Canon Powershot G1 - a 20 Year Old Camera in 2019!

A short test and review of the 3.3 Megapixel Canon Powershot G1, from the year 2000, with sample images. Enjoy!
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[@acrummey85]

I think you nailed it when you said the richness of the images may be from the CCD sensor. When I look back at older images that I shot with my Pentax K100 or the K10 I am always impressed with them, what they lack in resolution, they make up for in some hard to quantify way. CMOS sensors have many advantages but we seem to have lost something in the images when the CCD was abandoned.

[@zenography7923]

That's my impression from this camera; images are that bit richer with more depth. Thanks for watching.

[@TheGameCollector]

I worked in a photo store at the time (mostly in the lab developing/printing pictures) so I was seeing the revolution with digital cameras. I had the Canon Powershot G2. When I look back at the pictures taken, it stills holds up because of the awesome fast lens. I loved my G2. Actually I am about to buy the G6 which was the last Powershot camera from Canon with the fast lens.

[@zenography7923]

I've heard the G6 is very nice - enjoy! Thanks for watching.

[@Jupiter2ignite]

its definitely the CCD. my Nikon D200 has a CCD sensor and the colors are super rich and the images are almost film like.

[@cfcreative1]

If there is an adapter for these ccd sensor cameras where you can use vintage lenses I would be very interested.

[@paulstevenson200]

Excellent. Informative, thorough, well-paced, well illustrated. Thanks.

[@defg0003]

from time to time I still carry and shoot the Power Shot G2 - still a useful 4MP. thumbs up.

[@billr6983]

Found this camera in a thrift store. I looked at it and knew it was obsolete as hell, but when I picked it up I was impressed with its hefty weight and great build quality as you mentioned. They were only asking $7.00 and I was tempted but there was no battery in it and had no way to tell if it even worked, so I passed on it. However my curiosity about it led me here to your excellent presentation which answered a lot of questions I had about it. Great work.

[@zenography7923]

Many thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@GrumpyXer]

Same thing happened to me. Picked up the G1 I was like dang this is heavy, so I bought it for $5. Bought two new batteries and a charger for $17 and used an old cf card I still had. Works great Love it

[@01322521959]

I agree. The rich colour I get from my Canon A60 are very pleasing. I still use it regularly and feel it has a sense of solidity with the only failures being the watch battery and the silicon slot cover. I bought mine in 2003.

[@parranoic]

Lovely video, very interesting piece of history

[@zenography7923]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@ForeverYoungAaron]

As a big Canon fan I had to get this when I came across one at a thrift store for around 15 dollars. It’s a blast to take out when I want a challenge or if I’m in a slump with my modern cameras. I recently got a Powershot Pro1 and it’s a lot of fun too!

[@zenography7923]

Old digitals can be lots of fun!

[@weebleman6]

Here because I just found one for $5 myself today

[@zackthepoet]

Thank you for this guide, I just bought this camera from a thrift store for $5! So excited to shoot on it

[@joranherr4128]

I enjoyed your video.. Bought a G2 these days and am impressed with the built quality, can't wait to shoot this thing! bye :)

[@zenography7923]

Enjoy! Thanks for watching.

[@northof-62]

The Powershot G2 was my digital debut in 2002. CF cards were still expensive. I switched to Nikon D70 in 2004 because I lost a lot of shots due to the G2's slow startup. The D70 is still one the the fastest power on to record cameras out there. But I take out my G2 now and then for fun. Can produce great images (esp.if put on a tripod). Recently got a couple of fresh battery replacements from Duracell for the BP-511s. And I have also got a wide angle adapter WCDC58N which was meant for the G3 to G6 models, it works surprisingly well on my G2. According to the G-series Wiki, Canon kept using CCDs all the way up to 2012 with the 10Mp G12.

[@BillDubeVariety]

Great video. I paid full boat for the G1 back when they first came out. My manual says 30 seconds for maximum video length, yours at 20 seconds may be due to the CF card size. Also I too have found that the 3.3 MP pictures from the G1 give other higher MP cameras a run for their money. Like you said it could be the CCI sensor as it was nice and large, and/or give some credit to the glass lens used in this camera. There was also a protective tube you could buy for the lens that allowed you to put filters over your camera. Loads of fun. Again great video. Only the one mistake that I caught I wish my videos could only have one mistake in them.

[@roygardiner2229]

Thanks for an enjoyable review. I can understand why you would be charmed by the camera. Purely by coincidence, several days ago I bought a more modern Canon digital camera, the Powershot S3 IS. I got it at a thrift store (charity shop) for $10. It has a 12x optical zoom lens, an electronic viewfinder and image stabilisation. Although the viewfinder is of low resolution it is very, very useful: much better for my aging eyes than squinting at a camera back display (which it also has). I am already having a lot of fun with it, much as you have with you camera!

[@zenography7923]

That sounds like a great find! Thanks for watching.

[@KennethNordin]

My old Olumpus SZ-14 also got a CCD, and gives great vibrant photos at lower ISO

[@kennynvake4hve584]

I have a Canon G2 and a G5...and they are built very well..

[@SharDances]

I just bought one. I really like the build quality of this camera. It's a hefty one compared to my ultra compact digital cameras but I love it.

[@zenography7923]

It's a nice little camera - and though it's old it still does what it did when new! Enjoy!

[@mathewgreen4099]

Thanks for your video, I found it very informative. I’ve just bought a Canon PowerShot G3 from 2003 & I’m waiting for a charger to be delivered. Like the G1, its a very nicely made & set up camera. As a 35mm camera fan, I do love the fact that it has quite a large & clear viewfinder. As with the G1, the G3 also has a screen that can be angled & turned so it faces forward. I’d agree that Canon cameras of this era were particularly well made. They seem to be very tactile & all the features seem to have been well-positioned for ease of use. Fingers crossed that when the charger arrives, that I can get this little fella to work!

[@zenography7923]

If the battery in this one is anything to go by, you should be fine! Before making this video I hadn't touched this camera in about ten years - plugged it in, it charged right up, and held its charge too! Incredible!

[@mathewgreen4099]

@@zenography7923 I received the charger the other day, plugged it in & the camera started to charge immediately! Now I’ve just got to track down a memory card for it. I take it you can’t use modern digital camera SD cards with a camera that’s nearly 20 years old? I’ve had a look at ones that were originally compatible & they were mostly 2 or 4gb maximum.

[@algirdasstasiukaitis9576]

I call this Canon Power Shot G1 it's first mirrorless camera in 2000.

[@paulstevenson200]

Crikey, has anybody seen what these go for on the bay? Two hundred and fifty quid plus. The pictures are very pleasant and almost film-like. A most enjoyable review. Thanks.

[@zenography7923]

Glad you enjoyed it, thanks for watching!

[@violenthell]

Could possibly do a look into something like the Sony Cybershot DSC-285? It's an early 2000s camera with a Carl Zeiss lens that produce surprisingly sharp images

[@SatanSupimpa]

I recently got a G10, and it quickly became my everyday carry. Only downside is that it is one of the only few in the G series that doesn't have a flip screen.

[@zenography7923]

I’ve heard the g10 is a pretty nice camera -enjoy!

[@ulfjonsson2122]

Found this video today! Nice one. I have two Canon G9:s, one I bought in 2007 and a nos bought in 2021. I really like the images from their CCD sensors. regards

[@zenography7923]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@rileysmithphoto]

It's funny the place we are in now with resolution.

[@zenography7923]

No doubt it will continue to increase...

[@marksouthwell4490]

I've just got one . Hehe, I'm not sure where the exposure meter is for when shooting manual mode . I've worked out aperture priority

[@neuzdost1939]

Jesus christ. This is almost as old as my Canon 5d classic

[@Squeek158]

I think it would be fun if you could get ahold of an old Sony Mavica floppy disk camera. Fiddly sometimes to get going but a fun rewind in time to the start of our digital age.

[@collinmclaren6608]

Honestly that is incredible impressive for a digital camera made in 2000. Optical view finder, flip out screen, manual shooting mode, RAW image capabilities. Even the video performance has a weird charming guerilla film-making aesthetic to it, like you'd expect some independent journalist to be holding it in selfie mode talking about the newest happenings in Westminster.

[@zenography7923]

It's a really nice camera, and very solid; lots of features too! Thanks for watching.

[@caulinelarocque2366]

I have a G2 which I always called my Trusty for taking photos of items for very occasional sale in a certain site. Recently I cannot upload photos to the site. Might this be a Windows 10 problem? I have always used a usb data/charger cable. Grateful for any help and advice.

[@zenography7923]

It could be a problem with windows - can you upload from the camera to your computer, or does the problem happen when uploading to the website from your computer?

[@AG_cruz]

does anyone know the model number of the camera battery? I recently bought one without the battery and I want to buy its battery but I cannot find it

[@borderlands6606]

I entered the digital realm with a 6mp Canon camera, and was so unimpressed by the results I rarely used it. Next toe in the water was an 18mp Canon DSLR that was more satisfactory, but still not as nice as film. It's good to see they still had optical viewfinders, and surprised to find Raw on a point and shoot.

[@zenography7923]

I think it was designed for the semi enthusiast user, it has lots of features I was quite surprised to see!

[@jamessicurella7404]

Any Idea where I can buy a battery charger for the camera? thanks Joe

[@zenography7923]

I think ebay might be your friend here...

[@maxc1520]

After watching this excellent video, I decided to dig out my Powershot G3 that I bought for £750. However is appears to have developed a fault, after pressing the shutter - instead of the image appearing on the screen I get 5 vertical bars i.imgur.com/AZsAfhfh.jpg Which I presume to be an error code; the battery and card are good Canon are not helpful Have you any idea where I might research this fault ? Thanks for any advice

[@anuragchaudhary6307]

Hey you should review the g6 ,the last of the original G's

[@gracerobinson-dorn1683]

which settings do you shoot with?

[@annac4936]

Can you recommend anymore old digital camera's that give off the nostalgic 'feel' of a film camera? Hope you get what I mean, like give off a 35mm feel ? Thanks!

[@MrPetermc199]

Anna if you want the feel of a film camera, why not buy a film camera...

[@dougrosander9064]

See www.dpreview.com/interviews/5683481585/sofi-lee-on-digital-nostalgia

[@zenography7923]

The Fuji XT series will suit you well I think!

[@darkxfall]

Hello! i have Canon G2 and can't connect it to PC, drivers on canon website says it works only with windows ME, 2000 and XP. I run on windows 10, what to do?

[@zenography7923]

If you can't download them to a modern computer, it might be worth buying an old laptop - available very cheaply - to do the job?

[@marksouthwell4490]

Or you could upload the images to your mobile phone or tablet using a card reader and then transfer them to your laptop

[@abrahamcisneros3427]

I have one but i don't know where to get a charger for my battery's

[@zenography7923]

Have you tried eBay?

[@EnidAgnusDei]

It's odd because my newer phone has a 20.7 meg camera, my older one has 3.2 meg, I prefer the results from the 3.2 meg one, better colours, smaller file sizes and bob on for landscapes, newer aint always better! All the best my friend and remember, it will never be as good as a Zenit ;-)

[@legionchef]

Red Shutter Photography the zenit conquers all

[@EnidAgnusDei]

@@legionchef Indeed!

[@redrosse5122]

I just bought it, how to turn on?

[@zenography7923]

As I recall, this camera powers on using the main dial - either that or there’s a power switch right near it. Is your battery fully charged?

[@daviehudson4270]

CCD sensors are amazing, all the vintage digitals I have are CCD

[@zenography7923]

They really are quite something, a pity the technology wasn't developed!

[@daviehudson4270]

@@zenography7923 when buying vigital I look for 3 things now, no more than 6mp, ccd sensor and shoots raw

[@anuragchaudhary6307]

I recommend a canon 1 D mk 1

[@daviehudson4270]

@@anuragchaudhary6307 too big, I used to have a 1Ds and a 1 Dx

[@adnanabdillahghifari720]

What, This camera has a video on it? How could a compact digital camera from the early 2000 has video on it?

[@zenography7923]

I guess those folks back in the day were pretty smart!

[@adnanabdillahghifari720]

I would expect on these older cameras to record only 15 to 30 seconds of short low res movie clips

[@himeccms893]

The specialness of the color has nothing to do with it using a CCD sensor, it's due to the CCD sensor using CYGM Bayer filter instead of the now settled as standard RGGB filter.

[@zenography7923]

Ah, I didn't realise, thanks for the info! I wonder why RGGB filters are now so widely used, when CYGM filters look so much nicer!

[@Jonas-iz7rj]

why

[@zenography7923]

because

[@Anonymous-nj6of]

@@zenography7923 u

[@parranoic]

What's funny to me is the fact that Canon is so stubborn in essence all their cameras are still the same as this 20 year old one. Especially in their apsc sector, from lets say 300d to today all the dslrs are the same thing with some better this some better that.

[@zenography7923]

modern cameras are certainly bewildering in their seemingly endless variations...

[@user-fj9rh7vd8l]

I have SONY S600.500mega.2AAX2battery.photo so good but video so so

[@zenography7923]

Video took a while to develop in digital cameras, although it can be an interesting look. Thanks for watching.

[@user-fj9rh7vd8l]

Good camera.but low mega

[@zenography7923]

True, but it's still kind of nice.

[@joeyvigil]

An ugly camera, but the pictures look great.

[@zenography7923]

It's not the prettiest, for sure, but it makes great images!

[@zackthepoet]

Thank you for this guide, I just bought this camera from a thrift store for $5! So excited to shoot on it

[@lichtrelikt]

Got one too for 5 bugs

[@zackthepoet]

Thank you for this guide, I just bought this camera from a thrift store for $5! So excited to shoot on it

[@zenography7923]

That was a lucky find!