1. Your New Canon PowerShot G10/G11

The PowerShot G10 and G11 represent the latest technology in the Canon PowerShot G series, and judging by the reception afforded by serious photographers, they are easily the most popular cameras in the PowerShot line yet. That’s because they combine the small size, portability, and ease of use of point-and-shoot digital cameras with the high image quality and control that avid photographers—both professional and amateur—demand. Indeed, the G10 and G11 are the first cameras in a long time that are a serious contender as a “second” or “walk-around” camera for those who use a more advanced digital SLR, too.

That’s why I purchased my G10, and, a few months later, the G11. I wanted a smaller camera to carry around all the time, but I wasn’t willing to give up image quality or creative control. Many other happy PowerShot G-series owners are photographers who are stepping up from a less-capable point-and-shoot-type camera, because they need the options and extra capabilities, including the 10 to 14.7 megapixel (MP) resolution these cameras offer. No other cameras I’ve seen are as popular among serious shooters of all types as the G10 and G11. In fact, I decided to write this book after overhearing a “pro” photographer at a camera club explaining why he loved this camera to several dedicated amateur photographers—who also had selected the PowerShot G10 or G11 as their no-compromise “pocket” camera.