brainiac wrote:
Has anyone printed a G6 shot and a G9 shot of the exact same scene in the same light, at iso 800?
I think the reason everyone says iso 800 sucks on the G9 is that they are comparing 100% crops to 100% crops from lower megapixel cameras. That's completely misleading. It is my view that the entire "we want fewer pixels" crowd has made a basic error when examining noise: they are viewing files at different magnifications.
Below is a little reminder that if you bother to uprez crops so that they can be shown at the same magnification, then denser pixels doesn't necessarily mean more noise: http://cyberphotographer.com/1ds3/dpr_D3v1Ds3_iso3200.jpg
Which image has more intrusive noise?
It isn't pixel density that makes these cameras struggle at high isos, it is the sensor size. I welcome the 28mm, 14.7Mpixel, CR2 producing G10.
Edited due to wrong crop!
Edited by brainiac on Sep 01, 2008 at 11:04 AM GMT...Show more →
I agree with your argument that ISO noise is no worse then other cameras with the same size sensor (when comparing images that are up-rezzed / down-rezzed to same pixel dimensions).
However, one also needs to consider what positive benefits 14.7MP on a tiny sensor can offer. It is clear that the marketing department have completely taken over the design of this camera with a blatant disregard to the laws of physics. If I was an engineer working on this camera I would quit Canon, the company has lost the plot on compact cameras. This camera is diffraction limited at it's maximum aperture of f2.8 (based on this reference). All you are getting for your 14.7MP is big files.
Vote with your feet and ignore this camera, otherwise the marketing clowns will keep clogging up your hard disk with more useless megapixels.
Roy Pertchik wrote:
One thing I like about my DSLRs is the nearly instant response to a shutter press. I couldn't stand my old Powershot hesitation (a Powershot S200 elph :-)
I know these new P&S's being discussed are in another league..What is the delay like on these high end P&S's?
There is no delay on my LX3 when you press the shutter release. But, depending on the focusing and image stabilization modes you are using there may or may not be delay while focus locks with the half pressed shutter release. Generally, focus lock is quick.
kapytalyst wrote:
Have any of the G series really improved on the IQ provided by the Pro1. I don't think so.
Um, yes...especially in noise handling.
Here are 100% crops out of camera (files from Imaging-resource.com) @ ISO 400. G9 on top, Pro 1 on bottom. The Pro-1 is even a bit over exposed which should lead to even LESS noise than if it were exposed the same as the G9 image, and yet the G9 image has significantly less noise.
And finally, here's the G9 at ISO 800, and the Pro-1 at 400. Now, the G9 is about equal in noise here, though in my opinion, the G9 file will print a lot better than the Pro 1 file here, as the noise is more grain like than the artifcat laden noise of the Pro 1.
It might have made strides compared to the Pro-1, but if you really are concerned about image quality, you should look into the Fuji line of P&S. I have the F30 and am amazed with it's image quality at higher ISO. I can shoot at 800 ISO all day without any concerns, and can even boost up to 1600 in a pinch. Makes the Canon lineup really look awful if you compare side by side at higher ISO.
I owned the F31fd...and compared to the G9 it stinks for hand holding. Yes, ISO for ISO, the F31 had lower noise, but the faster lens and IS in the G9 means that I am usually shooting at ISO 400 on the G9 in situations I'd need at least 1600 on the F31fd. Plus I like the noise profile on the G9 better.
Jman13 wrote:
I owned the F31fd...and compared to the G9 it stinks for hand holding. Yes, ISO for ISO, the F31 had lower noise, but the faster lens and IS in the G9 means that I am usually shooting at ISO 400 on the G9 in situations I'd need at least 1600 on the F31fd. Plus I like the noise profile on the G9 better.
To me a P&S is something I can throw into my jacket pocket and not even know it is there. The F31 fits this to a tee. The G9 is much to big and if I have to carry something the size of a G9, I might as well get a small Olympus DSLR with a pancake lens.
Here is a G10 vs LX3 comparison that has a comprehensive set of full size images covering virtually every aspect of both camera's performance. Highly recommended.
