinders Canon Digital Rebel Nikon N90

The battery life is awesome. The pictures are fabulous. The rich array of camera settings are very easy to learn and use. (A very, very important point often left out of reviews. What good is a .05 second focus speed advantage if it takes 30 minutes to figure out why this blinking light in the LCD won't go away?)

Considering the price, feature set, EASE OF USE, and image quality; none.

Great camera. Comparisons to the $100 cheaper G3 are irrelevant because the G3 is impossible to find anymore and lacks many more useful features, although you won't be able to tell from the reviews, than the superior G5. (For example, navigating the many features being one never highlighted in most reviews. The G5 is far easy and faster to use than the G3.)

Customer Service

So far, not needed.

Similar Products Used:

Coolpix 5700, Olympus C-5050