Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom by Canon
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Digital camera reviews of Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Digital camera Review: A Real Disappointment
Summary: 1 Stars
I bought the G9 as a replacement for my Casio Exilim P600, which I loved.
I've been shooting with Canon Cameras since the early 1980's. I've got the Canon 5D, which is a very impressive camera, but wanted a good quality point and shoot. Researched for days, read all the reviews, finally ordered the G9. I just couldn't wait until it arrived!! Got here in two days, felt nice and sturdy when I took it out of the box, 3" LCD Screen is HUGE, controls are easy to get to...but after "battling" with it for the last 24 hours, I am terribly disappointed. It's going back.
This camera's "AUTO", P, TV and AV functions are absolutely useless. The G9 is unable to balance highlights and shadows. It blows out the highlights, which is even more aggravated by the quality of the LCD screen. When you get the shot on the computer, it's not nearly as bad as it looked on the screen, but, it's still bad. With a herculean effort, you can get a decent (not great, but okay) shot in Manual, but if I wanted to work that hard I'd just pull out the 5D.
The image stabilization feature totally ruins the shot with noise, it looks like you've "sharpened" it to the hilt in photoshop...took me awhile to figure out why everything looked almost "crystallized"...so you have to have the IS turned off and without it, the G9 is just not a low light camera. The Flash really produces a very strangely colored shot, which really IS as bad on the computer as it looks on the LCD screen.
The color on the LCD screen is really washed out so you can't see if any shot you take under any lighting conditions shot is usable...or should I say "fixable" in PhotoShop, because none of the 250 shots I took today were "usable" straight off the camera...until you download it to the computer. The autofocus is not reliable...I had pictures taken in broad daylight of still subjects, come out blurry. I am just in totl shock. I can't even believe this is a Canon product.
I am sending my Casio in for repair.
Digital camera Review: A point and shoot that rivals digital SLRs
Summary: 4 Stars
Okay, that's a little hyperbole, but just a little.
The Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom is hands down the best "point and shoot" digital camera I've ever used, and I've used a lot of them (including the Canon G1, G2, G5, Olympus 7070 and Canon G7). The image quality of the G9 is among the best of its breed, which says a lot about the quality of the Canon lens and sensor it's built around. For a point and shoot, it's very fast. The shutter lag (time between you press the button and it actually makes a picture) is greatly reduced compared to its predecessors and it writes to the card practically as fast as you shoot, about 2 frames per second when shooting JPEGs, about .7-1 fps on raw. Speaking of raw, this is one of the few digital point and shoots that still has raw capture. This is a great feature for serious photographers.
The full selection of manual controls means this a camera you can buy and grow with, from letting the camera do everything to making all the decisions yourself. In my case, I use it as a backup to my digital SLR bodies (Canon 5D) for my documentary and reportage work.
The same caveats that apply to most other point and shoot cameras apply to the G9. Noise at high ISO (400 and above) is pretty obvious and takes away from image quality, and although it's fast (for a P&S), it's still not a sports camera. Shutter lag may prevent you getting a lot of those peak action photos. But these are issues shared by most point and shoot digital cameras.
My only complaints that are G9 specific is that I find the buttons on the back a little small and a little too easily accessed. So I sometimes turn the flash on accidentally or change the motor drive from continuous to single frame.
This camera is best suited for travel and street photography in nice light. It's a formidable photographic tool.
Digital camera Review: A sad husband - bought the Powershot 950 over G9
Summary: 5 Stars
I loved everything about this Camera. I tried it out in the shop and liked everything: the feel, the flexibility, the large LCD, and even the umm.. 'utilitarian' look that's reminiscent of the range finder of yester years.
However, my better half took one look at it and said. "boy it is ugly, and I only need something that's point-n-shoot".
So, in the end, I have to give up all the good points about G9 and ended up buying a powershot 950.
Weep!
Digital camera Review: Absolutely fantastic!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
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!Digital camera Review: After 10 countries, and 59 cities, I finally have what I wanted!
Summary: 5 Stars
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!