Twelve and Twelve

The snow slows to a calm flurry, then to nothing at all. Above us the sun peeks through the thinning cloud cover. We're on a long stretch of flat highway now and I believe we're about to enter Glenwood Canyon.

The Trip

This was my first trip to Colorado. We flew into Denver, took the A-Line downtown, then got in a car to start the four-hour drive West to the Crystal River Valley and White National Forest.

Going into this trip we didn't have much of a plan. We went out to stay with some friends, go snowboarding, and maybe relax a little here and there.

I've seen photos of where we went and I knew the views would be fantastic and the settings unique. Natural hot springs, small ski areas, and old mining towns. I wanted to capture it all as authentically as possible while also taking it in without being behind the shutter button the whole time.

For me, that starts with camera selection.

The Camera

I've been fighting with gas for a while. No, not that kind of gas, rather the kind that leaves your wallet empty and your heart full of regret. GAS, or Gear Acquisition Syndrome, is a pit that most of us fall into at one point or another. I despise new gear so I was mostly comparing specs of used cameras and lenses, the state-of-the-art models from about ten years ago, and attempting to justify a new kit just to try something new. Just to feel something, yanno?

This went on for a while, and then I started to shift to the other extreme.

They say less is more, and the best camera is the one you own, so I decided to put those two philosophies together, leave my pro-DSLR and mirrorless cameras behind, and see where that landed me.

Lo and behold, the Canon PowerShot G16.

This little point-and-shoot was given to me for free at work. There was an office clean-out project and, with me running the photo department, this forgotten shooter was placed on my desk by default. No one claimed it, and I'm still trying to find its owner, but I figured why not test it out in the meantime.

I spent a few months with it and actually really started to enjoy it. The rangefinder is covered in scratches and isn't very great, and the lens is equally scratched up, but other than that it's in decent shape. All the buttons and dials are in working order and it's just as fast as it was in 2013.

What I love most about it is the Program mode. When it comes to these compact zooms I feel a little icky when zooming. Yes, I know, I'm weird. But for my own practice and progression I like to say, "Oh, I shot this at 35mm focal length, then the same shot at 50mm and here's how they compare."

It frustrates me when those numbers aren't exact. Yeah, I live an exhausting life.

So anyway, the Program mode. This mode allows you to program the front dial to select exact focal lengths at just a click. The range equivalent goes as such: 28, 35, 50, 85, 100, 140. True and unadulterated satisfaction.

That, along with the usual slew of image settings and a physical exposure correction dial, have made this camera such a joy to shoot. As long as I keep it in "P" I can just switch it on, and shoot. No fuss, no drama, just taking the picture.

At the end of the day, this still connects to my iPhone 14 Pro seamlessly with the Canon Camera Connect app. I simply download the photos, maybe do a little stylistic adjustments here and there, and then I can send 'em off to friends and family to keep them updated on our trip.

It's easy, quick, and there's no need for an SD card reader or a laptop. Sweet, sweet bliss.

The Images

This little pocket camera (and it is truly pocketable) takes some really amazing photos.

Most of the photos here are straight out of the camera, the others with a few minor adjustments for white balance and softness. Even those adjustments I could have made in-camera, but I wanted to play around with a few presets before landing on one specific look.

While I do love my Z 5 and D7200 (both 24 megapixel tools) and my D2Xs I've come to dread carrying them with me on vacation or even just around town when I'm out for a walk. Yes, they take amazing images but their form factor is cumbersome and I find myself actually taking less photos with them than I'd like.

The G16 isn't like that. If I see something interesting it's a no-brainer to slide it out, power it on, and shoot. It's intuitive and low-key and those are extremely good benefits when traveling or just walking around.

Not to mention it fits nicely into my ski pants.

The Conclusion

So I did bring my Z 5 and 50mm and 85mm lenses with me on this trip, but I really only took that kit out when I had the time to fuss around with settings and when I felt like I wanted a little more resolution for larger scenes. But what I reached for the most was the G16, hands down.

The Canon PowerShot G16 is a subtle performer and a really powerful tool if you get to know it (like any other camera, really).

My copy is well-used and a little worse for wear. The shutter elements that close over the front of the lens has scratched the glass quite a bit over its lifetime and the battery doesn't hold like it used to. It's got a few more years left, if I baby it, but I fear it may not last as long due to spending eighty-percent of my time in the woods nowadays.

Would I buy this same camera as a replacement? Probably not, only because this platform has a few modern iterations that have piqued my interest. I'll also likely run this G16 into the ground, and by then I'll be ready to move on, emotionally.

I've only been on my photo journey for about ten years. In that time I haven't had a lot of cameras but I have had a few mid-range DSLRs and a modern full frame mirrorless that honestly are more camera than I'd ever need.

The G16 has refreshed my passion for creating unique images, and it just so happens that it feats neatly into my pocket.

Peace.