By nature, I am not usually satisfied with point and shoot pictures.  I love having control of my images and like being able to shoot where and when I want.  I cannot stand the built in flash and red-eye that occurs when using these small pieces of equipment. So why even bother?  I decided I wanted one for convenience and I could not stand the one I won last year in a contest.  I gave it to my husband after it just sat in a drawer.

Much to my husband’s dismay, after researching through Facebook and Twitter, I decided to buy the Canon G11 point and shoot.  I have been getting questions daily about this decision, so I thought I would do a super informal review. You can find formal ones all over the internet.

It arrived just in time for my trip to Disney World in December. And while I cringed at the thought of leaving behind my Canon 5D MKII, I decided to take the plunge. Once I left for the airport, there was no turning back.

Pros:

• I could give it to my husband or others and get in photos (wait – maybe that is not a pro…)
• Much better on a rainy day – it poured all day while at the Magic Kingdom.  While the camera is not tiny, it was small enjoy to go in my purse, under a poncho.  I would not have brought my Canon 5D MKII out in this non-stop downpour.
• Fun angles with the tilt view finder.
• If I want to shoot manual, I can.
• Shoots RAW. Huge plus for me.

Cons:

• It is still a point and shoot – still red eye if indoors with flash.
• Not great at high ISOs. I would say ISO 400 is use-able, but beyond that, I was not overly happy.
• Flash is really flashy, even when I dialed it down.
• Though you can felt full manual, I did not want to.  I knew it would not do what my SLR would and I decided “when in Rome…”

So what is my verdict? I am very glad I bought the Canon G11.  I think in certain situations I will use it.  I do feel it is better than many P&S cameras I have owned. I like the fact that I can shoot RAW (and I did) and that I could shoot manual (though I mainly used Aperture Priority). But do not expect to see me selling my SLR and lenses.

And as for how I edited these? I ran them through Lightroom to correct basic exposure and white balance.  Then I batched them.  Normally when I batch, I use Autoloader, and edit after I run the Big Batch Action.  But in this case, I ran them through and let them close.  I wanted to see if I could let myself give up that control, since after all they are just snapshots.  And I did.  I was very proud of myself for that.

Spaceship Earth – the girls’ favorite ride…

At Epcot, in China, making masks…

Jenna outside the Magic Kingdom, minutes before it started and never stopped raining the entire day.

Jenna riding the Magic Carpet, over and over.  The ride was empty.

Jenna in the pool.  It was just 60 degrees. Not exactly pool weather, but…

A night shot…  My father-in-law took it. I would not have had this shot with me in it if I had not bought a point and shoot.  Everyone in my family is scared of my “big camera.”

Yes, Ellie, who just turned 8, and who is just over 40 pounds, went on Space Mountain! I would have missed this shot if I had brought my SLR instead (due to the rain).

At the airport, before we knew we would be stuck overnight there…

Thank you for this Blueprint submission by Amanda Williams of In Your World Portraits. She edited this beautiful senior exchange student from Sweden using a few MCP Photoshop Action Sets to achieve her final result.

Here are her steps:

1. Magic Midtone Lifter from the Bag of Tricks Action Set
2. Color Explosion from the Complete Workflow Set
3. The Eye Doctor
4. Sunburn Vanisher from the Bag of Tricks Action Set
5. Then used cloning and spot healing brush to clean up blemishes on the skin
6. Light texture applied to the background (not from MCP)

As a follow up to last weeks post on “how expensive equipment alone does not make a great photographer,” most people were in agreement that just because you have expensive gear does not make you a better photographer.  Once you learn the fundamentals and build up experience, better equipment can further enrich your photos.

Basically your camera, lenses and other equipment are the tools. If you hand me the most expensive gardening tools: top of the line shovel, perfect soil and some flowers and bushes to plant, they probably will die left in my hands. Same goes for photography…

From this article, I still got a lot of questions on what equipment I own.  Readers wanted to know what gear I started out with in photography, what I use now, and where I shop.

When I started shooting, my 1st camera was a Canon Rebel 300. My 1st lens was a 50 1.8.  I loved it and thought my photography was amazing.  Looking back now I laugh – I had so much to learn.  Here are 3 of my 1st photos ever from when I got my SLR – note that I had no clue how to focus – and used the portrait and running man auto modes.  Oh, promise you will not make fun – I am really exposing myself here…

Once the Canon 20D was announced and I sold the Rebel and bought the 20D.  I still have this camera – now for my 7 year old twins to learn using a camera.  When I purchased the 20D, I got the 17-85mm lens with it. I used this camera for many years. For low light I ended up getting the Tamron 28-75 2.8.  This is a great starting out lens.

Next up I bought the 40D. By this time I had started upgrading lenses.  I had a 50 1.4, 85 1.8 and got my 1st L lens – a 24-105L. I have bought and sold a number of lenses over time -so I may miss a few in this post.  Good lenses hold value well  (around 80-90% often times) and so when I decide to try something different, I sell and buy…  Kind of an endless cycle. These shots below were using 50 1.4.

Now for my current gear…  Over the past few years I have added to my L lens collection.  And mainly focused on primes. I now have the Canon 5D MKII (kept the 40D as a backup).  For prime lenses I have the 35L 1.4, 50L 1.2, 85 1.2, 100 2.8 macro, and 135L 2.0. My most used of these is 35L for street photography and general walk around lens (though the 50L gets used a lot for that now that I have a full frame camera).  I love the 85L for portraits and 135 2.0 for outdoor shots (LOVE this lens).

As for zooms, I recently sold my 70-200 2.8 (it was super heavy and it just did not get used).  I still have my 17-40 for wide angle.  Though I keep wondering if I should sell it and get the 16-35L.  Anyone have opinions on that?  And I have the 24-105L – This lens was my most favorite until I become a primarily prime shooter. And I just ordered the Canon 15mm Fisheye last night – this will be my fun times lens.

Here is a quick collage of pictures from 2009 using my most current set up of L primes, a macro and the Canon 5D MKII.  I see definite improvement over the years in my photography, understanding of light, better grasp on focusing and post processing.  The better equipment… well it helps – but only because I know what to do with it.  I assure you if you handed me this gear when I got my 1st camera it would have been a waste.  I would have had no “running man” to use – and would have wondered why the camera has no flash on it…

What else do I currently have in my camera bag?  I have white balance lens caps, lastolite ezybalance, Sekonic light meter, business cards and a pack of mint gum. Depending where I will be shooting, I carry the 580EX II and a Gary Fong Lightsphere too. Currently it is housed in my newest Camera Bag – the Jack by Jill-e rolling bag.

Where do I shop? My preferred stores are: B&H Photo and Amazon.

*** Now your turn: tell me – do you feel over the years you have improved?  If so, do you feel it was more the equipment or your skills – or a mix of both?  If both, I would love to hear what % you feel of each…