Great camera but G2 will do the same for less
Definetely a great camera..Proven Canon built quality and lens. Feels solid in hand. Rather heavy for point and shoot but a great camera for semi pros.

The best so far!
The Canon G3 improves in almost all ways on the G1 and G2 before it, and in fact beats the Nikon Coolpix 5000 in performance (picture quality and battery life) -- which is amazing because the 5000 is a 5 megapixel camera and the Canon is a 4 megapixel camera. Canon's optics are better and I believe their processing algorithms are also better. Simply, the Canon G3 is the best digital camera out there today at this price point.

The Canon allows you to change lenses, and it accepts the IBM Microdrive (Type II Compact Flash), so you can have up to 1 Gigabyte of storage. For me on the Fine resolution setting (not maximum but very close) this adds up to over 1000 images with the 1 Gig card. The battery life of this camera is twice that of the Nikon 5000 and is better than anything else I've seen.

The only minor nits I have with the camera are it is fairly boxy looking, it needs a wrist strap instead of a neck strap, and it is a bit slow between shots. Even with these shortcomings, I still think it is the best digital camera available under $1200.

Best non-SLR digital camera under 5 megapixels
I've been using the G3 for about six weeks and it has proven itself to be all that it's advertised. After doing a hands-on comparison between the Nikon Coolpix 5700 and Sony DSC-F717 (both of which lack the quality, feel, or features of the G3), I ultimately chose the G3 because of its outstanding image quality (resolution and coloration are superior). It beats the competition in almost every area including battery life, enthusiast features, external flash capabilities, available storage types, image formats, and more. This is a camera you will need to study and use in order to fully exploit its many features. It can be a point-and-shoot camera, but if you do not intend to "get into" it's finer features, I'd suggest a less enthusiast featured choice. All-in-all, I believe this is arguably the best non-SLR digital camera on the market.

I love it more the longer I own it
I've been using a PowerShot S330 for nearly a year, and wanted to upgrade to a 4 or 5 megapixel camera with a longer zoom, more adjustability, a hot shoe for an external flash, and a remote control. I looked at both the Nikon Coolpix 5700 and the Canon G3, and decided on the G3 due both to ergonomics (much more comfortable to hold and use) and the price ...

I've had the camera for about two weeks and shot hundreds of pictures so far. And so far, I've been very pleased. There's a noticeable difference in the quality of a 4 megapixel image versus the 2 megapixels of the S330, especially if you want to crop and enlarge the pictures. The larger lens of the G3 gives better picture quality in low light, and the 4-times optical zooms gets you just that much closer.

The moveable LCD screen is great. You can take pictures with the camera held above your head, way down, or beside you with no problem, allowing you to position the camera for the best shot without contorting yourself. The tiny (postage-stamp sized) remote unit is wonderful: not only does it trigger the shutter, it can also be used to zoom and review pictures. I also purchased a good sturdy tripod: the combination of the new camera, tripod and remote control enabled me to take some remarkable indoor, natural-light portraits I never would have attempted before.

The hot shoe flash attachment allowed me to buy and use a sophisticated flash unit: I chose the Canon Speedlite 420. This has made the greatest difference in the quality of my photographs: the built-in flash on any of these cameras gives you flat photos, red-eye, and annoying shadows; a good add-on flash unit can be bounced off the ceiling or wall for pleasing, almost-natural lighting.

I needed three batteries to keep myself going with the S330, but the battery in the G3 is a real powerhouse: I shot over 300 photos at my goddaughter's birthday party without switching out to my backup battery. The G3 has a different type of battery charging system from the smaller Canon cameras: the battery needs to be charged while in the camera, but the charging system also enables you to use the camera while plugged in without running down the battery.

I have yet to try using all of the adjustment options: shutter priority, aperature priority, light metering adjustments, etc., but all controls are well thought out and and the manual is relatively clear. You can use this camera right out of the box on the automatic setting, or slowly get comfortable with the manual settings and what they can do.

Negatives? I've been bothered by blown-out highlights on the S330, and the G3 seems to do only slightly better. (I'm starting to think that this may just be one of the weaknesses of all digital photography at this level.) The on-off button feels somewhat flimsy, and has an awkward, tiny little lock-out button that needs to be depressed to turn on the camera. And the body/construction in general has quite a bit of plastic, a disappointment after the stainless steel heft of the S330.

I bought a 512 MB card, which seems to hold about 400 photos at the highest resolution. I was worried that 4 megapixel photos would download more slowly, but there's no difference in working with the files. I have a 120 GB remote drive I use to store my digital images: I can imagine that they'd fill up my iBook's internal memory pretty quickly.

At the same time I purchased this camera I also bought Adobe's Photoshop Elments 2.0 software, and can't praise it highly enough. If you're investing in a camera at this level, buy this software! And as I said in my review of the S330, all of these digital cameras are easier to use with Apple computers.

The bottom line: if you're serious about your digital photography, or been bitten with the bug after using a digital point-and-shoot, this may be just the camera for you. But make sure to buy a tripod and separate flash unit at the same time: you'll see the difference in your photos immediately.

Added 2-24. I've now had the camera for two months and I'm even more pleased with it. I wound up buying a gray card and use it all the time with the custom white-balance setting. It helps avoid the problem of a color cast on the pictures, especially in mixed-light settings. If you don't have a gray card, you can use a plain white piece of paper. I also discovered the exposure-bracket setting, which enables you to take three exposures with one press of the shutter: the first at the camera-determined exposure, then one lighter and one darker. Especially useful with portraits and difficult-to-meter situations. I did buy the telephoto lens (and the required extension). Very easy to use. I'll probably also get the wide-angle now, too. Very comfortable camera, easy to use, and the best digital photos you're going to get at this price.

Great Camera
I bought my Canon G3 about a month ago and I have to say I am very satisfied. I have taken hundreds of photos with it and I continue to be amazed by their quality. The G3 is loaded with many useful features, and unlike many smaller digital cameras, it is easy to hold steady when using slower shutter speeds.

Flaws?

The lens is visible in the viewfinder when the lens is set to the wide angle, but since I use the LCD most of the time, this is not really much of a bother to me. Still I am a little suprised that Canon did not correct this design flaw before releasing the camera.

Despite this minor disappointment, I highly recommend the Canon G3 anyone who is serious about digital photography.

Canon G3 Review/Response/Recommendation
The camera's a work of art/science -- that's understood. It takes great pictures, operates quickly, and feels solid.

To address two previous somewhat negative reviews:
(1) Yes, the lens barrel does obstruct part of the lower left corner in the lens viewfinder; however, the LCD viewfinder is rather stunning and I find myself rarely using the lens viewfinder.
(2) There are, actually, several differences between the G2 and G3, such as differences in Continuous Shooting, the Optical Lens, the Control Layout, Playback Zoom, Image Processing, and so on. ...

This camera is closest to perfect than any other digicam.
This camera is closest to perfect than any other digicam that is 4-5 Megapixel. Beats that Sony F717; its archrival. I'm glad Canon decided to keep the 4Mp resolution and improved upon it with new technology; I can't fit all that resolution(4Mp=2272x 1704 resol.) in my 19in flat monitor(1200x1024 resol.) anyways. Please go to read dpreview.com and you'll get the complete story. My story is based on personal usage.
Yes there is a corner lens barrel distortion(I don't like it too but no harm done since I always use the camea LCD screen to see exactly what I'm going to get) in the viewfinder when you don't zoom(when you zoom the lens distortion goes away), Canon knows this and engineered it that way to minimize the parallax phenomenon; that is what you see in the viewfinder perimeter is not almost exactly what you will get when you shoot the picture. Moving the viewfinder elsewhere on the camera will remove the lens distortion but increase the parallax phenomenon. The distortion is not a flaw. As with taking digital pictures, I notice other people including myself have errors on their compactflash which results in certain shots being partially taken or lost- this is an issue that seems to effect compactflash and other digicam brand.I've haven't heard about a diagnos or fix for this. In terms of the shots taken, this camera is INSANELY GREAT!. The pictures are fabulous and their is a (short)learning curve to it; there are tons of features I haven't even gotten to.

In terms of the important accessories,I got myself an the extra litium battery. Based on my used, 1 full charge was enough for at least 255 shots. I also got myself a 512MB Viking compact flash(enough for 255 shots at full 4Mp resolution and max picture quality) and a used $250 3lb subnotebook with USB connection and tons of hard drive space for long trips so I can verify what I've taken and that subnotebook also saves me from having to buy extra compactflash. The compact flash is delicate and I hate to swap it in fear on the connetions(camera and CF) bending(can lead to CF erros) or losing it.

Anyways, Canon has improved upon the G2 with this G3. It's a winner. I've been pleased with the picture quality and durability in snow, car, boat and wind. My only suggestion is to get a lens protector to help protect the shooting lens(the lens coating will wear out after so many clean wipes) and I'm getting the those ( 52 mm adapter and UV lens filter )at lensmateonline.com. They got the best lens adapter for the G3-better than Canon's. That's what I did and hopes this helps.

Cannon! you did it again!
I have owned this camera for a short time and wouldn't give it up for anything. It surpasses my greatest expectations in a 4mp camera.
...

Excellent camera
I spent a lot of time comparing different cameras, and I realized that there is not such thing as the best digital camera. You can always spend more money to get a better one.

However, for a $600-$800 budget, I think this camera is an excellent choice. It has a beautiful design, lots of features, very easy to use, very configurable and customizable, and the battery duration is amazing!!! Also, the display is "hinged" and it can be placed in a myriad of positions, or to protect it against any damage. Excellent idea!

One bad thing is that it comes with a pitiful 32mb compactflash card, and for most purposes, it is not enough. However, it seems that this is the general rule for most digital cameras.

Another good thing is that this camera seems to introduce much less noise in dark places than others I've seen.

You'll take more pics... that's what its about
I don't write many reviews but I'm compelled to do so with this camera. First and foremost, it will take better pic's than most film camera's. Save them on computer and print out just the ones who want. Duplicates are a no brainer and cheap. No more wasted time and money developing rolls of pic's for just a couple of keepers. Crop and enlarge the best at practically no extra cost or time. The technology is finally here folks, to make your photo life easier...a great new use for that underutilized computer.

A digital camera will stay at home if its a hassle to use. Poor quality pics, short battery life, slow time consuming uploads and printing will ruin the digital camera experience and keep you buying film. This camera has none of these flaws and will be something you'll use all the time.

My wife shuns all new technology and compained when I brought this home, but now she's forever asking for the digital camera. And I let my kids shoot as many pics as they want, let them review them on the camera and just print the good ones (which are not many). Get the Canon 850 printer and an EX flash.

In short, I have a new SLR with an expensive lens and several film point and shoots. I haven't used any of them since I got the G3. Unless your a professional, now you will need only one camera...this one.

Best of the Best
best camera ever...from the image quality, color, function, I can say almost everything. This camera has a cool stitch pictures feature, to find out more just log on to canon's website. I had an olympus digital camera before and it was nothing compared to this. For those of you who already bought this camera, I suggest you buy a Hi-Ti dye-sub Photo Printer.

boxy? no -- GORGEOUS!
You can read the other reviews for specs and performance opinions.

I was perfectly happy with my G2, so why did I trade up to the G3? Because this camera is beautiful. The G2 was slightly curvy with a champagne finish -- very homely. The G3 looks like a work of art! Its silver magnesium finish is stunning, and the sharp lines and excellent grip are better than any other camera I've seen. The little digital Elphs were the best-designed, most-elegant cameras until the G3 came along and squashed them.

Very good choice in it's price range
This is my first digital camera. Iým very pleased with it so far. I wanted something that is able to take high quality photos but not be so bulky that Iýd wind up leaving it at home all the time. This seemed like a really good compromise. I compared it to the Olympus C5050z, the Sony DCS-F717 and the Nikon 5700. Based on the cameras features and about dozen online reviews, this one seemed like the best all round deal. Itýs not perfect though. Here are the shortcomings Iýve noticed so far: It would have been a much easier choice if this were 5mp camera. You can see the lens barrel in the view-finder. (I knew this before hand, and itýs not THAT bad) There is no TIFF format. That would be a nice compromise between JPEG and RAW. To save a picture as RAW, you have to have the display on, this seems like a waste of battery power. It seems to me that after the focus and metering are complete thereýs quite a lag before the ýshutterý trips. (Again this is my first digital camera and maybe thatýs just how they all are.) For those of you using a Mac in OS X+ there is no Twain utility to download your pics directly into Photoshop. Itýs very simple to import via iPhoto 2 and then move them to Photoshop. I havenýt spent much time with the included software, so I donýt know what to say about it other than it seems ok. Iým quite happy with the camera. It comes with a clearly written manual and the learning curve isnýt too too steep. Yes, I recommend it over the competition.

The last digital camera I'll buy.
I've been looking to buy a digital camera for a long time and v=finally decided that now was the time. After a lot of research, I decided on the G3. Am I ever glad that I decided on this camera! I've only had it a week, but so far, everything about this camera is making me happy. Forget the fact that it'll probably take me a year to figure out ALL the features this camera has to offer. I've been able to change modes on this thing without even looking at the manual. Very intuitive menus are a big plus on this camera. I charged it up the day I got it, took a bunch of pictures and I don't think the battery indicator has budged from fully charged. The standard battery include with the G3 is a camcorder battery that will allow me to take pictures all day without worrying about charging. I was worried about this after seeing a friend change batteries on his Olympus after about 20-30 pictures. The optical zoom is awesome, and the viewfinder reflects the settings of the zoom. One little minor flaw with this camera is that the lens is visible in the viewfinder, but does not detract from the image at all.

As I said, this is the last digital camera I'll buy, and if you are in the market one, my advice is to buy the best thing you can afford and keep it forever. These things may get a lot better in the future, but from what I've seen in the last few years, the technology for digital cameras isn't advancing at the pace of PC's, phones and hard drives.

The best 4 Megapixel/4X optical zoom camera available and fairly easy to use. Highly recommended. For more info on digital cameras, go to dpreviews.com

Love it more and more!
I used a Canon Powershot S20 for about 2.5 years and LOVED it! There were a few flaws that I learned to deal with and took thousands of pictures around the world, losing a few that I really regretted. I finally decided to upgrade, and started my research. Canon was an obvious choice, but I did not want to limit my decision, so started researching all brands that would take my Microdrives. I researched, held, tested, and observed 3 different brands. Needless to say, the Canon won, hands down. This camera performs like I can not believe! I bought it for my trip to Beunos Aires, and also used it at the Iguazu Falls, and could not have asked for more perfect performance!!! It was too new to have learned much about the advanced features, so I generally used the Auto mode. This camera is worth every penny, and I highly recommend it! Another point of note: the battery life is incredible!! I did not have a backup battery, and had no need for one. I did have ability to charge it every night, so don't know how long it would have actually gone before dying. This camera will stay with me for YEARS!!

5 Month Update:
I am still loving my camera! Took it to Croatia (very humid), Cannon Beach (very humid), with NO problems! I was worried from a couple of reviews I had read, but experienced no problems. The pictures I have taken are INCREDIBLE, with exceptional detail. I still have NO regrets. Many manual settings that I still need to figure out (or maybe not). I LOVE MY CAMERA!!!!!!!

Cool [Toy].
Yep. This is my first Digital Camera, and what a 'toy' it is!!! I am a software engineer and am very keen into technical details of everything i buy, I spend around 3 months before buying the digital camera; and i must say, G3 worth every single cent i spent on it.
Just a little overview, PowerShot G3 is the flagship of Canon's PowerShot series and its an SLR-like camera, its 4 megapixel and (alsmost) full manual control gives the pictures a touch of brilliance. Whether you are a novice or an expert, its ease of use and functionality goes together. + you can have different kind of lens if you want + flashes, etc. As its 4MP, you might need bigger storage to store high quality images and recording movies (you can record 3 minutes of video). I am using Kingston 512MB CF which works great and is very fast. A good choice could be CF type II, Microdrives that can store around 1 GB of images.
Some things that i didn't like (but hey.. nothing is perfect).
* Main dial is not backlit.
* Lens visible in optical viewfinder. (well thats only for old-school die-hard optical viewfinder fans) use LCD instead which is brilliant and you can twist around too.

Overall I'm happy with my toy. :)

The Best 4MP out there
The Canon G3 is perhaps the best 4MP camera out there. I've tried the Sony S85 with the Carl Zeiss lens, but the pictures were too digital. With Canon, you get pictures that appear to be photos, not still camcorder shots. I love the EOS based controls and easy menus.

I don't need to go into exhustive review of this camera. Many before me have done that already. I agree with the positive reviews. But there are two things I don't like about the camera that were not mentioned in any previous reviews.

1) The included lens cap is very loose on the camera. Though the instruction booklet says that the camera should display "lens" when the cap and the camera are both on, the camera lens extends out and simply takes the lens cap off by itself. I'm concerned that with the easily removed lens cap, I may damage the lens. Very cheaply made.

2) The body construction - buttons, casing, etc, are too prastic. The G2 was better in this respect. It had a heavier and more sturdy casing.

Despite these grieps, I still recommend the camera.

100 % Happy!
This is my first digital camera and I couldn't be happier. I have but plan on selling my Rebel Ti and all of the equipment with it. I love the quality of the pictures. They look fantastic. I can take better pictures with this then my Rebel Ti with a good lens. It's just easier for me since I can make on the fly adjustments.

The Catch!
The catch with the Canon G3 camera, (and perhaps all of digital cameras) is that its unresponsiveness will cause you to miss precious shots. Prior to the purchase, none of my digital camera friends mentioned the delay between pressing the shutter button and the camera taking the picture. No one told me, but I wanted to tell you. This is not the same thing as a film camera. And while it is cool and fun and has no film processing costs... they haven't got all the bugs worked out just yet.

Most of the time, my G3 is a well-behaved camera. But once in a while, I run up against it's major flaw: It sometimes takes the picture at some indefinite period of time AFTER you press the shutter button. I am not talking milliseconds. Picture this: Your child is going to do a cannonball off the diving board, so you compose the shot and wait for your moment. When it arrives, you press the shutter release. Splash! The moment passes, and THEN your new G3 camera takes the shot.

Perhaps there is a way around this delay. Some feature I could turn on or off, or some attachment I could get... Yes, I push the button down halfway first to avoid the autofocus delay. Yes, I have red-eye off, and yes, I've tried adding a flash. But after trying many adjustments, the camera remains unresponsive when compared to any film-based camera. I own another Canon - an EOS (35mm film) camera. It focuses in a snap. Dim or bright, it would never take a picture AFTER the birthday candles had blown out, AFTER the Tae Kwon Do kick broke the board... Canon's G3 does it consistently. It feels slow to focus, and unbearably slow to shoot. I challenge anyone (who is not in direct sun at the beach at noon) to say it is fast and responsive.

And so I must ask, what are cameras for? What task do they perform?

Cameras capture moments. They stop time. Because once the moment is gone, it is not coming back. The dive, the kick, the blow-out-the-candles moments are, to me, the reason for cameras. A 35mm film camera captures the moments you want, while these digital cameras (my friends now inform me) all seem to capture the moment immediately following the one you asked to capture. Not all the time, but often enough to be a real problem. Like I said, when the moment is gone, it is GONE.

So buy the G3. Buy it for fun, for lack of processing, because you want to use iPhoto, or whatever. But do not assume, as I did, that the G3 has the same ability as [your current film camera] to stop the moment YOU choose. From a dime store disposable to a top of the line EOS, all film cameras share this ability to capture the moment you tell them to. Unfortunately, this digital moment-capturing device called the G3 sometimes captures the moment AFTER the one you wanted.

Upgraded from G2 and not looking back!
The Powershot G3 is a great camera. Why? Because it can help a so-so photographer take spectacular photos! 4 Megapixels is plenty for all but pros, and you will not be disappointed with the results of this camera. It's slightly lighter than the G2 and packed with even more features. Make sure you get a big CompactFlash card (it comes with a 32MB) -- the 512MB cards are pretty [inexpensive] here on Amazon.com and can hold about 500 photos at a time!

Awesome pro-sumer camera
When shopping for digital cameras I looked at the Nikon CP5700, Olympus C5050, Nikon CP5000, and the Canon G3. Yes, all cameras except G3 were 5mp but I was looking for a lot more than just Megapixel power.

Not only was I was shopping for a camera that would suit MY casual and artistic photographic needs, I had to keep in mind that my fiance wanted to use this camera as well. Her main focus was having a camera that is easy to understand and use.

The Nikon's are great cameras. + They have great optics (CP5700 has great optical zoom)and features, not to mention take great pictures. - The drawbacks were that they were not user friendly for the casual photographer, the LCD screen is a little too small, CP5000 does not take photos in RAW format.

Olympus C5050 is a very solid camera with a metal body. + Takes sharp 5mp photo's, has great features and relatively easy to use. - I didn't care much for the tilting LCD screen, it seemed very limited and not very usefull. Photos had some artifacts and noise. My fiance just didn't like the way it felt in her hands.

We also looked at the Fuji FPs602. Nice Camera but doesn't take as sharp as pictures I thought they would, and again... fiance didn't like the feel.

The Canon G3... 4mp, 4X optical zoom, takes absolutely beautiful photos with detail that challenges all of the above 5mp cameras, easy to understand and use (has a great swivel LCD screen), a LOT of features and add-on options, comes with great software (not to be overlooked), and last but by far not least, received my fiance's stamp of approval (two thumbs up!)

A LOT of research went into digital camera's before I made this purchase, and hands down, the G3 had everything I needed plus more. The other cameras were great and I'm sure many people will beg to differ from my observations, but to each his/her own. I have no buyers remorse with this baby, and I never will.

Always remember, cameras don't take great pictures, people do!

LOVE THE G2, HATE THE G3
I LOVE MY G2 SO THOUGHT I WOULD UPGRADE. BIG MISTAKE. THE G3 HAD PROBLEMS FOCUSING IN LOW LIGHT AND WOULD NOT TAKE THE PICTURE WHEN THE SHUTTER WAS PRESSED BUT AFTER THE SHUTTER HAD BEEN RELEASED A FEW SECONDS. GOT WAY TOO MANY BLURRY PICTURES. I HAVE RETURNED THE G3 (ACTUALLY I TRIED TWO OF THEM) AND HAVE MY G2!

Canon never ceases to amaze, even better than G2
Being a great fan of the G2 I set out with G3 with a somewhat negative expectation, difficult as it is to improve drastically on something already as 'perfect' as the Powershot G2. But Canon never fails to amaze. Some of the great gains over G2 --

1. The ability to selectively switch to RAW format during record review gives you incredible more post-processing flexibility.

2. Battery life is over 4.5 hours, compared to about 2.5 hours for the G2 or the 2 hours for most Nikons.

3. The Remote Capture and FileViewer software bundled for photo capture is mind-blowing. Looks sort of like Picasa Software (google it if you dont know) in the interface and is as easy to install and operate as G2's, but more intuitive.

4. The shape of this device is a little squarer, without losing the weight which means better balance and less shaking while clicking. A big plus in my book.

5. The 1/200 sec, F5.6 + ND filter for highly exposed (or very brightly lit) environments. The light auto-correction is awesome. You could take a picture of a stone glinting in the sun and still avoid the shining glaze and get the contours right.

6. The G2's "Color Effect" exposure mode has now been removed, the replacement is a selectable "Effect FUNC" menu option available in all exposure modes. There are six default settings (Off, Vivid, Sepia, Neutral, Low Sharpening, B&W) as well as a 'Custom Effect' that allows you to control sharpening, contrast and saturation.

7. A new PhotoStich software for stiching your pics into a panoramic view. I can of course buy such a tool off the shelves separately but helps if it comes with my camera. (Looks quite neat too suggesting that Canon may have, er, Canonized it a bit).

8. Perhaps inspired by the Canon's factory white-correction settings (which were found lacking and had to be altered by a user before the white edges from buildings etc could be cleaned out), the G3 has much sharper white offsets. In English, this means that even straight out of the box, you'll be amazed at the pics you end up taking.

9. In dim lit environs the G2 could easily outperform any other camera, and thankfully G3 maintains this rep. Personally I believe it even outperforms the G2 in terms of less haze and astonishingly real colors.

Overall, the G3 delivers what must be considered the best image quality of any current >4 megapixel digicams, from a detail, tonal balance and color response point of view. There's really very little about G3 images to criticize. Short of the EOS range from Canon or the D100s from Nikon (both SLRs) this is quite simply the best you can ask for.

Great Digital Camera
After reading the very positive review of this camera in a leading consumer magazine, I decided to head here, to Amazon, to read through the online reviews. The objections of the naysayers almost caused me to purchase a different camera, but, in the end, I figured I'd give the G3 a try. I'm very glad I did.

The service from the supplier was exceptional. The camera arrived on time and in perfect condition.

Having used it for more than a month, I can say that it consistently produces topnotch photos. Recently, I attended a "flyball" competition -- an event that involves dogs running and jumping hurdles. By cocking the shutter to the halfway position and getting the settings ready to shoot, I was able to produce excellent stopaction photos -- contrary to what other reviewers experienced.

The camera is a dream to operate in automode, but also gives tremendous flexibility in aperture priority, shutter priority, and manual modes. In the coastal redwood forests I was able to use these additional features along with the macro-focussing option to shoot wonderful close-up photos of the trilliums and other flowers in bloom.

About the only legitimate criticsm from the online reviews is that fact that the lens really does obstruct the viewfinder. This effect is increased when one buys and uses a telephoto doubler. But who cares? I always shoot using the LCD panel.

I can't write enough positive things about this great little camera!

Excellent Picture Quality / Color!!!
I recently purchased the Canon PowerShot G3 and am extremely satisfied with the purchase. The Camera is very easy to use, in fact on a recent trip this past week I was asked to take a picture of a vacationing elderly group. After I took their picture with their camera, they offered to take a picture of us. I just told them, press halfway, wait for the box to turn green and press the rest of the way. They fired away and the picture turned out quite nicely. (As all of my pictures have thusfar). A few of my work constituants owned the G2 and highly recommended the Canon for picture quality. I'm easily enlarging pictures to 8 1/2 x 11 with no visable loss in picture quality and not even using the best possible setting as yet (super fine). Ensure you get a larger flash, 128 or 256, some are selling with the larger flash, 32MB will do in a pinch but you'll quickly want a larger flash card as with any of the 4MP cameras. Bottom line, well made camera, easy to use, very flexible and powerful features to include the ability to use external flash and lense/filters choices. I'd highly recommend this camera for anyone who is looking for excellent quality pictures and a combination of ease of use and the flexibility to get advanced with many options to adjust if you like. Great job Canon!

Knock your socks off great
I've had this for 3 months now, and I am pleased with my decision. This is the perfect camera for a photo hobbiest who wants to have easy point and shoot ability as well. My girlfriend loved using this camera so much as a point and shoot that I had to pry it out of her hands most of the time. Battery life, the drawback to most digital cameras, to quote K. Reeves...whoa. Manual functionality is excellent, downloading pictures is quick and a breeze, and the quality is astounding.

I did a good month's worth of research before buying this over other similar priced digital cameras, and this IS the best buy for the buck. Not perfect (yes, the viewfinder can get obstructed in instances...but the lcd works well enough in those instances), not the cheapest 4.0 mp, but the best 4.0 mp. If you don't believe me on that, check the consumer reports review as well as the many digital camera review sites out there. Or save time and just do it, you won't regret it.

Within its limitations, produces stunning images
I am a long-time user of highly responsive film SLRs and professional quality external flash equipment, just so you know my bias. I have been watching the development of digicams for years, waiting to make my first move. What I really want is a $1,500 digital SLR with a full frame sensor that will take my Nikon lenses. I figure that is at least three years off, and I am getting impatient. Hence I decided to spring for a "point-and-shoot" digicam that that would have features that would let me get around their inherent limitations. I chose the G3 because of its reputation for very high quality, clean images.

The two limitations I knew I would have to deal with are the very long lag time before it focus-locks (even in bright light), and the unsatisfactory light quality of the built-in flash. As of this writing, technology has not solved the focus-lock lag time problem for point-and-shoot digicams and anyone who is satisfied with it simply has never used a modern film SLR. At least once you've got focus lock, the shutter release lag time for the G3 is about 1/10 of a second, which from what I've read, is better than just about anything else available. What makes the focus-lock lag time something I can live with is the extreme depth of field obtainable with these point and shoot digicams at f8. Once I get focus lock, I can then wait until my restless subject (a pet or a child) strikes an amusing pose and then fire the shutter with some reasonable probability of getting my subject still in focus.

Now what about the flash problem? Relative to what I can easily achieve with external flash on my Nikon SLR, the internal flash on the G3 produces harsh, flat images with ugly hot spots. Fortunately, the G3 has a hot shoe that can take an external flash, and fortunately for me, I already owned a one of the highest quality external flashes that money can buy: the Metz 60 CT-4. I can't use my Nikon external flash on a Canon camera, but I CAN use my Metz, with the proper Metz module and extension cord connected between the G3 and the 60 CT-4. For those who have this Metz flash (or the 45CL-3) and would like to get the absolute ultimate quality out of this G3, the Metz module you need is the SCA 3102 and the connector cord is the SCA 3000C.

In order for this to work, you have to set the camera to manual mode and set the shutter speed and f-stop yourself. Contrary to what I've read elsewhere, the G3 DOES sync at 1/250 of a second with third-party flashes, just as it does with the dedicated flashes from Canon. You also have to set the G3 to second shutter sync, which is what you'd want to do most of the time anyhow. Then just forget about all the controls you have on the Metz flash head itself and the SCA 3102 control panel, because they are all IGNORED. The G3 completely takes over controlling the duration of the Metz flash, and most of the time, the exposure is spot on and when it isn't, it's because you've exceeded the range of the Metz flash itself. This might happen if you get too close to the subject and you are not bounce-flashing, or if you ARE bounce flashing and the walls are simply too far away. Unfortunately, the neutral density filters for the Metz flash are no longer available, so the first problem can't easily be solved. The second problem is solved by more direct lighting from the Metz (with the attendant shadows unfortunately). But once you've got your exposure within an acceptable range, the G3 is shown to produce utterly stunning images that I can hardly get with my Nikon F100 film camera. The 60 CT-4 flash head can actually be reversed 180 degrees and then tilted, enabling you to bounce the flash off the walls behind you. The results are shadow-free images that look as if they've been exposed with the gentlest natural light you could imagine.

Now there is one more complaint I have about the G3 and that is the software that comes with it for processing raw images (I only shoot in raw image mode and the first thing I did was replace the 32 MByte CF with a 512 MByte CF, which gives me 130 raw images, as opposed to 7!). The Canon software for raw images does not present you with a raw image AT ALL, but the raw image after it has been processed by all the image-affecting settings in the camera. I believe this is enabled by a second file that comes out of the camera that stores all this information. Maybe if you delete those files before you looked at them with the software, you'd see the true, raw image that the camera actually produces. I didn't wait to experiment. Instead, I bought the Adobe Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in. What this plug-in reveals is the truly stunning quality of the raw G3 hardware. Without any tweaking at all, if the exposure is accurate, the colors are as realistic as I've ever seen produced by film, and this is a raw image! The Adobe Camera Raw plug-in shows once again that hardware is miles ahead of software. What the G3 raw image software gives you is a fantasy world designed to please the uncritical. What the Photoshop plug-in gives you is REALITY, and then if you want fantasy, you can use Photoshop to create it. But at least you're starting with the most photorealistic images I've ever seen from a camera. I am stunned and amazed at the quality of the raw images I am getting from this G3 (in conjunction with my professional flash system), and can easily put up with the camera's limitations, because I've never seen anything better within its resolution limits.

OK for a digital camera
Maybe it is my lack of experience, but I found shots with this camera very disappointing. It was(I sold it after a few months) too expensive for the shots that I got. Sure it had all the features, but when I tried to shoot a girl's basketball game it just wan't up to the task. I don't think I was asking too much. Any film zoom p and s would have given superior results with a minimal effort. And with the 500 you save you could print the results for the life of the camera. I found that low light situations combined with any sort of action left this camera in the dust. I wanted it to shoot concerts as well. That meant even less light and just as much action. Sure, I adjusted the film speed to 400. The grain was terrible. Next time I set it at 100 and used the flash. Well flash photos are never great, and there was still a lot of noise.

When I took outdoor photos with plenty of light and the objects weren't moving, the photos were awesome. The camera was a marvel. Getting the printer to help output them was another tale.

Overall I think that you need to consider what you wan't to do. For simple point and shoot photography, consider a cheaper digital. You don't need the extra resolution or the cost. Then again a one time use camera may do just as well. If you shoot in lots of light and desire high quality, this will be your camera. It is versatile and seems to be one of the best. Me, I am going with a Leica Minilux( the G3 was replacing mine which was stolen). Sure. it is less versatile, but I am never disappointed with the output.

Great gadget
i bought this last week through amazon.. got a great deal from a reputable seller. i love this camera. i am still trying to figure out the may options it has. took hundreds of pictures and they were great. great colors, pictures and white balance. has 4x optical zoom which is higher than any other in the same price range. it is generally overpriced a little bit but you get what you are paying for.

The pictures are brillient !
I just bought the camera a few days ago. Before I "get used to it", here are my first feelings:

a) the picture quality (color and sharpness of focusing) are so great, it completely eliminated my doubt about digital imaging --- how could one eat rice one grain at a time:-))

b) the lens cover is surely loose, I already accidently finger-printed the len a few times, and I think I know why it's made that way: because once the camera is in shooting mode, the len will extend out, if the len cover is tight, it would block the len movement and cause potential damage. I wish Canon would work out some way for that issue. The zooming lever is shaky, I hope it does not operate mechanically, otherwise you'll feel uneasy.

If you love an SLR 35mm but need to go digital...
This is a great camera for you! The Canon G3 gives tons of control for photo buffs but still has an "auto" mode that makes it very easy for the novice to use. I can hand this to anyone and know they will take some great photos!
I love having the option to manually control the F-stop, shutter speed and even focus. I was able to take great photos of the 4th of July fire works, and got some amazing shots of the kids playing with sparklers. WARNING - I did read the manual! But if you've used a SLR 35mm camera, the controls are very intuitive! Once I read the manual I was able to point and shoot without having to fumble around trying to figure out where the controls are located. With a quick spin of the dial you can select Shutter priority (for high speed subjects), aperture priority (for focal length) or full program mode where the camera selects both for ideal photo quality. The manual mode is easy to use with fast access for the selection of shutter speed and aperture without having to fumble through menu options.

It doesn't do you any good if a camera has all the features but you can't access them quickly when you need them!

This camera also has a great feel and weight to it. You feel like you are holding something of substance, not some cheap plastic toy. The more I work with it, the more I love it!

I would recomend that you purchase a Lexar media CF for the camera as the SanDisk card that comes packaged is too small and too slow!

I didn't think I would find this quality and ease of use for under $900- I'm thrilled with my purchase!

Outstanding Camera
This is my first digital camera, and I am very pleased with it. I do not know a whole lot about photography, but I am happy to know that this camera can always perform, even as I grow in skill and knowledge. Seriously, this thing has everything that a pro or expert amateur could want. BUT at the same time, it takes wonderful pictures very easily in "Auto" mode, so that even an average Joe like me can use it!

Four megapixels is great...I know there are five mp cameras out there, but this thing does just fine for me. If you want, check out the Canon website and they have some sample images, taken by this camera, for you to download.

If you are looking for a very simple point and shoot camera, this is probably not what you are looking for. If you are looking for an outstanding camera that can take you from simple to complex, this is it. It is a very amazing product. I highly recommend it.

Great camera! And my wife loves it!
What else can you say about a camera that works for both of you? I make photographs at work, and so wanted a camera good enough to compare with what I use professionally. At the same time, I wanted my wife to not be intimidated by knobs and buttons.

I recieved the camera, inserted a larger CF card, charged the battery, and handed it to my wife. I showed her how to turn it on, where the lens zoom lever is, and she loves it!

This camera has Canon's great colorimetry, plus what you see in the LCD is what you get. The prints are beautiful! And you get about 120 images on a 256MB card at highest quality.

I tried out some other brands in the stores, and was disappointed by the battery life of the other company; plus what you see in the LCD (no optical finder) isn't what you get - not even for color; the output was less than I expected.

Although Canon's batteries are proprietary, they last a really long time, recharge fairly quickly in the camera, plus if you want 'more power', you can even find a knockoff charger and spare batteries right here on Amazon.

Pure class & quality - a work of craftmanship!
I recommend unreservedly the Powershot G3 to any potential buyer looking for a first-class digital camera at a reasonable price - there is no better camera out there - period! It gives great pictures, the controls are easy to use, the battery lasts forever on one single charge, the software is very user-friendly and it is beautiful in it chrome casing.

I began taking pics as soon as I got this camera and am amazed at the quality of photos I have took simply by using the AUTO mode...absolutely breathtaking.

I was considering the Olympus Camedia C-5050 but was convinced to buy the G3 after visiting a store and holding it in my hands and trying it out. The Olympus is a bit clumsy-looking and the user-interface not as friendly as the Canon, but one of the features that sold me on the G3 was the battery life - no other camera out there gives you the type of battery life as the Canon G3.

I would recommend a larger compact-flash card, at least 128 MB. I bought a 512 MB card by Simpletech and it works great with my Canon.

In short buy this camera if you are thinking about a digital camera in the [expensive] range

Fantastic Digital Camera
The camera has a wonderful set of features. The LCD screen pulls out and rotates in any direction for easy pictures. You can even take a picture of yourself while looking at the LCD. The optical zoom works great and the 14x digital zoom is a very nice addition although pictures at the highest digital zoom are a little blurry. The highest optical zoom pictures are perfect. I have not yet seen any of the usual problems with digital pictures (purple fringing, etc) so I am very pleased. The Canon computer software used to download, sort, upload and manage your digital pictures on the computer is very nice and very easy to use. The only two minor issues I have with the camera are the lens cap (it is not very snug and can come off too easily) and the lens itself (it partially obstructs the view through the viewfinder but not views through the LCD). The menus are easy to navigate and the buttons are easy to use. It is a fantastic camera and well worth the price.

The Best of Everything
Recent price drops have made the G3 the best bargain in digital cameras currently available. Advanced photobugs will find more creative control than imaginable. Newbies will find the full auto setting will give them perfect pictures right out of the box. 4 megapixels is enough for anybody and the photo quality is awesome. Don't get fooled by the 5 megapixel marketing hype. Unless you want to print murals, you don't need it. Those used to 35mm cameras will find the G3 very comfortable and friendly to use. Anyone looking for more than "point and shoot" can make a huge step up for a moderate price difference. The extended zoom range and faster lense put it at the top of it's class. I expect the G3 will please me for years to come.

Excellent for the semi-serious amateur
POSITIVES

1) SLR like "Creative Zone" programming options gives you latitude to be creative, yet its Auto and "Image Zone" settings provide excellent photos if you don't want to bother with the settings. Excellent range of metering options as well. It's great to be able to toggle between the metering evaluation settings and see the results of the changes on the LCD screen.

2) 4MP is about right for the target market of this camera (semi-serious amateur photographer)

3) 4x zoom is nice

4) The great thing about digital, in general, is that you can generally see the results of your exposure settings on the LCD screen BEFORE or RIGHT AFTER you take a picture, not two weeks later when you get the film developed.

5) Its focusing system is also very flexible. you can move the focus range to almost anywhere in the scene with the push of a button, and it has an on-screen manual focus mode that would be really helpful if shooting a scene that is tough to automatically focus.

---------------

NEGATIVES

1) Quite bulky (it's about the same size as my Minolta Vectis S-1 APS SLR) and uses a heavy battery.

2) Not very ergonomical - you'll find yourself stretching your fingers in the weirdest ways to get to some buttons (especially the flash toggle and exposure evaluation buttons at the top-left of the back)

3) Len's aperture is not very flexible (it seems that it's range is very small, even for a point-and-shoot lens)

4) The viewfinder is borderline worthless and, inexplicably and ridiculously, the lens blocks part of the viewfinder at the wide-angle. I wish it were larger and brighter so I could use it when taking pictures in bright daylight when the LCD screen is hard to use because of the brightness.

5) Its swiveling LCD screen is as convenient as it is annoying.

Haven't had practice but I'm already in love with it
I have only had this camera for one full day and I have to say that it is wonderful. the photo quality is amazing and i know i'm going to have fun with all the features. I've figured out most of its features on my own already (because i have used digital cameras before, so i know things like symbols). i'm one of those people that can only concentrate on one screen at a time so i've been having trouble paying attention to the little display panel on top, but that doesn't stop me from loving this camera. the reason i rated it a four is because of that darn diopter adjustment dial. its very small and hard to turn so you can't get an accurate adjustment (for those of you who don't know what a diopter adjustment is, it is to adjust the focus of the viewfinder to your eyesight.) I am going to have so much fun with this camera and when I learn more I will post a more accurate review.

Great Camera!
I bought the Canon PowerShot G3 as a gift for my husband based on all the good reviews. He LOVES it! I was searching for something fairly easy to use that produced great results, and this camera fit the bill. He took it out of the box and was taking pictures before he ever read the instructions. He did read the instructions before he loaded the pictures on the computer, but had no problems with anything. We are now purchasing a larger capacity CompactFlash Card so we can take it on vacation. The 32 MB card that comes with it is just too small.

Well Worth It.
One word to describe this camera...Wow! The G3 is more on the expensive side of the spectrum, but it is definitely worth the investment. I would consider myself to be an amateur photographer, but I could never really take high quality photos. After taking a weekends worth of pictures at the standard default resolutions, I loaded the pictures onto my PC and was absolutely blown away by how nice they were. The quality of the image, the resolution, and the color were all breath-taking. From close-up head shots to landscape shots, they were all the kind of pictures that you looked at and just said "Wow, that's a really nice picture." The combination optical/digital zoom is pretty impressive as well and is more than you will likely need (I could zoom in and read license plate numbers from cars parked in the background). So I would definitely recommend this camera to anyone looking to improve the pictures they take...you definitely won't be disappointed. Aside from that, the software was easy to install and surprisingly well designed, camera interface is fairly easy to understand, workmanship of the camera is high quality (doesn't feel like a toy). It is a little larger than most digital cameras, which I actually like. It would probably be a tight fit into a small pants pocket, but fits easily in a larger cargo pocket.

Only bad sides were that 1)The CF card that comes with it is a paltry 32Mb, so look into getting something bigger and 2)Doesn't come with a case. For $500+ you would think they could throw in a case, but I guess that's how things go nowadays.

No regrets at all
I bought this camera a few weeks ago and have been shooting like crazy ever since. I've had enough time to feel comfortable with all the features, and I'm just amazed at the things this camera is capable of.

The images are sharp and the colors knock your socks off. You can saturate the colors or not, depending on preference. The buttons on the top and back of the camera make quick access to most of the features a snap, so you don't have to dive into the menu for them. Much better than my old Olympus D40 for this.

The flip out and twist lcd screen is absolutely a gem, and it feels like it has the sturdiest hinge ever. I don't think I would buy a camera without this ever again. The focus bracketing feature is incredible for macros, and unique among cameras. The battery life is astounding. I have never run it down yet, even after 275 pics shot one day, and I always leave the lcd on. The built in neutral density filter let me shoot flowing water with a smooth, silky appearance for the first time ever. That's fun.

I love the lens, the ability to add on tele and wide angle converters later, the off camera flash ability.

The one glitch is manual focus, but this is a problem for almost all non SLR digicams. They need to refine this for sure. Chromic aberration is not a problem once you remember to avoid the widest apertures in backlit shots.

I highly recommend this for the photographer who wants to explore the manual aspects of photography. The thing about it is, many folks won't think they'll ever go beyond point and shoot, but then they get hooked on it and wish they had a camera with more features. This camera has them in spades.

GREAT CAMERA - MAGNIFICENT PICTURES
Recently purchased the Canon G3. Decided to purchase the G3 over the G5 because they were so similar and the savings was substantial. The pictures are magnificent! The camera is very easy to use...even for a novice. The only negative thing about the camera is what most other people have found with the lens cap and the viewfinder. The viewfinder doesn't bother me because I always use the LCD screen. Canon should consider putting a better lens cap on!! I guess if that is the only thing you can find wrong with a camera then it must be an excellent piece of equipment. Would not hesitate to suggest the purchase of the Canon G3 to anyone. Hope you all enjoy yours as much as I do mine.

Great Camera
I recently got this camera as an upgrade from my Canon S200. I am very happy with my S200 believe me but after shooting with my G3 I am amazed at the detail and color I can now get.

I was wondering if the G3 was worth the price jump over the G2, my only reason for this was the body design of the G3 which seems more modern to me. I know this is superficial but it looks nice.

The first thing I noticed was how similar the controls / icons were from the S200, so it wasn't a steep learning curve on known features. But these are some of the manual features the G3 offers:

-P/ Program AE Mode: G3 sets shutter speed and aperture, you set ISO speed, light metering

-TV Mode: G3 sets aperture, you choose shutter speed, ISO white balance.

-AV Mode: G3 sets shutter speed, you choose aperture, ISO, white balance

-M Manual Mode: You set shutter speed and aperture.

-Auto mode: auto.

-C1 and C2 modes: these are modes on the dial along with the others which let you save your own custom settings. This was cool because now I have a space for lmy own ow light setting and my own high speed setting, which i just turn the dial to get.

Some other Pros I wanted to list about the G3:
-LCD screen is beautiful, nice large, crisp.
-Movie mode (320x240 max) lasts 3minutes, and plays back on the G3 with sound.
-the two buttons needed for deleting images are right by each other, so you only need a thumb to delete. (dumb I know, but I delete alot on the fly) actually all of the buttons are placed thoughtfully.
-wireless remote, is cool for shooting group shots.
-macro mode is awesome, have gotten some very nice shots of flowers...etc
-longest shutter speed is 15 seconds.
-image sizes the G3 has, with images each size allows, based on a 256mg CF card, on medium compression:
2272x1704, 221 images
1600x1200, 439 images
1024x768, 760 images
640x480, 1560 images
RAW 64, images

All in all, I am very happy with the camera and the purchase. Definately not one of those you will feel guilty about treating yourself to, because that's how I feel. There are other features which I have probly missed. But these were the ones I noticed at first.

If you are looking at cameras and thinking about it, get the G3, its easy enough to use as an amateur. You won't be dissapointed.

Have fun, cheers. (Oh, my pics are on pbase.com/flashboy99)

Love it!
I originally bought an HP 935 5mp and had many problems with it. It was perhaps just a lemon but repeated attempts to solve problems with their tech support didn't work. Their tech support is terrible. I had to return the camera and chose the Canon G3 based on the reviews here and elsewhere. I am still very new to digital cameras but so far this Canon is wonderful! It is not only good for the PHD (push here dummy) users, it has many advanced features. I don't feel so bad about letting go of my 35mm now.

Refined 'Pro-Sumer' marvel
The PowerShot G3, a substantial optical & electronic upgrade from the already excellent G2, has now come into the "Good Value" range, with the arrival of the (nearly identical) G5 version. The G3 and the G5 are physically and optically identical - save for the G3's silver case that now comes in black. For the few extra hundred bucks you get a 5 MP rather than a 4 MP camera - a difference that's essentially indistinguishable except with poster sized prints. I opted for the far less costly G3 and have been delighted. The lens (4X zoom) is first class; the battery lasts for hundreds of shots between charges; the swivel LCD has gorgeous colors and is very solidly hinged; you can use it as a point-and-shoot with great results, yet have dozens of manual adjustments available if you desire more control; the macro feature (down to 2" proximity) and the neutral density filter (to reduce exposure of very bright scenes) are worth the extra money alone.

The one con is that the big lens obscures a corner of the optical viewfinder at the wide-angle setting -- but that's why you have an LCD viewer anyhow. Well worth paying a bit more than for a simple handheld camera; beatifully crafted, with excellent printed and illustrated manuals and first-class software.

ADDENDUM: The current Powershot G5, a G3 in black drag with a 5 MP rather than a 4 MP CCD sensor, has received consistent criticism for showing chromatic aberration ("haloing") and digital noise when compared with the G3; probably because the higher density CCD feeds into the same electronics processing package as the G3. All the more reason to purchase the G3 - if you still can find one. The 20% increase in pixel count makes no perceptible difference (unless you print 11x15" banners), and the image quality has declined in the makeover; even so, the black body does look more professional (but is that worth the extra bucks?).

Quality, easy to use!
This camera is wonderful!

Originally bought it to photograph my children but found it to be a priceless gem for my business (Assistantforyou.com).

One of the services I use this camera for is supporting Real Esate Professionals and photographing their client homes for listings.

This camera is great and offers a wide variety of options from still shots to 30-second video with audio! Switching from one to another shot form is easy and quick!

Love it and highly recommend it!

Love it!
This is my very first digital camera, after using a 35mm camera for over 18 years, and I love it, love it, love it! The camera is easy to use and operate. I take (admittedly amateur) photographs of buildings and urban landscapes and need to be able to adjust aperture and exposure. This camera has simple controls that allow you to easily do that. I immediately took this camera on a trip abroad and had fun taking picture after picture. I still have to figure out how to help the camera focus on very faraway, difficult to see objects (I tried taking a picture of my hometown from a plane in the late evening and it took the camera a while to find the right focus). Downloading of pictures on a USB port is very easy. Over all, I am very happy with my purchase and recommend it to anyone who wants a little more than just a snapshot camera but can't afford a real professional camera.

Simply amazing
The G3 is simply an amazing digital camera. It offers all of the creative features a serious photographer could ask for, in a camera that when set to automatic, is simple enough for anyone to use.

The fast lens means that the flash isn't needed as often as with other cameras, while the hot shoe allows an external flash for when flash is needed. External flash is ALWAYS better than built-in, especially one with bounce capability (the Canon 420EX is a great companion to the G3).

The Powershot G3 is NOT small and light enough to dissappear into a pocket, but that is part of what makes it such a terrific camera. If you want a carry anywhere model, look at the Digital Elph or the S45/S50, which are much smaller and have built-in lens caps. The G3, on the other hand, is made for using, not carrying. That's not to say that its heavy and large, it is actually about the same size as most 35mm point and shoot cameras of the early 1990s.

The larger size is what makes the G3 great. It has a proper hand grip, that fast 4X zoom lens (physically a lot larger than the slow 3X lenses on other Canon cameras) and a large, tilt-swivvle LCD. There are also enough buttons, dials and controls to make all of the G3's many features easy to access and use, rather than burrying them deep in the menu system.

Some users complain that the lens barrel can be seen in the optical viewfinder when set to wide angle. Yes, it can be seen, and no, it isn't that big of a deal. If you've ever used a 35mm rangefinder camera you are probably familiar with this effect, and if you haven't, it isn't at all hard to get used to.

Finally, the 4 megapixel resolution and accurate color balancce make for incredible images. Automatic does a terrific job in most conditions, and when it doesn't, or you just want to be creative, you have more options with this camera than almost anything else on the market.

I also own the 5 megapixel S50 as my compact camera. I was concerned when I bought it that I would favor it over the G3 on account of hte higher resolution, however I just printed some 11X14s from both cameras, and resolution is not an issue on either one. I see the extra resolution simply as more room to crop, which can make up for the S50 having a 3X as opposed to 4X zoom lens. With the G3, I have more control over composition in the camera, doubly so as I also have the 17X Canon teleconverter. With the functional equivalent of a 285mm lens on a 35mm camera, I honestly don't need much cropping, whereas the S50 is limited to 105mm and I often crop more. Color saturation and accuracy are excellent on both cameras, and both are tack-sharp without any noise, at least if left at ISO 50 or 100 as I always do.

In conclusion, I love the G3, and give it my highest recommendation.

Miss my G2
My beloved G2 was stolen - so I bought the later version from Canon - the G3. Granted, the specifications have improved, but the quality and refinement have suffered. Now when viewing through the viewfinder, the main lens is clearly visible and somewhat off-putting. More seriously, the lens cap itself does not stay on the lens.
Routinely, the flash fails to operate or the pictures are out of focus because some special setting has been triggered - and finding out what setting did it is nigh on impossible to locate. Unfortunately, most of the time, one is unaware of the shooting problem until viewing the finihsed pictures - waay to late to do anything about the problem.

I wish I had my G2 back - and would happily swap my G3 for a G2 (in like (like new) condition).

superfine camera
I purchased the Canon G3 after looking at some of the pics taken by an older brother on his G2. I've been interested in digital photography for sometime, but with the recent improvements in the price to quality ratio of cameras, I decided to take the plunge. The G3 supports improved internals for processing pictures, including algorithms that clean up noise to produce cleaner looking images. A n00b to photography, I found it worthwhile to invest in some general photography books by greats like John Shaw. I also strongly recommend the Shorter Course on the Canon G3 book (sold here at Amazon). The user manual that ships with the camera is very good for what it is, but the Shorter Course does a better job of blending the general principles of photography with the mechanics of the G3. If you're a first time camera buyer, don't think that the G3 is just a point and shoot unit. My brother still uses his G2 as a second to capture photos while out driving around. The camera does an outstanding of job of letting new users take quality pics using auto settings, but to get the most out of your new toy, you need to understand things like aperture, shutter speed, light metering, etc. Not to worry, you could easily get by just sticking with the basic built-in image modes, but in my opinion, you would be robbing yourself of many pleasant afternoons out in the woods taking gorgeous pics. The pics themselves are remarkable for a number of reasons: 1) the colors are vivid and there's excellent depth and spread between tones. The consistency in output is just awesome. The camera offers users the ability to change the color settings to vivid, b&w, sepia, etc. before or after a picture is taken, but I think that even without using any of these, the colors are really nice. 2) The pictures are clean and detailed even in the jpg format. I prefer to shoot as much as possible in RAW format and then save my pics as tiffs when I transfer them to a hard drive. I don't care for jpgs and would rather buy additional flash cards than use them as the storage format of choice. JPGs should stay on web pages where they belong. The cool thing about the G3 is that in certain modes it will let you convert a JPG that you've just snapped into a RAW image. 3) The hardware's UI is pretty intuitive as far as technical gadgets go. I found the display monitor to be just outstanding. Colorful, easy to navigate and a must-have for doing macro photography (IMO, the viewfinder is second choice in framing a shot with a digital camera). In addition, the display provides useful feedback when the shutter button is pressed down half-way. Bad lighting, the shakes, flash that isn't turned on, bad focus -- all these goblins are identified. The display enables the user to zoom in and identify blurs or other distortions caused by environmental conditions after a picture has been saved to memory. No need to get film developed first, the user can make instant and accurate adjustments at the time of the shooting session. Of course, the display is not so good when looked at outside on a bright day, but that's true of most digital displays. Also, I've found that pics come out best when shot in early morning or late afternoon anyway when the sun is not as bright. Orchid pornographers will be especially pleased with the quality to price ratio of the G3. I've taken some stunning pictures of my own orchids as well as those in botanical gardens. Using an awesome camera like the G3 to take nature pics is a wonderful way of cleaning out cobwebs in the heart and mind. I'm looking forward to expanding my G3's abilities with the add-ons like the macro and telephoto lenses. (The Shorter Course book I mentioned discusses these for people unfamiliar with the why and wherefore of things like macro and telephoto lenses.) Canon has simply done a superb job with this camera and my only disappointment is that the additional lenses seem a little pricey.

Probably the best prosumer digital camera
I bought this in September 2003 and am extremely satisfied with its performance. Originally I thought of getting a G5 but decided against it after reading negative reviews on www.dpreview.com, which by the way is an excellent source of digital camera information. Apparently the G5 suffers from severe purple fringing due to trying to "push" the abilities of its small CCD sensor to its limits. The effect is also apparent in a lot of other 5MP cameras that still use a 1/1.8" size CCD.

Anyway the G3 is extremely great! Image quality is extremely high and since I don't print anything larger than A4 size, I don't need anything more than 4 megapixels. Controls are very intuitive but browsing through the manual helps to learn a lot of the advanced features. There are a lot of extra stuff that can definitely enhance one's photo experience (for example, there's a built-in neutral density filter to darken bright scenes and help saturate colors more). There is also an optional lens adapter that lets you attach 58mm filters (something available on Canon's "A" series Powershots as well). In fact, short of not having an interchangable lens, the G3 is practically a baby SLR camera! Size, though it bothers some people, is not a problem for me because it actually gives the G3 a good feel in the hand.

If you need the extra pixels, I suggest you skip the G5 and go straight for Canon's new Digital Rebel (EOS-300D). Otherwise the G3 is an excellent performer for everyday use with a heaping of extra creativity when needed. I now intend to get my G3 housed for underwater use, sell off my Nikon 35mm camera & kit, and continue to purchase Canon's photo & imaging products.

Conclusion: if you are after a non-SLR type digital camera and will be doing more than point-and-shoot, I highly recommend the Powershot G3. This may not be the camera to put in your pocket, but it will produce much, much higher quality images than any other non-SLR digital camera in the market.

Good but too heavy
I owned many cameras before but this is my first digital camera. My experience told me that I should get something which is more reliable and slightly heavier. I used to own a very light camera but it turned out the results were poor. Canon G3 has the perfet conditions that I am looking for, unfortunately, it is far too heavy than I thought. Overall, this is a good camera. Still, I will say it is a GOOD BUY.

Awesome Camera
First of all, if you are trying to decide between the G3 and the G5, consider that you would be paying $100 more for the G5 simply because it has an extra mega-pixel, otherwise, the cameras are identical.

Now for the praise, this camera is simply amazing for it's price. It has a ton of advanced features and it's incredibly durable. I have dropped it a few times, and accidently got it wet and guess what, it still works. Also, it satisfies pretty much any kind of photographer. Switch to Auto and your grandma can use it, switch to any of the manual settings and it will satisfy the creative photographer. The focus, white balance, aperture, shutter speed, etc, can all be manually altered.

Four mega-pixels might seem like a low number considering that high end compact digitals today have 5, 6 or more. But, 4 is more than enough to produce wonderful full-page prints. Also, because it's a 4 megapixel, it processes the photos very quickly, in about a second.

Worried that it's not a digital SLR? Well, unless you're a pro photographer, you wouldn't mind simply getting one of the lens attachments such as Wide Angle, Zoom or Micro. I have the Wide Angle attachment I bought from a 3rd party on ebay for $50 and it works great with the camera, it has a built in macro lens as well.

Anyway, if you want a compact digital, this is IT. Tons of features, durable, trusted name, ability to get lens attachments and you get awesome full page prints. Get it.

GREAT Camera.
I did a lot of research last year before I bought this camera... It kinda hurt to leave behind my beloved nikon 35mm SLR, but I was going to Italy, and I needed something smaller, and digital.

The photos coming out of this camera are amazing. The 'auto' feature takes great pictures most of the time, and there's plenty of flexability in the settings to play with if it doesn't work. And with digital, you're not wasting film if the picture doesn't come out.

This camera is also really easy to use, which is wonderful catching those quick photo opertunities. The only downsides are 1) it's a little slow to actually TAKE the picture... almost a 1 second lag from hitting the button to finishing the shot. 2) This camera can not take action shots. A childs first steps will be fine, but a soccer game won't work. To be fair, all point and shoot digitals suffer from the same flaw... to break this, you have to step it up to SLR, and >$1000 in price (though I do lust after that Nikon D70...)

?
Did anybody buy this camera from Amazon last two months? Is really new Canon? In how many days from placing of order you get the camera? Thank you.

Good, with definite limitations.
I've had my G3 for about 10 months now, and I've taken thousands of pictures with it. The positives:
- Takes great, clear pictures under ideal conditions; often with better results than my 35mm Canon SLR!
- Easy uploads to my PC.
- Accepts my external Canon flash.
- Excellent battery life. (I've people complain about battery life with other digital cameras, but this really is a strong point for the G3.)
- The unique LCD that flips over is "cool" (and easy to protect from scratches).

- Has lots of shooting modes for a non-pro camera.
The negatives:
- The lens cap is a poor design; it falls off very easily (at least Canon provides a cord so it doesn't get lost).
- Focus is slow except under ideal lighting conditions.
- Focus is unreliable; I've learned to take 3 shots at a time, hoping that at least one of them will be in sharp focus.
- Photo quality gets noticeably worse (more "noise") as soon as you increase the exposure "speed" above the slowest setting (ASA 50).
- The design is relatively bulky and heavy for a non-SLR camera, and the controls are not ergonomically correct.
- The RAW picture format option is useless with this camera because Canon's software gives you virtually no useful options for correcting/modifying photos in RAW format. To do anything useful you have to take the time to convert your photos to JPG anyway. I gave up on RAW after the first couple of tries and have stuck with JPG format since then.
In summary... I expected a lot at this price level, and the G3 really is a great camera for family snapshots, scenery and documents. However, it is a poor camera for low-light conditions or action photography.

This is a great camera!
I bought my G3 in September of 2003 after my SLR took a dump 3 weeks before my baby was due. I have NEVER been disappointed. Granted, if I had the money, I would have gone for something better, but this was the BEST I could have gotten for my money. Some reviewers have commented on the camera not being worth the price - you must not have shopped around! I found mine, brand new, for $460 from a reputable online camera store.

My pictures turn out great most of the time. I agree with the slow focus time, but you can't get everything with a prosumer camera. I love the neverending list of options this camera offers (from flash output to f-stops to white balance, etc. etc.).

When I have the money saved up I'll be buying the Canon digital rebel, but until then I am very satisfied with my G3.

Malfunctions, poor cust. service, insulting Upgrade Program
Initially a nice camera. However, while I was stationed in Iraq the camera suffered from an E24 error while it was with my wife in Germany. I chose not to take the camera to Iraq out of fear that it would be damaged. Instead, to my suprise, it was damaged in Germany for no apparant reason, atleast not one due to poor handling. My wife mailed the camera to the Canon repair shop in the States. They returned the camera in working order. The repairs were completed free of charge since it was in the time period of the one year warranty. On the day I returend from Iraq (6 months later after the first repair) a friend took a photo of us at the reception ceremony. The camera relapsed into the same state as before - an E24 error. The LCD screen would not display any data. The camera therefore completely shut itself off, a feature that was later explained to me by a Canon representative that is used to protect the camera from further damage. I spoke with a repair representative about what appears to me to be an easy fix. I was told that since my warranty had expired I would have to pay a minimum of $187 to a maximum of $500 for the repairs. Keep in mind this was told to me prior to any Canon technician ever even looked at the camera. I asked if that would still be the charge if it was a fix as simple as a loose screw and they told me that was an accurate assumption. I then asked if I would be required to pay if it was found that the problem was related to the initial repair having not been done properly while under warranty, again they responded that I would. They then informed me of an "Upgrade Program". They told me I could send them my G3, and pay them an additional $300, and in return I would receive a REFURBISHED G5! Not a new one, REFURBISHED! If I were to accept that offer I would end up paying $950 for a refurbished Canon G5 ($300 + the original $650 for the G3). I was insulted to say the least. I'm willing to bet that those refurbished G5's are part of a program that they have for an upgrade to the G6 for the G5 users that have the same issue as I. What a scam! What a pathetic customer service department! What an insult to an American soldier that just returned from a 13 month deployment in Iraq! Oh yeah, the company is Japanese, they don't care anyway;)

But by the way, I do own another Canon Powershot A20, 2.1 MP. I've owned it for over 3 years and it has been a great camera. I believe Canon is the best brand out there. But as for their repair assistance, customer service, and warranty policy - they are simply an insult!

Tim
An unhappy American soldier...

At its introduction, a real powerhouse
When I bought this camera 3 years ago, it was the advanced "point-n-shoot" I had been waiting for. While it's outdated now, it's successors (the most recent is the just-launched G7) have continued Canon's tradition of knowing their users. This camera let's me do nearly everything to which I was accustomed with my film slr. It can be fully automatic, (almost) completely manual (you can't expose the same frame/file multiple times, as in a film camera). It has a choice of metering modes, though no spot meter - however I've rarely found this to be too sore a point). And it let's me be creative and experiments.

My main gripes:
1. Autofocus is not speedy nor as accurate as as a film slr.
2. Battery life is much less than a film camera (as are most digicams).
3. It only records up to ISO400, and there's some noise and fringing in the shadows in low light at that speed.
4. Lens does not have a fixed maximum aperature, however, at the lens' widest angle max aperature is a robust F/2.
5.It now seems a bit clunky, physically.

I'm looking forward to upgrading to my first DSLR shortly. Can't wait to have the resolution, speed, and lens interchangeability that I so enjoyed on my old Elan.

That said, if you're looking for an advanced fixed lens point and shot, don't hesistate to try out the latest in the Canon Powershot line.