Often when traveling to a family event or on vacation it is not always practical to have a DSLR camera with you. I have always been disappointed with the results of typical pocket cameras and with recent advances in 1/1.7-inch sensors and mirror-less cameras I decided it was time to step up my game. I decided on the new Canon PowerShot G16 Digital Camera
After receiving it, I took it out of the box and was immediately impressed with how solid the build of this camera is. The dials feel sturdy and they click in to place just right. The screen is bright and the top of the cameras has all the controls a serious camera user would want. No menus needed to switch to from Auto to Aperture Priority, Shutter Priority, Manual, or any other common mode. I also immediately liked the exposure compensation dial on the top of the camera.
I fired off a few test shots to see how it would perform. I went to nearby Blydenburgh Park here in Suffolk County, NY. My intentions was to see how it would perform shooting HDR’s. One of the welcome features of the G16 is the ability to shoot raw files. This makes shooting HDR a snap. Just dial in the exposure you want and fire. If not, there is an auto bracketing mode as well, however, it only takes shots in +-1 exposure values. My preferred method of shooting HDR is +-2 exposure values. There is also an auto HDR mode which combines three shots for you but it is JPEG only and the individual files are not saved, only the combined file.
The G16 also sports built in WiFi and an app that makes seeing pictures on your iPad or smart phone quick and easy. There is also a geotagging feature using your smart phone but I was not able to get this to work. The G16 features a 12.1 megapixel high-sensitivity 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor combined with the Canon DIGIC 6 image processor to make this baby fast.
One of the other features that is a stand out in my mind is the ability to set long exposure times. There is also a built in neutral density feature to assist with long exposures during the daytime. Coupling this with the easy ability to reduce exposure using the exposure dial I was able to get images shot with up to a 6 tenths of a second in daylight to blur water without overexposing. Awesome for a handheld camera.
Overall my first impressions with the G16 are very positive. Here are a few HDR photos that I compiled from my trip with the G16. The files were processed in Photomatix and Topaz Adjust. Finished with Lightroom.
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