Any thoughts on the Canon G9 by those using the camera? I have a Canon 5D but there are times I want a small camera I can slip away in my pocket but will still deliver good image quality. I'm excited that this camera shoots RAW files.
Mine is so new that I haven't yet seen any of its photos on my computer screen. The G9 LCD images seem to have a lot of contrast - too much - and at 400 ISO or higher it seems to be quite noisy. Maybe that's just the thumbnails, however.
A handstrap would be a very useful standard accessory.
The G9 is small but not tiny. It fits in your pocket but not if you have a wallet in there too. I find the viewfinder to be almost useless and in bright light I find the LCD hard to see - not helped by my self-tinting prescription glasses that I need to use to see the LCD.
I have had my G9 for a couple of weeks now, for the same reason I needed a small compact body when I don't need to lug all my kit around. So far I am very impressed, image quality is great, it is so quick and simple to use and the RAW capability is great and I like the fact that I can put a hotshoe flash on it since I have always hated on camera flash but I warn you it does look pretty stupid with a 580EX2 stuck on top!
I was in the same boat. Got tired of carrying my 5D and assorted lenses.
I first owned the G7 and sold it in favor of the G9 (RAW). In most respects, the G9 seems to be the equal of the G7, which means it's an exceptionally good camera. Actually, a closer look will tell you it's better than the G7. Noise at ISO 400 and 800 is lower. ISO 3200, while not usable for anything larger than 4" X 6", is also better than the G7. Overall, the G9 files seem just a bit more crisp, a bit more color accurate, a bit less "digital" than the G7.
I've been experimenting with the lower resolution settings (8MP and 5MP). The 8MP setting (available as JPEG only) is near-perfect up to ISO 400. Truly amazing results.
I just framed an 11" X 14" print of my wife that anyone looking at would swear was taken with a 20D, 30D, 40D or 5D ... the camera is that good. I've also printed to 16" X 19."
There are times when I've wished it could go wider than 35mm. I might purchase the auxiliary wide angle lens and adapter. Maybe. Maybe not.
Great camera. It's with me 100% of the time.
Thought I'd add this. This is a 100% crop from a G9 12MP RAW file. Not a great shot composition-and-subject-matter wise, but a good demonstration of the G9's resolving power.
Have it, love it. The handling and feel is so, so, so much better than any other compact out there. It feels like you're operating an actual camera, not a cell phone (like most compacts). I also love the filter adapter, as I like to shoot landscapes while hiking with mine. I have a 2 stop graduated ND stacked with a circular polarizer on mine for this type of shooting. I am a professional golf course photographer, and take it out on my "research rounds" also, taking planning shots of my courses. Here's a recent shot:
I like my G9 a lot. It feels a lot more 'modern' than my prevous Canon compacts (G2, G5, G6, S50 S70, Pro1) and with Lightroom and RAW it produces excellent results. It's also so much smaller than the other G series and NO lens cap!
If it had a 28mm equiv wide end it would be almost perfect.
I like mine ... the more I use it the more I appreciate it. When I tested it in the store it didn't seem that great, but after getting used to the controls it has a nice interface. If you have high expectations, be prepared to do careful post processing of RAW images.
I have the G9 that serves as my take-along camera everyday. I, too, have a 5D and it is not an easily portable camera (like most DSLRs). Naturally, the G9 is not the 5D and what I miss most is the low-light capabilities. But, otherwise, it's a great small camera. I'm really enjoying it. It's size frees me up to shoot a lot of stuff I otherwise would not be able to. We're traveling to Mexico over Christmas and I'm taking the G9 and not the 5D. So far I've only used JPG since I don't have a G9 RAW converter yet.
There are some good accessories available for the G9. I have a Lensmate adapter with which I use various filters. The adapter also makes it easy to carry in the hand. I also have a custom "grip" attached to the front-right that aids in holding the camera while shooting.
I would prefer a lens up to 28mm instead of 35mm, but I have a Ricoh GR 2 for that (another fantastic portable camera albeit fixed lens).
Wilfredo wrote:
Is Photoshop CS3 able to open the RAW files on the G9? The more I read here the more I am convinced it would be a good move to purchase one of these.
Wilfredo
www.BenitezRivera.com
Absolutely Wilfredo, as well as LIghtroom, Bibble, Breezebrowser soon, and more. You must download the new upgrade for PSCS3 (ACR) though.
I have had the G9 since the week it came out. My problem is that I don't live in an urban area so don't get much use out of it daily as I work from a home office . However-I still like the camera very much. I am so locked into using a VF (5D is latest DSLR) that I have problems using an LCD so bought the Voigtlander 35mm VF and that works nicely as I shoot a lot at 35mm--and f/2.8. Very nice small cam--having a 5D at present, I have to remember that higher ISO is a problem--and not having at least 28mm (I do have the Raynox WA converter, but haven't used it yet except for demo).
All in all--probably the most versatile small sensor cam out there. I"ve put off buying another for years (I had the original G1) but this is a good compromise and though I have considered selling it since I"m not sure how much I'll use it--decided to wait until I do more hiking in the Spring--and then I suspect I'll use it a great deal more (and get out of the mindset of always having the 5D--the G9 IS really capable of quite good IQ under the right circumstances).
I should mention that I've also added the grip that is quite nice (and looks as though it came with the camera--and does make it better ergonomics wise), the Lensmate (but don't use it now as much as I did in the beginning)--and the Kirk L bracket (which adds 'geography' on the left side making it quite nice for 2 handed shooting--some say making a silk purse out of a sow's ear --but I'm one that likes the 'experience' of shooting as well as the final image).
Since someone else showed the G9 with 580EX I think--here's the G9, Kirk L and 420EX. I have 2 550EX, 1 580EX, an STE2 but found the 420Ex a good compromise on the G9 (IF you use an external flash--I rarely do--I'm a low available light shooter --so the G9 isn't always the best choice for me). http://www.pbase.com/picnic/image/87067856.jpg
I had the Leica D-Lux3 for 4 months and finally decided enough is enough. First, the noise over ISO-100 is terrible! Second, it took seem forever to write a RAW to card (even with133x speed CF!). Third, I sold the Leica and get G9 for even less, and some pocket change. The G9's IQ sold me right at the camera store! I carried with me everyday, everywhere... so my verdict is of course, I love it!
I've had my G9 for a short while and I can't say I am crazy about it, so I am still lugging around my 5D and prime lenses. Maybe I am just not used to viewing/composing via the LCD screen, and the shutter lag drives me nuts. Feels too much like a P&S and non-serious camera.
But it does look cute, especially with the Lensmate adaptor/lenshood, and the Sunpak PZ-40X II (black) works quite well with the G9.
I also have a G9. Besides wotking with the 580EX, it interfaces with the STE-2 so you can fire several 580's remotely. Great for quick product shots that will end up on the web.
Alan321 wrote:
Mine is so new that I haven't yet seen any of its photos on my computer screen. The G9 LCD images seem to have a lot of contrast - too much - and at 400 ISO or higher it seems to be quite noisy. Maybe that's just the thumbnails, however.
A handstrap would be a very useful standard accessory.
The G9 is small but not tiny. It fits in your pocket but not if you have a wallet in there too. I find the viewfinder to be almost useless and in bright light I find the LCD hard to see - not helped by my self-tinting prescription glasses that I need to use to see the LCD.
Alan, a couple of tips--you can set the contrast for your LCD down in the left hand menu (func./set button, scroll down to colors, or MY Colors (or whatever its called--not sure of name of menu on left either LOL) and choose 'custom colors and set contrast down). I set mine on either 'neutral' or 'custom' and adjust colors, sharpening, etc. (just for LCD-I shoot in RAW).
I can use the VF--sort of---but bought a Voightlander 35mm VF (external that slides into the hot shoe--making the flash not available but I don't use an onboard flash anyhow). Pricey, but I like using the camera better--hard to come from a DSLR with a VF and use an LCD for me.
I bought an OPtech wrist strap (not like the ones for DSLRs) and find I don't use it (whereas I do use the E1 wrist strap on my 5D all the time). Some of us have added the small metal grip piece on the front that makes handling very nice--not the same as a wrist strap of course.
If your glasses are polarized, you will have great difficult seeing the LCD. You mentioned they were tinted--so polarization may not be a factor at all--but thought I'd mention it.
Have fun with it. I've had one since the week they came out and enjoy shooting with it--if you have a DSLR you will find above ISO400 quite noisy but with shooting RAW and judicious use of an NR, you will have usable shots (and with good exposures at that ISO, that will help).
