9.4 out of 10

Canon PowerShot G9

12.4 megapixels

Information found in: from 220 sources in 29 countries.

Best Price: $439

  • User Score (328)
    9.0 9.0 from 328 reviewers
  • Expert Score (44)
    8.3 8.3 from 44 reviewers
  • Design (30)
    9.4 9.4 from 30 reviewers
  • Value for money (25)
    8.3 8.3 from 25 reviewers
  • Features (16)
    9.7 9.7 from 16 reviewers
  • Ease of use (16)
    9.2 9.2 from 16 reviewers
  • Performance (66)
    9.6 9.6 from 66 reviewers
  • Picture quality (76)
    9.1 9.1 from 76 reviewers
  • Buzz Index: 5/5
  • Activity: 5/5

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Circuit City In stock (PR) $439 GO
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Red Tag Savings In stock (PS) $459 GO

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Canon’s PowerShot G9 has a face detection technology and a red-eye fix built in. It also has a 12.1 megapixel CCD that captures just the right amount of detail for pictures that will be printed in poster-size. It has a NB-2LH lithium-ion battery that is already included when the camera is bought. The charger of the battery is also given. It is able to do 6x optical zoom and a digital zoom of 4x. In addition, it has a real-image optical Extra Details regarding this camera: Its white balance control can be presents or auto, custom 1 or 2. Its recycling will take about less than 12 seconds. It does not have wireless control. But it automatically activates its shutter after setting either two or ten delay for the self timer. The playback time of this camera is about 300 minutes. Its video out can be PAL or NTSC and it’s audio out is monaural.

Manufacturer's Specs

Type of Camera

  • Type of Camera
    Compact digital still camera with built-in flash, 6x Optical / 4x Digital / 24x Combined Zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer System

Image Capture Device

  • Type
    12.1 Megapixel, 1/1.7 inch type Charge Coupled Device (CCD)
  • Total Pixels
    Approx. 12.4 Megapixels
  • Effective Pixels
    Approx. 12.1 Megapixels

Lens

  • Focal Length
    7.4-44.4mm f/2.8-4.8 (35mm film equivalent: 35-210mm)
  • Digital Zoom
    4x
  • Focusing Range
    Normal: 1.6 ft./50cm-infinity Macro: 0.39 in.-1.6 ft./1-50cm (WIDE)
  • Autofocus System
    TTL Autofocus

Viewfinder & Monitor

  • Viewfinder
    Real image optical zoom viewfinder
  • LCD Monitor
    3.0 inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD with wide viewing angle

Review Summary

The Canon PowerShot G9 is a very powerful camera which despite some of its flaws, has been appreciated by many. The features of this digital camera are many but the main package is that it’s zippy and built like a tank. Upgraded straight from the Canon PowerShot G7 model, the Canon PowerShot G9 is the real backup to an entry-level DSLR camera. The other special feature in this is that it offers the ultimate control over image quality for those prepared to find the time refining their images post-capture. That would be what the perfectionists would want to have. The Canon PowerShot G9 is appreciated by many of its users for being different from the other compacts, in other words, its features of manual controls are sensibly implemented and best of all it is unrestricted. The Canon PowerShot G9 also has a bigger 3-inch LCD with a smaller optical viewfinder and more resolution is available from the 12.1 megapixels, features that were missing from the previous versions. Its photo quality appears to have improved in this model and it has also restored raw-format support while maintaining the same balance performance. The pictures taken with the Canon PowerShot G9 are sharp. Its colors are crisp and the photo review on the 3 inch LCD is a sight not to be missed. Mode selections available on this camera are Color Accent, Color Swap, Time Lapse, Compact, and Standard. These modes might help many as well as confuse many as users wouldn’t know which mode is more appropriate. Some tend to find the camera covered with too many buttons, applying that a person with large hands won’t be able to hold the camera properly without accidentally pressing a button. On the whole, the Canon PowerShot G9 has not disappointed its users; it has rather satisfied them in many ways.

Given the success of Canon’s highly acclaimed G Series, it’s no surprise that ambitious photographers have been eagerly anticipating the next model in its evolution. The wait has paid off handsomel…

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  1. Canon PowerShot G9

    Reviewer: Shopzilla
    1 week ago

    The Canon PowerShot G9 is a 12.1 megapixel camera with a 6x optical zoom and 3.0 inch high resolution LCD Screen. This update of the award winning G7 adds a variety of features, most notably RAW shooting mode. The Canon PowerShot G9 features face detectio... Read more

  2. Reviewer: 3LUXE
    03 September 2008

    If you’re looking for a point and shoot that can go toe-to-toe with the big boys of the digital SLR camera world, check out the Canon PowerShot G9 . This powerhouse PowerShot boasts a class-leading 12.1 megapixels, 3.0-inch LCD, 6x optical zoom and Optical Image Stabilizer that keeps images steady and blur-free all through the zoom range, even in low light. Canon’s impressive DIGIC III image processor delivers peak performance and enhanced efficiency, enabling wonderf... Read more

  3. Canon Powershot G9 Digital Camera Review

    Reviewer: PhotoAxe
    15 May 2008

    It will take up to 1.7 seconds to power up and shooting lag is 0.5 seconds with both JPEG and raw files. As a conclusion, this camera is robustly built, comprehensively feature-packed and small enough to slip into a jacket pocket, having allot in its favour. Read more

  4. Canon Powershot G9

    Reviewer: Think Camera
    20 March 2008
    Overall 9
    9.0
    Design 9
    9.0
    Value for money 8
    8.0
    Features 9
    9.0
    Picture quality 9
    9.0
     

    The G-series has been at the pinnacle of Canon's digital compact camera range for almost as long as there has been a Canon digital compact camera range. There have been a few autumns where the latest G-model did not surface, fuelling fears that Canon had decided to leave the pro-grade compact user left out in the cold. Each time, Canon answers this with a bigger and better model. Which is why the Canon PowerShot G9 is the best compact camera Canon currently makes. It ... Read more

  5. Reviewer: Business Week
    08 January 2008
    Overall 8
    8.0
     

    A sturdy, compact camera with features more common to high-end digital SLRs Read more

  1. great,greatgreat

    Reviewer: db23, CNET
    06 September 2008
    Overall 10
    10
     

    this is very good digital camera Read more

  2. Point and Shoot like a Pro.

    Reviewer: Ju Ju Bean, CameraWorld.com
    20 August 2008
    Overall 10
    10
     

    The camera has the easiest manual functions that i have found on a point and shoot camera. It changes visual exposure on the LCD screen to help you choose the proper exposure. The ISO is easy to control, and the RAW files are great. Vintage classic style and very strong. I am very happy with the camera. Read more

  3. Reviewer: one_tamm, Epinions
    03 August 2008
    Overall 10
    10
     

    Let me start off by saying that this is just about the best point and shoot camera available right now. This is also the camera that professional photographers use as their pocket, go everywhere camera. The main reason why this camera is so popular with ... Read more

  4. Best compact around, for what that's worth

    Reviewer: Digitalcamera HQ
    04 July 2008
    Overall 8
    8.0
     

    Don’t buy this camera if you want something small and simple. Do buy it if you want a wide range of features and RAW format functionality. I love my DSLRs and, like many amateur photographers (I suspect), I’m something of a control freak, which rules out my picking up a compact or point-and-shoot because I’m given little or no say in what I do. I also despise the long, long, long shutter lag and complete inability to shoot fast-moving objects or in low light. The othe... Read more

  5. Reviewer: treysgeeg, Walmart
    02 July 2008
    Overall 10
    10
     

    This customer did not write a text review. Recommends this product? Yes Age: 55 - 64 Gender: Female Has owned product for: 2 - 7 weeks Uses product: Every few days Read more

  1. Canon PowerShot G9 or Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50?

    Hello, I'm searching for an advanced digital camera, not SLR but with some manual control and the ability to use an external flash. It looks like top contenders are Canon PowerShot G9 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 . My concern with the Panasonic is it is two years old (ancient at the rate technology moves today). Any opinions? Other cameras I should look at? I've also looked at the Fujifilm FinePix S100FS. While it looks great, it seems a...

    forum.digitalcamerareview.com: Read more

  2. P&S for canvas prints

    I would also suggest the Canon PowerShot G9 .

    forum.digitalcamerareview.com: Read more

  3. Digital compact for a photographer

    Like LB says, the Canon PowerShot G9 is worth considering or how about the Ricoh GX100 ? A review of the Ricoh is available here . Quote this post ·

    forum.ephotozine.com: 01 April 2008 Read more

  4. Looking for high quality point & shoot w/zoom

    We are traveling in Africa and I would like advice on a small point & shoot with zoom, and image stabilzation, this camera will compliment a large SLR with zoom. Any feed back appreciated. What about Canon PowerShot G9 ?

    forum.digitalcamerareview.com: Read more

  5. Breeze Systems release BreezeBrowser Pro v1.8

    Here is a summary or excerpt from an article that has just been published on DPNow: This release adds support for Nikon D3, Nikon D300, Pentax K20D, Pentax K10D, Olympus E-3, Sony Alpha DSLR-A700, Canon EOS 450D/Rebel XSi and Canon PowerShot G9 raw conversion. More...

    forum.dpnow.com: Read more

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Video Reviews

  • cameralabs: Canon PowerShot G9 video review Canon PowerShot G9 video review Length: Play Video
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