Looks like my trusty Canon Powershot G3 has died. I’m quite bummed naturally.

It was a very handy camera and very capable once I figured out its limitations.

Sure it wasn’t as fast to focus and shoot, but once I understood how it acquired focus, I knew how to get the best results from this camera under most circumstances.

It can be the difference between getting a picture or not getting one .

Since cameras don’t last forever and you can always count on the newer models to be faster, with less digital noise and bigger file sizes, I’m not devastated. My Powershot G3 has served me well.

Too bad I can’t hand it down to my kids.

Its replacement will probably be the Canon Powershot G11 for about the same price around US $500. (no memory cards)

Pros and Cons

I loved the Powershot G3 because it used compact flash cards.

Need I say why? My digital SLR bodies use compact flash cards.

Looks like I now have to buy Secure Digital cards if I move up to the G11.

Even before the Powershot G3 died, I was tempted to get the same line of Canon Powershot camera but I held out.

I loved the articulating LCD screen you can turn to face forward. This feature allows users to easily do self-portraits.

But for reasons unknown Canon removed that articulating LCD screen in G5, G7, G9 and G10 models.

That articulating LCD screen is back on the latest G11 and just in time.

The other reason I loved the G3 was, it used the same batteries as my digital SLR bodies.

Upgrading does has its downsides.

It’s useful to weigh the pros and cons and research carefully so you are not surprised.

The Powershot G11 uses a Secure Digital card and a different proprietary battery.

Yes, that means yet a different charger.

My closet which is already chock full of all kinds of chargers is crying “uncle.”

Everything I’ve read tells me the 10 Megapixel G11 will be a great improvement.