I recently pulled my G11 out of the closet and remain impressed with the images from on older, small sensor camera.
The G series cameras -- particularly the older ones with the optical tunnel viewfinder -- really offer a lot of performance for their diminutive size and small sensors.
My G12 consistently delivers better technical results that my much newer Fuji XP90, which also has a small sensor and tends to smear details. The optical viewfinder of the G12 is imprecise, but it lets me see to roughly frame a shot when the sun is coming over my shoulder. Further, the G12 (and the other older G series, I think) has a really cute trick it can do: you can save a custom setting the
includes setting the camera to manual focus
at a particular distance (and also zoom setting). So my C1 custom setting is full wide with manual focus at infinity. The result: everything tends to be in focus, and I don't have to wait for the autofocus, which is slow by today's standards.
The shot of the dam above was taken using that setting. My wife and I were walking a trail on Peebles Island in Waterford, NY. I have taken that same basic shot maybe 50 times, but I liked the quality of the light, so I pressed the power button, swung the G12 to my eye, and pressed the shutter. I barely broke stride. I don't claim it is "great" photography, but I like the results.
Another hack that I recommend is to extend the length of the factory strap using pieces of parachute cord, so that you can sling the camera cross-body. You hardly notice it is there; the strap provides enough friction that the camera doesn't slide around a lot, yet the friction is low enough to allow the camera to be brought to the eye quickly and easily.
Cheers, Jock