Canon Powershot G9 Review Discussion

[Howard Creech]

Before the advent of affordable digital SLRs, prosumer/enthusiast point and shoot (P&S) digital cameras were the driving force behind the exponential expansion of the digital imaging revolution. Canon digital cameras have been at the forefront of that high tech surge since the introduction of the iconic Powershot G1 in 2000. Canon’s "G" models have always been aimed squarely at demanding photographers who want a responsive and relatively compact general-use digital camera with SLR like performance. The new Canon Powershot G9 is the sort of elegant, very capable, and completely self-contained imaging tool that Henri Cartier-Bresson (if he were still with us) might have used to capture the "decisive moments" of the 21st century.

Read the full content of this Article: Canon Powershot G9 Review

[SLV]

Thanks for review. At what ISO was taken sunset shot, btw, http://forum.digitalcamerareview.com...ead.php?p=9948 ?

[Howard Creech]

"Thanks for review. At what ISO was taken sunset shot"

Hi SLV,

I had the G9 in program mode (auto ISO/auto WB) - so I don't know. There was plenty of light so I'd guess ISO 100 or ISO 200.

Howard

[SLV]

That 's amazing example, you were the first who noticed that i think!

Also, the lab tests show remarkable resolution and small chromatic aberrations for this camera. No other 12MP camera is even close to its > 2000 lw/picture_height, P&S or DSLR. That means that the objective's resolution almost coincides with CCD's one (=2000 pairs of pixels/picture height). Or means that if you look at image via editing software on pixel level, the camera should almost resolve every pixel on CCD.

Two examples of how sharp this camera is are here:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PROD...G9hSLI0080.HTM
http://www.digitalcamerainfo.com/vie...orSL-ISO80.jpg

The real life outdoor pictures show different story though, of course. Where is its amazing actual performance in terms of sharpness of image? A butterfly (or even still flower), for example, are not as sharp in any respect on pixel level, you can't see, for example, their fine grain dusty surfaces. Or cat's every hair. Is this due to some out of focus or G9 bad image stab. ? Was it preproduction camera? Or what's the reason? Nice would be to compare with DSLR, ideally not with its poor kit lens which barely make 1500 lw

What I suspect is that with butterfly the exposure has to be very small, probably <1/1000, but G9 & G7 terrible dynamic range (worst among very many) at needed in this case high ISO 400-800 will partially kill the beauty. And in cat's case the ISO400 noise reduction and JPEG both smear the image.

Yep, you are right, and your pictures are very good examples, that with small size objectives of non-SLR cameras (which have to gather some minimal amount of photons per pixel in shorter time to get small noise) it's not possible to do such kinds of shots well. From the other hand, with the large objectives of SLR (literally, the entrance diameter what matters, and we suppose the aperture is completely open) the depth of focus is small. Dilemma...

[dkosiur@centurytel.net]

In your review of the Powershot G9, you mentioned that you were able to turn off OIS for some test shots. I recently bought a G9 and have seen nothing in the manual, or in the camera's menus, that indicates you can turn off OIS completely. It looks like it's always on, just runs in different modes according to the selected option.

What did you do to turn off OIS on the G9?

Thanks,
Dave

[Ben Stafford]

On my G7, if you press Menu and scroll down a couple screens, there is an "IS Mode" line. It can be set to Off, Continuous, Shoot Only and Panning. I can't remember if this is the same on the G9, but I would assume that it is.

[dkosiur@centurytel.net]

Yep, you're right. Don't know how I missed the "Off" option in that menu...

[reflex88]

Hi, Sorry to dig this thread up, but I have a question that no one seems able to asnwer.

when in manual mode on a G9, and adjusting the shutter speed and apature, does it show your adjustments in real time (like an S80).. as in, if you make the shutter speed shorter, the picture on the lcd gets darker before you take the pic?

I know it has a live histogram, but does it also effect the picture.. also when changing sensitivity ISO's etc etc?

Thanks
Rob :-) newbie!

[Andy Stanton]

I don't own the G9 but on the Canon A720IS and A570IS, which I do own, the picture on the LCD does change in real time to reflect any adjustments to aperture, shutter speed and ISO. I'm sure it works the same way with the G9.