With technology changing so rapidly, new devices coming out so rapidly and my need to have as many as I can, I tend to have some type of new gadget every month. So when I get a new gadget, I will make a post saying “Gadget Check-In” to introduce the new item being added to my group and why I got it. If you are interested in knowing what other tech/camera equipment I have, check out the “My Gadgets” page.

So I decided to get the Canon PowerShot G15 to fill a void in my camera department and that is having a lightweight camera that’s still powerful like my DSLR to travel with. The first time I went to Las Vegas, I took my Canon 7D with two lenses (Tamron 17-50 and Canon 50mm). Not huge lenses, however it did require me to carry a medium size camera bag with me. Being out all day, the bag begins to get heavy. Then there comes the pain when needing to change lenses to get a quick snapshot of something. So after that, it was my goal to find a powerful camera, but lighter and smaller than my 7D when I travel. So I got a Canon T3i. Yes, this camera is lighter and smaller, however still the same issue as with the 7D because of the need to change lenses.

So I then began my search for a point and shot that I would like. Once I discovered that some point and shoots had a scroll wheel for controlling on the back of the camera like my Canon 7D, it became a requirement of my point and shoot to have a scroll wheel. So I stumbled across some Sony WX9 and really liked there set up of the buttons on the camera, the vivid 3.0″ LCD screen, the ease of quickly getting to panorama and video mode and the menu. I think I got it for like $125-150 and it had everything I have been looking in a camera except for manuel mode. I decided to look past this and still purchase the camera because I loved everything else about it. It did exactly what I wanted it to do and it was simple to learn the camera, which is why I decided to get one for my semi-technically challenged mother also.

For the most part, the Sony WX9 did what I wanted to do, however because of it not having the option for manuel and me not being able to fully control my shot, I would get some images that was darker or lighter than I would like. I would try to compensate by consistently changing the exposure, however it still wouldn’t get that perfect shot that I would like depending on how the autofocus hit. I got through two major trips with this camera through, travelling to the Bahamas and attending my first CES show in January 2013. The great thing about having a camera during a conference as massive as CES is that it makes your overall load you are carrying light and it hardly takes up any space. In fact, it didn’t take up any space in my bag because I had in on my hip the entire show. The bad thing was that I couldn’t always get some of those shots I wanted because of not being able to fully control the shot.

So I decided for the next conference I attend, which I will be heading off to Las Vegas for the NAB Show 2013 conference tomorrow, that I was going to go back on the search for a new point and shot with manuel option or either just take the bulk of my DSLR.  So I stopped by Best Buy to check out some cameras and I saw the Canon PowerShot G15. I had totally forgot about the PowerShot G series, but seeing the front dial on this new model made me buy it. Being that I had liked my Sony WX9 so much, I tried to look at their higher model camera that did have the manuel option, however, being use to DSLRs, not having the dedicated buttons to change my shutter and aperture quickly bothered me. I also took a look at the Nikon J1 and Sony NEX mirrorless cameras, however I would run into the same situation as with the DSLRs with the lenses taking up space and the need to have to change them depending on the shot; plus, it was a must that I had something that performed well in low light. My Sony WX9 started at f/2.6. This Canon G15 is f/1.8-2.8, VERY excited about that. So I came across the G15, saw the front dial and instantly knew this was the camera that would do everything I’ve always wanted and including autofocus during videos (yes, yes, yes; I’ve always shot video w/ a DSLR so I welcome autofocus very much, will pretty much be shooting all my YouTube videos w/ this camera now). I got a pretty sweet deal after having Best Buy price match Amazon which was $50 cheaper plus using my Reward Points and Gift Card I had saved up.

So as mentioned earlier, I will be traveling to Las Vegas for the NAB Show conference in which I get to see more amazing photography and video equipment and I will be using my Canon G15 to take all the footage, so make sure you check back to see some of the shots and see what this camera can do. This will actually be my first real test with the camera since I just got it, so I’m excited to see how well it performs compared to my DSLRs. However, I do think this is a camera you need if you are a pro shooter/serious hobbyist, but would like to take smaller cameras when you travel, but not lose quality and would still like to have pretty much all the same controls was you would with a DSLR.  So until next time aka next week.