Canon PowerShot G9

• Average user rating: 4.0 stars out of 40 reviews Back to product review
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 24 out of 24 people found this review helpful

  4.0 stars

  "I really like my G9!"

  by Gordon Katz on September 12, 2007

  Pros: Good photos, jog wheel, excellent interface, EZ manual shooting, big LCD, image stabilization, long zoom, preview histogram, face detection, alignment grid, RAW, hi-res video, ISO knob, hot shoe

  Cons: Heavy for a point and shoot (but lighter than a SLR)

  Summary: I really like my new G9! I got it yesterday and have pored over the manual, camera in hand, learning its ways. I've practiced with most of its features, but (full disclosure) I haven't done any real shooting yet.
  
  For context, I'm a serious amateur. My prior cameras are an S80, an S30, and a Pentax fully manual film camera. I process my photos using Photoshop Elements on a Macintosh, and I favor RAW. I'd almost go for the Digital Rebel, but it's really too big and heavy for me.
  
  For the record, accessories I got are a Lexar SDHC 4gig high speed memory card, Canon semi-hard case (it's a G7 case, but it fits), Speedlite 430EX flash, and Canon underwater housing WP-DC21.
  
  Now then. The G9 is conveniently small and will allow me to continue my practice of carrying a camera around without making a big thing of it. It will be convenient to use as a scuba diving camera, too.
  
  The G9's human factors are excellent. I didn't really anticipate how much I'd appreciate the the camera's use of buttons and the way they interplay with the excellent control software.
  
  If there's one thing that puts the G9 over the top for me, it's the jog wheel. It's a genius invention. It makes adjusting settings and real-time exposure (to mention two) a pleasure. It looks to let me flex back to fully manual shooting and like it again.
  
  The preview histogram is wonderful, and the extensive shot data are welcome. I expect the alignment grid will mean less preprocessing of my mostly crooked shots when I send them around via email for previewing.
  
  I really like the large LCD. My old eyes can actually read it! It's big, sharp, bright and easily viewed from severe angles, such as when I hold the camera overhead. I've used a friend's G3 with a flip LCD, but I like this better. It does the work of a flip without the fuss or risk of breaking.
  
  I'm looking forward to using my new Speedlight 430EX flash on the hot shoe and at last being able to take decent family pictures at the dining room table. I'm also looking forward to better in-camera flash pictures with the auto flash exposure feature.
  
  Image stabilization is new for me, and welcome, as is face detection, and the 6x optical zoom coupled with "safety" digital zoom. I find I do a lot of cropping to the limit, so I'm sure that IS, better zoom, and my step from 8 to 12 megs of resolution will be helpful.
  
  I'll be using AE with continuous shooting(!) at ground level at sports events. I'll also be making use of the high-res (1024x768@15fps), fill-the-card video capability, as well as the time lapse feature.
  
  I've always had very mixed results with pictures taken skiing in the high mountains. I'm hoping that the snow mode, the availability of equivalent neutral density filters, and the preview histogram will help with this. (The camera is much more convenient to tuck under a parka than is a SLR, incidentally.)
  
  I'm glad for the option to quickly jack up the ISO without fumbling with menus. I've occasionally had to pass on charming opportunities to shoot sleeping kids. Not only that, but there's a "safety" option for doing this, too. And the wider lens may help me shoot more pictures at lower ISO settings, without having jack them up.
  
  I haven't mentioned the most important thing of all: photo quality. I don't have any personal experience yet, but I know from G7 reviews that the G9 will be just fine for me. I'm already confirming that, by comparison with my S80, I'm getting much more accurate photos with it.
  
  I'm just warming up, but...time's up.

  Thank you for submitting your feedback!

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• 3 replies to this review

• reply by: on March 31, 2009

  http://reviews.cnet.com

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• reply by: islandsoft on June 27, 2008

  I believe the Canon UW case does not allow for a TTL connection, i.e. via a wire so the camers can control the flash. I think your only option is a slave flash, which is probably fine but has limitations.
  
  The Ikelite UW case for this camera allows for the iTTL connection to an appropriate flash which should theorwtically give better flash control as the camera controls the external flash. It's a lot more expensive, though.

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• reply by: gri buongiorne on June 5, 2008

  I live in Alaska and take manh cruises up on the glaciers and such. The wildlife is usally quite far from the ship...so was wondering how this camera wld perform for wildlife which is not too close. A friend was using a Sony DSC H50 with a x15 zoom but I was not impressed with sharpness overall when the photos were shown on a large TV monitor.
  I am not a great expert and don't really want a SLR especially as Canon is coming out with such excellent point and shoots.
  
  I am looking to upgrade from a humble Powershot A75 which has given me great service but rather lacks in the zoom department.

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