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picnic wrote:
Gosh, this is a long thread  . I've had my G9 for 2 weeks. Its no 5D but I didn't expect anything even close. My last G was the original G1 where I started shooting in RAW and I would only consider a pocket cam with RAW.
I find it close to what I'd like--I'd prefer wider--since I'm a WA shooter primarly. I would have been happy with the 10MP but others who have both the G7 and the new G9 have shown that the G9 is at least as good for noise and perhaps a bit better than the G7. I will never shoot over ISO400--and that rarely. This is a camera suited to ISO200 and below.
I like the look and form--I wouldn't want to shoot with a smaller or lighter cam--and my husband has the F30 which I hate shooting with--and don't like the NR either--and the little size, no VF drive me crazy. I have not used a small camera for years---but thought perhaps I might shoot in situations where I don't normally carry my 5D/lenses--and its not 'serious' shooting. Seems that this one will fit the bill.
I'm on the board for a regional environmental/greenway nonprofit and we put on our annual Riverfest--and needed photos for future use on web pages, posters, newspaper, etc. so, since I had other responsibilities and wouldn't/couldn't carry my normal gear I took a chance on the G9. Worked great even though it was terrible shooting conditions--overhead strong daylight and deep shadows, events taking place on the river with lots of glare, bright saturated colors with the kayaks, action--geez . But--it actually held its own and shooting in RAW and using ACR 4.2 (could have used LR also), I got decent shots. I also took photos last weekend at an outdoor sculpture exhibition/competition in a heavily shaded but with bright sunlight peaking through park.
So--my assessment after using it for 2 weeks under a variety of conditions is--its very good for what it is--a supplement to my 5D. I'll never use a flash on it, never use it on a tripod--but it fits in a fairly small hip pack, the IS works pretty well, it has RAW (and I did consider 3 other cameras--the Leica and Panny and the Ricoh) and it has a usable OVF--and the image quality is quite good. Oh, did I say the LCD is really very nice---and can be seen at an angle so you can, if you are so inclined, raise it over your head or below. And---I can shoot similarly to using my DSLR--in AV or M, and occasionally in Tv with EC and AEL easily accessible--and live histo which is useful to some degree--and the ISO and mode dial are there just like an SLR--with the 4 way rocker, function/set button and dial that are similar to what I'm used to. I normally use Cfn 4 with metering on shutter and focus on * so if I do use AEL with the shutter button here--my thumb and index finger work backwards. I had to think about that .
Addendum for the poster that said it wasn't a pocket cam. I guess it depends upon your pockets . Maybe a man wants to put it in a shirt pocket, but I found that I could put it in some pockets--jeans, some pants and crops. Still--it works best in a quite small Lowepro bag on a belt--or, as I found, in a small hip (probably others call them fanny packs) pack where I can add a comb, lipgloss, change purse--and it still be totally unobtrusive--not like my Domke F3x or Sling 200--the smallest bags I can carry with my 5D/lens. I thought about a Rebel--but if I'm going to carry that--I'd rather carry my 5D.
Diane...Show more →
Diane ... thanks for sharing your impressions. It was very helpful. Have you had the chance to compare the IQ of the G9 to your husband's F30? I have a F31fd and I have been looking for a second, more sophisticated P&S to either augment or replace it. I am wondering how a G9 would compliment a F31fd, which is very similar to the F30.
Currently, I have a 40D, 400D, and F31fd. I have been trying to figure out how to improve my options below the 40D. I have the 400D setup as a P&S with the 17-85mm IS.
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