With regard to the competition from the camp of compact cameras, I can only compare with the new Olympus XZ-10, which I also own, or with the Sony RX100, I've re-sold. The G15 is larger than the other two, but has a viewfinder and additional buttons, ie, the use and the value in use is thus considerably increased. The image quality is better than the Olympus, in particular because of the excellent noise performance. The Sony RX100 makes good photos, but the feel is poor, as well as usability. The Macro mode is problematic, excellent at Canon. At higher ISO settings the Sony ironed everything smoothly, the Canon produces a fine, homogeneous granularity with details. In contrast ratio - eg situation brighter sky to dark street - would be in the G15 need to catch up, here brings a DSLR like Nikon D300 or a Pentax K5 much more out. I'm talking about the way JPEGS "out of Cam". The RAW development is a chapter in itself.
With regard to high ISO values: As I was skeptical because of the reviews - wrongly. Of course, the best quality is achieved at low ISO values. But if it is now times dark, no flash to be switched on, but to move people, then I need a shutter speed of at least 1 / 60sec. and as it is nunmal high ISO + open aperture - or no picture. And here I was surprised by the ISO 3200 setting, the better results brings under low light conditions as the ISO 1600, because the photo is dissolved due to internal processing with a finer grain. The photos in these circumstances were amazingly - but thoroughly tried, as I myself did not believe it - sharper and better than that of my DSLR Pentax K-30 with Kitzoom. Only one thing I do not like in this regard: The automatic ISO mode is only possible to a maximum of ISO 1600; Here would be an extension to 3200 desirable.
Further resolved unsatisfactory: on long-term recording, for example you need at night usually several seconds for a shot (per stand). In the case of ISO value from Canon to ISO 80 is set unchangeable. At ISO 80, however, I need 10 to 15 seconds, bad if you have trees and bushes in the image that move, and the moon makes in the time already a little boost. With ISO 400 or 800 would be no problem; the image quality slightly lower, but considerably minimizes the shutter speed.
Next eternal Canon G-series Nörgelthema: The viewfinder. Yes, small and notbehelfsmässig he is. But better than I expected and quite usable, after all, with zoom and diopter adjustment. If the viewfinder is larger, it would have to be farther away from the lens, which is due to design poor, without increasing the housing. So a compromise in favor of the housing size. Nevertheless, a data display would not be bad, and if it would be an indication of focus took place. The case itself is very well made, the roughened surface offers good tack and no means "sandpaper-like".
In features and price situation Canon applies the ambitious Fotofreund, but also a balancing act on the playful consumers, because the whole image effects and scene programs are assembled an encore, who actually lost nothing of such a camera. Every photographer photographed already in "Toy" mode or on the program "shots against snowy backgrounds" one? Well, should probably be to satisfy the game children and to provide results, which are then called "Oh, great, as you have only my skin so smooth hingekriegt and it shows in Sepia yes so artistically made" - of course, in conjunction with individualized facial recognition program. Who's fun ...
And then ... no folding screen. Yes, of course it can be done without. But it would have been for the positions at the top or bottom of the floor or sometimes from the hips beautifully. And sooooviel thicker the housing would then also not be extended and the benefits significantly. Well, was probably an engineer at the helm, who said that this year's G again without. Bad thinking.
Overall - despite avoidable weaknesses that Canon would have it actually polished away after all these years - one of the best, if not currently the best compact camera on the market. Instead Tüttelkram as image effects, or personal data related face detection I'd rather have a folding screen and an improved viewfinder with display - but that will probably possibly even a G17 or G23, with which one can perhaps already photographed three-dimensional holograms.
