Reviews for Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera - Metallic Silver

Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: superb battery life. excellent picture quality. outstanding features

Weakness: it is a little bulky

I was really leery about switching from a 35mm to a digital camera and after much research I decided on the G3 and have not regretted it yet. I have taken thousands of pictures after purchasing a 512 mb card. I blow up many pictures to 8x10 and they come out flawlessly. I would strongly recommend this product to anyone.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Exceptional resolution, sharp Canon lens, loaded with features, substantial feel, quality metal and plastic construction, swivel LCD, fairly easy to use.

Weakness: Autofocus can be a tad slow.

Exceptional performance from a 4.0 megapixel camera. The built-in neutral density filter is a plus.

I've only taken about 100 pictures, but the camera seems to deliver consistently well-exposed, well-saturated images that are (at least in my opinion) better than many of its 4.0 megapixel rivals.

This camera is simply awesome! I highly recommend it. :)

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Every control you want on a good SLR.

Weakness: Shutter lag( It exists on all digital cameras, but I still prefer shorter lag).

I have been involved in photography for 10 years. Finally I decided to buy Canon G3. I am very happy with the picture quality and control it has. You can not ask for more at this price.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: EASY TO HANDLE,WELL BUILT, SIMPLE TO USE, GREAT FEATURES SUCH AS THE OPEN AND CLOSE LCD VIEWER WITH ROTATING HINGE.

Weakness: NONE AS OF YET!

THIS CAMERA GREAT FOR ALL PURPOSE PHOTOGRAPHY. UPGRADES FROM THE G-2 ARE 14X DIGITAL & OPTICAL ZOOM , GIVING YOU A
4X OPTICAL ZOOM MORE FEATURES ON DISPLAY LCD. MOST OF ALL TAKES GREAT PICTURES IN ALL MODES AUTO,MANUAL,PRO,ETC...

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: easy to operate, not complicated. excellent results. this is camera that will handle everything you need.

Weakness: none,

quality camera for expert or someone who wants quality.
comes with 32 card which does not handle volume. upgrade is worth it.this camera is a good investment.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Web site

Weakness: None as of yet

Short & sweet! I knew what I wanted, they had the G3 in stock, strong commitment to get it to me when I needed it (a little sales pitch on accessories) - can't wait to get the G3!!! Very efficient sales - highly recommend!

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

perfect camera, don't want to miss it anymore. It does everything what I want in a perfect way.
The lens is really the best in this class.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Many small improvements over the G2 (also own). Favorite new feature is the "main wheel" which makes it much easier and quicker to make exposure changes.

Weakness: Hate the fact that the longer lens obscures a portion of the view through the optical viewfinder.

Have owned a G2 for over a year and have not had a single complaint. Great camera. The G3 has the potential to be even better. Someone at Canon really messed up though when they allowed this camera on the market with one (in my opinion) terrible flaw. The fact that the lens is visible and blocks a portion of the scene is simply unexcusable. This might be expected of a cheap camera but this one is definitely not cheap and I had expected better from Canon.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Controls are great, LCD can swivel.

Weakness: Adapter barrel is very intrusive.

This is a great camera and can take great photos. When I read the reviews about the barrel of the adapter intruding on the viewfinder, I thought it wouldn't be serious. It IS serious. It blocks approximately HALF of the viewfinder area, including the center crosshair area. It feels like you are taking photos 'blind' when the filter adapter is on. Even when the filter adapter is off, the barrel still protrudes into the viewfinder area, but minimally. I suppose it's Canon's subtle hint that the viewfinder is becoming obsolete and that we must use the LCD in all lighting conditions, even full sun.

Otherwise, this camera is very light, takes sharp, crisp photos, and focusses indoors much more quickly than my old Nikon Coolpix 990.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Excellent quality hardware, fit and finish. Versatile functions. Swivel LCD viewer is a fantastic asset. Photo speed is good (use CF Ultra II). Battery life is very good.

Weakness: Auto-focus takes some getting used to. Lens partially obscures optical view finder. Battery life indicator not evenly progressive.

The Canon G3 is an excellent mid-size digital camera for the price. I have owned one for 7 months as of this writing and have had very satisfying results. I highly recommend it for any photographer that wants an ample range of features, while keeping the base cost to less than $500. It is nicely weighted, feels solid, and is small enough for easy traveling (compared to an SLR).

It has versatile functions for a variety of photographic situations, including aperture priority, shutter priority, and full manual. Great night photography results are finally in reach without having to have a lot of skill! The 4-megapixel capacity is very adequate and photos are professional at maximum resolution with minimal compression. dpreview.com recommends the G3 over the G5 (see their site for details). The swivel LCD viewer is a fantastic asset, allowing highly creative photography (you can put the camera where your head won't fit!)--I use it extensively and can't imagine having a digital camera without it. I wish they made them on Digital SLRs!

The greatest weakness of the camera is the auto-focus mechanism, in that it doesn't always focus on what you're looking at. And with the very small LCD viewer, you may have a blurry photo that looks in focus because of the viewer size (it scales down the actual photo size, of course). I've had a number of photos turn out a bit blurry, because the G3 locked onto a wall rather than the people in front of it. This isn't a "don't buy the camera" problem--you just have to get used to how the camera functions. Next to that, I agree with the other reviews, that another notable weakness is the optical view finder. It is partially obscured by the lens and even more so with the lens adapter attached (for using 58mm filters). But I only use it when battery power is getting low (the LCD is the biggest drain on the battery, but it is easy to use it sparingly by either turning it off with a menu option or closing it to the body). One minor complaint I have is that the battery life indicator is not evenly progressive. When the first power bar disappears, you must use power cautiously (rather than 50% power left, it is more like 20%). But again, battery life is very good. The only odd quirk I've run into was in 2 different photo situations: When photographing a neon sign that was a purple/blue shade, it did not capture properly--no sign of purple, just blue. Weird. But then, I've heard of other cameras distorting many more commonly encountered colors.

It's too bad the G5 didn't stand up to the precedent set by the G3 (kind of like the styling of the new BMW 530i, vs. the previous 2003-1997 models)! The G3 is hard to come by new... but if you find one in nice shape used, I'd get it. It really is a "prosumer" model, delivering professional quality for the photo enthusiast consumer.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Optics, Controls and features access, Color accuracy, Superb White balance, Battery life, Articulated LCD, Completeness of package, ie: remote and power adapter

Weakness: Infrequent auto focus misses (1 out of 50 or so)

Like the others before me, I researched this purchase to death. There were very few available cameras with the necessities I desired. Other models considered included the Pentax Optio 550 the Olympus 750. The G3 easily delivered the most complete package out of all contenders and to my mind remains in the top tier of digi-cams anywhere regardless of price. The thoroughness of the Canon approach combined with the high quality of product delivered is very satisfying to me as a consumer.

The combination of the thoughtful remote and the video out makes for an easy presentation on any modern TV set. Unlike many cameras with no video out capability, some of them quite popular, screening and evaluating photos is quite easy and requires no computer. This is essential for travel/vacation photos. Along with the supplied 32MB, I have (2) 256MB cards and will have even more when traveling to the Hudson Valley this fall. Large capacity storage is an absolute necessity for these situations (unless one is also taking a laptop along for downloading...I currently do not but am thinking about it!!!)

Image quality is superb and the color accuracy (Canon greyscale) is difficult to outperform. I know...I have tried...and failed. Were it not for the increased CA with the G5 I probably would have gone that route. But the trade-off in lens speed required to correct the problem made the G3 a true no-brainer. Color me happy.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Look and feel. Automatic and manual functions. Great Photos.

In a word: BUY IT!

Whether you are an experienced photographer or an amateur, the Powershot G3 will meet your demands. It feels good, takes outstanding pictures, and has an extensive assortment of features in more shooting modes than you can shake a stick at. Suprisingly, though, it does not have a steep learning curve.

I was reluctant to switch from a 35mm film camera to a digital camera for many years because I feared losing many of the advanced capabilities I enjoyed. In actuality, however, I now have a whole lot more.

The documentation included with the camera is outstanding, but the software, though good, could be improved with a more advanced image editor. Nonethess, the Powershot G3 is a fantastic camera. I installed a Lexar 256MB, 12X CompactFlash card and was able to shoot nearly 800 outstanding quality photos for display with vivid colors and crystal-clear images on a 21-inch monitor. Likewise, when saving images to the 12X card in the .JPG format, the files are written in well less than a second.

BUY IT!

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Great all around Pro-sumer camera. Great color, a full line of features, very expandable.

Weakness: Viewfinder Problem (as noted previously), Hard to focus in Low Light situations, some features are not enabled with add on flash.

I have been very pleased with the purchase of this camera. As far as I'm concerned you can't go wrong. It is a great beginner camera as you can get as technical as you like while still having a very accurate "Auto" feature which will produce a great picture 99% of the time. You can easily add on lenses and filters. With the addition of the exteranl flash it truly is a great all around camera.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Quality, battery life, features, you name it

Weakness: Only one, auto-focus at full zoom slow

I compared cameras at this price range for nearly a year before deciding on the G3. Couldn't be happier with my choice. Ordered it just before my twins came. Camera arrived the day they were born. I took it out of the box, put in a flash card, and started taking photos/videos right away. I haven't even changed a setting since. I've taken hundered of pictures and quite a few videos since then, and have only had to charge the battery a couple of times. This camera has tons of features, most of which I haven't had time to use yet, but I wouldn't trade it for any other camera. Haven't taken a single photo with my digital since getting this. Even dropped it 6 feet onto a concrete floor and it kept on ticking. Only gripe is the autofocus takes awhile at full zoom to snap a shot. First Canon product I've ever bought, but won't be the last. Kudos/shanewolf

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: I liked the idea that I could add an additional lens or flash which made it versitile.

Weakness: 1. The color was weak. Reds were pinkish when using natural light inside, and a general grayish washed out look with all others. 2. Very heavy & bulky. 3. Can see lens barrel through the viewfinder.

When I spoke above about my disappointment with the color, I am comparing it to the wonderful Canon Powershot S30 that I have taken thousands of pics with. The color difference is very noticeable. I returned the G3 after taking a couple hundred pics and comparing them. Very disappointed !!!! I will definitely go back to the Powershot series.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Canon Reputation. Craftsmanship. Size. Battery Life. LENS. LENS. LENS.

Weakness: Overpriced Canon accessories.. When you attach a filter tube adapter, you can see the tube thru the viewfinder.

Starting to enjoy Canon products more & more each day. I was a hard core Nikon user for many years until last year.
I purchased a canon Powershot S200 for myself last spring. Than I got one for my Sister-In-Law, my Sister, & my wife. Excellent product. I than graduated to a Powershot S230. Loved it. used it for work a few times & just couldn't believe the picture quality. I
moved on to a Powershot G3 last Christmas & still am being constanly surprised witht this awesome little package. I rarely use my Nikon D100 anymore. Its now my back-up camera in my kit.
A few other friends of mine who do digital post production are also loving their G3's. This camera has so many great features that I can't believe this thing sells under $750.00. The remote control is an excellent companion to the camera. I bought a mini bogen tripod for the camera. Its so easy to get into the pictures, now.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Ease of Operation, Quality of photos, Good software,

Weakness: LCD in daylight hard to see, Digital zoom quality loss in photos,Lens cap loose.

I got my G3 in November from Direct Digital here on this link. Sale and delivery went very smooth with no problems. Bought (not from retailer) more CF cards (one 128mb and one 256mb) as the 32mb supplied with the camera is not of much use in the field. Also got a second battery and an ac/dc charger to allow for recharging without taking up camera time. So far I haven't needed that for one day useage. Plan on it for the future. Battery life is outstanding...shot a basketball game using flash, 80 fotos and the battery just kept on ticking. I shoot at the Large JPEG size with the Superfine Resolution setting to give me the most detail to work with after the shot...seems to be an ok plan so far.
Auto focus seems a bit slow to react in low light, and the LCD is really hard to see in any outdoor sunlight- as it is on most digitals. The optical viewfinder is ok, I am now used to the lens jutting into the photo so it is not a big deal for me.
All in all I am about 60% up the learning curve for this camera...got a lot of smaller details to work out. BUT so far it is a dandy. My first step into digital, replacing 2 30 yr old AE-1's. Sure love the convenience of uploading to my PC and using Photoshop to clean up my own work.
One more item- I am amazed at how my number of exposures has increased with the digital. The Larger CF cards encourage more experimentation. A Good thing I think.
A great photo tool, the Canon G3 !!

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: PHD Simple. (Push Here Dummy) This camera is easy to use. I have been shooting for twenty years and this is far beyond my expectations.

Weakness: Red eye. Manual takes some learning.. BUT READ IT!!!!!!Lots of jumping back and forth. I say again Read it... save yourself some headaches.........

I have done weddings and taken lots of pictures over the last twenty or thirty years. This camera is a safe bet for a beginner as well as a advanced composer. If you are looking for a camera that will take Great shots, simple to use, and is expandable.....
And, No. I do not work for Canon...........

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: easy to use, features fulfill high end camera

Weakness: auto focus is not very fast particularly in low light

fantastic buy overall. 2nd curtain sync gives good creative opportunity. i could not figure out about card error occasionally whether it is camera generated or card problem. anyway all errors can be tackled by re formating the flash card.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Absolute color quality, ease of use, intuitive controls

Weakness: Limited availability

I have researched digital cameras for over 10 years for a camera that is easy for the technically challenged as it is satisfying for the artistic technophile. I found it in the Canon G3. This is the Toyota Camry of cameras. While it's not the ultimate of all digital cameras (that distinction is held by it's 11.1 megapixel big brother, the EOS-1Ds), for it's price, quality, ease of use, and portability this one has it all.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Excellent features, flexibility, high quality of photographs, ease of handling

Weakness: Huge problem: in order to mount a skylight filter to protect the lens from scratches, it is necessary to purchase an adapter which completely obscures 1/4 of the view through the optical viewfinder.

I am basically pleased with the performance of the camera. The problem of the lens adapter obscuring a part of the view through the optical view finder exists to a lesser extent even if a lens adapter is not used. In telephoto mode, approximately 1/6 of the view through the optical view finder is obscured. I consider this a major design flaw. Were this not the case, I would have been extremely pleased with the camera. As it is, I imagine there are better choices available.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Exceptional photos and allows excellent control. Canon quality. Long battery life, even using flash.

Weakness: Filters don't attach directly to lens and require an adapter tube.

G3 excels at taking great photos that are sharp and bright. The controls allow flexibility that other digital cameras don't permit. After taking thousands of photos with this camera, I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants more than a simple point and shoot, and is familiar with SLR camera settings. The G3's settings are comparible to those found on Canon SLRs.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Lens, Image Quality, Flip-out LCD, Pro Features, Hot Shoe

Weakness: None really, but wish it was more than 4MP

Great camera! No problems. Fantastic pictures with great clarity. Love the flip/rotate LCD screen. Picture quality is great throughout Zoom lens range. Hot shoe works well with even older flash units.

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Superb picture quality! Highly detailed results! Easy and fun to use.

Weakness: Minor-Does not come with a case.

This camera is everything I was hoping for in a camera. Reliable picture quality. Very easy to use. I would recommend this camera for anyone who is like myself, a beginner picture taker who can appreciate taking "great" pictures, and not really know how it was done. In time I will learn more about that, but there is no hurry, as the Auto program feature does it all (with class). I guarantee you will enjoy sharing these pictures with your friends, and they in turn will appreciate the "beautiful" pictures. It is an "ultra" easy way to gain respect, and to have "bundles" of fun "capturing" special moments, and memories. Enjoy... Best Wishes. *Sky*

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: None

Weakness: Plenty

All the critiques on the downside of this camera are right on target: Bulky; viewfinder obscrued by barrel of camera; blurry pictures; discolored; etc., etc.. And the list goes on. I don't understand how this camera could even be rated anything except UNACCEPTABLE. And, I certainly cannot fathom some of the other posts here complimenting this camera and giving it anything other than a two-star rating.

I received this as a gift from my wife. I have a two-megapixel camera, which I've owned, now, for three years. When I compare the same-scene photo shots, taken one right after the other, from both cameras, there is no comparison: my old camera wins hands-down. The photos of my oldie are clear and crisp; those from G-3 are enough of a blur that one notices it immediately. And, in printed form on photo paper, the differences are more than obvious.

This G3 is a camera one just cannot trust to take that one precious moment in time and capture it. Period.

So, do yourself a favor: forget purchasing this hardware. Or, you'll end up in our shoes: $500 poorer; told by tech support it's YOUR FAULT that they're blurry, you shake; (my wife and my whole family have the "shakes" too, I guess) and, there's nothing wrong with the camera, so don't bother to send it back in for repair. (Ya gotta love it!!!!)

Anyway, please spare yourself the pain. You'll be delighted you heeded my warning.

Ernie

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Canon PowerShot G3 4 Megapixel Compact Camera -...

Strengths: Ergonicms, batt life, zoom, you name it!

Weakness: None worth noting at this time.

This unit replace my Canon S40 which I didn't think could be done. Well the G3 is a great upgrade. Batt life, brightness of pictures, and ability to shoot in lower light due to upgraded lens are just a few of the features you will love about this camera.

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Canon Powershot G3

Canon Powershot G3 receives an overall TopTenREVIEWS score of 1.99 out of 4.00. It is ranked the #318 standard digital camera of all time. The overall rating represents an intelligent balance of features, value as a function of price to features, and a summary of reviews from a variety of sources. The TopTen REVIEWS' formula gives a picture of important consumer features, market value, and a...

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Canon PowerShot G3

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