2026-08-01 Canon PowerShot G1 Camera

The Canon PowerShot G1 was introduced September 18, 2000 at a list price of $1100. It was a new concept in design from previous Canon digital cameras, almost working backwards from the film camera norm of progressing from rangefinder cameras to Single Lens Reflexes.

Canon already had their Canon EOS D30 SLR when they brought out the viewfinder G1. The G1 is studded with manual options and choices of how to do photography.

It has—

a viewfinder as well as a articulated 1.8 inch screen
both a built-in flash and a hot shoe with complex multiple connections for external flashes
menus on the back screen as well as a LCD display of the settings on the camera’s top
a dazzlingly fast (7-21 mm f/2-2.5) zoom identical in design to both the Sony S70 and the Epson PhotoPC 3000Z All the lenses have different names, but construction is identical with the only differences being choice of coatings
the G1 can record it’s own version of RAW files (more on this later)

   The G1 also debuted a dynasty. I have about three of the early G-numbers but previously to this camera all of the others aren’t functional. Most of them were bought without batteries and it never seemed worthwhile to spend more money buying them batteries.
   But the battery was exactly why this camera came available. The seller didn’t want the trouble of finding a charger for the G1‘s 25-year old battery. This G1 was sold with a battery, case and a CF card, although I was staggered when the seller calmly removed the CF card and wanted to double the camera’s selling price for me to buy it back. Luckily I have a couple of spare CF cards.

I also found a remote control tucked inside the high end original Canon case.
The G1 has a 3.3 megapixel sensor. It can be set to record 8-bit RAW information that end up 2.8 MB in size. The data is recorded as zip files that a supplied program can expand. If the G1‘s files had been saved in TIFF format (a lossless format) they would be 9.7 MB. It isn’t an option as RAW and JPEG are the choices offered. In comparison the EOS D30 records RAW data in 16-bit depth.

Everything about the G1 smacks of impressive build quality. Note the two-tone case as a design touch they didn’t have to do. The stack of controls for camera/off/replay under the Mode dial is as firm as a gun turret. It is a very solid camera tipping the scales at 494 g (1.1 lb.).

Everything seems to be adjustable and controllable, from auto focus to manual focus, from degree of contrast, sharpness and saturation to compression and resolution. Simply setting the camera up for what you are trying to capture could take some real thinking. One persons opportunity is another person’s nightmare. On the other hand the G1 must have been state-of-the-art for digital cameras of its time.

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