Cameras are constantly being improved. Updating the latest model and its supposedly better performance can lead to the need for a permanent upgrade and a bad case for GAS Well, I’m here to turn back the clock and take a close look at a camera. 20 years old compact digital. much more likely than we can record. Read on to remember, ponder, and marvel at this forgotten gem.
Not fully digital, not fully film
I’m a dedicated cinematic shooter, which can be frustrating diving into the dark side of what is known as digital. In terms of ergonomics and practicality, Canon Powershot G2, originally released in 2001, feels more like using a film camera than a digital camera. Rigid design, slow shutter and zoom response, and basically all other functions make you pause and slow down. These are two of the consistently cited reasons why videographers tell you they choose this format over digital. So as you can see, there are some similarities here.
This puts G2 in a category of its own. The rise of the classic digital camera has blurred the lines between analog and digital, and can deliver not only film-like results, but also a cinematic experience. Combine this with high film prices, a global recession, and society’s growing obsession with nostalgia, and you have a pretty solid reason to get in on the vintage camera trend.
During September, I opted to take a break from my bank account and keep the film in the fridge, switching to a small collection of first-class digital cameras I owned. This was a fun exercise in which I learned a lot about myself as a photographer and discovered why I was drawn to cinema in the first place. More on that in another article, though. Let’s dive into the specs of this chunky Canon G2 and go through the photos.
4 Megapixels in 2022?
Okay, so you’re likely looking up or have gone to the comments section to tell me for even delving into the topic of using the latest all-services quad-megapixel camera and the coolest from every camera company right now. I admit that this won’t please everyone, but how can you deny at least the novelty aspect of using something so big, clunky and stale? My initial feeling when I unboxed the G2 was that it would be a kitsch experience and a bit of fun. However, seeing the photos really made me consider this camera more seriously, and I’ve used it fairly consistently throughout September.
Released in 2001 and marketed as a professional compact camera, the G2 features a 4-megapixel CCD sensor and surprisingly fast zoom lens that ranges from f/2 – f/2.5, even It’s still pretty good even today on a compact camera. A fellow photographer told me they remember paying close to $1,000 for this camera when it was first released, which is crazy to think when you look at it now in 2022. The fact that it stays the same today justifies that price point at the time, and following some online buzz in certain communities, the camera is now increasing in value across the board. eBay. “How the world turns”, is probably what some adult readers are telling themselves.
Megapixels aren’t the only thing that contributes to image quality. The lens is obviously an important factor, as is the image recording medium, which in the case of this camera is a CCD . sensor, something that is becoming quite sought after in the film community, as it is said to produce more film-like colors than modern CMOS technology. In these examples here you can see how it renders the pink and green as well as the orange of the chair which, to me, a shooter enthusiast, looks quite similar to the look I used to compare. . The images I have seen produced by vintage digital cameras with CCD sensors appeal to me more than the objectively better, but arguably more clinical and less interesting images. Modern digital cameras are being manufactured today.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of modern Fujifilm cameras, such as X100Vbut to me, the amount of post-processing that happens in camera to make their images look like film, less appealing and novel than the original camera image you can get from a camera like this.
If you’re printing your work, you’ll likely want more than four megapixels, and depending on your type of photography, this may not be enough either. However, with so many of us sharing our work primarily online, these photos won’t be enough for a platform like Instagram or even a website.
Another point to consider is that when these first digital cameras hit the market, we viewed them on screens that were much lower resolution and much smaller than they are today. I find it interesting that when we review these technologies, we are evaluating them with a completely different level of viewing technology than what is already available. To me, it’s similar to the difference between using a high-resolution film scanner to review decades-old negatives, versus looking at an original optically produced print from same negative around them at the time it was taken.
Advantages and disadvantages
Anything old will have its limitations when compared to the device released today. Whether you embrace those limitations and use them to your advantage is up to you. It is worth mentioning that the ISO is quite limited on this camera. Although you can go up to 400, it works best at ISO 50-100. Having that limitation really resembles the movie experience in many ways, so for me, it’s really a pro. I like to shoot a lot in bright, sunny conditions, or use the camera flash for an effect that makes the subject stand out. But for you, that may not suit your shooting style or conditions. As photographers, restraint is often used and seen as a creative tool to challenge yourself. We often hear quotes from great photographers or even in the comments section here in the Fstoppers community about how equipment and cameras don’t make you a great photographer. Picking up something like the G2 and seeing what you create with it, regardless of your opinion of digital classics, trends, or the snobbery surrounding the device, can truly expand vision as an artist.
A huge pro to me, and probably to you too, are the great JPEGs that come straight out of the camera. The G2 does shoot in raw, but to be honest, the SOOC photos look so great that I won’t bother with anything else going forward. Similar to a number of Fujifilm cameras in recent years, the G2 features an LCD screen that can be reversed and hidden from view, allowing you to use the optical viewfinder and really get into the area without “squeaking” every two seconds. To me, this is very professional. Without a suitable viewfinder, I’m really lost, and while this viewfinder isn’t always perfectly accurate, it’s close enough. There’s also an LCD screen on the top of the camera that will show all your essential settings, eliminating the need to go back to the menus on the back of the camera so often.
It goes without saying that this camera is quite slow. It only takes a second to turn on and emits a delightful nostalgic Windows 2000-style jingle that will make anyone smile. If not, you really are a monster. Zoom response is also quite slow, as is any function you choose to change. This may sound like a living nightmare for you as a photographer, or a lovely and nostalgic quote that slows you down and reminds you how far technology has come. . Obviously, I’m in the second category.
Epilogue
That’s it, a 20 year old digital camera that you most likely forgot about. Even if you’re not interested in hunting for one on the Facebook marketplace or in a thrift store, I hope part of you will enjoy this memory-recovery trip. I find trends appealing in any genre. Often, I feel they are huge indicators of the state of society on a global level, especially when looking at youth culture.
The digital camera trend is on the rise, and while there are a lot of things that may not be worth the purchase and battery life for Fstoppers readers, I suggest you consider trying out the G2 or a similar model from the era. this , as it has the potential to deliver more value than you can give.
