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Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
By: Canon Average Rating: 4.5 Total Reviews: 228
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 On: 2008-07-08
I bought this to take with me when a D300 would be impractical - biking, playground with kids, etc. For this purpose, its compact form factor is certainly better than a DSLR, however, with all its adjustments, it is still basically a point and shoot with all the disadvantages - slow handling (zoom, focus, shutter) and awkward composition via the LCD. It has an optical viewfinder that is all but worthless.
The controls allow for fairly quick access to key exposure adjustments, but the sensor size limits the DOF range (not much difference between max f/2.8 and min f/8) so Aperture priority mode is not that useful over Program. I avoid using direct flash, and other reviews have covered the usability of ISO over 400, thus this is basically an outdoor use camera, which serves my purposes fine. The G9 has allowed me to get some shots while biking that would never have been possible with an SLR, and shooting RAW is critical to bringing out the best image quality in post processing.
The built in neutral density "filter" is useful in shooting longer exposures during bright daylight, and the size allows for easy placement for bracketing exposures for HDR without needing a tripod. Image quality at ISO 80 is excellent.
In summary, if you are looking for a point & shoot, there are better values than the G9. If you are looking to learn photography, youd be better served with an entry level SLR - it will be quicker and more satisfying to use. If you are an advanced photographer looking for convenience, the handling of the G9 will be disappointing - but there are times when this is probably the only option vs not carrying a camera at all and missing a shot.
 On: 2008-07-06
Pros: capable of shooting RAW, Image Stablization, clear video, panorama mode (keep wb/shutter/aperture the same), battery life is good, nice shot mode (flash, but keep the shutter slow to capture the background)
Cons: I dont like the LCD screen, too grainy. Price. Neck strap.
I was gonna use it as my DSLR backup, but it really is just a good point&shoot. Not ready for a backup for DSLR.
Overall, I have no regret, its a nice camera.
On: 2008-07-01
Like alot of reviewers here, I bought the G9 as a sophisticated point and shoot upgrade, not wanting to lug around a heavy DSLR, yet wanting more sophisticated pictures than most point and shoots can handle. I have found that I use a camera alot more if it is easy to carry around, and the G9 fits that bill very well. Its not like my little Elph, which almost goes unnoticed in a shirt pocket; but it will fit into a jacket pocket quite easily and takes vastly superior pictures to the Elph.
Do not be under the impression that the G9 will shoot the "same as" a DSLR, however, because it wont. But in most circumstances (other than low light, as others have mentioned) the large majority of people will be fairly awed by the pictures this beautiful little camera can take. It IS that good. Start to get over 400 ISO, however, and, well, then it gets a little grainy and noisy.
The camera can be set on full auto and take "very good" pictures, but I would not waste my money on the G9 if that is all you are going to do with it. This camera is definitely for the more creative types. I think it works best in aperture priority or shutter priority modes, although there are so many different settings on this camera it can take days to wade through the instruction manual to cover them all. Ive had mine for about a month and Im still not through it yet, its been easy to "use" but difficult to "master", but I happen to think thats a good thing.
I would highly recommend the Lensmate brand adapter for the G9. It solves two problems inherent in the G9s design - first, it protects the zoom lens when it is extended, second, it makes the camera much easier to hold and manipulate. It is also made out of aluminum and is of much higher quality than the cheap Canon plastic adapter. Also, the Lensmate adapter is threaded so you can use filters, which I do, a UV and a polarized, when required. I keep my Lensmate adapter on all the time, even though it adds slightly to the G9s bulk.
Also, do yourself a favor and spend the $6 on an G9 LCD screen protector. Peel it off and stick it on, poof, no worries about scratching the beautiful and bright screen (and it is really beautiful at 3"). Nuff said.
A few other options for the G9 I found extremely worthwhile: the high quality metal grip and thumb rest by Richard Franiec. Again, they make the G9 so much easier to handle and shoot. I also bought the G9 leather case (these are only sold by Canon in Japan for some reason, but you can find them on ebay). I especially like how "60s retro" the already retro G9 looks with this case. It is a two piece design and with only the bottom part of the case attached (screws into the tripod mount), the camera is still functional and it does a good job of protecting most of the camera body.
I also bought a Sandisk 4GB Extreme III HDSC card for the camera, with a card reader. Itll hold plenty of pix and vid for my needs. A 2GB card is probably sufficient, and if you tend to lose cards you might want to stick with that instead since its cheaper than replacing a 4GB card. The card the camera comes with is so small its really basically useless.
Lastly, I considered getting some Raynox lenses for the G9, but decided against it as the effective lens on the G9 is already 35mm-210mm equivalent. Adding a supplemental/larger lens to the G9 (unless I was doing macro work or just had it set up on a tripod and didnt care) would just make the camera bulkier, meaning I would use it less. Again, the point of this camera is to take it with me wherever I go. So Im happy with the camera set up the way it is.
I have not had the chance to use the video on this camera yet, and Ive heard people complain about the inability to use the digital zoom function with it... Oh well, that is not the primary reason I bought the camera and it is not that important to me.
As far as the pictures Ive taken so far, Im extremely pleased with them. I took the G9 with me on vacation to a New England beach destination this summer right after I got it. Again, I was not expecting DSLR quality, jaw-dropping photos, but the G9 really delivered nonetheless. If you are a decent photographer, "non-professionals" will be very, very impressed with your pictures.
I hope this review helps you decide if the G9 is the right camera for you, and if it is, what other options you might want to consider getting along with it. Good luck and happy shooting.
 On: 2008-06-26
The Canon PS G9 is a perfect camera for someone who is beginning in photography and is looking to learn. The manual settings are easy to use and the pictures come out great. The ability to shoot both JPG and RAW is an incredible feature that is mostly found in professional series cameras, I love that you can add lens and filters to give your shots a more artistic feel. Overall a great camera, if you wish to see some examples please view my porfolio at www.jpgmag.com/people/sliknick . All of my shots where taken with the G9
On: 2008-06-21
I upgraded from a Canon PowerShot G2 to the G9 and am not disappointed. There are many selections to take the pictures in all kinds of lighting. Today I visited Fantastic Caverns in Springfield, MO, and, using the Night Snapshot, I was able to capture some amazing photos (in both low light and total darkness). The photos are crisp and clear. After using this camera for 3 weeks, I still have so much more to learn and am excited to do so!
On: 2008-06-21
This is an AMAZING!!! camera. More money need not be spent. Next step up is much more $$$$.
Only one small problem, IF you are using the wide angle attachment, it casts a shadow while using the built-in flash.
Easily solved.
Best Bang for Buck!!!
Love the underwater mode when diving using the Canon Housing!
 On: 2008-06-17
I bought this camera while traveling on assignment overseas for several internationally known guidebook publishers. In short, Im very disappointed with the model. Ive always used cameras from the Cannon G series but this is a big step backwards. Because there is no cover for the view screen, it scratches quickly. The automatic lens shutters sticks and does not close correctly. Thus the lens itself becomes quickly scratched and flaws show up in photos. In an unrelated manner, block blotched also begin to appear in photos after only a couple of months of use. Stay away from the G9. Buy and earlier model or another brand altogether.
On: 2008-06-17
This camera is great. I own a 5D, and i was a little hesitant to buy the G9. I wanted a small camera I could take with me on vacation, instead of my big, heavy, expensive bag of gear. The pics look great(200 ISO and under). The video looks real good for a compact camera. All pics, and videos look good, with a good amount of light. When you are in low light situations is gets a little noisy. The price is amazing for what your getting, even for Canon. They usually are a little over priced. If you are debating weather or not to get it, GET IT!
On: 2008-06-16
good camera. delivered on time.
steep learning curve which I have not yet conquered after about three weeks.
On: 2008-06-14
If youre looking for a Point and Shoot with SLR-like qualities, this is it, but youll have to know the camera and youll have to know what youre doing in order to get a great shot. I only bought this camera for times where I could not lug around the larger DSLR.
I dont recommend this for people who just want to take family/friend pictures: (1) Its too expensive for just that (2) Youll be disappointed when you just put it on Program or Auto and the shot comes out crappy and (3) Youll be missing out on the other manual features.
The camera has a solid, hefty build so it feels like it can take on the normal wear and tear of regular use.
The LCD screen is large and you can pretty much gauge how the shot will look prior to pressing the shutter button---I would recommend putting a screen protector to prevent scratches and cracks.
I mainly put the camera on Manual, Aperture or Shutter priority. For the most part, I get the shot I need based on my surroundings---I hardly use the other automated settings.
Try not to put ISO higher than 200---Anything above that and the noise is just unbearable.
This is a good P&S camera with creative features, but it cant stand up to the high and mighty DSLRs. Buy it as a complement to your photography arsenal or buy it if you want to have more creative control from a P&S, but DONT buy it if youre just going to take random shots of family, friends, or events. There are other cheaper P&S that will do the job at a fraction of the cost.
On: 2008-06-13
Everything seems fine, although it is a gift for someone else. I have no idea how it actually is working at the moment!
On: 2008-06-13
Ive had this camera since winter and it takes some amazing images. Ive shot family shots of our new baby and my wife actually takes more now and her shots look a million times better than they used to with her old point and shoot digital. We keep it out all the time so when the baby is looking cute, bam, great photo.
Ive shot some stuff for work (car shows etc) and the images surprise even me. It definitely makes you look like a better photographer than you are. I dont use the full manual modes much but having the option definitely helps in the 10% I need it.
I like the weight but it will definitely stop you from just taking it along for the ride because you need to bring a case and a strap etc.
I would recommend this to anyone.
On: 2008-06-11
I have had this camera for a couple of weeks now and all i can say is that it is an excellent compact camera. The camera feels solid with none of that plastic feel of so many of the new cameras. The pictures are excellent and produce truely amazing detail. The anti jitter works well and allows you to take pictures of distant objects with a minimum of blur. I am still exploring all the features of which there are many. The only problem I have has so far is the fact the screen is polarized and if you are wearing polarized sunglasses the screen disappears as you change the orientation of the camera. It actually took me a little while to figure out what was going on that I could see the screen in a vertical orientation but not a horizontal one. :) I did have one other problem and it was windows XP could not handle the large image size of the .jpg file, but that was quickly corrected with a different file viewer.
 On: 2008-06-10
The body is metal and quite robust. The lens totally sucks. Unlike the Canon S80 this lens is not very wideangle at 35 mm versus 28 mm in the S80. The pin cushion distortion when the G9 is at its widest is horrible. The color rendition is fine. I also like the fact that it will take both raw and jpeg images. The poorly engineered and fabricated lens was a deal breaker. I returned the camera to amazon for a credit and bought something else. This expensive point and shoot camera is scheduled for replacement in August 08. Hopefully Canon will do better the next time because this camera in its form factor has tremendous potential for enthussiast and hobbyist photographers alike.
On: 2008-06-10
After reading such mixed reviews about the G9, I was hesitant to buy it. But I went ahead and Im glad that I did. Im not a professional photographer, nor will I ever be and photography is more of a hobby for me. That is why it was nice to have the point and shoot/automatic features for basic photos, and to also have the option of manual features if Im feeling artsy. I would say that its also great for someone who is still learning about how to use manual features. Youll always have the automatic option if you want.
On: 2008-06-08
this was my first digital camera. i picked this camera based on reviews, reputation and size. when it arrived, i found out that 32mb is not enough memory, so i bought 8 gb SDHC Transcend 8GB SDHC CARD (SD 2.0 SPD Class 6). i noticed two things while using this camera. (1) it did not seem to perform well in low light. (2) when i encountered the "lens error" or stuck lens,after a few weeks of use, i decided to return the camera. i ended up buying the panasonic lumix fz50 Panasonic DMC-FZ50 10.1MP Digital Camera with 12x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom (Black) instead. it is larger and heavier, but i am very happy with the camera.
On: 2008-06-07
I love this camera, takes great pictures and is a good camera for expert users and those wanting to learn. I an the latter and I am loving every minute of it.
On: 2008-06-06
I bought the G9 to complement my dSLR (a Canon D30). It is an awesome camera that delivers stunning image quality!
On: 2008-06-05
My Canon Rebel Digital was stolen, so this Canon G9 was a replacement camera for me. I am pleasantly surprized by the versatility of the camera; I also like the fact that its less of a hassle to carry around compared to the SLR. The full manual features are great for us casual users that want a little more than a point and shoot.
I also like the movie function, good enough for those unexpected moments when film will do more justice than a picture.
On: 2008-06-03
Like all small sensor cameras anything above 200 ISO is noisy, but if youre shooting at 100 or 80, and in RAW, this camera is nothing short of remarkable. Easily competes with much higher priced DSLRs - sharp lens, great sensor, DIGIC III processor, awesome.
Feels like a durable piece of equipment due to its metal body and knurled metal knobs. Great 3" screen to review your pictures. Full manual control, including focus. Good meter for shooting in Av or Tv. Wife is pleased with the fully automatic settings, but thats like commuting in a Ferrari... sure you can do it, but why?
Most professional photographers I know (and I work for a News Agency) carry one of these in their pocket. Theres a reason for that.
On: 2008-06-03
I read tons of reviews, and checked out all the online forums, so I thought I knew what to expect. And yet I am still impressed. I couldnt find this camera at my local electronic or camera store in order to get a "hands on" impression before buying (one of the reasons why I bought from Amazon with their excellent return policy), but I have to say that I really love the way it feels in my hand. Now I know what everyone is talking about. Its substantial. Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Yes, you can read zillions of reviews about the technical abilities of this little camera, how its no DSLR, how noise can become a problem, how everyone wishes it were faster, smaller, with a wider zoom lens, etc. But once you get it in your hands, and start taking pictures with it, you realize how the balance of size, picture quality (with image stabilization and RAW shooting too), and ease of use, all come together to help you capture great shots in a spontaneous way that your DSLR may have discouraged. If you own a digital SLR, you know how that big body and lens, with subsequent "support system" of bags and gear tends to hamper spontaneous activity. With the G9, just go to the park, take a walk, play with the kids or the family dog with the G9 in tow and you realize how handy it really is. Hint: a wrist strap is useful on this camera.
However, this is no ordinary point and shoot camera. When you want to get creative, go nuts with full manual control of everything. Great retro-style display of aperture with linked shutter speed via thumb wheel, really handy. Even focus via the thumb wheel (I like the smooth focus capability a lot for composed shots). Very nice. Want filters? Get a Lensmate or Canon adapter and throw some 58mm filters on it. I like polarizers outdoors, they make my pictures pop. Doing some simple studio work? Throw some cheap radio triggers on the built-in hot shoe and use those budget flashes off-camera, or maybe cheap fluorescent lights. Keep the ISO low for those magazine spreads and noise is no problem. Process through Aperture, or Lightroom (or the included Canon RAW processing software), manage noise with Noise Ninja, etc., youll get some fantastic images. Use what ever you feel comfortable with, the camera will deliver. Theres enough dynamic range there.
No, its no match for the sheer picture quality of your (probably expensive) DSLR with the big lenses and the big sensor, but really people, its less than $450. And its portable. So with a little finessing, and a little understanding of how light, aperture, shutter speed and image quality affect your shots, youll really enjoy this camera. It is reminiscent of those wonderful old, high quality compact 35mm film cameras long since gone, where the key philosophy here is to keep it simple, carry it with you, concentrate on the composition and dont look too obvious while doing it. Only the G9 is thoroughly modern with face detection, auto bracketing, spot metering, scene modes and custom setups too.
Ive even ordered an oversized, vintage 35mm viewfinder to sit in the flash shoe (the bulit-in viewfinder is a bit too small and murky for me) so I can keep my eyes open with the camera up to my face while shooting, and in the process perhaps see things differently than by using the (huge!) LCD display held out at arms length. Set the camera at the right zoom and snap away (yes, the shutter noise is a digital recreation too, theres no real shutter noise or mirror flip, and it can be turned off for stealth).
So there you have it. Quick, easy, high quality pics, lots of pixels, RAW processing (a MUST for real digital photography, so get a big memory card) and full manual control in a solid, easy to hold, small brick of a viewfinder camera (with a giant 3" LCD). Oh, sure it does video and records audio too, blah blah blah, but its the images that shine here. If you want, you can control it via USB through your PC or Mac too. Theres nothing really like it. Buy it through Amazon (an authorized Canon dealer) and get peace of mind, US warranty, great return policy, super fast shipping. Youll be happy you did.
Now that I have it, and Im starting to get accustomed to it, I like it even more. Its a keeper.
On: 2008-06-03
This camera is a great substitute for regular DSLRs. I carry it in my purse to capture inspirations everywhere I go. The photos always turn out great, and I love the fact that it has so many capture modes, just like a dSLR.
On: 2008-06-01
If you like the feel of an old 35mm and dont mind stunning great quality photos you should get this camera.Built like a tank and well designed.Thank you Cannon, I am very satisfied.Nice optical zoom,so so digital zoom. Now how about an armor case made for this camera? And maybe make it bluetooth??(The camera not the case.)
M
On: 2008-05-30
Ill preface this by saying that my photographer friend and I, who both own Canons excellent 5D DSLR, both purchased a G9 from Amazon to be our "grab-and-go" compact cameras so we would not have to always lug around the 5D and its lenses. We are both members of the local camera club.
Amazon came through with their as-promised delivery time, as usual.
Ill admit that I am totally spoiled by Canons 5D, and, as such, my G9 expectations were probably bound to remain unrealized. Nonetheless, there are many "good" G9 reviews.
The first thing that I noticed was that there is noise that simply cannot be ignored: shoot at ISO 200 and there it is.
So, what I take for granted: using most any ISO that I want to capture a low noise image, just cannot be taken for granted with the G9. To be fair, just about ALL compacts suffer from this shortcoming, more or less. For the price I expected "a cut above" in performance. My friend noticed the same thing. Even though Canon software has adaptive noise reduction to minimize this annoyance, its "just one more thing to worry about," and, in fact, was the deal-breaker for my friend who reluctantly took advantage of Amazons outstanding returns policy. My G9 had one more surprise in store for me: it almost unerringly "back-focused" so that the subject in the "focus square" on the LCD came out "soft" while the background immediately behind the subject was in sharper (but not tack-sharp) focus. My friends G9 produced sharper pictures than mine did with no back-focusing problem.
My wife owns a Canon Elph ( SD700 IS ) camera that she keeps in her pocket. It takes great pictures for what it is, and she loves it. My Canon 5D DSLR is simply great, and I have won many blue ribbons in juried competitions with it. I had hoped (perhaps unrealistically) to get another Canon with at least some of the ease of picture-taking that the 5D offers. Although a properly working G9 is probably somewhat superior to the usual compact cameras offered today, if you are seeking a "photographic tool" that wont get in the way of deliberate artistic picture taking, try out the G9, but dont throw away the packaging material that you may need for a return. If you are seeking a grab-and-go compact camera that has a LOT of DSLR-type features in a slick "retro" package, you could do a lot worse than the G9.
I also own an old clunky 7MP Canon G6 which still takes OK pictures. Ill use it until something better than the "OK" G9 comes out. For ME, the G9 is just too much of a compromise for $440,
although, if it was a GREAT compact, Id be willing to pay more.
As you can see, it all depends on what YOUR requirements and expectations are. I feel almost guilty giving the G9 3 stars since I really like the other fine Canon cameras that I own. But, for the G9, it is what it is, for me.
And YES, when the new Canon 5D comes out, Ill be trading up.
On: 2008-05-28
This is the best Point and Shoot camera youll find by far. Its like having a DLSR in your pocket. I use this camera when Im on the go and cant lug my camera bag around with all my equipment. You definitely have to check this camera out.
On: 2008-05-27
The ergonomics of this camera are not up to par with the majority of Canons products. I own a few Canon cameras EOS 3,EOS 1d, EOS 5d, EOS D20, G7, SD700 IS, & S3 IS. Unfortunately the G9 seems to have taken a different direction. Not a bad camera, just not as spectacular as most Canons. But definitely better than any Sony junk!!!
On: 2008-05-26
The is the best little camera I ever had. It also takes excellent video clips.
On: 2008-05-24
This is a wonderful camera. For many years I have been purchasing digital cameras, but only the tiny ones that could fit into my pocket. I finally realized that it was time to upgrade to a "real" camera and chose this one. It does everything and more than I expected.
On: 2008-05-23
So far so good
Nice large pictures jpeg
just started with RAW and
will let you know. I have xl hands
and no problem operating the
controls,
On: 2008-05-19
The G9 is a great little camera. For those of you that want to do more with your point & shoot this is the perfect camera for you. It lets you change the ISO via a dial on top. You can also change the shutter speed and aperture via another dial which is something you never find on a point & shoot and only on a dslr camera.
The G9 shoots great video too, but cant zoom in or out while shooting which is one draw-back.
The 3 inch viewing screen is awesome and is a great picture viewer in most light conditions except for very bright sunny days.
Overall, a great camera for people looking for more from a point & shoot but not ready or willing to carry a big dslr aroudn all the time.
Here are some pictures on my flikr site if you want to see more if the G9 in action.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/soonlar/sets/72157604480151207/
On: 2008-05-19
This camera takes pictures so detailed that you can capture the wings of a hummingbird in flight. It is just what I needed.
On: 2008-05-17
This is my first digital camera. Coming from forty years of manual 35mm and medium format tools I anticipated a plastic toy computer with a lens and a myriad of buried menues. Not the case. This little guy is more camera than video game and when fitted with a lensmate adapter and canons wide angle lens it becomes an approx. 25mm-150mm zoomed lens Leica at a fraction of the cost. No need to pixel-peep, the printed images are as good as what every other higher end non-DSLR is kicking out these days. My only minor problem is that the camera and its buttons are a little too small for my hands. I would gladly give up some compactness for a more robust tactile feel. Dito for the 12mp sensor. 8mp with larger sensor sites would have reduced the noise at the higher ISOs.
On: 2008-05-15
I like this camera. It took a bit to go through the manual. It performs very well. It is not overly bulky to carry. I was a bit disappointed that I couldnt stitch a panorama shot on the camera as I did with my Kodak
V610, but must do it on the computer. I like the optional display grid- keeps things level. Im looking forward to taking it on my trip to Alaska this June.
On: 2008-05-15
As a working professional photographer, I think this is the best point-and-shoot around. This is my second G9 (the first died tragically when the Canon underwater housing leaked). What is most useful for me is the high pixel count and RAW mode. The images are definitely noisy at ALL isos, especially in the shadow areas, but nothing I cant live with. This is my recreational camera and the underwater color balance setting for video makes this camera a standout for all of the time I spend with wild dolphins, whales and sharks (check out examples at mauidon on blogspot). I have even used this camera in a pinch for work and images can be seen in national magazines.
On: 2008-05-14
Item arrived in a timely manner and was the product advertized. Good delivery times too.
On: 2008-05-14
I have a Canon G9 and I love it. I take it wherever I go. Aside from having a 12.1 megapixel sensor it gives me almost as much control as my Canon XTi. I get to shoot in RAW and manual mode. It is a great camera.
On: 2008-05-13
When I saw this at a retail store I had camera envy, something that I had not had since first got a look at my G5. This camera did not dissapoint, the menu features are easier to find! And to have volume control with the video features is incredible! Not to mention a HD feature the videos are outstanding. The best feature is the step up to 12 megapixel, Ive made C size image prints with huge clearity, get this camera!!
On: 2008-05-12
Amazon delivered the Canon G9 as promised. The Camera has been fun to learn over the last 30 days. This camera is best bought by someone interested taking Photographs, not snapshots! The difference is that snapshots are quick, brainless, and mostly good results at Bday parties, dinners, travelling landscapes, etc. (I own a Nikon coolpix for that purpose) Whereas the G9 is best used by someone desiring to be creative with photographs, take a little longer to set the camera controls; think through the end result, before setting the camera and clicking...
The Camera is an EXCELLENT choice for a portable high end point and shoot camera (that is as near to DSLR as possible). It is an EXCELLENT camera to take in place of DSLR and multiple lenses (6x optical zoom, Hotshoe, manual settings, RAW capability, etc.). It is an EXCELLENT camera to learn about PHOTOGRAPHY and maybe step into DSLRs in the future. IMPORTANT NOTE: The camera has a decent learning curve, and if you buy this top rated camera, you must be prepared to spend time becoming familiar and learning the settings. You will join the Ansel Adams crowd when you buy the G9. Of course, there is a fully automatic setting on the camera for fast P&S shooting, but wheres the fun in that?
The downside to the camera is the shutter lag is somewhat noticable, and this requires a "human adjustment" in how you use your camera. Meaning, it is not a fast DSLR, but because the G9 is so good and capable, you may think of it in that way, and have to "wake-up" a moment ... take just a bit longer to snap the Photograph.
I am thrilled with the camera! I would buy this camera again! I researched this camera extensively before I made the purchase, and considered the super-zoom category of cameras. There are many to choose, and my nearest choice was the Canon S5-IS. However this category is crowded with Fujifilm, Panasonic, Sony, and Nikon... so you really must do your homework (Hey, youre reading this review, so youre ahead of the crowd already. Research is as much of the enjoyment of making a new camera purchase, right?) The image quality, the remarkable build quality, great fit and feel in you hands, and the portability (vs. DSLR with mutiple lenses), and the rich rich feature set including RAW (again remember the learning curve)... makes this camera the only and singular camera for me.
On: 2008-05-07
I took my sons Christmas pictures with this camera and it looked very professional. I am very impressed with it. I love that I can make videos with it also. The images come out very sharp!
On: 2008-05-07
I have a powershot A620 and thougt that I was in heaven. Now with the G-9, I know that I am in heaven! It does everything that I want and I have gotten two additional lens (telephoto & wide angle). Now I am going to get the armour cover and a fish eye! It is so easy to use and carry! Just love the RAW Mode! Cannot say enough about the camera. It does the job of a SLR, but less the bulkiness and weight! Try It, youll like it!
On: 2008-05-04
I purchased the G9 looking to replace my aging Powershot S60. I decided to get the G9 based on my experiences with previously owned Powershots A20, S50, and S60. I liked the ability of all of the former cameras of being able to take usable photos in low light.
The G9 fails to deliver on image quality. All images display an incredible amount of noise. Even in broad daylight, noise is rife throughout a G9 image.
Pros:
-Great form factor. I really love the build and physical quality of the G9. Its great to hold, and carry. Very portable.
-Great LCD. I have people walk up to me when they see it and they comment on how nice it is.
Cons:
-Useless optical view finder. The lens often intrudes into its view.
-Noise! Noise! Noise! you cant escape it. Not sure if you can fix in post-processing (which I dont want to do in the first place-it should come out of the camera ready to go)
I must admit, I have not yet tried shooting RAW to see if the noise is any better. At some point, I may update this review to include my RAW findings.
On: 2008-05-02
I was looking for a compact travel camera with full manual controls and capable of excellent image quality (at least in good light). There are a lot of great P&Ss out there but not a lot of compacts with manual controls.
I had been a fan of Canon Powershot models for a while although Ive mostly used several Olymous DSLRs and Panasonic Lumix P&Ss for the last several years. The G9 seemed to get generally good reviews and had one of the larger sensors in its class, so I thought Id give it a try.
Its exposure accuracy is better than any other compact (and even some DSLRs) Ive used. The LCD viewfinder provides a very accurate representation of the image you will capture (color balance, exposure, DOF etc). The full manual controls allow for a lot of creativity and good shorts in difficult lighting. The image quality at ISO 200 and below is excellent. You can get good shots at 400 and usable shots up to ISO 800 for small prints, but 1600 and 3200 are for emergency use only.
It starts up fast, focuses accurately and quickly, is a reasonable size and weight, and can produce excellent image quality.
The camera seems very well built and I only have the following nits
1) The camera shake warning seems to always be on at low shutter speeds (regardless of zoom, IS being on or off, or the camera being on a tripod). So it seems its not linked to actual shake or shake the IS could compensate for. Its just a little annoying.
2) Id much prefer a viewfinder with indicators (iso, shutter speed etc) even if it ended up being an Electronic Viewfinder rather than Optical. I considered a similar Nikon with EVF for that very reason.
3) Why no RAW in Auto or Scene modes?
So if you are looking for a compact travel camera with good performance and great image quality, but want manual control for tough lighting conditions or creative reasons, this is well worth looking at.
On: 2008-05-02
I cant add to all the reviews that are out there on the G9. Its a great point and shoot camera with many of the features of a SLR. It feels good, it looks good, and it works good. If your looking for a high-end point a shoot, do the research and theres a real good chance you will end up with a G9
On: 2008-05-02
This is my third Canon PowerShot camera in the past years. Whereas this G9 is clearly more developed and with decent ergonomics/features/picture quality, it still suffers with very serious shutter delays. This is a key operational function and Canon G9 is terribly faulty.
It is very frustrating to try to catch a picture moment,only to have the camera shutter NOT function when pressing the button. Sometimes, it will take over 3 seconds for the picture to be finally taken. This is totally unacceptable and frustrating. I have missed untold number of pictures due to this delay problem. Dont believe the specs about shutter lag, the fact is that the camera is deficient. I long for my older film cameras that were able to fire instantly. Perhaps Canon will finally hear users complaints about this and hopefully fix this major flaw that otherwise ruins a nice portable camera.
On: 2008-05-02
I put off buying the Canon G9 because it lacked both the fast lens and the swivel LCD screen of my Canon G1. But photos on the web persuaded me to buy the camera. Now I love it. For a point-and-shoot, it turns on quickly and is soon ready for an additional shot. The Manual mode controls are easy to use. I am pleased with the photos that I have taken with it.
It works well with the Speedlite 430EX. I use the neck strap with the PSC-5000 case.
I like the feel of it; it makes me want to use it.
On: 2008-04-27
I decided to invest in another digital camera a few months ago and started to research cameras. Im not a camera buff and didnt really want to be but I do want to learn enough to take good pictures. The G9 had consistantly good reviews. I checked it out at a camera store to make sure it felt right. Amazon had the best price. There are some cheaper ones but look out for what they dont put in the box (like batteries and charger) One of the things that put this camera over the top for me was the fact that it offered the ability to take RAW pics.
The camera is easy to use. I am still learning all of its features, of which it has many, many. It will take me awhile. I am very happy with it and look forward to taking even more pictures. Its been a great camera for me and Im very happy with my purchase.
On: 2008-04-24
I bought my G9 when it first came out last September. It was fine for a few months, but a couple of months ago I noticed a big, about the size of a nickel, splotch in the upper right corner - inside where it cant be cleaned. I called Canon service and now I have to send my camera in to be cleaned. I hope they are fast sending it back and I hope this is not a recurring theme.
On: 2008-04-24
Im very disapointed that Canon did not put the pistol grip on this camera. I caught one on display at Best Buy but I was very disapointed that the pistol grip was not included on the model. I have arthritic hands and the pistol grip really helped me quite a bit to hold the camera. On this grip they have now, no wait, there is no grip!! Its just a thin small rubberized strip, thinner than a pencil. When I held it, my thumb was on the setting on back, which I was afraid, would really mess up my shots if I wasnt careful. To me, I guess its more of a feeling of comfort for the grip and this was disapointing. It felt like I was holding a 2x4. I wont be buying one of these. Why Canon wouldnt put the grip on, I dont know. Ill either go with the 10mp or to one of the DSLRs. Canon--- you need to remake the G9!!!
On: 2008-04-21
Excellent still picture. Good video pictures when not using close up images. Grainy and not focused video when using close up images.
On: 2008-04-19
Versatility and picture quality are fantastic for a camera in this price range. The motion stabilizer is awesome. Tested on the famous Safari Cruise at Disney World. The fish and aquarium photos also were quite amazing. Low light levels and gymnasium pictures have been more than I would have guessed. Digital zoom does have pixilation, but changing to the superfine setting will help. Sports mode performed far and above the Canons Powershot A71 on all levels. Dont waste your $$s on any lower models!!
On: 2008-04-16
Really love this camera. Great pictures and has a major advantage that I didnt initially realize - much smaller than an SLR (and many competitive non-SLR cameras). So if one day you want to step up to an SLR, you can still use this to take those pictures where you dont want to drag the SLR. Best camera out there outside of SLRs. I strongly recommend buying from Amazon even if it is a few $$ more. They stand behind their products and dont have any hidden agendas.
On: 2008-04-15
I have several canon cameras, 1Ds, 1D, 30D and several L lens and other very highly rated lens. The G-9 does not compare to them but the images are sharp and the functions are great, try the ND filter on moving water you will love it. I shoot raw only and can not believe that any one would say the images are not sharp. The video is also excellent, especially for youtube.
On: 2008-04-13
I purchased this camera a few months ago and since have had a major problem with it. The lens became stuck in the extended position and a "lens error" message would appear when turned on. I called canon about it and was told to send it in. I sent it in thinking they would honor their warranty. A week later I recieved an estimate to fix it for $127.00. To get out of their warranty, in their description of camera they claimed there were several dents and scratches in the casing and lcd screen plus the lens problem. The camera had no dents nor scratches. The person I had shipped it through even looked it over and found nothing wrong with it except the lens problem when I had him insure it for shipping. This is how they get out of honoring their warranty. They lie.
On: 2008-04-12
I write as a very disappointed owner of a Power Shot G2 - purchased in 2002 for $850.00. I recently changed my laptop to one with a Windows Vista operating system. Canon does not provide drivers for the G2 to download pictures onto Vista. So I can no longer download directly via cable from camera to PC. I have just purchased a card reader ($30) - hopefully it works, otherwise I will no longer be able to print, share or store my photos taken on an expensive camera purchased only 5 years ago. I called Canon technical support about this. They were very unhelpful and complacent. Essentially, they said technology changes and they could or would do nothing about it. The lesson here is clear : DONT RISK BUYING EXPENSIVE CAMERAS, PRINTERS, SCANNERS ETC. FROM A COMPANY THAT DOESNT THINK LONG TERM SUPPORT IS IMPORTANT !! BUYERS BEWARE !!
On: 2008-04-08
After working with this camera for a month I ended up sending it back to Amazon. I didnt want to have to buy a DSLR and a compact camera to get everything I used to get in one good workhorse. That is why I researched all sorts of cameras for several months before deciding on the G9. In theory it appeared to have all the qualities of both in one camera.
I specifically wanted a camera that was physically small enough to become a permanent attachment for those spontaneous shots, one that could take candid shots without spooking people, extra optical zoom, high megapixels so I could print large-sized photos, one that would take spectacular macros.
I also needed a camera to take good, clear, close-up photos of jewelry for online sales. I take hundreds of jewelry photos per week, and dont have time to color-correct them all in an editing program. Perhaps I got a lemon, I dont know, Ill try another G9 from a local camera shop before I completely jump ship on this one although at this point Im pretty gun-shy about Canon.
The white balance totally sucks when using the G9 in the studio under ECA lamp bulbs, even when setting the custom white balance using a grey card (or any other color card for that matter). Cyan colors in turquoise and other glue-green gems are interpreted as plain old blue, even in RAW mode. I have an old Sony DSC-S75 that records turquoise as true turquoise under ECA bulbs without any color-correcting needed. I have asked numerous people about this issue, one professional said my Sony was the exception and that most compact cameras have problems interpreting the cyan colors correctly under artificial light. Even directly speaking to the Canon support representative produced no comments or solutions to this issue, it was as if they never heard of this problem before.
The battery life is unacceptably short. Apparently this is an issue with other Canon compacts as well from what Ive read. I thought it was just because I had the camera on a lot trying to learn how to use the features, but even so the battery should last longer than a day. When I finally did have one of those great spontaneous photo moments, the battery died almost immediately and I had to use my trusty old Sony dinosaur instead.
There is a blue cast to the live view screen, but I have noticed that when I download the photos, they all have a slight blue cast when viewed on my computer. Blue seems to be the G9s favorite color. Probably okay for average amateur shots, definitely not acceptable for professional product shots or award-winning photos (like my old Sony has done for me).
Macros were okay but not likely to win ribbons. I had trouble getting the G9 to focus on what I wanted it to focus on, and I had tremendous trouble trying to get a sharp photo of earrings hanging on a display, it just would not get it all in focus no matter what settings I tried and, believe me, I tried all sorts of tricks. Back to the Old Sony once again.
Apparently newer is not always better, especially with ECA lamps.
On: 2008-04-07
First off, I purchased this camera for a SLR replacement for traveling light. I have a Nikon D80 and would not recommend any other camera for the amature photographer.
Pros-
1. Very solid camera.
2. Takes excellent Macro shots
3. Raw capabilities
4. Thats about it for the pros
Cons--
1. Expensive. you can buy a SLR cheaper. If size is the issue, try the Nikon d40x
2. Poor image quality. Yes it is a 12mp camera, but mp is not everything.
3. Flash is very weak
4. Video quality is poor. No zoom capabilities
5. Sounds horrible on startup. Lense sounds like its about to break when extended
Well this sums up my honest to god truth. I have always liked Canons G line but this one was such a waste of money. Do not buy!!!!!!!
On: 2008-04-07
I have been using this camera for 5 months, and it has exceeded my expectations. The automatic modes (Auto and P) take such wonderful photos, that its rarely necessary to use the special settings. Like on an SLR, its easy to adjust the aperture/shutterspeed on the fly to change the depth of field. The special "scenes" settings provide for very useful common settings such as pets/kids, indoors, beach, snow, and lots more. Its easy to control the built in flash, however the manual focus is such a nuisance to use that I never use it. The camera takes great movies, but I was surprised to find that zooming while filming a movie only adjusted digital zoom, not the optical zoom. To adjust the optical zoom, you must first zoom, then begin filming. The nearly HD movie mode works well but suffers from a limit of 15 fps, so I rarely use it, preferring the 640x480 mode at 30 fps, which gives better results. The camera feels really good in your hands, and all the controls are well placed and easy to understand. The LCD screen is super quality and bright enough to see on a beach. The viewfinder is, however, handy in some situations, but I must note that the lens is visible though the viewfinder. I have owned a lot of canon point and shoot cameras and this one is simply the best. It out performs the PowerShot SD series by so much as to put it much closer to SLR quality than point and shoot quality cameras, even though it is much closer in size to the PowerShot SD line. I can highly recommend this camera.
On: 2008-04-06
I took this camera on a recent vacation (rather than my Rebel XT). This is not a point and shoot and you have to think about what you are doing. Initially, I didnt like it because the menus were confusing to me. I still havent figured out how to use RAW. The more I used it, however, the more I liked it. The smallest aperture it has is F8. There is no way to use a cable release. You lose control of the focus point in scene modes. Having said that, it has outstanding build quality and once I got used to it I found it fun to use. It is great to use with a monopod. I was quite happy with the photos I took. You can check them out at [...]
On: 2008-04-05
Excellent camera. best way to get proffesional photos being an amateur photograph.
With a newborn at home this camera is a must.
On: 2008-04-02
Ive owned and used several canon S and G series cameras in this range. Before the advent of affordable DSLR cameras my assessment would be different than it is now, much more harsh perhaps. Many of us vacillated to these from film SLRs because they were the only show, but the world has changed. DSLRs were out of reach as they were crazy expensive, so cameras like this, at the upper end of the PS scale (dubbed "prosumer"), had some big shoes to fill and were labored with high expectations. All of this history is crammed in 5 or 6 short years; the velocity of change has been incredible. Today is no different than it was then, this is not a do all, end all camera and I dont think Canon means it to be. One main distinction is that the ranks have thinned and many of its features can only be found in a rangefinder camera if you go all the up the food chain the Leica M8. It is not a beginners camera, unless that person wishes to learn about the fine points of photography. A DSLR is quite simply a better deal and can be had for about the same money as the G9, but the price you pay is bulk.
This is an advanced piece and it fills some very specific purposes, but it is not for everyone. I get the impression from many that they expect it to be a viable replacement for an SLR and it is not.The G9 will produce excellent results, easily approaching what can be got out of an SLR in many situations, but it can take a lot more work to get those results and the images may have some noise or contrast issues in extreme cases.
It does have a major flaw in viewfinder coverage and parallax, but it is clearly left on there as a bail out. In case of low battery or for some discrete times or in high contrast conditions it can make the difference between getting the shot and missing out. You can use it, but it requires some creativity and practice. This is not unique to this camera, but common to the breed. It seems worse since there is such a huge focal length range to cover, but these optical VFs on all brands of cameras have always been marginal at best. One thing I do miss, though, is the swivel LCD. That was always a gas to use, but it also made the G (G2/3/5/6) cameras bigger and fatter than the Ss (S30/30/45/50/60/70/80). Once I could afford an SLR, all I owned was the Ss. Now I think Canon has kind of blended both lines into one, and I can live with what the G9 is fine; kind of an S series on steroids.
The LCD might look a little cool in color temp, but saying its got a blue cast and suggesting that its not usable sounds like looking for something to complain about. I didnt buy and dont use the G9 as an image viewer, but as a tool to make them. All the LCD is meant for is basic shot framing and exposure review. Canon have done a splendid job in the live and shot review settings (live histogram, all the image details you could want) making this large LCD a great tool. No blue cast is evident in the final images (jpeg or raw), so what difference does a cool LCD make? If lighting is an issue and if the user is trying to control the output, the only real way (with any camera) to insure the final color balance is to shoot raw anyhow, so again, I just dont see an issue here, at least not where Im sitting. I also own the SD850, and side by side I just dont see anything to carp about with either.
I travel extensively and bring the G9 everywhere as I cant always carry my DSLR gear. I have found that I "need" one of these to satisfy my addiction. There is simply nothing else on the market that can offer the features and produce the results in such a compact package at such an affordable price (sometimes at any price). This one shows that Canon still sees this a viable niche to fill, and the G9 is the best of them Ive used, all things considered. If Canon would design in a legitimate viewfinder, and if the lens could pick up a stop or 2 in speed and go wider on the short end, I think more serious photographers would own one. There would be no choice, unless you had the cabbage to carry the Leica. You just have to learn to compensate for the parallax, or frame more often with the LCD as things stand now, or go without. I think its a shame if anyone ignores the G9 who is serious about making top quality images and needs the portability. In the correct hands it produces astonishing results.
On: 2008-04-02
Ive owned and used several canon S and G series cameras in this range. Before the advent of affordable DSLR cameras my assessment would be different than it is now. I find this camera fills a distinct niche for me, and in that it truly stands alone. I think you have to go up to the Leica M8 to approach some sort of ideal for one of these, but thats way upscale from here and cost prohibitive for most, including myself. This is not a do all, end all camera and i dont think Canon means it to be. It is not a beginners camera, unless that person wishes to learn about the fine points of photography. Back when Canon produced the G2, it (and others like it) sat in a unique place as DSLRs were crazy expensive, but the world has changed. A DSLR is quite simply a better deal and can be had for about the same money as the G9, but the price you pay is bulk. This is an advanced piece and it fills some very specific purposes, but it is not for everyone. I get the impression from many that they expect it to be (essentially) an SLR and it is not. It will produce excellent results, easily approaching what can be got out of an SLR in many situations, but it can take a lot more work to get those results and the images may have some noise or contrast issues in extreme cases.
It does have a major flaw in viewfinder coverage and parallax, but it is clearly left on there as a bail out. In case of low battery or for some discrete times or in high contrast conditions it can make the difference between getting the shot and missing out. You can use it, but it requires some creativity and practice. This is not unique to this camera, but common to the breed. It seems worse since there is such a huge focal length range to cover, but these optical VFs on all brands of cameras have always been marginal at best.
The LCD might look a little cool in color temp, but saying its got a blue cast and suggesting that its not usable sounds like looking for something to complain about. I didnt buy and dont use the G9 as an image viewer, but as a tool to make them. All the LCD is meant for is basic shot framing and exposure review. Canon have done a splendid job in the live and shot review settings (live histogram, all the image details you could want) making this large LCD a great tool. No blue cast is evident in the final images (jpeg or raw), so what difference does a cool LCD make? If lighting is an issue and if the user is trying to control the output, the only real way (with any camera) to insure the final color balance is to shoot raw anyhow, so again, I just dont see an issue here, at least not where Im sitting. I also own the SD850, and side by side I just dont see anything to carp about with either.
I travel extensively and bring the G9 everywhere. I cannot always carry my DSLR gear and thats why Ive always owned one of these canons. There is simply nothing else on the market that can offer the features and produce the results at such an affordable price (sometimes at any price). This one shows that Canon still sees this a viable niche to fill, and the G9 is the best one theyve ever made (IMO). If they would make the viewfinder legitimately usable, and if the lens could pick up a stop or 2 in speed and go wider on the short end, I think more serious photographers would own one. You just have to learn to compensate for the parallax, or frame more often with the LCD as things stand now. I think its a shame if anyone ignores the G9 who is serious about making top quality images and needs the portability. In the correct hands it produces astonishing results.
On: 2008-03-27
Great product. Finally received it after a six-week wait. Vendor should not list products for sale that he did not have in his inventory. He was depending on a flakey back-order promise from Canon.Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
On: 2008-03-27
Im still learning all the features of this camera. The photos I have taken are high quality. Am very pleased with the camera, but wish Canon had more accessories available.
On: 2008-03-26
This is the best compact digital camera that Ive ever used. I carefully compared this with images from my 8MP DSLR, and confirmed that the G9 produces images with significantly greater resolution. 12MP really means 12MP. I was quite shocked. My last compact digital camera had a noticeably softer lens than the DSLR. I can now leave the DSLR home with no regrets that Im giving anything up.
Like all compact digital cameras, at higher ISOs it doesnt match DSLR performance, you need to use this camera at low ISOs.
The "image stabilization" really works. I have been able to get sharp photos at full telephoto at 1/8 sec while handholding the camera. (Of course you must concentrate carefully for that to work.)
This camera is bigger and chunkier than the typical compact camera. This is because it has a larger sensor (1/1.7" while most compact cameras have smaller 1/2.33" or 1/2.5" sensors) and a 6X lens. Its worth the extra size and weight if you are serious about image quality. It fits fine in a coat or jacket pocket, but is unfortunately not a good pants pocket camera.
If this camera seems too expensive, you might consider that Canon A650IS which is said to have the same lens and sensor, although other aspects of the A650IS are cheaper.
On: 2008-03-25
Background - I used to own a 7.1 mega pixel Sony Point & Shoot for around an year, back in India. When I came to US i decided to buy a new camera. I wanted a high end Point & Shoot, as they are easy to carry and I thought SLRs would be tough to use. I had multiple choices at hand Sony T200, Canon 850, Canon Powershot S3 or Canon G9. Well I read a lot of reviews, went and checked out all these cameras at B&H Photo Video and finally i decided to buy G9. It was a little pricy when compared to all the other choices I had, but it offered tons of other features which none of them had.
Usage - I have been using G9 for over 3 months now and believe me its worth every bit of money and more. First of all the colors that I get from Canon G9, i could not get such beautiful colors from my Sony Camera. The features provided by G9 gave a lot of control and creativity to my pictures. I always shoot my pictures in the Manual Mode now, and G9 makes it so easy to use. The wheel at the back controls a lot of features but mostly i use it for shutter speed and aperture. You can also control the ISO separately and it goes up to 3200. When you play around with these shutter speed, aperture and ISO you get to know that there is so much more to photography. You can freeze motion by using high shutter speed and bigger aperture or you can imply motion by using a shutter speed as low as 15 sec. There is a whole set of pre-adjusted modes available, but when you start using the manual mode and read a little bit about photography you will prefer the Manual Mode.
Apart from shutter speed, aperture and ISO you can also use presets for White Balance, flash (both strength and timing) and manual focus. The 6X optical zoom is better than most of the cameras in its class except Canon Powershot S3. Some say that 12.1 mega pixel is an overkill, but never the less its very useful when you want to take pictures and edit them on your computer, most helpful when you want that wide angle look from your photo.
Size - Canon G9 is a bit on the bulky side, its not one of those cameras which you can slip it in your jeans pocket. But i guess you can pack all the power in a smaller camera. It feels a little heavy, but then again you will get used to it and when you see your pictures on that 3 inch wide screen, you wont regret the size. The screen is very bright and beautiful.
Pictures - I think i have used G9 for all sorts of pictures - I have taken Portraits, Landscapes, Kids, Slow Shutter speed, Fast Shutter Speed, Indoors, Outdoors and they all come out great. I dont use the presets much, but once i used the Snow preset and it did the job perfectly well for me. I have used the RAW pictures a few times and its really useful feature to have, if you would like to edit the pictures without loosing quality. I have also taken a lot of Movie shots and they also come out reasonably good, I dont expect much from it as its primarily for photography. One good thing is that you can zoom in and out while taking the video, which was absent in my Sony. Finally speaking you will be amazed to the pictures you take...when they start to look pretty professional.
Other useful features include Color Ascent mode, where only one color gets highlighted in your picture and rest of the picture is B/W. You can use this to play around with your pictures and it gives excellent results.
Battery Life - Well Battery lasts for only one day out i.e. around 200 photographs without flash. It also depends on the time you spent in viewing your pictures on the wide screen. But I would have loved it, if it lasted more. I guess you need to keep an extra battery with you.
Memory - Only a meager 32 mb card comes with the camera. You definitely need a bigger card. Buy a 2GB or 4GB one, so that you can make full use of the 12.1 mega pixels.
Recommendation - Well i think this is the best Point and Shoot camera available. It has acted as an inspiration to me and I have learnt a lot about photography after buying and using this camera. I just love the hobby now and probably in few months I would shift to SLRs as now I feel comfortable in using them. Hope this review was helpful to you.
PS: Talk about inspiration - I did a blog post on Photography, if you get time do read it, here is the link -
[..]
On: 2008-03-23
Great: Very fast on, fast shutter, not so bad time to next picture. Big, bright display with terrific choices of info presented (magnified manual focus assist, real time histogram, exposure settings, etc.). Easy manual exposure, focus, ASA, overrides, etc. Excellent image stabilization. Phenomenal sharpness from tele to wide to 1 cm macro, corner to corner. Respectably low noise at very high ASA. Terrific, near 1:1 macros (but poor stand-off distance - 1 cm). Many clever and useful auto focus modes that all seem to work very well.
Not so great: Small enough, but not a shirt pocket camera. Built-in flash very limited useful range. Viewfinder limited use at close range and wider zooms. Complex feature set, but not so difficult to learn with reasonable ease/access to all functions -- reading the manual is important for many features, but the manual is well indexed and easy to use, and once a feature is understood, the manual is not likely to be needed again (easy to remember operations).
Less than good: Expensive for a compact camera, but far more serious capabilities than others.
On: 2008-03-10
Great little camera that allows you to explore your photography skills. Love the fact that you can switch to fully manual, and you could attach an exteranal flash. Buttons & Controls are very user friendly, it has a retro feel to it.
I bought this camera for Valentines Day for my husband....as of today I dont think he as used it once....sorry honey. =)
On: 2008-03-08
BACKGROUND: Ive owned G7 about a year now. Delighted with G7, my first digital - prior experience all film and Nikon F2. Yes, G9 addresses many needs unmet by G7, and Ive put my hands on G9 several times, but wait to see a G10.
REVIEW: The G9 offers three important usability features never mentioned in any review.
1) G9 has a far superior battery life indicator that shows battery charge status (G7 battery life indicator shows up only when battery is basically dead)
2) G9 control wheel has ridges with a superior bite, delivering a significant usability improvement
3) G9 greater LCD size and sharpness provides for a larger in-focus window especially useful in macro mode
On: 2008-03-08
I loved everything about this Camera. I tried it out in the shop and liked everything: the feel, the flexibility, the large LCD, and even the umm.. utilitarian look thats reminiscent of the range finder of yester years.
However, my better half took one look at it and said. "boy it is ugly, and I only need something thats point-n-shoot".
So, in the end, I have to give up all the good points about G9 and ended up buying a powershot 950.
Weep!
On: 2008-03-07
I loved everything about this Camera. I tried it out in the shop and liked everything: the feel, the flexibility, the large LCD, and even the umm.. utilitarian look thats reminiscent of the range finder of yester years.
However, my better half took one look at it and said. "boy it is ugly, and I only need something thats point-n-shoot".
So, in the end, I have to give up all the good points about G9 and ended up buying a powershot 950.
Weep!
On: 2008-03-03
After agonizing over a travel camera (I currently have an EOS 30D and lenses), I purchased a G9 three weeks ago and took it on a trip to Hong Kong. I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of the pictures, particularly night shots and will be using this camera exclusively for travel from now on. I think that most will find it a very acceptable compromise in terms of image quality and availability vs. bulk and hassle.
Pros
- Small Size
- Hot Shoe and E-TTL Flash capability
- Used the above with a 430 EX ¡Vexcellent results!
- Image Stabilization works very well
- Built-in ND filter
- Lens performance
- Long exposure night shots look great
- Large LCD
- Face Detection performance
- ISO dial
- Manual Focus
- RAW capability
- Well built
Cons
- Rear control dial too small and crowded
- High noise levels in low ambient light
- Ergonomics awkward, front grip too small
- Minimum aperture of f/8 is limiting
- Could use more zoom steps
- Flip out LCD would be nice
- I would give up the long end of the zoom for a 28mm equivalent
On: 2008-02-29
The G9 is definitely a nice camera. Its a good camera if you want DSLR capabilities and qualities but dont want to invest in lenses and flashes for SLRs. This camera has the best macro lens that i have ever seen on a point and shoot (i sell cameras for a living). I can put keys practically touching the lens and it still focuses and gets a great picture. I was very surprised as well about the digital zoom. I noticed while zooming in there is alot of noise on the screen but when you actually take the picture, hardly any is evident. Once again great over all camera.
On: 2008-02-29
I own a second Canon Powershot SD600 digital elph for over two years now, the first one accidentally fell into the ocean and was damaged instantly. I am very impressed with its sturdy and compact built and it has not failed me in taking wonderful pictures in my travels both here in the US and abroad hence I decided to buy another one. The choice to buy the Canon G9 was initially driven by the need for a higher megapixel camera and I truly believe you simply can not go wrong with the CANON brand especially with the compact point and shoot type. The reviews from early buyers also influenced my decision.
The body frame of the camera ( metal alloy ) is bar none the best in its class, the look and feel is expensive and classy, very comfortable to handle and operate, long battery life and the pictures are awesome! The large active LCD matrix does not strain the eyes of the viewer. The accesories (teleconverter, macro, wide angle lenses) are really not that essential for this very versatile camera.
My few complaints: the zooming in and out function is surprisingly slower than my digital elph which is a disappointment. The LCD viewer is raised from the main surface of the camera back hence can be potentially scratched although this can be alleviated with a peel off screen protector which is a challenge to apply completely free of trapped bubbles. For future models, a recessed screen, like the digital elphs is much more protected and lasting.
Overall, still highly recommended for quality, durability,and dependability if needing a higher end but still compact point and shoot type digital cam.
On: 2008-02-29
Canon continue to hit the mark for high picture quality. Having the RAW format again allows for more editing flexibility. Unit feels solid and is comfortable in hand. I recommend using an external flash for indoor pictures.
On: 2008-02-28
This is an absolutely fantastic camera! I did a lot of research before making a decision, as I dont normally spend this amount of money on something I am not convinced about. Honestly I expected it to be good, but I have to say this is the most worthwhile purchase I have done in a long time! If you want a camera thats not completely amateur but not entirely professional either, thats the camera for you!
On: 2008-02-26
This camera is awesome and takes great pictures. In the point and shoot category, this is a very advanced camera and one should be prepared to spend some time learning to use all its various features. I bought a book written specifically about the G9 and I am still studying. Of course, you can simply set the camera on auto and it will take great pictures but then youre only using a small part of the capabilities. I use Photoshop to edit my photos before I print them. The G9 can take pictures in RAW which allows you to do all your photo processing in the computer rather than in the camera. I bought this camera rather than a Canon SLR because it is lighter for traveling.
On: 2008-02-25
If youre looking for the perfect link between a compact and a slr camera, this is the one!
On: 2008-02-20
Received the camera after a backorder. Love it so far. Zoom works well and like the large screen.
On: 2008-02-19
Significant upgrade from point-and-shoots. User control of shutter speed and f-stops. RAW avaiable in addition to jpeg. All in a relatively small package, but surprisingly heavy! Seems very sturdy. 12.1mp seems to be overkill.
Major complaint: cannot set for half or one second photo review. Must be 2 seconds (too long!) or none.
On: 2008-02-19
My wife and I upgraded from a Canon G2, which served us well for a number of years. We wanted a camera that could focus and shoot faster than the G2 and would improve upon the G2s excellent image quality. The real trick was to find a camera that was small enough and automatic enough for my wife (basic level camera user) to use without my assistance, and flexible enough to provide me with advanced functionality. The G9 filled our wish list and much more. The videos are high quality and a real nice bonus when you dont have a video camera with you.
I bought the 430 EX flash to go with this, which makes a huge difference even in every day shots (kids birthday parties for example). We got the Canon 2X teleconverter which also made a huge difference on a recent trip to Costa Rica. Thw wildlife shots are great, and we got some incredible, vivid, up close shots of birds, crocodiles, and monkeys. We also purchased the teleconverter and a polarized filter, which really enhanced the many beach and boating shots we took.
Although the battery lasts for about 300 shots (all in 12 MP), I grabbed another one for the trip, just in case. The battery charger that ships with the camera is wonderful -- its small enough to fit in the camera bag, and in a pinch you can charge the battery for 15 minutes and get about 20-30 more shots out of it.
I do recommend a 4 GB memory card. I purchased an 8 GB card: 500 full resolution photos, and about 20 four minute videos still left me with room for 700 more photos. I suppose it will come in handy for a two-week trip. I even made use of the audio recording feature, which allowed me to capture some reggae music additional to some still shots I took.
The bundled software is really nice for viewing and tagging photos and videos, though I use Corel Photo Album for all printing, and Photoshop Elements for any editing. Someday Ill find one package that will do it all well, but not yet.
Camera, teleconverter lens, flash, conversion lens, spare battery, filter, charger, and a few other items, all fit comfortably in a LowePro Nova Mini AW bag. Its very durable and has a water proof cover.
In all, Im thrilled with this and amazed by how much functionality Canon put into this camera. My wife is very happy with the great shots taken in Automatic mode too.
On: 2008-02-18
This is my fourth digital camera and probably my last for a while. The camera is shooting by itself out of the box. Ive used it in total automatic mode most of the time and occasionally use it in manual modes and others. This camera wirk great in any conddition. I also bought an external flash to use indoor shooting (that is the reason I went for this camera cause it has the hot shoe). You need to purchase extra batteries for it since thie camera drains battery quicker than others. Setup was also easy. The pictures were all amazing (Ive set at 12m). The only thing about it is the size. Dont expect to carry it in your pocket. ..Overall, Im very please with it and would highly reccomend it to everyone...
On: 2008-02-18
A great camera,but not easy to learn. Has many features and choices to make in its menu. The booklet with the camera is no help. I purchased Short Course in Canon PowerShot G9 Photography by Dennis Curtin and it made a very big difference. Once you learn the camera you dont want to put it down. Angelo
On: 2008-02-17
I bought this camera as a smaller, more compact solution to my DSLRs when traveling out and about with our newborn child, a diaper bag camera so to speak. I had bought the Canon S3 IS ealier and while it was a good camera it was still to big to fit in my pocket and had no ability for external flash if I wanted. I decided to go with the G9 and so far Im pretty happy. First the feel of the camera is very solid and well built and you defintely get the feeling that this is a nice camera. It is relatively small(campared to the canon S3-S5) and can squeeze into my pocket if it where the only thing in that pocket. Image quality is exceptional at 200 ISO and very managable at 400 ISO, anything above that you will need to have some decent noise reduction software to make the picture relatively usable, that goes for any Point & Shoot though and the G9 actually has better quality than the S3 at comparable ISOs. The G9 has all the auto shooting settings you could want and the capablity for creative & manual controls. The button layout I find very nice and I simply love that the ISO has its own dial on top of the camera for quick changing when needed, no more fiddling in some menue to change the ISO, I wish my DSLR had that feature. The screen is very large and takes up most of the back of the camera and it is nice and vibrant, too bad it doesnt swivel out like the canon S series, though that would probaly make the camera bulkier. The shutter delay(time from when you push the shutter button to when the camera actually fires) is low and the camera is actually pretty fast with minimal lag especially if you have already focused on what you are shooting. As for focusing it seems to work well with very little search time to lock on to your suject. I really like how you can move the focus point anywhere you want on the screen allowing you a bit more compositonal control while maintaing what you want in focus, this was a pleasant surprise. The focal lenghts of the lens are nice from a wide end all the way to the telephoto end covering just about everything you need and the Image Stabilization feature really helps in low light to avoid from motion blur. The G9 also has a macro function that allows for a nice close shot if you are into flowers, insects or any other thing you may want to fill the frame with and I was very impressed with its performance. As for the onboard flash I must preface that I do not like onboard flash for any camera and I try to avoid having to use it unless I do not have a choice. There is no exception to this flash as it seems harsh and causes red eye frequently even with the redeye reduction on. The nice thing about the G9 is that it has an onboard redeye reduction editing funtion where you review the photo and remove the redeye there on the spot instead of at home on the computer or at your photo printing kiosk, that option is pretty cool I must say. The savior for the onboard flash is an external flash and the G9 has a hotshoe mount so you can attach a canon speedlite. This allows you to diffuse or bounce the flash making for a much nicer picture in my opinion and is one of the main reasons why I got rid of the canon S3 and bought the G9. Though I find it a bit silly you have a camera for the fact of it being small and compact and then have to carry an additional flash, so I rarely do as I might as well take my DSLR. The G9 has a movie mode so you can record video and they are of decent quality and I am please with them. You have to switch the dial to movie mode on top of the camera which is no big deal though on the S3 & S5 there was a quick movie button that I wish this had so you could just start filming with the push of a button regardless of what shooting mode you were in at the time. Battery life is about 200 or so shots, give or take, which I find pretty low, so you will need an additional battery. I could go on about more features and the such but I think I covered the pros and cons that realy caugh my attention.
Pros:
Somewhat Compact
Build Quality
Image quality- up to 400 ISO
Large LCD viewer
ISO Dial
Button Layout
Lots of shooting options especially creative and manual conrols
Macro capablities
Hotshoe Mount for external flash
Ability to move focus point anywhere on the LCD screen
Redeye reduction with in camrea editing
Movie capabiltities
Cons
Image quality -800 and above
Onboard flash
Battery life
Price
So to close I would recommend this if you are looking for a Point & Shoot as it has almost all the bells and whistles you could desire in a camera and it performs well.
On: 2008-02-17
Super alive digital camera delivered on time and in perfect order by Amazon at best price out there.
On: 2008-02-16
I previously owned a Canon G5 and G7. The main advantage of the G9 over the G7 is having RAW format available. The main advantages over the G5 are pixel count, higher ISO (usable only with external noise reduction IMHO) and a smaller footprint (OTOH, the G5 had some other advantages, like a movable LCD screen and remote control).
This camera looks and feels well built and it is. I was particularly impressed at my G9 surviving a fall from near shoulder height to a hard pavement. It was cold, I received a phone call, tried to remove my glove in a hurry and the wrist strap I was using came off with my glove. There is a slight scratch mark on the top-left rear corner of the chassis, and the back plate just to the right of that has a slight buckle. Nothing you would notice without really inspecting the camera, and more to the point, there has been absolutely no loss of functionality or deterioration in image quality.
On: 2008-02-15
Very good. Close to A SLR & better than a small point & shoot. Still can fit in your pocket. Can add lenses.
On: 2008-02-13
I used to pack around a camera bag and a bunch of lens.Over the years I found my self carring the camera with just one lens. Then I quit carring it at all. Just to cumbersome. I like taking quality pictures care free and covienintly. So I purchased the Canon PowerShot G9. What a camera! It gives you the capabilities of a DSLR in a small package. I never leave home with out my G9 and it is so comfortable to carry around.
On: 2008-02-13
Great camera! This is the third one ordered to give as a gift to friends.
On: 2008-02-12
Ive had the opportunity to put this camera through some heavy use and perhaps my experience will be of use to others.
The Powershot G9 has been with me through India, East Africa, Dubai, and New York City. It has logged about 25,000 air miles and taken photographs as varied as babies playing inside museums (no flash photography allowed), to slum dwellers playing soccer in Mumbai. Generally, I found that the camera works well. The "usage modes" do less than you might suppose; I ended up going with aperture-priority much of the time. The ability to shoot videos was nice, but only at slow velocity (an attempt to film the ground speeding by underneath a flying helicopter resulted in a long, green blur). Audio annotations worked well.
The camera is easy to use, at least if youve dealt with Canons digital cameras before. Ive not had to read the manual yet. The range of the zoom lens has been adequate and, at the wide end, f2.8 is a usefully quick lens.
Whats not to like? Images become unacceptably grainy above iso400. The built-in flash gives lousy results most of the time; subjects close to the camera get overexposed unless you partially obstruct the flash with a finger. Manual focus is hopeless and it is essentially impossible to dictate where the camera should focus, especially in low light. Despite the option of full manual control and producing RAW files, this is still a point-and-shoot camera at heart.
On: 2008-02-11
The first time I used this camera it had the lens freeze up and stay stuck with a lens error message and to restart camera. Nothing I did worked and I called Canon. They told me to ship it back to who I bought it from. Im waiting to hear from them...but now I google lens error g9 and oh my there are alot of other people out there with the same problem. Some of them never got their money back or a new camera...it is enough to make me think twice about this camera. Check that out before buying.
On: 2008-02-10
Ive been a Canon user since the mid-1970s (was an F-1 user for years), and this is the best one yet. Feature-rich, but easy to use and compact. Great picture quality - onscreen and once downloaded. This is a fantastic camera for those that sometimes want full manual control, with the option of setting it on auto - all in a very portable size. I prefer the rechargeable battery over some of the other compact Canons that use disposables. This camera is a true powerhouse. I highly recommend it.
On: 2008-02-09
Its a great buy! The camera is very easy to operate and the pix are great. It is also a great size...not too small so that you can handle it.
On: 2008-02-08
Im new at using a camera with settings for aperture and shutter and ISO which is the reason I bought the G9. Its a great way to learn because the G9 is so easy to navigate through these and other settings. The only "problem" so far is that the AUTO settings take fantastic pictures, macro and regular, that I find it hard to change the settings! You will love it.
On: 2008-02-08
I have used the G9 with great results; the raw option gives me great flexibility and the 12+ Mpixels permits to get 13x9 prints with fantastic resolution. The color rendition and balance are excellent. Great camera and value.The imagine stabilization function performs very well. For underwater photography the G9 is a perfect companion. For me is the 2nd camera to take.
On: 2008-02-08
The camera is wonderful, but compllicated at times. I have to do a lot of reading and reviewing. I wish there was a way to protect the screen as I had on my Canon G5 that just died.
On: 2008-02-08
Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
I have always had a camera handy and feel that Im a fairly decent novice photographer. I do our family portraits at home and most have turned out very well. A few years ago I invested in a digital SLR, the Canon Rebel. Despite the fact that the Rebel was a great camera, for my use it turned out to be awkward and annoying. I have small children and so when were going to places like the zoo or the aquarium, I either had to put the camera away, focus entirely on taking pitures, or battle holding one child while trying to use the camera. None of these really worked very well. So I sold my Rebel on eBay and bought the G9 and Im very glad I did. I keep the G9 in my coat pocket or nearby and whenever theres a shot or a "moment", I fire it up and record those memories.
The camera has phenomenal manual controls that allow you to do artsy shots like having a person focused and the background look like its turning or moving.
All in all I highly recommend this camera for anyone that wants to take great shots, have fine manual control, and still be able to hide it in your pocket or purse.
David C.
On: 2008-01-30
I was very happy when I first received the camera, it was great. For almost a month. then one day I turned the camera on, the lens extended to the maximum position, and got stuck. the display said lens error, so I tired cycling power, and even removed the battery, but nothing changed. Not wanting to have to send it back, I thought since I could hear a motor turn after the camera was powered up, that I might be able to fix it if something was loose. Wrong. There is a ring around the lens, and the user manual said that if you press the ring release button, you could rotate the ring and change lenses. This didnt work so well, the lens became loose, so I had to send it back to Canon.
I sent it to their repair facility, and they sent me a letter saying since the lens was broken, they would have to charge me $120. I agreed to that, since I shouldnt have attempted to fix it myself, but then a week or so later they called me up at 7am to tell me they couldnt fix it at all. They said when they looked further, the noticed that there was damage from liquid. I told them this was not possible, as the camera was never exposed to liquids while it was in my possession. One of their reps said something about corrosion, but I dont think I owned it long enough for it to be corroded by anything I would have done anyway.
So I am out the $500 I paid for it, and I will never buy another Canon product again. Its their word against mine, and I know the camera was never exposed to liquids while I owned it, so they are calling me a liar. My only recourse, as I told them, is to tell everybody I know they cant be trusted. So here I am, telling even people I dont know, dont trust Canon. I am sure that most of you will be happy with your Canon product, but for the small percentage who arent as lucky, it seems like they dont have to honor their warranty.
On: 2008-01-29
I was very happy when I first received the camera, it was great. For almost a month. then one day I turned the camera on, the lens extended to the maximum position, and got stuck. the display said lens error, so I tired cycling power, and even removed the battery, but nothing changed. Not wanting to have to send it back, I thought since I could hear a motor turn after the camera was powered up, that I might be able to fix it if something was loose. Wrong. There is a ring around the lens, and the user manual said that if you press the ring release button, you could rotate the ring and change lenses. This didnt work so well, the lens became loose, so I had to send it back to Canon.
I sent it to their repair facility, and they sent me a letter saying since the lens was broken, they would have to charge me $120. I agreed to that, since I shouldnt have attempted to fix it myself, but then a week or so later they called me up at 7am to tell me they couldnt fix it at all. They said when they looked further, the noticed that there was damage from liquid. I told them this was not possible, as the camera was never exposed to liquids while it was in my possession. One of their reps said something about corrosion, but I dont think I owned it long enough for it to be corroded by anything I would have done anyway.
So I am out the $500 I paid for it, and I will never buy another Canon product again. Its their word against mine, and I know the camera was never exposed to liquids while I owned it, so they are calling me a liar. My only recourse, as I told them, is to tell everybody I know they cant be trusted. So here I am, telling even people I dont know, dont trust Canon. I am sure that most of you will be happy with your Canon product, but for the small percentage who arent as lucky, it seems like they dont have to honor their warranty.
On: 2008-01-29
Has lots of features. I got it because I wanted a small camera for situations where I wished to be more discrete as I took photos, and because I could shoot in camera raw mode. It is small and handy to carry, but as Im used to DSLR, I find the delay interferes with some types of photos (such as people candids). Though image stabilized, it is difficult to get images without blur. I suspect that its an excellent camera to use in auto mode, but this is not my preference.
On: 2008-01-28
Okay, thats a little hyperbole, but just a little.
The Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom is hands down the best "point and shoot" digital camera Ive ever used, and Ive used a lot of them (including the Canon G1, G2, G5, Olympus 7070 and Canon G7). The image quality of the G9 is among the best of its breed, which says a lot about the quality of the Canon lens and sensor its built around. For a point and shoot, its very fast. The shutter lag (time between you press the button and it actually makes a picture) is greatly reduced compared to its predecessors and it writes to the card practically as fast as you shoot, about 2 frames per second when shooting JPEGs, about .7-1 fps on raw. Speaking of raw, this is one of the few digital point and shoots that still has raw capture. This is a great feature for serious photographers.
The full selection of manual controls means this a camera you can buy and grow with, from letting the camera do everything to making all the decisions yourself. In my case, I use it as a backup to my digital SLR bodies (Canon 5D) for my documentary and reportage work.
The same caveats that apply to most other point and shoot cameras apply to the G9. Noise at high ISO (400 and above) is pretty obvious and takes away from image quality, and although its fast (for a P&S), its still not a sports camera. Shutter lag may prevent you getting a lot of those peak action photos. But these are issues shared by most point and shoot digital cameras.
My only complaints that are G9 specific is that I find the buttons on the back a little small and a little too easily accessed. So I sometimes turn the flash on accidentally or change the motor drive from continuous to single frame.
This camera is best suited for travel and street photography in nice light. Its a formidable photographic tool.
On: 2008-01-27
The purpose for purchasing this camera was to carry it in my purse for golden opportunity photos when I didnt have my SLR cameara with me. I was disappointed in this camera. It had all the features I was looking for, but it was difficult to use, heavy, and really too big for easily stowing because the lens did not retreat when turned off.
I returned this camera and purchased the PowerShot A650 IS instead, which has the essential capabilities, 12.1 megapixels, and the lens retreats when turned off, so it easily fits in my purse.
Canon PowerShot A650 IS 12.1 Megapixel Digital Camera with 6x Optical Zoom + Transcend 2GB SecureDigital (SD) Card + High Speed USB 2.0 SecureDigital (SD) Card Reader + (4) - 2700mAh AA NiMH Rechargeable Batteries w/5 Hour 110-220v Charger + Digital Camera Case
JWL
On: 2008-01-27
Takes great photos, resolution with the image stabilization is very good. I do alot of traveling with my work and DSLR is a little big, on the other hand the Casio Exlim I have is almost too small, hard to not move the camera when you push the button to take the picture. This is a great fit in between and the pictures are much closer in quality to my Rebel XT and 17-85 image stabilized lens. LOTS of controls, alot of ability to do picture manipulation in the camera, but I think Ill pass on that. 3" screen in back is great - I work in industry & I use my camera to "capture" the running conditions on the computer screen. Image stabilization helps alot here, as does the 3" screen to help review.
I also bought the "semihard" case for this, nice fit. I threw out the neck strap and bought a wrist strap.
I have a G6 that sits int he glove compartment of the car (takes great photos) - bought it used - much prefer the 3" screen to a smaller swivel screen.
On: 2008-01-24
I love this camera. Ive shot extensively with it in a short period of time and its great. Quality of shots is wonderful. At higher ISOs its not the greatest but sometimes to be able to pull off a shot to be able to go to 800 or even 1600 is great. Display is big and gorgeous, no need to have the viewfinder. Love that you can attach lens converters and flash to it. This is a great camera for the advanced amateur.
by: Anonymous On: 2008-01-23
Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
It is small enough to carry anywhere and it takes sharp photos, which means you can crop and still have a good image. The controls are simple enough for a old codger to remember how to use. I only wish the type in the manual were a bit larger. But other than that, whats not to like.
On: 2008-01-23
I needed a smaller camera than my EOS 20 for long trips, and wanted a sturdy, high quality smaller camera. The G9 is everything I had hoped for and much more! Image quality is excellent, and the video mode is fantastic. With a 4Gb card, I just take my two fully charged batteries, one memory card and I am good for two weeks or more!
On: 2008-01-22
The main reason why I decided to buy the G9 was its built and SLR-like features, with plenty of external knobs and switches for the user to take control of. So overall I was very impressed by the size and features of this unit. Unfortunately the image quality, especially in lower light situation is just unacceptable in most cases. In fact when I was using this during the holidays (indoors), I was a bit annoyed that lower model point and shoot cams were performing marginally better than my bulkier unit. Also the unit I received had a dead pixel on the screen, which is quite annoying, especially when shooting at low light, because it just sticks out on the screen. So amidsts all the high reviews, I had to return the unit.
On: 2008-01-21
I looked at buying the G7 before the G9 came out and was missing a couple of features that I really like to see on a camera. Being able to save files in RAW format is one of them. I continued my research to look for the camera that I wanted, When I read about the G9 and its features, the decision wasnt too hard to make. Ive been using the camera for the last few weeks and absolutely love it. Quality pictures, tons of possibilities, great design: its a great camera!
On: 2008-01-20
My previous digital was a Canon SD 550. I wanted a digital that would give me a stronger zoom and better macro capability since I particularly like taking close-up macro shots of foliage. What a pleasant surprise! My friends and family have been "oohing and aahing" the photos Ive taken from this latest camera. The color is absolutely vibrant and the size of the LCD screen is perfect for my aging vision. The appearance of the camera in the ads didnt look very remarkable but when I got it in my hands and started taking photos I found it a very comfortable grip and the classic look takes me back to childhood. Thank-you Canon for continuing to feed my amateur photography hobby obsession!
On: 2008-01-20
This is an incredible point and shoot camera! It takes great photos in low light - even with my shaky hands. I just took 400+ photos (in continuous mode) of an active dog and most were sharp and clear. It is intuitive to use - Ive rarely referenced the manual. Canon has really mastered image stabilization.
On: 2008-01-20
Have had this camera now for three months and love it. Its bigger than my Canon compact Powershot digital but much smaller than SLRs. My concern was that I wouldnt carry an SLR and thus the pictures wouldnt get taken. With the G9 I have the flexibility to shoot excellent video (comparable to my Canon camcorder), low light shots and other "tough" shots that are impossible with a lesser compact but at the same time its not so big that I dont bring it along. In all Im very pleased with this camera. The battery life is great, I bought a big memory card for it which is nice as the file sizes are big at higher resolutions. I also love the look and feel of this camera. Its kind of retro looking, feels good in hand and overall feels like its built with quality. Its worth adding that Im not a professional photographer and have had no problem learning or using this camera.
On: 2008-01-20
We loved this camera so much after getting one we bought it for our daughter for Christmas this year. If you want a versatile point and shoot that can also shoot RAW, or you just want a great all around camera, this is it!
On: 2008-01-19
This is an incredible point and shoot camera! It takes great photos in low light - even with my shaky hands. I just took 400+ photos (in continuous mode) of an active dog and most were sharp and clear. It is intuitive to use - Ive rarely referenced the manual. Canon has really mastered image stabilization.
On: 2008-01-18
I was deciding on purchasing a digital slr, but could not choose among the many on the market. Having own a canon eos film camera I thought it would be best to look at the canon line so I could use the same lenses. The canon 40d was too expensive but the quality was great. What could I do? I had to lower my standards so I look at the canon g9. WHAT A SURPRISE! Not only was the price fantastic but the quality equalled if not surpassed the 40d. I can shoot in raw, it has the image stabilizer, fantastic zoom. and best of all 12 megs. Oh by the way I have over 25 years doing photofinishing and believe me I have seen just about every conceivable photo from nearly every camera on the market today and I must say it doesnt get any better than this camera. Is there any things I dont like about this camera? Yes! It is noisy at higher iso and the grip is not well designed, battery life is short and the dials are located too close together if you have big fingers. For some you may not like the feel of the camera. It has the weight of a slr but not the pro look as the 40d. This is not a compact camera, so do not expect to just slip it into your shirt pocket. Having looked at a lot of cameras in the same category as the canon g9, this camera is going to be hard to beat.
On: 2008-01-18
This is a fantastic camera -- fast, beautiful, and full of features. It is well laid out and easy to understand. Controls and menus are intuitive and easy to reach. The images it takes are breathtaking. Knowing that as pixel count goes up, pixel size tends to decrease, I was expecting some minor annoyances to crop up in the images. None have! On top of all this, the G9 takes impressive video too.
On: 2008-01-18
This camera fits a particular niche perfectly. The G9 is designed for serious enthusiasts that want to produce close to pro shots without the added difficulty of SLR. The professional features found on this camera are impressive: image stabilization, lens vibration, raw format, 6x zoom lens w/ 4x digital zoom for a total of 10x... this list goes on and it is a very good list. Do not expect to use this camera to its full capabilities without putting in the time needed to understand its features. I would expect that anyone using this camera is of the type willing to take lessons or read/practice seriously in order to obtain the full benefit of the capabilities of this camera, but if you feel like just pointing and shooting, the G9 works with ease and is intuitive.
The body of the camera feels great and has an excellent weight. The lcd screen is huge and easy to read. The layout of the camera makes a lot of sense and the software is easy to navigate. Youd think every company would design layouts that make sense, but trust me, they dont. The flash works decently, but to upgrade, the camera has a flash extension (puchase seperately) for better quality. You can replace the lens with other lenses including canons pro-line (forgot the name off-hand) used on their SLR cameras as long as you get the adapter. Of course, the lens wont retract into the body if you do this. That is my favorite part about the camera: high-quality shots but it compacts into a tight package that is easy to bring anywhere. The memory card that comes stock is almost useless. I forget the size, but its something like 32mb. Good luck trying to find its read/write time. First thing I did was spend another $75 on a 2-gig 20mb read/write extreme 3 card. The difference in response time between captures was obvious. Also theres a hard leather case made specifically for the G7/G9 thats around $20. Trust me, its worth the money. $20 to keep this camera safe is a good investment. For long excursions, a second battery is necessary. Canons is more expensive and its specs dont read as well as some third party types, but every third party type Ive tried failed to work correctly (huge loss of battery life or just complete failure) within 1-3 months. Canons battery will last at least a year at full strength or longer, so dont go cheap on that or you will definitely lose in the end.
On: 2008-01-17
The camera has nice features and is easy to use. The very high megapixel range makes cropping photos more forgiving than ever before.
However, the way in which the camera processes light utterly ruins half of the pictures I take with it. The camera is too smart for its own good. It bleaches out huge areas of my photographs in order to brighten certain areas that I wanted to be dark in the first place. There doesnt seem to be a setting that adequately controls this behavior.
On: 2008-01-16
I love this camera. I have only discovered 1 tenth of what it is capbable of. Unbelievable product for reasonable price.
On: 2008-01-15
The Canon G9 is as good as you can find in the small point and shoot format. It is an extremely sophisticated camera that that can do almost anything that you can do with a SLR camera. Although it is a 12 mpx camera it isnt quite up to the same quality as a SLR since its sensor is smaller, but it is still very good.
It isnt easy to learn how to use and requires hours of study to learn how the various buttons work. It does do a very reasonable job as a point and shoot when set in the automatic mode for those who dont feel like using the built in features of this camera. For those who do their own printing, you can use camera RAW which gives you extreme versitiliy in getting the best out of a photograph.
I have both this camera and a Nikon D80. This camera is much easier to take on a trip and you can put it in your pocket if you have to and that is a plus.
I strongly recommend this product for someone that wants quality in their photographs. It also reduces blur from camera shake so that your pictures are sharp even if you move the camera as you press the shutter release
On: 2008-01-15
Canon just keeps moving in the right direction.
Crisp and clear photos that reach very near SLR quality.
Large/clear LCD display.
Excellent Macro mode.
Easy to use, plus the ability to tweak and adjust the settings.
2 Months of use so far and I have no complaints.
If its time to make the jump to 12mp, you cant go wrong here.
On: 2008-01-14
Since carrying my SLR | | |
