The Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera has a sophisticated retro-hip design and with high-quality construction to complement it's impressive capabilities, including 12.1 megapixel resolution, a 6x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer, and RAW mode for the ultimate in creative control.
The camera also incorporates Canon's latest generation of image processor. The DIGIC III processor delivers rapid performance with improved image quality and incorporates Face Detection AF/AE and advanced Noise Reduction, which extend the camera's low-noise performance to ISO 1600.
The high-resolution 3.0" LCD screen has a wide viewing angle and anti-glare coating for easier image framing and playback. Furthering the potential for creative photography, the PowerShot G9 is equipped with hot shoe support for Canon Speedlite flash units and is compatible with a range of optional converter lenses.
| Camera Type | Advanced Digital Camera |
| Image Quality | |
|---|---|
| Image Sensor | 1/1.7" 12.4 Megapixel CCD |
| Effective Resolution | 12.1 million pixels |
| Color Depth | 36-Bit RGB |
| Color Modes | My Colors (Vivid, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Custom Color) |
| Image File Formats |
RAW (uncompressed) JPEG (SuperFine, Fine, Normal) Exif 2.2, DCF & DPOF 1.1 compliant |
| Recorded Resolution |
Large (4000 x 3000) Widescreen (4000 x 2248) Medium 1 (3264 x 2448) Medium 2 (2592 x 1944) Medium 3 (1600 x 1200) Small (640 x 480) |
| Video Recording |
AVI Motion JPEG with Audio High Resolution (1024 x 768 @ 15 fps) Standard (640 x 480 @ 30 fps) Standard LP (640 x 480 @30 fps) Standard (320 x 240 @ 30 fps) Compact (160 x 120 @ 15 fps) Time Lapse (640 x 480 @ 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 second interval/15 fps playback) Clip length limited to 4GB file except Compact that is limited to 3 minutes and Time Lapse that is limited to 2 hours |
| Audio Recording | WAVE (Monaural) |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens Type | Canon SR Zoom lens |
| Optical Zoom | 6x |
| Lens Focal Length | 7.4mm - 44.4mm (35mm - 210mm equivalent) |
| Digital Zoom | 4x |
| Minimum Focus Distance | 0.39" (1cm) |
| Maximum Aperture | f/2.8-4.8 |
| Optical Image Stabilization | Yes (Canon OIS) |
| Accessory Lens/Filter Mount | No (58mm with optional LA-DC58H Lens Adapter) |
| Focus Control | |
|---|---|
| Focus Type | TTL Autofocus |
| Focus Modes | AiAF (Face Detection, 9-point), 1-point AF (any position or fixed center) |
| Focus Range |
Normal: 19.2" (50cm) - infinity Macro: 0.39" (1cm) - 19.2" (50cm) wide |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity |
Auto ISO High ISO Auto Selectable ISO (80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600) |
| Shutter Type | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Shutter Speed |
15-1/2500 seconds Noise reduction when manually set at 1.3-15 seconds |
| Aperture Range | f/2.8-4.8 - f/11.0 |
| Exposure Metering | TTL-AE (Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot) |
| Exposure Modes | Program AE, AE Lock, Program (P), Aperture Priority (Av), Shutter Priority (Tv), Manual (M), Custom (C1, C2), Special Scene, Exposure Compensation (±2 stops in 1/3-stop increments) |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Underwater, Custom |
| Scene Modes | Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Sports, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Underwater, Indoor, ISO 3200, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Color Accent, Color Swap, Stitch Assist |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes (Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Slow Synchro, Flash On, Flash Off) |
| Effective Flash Range | Normal: 1.6' (0.5m) -13' (4.0m) |
| External Flash Connection | Hot Shoe |
| External Flash Control | Automatic E-TTL Flash with EX-series Speedlites |
| Performance | |
|---|---|
| Start-Up Time | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Shutter Lag | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Time Between Shots | Less than 1 second |
| Burst Capability | Continuous Shooting at 1.5 fps |
| Self Timer | 2 seconds or 10 seconds |
| Interval Recording | No (possible when tethered to PC) |
| Date & Time Stamp | No (simultaneous recording onto image data) |
| Memory & Power | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | No | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Compatible Memory Cards |
Secure Digital (SD) Card Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) Card MultiMediaCard (MMC) |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Recording Capacity |
Includes 32MB Secure Digital (SD) Card Still Image Capacity
Video Capacity
|
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| Battery Type | NB-2LH Rechargeable Lithium Battery | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Power Adapter | ACK-DC20 AC Adapter Kit (optional) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Input/Output | |
|---|---|
| Computer Interface | USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed) |
| Direct Print Capable | Yes (PictBridge, Canon Direct) |
| Remote Control | No |
| Video Output | Yes (NTSC & PAL) |
| Web-Cam Capable | No |
| System & Software Requirements |
Windows System
Macintosh System
|
| Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder | Real-image optical zoom viewfinder |
| LCD Display | 3.0" LTPS TFT color LCD (230,000 pixels) with wide viewing angle |
| Language Options | English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified/Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Romanian, Ukrainian |
| Playback Options | Still Image: Single, Magnification (approx. 2x-10x), Jump, Auto Rotate, Rotate, Resume, My Colors, My Category, Histogram, Index (9 thumbnails), Sound Memos, Slide Show, Red-eye Correction, RAW playback, Resize, Image Inspection Tool, Movie (Normal Playback, Special Playback, Editing) |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (HxWxD) | 4.2 x 2.9 x 1.7" (107 x 72 x 43mm) |
| Weight | 11.3 oz. (320g) body only |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
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Most Liked Positive Review
Excellent Point-N-Shoot
I purchased the Powershot G6 about 3 years ago, due to all of the rave reviews, and have just loved this camera. I did not upgrade to the G7 because of no RAW files...Read complete review
I purchased the Powershot G6 about 3 years ago, due to all of the rave reviews, and have just loved this camera. I did not upgrade to the G7 because of no RAW files and it seemed almost to be a downgrade, with so-so reviews.
When the G9 came out I waited until the price dropped a bit and then just snagged one while it was available at B&H (they go 'out of stock' quickly :)
The buttons on the G9 were so intuitive I didn't even need to read the manual. Yes, maybe that's because I had the older G6, but really, the buttons on the G9 are a cinch to master. What immediately became apparent is how much bigger, brighter, and nicer the 3" LCD is on the G9 compared to the duller smaller one in the G6.
All of the navigation tools are more pleasurable to deal with than the previous model too, and the focus and picture quality is dramatically better.
The only feature that I don't like so well on the G9 is the macro feature. On the G6 it had a macro feature ... and a "super-macro" feature ... but this additional feature is not available on the G9. Consequently, some of the super-close photos I experimented with were a little more cumbersome to take, especially if I tried to zoom-in a bit. Still, the macro shots I took with the G9 were crystal-clear.
As far as photo quality goes, the automatic white balance feature is superb in this camera, unlike the G6 (where it could be frustrating getting the color right indoors). Yet with the G9, many photos I took indoors on "Auto" mode looked excellent "as shot" with little or no work being needed in photoshop afterward.
All-in-all, this is a professional-quality pocket camera. The build quality is rock-solid, heavy, and form-fitting to your hand. And within its class, I can't imagine any competitive brand taking better photos than the PowerShot G9.
Therefore my advice to anyone looking for a superior quality point-n-shoot, the Canon PowerShot G9 is at the top of the food chain in quality, craftsmanship, design, and image quality.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Neutral review so far.... problem
I do not want to pass judgment too early (thus my checking of 3 stars), but my G9 failed after 7 days. It just quit after 20 shots and displayed error messages on ...Read complete review
I do not want to pass judgment too early (thus my checking of 3 stars), but my G9 failed after 7 days. It just quit after 20 shots and displayed error messages on the screen (E32 and E10). Canon Customer Support was unable to resolve the problem. I just pass this along because it is potentially useful information. I hope to exchange the camera for the same one, so I am keeping my fingers crossed[@]
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Reviewed by 107 customers
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
Gave up weight in exchange for comfort and excellent quality for general use. Realizing that the same versatility would not be there- but the pictures have been marvelous.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
This camera is just about what I wanted in a small footprint/high resolution RAW-enabled camera. Even though I favor my Nikon D80 for professional shots, there are times I don't want to, or can't, carry that heavier camera. But I didn't want to give up RAW images.
The pros include a solid body, easy to use interface and a hot shoe. It's also a Canon, a company whose customer service is usually pretty responsive.
The only con I'm concerned with is that Canon's RAW format isn't read by iPhoto. While I use CS3 to manipulate images, I store images, even if temporarily, in iPhoto. Unfortunately, that program can't read the images. It will read the camera's JPEGs, however, if I choose to shoot that way.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
GREAT PICTURES!
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
I bought the G9 as a replacement for a G7. The capabillity to use RAW immage and greater resolution was main part of descition to buy. To bee a point& shoot camera I think it's the best. The only drawback is the lag. I many times use it as a compliment to my main camera (Canon Ds Mk ll). I also take stereo pics with an old Stitz stereo with great reults.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
I bought this camera just before a family trip to the Oregon coast, wanting to leave my heavy Canon 5D at home. It was the ideal light camera to carry everywhere all day that I could use to shoot either family or the coastal scenery. The ISO can be instantly changed from automatic to a range from 80 - 1600 ISO by a turn of the dial. The image stabilization works beautifully; functions for f-stop, macro, and exposure compensation are also easily changed by a dial. It's the perfect lightweight camera that offers image stabilization, high resolution, and the RAW format. The only alert I'd give is that Lightroom 1.0 doesn't recognize the color mode; you need Lightroom 2.0 to bring photos directly into the program.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
I recently surrendered all of my Leica M cameras and lenses for a Nikon D80 with the 17-55mm ED. Great rig, fantastic quality, way too heavy for carry-around use. Impressed by a friend's results with the G9, I bought it. Complicated out of the "Auto" category, it produces great images @ 11x14.Lens zoom starts at 35mm equiv., like my old standby, the Summicron 35f2.0. A bargain.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
Every day use, best lightweight, compact travel camera.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
As a professional photographer frustrated at missing shots when I don't have my big Canon gear with me, I bought the G9 simply because it seemed like the best raw-capturing point-and-shoot to mesh with my Canon equipment, specifically because it had the hot shoe. I bought it without ever having held one, primarily because of the stellar B&H reviews. The reviews were right on. The camera was a tad tricky to figure out at first, but more intuitive than other reviews had led me to believe. My purchase of the $10 cheat sheet was unnecessary. Sure I would like a wider lens and I suppose the shutter delay speeds could be a little faster, but I have no complaints. This camera rocks, with an excellent viewfinder (about 70% more than the actual capture--so easy to calculate) and with impressive JPEG processing, ensuring that I will be using this on JPEG-only mode far more than every anticipated. At this point, my only complain with the amazing G9 is that in the RAW + JPEG mode I am locked into using Large JPEGS, when I would really like to be able to select the JPEG size. I've never owned another point-and-shoot, but I'm sure images made by this camera will end up in print.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
i just bought the camera for my wife and she is in love with it. we love it.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
This camera is so easy to operate! I love the capabilities! As a Grandma, I'm going to be clicking away! Lookout Disneyworld, we're on our way with a G9!
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
I'm a DSLR user but bougt this camera with the canon
WP-DC21 WATERPROOF CASE f/G9 to improve my underwater pictures. DLSR waterproof cases are very expensive and a pain to pack in my luggage, but G9 + WP-DC21 are a good trade-off in weight-size vs photo quality. For a point and shoot camera, the G9 has very acceptable shutter lag, focus speed and it comes with underwater exposure program, while still offering good zoom range and maybe most important for me the possibility to turn off "Auto" and select desired aperture, shutter speed or both.
Build quality is solid.
Exposure in difficult situations (e.g. dark subject against light background) still is far from what a good DSLR camera (e.g. Nikon D70,D80) can accomplish.
In conclusion - great camera if you don't want to carry a heavy DSLR
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
I use this as a back up to my dslr gear. I have found it great to have a light weight alternative that produces high quality photos worthy of photo taken with dslrs. The G9 is a powerful tools for point and shoot as well advanced photographers.The camera is solid and packed with options. Did I mention picture quality!!
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
This is the best small, compact camera I have seen. With12.1 megapixels it gives great quality images and has all the features of the much more expensive D-SLR's.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
I gave this camera to my son as a birthday gift. He is a 22 year old photography/art student at the university here . He unfortunately had his entire digital SLR outfit stolen last summer on a trip he had made outside the USA. He has only been using the Canon G9 for a few days and, so far, he has many good things to say about the camera.My son has told me that the G9 is quite user friendly for an advanced point and shoot. He also states that the classic look of the camera has turned his friends' heads as they at first believed it to be a Leica. The camera is comfortable for him to hold, but most of all he loves all the features including the manual capabilities and the ability to shoot in RAW format. My son also says that even the images he has stored in JPEG are fantastic-- as good as and even better than his old digital SLR.Like other reviewers he did say that putting the filter onto the conversion adapter was a little challenging, however the UV filter is necessary for the environment here and so he persevered with this task until completed correctly. Now he is looking forward to purchasing the wide angle and telephoto conversion lenses for the Canon G9 with extra conversion adapters in the near future.My son has thanked me and congratulated me on my selection for his gift. By the way, he is right about the images from the Canon G9- they are absolutely stunning with amazing detail and true color saturation. I am very happy to have made this purchase [...] Sincerely, Matilda D. Brown
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
This camera is great, I use it more than my 30D now. I love the settings since they are the same as my canon SLR and it shoots well in low-lighting.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
Wonderful camera, made with the professional user in mind.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
The quality of this product is GREAT. The controls land exactly where my fingers are placed. I can tell a lot of thought went into the placement of the controls and the "text" showing which mode I am in is large enough that I do not have to put on my bifocal glasses.
The only negative is that the owners manual is printed on "newspaper" quality paper. I still have not figured out how to connect a "MANUAL" flash to this hot shoe.
For me this camera is being used as a "secondary" or "back-up" to my film camera.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
I just love this camera
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
The product is very intuitive to use and very easy to travel with, the size and bang for the buck being the main reason we purchased it. We normally carry a 40D, but the new baby and international traveling has made those short, fun getaways easier to manage without having to lug around the big lens and body because we have the quality of the G9. It is definitely fun to play with different programs, but if you are a photographer who needs the heft in your hand to feel satisfied, this won't cut it for you. I couldn't be happier with my purchase and it allows for more spontaneous shooting without feeling like you are a witness to the action, you still get to participate (i.e. playing in the sand with the little man or recording those first steps.)
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera:
This camera is all it is touted to be and more.
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