Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom | 
| Brand: Canon
List Price: $784.76
Buy New: $484.99
You Save: $299.77 (38%)
New (10) Used (1) Refurbished (1) from $409.00
Rating:  249 reviews
Sales Rank: 227
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Monitor Size: 300
Optical Zoom: 6
Digital Zoom: 4
Display Size: 3
Maximum Focal Length: 44.4
Minimum Focal Length: 7.4
Maximum Resolution: 12.1
Has Red Eye Reduction: Yes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.7
Dimensions (in): 4.2 x 2.8 x 1.7
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: G9
Model: G9
UPC: 013803083675
EAN: 0013803083675
ASIN: B000V1VG5G
Release Date: August 31, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: NEW WITH WARRANTY
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| Features:
| • | 12.1-megapixel CCD captures enough detail for photo-quality poster-size prints | | • | 6x image-stabilized optical zoom; 3.0-inch LCD display; optical viewfinder | | • | Face Detection technology and in-camera red-eye fix | | • | 25 shooting modes, including 9 special scene modes; Print/Share button | | • | Powered by NB-2LH lithium-ion battery (battery and charger included); stores images on SD or MMC memory cards (32MB MMC memory card included) |
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Product Description
Given the success of Canon's highly acclaimed G Series, it's no surprise that ambitious photographers have been eagerly anticipating the next model in its evolution. The wait has paid off handsomely with the introduction of the PowerShot G9. In image quality and functionality, the 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 complement the technology and make the G9 a camera to be reckoned with.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 244 more reviews...
 Review compared to G7 September 8, 2007
RonAnnArbor (Ann Arbor, MI United States)
463 out of 506 found this review helpful
I had the opportunity to get my hands on the G9 a week ago and have used it exclusively for the past week.
Based on my personal observations (And I loved the G7):
I see practically no differences in Image Quality at all. I thought the G7 was superb, and I find the G9 to be superb.
The 12 MP is practically indifferent from the 10 MP on the G7. Sure it gives you slightly more pixel to play with for cropping and printing, but negligibly so.
The design is virtually the same -- the screen is a bit larger, but for all practical purposes it looks and feels the same. I don't see any difference in "brightness" on the screen -- it looked great on the G7 and it looks great on the G9.
THere is a slight contour change on the front with a barely noticable front grip molding -- maybe 1/16 inch more than the original. I honestly can't feel a difference although some users have.
It does have RAW - a feature I don't need nor do I plan to use. But its nice that it is there for those who want it.
The ISO and noise appears to be the same -- the G9 excels at night neon shots - just like the G7. I see no difference in noise between the two cameras.
The shutter lag is exactly the same as the G7 - I don't see any difference like some reviewers have mentioned... it seems exactly the same.
Some say that the optical view finder works better - that it is clearer with less parallax. I have never used an optical view finder on a point-and-shoot in my life, so I can't compare this feature. I will add that here, though, since others have found it a useful improvement.
I also don't see any difference in battery life -- maybe its more problematic if you use RAW, but I've gotten the same 450 plus shots out of the battery, just like the G9.
The design of the lens and the connections are the same, so I expect those of us who carry it around in our pockets are going to have the same dust problems we had with the G7.
Finally in similarities -- the camera feels the same and weighs the same. It responds the same when you start it up, and it makes just as much noise as the original. The trademark Canon grinding lens noise is intact.
in differences: that old 2GB card that used to get 800 shots at 10 MP now gets 600 shots at 12 MP.
The autofocus seems slower on the G9.
Macro shots do not focus as quickly or as well on the G9. There are some shots that I routinely was able to quickly use macro for on the G7, that now require quite a bit of futzing to get sharp and focused in the G9. I suppose that is one of the changes because of the larger sensor, but I don't know. I actually thought there might be something wrong with the camera, but looking at another G9 at a different camera shop (so it wasn't the lot number) I was able to reproduce the same difficulty focusing with Macro as on my personal G9, so it's apparently a camera thing.
The long and the short of it -- I don't think it is worth the Upgrade if you have a G7 unless you really really want the RAW. For all other practical purposes, it's the same on a day-to-day usage level.
If you are new to the Canon Powershot G line, then skip the G7 and purchase the G9 -- it is like "G7 SuperCharged" -- while in general the two are identical. THe G9 is actually less expensive than the G7 as well.
 Good specs, so-so in reality October 4, 2007
Harry M. Shin (Livermore, CA USA)
313 out of 420 found this review helpful
1. Background info: I am not a Canon user (but I have nothing against Canon products), I've shot with film for many years (Contax), and digitally for the past 4+ years (Sony 828, Sony V3, Sony R1).
2. I was very interested in the G9 when it was recently announced because of the great reputation of the Canon G series and most importantly--> the return of the RAW format in the G9. Furthermore, everything on paper completely outshined my ancient Sony V3; a very good camera but very very slow... and with limited zoom range etc...
3. Thus it was very dissapointing when I had to return the Canon G9 after several days of testing. Here were my impressions of the camera.
a. Build Quality: Good
b. Size: Good; actually smaller than my V3.
c. Performance: excellent--> RAW write times were impressively fast (for a point and shoot).
d. LCD: completely terrible. This is supposed to be the state of the art LCD (3 inch), but there was an overt cool /bluish color cast. I tried every suggested variable (via Canon Tech and various on the forums), I went to a local camera store to try another G9 (same problem), and my observations were also confirmed via numerous folks on the web. Some suggested that I just ignore the color cast and just use the LCD for framing and for checking basic exposure--initially a resonable argument but then when you logically think about it--> why should anyone put up with an overt color cast (and also an overly contrasty) image on the LCD, in a supposed top of the line point and shoot camera, from an industry leader like Canon? It just doesn't make sense. I mean, a $200.00 cheap 5 MP camera has better color rendition on the LCD than this G9.
e. Even with the above LCD issues, I was still going to keep it if it weren't for the only "ok" image results. I did some basic testing comparing the G9 vs Sony V3 (real old camera)--> all shot in RAW, all shot via Tripod, all shot using calibrated gray card etc... Bottomline, the G9 images were good and I'm sure that people will be able to get nice shots from this camera--> but when / if you actually compare it to something like the Sony V3 (which again is an old camera)--> the Sony consistently just produces more sharper images.
4. Thus each person will have to decide what's important to them in regards to their photographic needs / wants / goals etc... For me, it's always image quality and thus I had to return the G9. All around a decent camera that could and should have been a lot better. For now, I'll continue using the Sony V3 and episodically be frustrated with the slow performance, but at least the image quality will be excellent.
Perfect SLR alternative September 13, 2007
G. Madrid (Sedona, AZ)
262 out of 266 found this review helpful
I've owned the G7 for about 1 month now and I've really learned to appreciate all its advanced features - but recently I received my G9 and I will be returning the G7. What I like about the G9 over the G7:
1. Bigger screen (3.0" vs 2.5") - with no apparent decrease in battery life.
2. Picture quality is better. I have done many parallel tests using the exact settings on both cameras (with the exception of the 12 vs 10 MP of course) and the results have been clearly more favorable towards the G9 in terms of light metering and sharpness. The G9 has a new metering system as well as a more advanced focusing system too.
3. RAW option is great. Even though most pics will be taken using JPEG (to conserve memory space), you know it when you've got a great landscape with just the perfect lighting conditions that you know may result in a printable pic, in which case you will want to have a raw copy for processing it to the highest potential.
4. Timelapse photo functionality is a very nice to have option which the g7 lacks
5. The physical handling of the camera is better, the front has more grip.
6. Some other design aesthetics have also gone into the g9 which I prefer.
7. Noise levels are exactly the same as in the G7. I tested both up to 400 ISO (I would not use anything higher that that) many times and the speculations found on the internet forums that the higher number of pixels would result in more noise is simply incorrect - at least in my ability to see it in my tests.
* the only thing I dislike in the g9 over the g7 is that new usb connection door mechanism. It feels like it may one day break even with proper use. The "slide out" door (like the battery door) mechanism was so much better in terms of use and possible durability.
If I were a G7 owner (and you could not return it because you've had it longer than 30 days) I would not upgrade as the g7 is a superb camera - but if you were looking to buy a new camera the g9 is a better choice over the g7. The g9 is the perfect camera alternative to a bulky SLR - without the loss of total photographic control or quality. Highly recommended.
Incredible camera; very worthy upgrade from the G7 September 21, 2007
R. Kaufmann (San Diego CA USA)
87 out of 91 found this review helpful
If you're a photographer who cares about image quality, and can't always lug around a DSLR, buy this camera. You will have no regrets.
I've had its predecessor, the G7, for about a year. It has been my normal always-in-the-bag camera. The G7 was limited at ISO 400; the G9 isn't. My normal workflow with the G9 is to use CS3 to import RAW images (fixing chromatic abberation on the way into CS3 in 16-bit mode), and then to use Noise Ninja to clean up image noise. With this workflow, ISO 400 and ISO 800 are completely usable. (You can also play with some other settings in Adobe Camera Raw, like Recovery.)
And for everyone: you really should never, ever use a built-in strobe on a camera. The G9 (like the G7) has a hot shoe. Use it!
Canon fixed a bunch of the G7's problems in the G9, the most glaring of which is the G9 now has a battery meter! (I can't tell you how much that lapse bugged me.) The new LCD monitor is much, much bigger -- and gorgeous. And best of all, the camera body is the exact same size and shape, and fits in my underwater housing. (Update: not all the buttons work. The most glaring problem is possibly the zoom can't be changed, and that you can't change to macro mode underwater. I'll probably get the new housing, but the existing one is functional.)
Nits: the new cover for the USB connector is a downgrade, but one that I can put up with. The lens is unchanged, and has a fair bit of barrel distortion at its widest angle. You can clean up the barrel distortion somewhat in CS3, but straight horizontal lines become slightly wavy. I'm being hyper-picky here, but please know that you're not replacing a DSLR with a prime wide angle lens. You're just buying a small camera that you can take anywhere.
Buy it. Shoot lots of pictures with it. Be happy!
 Small, powerful camera October 8, 2007
Susanna Hutcheson (Midwest U.S.A.)
64 out of 70 found this review helpful
Theres really not much difference between the new 12.1 megapixel Canon PowerShot G9 and the 10 megapixel PowerShot G7 it replaces. They pretty much look alike. They both are optically stabilized the same way. They have the same zoom lens (35mm equivalent), hotshoe and an optical viewfinder that's about the same. The G9 has a slightly bigger 3-inch wide view LCD. But I find them pretty much the same.
I do love the fact that this camera responds quickly and it's built really tough. These days, that's a major asset.
It does seem to have quite a bit of distortion at the widest angle when you zoom it way out as far as it will go. And the lens sort of gets in front of the viewfinder. It rather interferes with it to a small degree. Also there is no optical zoom during movie capture.
This is a good camera that's similar to a true dSLR. And the fact it is ruggedly built adds to its desirability.
The fact the zoom is stabilized is important. I wouldn't consider buying a camera that didn't offer this. Also, my macro shots are terrific. Another good feature with this camera.
This is truly a camera for a real photographer. It includes a dedicated ISO dial, multi-control dial and customizable shortcut button.
Highly recommended.
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