Canon PowerShot G15 - New Sensor, Improved AF & 10 FPS Burst • Camera News and Reviews

Canon PowerShot G15 – New Sensor, Improved AF & 10 FPS Burst

Last week, Canon added a new model to their long-running G-Series line of high-end compact cameras, the 12-megapixel PowerShot G15. The G15 is a bit smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the G12, but the most exciting feature is the upgraded 5x 28-140mm (equivalent) zoom lens, which now has a super-fast f/1.8-2.8 aperture. That will give the G15 significantly better low light shooting ability and much better depth-of-field control. The G15’s ISO 12,800 maximum sensitivity (two stops better than the G12) will make a real difference in poor lighting conditions, too. The G15 also has improved auto focus, 1920 x 1080 full HD video and it can shoot 10 frames per second at full resolution in High-Speed Burst HQ mode.

Canon PowerShot G15 Key Features And Specs

New 12.1-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor
5x 28-105mm f/1.8-2.8 zoom lens
Canon HS System for low light image quality
DIGIC 5 image processing
Sensitivity range: ISO 80 to 12,800
RAW shooting
10 frames per second in High-Speed Burst HQ mode (2.1 FPS in Program)
Dual-axis electronic level
1920 x 1080 full HD video
3-inch 922k-dot LCD display
Optical viewfinder
Pop-up flash
Flash hot shoe

It’s good to see the fast lens on Canon’s new G15. But I think chunky high-end compact like this are anachronisms – especially now that Canon has their own interchangeable lens mirrorless camera (Canon EOS M camera intro). It seems like there may be a bit of a G-Series identity crisis at Canon, too. The Canon USA site currently shows three G-Series cameras, the G15, G12 and the G1 X. The G1 X, introduced early this year, has a much bigger sensor than other compact cameras and I expected that to be the standard for the G-Series cameras (Canon PowerShot G1 X review) after it was announced. It’s also interesting to note that although the G15 has the same serious controls and similar design as previous G-Series cameras, it doesn’t have a tilt-swivel LCD display – a feature that’s been standard since the G-Series was introduced.

The G15 was officially introduced last week at the Photokina tradeshow in Germany. Here’s a short hands-on G15 intro video from Canon’s Photokina booth:

Personally, I would rather invest in a mirrorless system camera. But the G-Series has always been popular with photography enthusiasts on a budget; as well as with serious photographers who want a compact camera with good manual controls to complement their DSLR system. I’m sure the G15 will be popular, too – especially with the faster f/1.8 lens, full HD video and faster burst rate. The Canon PowerShot G15 will be available next month (October, 2012) at a suggested retail price of US $499.99.

Canon PowerShot G15 Press Release >>