Canon PowerShot G1 Review: A Digital Film Camera in Many Ways

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If I think back to some of the best days of my youth, many of them revolve around the newness of the college experience. It was a time when all my past experiences provided the crudest frameworks for the endless possibilities that lay before me. In September of 2000, ~~I embarked on those endless possibilities~~ Canon introduced the first G-series PowerShot camera – one that was chunkier than their S10/S20 with features that clearly had a high-level enthusiast (read: someone with money) in mind. But after nearly a quarter century since it first hit the scene, is the Canon PowerShot G1 still worth using, let alone buying, or is this bit of nostalgia not worth the price of admission?

The Canon G1 in 2025 is akin to an analog experience with the low-cost of digital photography.

Was This the Future of Photography?

Top view of a digital camera on a white surface next to a black device. — Canon PowerShot G1 top plate view. Image credit: Alberto Lima for *ThePhoblographer.com*

In the distant future-past was the year 2000, the world looked like a very distant fantasy. You could walk a loved one to their gate at the airport, having sappy/tearful goodbyes as you see them board their flight. A bag of chips only sets you back about 25 cents. Pro-photography equipment involved film and darkrooms, but digital was starting to come into its own. That’s the world that birthed the Canon PowerShot G1. The G1 was Canon’s flagship compact camera – one that touted professional features of its day. From its fast F2 aperture to RAW image capture to the hotshot and 1/1.8-inch CCD sensor, this camera was the future of photography.

And truly, some of the features that the G1 sported did have serious staying power in overall camera design. For me, the flip-out rear monitor on the G1 seemed like Canon experimenting with a design language that became a standard for future camera designs.

And like film, you can achieve an undeniable character with these older cameras. But, it requires patience and a willingness to relearn the photography process.

But not everything felt like a hit; the flimsy lens cover/cap is something I’m glad didn’t have staying power, even within the G-series itself.

An Analog Experience in Digital

A Canon PowerShot G1 camera on magazines with a cheesecake photo and a crowded street scene. — Canon PowerShot G1. Image credit: Alberto Lima for *ThePhoblographer.com*

Often, photographers like to wax poetic about the good old days of film photography. It’s “intentional;” it forces you to “be present” to be “in the moment.” In the case of PowerShot G1, what we really mean is that it’s slow. The camera’s start-up time was largely criticized when it was a piece of cutting-edge technology; today, it feels glacial by any standard. There are times when that’s not a problem: at dinner with friends and family, a posed shot while on vacation, or even in a controlled studio environment – chances are you’re willing to wait a little longer to allow the camera to catch up. If you plan to use the G1 for anything remotely close to street or documentary-style photography, be prepared to plan ahead. You’ll need to have the camera on and ready long before you bring the camera to your eye and take a photograph.

Urban scene with blurred buildings and a fenced sports court in the foreground. — Image sample from the Canon PowerShot G1 – Autofocusing is a hit-or-miss affair. Image credit: Alberto Lima for *ThePhoblographer.com*

From its fast F2 aperture to RAW image capture to the hotshot and 1/1.8-inch CCD sensor, this camera was the future of photography.

The G1 includes both single-point autofocus and manual focus options. Like everything about the G1 in 2025, focusing is also slow. It’s not quite watching-paint-dry slow, but don’t expect to catch a subject in motion. For what it’s worth, this probably felt a lot more normal in 2000, and it really speaks to how spoiled we are with today’s cameras – splitting hairs over the fractions of fractions-of-seconds that we consider to be better in one camera model over another. But this is also what shooting film can feel like at times.

Digital Film?

Canon PowerShot G1 side view with monitor on. Image Credit: Alberto Lima for ThePhoblographer.com — Card door and rear image of the Canon G1. Image credit: Alberto Lima for *ThePhoblographer.com*

While reviewing this camera, I often got two questions from people who took notice of the technological dinosaur in my hands – Why? And, What’s it like? The curiosity of the latter is worth diving into; in short, it’s a digital film camera. Not in the sense that it looks like any particular film stock from a bygone era, but because using the Canon G1 in 2025 is akin to an analog experience with the low-cost of digital photography.

Often, photographers like to wax poetic about the good old days of film photography. It’s “intentional;” it forces you to “be present” to be “in the moment.” In the case of PowerShot G1, what we really mean is that it’s slow.

Unedited image taken with the Canon PowerShot G1 to demonstrate RAW file flexibilty. — Before and After of RAW file fidelity from Canon PowerShot G1. Credit: Alberto Lima for *ThePhoblographer.com*

Edited image taken with the Canon PowerShot G1 to demonstrate RAW file flexibilty. — Before and After of RAW file fidelity from Canon PowerShot G1. Credit: Alberto Lima for *ThePhoblographer.com*

Analog doesn’t mean bad, not by a long shot. Taking your time is key to making love or having a lasting impact. Being intentional and working through challenges will net good results and make you a better photographer. This isn’t always an easy task – manual focusing is possible, but achieving consistent results is not exactly easy. ISO 50 can be noisy, but you can also push RAW files in a way I did not think possible on a camera from 2000. And when you’re willing to work with the PowerShot G1 you will be rewarded with images that feel like instant vintage in all the right ways.

The Price of Nostalgia

Over the past month, I’ve had the opportunity to jump head-first into reliving many of my photographic memories of my early years in college. At the time, there was no way I could afford the Canon PowerShot G1 – it was priced at over $1000 – but I remember the look of many of the snapshots of the time. For many years I tried to capture the essence of the look at the time but always felt today’s clinical sensors just couldn’t reproduce – after all, today’s image sensors and processors are good to the point of being clinical. And like film, you can achieve an undeniable character with these older cameras. But, it requires patience and a willingness to relearn the photography process.

Sample image taken with the Canon PowerShot G1 edited using ThePhoblographer Photojournalism Lightroom Presets.

If you’d prefer to shoot and share, you’ll be pleased with many of the results—no Lightroom subscription is required. If you’ve longed for the retro digicam look of years gone by, you could buy some presets or take a trip back in time and pick up a Canon PowerShot G1 for yourself – currently, you can find it on eBay for around $50.

Canon PowerShot G1 Sample Images

The Phoblographer has been huge on transparency with our audience since day one. Nothing from this review is sponsored. Further, many folks will post reviews and show lots of editing in the photos. The problem then becomes that anyone and everyone can do the same thing. They’re not showing what the lens can do. So, we have a section in our Extra Image Samples area to show edited and unedited photos. From this, you can decide for yourself.

Unedited

Black and white image of a potted plant with long leaves on a wooden shelf near a sunlit window.

Wet urban street with cars parked, a person in rain gear, and a large vehicle. A reflective sidewalk is visible.

Potted snake plant with long green leaves on a wooden surface near a sunny window.

Two people smiling in a kitchen, one holding a drink. A clock and window are in the background.

Motorcycle with a white spider design parked on a street between cars, near tree branches.

Brick building with large windows, Wonder sign above entrance, and a One Way street sign in view.

Street signs at an intersection with a building in the background and a Ready to Rent advertisement.

Stone facade of a building with a detailed carved relief above an arched entrance, featuring multiple figures.

Scooters and a bicycle parked on a sidewalk outside a shop with an ATM and café.

Person walking in the rain with an umbrella, passing a NO PARKING sign on a wet street.

Two slices of bread with greens and spread on a paper plate.

A rustic bouquet of dried flowers in a glass jar on a wooden table.

A fire hydrant with painted eyes and mouth on a city sidewalk, in front of stone steps.

Raindrops on a car window with blurred city lights and traffic signals in red and green.

Raindrops on a windshield distort the view of a busy city street with tall buildings and traffic lights.

Orange pot with small plant on a wooden shelf by a window.

Colorful pens scattered on a red surface, with part of a cup and case visible nearby.

Raindrops on a car window blur city lights and traffic in the background.

A tree with bare branches overhangs a row of brownstone buildings under a clear blue sky.

Person riding a motor scooter across a city street intersection with trees and buildings in the background.

Edited

Person smiling, holding a drink with a straw, standing by a clock showing 7:56. Decorations hang nearby.

A black-and-white image of a brick building with rental ad and street signs for Wythe Ave and N 3rd St.

Toasted bread topped with spinach, beet slices, and seasoning on a paper plate.

A rustic bouquet of dried flowers in a clear glass vase on a wooden table.

Child with curly hair, wearing a blue shirt, sits while sucking fingers, surrounded by people in casual clothing.

Busy city street with pedestrians, street vendors, and bare trees. Signs and vehicles are visible.

Graffiti on an old buildings wall with a tree in front and power lines overhead.

Two people playing soccer on an empty court near a brick building with trees and a tower in the background.

Retro diner covered in stickers on a city street corner, with parked car and surrounding buildings.

A vintage black fire hydrant stands on a city sidewalk against a textured wall.

Person crossing street at a crosswalk between parked cars in black and white city scene.