Apples

Apples

by Garik

submit your photo


Picture of the Week Themes
Suggest and vote on themes

Please participate in Meta
and help us grow.

Tell me more ×
Photography Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for professional, enthusiast and amateur photographers. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 3 down vote favorite

I'm not a professional photographer, but I use my camera on a regular basis to photograph my familiy and activities I attend. I own a Canon G7 (older version of the G11) and instead of upgrading to a full-on (D)SLR camera, I've heard that getting a new lens for it would help with picture quality immensely. So what is a decent general-use lens (or a few common single-purpose lenses) that that will improve the quality of my photos?

share|improve this question

3 Answers

up vote 12 down vote accepted

You can in fact get additional lenses for the Canon G7. More precisely they are called "converters". The "gotcha" is that they only sit on top of your existing fixed lens that is built into the G7. The Canon WC-DC58B is one option that will convert all focal lengths to .75 of the original focal length. Another option is the Canon TC-DC58C Teleconverter which will give you 2x the focal length of the original lens.

So in fact you aren't going to get higher picture quality, rather you have the ability to shoot at different focal lengths by using these lens converters. Common knowledge suggests that this will only multiply any flaws your current built in fixed lens has.

If you are unsatisfied with the G7's quality of the photos, you aren't going to be able to switch to a different lens or modify it with one of the above converters to get a higher quality. A DSLR might be the path you want to follow.

share|improve this answer
4  
Actually, to be accurate, what you're describing is a converter or a lens modifier, not a lens. The distinction is that a lens projects light directly onto a medium (sensor, film, etc.), whereas a lens modifier alters the characteristics of an existing lens. Not to take away from what you've written, I just wanted to make sure we were using the correct terms so we're not confusing people... – Jay Lance Photography May 4 '11 at 23:41
Yea, I suppose that I agree. B&H calls it a lens, so I figured I was safe :-) I do see that Canon calls it a converter. – dpollitt May 5 '11 at 2:29
2  
This is good information. I was hoping to avoid the cost of a DSLR camera, but that might be what I have to do. – PHLAK May 5 '11 at 16:36
@PHLAK: Another option is buying a better P&S camera. Most likely much cheaper than a good DSLR + good lenses... – Jukka Suomela May 5 '11 at 21:55
@Juka Any recommendations on a good P&S then? – PHLAK May 8 '11 at 16:13
up vote 2 down vote

You are right that a new lens can improve image quality considerably.

Unfortunately, the G7 is a fixed-lens camera and therefore you cannot get a new lens for it. Sadly I have seen vendors say the contrary to make people buy it but it is a lie.

share|improve this answer
up vote 1 down vote

"Improving the quality of photos" is a difficult goal without knowing what you think is wrong with your shots.

However, you can get a lens adapter, from LensMate, for instance.

Or, you can use CHDK and get more control over your firmware. Maybe you feel like your photos can be improved by adding things like timelapse shots?

share|improve this answer
2  
Adapters have no chance of improving image quality since more glass is prone to adding its own layer of aberrations, distortions, flare and softness. – Itai May 4 '11 at 20:39
2  
Depends on what you mean by 'improving image quality'. If he wants to take a wide angle image, then it could be considered an improvement to add that piece of glass if it gives him that capability. – mmr May 4 '11 at 20:57

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.