Customer Reviews
Canon G9 
2008-07-10
I bought this camera for my daughter. She did the research and asked for this specific camera. She wanted a small, compact, high-quality camera. I am a Nikon person, so it almost hurt to purchase a different brand of camera. As soon as she received it, she started taking pictures. She showed me some of the features and I was amazed. She took one picture of a restaurant menu which was on the wall and it was very clear - you could read everything. After she showed me this, she zoomed out to show me that the picture was actually taken from a block away!
I may be purchasing another one for myself...
Lots of adjustments - but not a DSLR replacement 
2008-07-08
I bought this to take with me when a D300 would be impractical - biking, playground with kids, etc. For this purpose, its compact form factor is certainly better than a DSLR, however, with all its adjustments, it is still basically a point and shoot with all the disadvantages - slow handling (zoom, focus, shutter) and awkward composition via the LCD. It has an optical viewfinder that is all but worthless.
The controls allow for fairly quick access to key exposure adjustments, but the sensor size limits the DOF range (not much difference between max f/2.8 and min f/8) so Aperture priority mode is not that useful over Program. I avoid using direct flash, and other reviews have covered the usability of ISO over 400, thus this is basically an outdoor use camera, which serves my purposes fine. The G9 has allowed me to get some shots while biking that would never have been possible with an SLR, and shooting RAW is critical to bringing out the best image quality in post processing.
The built in neutral density "filter" is useful in shooting longer exposures during bright daylight, and the size allows for easy placement for bracketing exposures for HDR without needing a tripod. Image quality at ISO 80 is excellent.
In summary, if you are looking for a point & shoot, there are better values than the G9. If you are looking to learn photography, you'd be better served with an entry level SLR - it will be quicker and more satisfying to use. If you are an advanced photographer looking for convenience, the handling of the G9 will be disappointing - but there are times when this is probably the only option vs not carrying a camera at all and missing a shot.
pretty good 
2008-07-06
Pros: capable of shooting RAW, Image Stablization, clear video, panorama mode (keep wb/shutter/aperture the same), battery life is good, nice shot mode (flash, but keep the shutter slow to capture the background)
Cons: I don't like the LCD screen, too grainy. Price. Neck strap.
I was gonna use it as my DSLR backup, but it really is just a good point&shoot. Not ready for a backup for DSLR.
Overall, I have no regret, it's a nice camera.
Very sophisticated point and shoot 2008-07-01
Like alot of reviewers here, I bought the G9 as a sophisticated point and shoot upgrade, not wanting to lug around a heavy DSLR, yet wanting more sophisticated pictures than most point and shoots can handle. I have found that I use a camera alot more if it is easy to carry around, and the G9 fits that bill very well. It's not like my little Elph, which almost goes unnoticed in a shirt pocket; but it will fit into a jacket pocket quite easily and takes vastly superior pictures to the Elph.
Do not be under the impression that the G9 will shoot the "same as" a DSLR, however, because it won't. But in most circumstances (other than low light, as others have mentioned) the large majority of people will be fairly awed by the pictures this beautiful little camera can take. It IS that good. Start to get over 400 ISO, however, and, well, then it gets a little grainy and noisy.
The camera can be set on full auto and take "very good" pictures, but I would not waste my money on the G9 if that is all you are going to do with it. This camera is definitely for the more creative types. I think it works best in aperture priority or shutter priority modes, although there are so many different settings on this camera it can take days to wade through the instruction manual to cover them all. I've had mine for about a month and I'm still not through it yet, it's been easy to "use" but difficult to "master", but I happen to think that's a good thing.
I would highly recommend the Lensmate brand adapter for the G9. It solves two problems inherent in the G9's design - first, it protects the zoom lens when it is extended, second, it makes the camera much easier to hold and manipulate. It is also made out of aluminum and is of much higher quality than the cheap Canon plastic adapter. Also, the Lensmate adapter is threaded so you can use filters, which I do, a UV and a polarized, when required. I keep my Lensmate adapter on all the time, even though it adds slightly to the G9's bulk.
Also, do yourself a favor and spend the $6 on an G9 LCD screen protector. Peel it off and stick it on, poof, no worries about scratching the beautiful and bright screen (and it is really beautiful at 3"). 'Nuff said.
A few other options for the G9 I found extremely worthwhile: the high quality metal grip and thumb rest by Richard Franiec. Again, they make the G9 so much easier to handle and shoot. I also bought the G9 leather case (these are only sold by Canon in Japan for some reason, but you can find them on ebay). I especially like how "60's retro" the already retro G9 looks with this case. It is a two piece design and with only the bottom part of the case attached (screws into the tripod mount), the camera is still functional and it does a good job of protecting most of the camera body.
I also bought a Sandisk 4GB Extreme III HDSC card for the camera, with a card reader. It'll hold plenty of pix and vid for my needs. A 2GB card is probably sufficient, and if you tend to lose cards you might want to stick with that instead since it's cheaper than replacing a 4GB card. The card the camera comes with is so small it's really basically useless.
Lastly, I considered getting some Raynox lenses for the G9, but decided against it as the effective lens on the G9 is already 35mm-210mm equivalent. Adding a supplemental/larger lens to the G9 (unless I was doing macro work or just had it set up on a tripod and didn't care) would just make the camera bulkier, meaning I would use it less. Again, the point of this camera is to take it with me wherever I go. So I'm happy with the camera set up the way it is.
I have not had the chance to use the video on this camera yet, and I've heard people complain about the inability to use the digital zoom function with it... Oh well, that is not the primary reason I bought the camera and it is not that important to me.
As far as the pictures I've taken so far, I'm extremely pleased with them. I took the G9 with me on vacation to a New England beach destination this summer right after I got it. Again, I was not expecting DSLR quality, jaw-dropping photos, but the G9 really delivered nonetheless. If you are a decent photographer, "non-professionals" will be very, very impressed with your pictures.
I hope this review helps you decide if the G9 is the right camera for you, and if it is, what other options you might want to consider getting along with it. Good luck and happy shooting.
Great Buy 2008-06-26
The Canon PS G9 is a perfect camera for someone who is beginning in photography and is looking to learn. The manual settings are easy to use and the pictures come out great. The ability to shoot both JPG and RAW is an incredible feature that is mostly found in professional series cameras, I love that you can add lens and filters to give your shots a more artistic feel. Overall a great camera, if you wish to see some examples please view my porfolio at www.jpgmag.com/people/sliknick . All of my shots where taken with the G9
powershot G9 2008-07-19
This is a wonderful camera, I love it. It takes incredibly detailed shots and is easy to carry and use.
Great Results So Far 2008-07-17
I have had this camera for a few months now and find it absolutely incredible. Shots are great and it's a very easy camera to get to know even with all the bells and whistles. Iso 800 is almost completely useless though... way too much noise in photos. Keep it to to the lower Iso levels and you're golden. The landscape photography excellent with it although I'd recommend getting a lens adapter so you can put some filters on the camera. A polarizing filter is a must when shooting landscapes. Opt for an aluminum filter from Lensmate as opposed to the cheap plastic one from Canon. You will spend about $5 more but it will be well worth it.
The fun starts here . . . 2008-07-16
Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
This camera has restored the fun in photography for me. Let me explain: I am 80 years old, started out with a Speed Graphic using the Ansel Adams Zone System, graduated to a Linhof Technica V with all the extras, downsized to an Olympus OM-1, then a Canon EOS 35mm with most of the extras, got older and grew tired of toting all that gear and, in 2000, gave it all up for snapshots with a Canon Digital Power Shot 100. Shot lots of 2.1 MP stuff and quickly lost all interest in photography. But the spark was still smouldering so this year (2008)I bought a Canon G9 and started shooting again. Wow! It's like my Linhof days with 2 pounds of equipment (including the tripod) instead of fifty pounds.
There's an abundance of technical reviews on the G9 so I'll skip that and move on to the REAL reason I give it 5 stars: When I put this little digital tank on a tripod and set it on M (manual) it reminds me of my 4x5 days, under a focus cloth composing on a 4x5 screen or peeking though a mirror back and checking parallex, depth of field, and composition. When I scroll through the aperture and exposure settings it reminds me of my spot meter days of evaluation except, with this little jewel, you see the final result BEFORE you press the shutter.
What I missed most was the way 4x5 slowed you down and made you study your subject. You weren't after 10 shots bracketed, you were after 1 shot carefully composed and technically structured. There was something special about getting to know your environment while you took the time to compoose and evaluate or wait for the right sky conditions. 35mm didn't satisfy, it simply motivated me to become a quick shot bracketed shooter. And, like 4x5, it hid its final result until after the darkroom.
So - if you REALLY want to experience the shot and put it in your memory bank, get this camera, put it on a tripod, and ENJOY photography. And, when circumstances dictate, just whip it out, point and shoot on auto, and get the shot. Either way, this camera excels. Then there's always RAW if you miss the darkroom and want to adventure into Adobe's Creative Suite.
Happy Shooting!
Sophisticated Manual Controls, Good Performance, Well-Designed 2008-07-12
I already owned an automatic camera. But I wanted a second camera with full manual controls. And I didn't want a DSLR because of the size and because I don't want to spend $1K+ dollars on a camera and lenses. On the whole, I love using the G9, and I think it was worth the expense.
Pro's
Full manual controls
RAW
Solid build quality -- best of any compact camera I've ever held
Lots of non-gimmicky functions (too many to name)
Good zoom length
Perfect size -- relatively compact, but thick enough to get a good grip
Good for macro
Viewfinder
Proprietary battery (not AA)
Great pictures from ISO 80-400
Excellent ergonomics
Shoots quickly
Con's
Bundled software is annoying to work with
It should come with a hand strap, but doesn't
Expensive
Comments/ Explanations:
I would describe the camera as "fast enough" when shooting in RAW only; "very fast" when shooting JPEG only; and "a little slow" when shooting in JPEG + RAW (but that setting is basically redundant, so it doesn't bother me at all.) When shooting in JPEG the shot-to-shot time seems faster than any other compacts that I have tried.
My biggest complaint is that the bundled RAW software, though useful, is annoying to work with. The workflow is just not as streamlined as it could be.
Conclusion:
I highly recommend this camera for someone who wants a sophisticated compact camera rather than a DSLR. I cannot see myself outgrowing this anytime soon -- if ever! -- because there are just so many functions that I have control over.
Great Option when you don't want to carry your DSLR 2008-07-11
I've got a nice Canon DSLR setup with L-series lenses, etc... the whole works. But a lot of times you just don't want to lug it all around, or even get it out just to take a couple of quick shots. I really wanted to get a good "point and shoot" but I didn;t want to compromise on images and say, "I wish I got my good camera out".
So I did a lot of searching and playing with various cameras and ultimately I selected the Canon G9 and here's why...
1. It has a huge LCD display so you can hold the camera away from you and still see what you're shooting at, even from odd angles. Checking photos after the shot is easy too without having to zoom in all the time.
2. It's fully automatic if you want to leave it that way or you can fully customize it with shutter-priority, aperture priority, fully manual... basically almost everything you can do with your DSLR. So you can manage depth of field, etc. with ease.
3. The ability to add on the telephoto lens and converter is great... effectively gives it a 400MM optical zoom. I haven't tried the wide lens since the camera lens is wide enough for me.
4. It's image stabilization works well... great for low light shots without a flash without compromising on image quality by using a higher ISO.
5. Finally - the ability to use an external flash is terrific. I already had the 580EX but wanted to get a 430EX as a "slave" - this gave me the reason to do so, as a 430EX looks much better on the G9 and works great. (The 580 works too but it's so much bigger.
Are there compromises with the G9? I suppose so but not too many. It's not the smallest camera out there. It fits in a jacket pocket but not a shirt pocket. Also, it would be if the G9 and it's Raw photos could be managed with Canon's Digital Photo Professional software. But having two sets of software for my Canon cameras isn't that big a deal.
In the end - I think it's a great little camera and with the add-ons of lenses and external flash - it gives you big camera benefits from a little camera package.
