Bill58
Native Texan
Kent said:
My preference would be a 1.7-3.5/ 25-85 for streetshooting.
Dr. Strangelove
Cobalt thorium G
Well, the sensor diagonal of a 1/8" sensor is 8.9 mm and the sensor diagonal of a 1/7" sensor is 9.5 mm. So not much difference there. In order to have a DOF anywhere in the same ballpark as a 35 mm film / FF sensor camera, you would need at least 1" sensor (sensor diagonal 16 mm). That said, even 4/3 system (sensor diagonal 22.5 mm) cameras have noticeably deeper DOF than 35 mm / FF cameras.spiderfrank said:
So, at least for classic portrait photography and other shallow DOF applications P&S digital cameras will always be less than optimal choice, since it is highly unlikely that the sensor sizes will start to grow. Smaller sensors are so much cheaper and most people want small and light cameras. In fact sensor sizes have been getting smaller during the last three years.
Dr. Strangelove
Cobalt thorium G
rogue_designer said:
Yes it does. Haven't used one myself, but it got good reviews. However, the C-8080 is old news and it is probably is not being manufactured anymore. In fact the whole Olympus "prosumer" line seems to be dead. The last camera in that line was the C-7070, which is now more than two and half years old. Most likely Olympus wants people to buy their 4/3 DSLRs instead and does not want to offer competition to their own products.
jarski
Veteran
I think some people who dont even plan to use any point-n-shoots are commenting here and comparing specs to some different type of cameras.Dr. Strangelove said:
if I want to play with bokeh, I do so with other type of cameras and lenses. to me G9 is perfect buy. I need one digital, and am going to use it many years from now. my previous P&S was from 2004 and it broke (because of me, not camera).
feilb
Film noob
Dr. Strangelove said:
I owned a C-8080 as my first camera when i got into digital photography. That camera was great, a super sharp lens, 28mm equiv on the wide end, relatively fast lens (2.4-3.5 if i remember right), built as well as any camera i have ever handled, if not better, useful control layout, articulating screen. One problem, it was a noisy beast! I shot 95 percent of my shots at ISO 50. Once i shot a camping trip at ISO 200 by mistake and the shots were just too grainy.
It too suffered from a lack of DOF however, which is my only sticking point on a camera like the G9. A great walk around camera, but the lack of DOF control eliminates one of my favorite points of creative control.
photogdave
Shops local
In my experience a lot of "nosiy" camera images look much better printed than on a a monitor, and the print should still be the ultimate way to judge the IQ. I could show you some stunning 13"x19" prints off my Lumix LC1.
However, most digicam shooters and reviewers seldom bother with the nuisance of making tangible prints so how the image looks on the monitor seems to be the benchmark.
Having said that, I agree that these small sensors have way too many little noise-generating pixels buzzing around in them. It's simply not needed!
If the G9 had about 7 MP with a faster lens I would probably buy one. The G7 is simply the fastest operating (focus and shutter lag-wise) digicam I've ever tried!
However, most digicam shooters and reviewers seldom bother with the nuisance of making tangible prints so how the image looks on the monitor seems to be the benchmark.
Having said that, I agree that these small sensors have way too many little noise-generating pixels buzzing around in them. It's simply not needed!
If the G9 had about 7 MP with a faster lens I would probably buy one. The G7 is simply the fastest operating (focus and shutter lag-wise) digicam I've ever tried!
ywenz
Veteran
photogdave said:
I think you said it yourself in the last sentence.. how often does one view an image on the computer screen and how often does one view it hanging on the wall? I think the more popular method of viewing should be used as the benchmark.
If an image's defects shows more prominently on the computer screen than it does on paper, it certainly couldn't hurt to strive for images that look great on the computer screen, which then can only mean it will look even better on paper.
igoesmyth
Member
I am still using the G2 and I thought Canon had left the RAW shooters out of the picture. I guess VOC (Voice Of the Customer) is still a viable business practice. When you are looking at the next camera in the evolution, it is best to remember that physics can be fooled but not ignored.
These companies are making a camera that fits the maxim "More camera, for less money". At some point that will not work. You can take the tires off a Porsche Carrera and put them on a VW Super Beetle but don't complain about the lack of performance.
Smaller sites (pixels) have less light gathering pixels than a larger site. The rest is up toteh A/D conversion and on board processing. A RAW file will make up even more in image quality.
thanx
These companies are making a camera that fits the maxim "More camera, for less money". At some point that will not work. You can take the tires off a Porsche Carrera and put them on a VW Super Beetle but don't complain about the lack of performance.
Smaller sites (pixels) have less light gathering pixels than a larger site. The rest is up toteh A/D conversion and on board processing. A RAW file will make up even more in image quality.
thanx
Dr. Strangelove
Cobalt thorium G
On the other hand, viewing images at 100% magnification is NOT the usual way people look at digital photos. Typically they are resized to fill the screen. The best consumer level displays have a maximum resolution of 2048x1536 pixels, although nowadays even that is actually quite rare with the demise of 21" CRT monitors. 2048x1536 resolution allows you to view 3.1 MP 4:3 aspect ratio digital images at 100 %, but 3.1 MP P&S digicams are not exactly state of the art.ywenz said:
Current consumer level TFT monitors typically have no more then 1920 horizontal and 1200 vertical pixels, regardless of their actual aspect ratio. Apple Cinema HD 30" display has a resolution of 2560x1600 pixels, which is about 4.1 MP, but does not match the aspect ratio of any digital camera in production and is still far cry even from 6 MP. So viewing complete images produced by any current digital camera on a full screen requires significant resizing.
szekiat
Well-known
i dunno why u guys bother so much with the DOF issue. As far as a street/documentary shooting is concerned, it means i can shoot wide open and still get the DOF i normally would only get at f8. This means i can shoot in darker situations or use a lower ISO. For me this works so well for a lot of my documentary shots. If i want DOF control, i use my DSLR........ 
rogue_designer
Reciprocity Failure
szekiat said:
I agree to a point. But I really don't like being pre-restricted by the hardware. Especially for a camera in this category, where versatility and convenience is it's biggest benefit. That's just me tho. My own criteria.
TimBonzi
.
I have the G7 and love it. A great carry anywhere camera and superb photos. I don't plan on fiddling with raw imagae files, so I never missed it. The G9 gets a few other improvements other than the addition of raw, but not enough changes to warrant another $500 this year. If you are looking for an esy to carry digital camera with lots of manual controls, you should seriously consider either the G7 or G9.
SteveM(PA)
Poser
The time lapse movie mode seems like it would be fun, for cloud formations and such...to piece into my little home movies. I've been using my s230 for video, and quick snaps, for the last few years...maybe I'll step up.
Sam N
Well-known
The G9 looks very impressive. The sample photos at ISO80 look great, but I'm sure 200 will be pushing it and 400 will look terrible. This is the story with almost all conventional CCD compact cameras though.
If you want DOF control, you can buy a variety of DSLRs (plus a lens) for less than the G9's price. Pentax K10D, Canon 10D, 350D, etc. Image quality will also be far higher than any compact digital camera. A 350D (Rebel XT) and a small prime lens (24mm f2.8 or an Olympus on an adapter) is not much bigger than an S3-IS. Either way the G9 isn't exactly pocketable.
Unfortunately, there isn't enough of a market for a full-frame (or even APS-C) fixed-lens digital camera. Even if made, such a camera would cost far more than even "high-end" compacts like the G9.
If you want DOF control, you can buy a variety of DSLRs (plus a lens) for less than the G9's price. Pentax K10D, Canon 10D, 350D, etc. Image quality will also be far higher than any compact digital camera. A 350D (Rebel XT) and a small prime lens (24mm f2.8 or an Olympus on an adapter) is not much bigger than an S3-IS. Either way the G9 isn't exactly pocketable.
Unfortunately, there isn't enough of a market for a full-frame (or even APS-C) fixed-lens digital camera. Even if made, such a camera would cost far more than even "high-end" compacts like the G9.
ywenz
Veteran
I'm trying to get my GF to get the G9 to replace her POS HP camera. The cool thing with the G9 is that it'll work with Canon's speedlights!
Broke
Established
TimBonzi said:
Hi all,
For those who wish the G7 had raw, there's an extensive forum on DPReview regarding an available 3rd party firmware update. It works well, and I've just started to do a little experimentation -- will be interesting to see if it offers a great deal of advantage.
http://scratchpad.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK/FAQ#Q._What_does_the_CHDK_firmware_do.3F
Cheers,
JB
jpmccormac
Member
Canonet D Flash on the G9?
Canonet D Flash on the G9?
I don't have a G9 - yet - but I was wondering whether my Canonet's D flash would work as supplementary flash on the G9. I suspect it would fire at full throttle but some tissue paper over the flash tube might work also. Anyone have a clue?
Canonet D Flash on the G9?
I don't have a G9 - yet - but I was wondering whether my Canonet's D flash would work as supplementary flash on the G9. I suspect it would fire at full throttle but some tissue paper over the flash tube might work also. Anyone have a clue?
igoesmyth
Member
I think that the G9 will be like the rest of the G series and need to work with the EOS speedlights only. I have tried both Metz and Vivitar flashes and they do not fire.
David
David
Avotius
Some guy
A 2.8 lens on a digicam is insufferably slow, past G series cameras always had a 2.0. Heck, my 7 year old sony digicam has a 2.8 lens....and why is it that the tele end is so slow at 4.8 when the canon S5's tele end which is twice as long as the G9's is a 3.5??? The lens is why I didnt go buy one of these cameras.
szekiat
Well-known
look at the difference in size though. The S5 has a much bigger lens unit.