helps you find the perfect gadget. ver. 1.8.7

"In many ways, it is more of an SLR camera than a point and shoot, as it includes the wider ISO range and more comprehensive manual controls that SLRs offer.... All of this will be welcomed by the serious shooter; they make controlling the camera much easier. They will intimidate the more novice user, though."

This camera is aimed at the more advanced use...

"The G11 presents an interesting dichotomy in that it is "Designed for those looking for a pocket-sized camera with SLR functionality" as well as "advanced amateurs." This is balanced by the full range of auto shooting options and specific scene settings that most advanced amateurs will seldom use."

"In general terms the Canon PowerShot G11 is capable of capturing plenty of fine detail, especially evident when images are downloaded and examined close up on a desktop, colours being for the most part natural."

"The G11 displays reassuringly reliable exposures, with the balance between shadows and highlights pleasingly apparent."

"With the G11, Canon pulled the bold maneuver of cutting megapixels—to 10, from 14 on the G10—in order to get better quality and low-light performance. It was the right move."

"The camera offers maximum quality, unprocessed RAW file capture too, selectable via a L-shaped toolbar on screen. Take a further shot in this mode and any difference in writing speed is barely noticeable."

"Image quality from the G11 is the best overall of any compact digital I've ever reviewed - at 100% enlargements the images are quite clean, without the artifacts that seem to pop up to one degree or another in the other guys."

"Image quality from the G11 was very pleasing in my opinion."

"We had little in the way of complaints about the G11 - from an image quality point of view it's one of the most consistently good compacts we've tested."

"Low light shooting would appear to be chief among [improvements over its predecessor], with the Canon PowerShot G11 offering a maximum user selectable setting of ISO 3200 at full resolution, with the ability to expand the range to a DSLR-like spec of ISO 12800 in a newly-implemented low light mode."

"The camera can struggle a touch in low light."

"Despite Canon trumpeting that with the G11 it has greatly improved low light photography, reducing noise and delivering a two-stop advantage, the camera has to first find a subject bright enough to focus on - in spite of its admittedly powerful AF assist lamp."

"Low-light images are definitely improved, and more detail is preserved up through ISO 800."

"As with the G10 there's no chance of HD clips here though, resolution frozen at a standard definition 640x480 pixels at 30fps. Unfortunately the optical zoom is likewise disabled when filming, though a 4x digital version can be deployed."

"In a world where phones and gadgets the size of a jumbo pack of Juicy Fruit shoot 720p, the fact that video's limited to 640x480 resolution on such a stacked camera gets a big frowny face. But, the video the G11 produces at that resolution is generally excellent."

"With more and more point and shoots featuring 720p HD video, it was surprising to find Canon's flagship compact capturing at a maximum 640x480 pixel resolution. Video quality seemed adequate."

"Unlike many recent compacts the G11 doesn't have HD video recording capability. It records video at 640 x 480 resolution at 30fps with mono audio via an internal microphone. The zoom lens cannot be used while recording, but it does have a stepless digital zoom in video mode."

"Generally the Canon PowerShot G11 feels very well made, with a layout that while busy avoids looking cluttered, and controls that both offer just the right amount of stiffness and resistance."

"Its ruggedness practically matches that of an entry-level DSLR."

"With its historical design, the metal body feels quite solidly constructed."

"Battery life at 390 shots from a full charge falling short of its forebear’s 400."

"Curiously, battery life is less impressive than its G10 forebear, at around 390 shots from a full charge rather than 400. Again though, this is hardly a deal breaker."