Rating: 
Summary: Not A Digital SLR, But pretty darn good.
Review: I use a pro model digital SLR for my important work and purchased the G5 for a handy travel camera and for candids at parties,etc. I had previously used the Canon G2 for this purpose,but wanted more resolution in case I got a shot that I wanted to enlarge to 11X14. The Canon G5 fits the bill.It does everything I ask it to do and does it well. I agree that the noise produced above ISO rating 100 is unacceptable,but the ISO setting of 50 for the G5 is equal to 100 on other cameras and the 100 setting is equal to 200. I find that with the availability of f.2 to f.3 speedy aperture I find little need to shoot at any higher ISO. As far as the complaints I've read regarding soft images and poor focus,I have not found this to be the case.After taking around 800 shots with the G5 I can say that the images are very sharp with no focus problems.Perhaps the complaints stem from the users technique. Yes,the shutter lag is a pain,but shutter lag is a problem with all compact digital cameras.If you don't need enlargements beyond 8X10 then go with the less expensive G3,but if you want enlargements up to 16X20 and don't want to invest in a digital SLR I think you'll be more than happy with the G5. Shoot at ISO 50 when possible. Keep in mind that a vast number of the best published 35mm images are shot on Fujifilm Velvia (ISO rating 50).
Rating: 
Summary: nice camera but various compromises
Review: I bought this camera knowing its drawbacks, and would still buy it again, but just so you know, here are the issues: (1) the wonderful lens is completely exposed w/o the lens cap and the lens cap falls off very easily--it has to, because if you press "on" without removing the lens cap, if the lens cap didn't fall off as the lens extended, the gears would strip. (2) to fix the first issue, you can buy the lens adapter and screw on a 58mm filter but this adapter is so large that it interferes with internal flash coverage, creating a black cast in the bottom right of pictures and also, it makes the optical viewfinder unusable. (3) even w/o the adapter, when using the optical viewfinder, the lens blocks a small corner of the view on widest angle. Why use the viewfinder? If you're following action, LCD displays may not have quick enough response from picture to picture. You might want to wait until the replacement for this camera comes along, sometime in the Spring I hear. (Addendum Feb-04. Check out the new Canon Pro-1!
Rating:
Summary: Great Camera But...
Review: This is a great camera but you have to work with it. The build is solid the optics are great, and the buttons and menus are very easy to navigate. I have printed slightly cropped 8x10's and the image quality is amazing many people have thought they were originally shot with film.
I only have two problems with the camera
1) The autofocus really does not work well in low light but with a little practice you can use manual focus so I am not to concerned with this anymore.
2) lots of noise above 100 iso. This is not a problem for me as I generally shoot macro or landscapes which I have not needed high iso's for.
So other than these two things the 1000 plus photos I have taken in the last 3 months have completly amazed me.
P.S. This camera does it's job extremely well but if you are like me it will only increase your thirst for a digital slr.
Rating: 
Summary: The
Review: I love my 2 Megapixel Canon Elph. Small, sharp and reliable - during its time, it was all I could ask for. I even sold a couple of its pictures to magazines, so what's not to love? While I have not discarded my Elph, I recently moved up to the G5 because it's better in every way. With a fast 4X optical zoom (all the way out to a 35mm-camera-equivalent of 140MM) and 5 megapixel chip, it could easily become my new favorite camera. The manual is thick but it uses a lot of illustrations and the text is surprisingly clear and simple so the reader should not be intimidated. Not being one to read manuals, I was able to take the G5 out of the box and immediately shoot pictures without cracking the book (the battery came out of the box with a decent charge too - how cool is that?) That's how simple and intuitive the camera is. I have already made a few 8X10 prints on my Canon color printer and they are sharp, show excellent contrast and have good color balance too. Like most auto-focus digital cameras there is a brief shutter lag. It's not too bad but the shutter release is certainly not as quick as one of my 35mm Leicas. Speaking of Leica, the shape and size of the G5 is very close to that of the classic Leica M series cameras. And the clever design of the battery case allows it to serve as a grip - I found it comfortable and secure. (Note: a similar grip is a [$$$]option on a 35mm rangefinder Leica!) I don't like the fact that you can't screw a UV, skylight or other kind of filter on the front of the lens. I like to have a good quality filter on the front of my lenses for protection - but that's me. For the average camera user, there are 2 auto exposure settings that should cover the vast majority of shooting situations. (I used "P" and got an "included in the box" 32mb compact flash card full of great exposures.) For the advanced photographer, the G5 comes with just about every manual control you could need or want - similar to those on their excellent EOS 1V pro camera. One cool feature is the ability to capture a shot in both RAW and JPEG at the same time. This feature will give you a "pure" file with no data loss due to compression and will allow you to make the largest, sharpest print possible. (The manual says that the RAW file is compressed, but there is no data loss - must be a new form of Japanese magic!) Bottom line, the RAW format will give you the biggest file with the most information. I suspect that a RAW file will allow the careful user (i.e., one who is fussy about focus, exposure and camera shake) to make an 11X14 inch print that is as good as any 35mm camera (maybe better!) When compared against the many excellent digital cameras out there, the Canon is a stand out. Its size, resolution, simplicity, and Canon's excellent reputation for reliability made it and easy choice for me.
Rating:
Summary: Gets the Big Things Right
Review: Bought the G5 after an intensive search, comparing w comparably priced Nikon, Sony, Olympus, among others, having owned the Olympus 3040 for several years.
The G5 has a few quirks that some enjoy beating Canon up over: yes, on wide angle shots looking through the viewfinder you see a (small) piece of the lens; yes, the G5's major enhancement over the G3 is a mere megapixel; and some speak of noise at higher ISOs and chromatic aberration in some pics that one would not expect in a $600 digital. I haven't seen a hint of noise (shooting primarily at 50 or 100 ISO) or chromatic aberration after hundreds of pictures, and one quickly adapts to the tiny piece of lens one sees in the viewfinder at the wide angle. How about what's right?
1) great pics--vibrant, detailed and sharp
2) a fabulously flexible LCD that makes taking pictures from any angle a breeze (not to mention the delight my 5 year old gets in seeing herself as I take the pic.
3) excellent, easy-to-use software, light years ahead of the Olympus software I had been using
4) coherent, reasonably well written and helpful manuals
5) wealth of exciting and genuinely useful features--including ability to convert a shot to RAW after you've taken it, 4X optical zoom (35-140), easy menus to navigate, controls that make sense on the camera body, great panorama function (with excellent software--it works!), strong flash (for a compact), and a whole lot more.
This camera delivers high quality pics, sophisticated features, a well-designed body at a size that still fits in the pocket and all at a reasonable price, given what you get. Highly recommended!
Rating:
Summary: The best I ever ad
Review: Easy to operate user friendly and the best results
Rating:
Summary: Problem with relative ratings
Review: I recently bought the G5 and I am extremely happy with it. When deciding which camera to buy, I was initially put off by the numerous negative comments (especially on here). But when I compared the G5 with its competition (Nikon, Sony, Olympus etc) it was clearly a hands-down winner in terms of overall features and image quality. So why the bad reviews? Because this is a series, G1, G2, G3 and some reviewers here are comparing this camera against its predecessors. So yes, G3 users may be disappointed with the G5, but only because they've been spoilt with the G3. Giving the Canon G5 1 or 2 stars is plain silly. This is a 5 star camera, and it knocks the socks off its competiton. When reviewers give ratings, they ought to rate the camera on its own merits, or compare it to its competitors, but to give it a low rating becase it doesn't live up to elevated expectations is wrong. It is also very unhelpful to potential buyers who may be put off by the low rating, buy another brand, and end up with a camera that is "surprisingly good" and "surpassed expectations", but which is sadly inferior. Disappointment noted, but the G5 is clearly the best in its class, and well deserving of 5 stars.
Rating:
Summary: Great camera - some disadvantages
Review: For the price, there are a lot of good cameras available. The G5 scores highest on picture quality, and the level of control you have over your photographs. I did end up choosing the Fuji S7000 because I got a great deal - nearly $100 less than the amazon price for the G5. Also the Fuji has better zoom, and is much faster. However with a smaller $ difference - maybe $50? - I might have chosen the excellent G5. The 600+ shots I got to take with this camera left me really impressed. The G5 has an excellent instruction manual that actually teaches you a thing or two about digital photography every time you look through it. The camera's menu is intuitive and easy to use. I have compared this camera with a few including the Nikon 5400, the Fuji S7000, Kodak DX 4490, and a few others and found it easiest to get "true" colors from the G5(I am still struggling with the Fuji). The high quality LCD will show you a fairly accurate representation of your photograph. Nine out of ten digital cameras do not do that. The LCD also swivels - great feature to have if you want to avoid scratches. There are some disadvantages as the other reviewers have pointed out - like the flash getting blocked by any lens attachments, camera being a little too big to carry around conveniently, limited zoom, difficult to hold in one hand, etc. However if picture quality and control are important, the G5 is hard to beat at the price.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderful Camera, Great Value
Review: When I was researching cameras, I wrote out a list of requirements that my camera had to have: high quality shots, sturdy build, easy to carry, hotshoe for additional flash, ability to add filters, rapid shot feature, manual and automatic settings, movie settings, red eye flash, timer, programable white balance, 3-5x optical zoom (has 4x), and takes CF cards (cheaper than other memory cards). When I entered all my requirements into www.dpreview.com, only 2 cameras showed up that met my requirements. After comparing the photo quality of the 2, the G5 was the obvious choice. Before getting my G5, I had taken less than 500 pictures in my life. Now, after owning this camera for almost 2 months, I've taken well over 2500 pictures. Yes, 2500. It's just so easy to take a great picture with this camera that you will enjoy taking it with you everywhere!
Rating:
Summary: Too many shortcomings
Review: I got this camera a week ago. I would not recommend this camera to others. 1) The optical viewfinder is partially blocked by the lens. I find this very annoying. It makes the optical viewfinder partially crippled. 2) Chromatic aberration. If you shoot a back lighted object (say in front of a mirro with flash on) you will see a blue halo along the edge of the object. 3) Camera body not ergonomically designed. It is hard to hold the camera with one hand, since the camera body does not fit the right hand ergonomically. You will have to use both hands. 4) One has to remove the lens cap before turning on the camera. This is also very annoying. I wish I could keep the lens cap on with the camera turned on. It protects the camera lens between shots. 5) Camera lens can be easily smeared without the cap. It is not recessed deep enough.
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