Do I need high ISO performance.
Discussion
ISO is essentially the sensitivity of the sensor. In the film world, the ISO rating (100, 200, 400 etc.) would show you how much the film would react to light. The same amount of light on a 400 film will expose it more than it would on a 100 film. So in the digital world, the same "measurement" system has been used.
The higher the ISO, the less light it takes to expose the image. However, you don't get nowt for nowt, as they say, so in addition, the higher the ISO, the more noise you get on the image. On a compact, the noise above ISO400 would typically be diabolical anyway, so don't worry too much about it. I stick to ISO200 or lower whenever possible, but in low light sometimes it's useful to wind up to 800 or even 1600.
The higher the ISO, the less light it takes to expose the image. However, you don't get nowt for nowt, as they say, so in addition, the higher the ISO, the more noise you get on the image. On a compact, the noise above ISO400 would typically be diabolical anyway, so don't worry too much about it. I stick to ISO200 or lower whenever possible, but in low light sometimes it's useful to wind up to 800 or even 1600.
I have a G2, an early ancestor of the G10, and find for the type of photography I do with it, I rarely venture above 100ISO.
If you think you are likely to be using the G10 in situations where there isn't a lot of ambient light, which would push you towards using high ISO values, you may want to re-think your choice if good quality images are importnat to you.
If you are more likely to be using it in well lit situations, which will allow you to use the lower ISO values, it should prove fine.
If you think you are likely to be using the G10 in situations where there isn't a lot of ambient light, which would push you towards using high ISO values, you may want to re-think your choice if good quality images are importnat to you.
If you are more likely to be using it in well lit situations, which will allow you to use the lower ISO values, it should prove fine.
I think its all relative really and what you want to do with it. I got a G9 on the recommendation here and I think it's great. Higher up the ISO range does see quality drop off dramatically but you pay your money and take your choice.
I wanted a good quality compact. I didn't want to spend the best part of a grand on a camera setup that I would need to carry in a bag so I missed things. But if it's good for you will be up to how serious you are about wanting good images in tough conditions which is where they do fall over.
That is obviously a panned shot taken in poor light with Panning IS on, ISO 800 and 1/60th of a second. Its noisy and for a DSLR I'm sure its binnable. Personally I was quite pleased the camera even did that well. It would probably be better than almost every other compact and be beaten down by a good DSLR. My old compact looked like that at ISO 200. So I guess it's where your standards are for getting an image V's any other considerations you have.
I wanted a good quality compact. I didn't want to spend the best part of a grand on a camera setup that I would need to carry in a bag so I missed things. But if it's good for you will be up to how serious you are about wanting good images in tough conditions which is where they do fall over.
That is obviously a panned shot taken in poor light with Panning IS on, ISO 800 and 1/60th of a second. Its noisy and for a DSLR I'm sure its binnable. Personally I was quite pleased the camera even did that well. It would probably be better than almost every other compact and be beaten down by a good DSLR. My old compact looked like that at ISO 200. So I guess it's where your standards are for getting an image V's any other considerations you have.
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