 Perfect SLR alternative |
| Review Date: September 13, 2007 |
| Reviewer: G. Madrid, Sedona, AZ |
I've owned the G7 for about 1 month now and I've really learned to appreciate all its advanced features - but recently I received my G9 and I will be returning the G7. What I like about the G9 over the G7:
1. Bigger screen (3.0" vs 2.5") - with no apparent decrease in battery life.
2. Picture quality is better. I have done many parallel tests using the exact settings on both cameras (with the exception of the 12 vs 10 MP of course) and the results have been clearly more favorable towards the G9 in terms of light metering and sharpness. The G9 has a new metering system as well as a more advanced focusing system too.
3. RAW option is great. Even though most pics will be taken using JPEG (to conserve memory space), you know it when you've got a great landscape with just the perfect lighting conditions that you know may result in a printable pic, in which case you will want to have a raw copy for processing it to the highest potential.
4. Timelapse photo functionality is a very nice to have option which the g7 lacks
5. The physical handling of the camera is better, the front has more grip.
6. Some other design aesthetics have also gone into the g9 which I prefer.
7. Noise levels are exactly the same as in the G7. I tested both up to 400 ISO (I would not use anything higher that that) many times and the speculations found on the internet forums that the higher number of pixels would result in more noise is simply incorrect - at least in my ability to see it in my tests.
* the only thing I dislike in the g9 over the g7 is that new usb connection door mechanism. It feels like it may one day break even with proper use. The "slide out" door (like the battery door) mechanism was so much better in terms of use and possible durability.
If I were a G7 owner (and you could not return it because you've had it longer than 30 days) I would not upgrade as the g7 is a superb camera - but if you were looking to buy a new camera the g9 is a better choice over the g7. The g9 is the perfect camera alternative to a bulky SLR - without the loss of total photographic control or quality. Highly recommended.
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Incredible camera; very worthy upgrade from the G7
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| Review Date: September 21, 2007 |
| Reviewer: R. Kaufmann, San Diego CA USA |
If you're a photographer who cares about image quality, and can't always lug around a DSLR, buy this camera. You will have no regrets.
I've had its predecessor, the G7, for about a year. It has been my normal always-in-the-bag camera. The G7 was limited at ISO 400; the G9 isn't. My normal workflow with the G9 is to use CS3 to import RAW images (fixing chromatic abberation on the way into CS3 in 16-bit mode), and then to use Noise Ninja to clean up image noise. With this workflow, ISO 400 and ISO 800 are completely usable. (You can also play with some other settings in Adobe Camera Raw, like Recovery.)
And for everyone: you really should never, ever use a built-in strobe on a camera. The G9 (like the G7) has a hot shoe. Use it!
Canon fixed a bunch of the G7's problems in the G9, the most glaring of which is the G9 now has a battery meter! (I can't tell you how much that lapse bugged me.) The new LCD monitor is much, much bigger -- and gorgeous. And best of all, the camera body is the exact same size and shape, and fits in my underwater housing. (Update: not all the buttons work. The most glaring problem is possibly the zoom can't be changed, and that you can't change to macro mode underwater. I'll probably get the new housing, but the existing one is functional.)
Nits: the new cover for the USB connector is a downgrade, but one that I can put up with. The lens is unchanged, and has a fair bit of barrel distortion at its widest angle. You can clean up the barrel distortion somewhat in CS3, but straight horizontal lines become slightly wavy. I'm being hyper-picky here, but please know that you're not replacing a DSLR with a prime wide angle lens. You're just buying a small camera that you can take anywhere.
Buy it. Shoot lots of pictures with it. Be happy! |
Review compared to G7
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| Review Date: September 8, 2007 |
| Reviewer: RonAnnArbor, Ann Arbor, MI United States |
I had the opportunity to get my hands on the G9 a week ago and have used it exclusively for the past week.
Based on my personal observations (And I loved the G7):
I see practically no differences in Image Quality at all. I thought the G7 was superb, and I find the G9 to be superb.
The 12 MP is practically indifferent from the 10 MP on the G7. Sure it gives you slightly more pixel to play with for cropping and printing, but negligibly so.
The design is virtually the same -- the screen is a bit larger, but for all practical purposes it looks and feels the same. I don't see any difference in "brightness" on the screen -- it looked great on the G7 and it looks great on the G9.
THere is a slight contour change on the front with a barely noticable front grip molding -- maybe 1/16 inch more than the original. I honestly can't feel a difference although some users have.
It does have RAW - a feature I don't need nor do I plan to use. But its nice that it is there for those who want it.
The ISO and noise appears to be the same -- the G9 excels at night neon shots - just like the G7. I see no difference in noise between the two cameras.
The shutter lag is exactly the same as the G7 - I don't see any difference like some reviewers have mentioned... it seems exactly the same.
Some say that the optical view finder works better - that it is clearer with less parallax. I have never used an optical view finder on a point-and-shoot in my life, so I can't compare this feature. I will add that here, though, since others have found it a useful improvement.
I also don't see any difference in battery life -- maybe its more problematic if you use RAW, but I've gotten the same 450 plus shots out of the battery, just like the G9.
The design of the lens and the connections are the same, so I expect those of us who carry it around in our pockets are going to have the same dust problems we had with the G7.
Finally in similarities -- the camera feels the same and weighs the same. It responds the same when you start it up, and it makes just as much noise as the original. The trademark Canon grinding lens noise is intact.
in differences: that old 2GB card that used to get 800 shots at 10 MP now gets 600 shots at 12 MP.
The autofocus seems slower on the G9.
Macro shots do not focus as quickly or as well on the G9. There are some shots that I routinely was able to quickly use macro for on the G7, that now require quite a bit of futzing to get sharp and focused in the G9. I suppose that is one of the changes because of the larger sensor, but I don't know. I actually thought there might be something wrong with the camera, but looking at another G9 at a different camera shop (so it wasn't the lot number) I was able to reproduce the same difficulty focusing with Macro as on my personal G9, so it's apparently a camera thing.
The long and the short of it -- I don't think it is worth the Upgrade if you have a G7 unless you really really want the RAW. For all other practical purposes, it's the same on a day-to-day usage level.
If you are new to the Canon Powershot G line, then skip the G7 and purchase the G9 -- it is like "G7 SuperCharged" -- while in general the two are identical. THe G9 is actually less expensive than the G7 as well. |
Pro-grade SLR alternative
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| Review Date: November 27, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Jeff in Baltimore, Baltimore, MD United States |
I have been shooting with manual focus, manual exposure SLR systems since I was twelve years old. That's almost thirty years using kit like the Olympus OM-1 (my first love, too bad it was stolen!), Pentax MX, numerous lenses, professional flash equipment like Vivitar 283 and Sunpak 383. My cousin asked me to shoot her wedding, so I thought maybe the time had finally come to switch to digital.
Okay, so maybe I'm old school, and maybe I have some unrealistic expectations for modern equipment, but every time I looked at the digital SLR offerings, I was disappointed. Even the Nikons (well, the affordable ones like the D70 and D80) were polycarbonate bodies with plastic lenses. Not professional-grade. Do you have to pay thousands of dollars to get a metal-bodied SLR today? Something built to withstand a 5 fps motor drive, like in the old days? Well, I looked at the Pentax K10D -- metal body, reasonably affordable, fully compatible with all my lenses -- but I just had this vague sense of dissatisfaction. These fragile contraptions are big, clunky, dare I say dorky compared to an old film SLR. Hey, and don't let any dust get on the sensor. Sheesh, talk about wearing kid gloves.
Then a friend told me about the Canon G9. Whoa, paradigm shift here, folks. I hadn't considered a non-SLR, but I sure am glad I did. This thing has pro-grade features: aperture and shutter priority modes as well as full manual exposure, manual focus, RAW capability, decent optical zoom range, spot metering, a hot shoe that works with all my existing flash gear, and many other things that usually only make it into SLR's.
For example, with most P&S cameras, shutter lag is a huge problem. Good portraits demand instant shutter response. The G9's shutter is almost instantaneous SO LONG AS you half-press to lock the focus, and compose with the optical viewfinder (i.e, turn the LCD off). I am getting great portraits of my kids using this technique, and it does feel a bit like using an old Leica rangefinder. Never understood why anyone would give up an SLR; now I get it. Quiet, easily concealed, doesn't announce "I AM A PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER!" or otherwise make you look or feel like a dork. The optical viewfinder zooms pretty closely with the lens, and parallax has not been a problem. I wear eyeglasses and the viewfinder works just fine with them; in fact, better than with my MX. When using the viewfinder, the LCD just displays important camera information: shutter speed, aperture, exposure compensation, stuff like that. I've found it's pretty easy to glance down at the LCD to check those things, then return to composing in the viewfinder.
For those moments when I really need to see exactly what's in the frame, I switch to composing with the LCD. This is handy to set the manual exposure, too. I shot some pics of my kids in front of the fireplace and in front of the Christmas tree, with available light, and I just dialed down the shutter speed in manual mode until the exposure looked right in the LCD. And what an LCD -- again, it's SLR-grade.
Overall, the build quality is phenomenal for this price. It feels solid. Others have compared it to a tank, or a swiss watch, or a Leica. It is very enjoyable to hold and use. Taking pictures is fun again!
Video capability is a bonus, too, that you won't find on SLR's. I'm not a big video shooter, but I have two young kids and there'll be times when I want it. Back when I was looking at SLR's, I always figured I'd need to purchase a separate (cheap) video camera, maybe a Pure Digital Flip model. Not anymore.
The G9 is not perfect. Some shortcomings can be overcome or compensated for, while others simply can't. I am disappointed with the noise above ISO 200. Autofocus is not as fast as an SLR. Wide-angle zoom isn't as wide as I'd really like. The retractable lens looks a bit fragile to me. I recommend the Lensmate lens adapter for when you think you might bump into things. It's anodized aluminum, so it's rugged; unfortunately, it really sticks out into the optical viewfinder, cutting off about half the view. Well, that's when you go with the LCD, I guess. Works of man fall short of perfection, and all gear has strengths and limitations. Learn them and use them, or work around them as best you can. There are lighting conditions that NO digital handles well, and for those, I'm happy to continue shooting film.
But for everything else, I'm really happy with the portability, control, responsiveness, and quality of the G9. All things considered, especially that it's less than half the price of a D80 or "serious" DSLR, it is a great camera. |
Canon G9 Comments
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| Review Date: October 6, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Phillip Wheeler, Los Angeles area |
I've had my G9 for a couple of weeks and I'm pleased with it. It will not replace my Canon DSLRs, but will go with me when they will not.
Image quality is quite good, up to ISO 200. Shooting in RAW 400 and 800 are usable, with the provided Adaptive Noise processing (ZoomBrowser or ImageBrowser) doing a good job in cleaning up the RAW image. The 2 megapixel ISO 3200 SCN mode can be used for social events, in a pinch.
My LCD has no objectionable color cast nor leakage.
Optical viewfinder is usable, but I have to use the upper "tick" mark for composition -- since that's where the center of image is in most shots. No big deal since the big and bright LCD is used most frequently for composition.
Overall, the G9 excites me while the G7 did not: Better IQ, much better LCD, grip improvements, RAW and MSRP $100 lower at introduction. Certainly not a quantum leap but a keeper (which my G7 was not). |
Excellent portable photography powerhouse
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| Review Date: November 1, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Tim Mensch, Boulder, CO. United States |
I've had my new G9 for a few weeks, and so far I like it a lot. I have a Canon SLR (the 10D), and it's hard to beat the SLRs for taking a picture exactly when you press the shutter, though the G9 is no slouch in reaction time--and it will fit in my pocket, where the 10D requires its own pack.
I did a lot of research when choosing the G9, but I had some pretty specific criteria I wanted to satisfy: Long digital zoom, RAW-capable (no G8), very portable (jacket pocket, not ultra-portable), and a flash hot shoe. It's a small camera--smaller than the flashes I tend to attach to it (like the Sigma EF 500 DG Super), but after learning how much better an external flash could make my photography look, I never wanted to go back. If you want the best facial tones you've ever seen, bounce a flash off a white ceiling rather than using the internal flash. The results are incredible.
The screen is huge, the video quality is excellent, and the 6x optical + 4x digital zoom brings your total zoom to 24x, and at that magnification you still get a 1600x1200 photo (using digital zoom effectively crops in-camera)--which won't make a very good poster, but is more than enough to make a decent 4x6, and is huge if you're taking pictures for a web page. While you can certainly crop photos later, the extra zoom allows you to tell the camera what it is in the frame you're interested in--and then it can auto-focus on exactly the point you mean, just scan the interesting area for faces, or what have you. A great feature IMHO.
Just turning this camera on is AMAZING. It must be less than a second from when you hit on to when the lens has extended and it's ready to take a picture--actually faster than my old 10D! It has a quiet zoom, and the auto-face-recognition is pretty magical, though it doesn't perform as well on a face in profile.
I love the animated user interface, too--a minor bit of polish for sure, but it's yet another thing to be happy about. :)
Negatives: Well, I have the Canon 10D, the old PowerShot G1, and a Canon MiniDV Camcorder that all use the same battery type (Canon BP511A), and so it was a bit of a bummer having to use a new charger and battery for the G9--though it's smaller, and as a result the camera can be smaller, so it was a minor price to pay. The G1 also had a fold-out swivel screen, which was great, and I do miss it on the G9--though the G9 has a HUGE screen, so again it's a trade-off.
If you're not used to holding the shutter down half-way to prefocus, it's not the fastest at locking on a focus and taking a shot--but just about no auto-focus pocket-cameras WILL focus from scratch really quickly, at least none that I'm aware of. If you do learn to press halfway to set up the shot in advance, it's decently fast for a non-SLR--and you can set it to "Kids and Pets" mode to encourage it to prefocus as much as possible.
In any event, it's my new favorite camera. I'm not selling my 10D yet, but I'm certainly considering it... |
one of my favorites
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| Review Date: September 19, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Michael Cowart, Plano, TX USA |
I have used the G9 only for one week but it has become my favorite over several very good cameras. I am an experienced amateur and have some very nice equipment but I bought the 9 for it's compact size and ease of use, and the generally unobtrusive rangefinder style which is basically point and shoot with incredible breadth as applies to creativity. It is a very versatile camera with no limitations for general photojournalism and figure work which are my main interests. Incidently, it is my first Canon, and it is fast and accurate.
Pro: versatile, creative, crystal image, fast steady autofocus. Crisp colors and fair battery life.
Cons: I am trying to find a way to increase the grip. Menu items work only in certain modes which makes the learning curve a little steep. |
Best Point & Shoot - Just a step away from SLR
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| Review Date: March 25, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Sumit, |
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 don't 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 don't 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 -
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The fun starts here . . .
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| Review Date: July 16, 2008 |
| Reviewer: f 64 daze, Neskowin, OR United States |
Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
This camera has restored the fun in photography for me. Let me explain: I am 80 years old, started out with a Speed Graphic using the Ansel Adams Zone System, graduated to a Linhof Technica V with all the extras, downsized to an Olympus OM-1, then a Canon EOS 35mm with most of the extras, got older and grew tired of toting all that gear and, in 2000, gave it all up for snapshots with a Canon Digital Power Shot 100. Shot lots of 2.1 MP stuff and quickly lost all interest in photography. But the spark was still smouldering so this year (2008)I bought a Canon G9 and started shooting again. Wow! It's like my Linhof days with 2 pounds of equipment (including the tripod) instead of fifty pounds.
There's an abundance of technical reviews on the G9 so I'll skip that and move on to the REAL reason I give it 5 stars: When I put this little digital tank on a tripod and set it on M (manual) it reminds me of my 4x5 days, under a focus cloth composing on a 4x5 screen or peeking though a mirror back and checking parallex, depth of field, and composition. When I scroll through the aperture and exposure settings it reminds me of my spot meter days of evaluation except, with this little jewel, you see the final result BEFORE you press the shutter.
What I missed most was the way 4x5 slowed you down and made you study your subject. You weren't after 10 shots bracketed, you were after 1 shot carefully composed and technically structured. There was something special about getting to know your environment while you took the time to compoose and evaluate or wait for the right sky conditions. 35mm didn't satisfy, it simply motivated me to become a quick shot bracketed shooter. And, like 4x5, it hid its final result until after the darkroom.
So - if you REALLY want to experience the shot and put it in your memory bank, get this camera, put it on a tripod, and ENJOY photography. And, when circumstances dictate, just whip it out, point and shoot on auto, and get the shot. Either way, this camera excels. Then there's always RAW if you miss the darkroom and want to adventure into Adobe's Creative Suite.
Happy Shooting!
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Very nice camera.
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| Review Date: February 29, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Reese, |
| 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 SLR's. 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. |
The 21st century Leica, kind of...
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| Review Date: June 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: The Pod Guy, Westminster, CA |
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 couldn't 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. It's 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 it's 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., you'll get some fantastic images. Use what ever you feel comfortable with, the camera will deliver. There's enough dynamic range there.
No, it's no match for the sheer picture quality of your (probably expensive) DSLR with the big lenses and the big sensor, but really people, it's less than $450. And it's portable. So with a little finessing, and a little understanding of how light, aperture, shutter speed and image quality affect your shots, you'll 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 don't 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.
I've 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, there's 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 it's the images that shine here. If you want, you can control it via USB through your PC or Mac too. There's 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. You'll be happy you did.
Now that I have it, and I'm starting to get accustomed to it, I like it even more. It's a keeper. |
Better than the Sony H3? Could be! Lower zoom, but higher MP, +RAW support.
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| Review Date: December 26, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Michael Gmirkin, Beaverton, Oregon, USA |
Well, you may or may not have read my review of the Sony Cybershot DSC-H3. I'm your average point-and-shoot-er... I'm not well versed in ISO, focal length, color depth, noise & color aberrations. I tend to point, shoot, and hope it comes out well.
That said, I've done a bit of reading over the last month after buying a Sony H3 and being moderately unsatisfied with its point & shoot results (noise & color aberrations).
However, having read so many reviews, I got a bit more info on things like ISO settings on digital cameras and links with noise, and color issues. So, I think that some of my prior issues with the H3 may have been "user-malfunction"-related. IE, "know thy camera, and they camera will love you."
Prior to the H3 I owned a Canon A70 (3MP), which I'd say was an excellent point & shoot camera that rarely disappointed me.
Anyway, partly due to my initial bad experiences with the Sony, partly due to its overly expensive memory cards, and partly because I really trust Canon (had prior bad experiences with a Sony P72, I think, as well?), I decided I wanted to upgrade to the 12MP + RAW of the Canon G9 (after reading lots of reviews of it versus some other models).
The things I like about the Canon G9 were several:
- Its portability (very similar to the Canon A70, and slightly better than Sony H3)
- Its heft. Believe it or not, I *like* the weighty feel of it.
- Its metal body. Again it feels sturdy (though I hope never to drop it and test just how sturdy it is).
- I like the fact that under normal lighting conditions you can point & shoot, and it seems to take extremely crisp images with very little noise (from an amateur's perspective), and the noise that I can see only seem to be noticeable if you zoom all the way in to view the actual pixels and such up close.
- I like the dial with direct access to ISO settings. Somehow that gives it a rather "professional" feel. Even if it's only a mental thing. It's still nice to have easy access to the setting rather than having to fiddle with menus, etc.
- I like the fact that despite having a slightly more complex button layout than the H3 (something I wasn't looking forward to), once you figure out what the buttons do, it's rather intuitive and the multitude of buttons doesn't really detract (for me) from the usage experience.
- I like the instant access to a white balance (I think?) adjustment button in the upper right of the back face, just above the back face jog dial you use to control it. That way you can instantly dial up or down the exposure a few levels. I find that could be handy for "mood lighting," and have already used it a few times to set the lighting a bit lower in a scene like candle light, etc. (where the camera tends to want to expose a bit more, but it would detract from the candle light).
- I like the fact that one can zoom in on images in playback mode to see if focus and such were correct, and if detail is sufficient, or if the shot needs to be taken again. I realize other cameras probably have this feature too. It's just nice.
- For me, startup time seems very quick. Hit the button, lens extends, picture shows up on the LCD, ready to start snapping away (unless you need to change modes or flip to a slightly different exposure setting; but that's not the camera's fault! You should have been ready beforehand!).
- Thus far I've not run down the first charge on the battery. Then again, I'm casual about images, turn the camera on for a few minutes, snap a few good photos, kill the bad ones, and turn it off. I've snapped a number of shots around the office to test it. I've snapped a few images around home in non-optimal light to figure out how to get the best quality image. I took pictures at our work Christmas party, and briefly took a couple pictures at my own family Christmas dinner. I've still got 2 out of 3 bars left on the battery.
- I like the fact that it uses a standard USB A-MiniB cable, unlike the proprietary Sony AV cable that came with the H3.
- Likewise, I like the fact that the Canon uses standard SD/SDCH cards that are cheaper than the Sony H3's Memory Stick Duo and Pro Duo cards.
I'm finding it hard to say much negative about it thus far. I'm still learning how to take the most crisp images with the camera. But I've got a book now with tips and tricks. Will have to start using my tripod more, it looks like, for the old "tack sharp" photos. But, under normal light, it seems to take pretty excellent images, even just point and shoot.
One complaint might be that the button in the upper left (the one that flashes when the camera wants to "shift gears" to a different ISO) is actually somewhat difficult to press / activate while holding down the shutter part way to maintain auto-focus. For me, I seem to have to either push it with a fingernail, or push REALLY hard with the edge of my thumb.
Oh, yes, and the fact that several lights blink constantly while the machine is downloading images is rather distracting (and I wonder if it wastes the battery; though I suspect they run off USB power); likewise the "fireworks"-like animated graphic in the middle of the LCD that also continues to play while downloading. Minor complaint. But I'm sure I'll learn to ignore it. Would be nice to find a way to turn off the blinky lights though, as they're a mild nuisance.
I'm pretty sure this will be my new "work horse" camera for the foreseeable future. I don't expect I'll have to upgrade any time soon (unless of course they come out with a camera that's a portable/pocketable, point & shoot, does full HD video, and lets you zoom while shooting video, and/or lets you use a wireless remote to take photos w/o camera shake). Unless such a lovely hybrid comes on the market any time soon w/o sacrificing any features (like RAW support), I don't foresee having to switch camera again.
To those who complain about some subtle cool blue tint to the LCD, I don't see it. Perhaps I'm not a "pro," so I don't notice these things. But, so what? Really... Is it designed to be a "professional" camera or a high end point & shoot? I think it's the latter, as intended.
If someone wants to USE it for a professional camera, by all means, be my guest! But if one EXPECTS a high end point & shoot to *be* a low-end DSLR, perhaps they're setting their expectations too high in general. If you want DSLR quality, get a DSLR. If you want a PORTABLE point & shoot with near-DSLR (but still point & shoot) quality, the G9 is admirable. My opinion only, of course. As a casual user who is thrilled that a PORTABLE / POCKETABLE point & shoot camera can achieve such high quality output while maintaining relative simplicity, depth of features, PROFESSIONAL LOOK & FEEL, etc.
Likewise, to a few people I've heard complaining that there's insufficient "grip" or that the zoom lever or button are too small: I've not had an issue with either. The zoom lever has been sufficient for me to use under a range of circumstances and camera angles. Likewise the grip isn't all that large, but it's large enough, and I've never had a slippage or inability to grip the camera. I generally hold with the index and middle finger up front on the grip and thumb in the space just left of the mute/microphone button. Seems to be ample space for me. ring and pinky fingers usually just rest at the bottom of or underneath the camera.
The small viewfinder is a neutral issue for me. I don't use the viewfinder, frankly. It doesn't display the entire image to be taken, and the LCD allows for a much wider number of shots to be taken, where you can't always have your eye pressed right up to the camera. Likewise, I'd hate to smudge the LCD. I'd probably not care much if the viewfinder was removed completely. I doubt I'd miss it, honestly.
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Addendum (12-26-07): I've added several shots to the "customer gallery." One is a night shot capturing a bare tree in the flash, with the moon back-lighting a portion of the branches. For being a newbie and using mostly automatic settings, I think it came out pretty well!
The other images are a set of 3 images of a Christmas decoration, progressively cropping to finer and finer detail. I find it rather amazing how closely one can crop this image and still retain excellent picture quality (right down to not-too-bad reflections off a tiny ornament in a large scene and the fine gold inlaid detail printed at the top of a decorative glass). As of this writing they put it somewhere int he middle of the gallery. Apparently they don't sort the gallery by upload date, which is odd. |
Great Camera / Brilliant Interface
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| Review Date: November 8, 2007 |
| Reviewer: K. Buck, Atlanta, GA |
| The camera is big. Now get over it. It's not going in your jeans pocket. So put it in your jacket pocket instead. There's not another flaw that an intermediate-level photographer is going to find. The pictures are brilliant. The video is great, for that matter. And the interface is so perfectly dynamic and simple that everyone I've met is now jealous of the camera. The big bright screen is also wonderful. You know immediately if you have a good picture, a great picture, or if you have to re-take. And it's fast, fast, fast. You take a picture and you get what is happening at that moment. Not like other digital cameras that make you wait 2 seconds and miss the shot. |
Canon PowerShot G9
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| Review Date: November 18, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Serega, Cherry Hill, NJ, USA |
I started long time ago with several film manual 35 mm SLRs and point-and-shoots. Then came a digital era, and I purchased several generations of Minolta DiMAGE pocket cameras. For my downhill skiing trips I wanted a rugged, dependable miniature and intelligent cameras with viewfinder, minimum of controls and ability to shoot movie clips. Back then DiMAGE cameras met my all expectations. I used them at home, daily at work and during vacations. Unfortunately Minolta folded before producing a compact camera with image stabilization. IS is very important for low light shooting from hands. During my September trip to the picturesque Greek Santorini island my DiMAGE X50 had to struggle on it's own with both strong and low lighting of day and night. There thoughts of a better camera with manual controls came to my mind, views were so precious! I carefully studied reviews of DSLRs, looked at them - O boy, they are bulky, and they do not shoot movies! Super-zooms with fixed lenses were not smaller either. Thoughts of falling again during skiing on such camera didn't make me happy - I had few of them. Suddenly I stumbled upon Canon G9 review - it was what I wanted: relatively compact, flat, almost no protruding parts, small Lithium battery, compact but effective optical image stabilization, F2.8 35 mm 6x zoom lens , amazing 3" LCD + viewfinder, ergonomic manual controls, black, takes movies and have newest 12 MP image sensor. I immediately ordered it on Amazon because of better price and assortment of options available; I wanted a decent camera case with it as well. UPS ground parcel came shortly; camera was safely packed and started to work right away. I used camera only for a month so far at home and outside. Quality of the pictures with stunning details exceeded my expectations. Skin tones in portrait shooting came out so good! DiGIC III processor was able to adjust even to strong back light conditions. During night shooting I saw IS kicked in: pictures came out sharp and colorful. I took Halloween pictures in a dimmed light using built in camera flash and got praises from my friends on the web photo album; velvety fabrics came out beautifully. I shot several short movies at standard resolution at 30 fps - they came out crisp and well balanced with good sound from the built-in microphone. I'm wondering: does G9 sensor provides pixel binning for a movie resolution, or is a better sensor? My Minoltas with rise of sensor pixel count would capture exceedingly darker and blockier movies. G9's black paint makes it to look larger and heavier, but it feels just right in hands and don't strain my shoulder on a strap. Lens on power up/down telescopes in and out fast, and hides behind the lens protector - no lens cap needed. Shooting lags for portraits was imperceivable. LCD image is so good, even with sun beaming behind - I didn't glance into viewfinder yet. Shutter release is a feather like comparing to Minolta's; at first I was struggling to find "half way" for the focus check. So far, I charged battery only twice during a month. Soon I will take G9 for a first skiing trip, details to follow.
Overall impression about the G9 camera is excellent, it even exceeded my expectations!
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Wonderful professional walk around camera
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| Review Date: December 3, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Scott A. Manthey, |
I'm a professional photographer and I don't always want to carry my 1D or 5D around with me on trips, biking or in the kayak. They are just to heavy and easy to steal. This little camera fits in my fanny pack and gives me about 70% of the control I have with the bigger cameras.
The manual control is simply outstanding both in what you can do and how Canon implemented the menus. I have a SD500 that I've used for years and it has little manual control. What the SD500 does have in manual control is all burried in layers of menus that make it slow and hard to get to. The G9 is nearly as easy to use as my 5D and that is amazing for a little camera like this one. Having the ability to shoot RAW is the final icing on the cake. Don't let earlier reviews worry you about RAW, Adobe photoshop and Lightroom support it fully.
The build quality is amazing, it feels like a tank and I expect it to stand up to my needs very well. I will also be using the underwater case and that is a great additional feature that further inhances its value to me.
On the down side, the f/stop is a little limited. It stops at f/8 which is a little less than I would like but it is mostly fine. It is very noisy at ISO 400 or larger which makes me wish the camera manufactures would stop playing the megapixel game and focus more on image quality. I would take a 8mp camera that looks great at ISO400 over a 12mp that doesn't any day.
In the end it is a camera that I will have with me a lot and it will take great photos in most of the situations I need to to. Those photos will all be outstanding compaired to not having a camera with me at all which is after all the point of photography.
Highly reccomended!
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G9 vs G7 Tiny but Huge - what all the reviews don't mention
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| Review Date: March 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: D. Crites-Moore, |
BACKGROUND: I've 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 I've 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 |
Best compact digital camera
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| Review Date: March 26, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Bob, USA |
This is the best compact digital camera that I've 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 I'm giving anything up.
Like all compact digital cameras, at higher ISOs it doesn't 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. It's 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. |
Take more photos
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| Review Date: October 23, 2007 |
| Reviewer: L. Orwig, |
| I really looked around before deciding on this camera, because for just a little more I could have gotten a pretty decent DSLR kit. But when I thought about what I use a camera to do, I came back to the G9. I want to be able to take it with me places and have it when a photo op appears, I want to be able to shoot a lot of pictures of people and not scare them off when I'm shooting, I want to be able to stick the camera on a tripod and play around with some macro shots, I want to shoot a short movie clip here and there when babies are suddenly making noises or learning to roll over, and I want to really have full control over the camera and be able to make quick adjustments to all exposure controls. The G9 does all of these things, and it's interesting to note that a DSLR cannot do some of those things. Bottom line for me was that I can carry the G9 almost all the time - it even slips into my back pocket. I can pull it out to snap a shot, and probably have time to recompose a second or third before anyone notices I'm taking pictures. I can switch over to movie mode and back to stills with no difficulty. And it takes phenomenal pictures. It definitely has its limitations, but it can take some great pictures if you work with and around the camera's abilities. I'm keeping it, and if you want to borrow mine then maybe you should get your own. |
Great compromise between SLR and point-and-shoot
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| Review Date: January 2, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Ian McAllister, Seattle, WA USA |
If you want a camera with many of the features of an SLR but in a more compact form-factor then the Canon PowerShot G9 would make a great choice. That's what I was looking for and I'm pleased with my purchase of a G9.
I've been using a Canon EOS-10D for about 4 years with great results, even though I'm essentially a novice photographer. I find that a great quality camera coupled with an external flash allows me to take very nice pictures. While I love the 10D, I decided that I'd like to get a more compact camera that I could take with me all the time (vs. the 10D which I share with my wife). We also have a Canon PowerShot S500 but I find that the S500 has way too much shutter lag to photograph kids and dogs and lacks features like RAW and a hot-shoe so I decided to purchase a new camera.
Ultimately I chose the G9 because of the following features:
* RAW support
* Manual ISO selection option
* Image stabilization
* Histogram
* 12 mega-pixels
* Large 3.5" LCD screen
* Flash hot-shoe
* Manual shooting modes
* Video shooting modes
I've been using it for several weeks and have been very pleased with the results. The ability to add Canon Speedlite to the camera is one of the best features as bouncing a speedlite on indoor shots was the single biggest improvement I've made to my photography ever. I'm learning how to read a histogram and the G9 is proving to be a great tool as I learn more about photography.
Here are the only drawbacks I've found:
* There is noticeable shuutter-lag. The G9 is much better than my Powershot S500, but there is noticeable lag when compared to my 10D and other Canon SLR's.
* The ergonomics aren't great. The camera would benefit from a slightly larger grip but there are aftermarket grips available to fix this.
* The balance is pretty poor when used with an external flash. This isn't really a knock since the camera is supposed to be small and any small camera will be top-heavy with a flash mounted.
* The onboard flash does a pretty poor job on indoor shots, lighting up the subjects way too much - predictable for any onboard flash.
* The tripod mount is centered on the camera rather than aligned with the lens. This hasn't proved to be a big drawback yet but looking ahead to more tripod use I wish they would have aligned the mount with the lens.
All in all, a great camera. |
Very Nice High-End P&S Camera
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| Review Date: September 16, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Kristi Branstetter, Raytown, Missouri United States |
Before I bought the G9, I owned both the G3 and G6. I loved both cameras. When I had the G3, I didn't really do much with it. The G6, I did a little more. With the G9, I plan to learn and do a whole lot.
I pre-ordered the camera from Amazon on Thurs., Aug. 30th, and received it on Wed., Sept. 12th. I have taken over 600 pictures with it already.
If you are a G6 owner, you should move up to the G9. Why? It definitely has both a different look and feel. It has taken me some time to get used to. I really love the camera.
The Canon G series has been great for those of us who want more out of a P&S camera but won't or can't move up to a DSLR.
For DSLR users, this camera would be a great companion camera. It is not designed to replace a DSLR as some people think. |
amazing pictures, great automatic mode, and tremendous flexibility
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| Review Date: February 19, 2008 |
| Reviewer: C. Barbieri, Needham, MA United States |
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 G2's 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 don't 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 -- it's 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 I'll 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. It's very durable and has a water proof cover.
In all, I'm 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. |
Canon PowerShot G9
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| Review Date: February 26, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Kenny B, Texas, USA |
| 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 you're 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. |
Canon G9 - WOW
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| Review Date: November 12, 2007 |
| Reviewer: David S. Guptill, |
Canon has a real winner here with this new G9! You have great coverage with the optical zoom (6x) and the fact that it does RAW is a real plus for me. I shoot professionally and I love the RAW format. Some other point and shoots also shoot RAW but are so slow in writing the file it is almost unusable. This little gem is only slightly slower than straight jpeg. You will not miss a shot in this mode. The additional feature of an external flash, even though the flash is bigger than the camera, is a super plus. I shot a small concert using this camera and a 420ex Canon flash and was shooting well exposed shots of the stage from 120 feet. The built in flash is very good up to about 20 feet but beyond that is a waste of time. The face recognition also works on animals! That was a surprise to me but I'll take it!
It is not as versital as my DSLR but it makes a great backup camera.
When you need a great small camera, this is the one to take along.
You will need to use the program that comes with it to translate from RAw as this RAW format is very new. |
As good as it gets for a point & shoot
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| Review Date: January 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Philip Sydell, Boynton Beach, FL. USA |
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 isn't quite up to the same quality as a SLR since it's sensor is smaller, but it is still very good.
It isn't 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 don't 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 |
G9 easy to carry yet professional features
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| Review Date: February 13, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Darrell W. Collier, CA |
| 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. |
Absolutely fantastic!!!
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| Review Date: February 28, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Maya Hristova, London, UK |
| This is an absolutely fantastic camera! I did a lot of research before making a decision, as I don't 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 that's not completely amateur but not entirely professional either, that's the camera for you! |
Best for Photographs not snapshots
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| Review Date: May 12, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Conejo Bubba, Ventura County, CA. |
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 DSLR's 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 where's 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, you're reading this review, so you're 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. |
The person who gave it a 2 is wrong
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| Review Date: April 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. Barrera, Houston, Texas |
| 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. |
Excellent entry in a crowded marketplace
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| Review Date: December 6, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Jeannine J. Perriseau, Calabasas, CA |
| This camera is easy to use and takes crystal-clear photos. I love my Canon Rebel EOS XT (SLR) camera, but it is too bulky and heavy to comfortably fit in a purse. My problem with itty-bitty cameras is the lack of zoom capability and advanced features. This camera - while on the larger and heavier end of point-and-shooters - combines the best of all worlds. It's feature rich and still small and light enough to be toted around on a long day of sightseeing. It's like having a digital SLR in a small package. The battery life is exceptional, by the way. |
Canon G9 - I chose wisley
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| Review Date: November 12, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Dean.M, CA United States |
| I was searching for a camera to take underwater. I have used a Nikonos 35MM underwater outfit for years but had finally decided to go digital. I was leaning towards a Nikon SLR but looked at and then decided on the Canon G9. Coupled with an Ikelite underwater housing and strobe, this makes a great combo. Although I have not owned a digital SLR for direct comparison, I can say after using this camera for the past week, both above and beneath the water in Cozumel, it leaves little to be desired in terms of versatility and sheer awesome performance. The 3" live view display makes framing and reviewing your shots a breeze. I especially enjoyed the ease of changing settings in manual mode to create that "just right" balance of color and exposure. For a "point and shoot" digital, this camera is certainly a little bulkier than some, but well worth the size sacrifice for the increase in features and 12.1 megapixels. I have only used a few of the features this camera offers and it's already one of the wisest choices I have made recently. |
Canon's G9.The ideal pocket point and shoot digital camera.
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| Review Date: November 29, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Peter E. Lewin, Calgary, Canada. |
Being a total fan of the Canon's line up of digital SLRs and the proud owner of the 30D, 40D, Rebel XTi and the 5D, my purchase of the G9 was almost inevitable. I thoroughly researched the competition and made an informed decision by reading all the reviews on Amazon.
I like to have a camera at all times and the big lenses and bodies of the SLRs are not always practical to capture the "moment!" For the most part I much prefer the SLR, that was until I handled a G9. I could write reams of data on the performance of this camera, but it has all been said before and therefore will reluctantly refrain from doing so. You must read these reviews!
In short, this camera is phenomenal! It is a power house loaded with huge options and the images it produces, once you have learned it's adjustments and functions, will rival the SLRs. The build of this camera is outstanding, it doesn't feel like a paper thin point and shoot. It feels substantial and yet very portable in the pocket.
Full marks Canon on the G9 :)! This is a must for the photographer who likes quality in images and build.
Look no further--- go buy one! It will be the best purchase you have made in a long while!
I have purchased many photographic items through Amazon. I have never been disappointed. Always on time and brand new with the original packaging. The service has always been first class. Thank you Amazon! |
Awesome
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| Review Date: December 29, 2007 |
| Reviewer: fiddler, 02138 |
| I got this camera as an always at hand when I don't have a D300, D2X, etc. My previous always at hand is the Nikon P 5000, which while good, is clearly outclassed by the G9 in shooting speed, ease of manual control. etc. I've had it just a week but it was so easy to adjust by sequential shooting while changing exposure to get the moon over the Blue Ridge just right at dawn. I do find the P 5000 just a bit easier to work through the menus on but that may just be because the G9 is new to me. The battery is way bigger on the G9 as well. Flash seems to have more power (i.e. depth) as well. The other stuff is well presented by others below and above. |
everything I wanted it to be
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| Review Date: January 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Terranovah, Amherst, MA USA |
| I upgraded from a well used G5. This camera is everything I wanted it to be. The complaint that it doesn't have the large sensor of an SLR is bogus. This isn't an SLR. It won't take as good pictures as an SLR. If you need an SLR, get one! But this is as heavyweight a camera--in weight and features--that you can actually take with you everywhere. Stuff it in your briefcase or purse so it's always available. In terms of that sort of functionality--the discrete, always available, fast focusing availability--it really is the Leica M of the digital age at a very reasonable price. Think of it as a cheap Leica and go buy it. |
Very satisfied
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| Review Date: February 16, 2008 |
| Reviewer: John Lloyd, |
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. |
Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical
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| Review Date: February 18, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Angelo, NY |
| 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 |
Fast, sharp, serious compact camera!
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| Review Date: March 23, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. A. Newman, Tempe, AZ USA |
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. |
Great Camera Offers More than You'd Expect!
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| Review Date: April 7, 2008 |
| Reviewer: A Writer, VT USA |
| 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 it's rarely necessary to use the special settings. Like on an SLR, it's 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. It's 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. |
After 10 countries, and 59 cities, I finally have what I wanted!
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| Review Date: December 31, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Divya, NY, USA |
I have had this camera for over 8 months now. During that time, I have done some random photography, and traveled to Barcelona, Granada, Mallorca, and St. Louis. I have taken water shots, night shots, and usual tourist shots. I have also traveled to 59 cities in 10 countries, and most (if not all) of my earlier photographs are day shots, as most point and shoot cameras offer limited controls.
For my trips to wild life refuge, bird sanctuary etc I would carry my DSLR, but I hated to lug it around when I know that I am not headed to a safari. So, I was left with typical consumer cameras- I have tried Sony Cybershot DSC-T70, Samsung (camcorder with 5.2 mp still- NEVER buy it), Canon Powershot S5 IS, and Nikon Coolpix. Samsung- just stay away. Sony Cybershot had poor battery and limited control. Ditto for Nikon Coolpix. Though Nikon one is a much recent model, it still had all the point and shoot stuff, but that's about it. The Canon one was too bulky for a pocket camera.
So, I wanted a camera that will have 5 to 6 optical zoom, as I don't need more than that in daily life. Unless you are doing wildlife photography, I don't see the point of higher optical zoom. I would have been happy with about 6 MP resolution- Canon G9 offered twice as that. I wanted a camera that uses SD card (in fact, that is another reason that I stay away from Sony cameras). I also wanted something that would allow me to set light, shutter, aperture, contrast- the whole range. AND YES! Canon G9 allows for all this, and more.
There are a few night shots that I have taken with no flash. [IMHO, the flash, for most part, ruins night photography. You can even try taking a photo of a Christmas tree with flash and then compare without flash; and see the difference. The problem, however, is if you use the basic point and shoot cam then you can't control how much light camera should absorb, and the photos will come out too dark; and if you take it with flash, it normally comes out bland. So, THAT is a BIG plus for Canon G9. You get to set every bit of control.
The other BIG plus [similar to why I still love the old roll cameras as well as DSLRs] is that I can blur the background imagery esp. in nature photography. Yes! This one makes it possible, other point and shoot don't allow for this.
It also has the regular features- records videos, color swap, color accent, photo stitch, time lapse movies, beach, indoor, snow, portrait, sports, under water, landscape, and the usual stuff.
It is not as light as a basic point and shoot, but also not as big as the SLRs.
What not to do? After getting this camera I also got the adapter and telephoto and wide angle lenses. Yes, you can attach those lenses on this one. But I returned them within a week. Why? Well, it defeats the purpose of carrying a small camera (compared to DSLRs). Also, unlike DSLRs, where the lense would retract into the body of the camera, with these ones, you are basically stuck with them! So, if you plan to buy camera lenses for this one, I'll say go for a small DSLR instead.
I also bought two extra batteries- each could last for up to 5 hours, depending on the weather and use.
I use 8GB SD card with it, and it never runs out. I carry an extra one though as sometimes when I take videos it does fill up.
What could be better? Well, I wish it had a wider shot capacity. But I don't miss it particularly.
The most imp point about photography- it is only 10% about the camera; the 90% is you! Many may disagree, but I also don't believe that one has to join any professional or even hobby class to learn photography. I haven't, and my friends think that I am doing alright! Good luck! If you are looking for something that allows you the freedom to take any pictures and play, while also enable you to learn photography, then this is the one. And I hope that this review, and some of the photos that I have posted for your reference, helps you make your decision!
PS: I enjoy this camera so much, that I actually wrote my first ever review for anything in this world!
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Great Camera but BUY FROM AMAZON!
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| Review Date: April 16, 2008 |
| Reviewer: J. Hebeler, Maryland, USA |
| Really love this camera. Great pictures and has a major advantage that I didn't 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 don't 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 don't have any hidden agendas. |
Plainly Awesome!
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| Review Date: November 5, 2007 |
| Reviewer: B. Richard, USA GA |
There isn't anything I can say about this camera that hasn't been said already.
I'm a professional and use SLR for a number of reasons but the Canon G 9 will be the camera I will take with me every where. Its small compact size makes it very convenient to take where ever you go. The picture quality is excellent. The camera produces very high quality images. It is easy to use and loaded with features. My best advice, get it!!! You won't be disappointed. I love The Canon G 9. It is fantastic.
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G9 now
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| Review Date: December 16, 2007 |
| Reviewer: TNomally, |
Recently bought the G9. I find the dials and controls to be very intuitive and well located, probably the easiest interface I have ever seen on a camera. I love the small body size. This camera will not replace your D5 but for travel photography and general use it fills a great niche. A lot of my artistic photography is done while on vacation with the family. Big cameras, backpacks and heavy weight just don't fit in anymore. The G9 seems capable of replacing most of my heavy gear and fits in a small Lowe Pro Photo Runner. The telephoto adapter and wide angle adapter are not too expensive and buff up the range for this camera. It is so cool stepping up to a 72mm polarizer in front of this small body.
Image quality is good. I am not excessively critical and seldom blow pictures up beyond a 17" Mac. My initial look at the G9 images suggests that they need a small tweak of contrast, subtle adjustment of brightness and perhaps mild unsharp masking in photoshop. After these three tweaks I am totally satisfied. |
Nice surprise!
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| Review Date: December 24, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Avgustin Dvron, San Antonio, TX USA |
First I have to say that I read every single review of this product before buying, I was looking for a compact camera I could easely carry but i also wanted to experiment with manual controls as I've always used automatic controls. My first options for manual controls were the Nikon D40 and Canon Rebel XTi, but I realized that I wouldn't like to carry those big cameras so, when I discovered that Canon G9 had full manual control and was only a little bigger than SD series, it took my attention.
Now that I have the camera, I'm in love with manual controls, I really love'em. I never thought they could improve a picture this much. I know I haven't discovered all the features even when I already read the manual and I already feel like I have the exact manual setting for each picture.
The camera feels heavy and very big compared with my brother's Canon Powershot SD-700, and in automatic control the pictures are almost the same, but when using manual control it just becomes the magic!!
I strongly suggest you buy a tripod with this camera, as in some manual settings, in order to not increase the ISO, the camera should be intended to stay out of any movement. Uh, and don't forget to also buy a bag or something because the camera is totally naked!!
And finally, if you are like me, a guy in the twentys, using the camera in automatic mode and low resolution (2 mpx) for partys, nightclubs and social environments (70% of the intended use) and manual control and full resolution for experimental and novice learning of photography, I highly recommend this camera. |
Canon G9 - Convenience and Power all in one camera
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| Review Date: December 25, 2007 |
| Reviewer: J. D. Fisher, Chagrin Falls, OH USA |
There is plenty to love about the G9. I have a 5D and 20D but since I picked up the G9 in November I haven't used the big cameras at all. It's not they have fallen out of favor, it's winter in Northeast Ohio, and after a magnificent Fall things are looking a bit bleak right now. So that's what makes the G9 so much fun.
First of all, the retro (Leica-look) style makes me think I can be the next Henri Cartier-Bresson! With a small G9 in my pocket I can flip it out and capture all those "decisive moments" I miss with my big cameras (well, more like "indecisive moments" but I'm getting better).
Next is all the new tools on the G9. Face it, a big chunk of camera owners are gadget freaks. You'll spend hours on end figuring out all the cool features in the G9. From new Shooting settings to wide (16:9) frame capture to image-stabilized video it's a dream toy. Oh yeah, it's got RAW too.
The video feature is great. Anything you shoot on it can go on YouTube any day and look great.
Let's talk quality. It doesn't match the images I can get on my 5D. If the ISO is over 200 noise creeps in. Not bad but still the 12.1 sensor doesn't compare to DSLR quality. But this camera is all about power and convenience which you can't get in a DSLR. Think of all the new images you can create with this in your pocket or belt loop. Get creative! Have fun! Canon rocks! |
Top of the Line Point and Shoot
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| Review Date: December 28, 2007 |
| Reviewer: R. Unger, Bethlehem, PA USA |
Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
I received this camera from my wife for Christmas, having done plenty of research beforehand. I was not the least bit dissapointed. The unit is exceptionally well built with an unbeliveable offering of options and modes. The first 2 shoots were a Christmas party and a birthday party totalling 76 pictures. The battery meter has yet to read anything but full and the picture quality is outstanding. I did use a 1G SD chip that is still offering 222 possible pictures. Good value for the money and lots of fun to use. |
your search stops with the G9
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| Review Date: January 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: J. Ralston, |
As a previous satisfied owner of the Canon G6 for the past two years, I was pretty sure that I would like the G9. I skipped over the G8 since it did not offer the RAW mode, which the G9 does. After having shot almost 1000 pictures in all kinds of light situations during the last three weeks, I must say I am very pleased with the G9. It performs noticeable better than the G6. The sharpness and vividness of the pictures is remarkable, probably attributed to the optical image stabilization. Picture quality and coloring leaves no desires unfulfilled. The camera is noticeable faster than the G6, from startup, to zoom, to focus, to next shot. The picture review and menu respond snappier than the G6. The LCD is very bright and crisp and the colors appear to be very accurate. Last but not least, the camera is very solidly built and feels quite nice in my hand.
I wanted a top of the line digital camera which is still compact and not SLR. The G9 fulfills my expectations completely. Only two things I would wish for that the G9 had, but which I only used for about 5 % respectively 2 % of my shots on my G6, those being the movable LCD screen and the remote control. Just one small bit of advice. The battery which is shipped with the camera is only 720 mAh. I bought two after market batteries with 1200 mAh each for very little on line. These last of course a lot longer.
Bottom line. I highly recommend the G9 to anyone looking for a top digital camera, with an extensive feature set, yet easy to operate, producing fantastic results - and not wanting to lug an SLR around.
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Best camera I've ever owned...
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| Review Date: February 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: David A. Cornelson, Chicago/IL/USA |
Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
I have always had a camera handy and feel that I'm 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 we're 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 I'm very glad I did. I keep the G9 in my coat pocket or nearby and whenever there's 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. |
Great digital camera
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| Review Date: February 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: JoeVerip, Oakland, CA |
| I'm new at using a camera with settings for aperture and shutter and ISO which is the reason I bought the G9. It's 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. |
The Near Perfect Point and Shoot
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| Review Date: May 2, 2008 |
| Reviewer: P. Davies, Bay Area, California |
| I can't add to all the reviews that are out there on the G9. It's 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 there's a real good chance you will end up with a G9 |
G9 wins over this G1 owner
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| Review Date: May 2, 2008 |
| Reviewer: R. WHITBY, Baltimore MD |
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. |
The Best P&S Digital Camera on the Market
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| Review Date: June 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: T. McClure, Washington, DC |
Like all small sensor cameras anything above 200 ISO is noisy, but if you're 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 that's 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. There's a reason for that. |
No Professional Photographers Here...
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| Review Date: December 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Dragonfly, Louisiana |
I purchased my G9 In March. I wanted a D10, however have a 2 year old and figured this smaller camera would be more practical when we are out and about...and boy, was I right! This camera is amazing! I am definitely NOT a professional photographer, however get professional looking pictures every shot.
There are so many features! I especially love the Aquarium setting! Have you ever taken a picture at the aquarium? Normally you can see the flash on the glass and the fish are discolored..well, not anymore!! The images come out crystal clear, as if you are standing in front of the tanks! |
Excellent small camera for the advanced photographer
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| Review Date: October 22, 2007 |
| Reviewer: LG, Nevada |
| I was disappointed in the G7 but I've found the G9 has noticeably better IQ as well as other worthwhile improvements. It is not a simple point & shoot in spite of it's size. Advanced photographers will appreciate the features packed in the G9. |
G9 is a great addition to your photographic toolbox
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| Review Date: October 30, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Mark Gardner Inc., Maryland USA |
| The Gee Nine is simply one of the best weapons in my arsenal. It's Macro capabilities are unbeatable, the controls are logical and well laid out, the ability to shoot RAW...I could go on. I used to always feel the need to carry my SLR with me everywhere, now all I need is the G9. You wont be sorry you purchased this camera. |
viewfinder
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| Review Date: December 14, 2007 |
| Reviewer: P. Mullins, Charleston, WV United States |
| Thought I had the same viewfinder problem until a canon tech told me to change the brightness in the menu option...........problem solved all the bluish GONE. very happy with the camera now |
Awesome
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| Review Date: December 30, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Edward Diaz, |
Having owned other cameras mostly under the $200 range, i decided to treat myself to an upgrade. The pictures I take with this camera are magnificent. i just could not believe the detail in the photos. even in lowlight they were great. Basically, all you have to do is point and shoot
and the G9 does the rest. macro was superb. i cant say enough about this camera except that Canon hit a homerun with this one. It is by and large the finest camera i have ever owned. Takes pics like a pro. |
Review Canon PowerShot G9
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| Review Date: January 12, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Göran Karlsson, Sweden |
A very good camera. In principle using the same menu system as earlier PowerShot versions, but even if there are more alternatives now, it is more intuitive than before to use. Also icons appearing on the screen are eaiser to interpret (except the anti-shaking icon which took me a long time to comprehend). Also the grasp seems to have been improved; in earlier versions a finger easily happened to cover the flash, but that is not the case now.
Some might think that the size is too large, but the camera is as close to a system camera one can come, and other (like me) prefer a camera which is not to easy to forget somewhere.
The only negative is, that even if it is on, the red eye reduction does not always remove all red eyes. So that has to be done manually on the computer afterwards.
Good price for this product. |
Another jump in the right direction for Canon Mid Range
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| Review Date: January 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: G. Bertagnolli, Dallas, TX |
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 it's time to make the jump to 12mp, you cant go wrong here. |
Great Camera
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| Review Date: January 18, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Ryan C. Vinson, Poughkeepsie, NY |
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. You'd think every company would design layouts that make sense, but trust me, they don't. 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 canon's pro-line (forgot the name off-hand) used on their SLR cameras as long as you get the adapter. Of course, the lens won't 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 it's 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 there's a hard leather case made specifically for the G7/G9 that's around $20. Trust me, it's worth the money. $20 to keep this camera safe is a good investment. For long excursions, a second battery is necessary. Canon's is more expensive and its specs don't read as well as some third party types, but every third party type I've tried failed to work correctly (huge loss of battery life or just complete failure) within 1-3 months. Canon's battery will last at least a year at full strength or longer, so don't go cheap on that or you will definitely lose in the end. |
Fantastic performance
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| Review Date: February 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. Mascaro, Quito, Ecuador |
| 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. |
Canon G9 camera
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| Review Date: February 8, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Frank H. Bussey, Columbia, SC, USA |
| 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. |
Powerhouse
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| Review Date: February 10, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Shishka Leroy, Bergen County, NJ |
| I've been a Canon user since the mid-1970's (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 Canon's that use disposables. This camera is a true powerhouse. I highly recommend it. |
Great picture quality
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| Review Date: February 29, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Charles E. Clement, LA - USA |
| 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. |
Great Little Camera
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| Review Date: March 10, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Veronica Sanchez Garcia, Pomona, CA |
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 Valentine's Day for my husband....as of today I don't think he as used it once....sorry honey. =) |
Best Point-and-Shoot Around
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| Review Date: May 15, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Donald Bloom, Makena, HI United States |
| 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 iso's, especially in the shadow areas, but nothing I can't 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. |
Exemplary Camera!
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| Review Date: June 21, 2008 |
| Reviewer: L. Brasler, Onboard our sailboat anywhere |
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! |
G9 is amazing!
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| Review Date: December 22, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Hsiang Hsun Wu, State College, PA |
G9 can shoot sharp and high quality images. You can record images as RAW format which provides great flexibility to adjust exposure or white balance on PC.
If you have DSLR experience, you will find G9 works like a DSLR --but with a compact size. A major shortcut of G9 is the short working duration of battery. You have better to buy an extra battery for whole day shotting. |
Great camera...almost an SLR
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| Review Date: December 22, 2007 |
| Reviewer: William Wild, |
| I have a Canon XTi and I like this one almost as much. Great for traveling when you don't want to haul around all the equipment. |
Good camera for the price
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| Review Date: December 23, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Gaten J. Maffei, Philadelphia, PA USA |
| The Canon Power Shot G9 is a excellent camera for the money. Picture quality great. Its small size makes it a great backup camera when on a photo shoot. The LCD screen is also very clear. Its many modes makes it easy to photograph any situation at any time of the day or night. Canon is still the best! |
Awesome!
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| Review Date: December 23, 2007 |
| Reviewer: T. Seekins, Fairbanks, AK |
| This product is great. It is slightly complicated to figure out, so plan to take some time reading the book and re-reading the book, but once you got it, you will love it! I'm really happy with this purchase |
Great Camera
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| Review Date: December 24, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Travis L. Polak, Omaha, NE |
| I bought this camera to replace my 5.3mp hp for my trip to Hawaii. This camera is great. I am an amature and was able to take point and shoot photos with out messing with all the numerous adjustments and all but 2 of the 600 pics I took came out perfect. This camera is fast and takes the best pictures I have ever seen. I do however reccomend a spare battery as 1 is not enough for a full day of picture taking. There are tons of cool features built in to the g9 that are fun to play with such as: color accent and swap, time lapse movies, high res video, etc. Also you can edit the pics after you take them in the camera, change size contrast etc. Overrall this is a very easy to use camera that has a lot of advanced features available if you want them. |
Haven't found something I don't like yet!
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| Review Date: January 3, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Saniphelia, Brooklyn, NY |
| I have been using this camera for 2 months steady, both for work and some personal use. I cannot find anything about it that I don't like. This was a great investment. |
Excellent SLR Quality & Functionality
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| Review Date: January 7, 2008 |
| Reviewer: S. Goyal, |
| I bought this camera. service was excellent. This camera is very high quality and very sturdy built. Pictures are just superb. Lot of functions in it. Though I would say that it is for serious photographers considering the price value of this camera and functions. For a normal day-to-day photographs a camera half the value of this would also be adequate but if you are looking to have a camera which can function like SLR and also like a pocket camera then this is the one to go for. Though I would say it is slightly bigger to be classified as a pocket size camera. |
Canon G9
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| Review Date: January 7, 2008 |
| Reviewer: A. VENEGAS, CA |
| I'm very satisfied with this new Canon G9 ..... awesome LCD....awesome video and pictures. Received it quickly before Christmas from Amazon... I was amazed, thought it would be delayed since I ordered it only a few days before the holidays. Keep it up Amazon :) |
Worth a look ........very nice
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| Review Date: January 18, 2008 |
| Reviewer: D. H. Lim, |
| 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 doesn't get any better than this camera. Is there any things I don't 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. |
Love it, love it, love it!
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| Review Date: January 19, 2008 |
| Reviewer: S. Bainbridge, San Diego County CA |
| 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 - I've rarely referenced the manual. Canon has really mastered image stabilization. |
Canon G9 is expensive but great!
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| Review Date: January 23, 2008 |
| Reviewer: John R. Howman, Midwest |
| 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! |
camera
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| Review Date: January 29, 2008 |
| Reviewer: inky, |
| 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 I'm 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 it's an excellent camera to use in auto mode, but this is not my preference. |
Excellent Camera
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| Review Date: February 9, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Dimitrios A. Cavathas, |
| 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. |
Great Carry Around Camera
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| Review Date: May 14, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Alessandro Abate, Miami, Florida |
| 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. |
G9 - All that it is claimed to be.
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| Review Date: May 17, 2008 |
| Reviewer: John Markanich, USA |
| 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 canon's 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 ISO's. |
Canon G9 Camera - Great Pictures
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| Review Date: May 19, 2008 |
| Reviewer: K. Fritts, Springfield, MO USA |
| This camera takes pictures so detailed that you can capture the wings of a hummingbird in flight. It is just what I needed. |
Great Option when you don't want to carry your DSLR
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| Review Date: July 11, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Fisherman Dan, Richmond, VA |
I've got a nice Canon DSLR setup with L-series lenses, etc... the whole works. But a lot of times you just don't want to lug it all around, or even get it out just to take a couple of quick shots. I really wanted to get a good "point and shoot" but I didn;t want to compromise on images and say, "I wish I got my good camera out".
So I did a lot of searching and playing with various cameras and ultimately I selected the Canon G9 and here's why...
1. It has a huge LCD display so you can hold the camera away from you and still see what you're shooting at, even from odd angles. Checking photos after the shot is easy too without having to zoom in all the time.
2. It's fully automatic if you want to leave it that way or you can fully customize it with shutter-priority, aperture priority, fully manual... basically almost everything you can do with your DSLR. So you can manage depth of field, etc. with ease.
3. The ability to add on the telephoto lens and converter is great... effectively gives it a 400MM optical zoom. I haven't tried the wide lens since the camera lens is wide enough for me.
4. It's image stabilization works well... great for low light shots without a flash without compromising on image quality by using a higher ISO.
5. Finally - the ability to use an external flash is terrific. I already had the 580EX but wanted to get a 430EX as a "slave" - this gave me the reason to do so, as a 430EX looks much better on the G9 and works great. (The 580 works too but it's so much bigger.
Are there compromises with the G9? I suppose so but not too many. It's not the smallest camera out there. It fits in a jacket pocket but not a shirt pocket. Also, it would be if the G9 and it's Raw photos could be managed with Canon's Digital Photo Professional software. But having two sets of software for my Canon cameras isn't that big a deal.
In the end - I think it's a great little camera and with the add-ons of lenses and external flash - it gives you big camera benefits from a little camera package. |
Great Results So Far
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| Review Date: July 17, 2008 |
| Reviewer: M. Bender, |
| I have had this camera for a few months now and find it absolutely incredible. Shots are great and it's a very easy camera to get to know even with all the bells and whistles. Iso 800 is almost completely useless though... way too much noise in photos. Keep it to to the lower Iso levels and you're golden. The landscape photography excellent with it although I'd recommend getting a lens adapter so you can put some filters on the camera. A polarizing filter is a must when shooting landscapes. Opt for an aluminum filter from Lensmate as opposed to the cheap plastic one from Canon. You will spend about $5 more but it will be well worth it. |
love it
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| Review Date: July 25, 2008 |
| Reviewer: P. Keith, |
| I love this camera. I really like the photo stitch and the color swap. It's a good size camera, not too big, not too small. People with big hands may have problems with some of the buttons being too small though. I don't have big hands so it's not a problem for me. I would recommend getting a different flash if you want a more professional look and any other accessories you can afford like the wide angle kit. I don't believe you will find a better camera until you go up to a digital SLR. |
Love the G9 with a wide angle lens adapter by Lensmate
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| Review Date: January 23, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Calvinhobbes, |
I have owned the G9 going on 3+ years now, and I must say that it continues to impress me and both my friends and colleagues at work. I am an architect, and have traveled extensively around the world using this camera for both professional and personal use.
The great thing about the G9, is that it is a very effective Prosumer camera that bridges between the point and shoot, and the digital SLR's. I also bought a high quality aluminum finished wide angle lens adapter from Lensmate, that simply screws in front of the lens when you remove the O-ring around the lens. This effectively brings it up to 24mm wide angle from the current 28mm, and for architecture and buildings, makes an enormous difference. [...] to learn more about this really high quality company that makes lens adaptors specifically for the Canon line....in fact, their wide angle lens is not only much higher quality than what Canon sells, but is much more compact, made out of milled aluminum instead of plastic (Canon's version), and costs less!
I recently just got back from India, and took some amazing photos from that exotic country. Before that, I have used it in south america, patagonia region, Peru (macchu picchu), thailand, africa throughout asia....and have shot thousands of photos over these past several years, I still marvel at what a perfect camera this is for so many different uses and conditions.
I looked at the G10, but like several other readers comments, I came back to the G9 as actually superior, and in fact bought myself another G9 as a back-up. It is interesting on amazon that the g9 in fact sells for quite a bit more than the g10 or the current g11 version....and I think it is because serious photographers realize just how good the g9 is.
If you can get your hands on one (if not amazon, try ebay), you won't be dissapointed, and I have yet to see the need to go the the digital SLR camera yet, even with all the professional work I do which requires hi-res and quality images.
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Cannon Camera SG9
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| Review Date: November 6, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Jeannie Corzine, Dallas Tx |
This camera is GREAT.
It takes good indoor pics even in almost no light.
I took photos in very overcast conditions and still got very crisp clear photos.
I love the zoom function. I was able to get some very good pictures of very small birds and crisp shots of flying gulls.
Over all very user friendly and easy to fiigure out basic functions.
I can't wait for my next photo op! |
G9 a ten
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| Review Date: November 22, 2007 |
| Reviewer: R. Tullis II, Oregon |
| Fantastic camera. Beautifully designed and fun to shoot. Has advanced digital features for a professional and easy no brainer modes for the less adventurous. All in all this is the best digital point and shoots I've owned. Manual exposure control and focus overrides make shooting a pleasure for the professional. Good value compact size and decent battery life. Recommend purchasing a larger SD card immediately. |
Canon G9
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| Review Date: December 19, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Richard Streiff, Saugus, Ca United States |
| I have and use many pro bodies from Canon, but needed to have something small to use when travelling on business. The G9 with RAW capabilities sure fills that gap. I wish the version of RAW used could be edited in Canon Professional, but at this time it isn't. I used Adobe Photoshop 3 and it works fine. Hopefully in the future Canon professional software will be updated to work with G9 RAW. Pictures are of excellent quality, and focus is fast and acurate in all modes. Has no problems with battery life filling a 4 gig card. I do not use post view shot, but had screen on for pre-view. |
Canon G 9
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| Review Date: February 20, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Maryann Nelson, |
| Received the camera after a backorder. Love it so far. Zoom works well and like the large screen. |
Great camera!
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| Review Date: February 25, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Javier Vazquez, Zuerich, Switzerland |
| If you're looking for the perfect link between a compact and a slr camera, this is the one! |
excellent all-around
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| Review Date: October 28, 2007 |
| Reviewer: John Frisbie, New York, NY United States |
Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Really having a good time into week four with my fifth digital camera in five years - the Canon G9. I would say it was, in total, a bit pricey, camera, tele lens, adapters, bag, extra batt. But after fudging around the fall scenes of these here eastern states, taking pictures inside with lamplight of the preggers wifey, I'd have to say it's worth it.
Small con, the manual focus is a bit of a twist to learn.
But, easily the toughest camera I've ever owned. Fast start up, quick focus, good movies, excellent low light. But, buy that small flash for the hot shoe. makes parties and what-not a real blast.
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Impressive
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| Review Date: October 18, 2007 |
| Reviewer: D. Miranda, |
| The Canon PowerShot G9 is an impressive camera that delievers on features. Automatic mode delievers beautiful point and shoot pictures and the manuel mode delievers on creativity. Filled full of features, this camera is good for both the novice and pro. Image stabilization is effective for cancelling out hand shakingness and for zooming in with the zoom. Face dectection delievers accurate colors to the face requiring little to no editing. Overall, the camera delievers on its promises. |
I like it
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| Review Date: October 19, 2007 |
| Reviewer: J. Gran, |
I've been showing off my new camera to people and everyone is impressed. My favorite feature is the live histogram that ensures you'll get proper exposure - on my old camera sometimes the image would look ok on the little screen but when I brought it to the computer it would be too light or too dark.
If you're like I was, teetering between a "point-and-shoot" and a dSLR, this camera is highly recommended. It bridges the gap, producing near-professional-quality pictures while still being pocketable. |
Excellent Camera, the G9 is ia world class digital masterpiece.
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| Review Date: December 15, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Alex, New York |
Let me start off by saying; "I know that many die-hard camera enthusiasts have mixed feelings about the G9." I've read all the reviews and more. I for one, do not. My point-of-view is positive and optimistic. And, I'll tell you exactly why I feel this way about the G9.
First, if you're going to compare this camera to a DSLR, then you're absolutely foolish. There is no comparison, and it's absolutely ridiculous to even try. Why? Well the sensor size being one factor, and then the incredible lenses that are available on a DSLR. At this point, you either understand where I'm going with this, or you don't understand digital camera design.
The best way to describe a G9 is to compare it to a Crossover SUV. It's not an SUV and it's not an automobile. Well, the G9 is not a DSLR, but it's also not just a plain point-and-shoot camera. For what it's worth, Canon did a great job taking the best from both sides and blending them to create what I consider the best compact camera available for the enthusiast digital camera photographer. For the size and money, you will NOT find anything better, more equipped, and more capable. I've been taking digital pictures since 1997, and I've yet to find something as well balanced in this form factor. It just doesn't exist. The competition has a lot of trade-offs, and sometimes they are not worth it. I've owned quite a few in the past, and I'm sold on this one. DSLR cameras are great, but they are not reasonable when it comes to everyday use. They are too large and not practical. Unless you're a professional. If you want something to take pictures of kids, take on vacation, use it for artistic flair; then the G9 does extremely well in this area.
One of the most common complaints with the G9 (as wells as other compact cameras), is noise at high ISO levels. Well, that's a common trait that is shared with practically ever compact camera that uses a non-DSLR CCD sensor period! As far as I know, there are only two CCD sensors in this class; the one that SONY manufactures, and the one that FUJI manufacturers. The SONY CCD is most common in every camera. So if all compact cameras use the same CCD, wouldn't they all share the same common issues? The answer is "Yes." However, if a compact camera has more manual flexibility and control, then it can better manage the trade-offs with the small CCD. And the G9 has that ability.
So far, I'm seeing pretty sharp and accurate pictures between ISO 80 and 200. Even at ISO 400; compared to the competition, it's much better. Try doing that with a SONY camera - good LUCK! SONY cameras have a tendency to over-process the pictures and the contrast is FLAT. The pictures do not look real. The G9, takes very life-like pictures in comparison. The colors are accurate and the focus is always sharp, The DIGIC III does not over process the picture to the point where is looks dull at maximum magnification.
Overall, this is a camera that is definitely worth the money. This will not disappoint. It's built like a tank and has SO MANY options and flexibility. If your serious about digital and want something small enough to carry around, then this is your best bet.
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One amazing Canon
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| Review Date: December 25, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Daniela Lorenzo Burger, Camarillo, CA |
| I love it, It feels so great. It even makes me horny at times. It is heavy and solid, which helps you feel like you have a real camera and it helps stabilize your shots, as oppose to lighter cameras.ItStrap around your neck like an SLR not on you wrist, which I love too. Has all kind of cool features that as a wannabe photographer, you can have fun playing with it to get the best result. I suggest getting the extra battery cause it will trick you in to thinking it has a lot of juice left and then it runs out of battery. It happen to me when I was getting to the end of a 3 hour hike in Zion National Park, and all of a sudden, NO BATTERY. But that was my bad, I should have known... The screen is great in terms of resolution and size. Makes your pictures look pro. Then you can work your pictures with the canon program and make them even better with some cropping, brightness and color and contrast adjustment. They have enough quality so you can crop and still have great quality, no grains. The panoramic software is great and easy to use, you just take the pictures and it will guide you through each step to get an amazing panoramic or even 360 picture. |
Powershot G9
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| Review Date: April 19, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Sharon Schultz, USA |
| 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 Canon's Powershot A71 on all levels. Don't waste your $$'s on any lower models!! |
love this camera!
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| Review Date: December 17, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Mr. M. J. Brazelton, london |
best camera I have had - hands down - everything you would want plus a little more
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Full functionality in small package
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| Review Date: January 24, 2008 |
| Reviewer: K M. NYSTEDT, The Earth |
| I love this camera. I've shot extensively with it in a short period of time and it's great. Quality of shots is wonderful. At higher ISOs it's 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. |
Great buy
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| Review Date: April 5, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Juan Rodriguez, Colombia |
Excellent camera. best way to get proffesional photos being an amateur photograph.
With a newborn at home this camera is a must. |
great
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| Review Date: May 23, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Thomas C. Lynde, USA |
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, |
Works great!
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| Review Date: November 10, 2008 |
| Reviewer: phulana, mexico |
I am a professional photographer and this is the only camera I use. When I am exhibiting (usually large works of 1m2), other photographers will come up to me with clunky SLRs around their necks asking what I shoot with. When I pull out the tiny G9 they think I am joking.
Great camera. Works best in manual mode. I was afraid to get it because I had read so much about bad quality control (factory defects), but I haven't had any problems. |
Canon does it Again
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| Review Date: November 17, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Mr. George Bozinis, Horseheads,NY [yes Ma there really is a "Horseheads" |
I bought the 12MP Canon G9 to return to photography as it was meant to be. With the advent of "Digital" most people take "Pictures-in-bunches" as if they were shooting with a machine gun, not Photographs. As a purest who was weaned on the "4x5 Crown" I wanted to return to the days of the past.
On to the G9, and the Raw Setting, even with the 4Mb card at full setting, space forces frugality. I may even get back to some real Photography.
Take your time George, Aim-compose-shoot, you'l have a better slice of the world.
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Great Camera!!!
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| Review Date: December 23, 2007 |
| Reviewer: M. Vaughn, New Orleans |
I've been using this camera for about six weeks and I am totally impressed with both the picture quality and ease of use. This is my fourth digital camera and third Canon digital camera. I've also had an S30 and S60. While I liked my previous two Canons, this camera is designed much better. It's easier to use all of the features because they are so accessible. The picture quality has been great, especially in Macro mode. For novices interested in learning digital photography, this isn't a bad camera to have because it can allow you to experiment, but you can always shift it to "Auto" when you just want to point and shoot. It is larger and a little heavier than a lot of today's point and shoot cameras, but its feature set and picture quality rival those of a dSLR - and it is much smaller and lighter than a dSLR.
If you enjoy photography, I think you will really like this camera. If you're looking strictly for a point and shoot, you'd probably be better off looing at a different camera. |
Just what I needed.
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| Review Date: January 13, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Roadside, Massachusetts, United States |
Since carrying my SLRs with lenses, etc. is too much like work, this is my much desired perfect little "always carry along" camera. The shutter action is very responsive, the lens is wicked sharp and the generously large LCD screen is a joy. The G9 fits in my shirt pocket and is quick on the draw. Image stabilization is nice too, and it does work well.
Oh sure, the images are plenty noisy above ISO 200 but if you expect the noise characteristics of a Canon 5D, what are you doing reading this review?
The only thing I would wish for is a flip out screen that other cameras (like my Canon A95) have.
I'm very happy to have this camera. Also quite relieved that my wife agreed it was worth the money. |
Outstanding compromise between point-and-shoot and pro camera
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| Review Date: January 18, 2008 |
| Reviewer: William Guy III, Hillsboro, OR United States |
| 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. |
Awesome camera!
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| Review Date: January 21, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Anne Hill, St. Croix, US Virgin Islands |
| 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 it's features, the decision wasn't too hard to make. I've been using the camera for the last few weeks and absolutely love it. Quality pictures, tons of possibilities, great design: it's a great camera! |
G9 Powershot
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| Review Date: January 27, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Neale Fetterly, Cincinatti, Ohio |
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 I'll 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. |
Hreta camera
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| Review Date: February 18, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Hai Pham, Norwalk, Ca United States |
| This is my fourth digital camera and probably my last for a while. The camera is shooting by itself out of the box. I've 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 (I've set at 12m). The only thing about it is the size. Don't expect to carry it in your pocket. ..Overall, I'm very please with it and would highly reccomend it to everyone... |
Great Camera
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| Review Date: May 7, 2008 |
| Reviewer: A. Broach, |
| 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! |
Outstanding!
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| Review Date: May 13, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Robert B. Hollingsworth, El Segundo, CA |
| 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, I've made C size image prints with huge clearity, get this camera!! |
Great Compact Cmaera
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| Review Date: June 11, 2008 |
| Reviewer: JoVill, dulles, va United States |
| 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. |
Amazing camera, exactly as advertised
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| Review Date: June 13, 2008 |
| Reviewer: D. Thomas, Chicago, IL USA |
I've had this camera since winter and it takes some amazing images. I've 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.
I've 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 don't 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. |
Wonderful camera!
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| Review Date: June 21, 2008 |
| Reviewer: jstnomotogo, Bartlesville, OK USA |
| 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! |
Great Buy
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| Review Date: June 26, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Alfred N. Tinsley, Chicago |
| 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 |
Canon G9
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| Review Date: August 24, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Bozworth, Boulder, Co USA |
| I just lost my Canon Power Shot S45 camera on a trip to Europe, so I wanted to replace it with an upgraded model of Canon. My Power Shot was fabulous and the G9 promises to be an even greater camera with so much more control over the image! It is a very exciting, semi-professional camera to own without the expense of the digital SLR. I also bought the "Canon PowerShot G9 Photography" short course book and it is more helpful than the manual that came with the camera. |
Canon PowerShot G9
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| Review Date: September 9, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Go Faux, Florence, AL -USA |
| I have been very pleased with purchasing this camera. It is as awesome as they say. I'm still learning all the features and I'm loving all the options. The manual is really helpful in understanding all the settings. The main thing I like about this camera is the size. It's as small as a good point and shoot but takes pictures like a good SLR camera. I thought the rechargable battery would be a problem, but it lasts for a good length of time before I have to charge it, and I take pictures all the time. The battery charger is even so simple (without a long cord) that you can pack it in your camera case for those longer trips. I also like that you can use the full 12.1 megapixels or go down to lower megapixels when the higher is not needed. I would suggest getting at least a 1G SD card with it. I actually like the fact that it doesn't have an internal memory. It's less to have to format. All in all this is the best camera I have had. It brings back my love for photography. I can't wait to fully understand all it's MULTIPLE functions! Way to go Canon!! |
great camera, not so good low light shots
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| Review Date: January 17, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Milad Cerkic, Sarajevo, BiH |
| Overall camera is great with enough autofor quick shooting as well as options for semi pro. Not so good in low light conditions, especially indoors; some pixelation will occur. I bought my self 430EX II to compensate. |
Canon G9 a Great P&S
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| Review Date: January 18, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Howard E. Tyree, Charleston, WV USA |
Great P&S camera with easy to use manual controls. This is not a low light camera, however if you need such a camera check the new Panasonic P & S that's reviewed and rated on DP review. com found here:
[...]
I used this camera as an excellent back up to my Nikon D90 DSLR
Two Years after purchase:
March 12, 2010
I use and continue to carry this camera for all occasions. I have been using it for seasonal scenics, stills, parties and assorted indoor and outdoor photographic activities. I have now created a wide range of photo slideshows, bound books, portraits and various pieces of arts. The photos taken with this camera have been placed on exhibit, admired and purchased. After two years of use I believe it to be one of the most reliable and versatile cameras I have ever owned. |
Superb Performance
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| Review Date: November 15, 2007 |
| Reviewer: W. Saumweber, San Francisco, California |
| I have used this camera on my trips, my walks, and at home extensively. Within 18 months I had taken some 3,000 shots. Although that speaks for itself I have to add: this is a rock-solid performer; sturdy, fast, reliable, and with a good battery-life. The manual overrides are as plenti- and useful as on any mid- to top-range SLR. The image quality (RAW or JPEG) is phenomenal; much better than on the Leica D-Lux 3 and comparable to the Nikon D300. I'd buy it again any day. |
I love it!
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| Review Date: May 27, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Laura Romero, Los Angeles, CA United States |
| I have bought an assortment of cameras in my lifetime and I have to say that this is the best! The picture quality is superb! I took it backpacking through Europe and it didn't let me down. As soon as I got home I used the software it came with and created the greatest panoramic photos by stitching several of the photos taken under the continuous photo capture feature. The macro feature is awsome! I love taking pictures of insects and plants and they come out fantastic! I can go on and on about the camera, but I'll end with this: This camera is a great investment! |
fantastic camera!
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| Review Date: September 20, 2009 |
| Reviewer: A. Weremczuk, London, UK |
| Its small but it can do all! its by far the best little camera i've ever had! well done canon! |
There is no better point and shoot camera!
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| Review Date: October 15, 2009 |
| Reviewer: M. Salyzyn, Orlando, Fl |
This camera has provided years of excellent service and nearly 40GB of pictures, some published. The availability of add-on lensing and filters has been a boon, and only lacks in some low light conditions. I have a Casio EX3000 circa 2000 with f2.0 that puts the G9 to shame under high speed movement or low light conditions. Regardless, this amateur finds this camera to be a perfect point and shoot, multipurpose, multifunction (panorama) source of art, entertainment and capture.
If you go to France for a week, you need more than 8GB of storage :-)
If I lost this camera, this, or it's follow-on would be a must have. |
Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera
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| Review Date: November 15, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Penetralia, |
Although we currently use a G11, we appreciate the wonderful features of the G9. The only challenge for some us with Canon's G-series is the bulkiness of the unit; in other words, it is not a pocket camera. However, the G9 takes excellent photos. |
Phenomenal camera
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| Review Date: November 2, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Jean Stevenson, |
| I have owned the G3 camera with the swivel screen ---loved it.... It took great pictures. Sadly it no longer works. My daughter purchased the G7 and just loves the ease of use, and the picture quality. I checked out the G10 but wasn't pleased with the reviews and certain aspects of the camera, so I purchased the G9 a tad bit late and paid a premium (but not as high as it is now). I have used it for a month and the picture quality, ease of use, and the capture ability of pictures is just phenomenal. The flash on this camera is powerful too. It takes great shots in the dark, you just need to wait for the camera to focus and great shots were taken at Halloween in the dark. It is so much more than the G3 and G7 but the quality is just great. I own the RebelTi as well, and the quality doesn't compare to the G9 for picture quality. Now all it needs is the swivel screen to come back to take better self-portraits. You won't go wrong with this camera!!! |
What a GREAT Little Camera the Canon G9
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| Review Date: December 11, 2009 |
| Reviewer: J. Moro, Stratford, NJ USA |
website: [...]
At either of those two sites you'll find images made with the G9. I've only had it for two months but I take it everywhere - the office, shopping, etc. My regular camera when out shooting landscapes is my Nikon D300, and a series of lenses from the venerable Nikon 17-55 F2.8 (purchased here on Amazon for 1150.00) down to a first generation Lensbaby and everything in between.
This little G9, which I immediately set to capture jpeg+raw is excellent. I love sharp, crisp images and I hate noise. So, I try to keep it at under ISO 100 --usually set to ISO 80. The IS feature is amazing as well. It truly works miracles when handholding.
The camera, once you get to know it is easy to operate on the fly. That is very important to me. No twiddling. The supplied software which is called the Zoom Browser I've only used a few times as it's the ONLY way to get to the RAW editor! How funky is that? I am a Adobe Lightroom user so I really don't need it. I upload everything into Lightroom and go from there. I have used the Canon software just to see what it does but quite frankly it is so clunky I don't bother.
As far as image quality, the jpegs coming out of this camera are so sharp, and clear and colorful that I find myself not using the raw files. However as a shooting pro some of my stock agents REQUIRE me to submit the converted raw file after they have accepted the initial jpeg after their review. So... I'm stuck keeping the CR2 raw file around.
In a few weeks I'm going on a photo shoot and I am taking my Nikons and my gaggle of gear but my intentions on this trip are to shoot ALL my landscapes and other shots with the G9. As a matter of fact I am letting one of my kids use the D300 and all the gear instead of packing my extra Fuji Finepix S2 body for them to use. This is how confident I am that I will return with usable, marketable images generated from the G9. |
Outstanding in Every way!!
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| Review Date: March 8, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Roberto Vicente, Hayward, CA USA |
| Great LCD screen, no lag time when using RAW, many, many features, EXCELLENT picture quality, color rendition and detail. Small and compact. Equivalent to a dslr. The only draw back is that it's only 6x optical zoom. You can't do much with such a small zoom. But a great camera for the price. |
Best point and shoot on the market...
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| Review Date: March 30, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Adam S. Bolz, Portland, OR |
| AFter spending a lot of time reviewing cameras I had decided this was the best point and shoot available. I have tried the new g11 and was very impressed with the picture quality but the g9 blows it away; the g9 is simply easier to use. This camera features RAW photo capability, aperture and shutter speed priority, and a dedicated dial for ISO speed. The only faults I find with this camera are distortion at ISO speeds above 800 (normal) and slight vignette effect on super closeups without the macro (also another normal effect). This is a great camera for someone who doesn't want to cross over into dSLR or just wants a great point and shoot. My only suggestion to improve this camera is a better software bundle. |
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