Compact camera with star power

A CLEAR trend in photography is size matters. Even diehard DSLR users sometimes want something smaller.

Compact camera with star power

A CLEAR trend in photography is size matters. Even diehard DSLR users sometimes want something smaller.

Some have embraced their smartphone, some have switched to compact system cameras, and some have turned to advanced feature compacts like Canon's Powershot G16.

The G16 follows the G15 and is similar in many features and its functional look.

It's a 12.1-megapixel camera with a three-inch LCD screen and an f1.8-f2.8 lens with a range from 28mm to 140mm.

For DSLR users, the G16 has a reassuring number of knobs and buttons. On top, the PASM (program, aperture, shutter and manual) dial slightly overlaps another for exposure compensation.

The back display includes separate buttons for ISO settings (up to 12,800) and movie recording. It does have an optical viewfinder, but it's so small it's hardly worth it.

Two features that distinguish the G16 from the G 15 are a new sensor and wi-fi connectivity.

If you use the in-camera scene modes, this has a star mode with automatic long shutter speed to help shoot star trails, and a portrait feature that shoots two images, one with shallow depth of field, that it superimposes on the other.

POWERSHOT G16 / CANON

$537 / canon.com.au

Rating: 3.5/5