So Much for Best Buy

I had my whole kit stolen in a home burglary recently (40d, L lenses, Macro stuff, filters...basically everything but my tripod) and I was thinking about getting a G11 as a stop gap while I re-acquire what I want. I was torn between the Canon SX20 IS and the G11, but the G11 viewfinder at Best Buy appeared to be straight through the camera, not through the lens. I played with functions in the menu and finally got help from a Best Buy 'associate' who concluded with me that the view finder is just a hole through the camera and nothing else.

Now, I know that can't be true. Too many good photographers like it for the view finder to be that useless. Where did Best Buy go wrong in helping me uncover how to maximize the usefulness and visibility of meters, etc. in the view finder?

I've not handled the camera, but based on lots of others, are you sure those features are actually visible in the viewfinder, or is the LCD functioning as an alternate "viewfinder"? Redirecting light through the viewfinder takes lots of internal mechanics that drive up both the cost and size of a camera. Without interchangeable lenses, there's really no need if you're willing to use the viewfinder for quick framing, but rely on the LCD for critical work.

I think many photographers like the G11 in spite of the viewfinder. It is, in fact, just a fancy hole through the camera. The G11 is NOT an SLR. The LCD screen is the main interface to this camera.

Okay, good to know. I was thinking I was missing something. I do enough landscape stuff that relying on the lcd is tricky for me, and at least when I played with the G11 in the store, the viewfinder didn't let me know how zooming in an out recomposed the elements within the frame, so I felt very confused by it all. I can see the appeal, but it sounds like it's not the one for me. I did purchase (and return) the Canon Powershot SX20 IS (very noisy at ISOs above 100). Maybe I need to check the SX10 IS or whatever model is like the powershot but shoots Raw. Then again, for cost, size, and versatility, a Rebel XSi starts to look comparable.

I love my G11, but the viewfinder is relatively useless. That big, bright, sharp swiveling LCD on the back though is extremely useful and effective! BTW, the LCD shows 100% of the view (or close to it) so it is truly what-you-see-is-what-you-get. Therefore, I'm not sure I understand your comment about it...

I use the PS SX110 IS as a back up and tag along camera, There is a newer model out with I believe a slightly higher pixel count. It is LCD viewing and I like it great for landscape and close-up work, and have posted a few shots on NPN with it. Just posed one in nature and man. It does tend to be noisey at higher ISO, maybe the new model corrects that.

Jim, it was the viewfinder, not lcd screen, that didn't seem to zoom for composition. It was always showing the same thing (put eye to viewfinder, zoom lens, then look at lcd to see what was included when zoomed...kinda drove me crazy). The issue I have with lcd screens is sometimes having difficulty with focus confirmation and seeing what's on the screen itself when in bright light, but since it does swivel and rotate (unlike other lcd's I've had), I should be able to tilt it for optimal viewing. I'll take another look at it. I get the sense there was something not right about the G11 I played with, and the salesperson wasn't much help. I need to go to a camera geek store, I think.

The issue I have with lcd screens is sometimes having difficulty with focus confirmation...

That's just the opposite to the way a lot of people feel Marylynne. If the camera has a zoom mode on the LCD you can actually get much more accurate focus by using it (particularly if you use a tripod, since the camera is fixed in place). I'm not positive if the G11 has the ability to zoom the LCD while composing the shot, but I think it does. Maybe someone else can chime in...

Good point, David. I probably shouldn't have said focus confirmation. II'll try to clarfiy. With my 40d, I used the lcd the same way you describe, especially for macro shots...compose, zoom x 10, etc. What I mean is that I can't see the what is on lcd in sunny outdoor conditions, so my ability to use the lcd in that way is limited. I do think, however, that with a movable lcd that wouldn't be a problem since I could tilt it away from the sun.

For SLRs, I always use the viewfinder. On the G11, I always use the LCD.

In any case, use what works for you!

If at all you are indeed considering the SX20, then I urge you to have a look at the Panasonic DMC-FZ35. I know its not a Canon, but their quality is pretty darn good with a RAW mode. It also has more than decent picture quality and excellent zoom.

I would have to add that the ISO performance of most of digital cameras are relatively poor beyond basic 100,200 and having used a SLR, it would be even more irritating to see that amount of noise.

dcresource (digital camera resource) has an excellently detailed review on the Panasonic. (I am not sure if I am allowed to enter in the website link and hence have not done so).

Thanks, Shivakumar. The Panasonic looks very intriguing.
ML