canon g9 - i want one.

[triplefinger]

I am coveting this camera, it does have an optical viewfinder so I don't feel too guilty about talking about it here.

I'm considering selling my panasonic fz20, which has a faster lens a longer zoom AND stays at ƒ2.8 the whole range of the zoom, but fewer megapixels and the panasonic is LARGE.

does anyone have experience with the G9?

Thanks, Mike

 

[jan normandale]

Mike, everyone wants one of these... get in line pal! ;- )

 

[xayraa33]

the G9 is very nice, certainly worth getting.

 

[palec]

I have experience with G7 which is almost same as G9. Just a good advice: if the optical viewfinder is one of your buying points, don't do that. It's unusable, really.

As it's not worth selling it now, I use it only as a swiss-knife photo-tool for things I can't use my film cameras - instant preview, macro details.

 

[kbg32]

Serious shutter lag as I've heard. I have a couple of friends that have it.
See dpreview - http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong9/

"Focus speeds and shutter lag (when using LCD) could be better (improvement on G7, however)"

 

[RF-Addict]

The G9 is a great little camera - I own one and owned the G7 before that. The viewfinder is useable, but does not show 100% of the picture you are taking (not unlike some RFs). The shutterlag is not an issue, unless you shoot action sport or flying birds or use flash. With flash there is indeed a pronounced shutterlag. The G9 has better noise handling at higher ISOs than the G7 (I have attached a picture I took at a museum here in Phoenix at ISO1600 - not bad IMHO for a small P&S camera). For the price of this little gem it is hard to beat!

 

[BillP]

This http://www.mycanong7.com/

Is a good resource for anyone who owns, or is considering, a G7 or G9. I have the former, and took it to Seville as a digital adjunct to my M7 and M2 - it sported the longest lens, AF, flash, and was the most compact. Handling is good, particularly with the grip available from Richard Franiec, and results are contrasty and sharp. I concur about the inaccurate viewfinder and the lag, though.

Regards,

Bill

 

[kuvvy]

I have the G7 and have also fitted the grip from Richard Franiec. I certainly recommend it. It gives much better handling and a more rangefinder feel so you needn't feel guilty about mentioning it.

 

[lkgroup]

I have a G9 and use it a lot. The above listed features are true, Small viewfinder, some shutter lag, etc, but it is a real user. I do a lot of Street work with mine and usually conver to BW. A great camera.

I also have the fitted the grip from Richard Franiec and also recommend it.

I did get the case from canon but it made the package to large for my coat pocket.

It does give great protection, looks nice and could be used as a 1/2 case.

I might sell it, mint condition never used leather case for the Canon G9. Send an e-mail if anyone is interested.

Leo

 

[sockeyed]

I've just ordered one too, plus the Franiec grip mentioned in other posts. I expect good images from it; nothing compared to my 5D or film, but certain adequate for day-to-day stuff. G9s have a good feel in the hands, better than just about any other digicam I've handled. I wish that it had few megapixels. 8MP would be fine with me. I kind of also wish that it had a fixed 35mm f/2 lens, but sadly there would be only a small market for something like that.

I'm looking foward to shooting videos again! That's one thing that I've missed, not having a little digicam in the last few years.

 

[kbg32]

I wish the G9 wide end was 28mm. I'd consider it. 35 on the wide side is useless to me as is the wide angle lens converter that Canon offers for it. That thing is huge!

 

[triplefinger]

I've also checkt out the new lumix, it has a 25mm, i had a lumix way back... good glass.

 

[Paul T.]

I've just been reviewing a bunch of photos I've taken with mine.

I hate the obsession here that old means better... but sometimes, old IS better. If I'd put slide film in my Hexar, CL, or M3 I would have got far better, more usable photos. This was for stuff I'm putting on my website, and I'd say a lot of the photos are unusable.

The quality, when all things are perfect is great. But it seems to have real problems with shutter lag and camera shake. Even on, say a 35mm setting, and 1/200 shutter speed, you occasionally get camera shake, which is REALLY irritating. And the VF, as has been said, is pretty pointless. Plus barrel distortion. It's only the fact that it's so compact means I stick with it. It might be better than other digitals, but I'm starting to realise that doesn't mean a lot. (I realise, too, I'm on a learning curve here).

If you think of it as a superior digital P&S, it's great. But as a main camera... I'd say, no way.

 

[jky]

Used a G9 for a week and really enjoyed it. Shutter lag becomes nil when you use the two Custom settings (C1 & C2). C1 was set to 2 feet @ f4 & C2 was set to 9 feet @ f4 (set it to whatever you like). The incredible dof of these tiny sensors covered all the subjects I would shoot using these two settings. So for example if the subject was 6 ft away, I'd set it to C2, point to the part of the scene that I want to meter then half press the shutter to lock in the exposure - now I'm ready to fire away - quick really.
Try it out - you may like it.

 

[retow]

For looks and built, the G9 deserves credit. But other than that, it is not as good a camera as it thinks it is. It does everything, but everything pretty mediocre at best. Just another noisy small sensor camera which performs only satisfactory under perfect conditions (a sunny weather camera). The VF is a joke, the zoom range not very uesfull and the barrel distortion at 35mm annoying.
I know I'm repeating myself, but if IQ matters most and it has to be compact and digital, the Sigma DP1 is the one to get. IQ wise, it is in a class of its own among the pocketable digitals.
The IQ of the Sigma DP1, the UI of the Ricoh GRDII (or GX100) and the versatility of a G9 with an excellent 24-120 lens would be my dream compact.

 

[szekiat]

PaulT. try turning off the IS. I know its counter intuitive but IS slows down the focusing lock time, and at high shutter speeds it actually seems to introduce blur into my grab and go shots.

 

[ampguy]

I love the looks of the G9, and was waiting for the A650is which is JPG only and a bit smaller, but uses the same sensor to drop in price, but since then have decided to try out some of the fujifilm f series, f40fd and f50fd to see if they come anywhere close to the IQ of my f30 and f31fd.