Canon G9

[retow]

I looked at this camera while i was looking at the Canon 40D last weekend.

It is well built. It has lots of controls, all the manual control you could ask for in a digital P&S...enough that it really isn't a P&S. No real manual focus, however.

What makes it trouble for me is that it's really pretty big for a camera with such a lens. It has the same worthless wide end @ 35mm as every other small digicam on the market except the Panasonics with the 28mm and I think one Canon model with a 28mm wide zoom.

I compared the images and video with my Canon SD750, and it is really really close. The video is a tad better and the images are slightly less plasticy, but not really enough for the extra cost.

and really, I just want some wide angle.

A fuji natura type machine in digital form. Angle of incidence, though, prevents this.

Have a look at the Ricoh GX 100 with its 24mm(!) - 72mm lens offers true wide angle.

 

[Rhodie]

G9 Night Test Part 1 80/100/200 ASA CRW

G9 Night Test Part 1 80/100/200 ASA CRW

Here are three images of a night shot test taken the other evening in Bangkok.

Perfectly usable at these ASA settings.

Shot in RAW & converted in CS3
- no adjustments during conversion nor when saving in JPEG.

Only resizing 9cm wide & saving in JPEG 10 for all shots

 

[TimBonzi]

Those night shots look great. I really didn't see any meaningful difference between the ASA 80 and ASA 200 exposures.

 

[Rhodie]

G9 Night Test Part 2 400/800/1600 CRW

G9 Night Test Part 2 400/800/1600 CRW

Here are the rest @ 400, 800 & 1600.

400 is barely usable but as for the other two - uhoh😱

Shot in RAW & converted in CS3
- no adjustments during conversion nor when saving in JPEG.

Only resizing 9cm wide & saving in JPEG 10 for 400
JPEG 9 for 800 & 1600

 

[igoesmyth]

Those nightshots look great! It is always best to remember that the lowest (or next to lowest) ISO is the base ISO and the rest is video gain that is extrapolated up. The image processor (Digic III) corrects the best it can. It comes down how well itis done and Canon seems to be getting better.

I have had my G9 for a week now and I love it. Every other photgrapher I have shown the camera to say the same thing "This feels like a camera" and the there is relatively no lag in the shutter compared to others. Most compare it to a Leica CL or Canonet III for feel.

I would agree

David

 

[Chuck A]

F2.0 at the wide end sounds a bit excessive, especially since you specified 28 mm focal lenght. Of course it would be doable, but not easy and probably quite expensive, especially if you want it to have decent performance wide open. F2.8-4.5 would be much easier and cheaper, or F2.0-3.5/35-175 mm. The camera would still be heavier than the G7 and G9 and probably bigger as well due to larger glass.

On a related note: weight and size of glass is also the reason why APS-C size sensor is not going to happen in digital P&S, unless people are willing to settle to much slower lenses or shorter zoom range. 2/3" or 1" sensor is still realistic, but even 4/3" sensor is probably too big for a product that could still be marketed as a compact or P&S camera. Of course you could make a camera similar to the Olympus IS/L series of fixed zoom lens 35 mm film SLRs, but that was never a huge commercial success. Even if you delete the mirror as unnecessary on a digital camera, it is still going to be big compared to small sensor cameras. Most people would probably just buy a small DSLR instead.

Just look at the Leica Digilux 2 or the Panny LC1. They both have a 5mp 2/3 sensor and a 28-90mm f/2.0-2.4 lens. The lens is very large compared to a lens on a smaller sensor, plus the f/2.0 really adds alot of size. Actually the camera is similar in size to the smaller DSLRs. Also the files are pretty much just as noisy as the smaller sensor. Not even close to the output from a DSLR at ISO 400. They are great cameras for use at ISO 100 but the heavy noise reduction at ISO 200 and above really hurts the output at A3 and above.

 

[Rhodie]

G9 Grip

G9 Grip

David
I would agre with you.
It is the first digi P&S that feels like a camera - sorta like my Nikon 28Ti
- sadly without the 28mm.

If you haven't seen this yet - check it out.
http://www.mycanong7.com/65801/460401.html
I believe it will make a real difference in handling the mini brick.
I have one on order.

 

[CodeMonkey13]

Does anyone know if the G9 hs any kind of remote release? and does it take filters? These are "Deal Breakers" for me.

 

[DougK]

Does anyone know if the G9 hs any kind of remote release? and does it take filters? These are "Deal Breakers" for me.

According to the DC Resource review (http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_g9-review/index.shtml), you can attach filters with a conversion accessory but no remote release is available.

 

[Rhodie]

G9 Grip & Thumb Rest

G9 Grip & Thumb Rest

It took just four days to receive this from the States.
I thought it would take a few days to assess how useful these additions really are.
Well let me just say that from just one day's use: it transforms this little ergonomic brick from a two-handed P&S camera to what is now a truly capable one-handed point & shooter.
Beautifully machined & finished they look as though they belonged there in the first place, providing a grip your fingers can actually get a strong purchase to.
Highly recommended if you are wanting the most out your G9.

Details here: http://www.mycanong7.com/65801/460401.html

Rhodie
Bangkok

 

[Diane B]

I have had the G9 since the week it came out and find it a very capable camera for certain situations/uses. I'm a long time DSLR shooter--with the 5D primarily now for the last 2 years, and haven't owned a small cam since the original G1.

All that besides the point---I am trying to choose an external VF. At the moment, I am leaning toward the Voightlander 35mm but have considered the VL 28/35 mini. I'm curious if anyone here is using an external VF.

If anyone wishes to see the G9 with the additional Lensmate adapator, Raynox WA 7000 converter or the small Kirk L bracket see here.
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/image/87099443 and http://www.pbase.com/picnic/image/87027464

I shoot primarily with it 'naked' or perhaps with the Lensmate which makes it quite nice for 2 handed shooting (my preference).


BTW--I did strongly consider the Ricoh as well as the Leica/Panny, but I preferred the larger form plus some other things and decided the compromise of the G9 was a better choice. I tend to be a WA shooter--mostly under 50mm plus shoot with the 12-24 and 24-70L a lot, but haven't felt too constricted with the 35mm for what I'm using it for.

Diane

 

[ampguy]

great info.

great info.

I've been interested in this, as well as the lesser titanium one that does jpg only for about $75 less and is a bit smaller lighter.

Have you printed out any 11x14 or larger prints from the G9 yet?

I have had the G9 since the week it came out and find it a very capable camera for certain situations/uses. I'm a long time DSLR shooter--with the 5D primarily now for the last 2 years, and haven't owned a small cam since the original G1.

All that besides the point---I am trying to choose an external VF. At the moment, I am leaning toward the Voightlander 35mm but have considered the VL 28/35 mini. I'm curious if anyone here is using an external VF.

If anyone wishes to see the G9 with the additional Lensmate adapator, Raynox WA 7000 converter or the small Kirk L bracket see here.
http://www.pbase.com/picnic/image/87099443 and http://www.pbase.com/picnic/image/87027464

I shoot primarily with it 'naked' or perhaps with the Lensmate which makes it quite nice for 2 handed shooting (my preference).


BTW--I did strongly consider the Ricoh as well as the Leica/Panny, but I preferred the larger form plus some other things and decided the compromise of the G9 was a better choice. I tend to be a WA shooter--mostly under 50mm plus shoot with the 12-24 and 24-70L a lot, but haven't felt too constricted with the 35mm for what I'm using it for.

Diane

 

[Photon42]

I have had the G9 since the week it came out and find it a very capable camera for certain situations/uses.
Diane

I like the G9, too. My G7 went dead and was replaced by Canon with the G9 during warranty. It fixes some for me minors things and leaves other quirks alone ...

Selective focus is almost impossible, but well, it's a Digicam and there's Photoshop. I found the G9 a nice complement to a film camera loaded with B&W film. Three shots from Frankfurt attached.

 

[anselwannab]

Got my G9 on Friday and spent the weekend with it. Whoever said that it isn't pocketable should stop wearing skin tight pants. I didn't have any trouble with in a pants pocket, even in a t-shirt pocket.

The metal body throws people a bit.

You can get it to fire a Viv 285 by shooting the G9's flash in manual exposure mode with a non-digital peanut on the 285. I don't think I would do it in Tv or Av mode since it might be confused by the 285s output.

Mark

 

[Photon42]

You can get it to fire a Viv 285 by shooting the G9's flash in manual exposure mode with a non-digital peanut on the 285. I don't think I would do it in Tv or Av mode since it might be confused by the 285s output.

Mark

Excuse the question, but what is do you mean with "non-digital peanut"?

I've made excellent experiences with different flashes in Auto-Mode (non-TTL), using M, Av or Tv. Mostly though, it's M for better control.

 

[ywenz]

I'm debating btween a G9 or a Nikon D40+kit lens.. both are about the same price...

 

[rogue_designer]

Excuse the question, but what is do you mean with "non-digital peanut"?

Probably a wein style "peanut" optical slave sync.

 

[kshapero]

I went with the Pany LX-2 just cause it was small enough that I always keep it with me amd I like the 16/9 aspect ratio. But I do miss having a viewfinder.

 

[anselwannab]

Probably a wein style "peanut" optical slave sync.

Exactly.

I couldn't get a 285HV to fire off the shoe, so I thought I would try to slave it. I have a digital Wein slave trigger and a regular peanut trigger. With the G9 in Av to Tv mode I have to use the digital version. In M mode I have to use the standard peanut. As I understand it has to do with the imperceptible preflashes that the camera uses to figure out the expsoure. The digital slave know which flash is the actual image capture flash. With a older camera or the G9 in M mode, it just goes "Flash" and the standard flash triggers.

I find 283/285HV flashes with either the photothyrister or fractional power to fairly easy to use with some practice.

Boy, does a 285HV look funny on the hot shoe!

Mark

 

[Photon42]

ah-ha ... (learnt something about peanuts)

Of course with my Metz 54 the set-up is very funny 🙂 What I really like, are the flash options with this camera. Light background, dark background, mixed lightning, speed blur effects -- all possible. Attachment done with slow sync and internal flash.