Canon PowerShot G9Canon PowerShot G9 Review,Simon Joinson, October 2007

Review based on a production Canon PowerShot G9, Firmware version 1.00Until the arrival of the G7 last September the majority of observers had written off Canons prosumer G range, presuming that the arrival of affordable digital SLRs had effectively killed the market for high-end compacts such as this. Barely a year later the G7 has been replaced by the G9, a relatively minor update that increases the pixel count from 10MP to 12MP and the screen size from 2.5 to 3.0 inches and - more importantly given the outcry caused by its omission from the G7 - the return of raw shooting capabilities. Other minor tweaks include a better grip and the addition of wireless flash capabilities. Everything else; the 6x stabilized zoom, flash hot shoe, classic all-metal design and solid build, expansive feature set and extensive manual control system is carried over from the G7.The G7 receive very mixed responses upon its arrival last year, though as we noted at the time, much of this was because it suffered in comparison to its predecessors (such as the G6) - the lack of defining features such as raw mode, remote control, info panel and rotating LCD made the G7 feel very much like a glorified A series model rather than the flagship it was obviously intended to be. Although theres still no vari-angle screen Canon has addressed a couple of the main complaints about the G7 (the lack of raw and difficulty of shooting single-handed due to lack of grip), and the price - around $500 - has stayed the same. So is it enough to return the G series to its former glory? Lets find out.Note that some sections of this review (feature descriptions where nothing has changed) are reproduced from the G7 review.Headline features12.1 Megapixels (1/1.7” sensor) with RAW mode for maximum image control6x optical zoom lens with optical Image Stabilizer and SR coatingDIGIC III and iSAPS for lightning fast response, superb image quality and advanced Noise ReductionFace Detection AF/AE/FE and Red-Eye Correction in playback3.0” high-resolution, PureColor LCD II with extra wide viewing angleISO 1600 and Auto ISO ShiftCompact body with dedicated ISO and Multi Control dials25 shooting modes including full manual control and 2 custom settingsExtra telephoto reach with Digital Tele-Converter and Safety ZoomHot shoe support for Canon Speedlite flashes and optional lens accessoriesPowershot G9 vs G7: Whats changed?The G9 is an incremental upgrade in the truest sense; externally the body is almost identical, and there are only three really key changes; the raw mode, the screen and the sensor.Higher resolution (12MP vs 10MP)Slightly larger sensor (1/1.7 as opposed to 1/1.8 inch)Redesigned front grip and rear thumb restEnhanced Face Detection technologyRed-eye correction in playbackAuto ISO shiftCompatibility with ST-E2 wireless flash transmitterMarginally better battery life (240 shots vs 220 shots, CIPA standard)Two custom White Balance settings (as opposed to one)PowerShot G9 Key specificationsStreet priceBody MaterialSensorImage sizesMovie clipsLensFocusMeteringShutter speedApertureShooting modeSensitivityWhite BalanceImage parametersContinuousFlashStorageViewfinderLCD monitorConnectivityPowerOther featuresOptional accessoriesWeight (no batt)Dimensions

• US: $480• UK: £330

Metal/Plastic

• 1/1.7" Type CCD• 12.1 million effective pixels

• 4000 x 3000• 3264 x 2448• 2592 x 1944• 1600 x 1200• 640 x 480• 4000 x 2248 (16:9)

• 1024 x 768 @ 15fps• 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15fps• 320 x 240 @ 30 / 15fps• 160 x 120 @ 15fps• AVI Motion JPEG with WAVE monaural audio

• TTL autofocus• AiAF (Face Detection / 9-point)• Single / Continuous AF• Manual focus• Focus lock• 1-point AF (center or flexizone)• 1 cm minimum focus range (macro)

• Evaluative• Center-weighted average• Spot (Linked to center or selected AF point)

• F2.8-F8.0 (wide)• F4.8-F8.0 (tele)

• Auto• Program AE• Shutter Priority AE• Aperture Priority AE• Manual• Custom (2 modes)• Stitch Assist• Movie• Special Scene

• Auto• High ISO Auto• ISO 80• ISO 100• ISO 200• ISO 400• ISO 800• ISO 1600

• Auto• Daylight• Cloudy• Tungsten• Fluorescent• Fluorescent H• Flash• Underwater• Custom

• Normal: approx 2fps• AF: approx 0.8fps

• Auto, Manual Flash On / Off, Slow Sync, Red-eye reduction• Second curtain sync• Range: 30cm - 4.0m (wide) / 2.5m (tele)• Hot shoe

• SD / SDHC / MMC card compatible• 32 MB card supplied

• Real-image zoom• Dioptre correction

• 2.5-inch P-Si TFT• 207,000 pixels• Adjustable Brightness• 100% coverage

• USB 2.0 High speed• A/V out (NTSC/PAL switchable)

• Rechargeable Li-ion battery NB-2LH/NB-2L• Charger included• Optional AC adapter kit

• Speedlite 220EX/ 430EX/ 580EX• Tele-converter (2.0x) TC-DC58C• Wide-converter (0.75x) WC-DC58B• Lens adapter/Hood set LA-DC58H• Waterproof Case WP-DC11• Waterproof Case Weight WW-DC1• Soft Case DCC-600• High Power Flash HF-DC1• AC Adapter Kit ACK-DC20• Rechargeable Li-ION battery pack NB-2LH• Car Battery Charger CBC-NB2

320 g (11.3 oz)

106.4 x 71.9 x 42.5 mm(4.2 x 2.8 x 1.7 in)

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are basedon the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE reviewbefore coming to your own conclusions.Images which can be viewedat a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottomright corner of the image, clicking on the image will display alarger (typically VGA) image in a new window.To navigate the review simplyuse the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular sectioneither pick the section from the drop down or select it from thenavigation bar at the top.DPReview calibrate theirmonitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted)PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can makeout the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscaleblocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you shouldbe able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideallyA,B and C.

This article is Copyright 2007 and may NOT in part or in whole be reproduced in any electronic or printed medium without prior permission from the author.

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