Rating: 
Summary: Awesome Camera
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Refined 'Pro-Sumer' marvel
Review: 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?).
Rating: 
Summary: Good but too heavy
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: superfine camera
Review: 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 contain alot of detail even in the jpg format. Frankly though, 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 version 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 half-way down. 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 bad lighting, etc. 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.
Rating:
Summary: Pure class & quality - a work of craftmanship!
Review: 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
Rating:
Summary: I love it more the longer I own it
Review: 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.
Rating:
Summary: Probably the best prosumer digital camera
Review: 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.
Rating: 
Summary: Miss my G2
Review: 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).
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Camera
Review: I was an amateur photographer who recently fell into owning a tiny photography business dealing mostly in scenic photography. The G3 is my second digital camera, and much research went into the decision to purchase it. I compared it to various Olympus and Nikon models, and even the G5. I have owned this camera for several months now, and have not been disappointed once. Everyone is so concerned with megapixels these days, and I honestly didn't see enough of a difference in a 5MP I borrowed and the 4MP G3. The clarity is excellent, although it does introduce some noise in low-light pictures. The "camera shake" warning is very sensitive and sometimes when shooting in the evening or nighttime, I am unable to eliminate the warning even when using a tripod in no-wind conditions. In reading reviews before I purchased the G3, I discovered that some people had problems with the On/Off button. I have had no such problems. I use gloves much of the time while shooting, and am able to operate all parts of this camera with no difficulty whatsoever. I operate in quite a bit of cold weather, and the battery life on the BP-511 which came with it, has been very good. I haven't run out of power in the field yet. In the beginning, I had planned on buying additional batteries, but so far have discovered that I have not needed any. My one complaint with this camera is the CF door on the side. Once you open the small door, you press an "eject" button that spits your CF card out. It doesn't quite eject it out far enough, and it's always a pain to try and dig my card out of the camera. This camera has a great many features, and I enjoyed testing it out and playing with all the settings once I received it. Certainly for $500-$600, this is a very good deal in my opinion.
Rating: 
Summary: Could have been much better
Review: Packed with features this camera could have been much,much better. Unfortunately the autofocus is often terribly slow and inaccurate. Low light focus is downright poor. I have cheaper and older digital cameras that perform better in focusing. A manual focus feature would have saved me a lot of shots. Another surprise: you can clearly see a significant portion of the top of the lens cover through the optical viewfinder window.
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