Canon PowerShot G15 Digital Camera Review

Speed and Timing

The G15 is equipped with three distinct continuous shooting modes, as well as a full suite of self-timer options. Both are accessed via the FUNC menu overlay.

The default continuous shooting mode tops out at about 2 fps and will continue shooting until your finger gets too tired to keep holding the shutter release (provided you're shooting JPEG, anyway). This mode focuses before you start shooting but locks focus while continuous shooting is in progress. There's also an alternative version that focuses continuously throughout, but this increases shot-to-shot time noticeably. If you turn the mode dial to SCN, you'll find a special "High-speed Burst HQ" mode, which takes 10 shots in the space of one second, at full resolution. In most situations, we think this is the best burst mode to use.

The self-timer can be set to 10 seconds, 2 seconds, or to a custom setting that allows you to pick between 1 and 10 shots, with a shot-to-shot time of 0 to 30 seconds.

Focus Speed

In good light, the G15's focusing is fast and accurate. We rarely found a subject it couldn't lock onto, and those it did fail on were typically of incredibly low contrast. Being a contrast-detect camera (as are all compacts), the G15 simply needs some contrast in a scene in order to autofocus properly. In low light, the G15 is quick to use its powerful AF assist beam in order to find focus, and it works exceedingly well, even in the darkest conditions.