Product Description
For those who want more than just a point and shoot experience without the complexity or bulk of a Digital SLR, the Canon Powershot G9 stands above the competition with 12.1 megapixels of resolution, a 6x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer, and RAW mode for the ultimate in creative control. Sophisticated design and high-quality construction in a relatively small package complement the technology and make the G9 a camera to be reckoned with. Built-in Flash modes - Auto, Auto w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; FE lock, Safety FE, Slow Synchro, Second-curtain synchro White Balance Controls - Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Underwater), Custom1, Custom2 ISO Sensitivity - Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800/1600 equivalent Memory card slot supports SD/SDHC, MultiMediaCard (MMC), MMC Plus, and HC MMC Plus Cards A 32MB MMC Plus Card is included, however we suggest purchasing an Optional 2GB memory card. It will allow you to store a lot more video and images, as well as take advantage of the camera's high Resolution abilities. Interfaces - USB 2.0, NTSC/PAL RCA Video and Audio Out Print directly to Canon CP/SELPHY Compact and PIXMA Photo Printers as well as PictBridge compatible printers via the included USB 2.0 cable without the need for a computer! Approximate Unit Dimensions - (WxHxD) 4.19 x 2.83 x 1.67; Unit Weight - 11.29 oz. (Body without Battery and memory card)
Customer Reviews:
Terrific camera...so-so software.......2007-12-27
I'm a prosumer, which means I have enough knowledge to take good shots (my 5th digital camera and 3rd Canon) and use some editing software that, thank god, is not included with the camera nor made by Canon.
The camera and multiple setting abilities are wonderful. This is the point and click I should have had 4 years ago, with decent zoom, minimal barrel distortion on wide shots and enough detail to satisfy most creative projects. The image quality, at max res and minimal JPEG compression is similar to what I remember my ancient, first generation digital SLR was--a nice overall Histogram reading, terrific auto white balancing, and decent contrast control using the aperture and shutter settings.
This is a camera for someone who has at least a year's worth of good experience with a previous "prosumer" camera. It is not for little Johnny and his summer camp adventures--but I think given the price, you know that already. While you can certainly give it to a child, there are so many higher function settings and dials that a novice will easily get confused. This is the kind of camera best suited for outdoor shots and well lighted indoor shots; lousy for professional users who may complain about "noise" with low light levels, or the difficulty of getting RAW file format shots unless you use Canon's cheesy downloading software (the Photoshop plug-ins are out there for reading RAW format files, but it seems Canon has written them for Adobe Photoshop CS3, and I still use CS2). I managed to get spectacular night shots with very little JPEG compression noise by opening the aperture and using a tripod. Honestly, that's a big deal over my previous Canon A710.
Now for the bad part.
How difficult would it be for Canon corporate to hire a few more "non-English as a second language" tech writers to write their manuals in a grammatically correct, spell-checked manner? Their manuals are still a bit confusing, contain multiple spelling errors, and constantly refer to several other manuals for the most mundane of tasks. There are 1, 2, 3, 4...count them 4 booklets/manuals included in the box, one of which is totally in Spanish.
While I'm no dummy, Canon insists on dumbing down their software for downloading and using the computer to manually take shots. This camera has a gazillion features; Canon: please write software for prosumers/professionals. We want Photoshop-quality interfaces with defined functions, not ugly drugstore photo printing kiosk icons. This particular camera may be for high powered image taking, but the "CameraWindow" software is so simple 12 year-olds will find it easy to use. Canon's website, while far from the poor site design of 1999 when I first started using digital cameras, is still a babel of options to find even the simplest of information. The fact that Canon makes everything from cameras to medical imaging equipment and radio telescopes complicates easy browsing. Anyway...I digress.
Like I wrote, this is the camera Canon should have come out with 4 years ago. The features were there; just on different cameras for different reasons. It's nice to finally see all of the ones I need on one camera.
Better than the Sony H3? Could be! Lower zoom, but higher MP, +RAW support........2007-12-26
Well, you may or may not have read my review of the Sony Cybershot DSC-H3. I'm your average point-and-shoot-er... I'm not well versed in ISO, focal length, color depth, noise & color aberrations. I tend to point, shoot, and hope it comes out well.
That said, I've done a bit of reading over the last month after buying a Sony H3 and being moderately unsatisfied with its point & shoot results (noise & color aberrations).
However, having read so many reviews, I got a bit more info on things like ISO settings on digital cameras and links with noise, and color issues. So, I think that some of my prior issues with the H3 may have been "user-malfunction"-related. IE, "know thy camera, and they camera will love you."
Prior to the H3 I owned a Canon A70 (3MP), which I'd say was an excellent point & shoot camera that rarely disappointed me.
Anyway, partly due to my initial bad experiences with the Sony, partly due to its overly expensive memory cards, and partly because I really trust Canon (had prior bad experiences with a Sony P72, I think, as well?), I decided I wanted to upgrade to the 12MP + RAW of the Canon G9 (after reading lots of reviews of it versus some other models).
The things I like about the Canon G9 were several:
- Its portability (very similar to the Canon A70, and slightly better than Sony H3)
- Its heft. Believe it or not, I *like* the weighty feel of it.
- Its metal body. Again it feels sturdy (though I hope never to drop it and test just how sturdy it is).
- I like the fact that under normal lighting conditions you can point & shoot, and it seems to take extremely crisp images with very little noise (from an amateur's perspective), and the noise that I can see only seem to be noticeable if you zoom all the way in to view the actual pixels and such up close.
- I like the dial with direct access to ISO settings. Somehow that gives it a rather "professional" feel. Even if it's only a mental thing. It's still nice to have easy access to the setting rather than having to fiddle with menus, etc.
- I like the fact that despite having a slightly more complex button layout than the H3 (something I wasn't looking forward to), once you figure out what the buttons do, it's rather intuitive and the multitude of buttons doesn't really detract (for me) from the usage experience.
- I like the instant access to a white balance (I think?) adjustment button in the upper right of the back face, just above the back face jog dial you use to control it. That way you can instantly dial up or down the exposure a few levels. I find that could be handy for "mood lighting," and have already used it a few times to set the lighting a bit lower in a scene like candle light, etc. (where the camera tends to want to expose a bit more, but it would detract from the candle light).
- I like the fact that one can zoom in on images in playback mode to see if focus and such were correct, and if detail is sufficient, or if the shot needs to be taken again. I realize other cameras probably have this feature too. It's just nice.
- For me, startup time seems very quick. Hit the button, lens extends, picture shows up on the LCD, ready to start snapping away (unless you need to change modes or flip to a slightly different exposure setting; but that's not the camera's fault! You should have been ready beforehand!).
- Thus far I've not run down the first charge on the battery. Then again, I'm casual about images, turn the camera on for a few minutes, snap a few good photos, kill the bad ones, and turn it off. I've snapped a number of shots around the office to test it. I've snapped a few images around home in non-optimal light to figure out how to get the best quality image. I took pictures at our work Christmas party, and briefly took a couple pictures at my own family Christmas dinner. I've still got 2 out of 3 bars left on the battery.
- I like the fact that it uses a standard USB A-MiniB cable, unlike the proprietary Sony AV cable that came with the H3.
- Likewise, I like the fact that the Canon uses standard SD/SDCH cards that are cheaper than the Sony H3's Memory Stick Duo and Pro Duo cards.
I'm finding it hard to say much negative about it thus far. I'm still learning how to take the most crisp images with the camera. But I've got a book now with tips and tricks. Will have to start using my tripod more, it looks like, for the old "tack sharp" photos. But, under normal light, it seems to take pretty excellent images, even just point and shoot.
One complaint might be that the button in the upper left (the one that flashes when the camera wants to "shift gears" to a different ISO) is actually somewhat difficult to press / activate while holding down the shutter part way to maintain auto-focus. For me, I seem to have to either push it with a fingernail, or push REALLY hard with the edge of my thumb.
Oh, yes, and the fact that several lights blink constantly while the machine is downloading images is rather distracting (and I wonder if it wastes the battery; though I suspect they run off USB power); likewise the "fireworks"-like animated graphic in the middle of the LCD that also continues to play while downloading. Minor complaint. But I'm sure I'll learn to ignore it. Would be nice to find a way to turn off the blinky lights though, as they're a mild nuisance.
I'm pretty sure this will be my new "work horse" camera for the foreseeable future. I don't expect I'll have to upgrade any time soon (unless of course they come out with a camera that's a portable/pocketable, point & shoot, does full HD video, and lets you zoom while shooting video, and/or lets you use a wireless remote to take photos w/o camera shake). Unless such a lovely hybrid comes on the market any time soon w/o sacrificing any features (like RAW support), I don't foresee having to switch camera again.
To those who complain about some subtle cool blue tint to the LCD, I don't see it. Perhaps I'm not a "pro," so I don't notice these things. But, so what? Really... Is it designed to be a "professional" camera or a high end point & shoot? I think it's the latter, as intended.
If someone wants to USE it for a professional camera, by all means, be my guest! But if one EXPECTS a high end point & shoot to *be* a low-end DSLR, perhaps they're setting their expectations too high in general. If you want DSLR quality, get a DSLR. If you want a PORTABLE point & shoot with near-DSLR (but still point & shoot) quality, the G9 is admirable. My opinion only, of course. As a casual user who is thrilled that a PORTABLE / POCKETABLE point & shoot camera can achieve such high quality output while maintaining relative simplicity, depth of features, PROFESSIONAL LOOK & FEEL, etc.
Likewise, to a few people I've heard complaining that there's insufficient "grip" or that the zoom lever or button are too small: I've not had an issue with either. The zoom lever has been sufficient for me to use under a range of circumstances and camera angles. Likewise the grip isn't all that large, but it's large enough, and I've never had a slippage or inability to grip the camera. I generally hold with the index and middle finger up front on the grip and thumb in the space just left of the mute/microphone button. Seems to be ample space for me. ring and pinky fingers usually just rest at the bottom of or underneath the camera.
The small viewfinder is a neutral issue for me. I don't use the viewfinder, frankly. It doesn't display the entire image to be taken, and the LCD allows for a much wider number of shots to be taken, where you can't always have your eye pressed right up to the camera. Likewise, I'd hate to smudge the LCD. I'd probably not care much if the viewfinder was removed completely. I doubt I'd miss it, honestly.
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Addendum (12-26-07): I've added several shots to the "customer gallery." One is a night shot capturing a bare tree in the flash, with the moon back-lighting a portion of the branches. For being a newbie and using mostly automatic settings, I think it came out pretty well!
The other images are a set of 3 images of a Christmas decoration, progressively cropping to finer and finer detail. I find it rather amazing how closely one can crop this image and still retain excellent picture quality (right down to not-too-bad reflections off a tiny ornament in a large scene and the fine gold inlaid detail printed at the top of a decorative glass). As of this writing they put it somewhere int he middle of the gallery. Apparently they don't sort the gallery by upload date, which is odd.
Good camera but..........2007-12-25
There's already really reviews of this camera, but I thought I'd throw in my perspective from a professional photographer's perspective.
Pros:
--Sturdy, stylish, and compact. Treat this camera well and it could last a while.
--RAW is definitely a plus, and if you care about about taking higher quality photos, shoot in RAW when you can.
--Manual control
--C1 and C2 presets useful. You can save camera settings and recall them when needed.
--Bracketing shots good
--Face recognition is good but it doesn't work as easy as it should
--LCD screen very useful for framing subjects
--Preview exposure. Using the LCD screen, you get some good ideas about the exposure and framing of your photos before taking your shots.
Cons:
--Noise level is a big turn off for me. Shooting above ISO 200 typically causes invites noise issues.
--Some controls/features a little awkward to reach
--12MPs is not really needed. A lot of shots can be taken at lower pixel levels.
Overall, the G9 is a good compact camera. It's a little pricey, so if you decide to get this camera, use it to it's fullest, not just as a simple point-and-shoot.
One amazing Canon.......2007-12-25
I love it, It feels so great. It even makes me horny at times. It is heavy and solid, which helps you feel like you have a real camera and it helps stabilize your shots, as oppose to lighter cameras.ItStrap around your neck like an SLR not on you wrist, which I love too. Has all kind of cool features that as a wannabe photographer, you can have fun playing with it to get the best result. I suggest getting the extra battery cause it will trick you in to thinking it has a lot of juice left and then it runs out of battery. It happen to me when I was getting to the end of a 3 hour hike in Zion National Park, and all of a sudden, NO BATTERY. But that was my bad, I should have known... The screen is great in terms of resolution and size. Makes your pictures look pro. Then you can work your pictures with the canon program and make them even better with some cropping, brightness and color and contrast adjustment. They have enough quality so you can crop and still have great quality, no grains. The panoramic software is great and easy to use, you just take the pictures and it will guide you through each step to get an amazing panoramic or even 360 picture.
Canon G9 - Convenience and Power all in one camera.......2007-12-25
There is plenty to love about the G9. I have a 5D and 20D but since I picked up the G9 in November I haven't used the big cameras at all. It's not they have fallen out of favor, it's winter in Northeast Ohio, and after a magnificent Fall things are looking a bit bleak right now. So that's what makes the G9 so much fun.
First of all, the retro (Leica-look) style makes me think I can be the next Henri Cartier-Bresson! With a small G9 in my pocket I can flip it out and capture all those "decisive moments" I miss with my big cameras (well, more like "indecisive moments" but I'm getting better).
Next is all the new tools on the G9. Face it, a big chunk of camera owners are gadget freaks. You'll spend hours on end figuring out all the cool features in the G9. From new Shooting settings to wide (16:9) frame capture to image-stabilized video it's a dream toy. Oh yeah, it's got RAW too.
The video feature is great. Anything you shoot on it can go on YouTube any day and look great.
Let's talk quality. It doesn't match the images I can get on my 5D. If the ISO is over 200 noise creeps in. Not bad but still the 12.1 sensor doesn't compare to DSLR quality. But this camera is all about power and convenience which you can't get in a DSLR. Think of all the new images you can create with this in your pocket or belt loop. Get creative! Have fun! Canon rocks!
Customer Reviews:
The Best of The Best.......2003-02-02
as a neophyte to the world of safari and in preparation for what will be my first adventure on the so-called dark continent, i thoroughly evaluated all of the top-end (mostly euro) brands before selecting leica's bn-series binoculars.
the leica bn-series binoculars are without doubt one of the - if not 'the' - finest binoculars you can purchase at the given price point (in terms of clarity, resolution, focusing precision, light-gathering ability (brightness') portability, build-quality, etc.), and, apparently, are amongst the favorite of many of the leading professionals, sportsmen and naturalists.
Product Description
LEICA TRINOVID BN 32 mm - the constant companions. Excellent image quality make the 32 mm models the ideal companions for hiking, birding, or an African safari. The light way to get closer to nature.LEICA TRINOVID 10 x 32 BN is the compact, high magnification, wide-angle binocular, that not only allows for excellent viewing over great distances, but also has a close focus of 2.10 m.
Customer Reviews:
The Best of The Best.......2003-01-13
as a neophyte to the world of safari and in preparation for what will be my first adventure on the so-called dark continent, i thoroughly evaluated all of the top-end (mostly euro) brands before selecting leica's 10x42 bn-series binoculars.
the leica bn-series binoculars are without doubt one of the - if not 'the' - finest binoculars you can purchase at the given price point (in terms of clarity, resolution, focusing precision, portability, build-quality, etc.), and are the clear favorite of many of the leading professionals, sportsmen and naturalists.
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