topic Re: Legacy Camera #1: PowerShot G1 in Share Your Photos

Legacy Camera #1: PowerShot G1

Tronhard — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 09:18:51 GMT

I have disposed of very few of the cameras I have had since I began my photography almost 40 years ago. Today, I had a reminder of the earliest digital camera I got when I saw a Throwback Review by Gordon Laing of the Canon PowerShot G1, released in 2000.

I still have mine, with box and all the various attachments, including wide angle and telephoto lens add-ons. So, I decided to dust my copy off and see if it would still work, and if so, how it would behave.

I still have the original batteries and they still work perfectly, so after making sure everything was charged up, with the date and time reset, and making sure I was shooting in RAW - an almost unique feature of the camera at the time, I popped in a 2GB CF card and went in search of some sample images.

Now, with the very dubious weather - sunny bursts that could lull one into a false sense of security before squalls descended, I decided to stay in my garden, thus limiting the range of images available. Still, I got a few shots out that confirm it still works as well as it did over 20 years ago! I even got Boris, my garden helper to pose for me as he took a break from his busy work schedule.

Certainly, it doesn't have the dynamic range of today's tech, but I am impressed at how well it performed.

Frankly, I have seen worse on images posted to the web from much newer gear...

Re: Legacy Camera #1: PowerShot G1

Tintype_18 — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 12:00:25 GMT

Nice photos. It's interesting how the early photographers showed us so much that life offers in B&W.

Re: Legacy Camera #1: PowerShot G1

shadowsports — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 14:04:57 GMT

Very cool. I have some early Powershot camera's laying around too.. Lots of happy memories were captured. Things have come a log way.

Re: Legacy Camera #1: PowerShot G1

Tintype_18 — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 19:15:26 GMT

Ansel Adams was the one I was trying to think of earlier. Amazing how he was able to be so creative with B&W. Not sure how accurate this link would be but it's interesting.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams

Re: Legacy Camera #1: PowerShot G1

Tronhard — Tue, 27 Jul 2021 22:17:14 GMT

I think B+W early photography is a good topic - perhaps we need a new thread to discuss the work of early B+W photographers, and we will continue with this thread as per the original post?

With the issues of this camera being challenged with CA, greyscale imagery is actually a very viable solution for those who want to be creative at a rock-bottom price. I may go out and do some more shooting with that in mind over the next couple of days and see what can be achieved!

Re: Legacy Camera #1: PowerShot G1

Tintype_18 — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 13:17:32 GMT

Tronhard, maybe a "nostalgia" section? I recall a story of an African-American who got a camera when he was a kid. Went on to be a noted B&W photographer in his time. Never got the recognition he deserved due to his race. Sad. Anyone know who this fellow was?

Re: Legacy Camera #1: PowerShot G1

Tronhard — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 23:09:55 GMT

These two are the bark of the NZ Kauri Tree:

Canon PS G1 18mm, f/2.2, 1/60sec, ISO-50, available light, hand-held

Canon PS G1 12mm, f/2.2, 1/30sec, ISO-50, available light, hand-held