Canon G9

[Photog]

I'm still kicking the idea of the lensmate around. There is no question that it adds to the versatility of the camera...but it starts going down the wrong road. I bought the G9 because I wanted a "one piece" camera. When you start adding things (lensmate + filters + doublers, etc, external flash, etc), I run into the same problem I have with the dSLR...to much crap! I bought the G9 to be a simple, compact alternative to the SLR for the moto trips (primary) and the hiking/backpacking trips (secondary). I'm very much looking for a "point and shoot" camera. Not a "point, change filters, point again, change lenses, point again, reconsider the filter change, point again, wait for the sun to move, point again, try to get the Gila Monster to turn around, point again, ...blah blah blah...then shoot" camera. If I'm going to be out taking pictures, I'll take the SLR. This is for the trips where photography is much lower on the list of goals.

I hear you on all that. That is exactly why I bought my G9 also. I don't do wide angle or super telephoto. With 12 Mpix, I have plenty of room to crop to a bit more telephoto'ish image. When I first got each of my G cameras, I did some studio work, portraits, etc, to see how far I could push the little cameras. They really are amazing. But; in the end, I use it for trail trips, and how-to threads on these forums.

Here is my setup: G9, with lensmate, polarizer and lens cap. Small bag for camera, battery, charger and card reader. This little package is easy to take along on trail trips.

I use the Lensmate, to protect the lens, and give me something to hold onto. When the camera is turned on, and the lens barrel telescopes out, it is vulnerable to damage. The Lensmate attaches to the body, where the factory lens ring comes off. This completely contains the lens, and protects it from any bumps. It also protects the little factory leaf-closure over the lens, when it is turned off. Wit hthe Lensmate, the rangefinder (viewfinder) is useless.

A polarizer (not UV filter) really improves 50% of the photographs. If I don't want the polarizer on, I just pop off the Lensmate (polarizer attached), take the shot I want, and snap the Lensmate back on.

I use the lens cap to protect the polarizer. It looks like a tiny little SLR.

As for an external flash; if you have one for your Rebel, it should work on the G9, if you need it for anything.

This would apply to the Canon S5-IS, or any of the A-Series cameras, also (except the external flash on the A-Series).

 

[cshontz]

Underwater case

These things are pure gold. I used it to shoot in heavy rain without a care in the world, at the water park, on the beach, Mexico, the Dominican Republic. I still have it. I'm only sad that the camera that goes in it is broken.

Pouring rain (in foliage mode)

In Mexico (full auto)

 

[Photog]

Those aqua cases add a whole new world of opportunities. Very cool.!

 

[goodtimes]

To bad they are so darn expensive! That is one "option" that is still getting serious consideration from me. Even more so than the lens mate.

 

[SOAZ]

These things are pure gold. I used it to shoot in heavy rain without a care in the world, at the water park, on the beach, Mexico, the Dominican Republic. I still have it. I'm only sad that the camera that goes in it is broken.
QUOTE]


Great shots!
What happened to your camera?!
Are you able to get it fixed.

 

[bajasurf]

Thanks Schattenjager

Thanks for the great tip of "turned off the image display feature". Mine was set for 3 seconds which is a lifetime. It has made my camera FUN!!!!

 

[cshontz]

Great shots!
What happened to your camera?!
Are you able to get it fixed.

Thanks! Notorious E18 error. The lens extend and retract failed inexplicably. I can get it fixed for $200-300. Its almost close enough to get a new G9 instead, and eBay the "parts" S80 and underwater housing. Still not in the cards, though.

I tried to fix - or at least diagnose - it myself. That didn't go too well, but its not any worse.

 

[SOAZ]

Thanks! Notorious E18 error. The lens extend and retract failed inexplicably. I can get it fixed for $200-300. Its almost close enough to get a new G9 instead, and eBay the "parts" S80 and underwater housing. Still not in the cards, though.

I tried to fix - or at least diagnose - it myself. That didn't go too well, but its not any worse.

At least I'm not the only one who disects their camera when it stops working!
I have my last camera on my coffee table in pieces.
Same problem. I think I got enough dirt and sand into the lense that I must have burnt up the motor to extend it... ??

 

[Schattenjager]

Thanks for the great tip of "turned off the image display feature". Mine was set for 3 seconds which is a lifetime. It has made my camera FUN!!!!

10-4 that!

 

[TrailBlazer03]

I looked at this camera. But was so not going to spend 500 on it. The 12 mega pixel is great. But it i was really interested in the flip and twist feature.

 

[goodtimes]

Ok, so I like the camera a little more than I did last week, but it has some serious short comings.

• It really sucks for "walk by shooting". You really gotta stop, snap the pic, wait a couple seconds, then move. That shutter lag thing...it sucks.
• Forget any sort of action shot in any of the program modes (the only place you can shoot RAW). The shutter lag kills you yet again.
• Even at ISO 80, there is a lot of noise.
• The pictures just aren't as crisp as you get with a good lens on the SLR, despite having IS on the G9, and no IS on the SLR.
• Lots of post-processing compared to the SLR. I suspect this will go away though, once I get the camera tweaked in the way I like it.

A few good points:

• The macro mode works pretty well.
• You can hang it out the window while driving 50mph down a dirt road and take pics....yea, I won't do that with my SLR.
• Shove it in a pocket and take off on a hike...so much better in that regard.
• metal body, smooth edges, decent control layout, good battery life.

ehh....the jury is still out on this one.

 

[TrailBlazer03]

Ok, so I like the camera a little more than I did last week, but it has some serious short comings.

• It really sucks for "walk by shooting". You really gotta stop, snap the pic, wait a couple seconds, then move. That shutter lag thing...it sucks.
• Forget any sort of action shot in any of the program modes (the only place you can shoot RAW). The shutter lag kills you yet again.
• Even at ISO 80, there is a lot of noise.
• The pictures just aren't as crisp as you get with a good lens on the SLR, despite having IS on the G9, and no IS on the SLR.
• Lots of post-processing compared to the SLR. I suspect this will go away though, once I get the camera tweaked in the way I like it.

A few good points:

• The macro mode works pretty well.
• You can hang it out the window while driving 50mph down a dirt road and take pics....yea, I won't do that with my SLR.
• Shove it in a pocket and take off on a hike...so much better in that regard.
• metal body, smooth edges, decent control layout, good battery life.

ehh....the jury is still out on this one.

The G9 is said to be a really great camera. But everyones opinion on it verys. I think the S5 IS is better than the S3 IS. Others disagree.

 

[Photog]

Ok, so I like the camera a little more than I did last week, but it has some serious short comings.

• It really sucks for "walk by shooting". You really gotta stop, snap the pic, wait a couple seconds, then move. That shutter lag thing...it sucks.
• Forget any sort of action shot in any of the program modes (the only place you can shoot RAW). The shutter lag kills you yet again.
• Even at ISO 80, there is a lot of noise.
• The pictures just aren't as crisp as you get with a good lens on the SLR, despite having IS on the G9, and no IS on the SLR.
• Lots of post-processing compared to the SLR. I suspect this will go away though, once I get the camera tweaked in the way I like it.

A few good points:

• The macro mode works pretty well.
• You can hang it out the window while driving 50mph down a dirt road and take pics....yea, I won't do that with my SLR.
• Shove it in a pocket and take off on a hike...so much better in that regard.
• metal body, smooth edges, decent control layout, good battery life.

ehh....the jury is still out on this one.

Any type of pre-focusing will almost eliminate shuter lag - have you tried this yet?

This is not a sports camera. I can get about 1 well focused frame per second when shooting at the same object.

I just tried an experiment. The shutter sound happens after the image is captured. This gives a feeling of shutter lag. This sound can be turned off. As soon as the screen goes black, the image is captured (except for long expostures). Now you are waiting for the camera to be ready to shoot again (less than 1 sec). In continuous mode you can get about 3 frames per second.

P&S tend to have more noise than the SLR's. The Canon RAW software does a better job than Adobe Camera RAW (ACR), at reducing the digital noise. Even better at reducing the color noise. This is because ACR does not import all the image info the camera provides. The Canon software does use all the info from the camera.

Most digital P&S have a fair amount of noise over 200 to 400 ISO.

A few pre-sets in the post processing software will save time.

Everyone: Digital P&S cameras are a compromise. They are easier to have at hand, than a DSLR. They are used, when you don't want to haul around your DSLR. They will never create the same quality image as a DSLR. If they produced the same quality images as a DSLR, who would by an DSLR? They make good quality images, within their limitations. They make great images for most people's purposes. I have had no trouble printing images from my previous G3 (4 megapixel), at 12" X 16" (matted and mounted in a 16" X 20" frame).

Does it look good on your screen?

Does it look good when printed large?

How large do you want to print?

 

[Photog]

There is another (sometimes difficult) way of reducing noise. It is a combination of the way you take the picture, and the way you post-process it.

The physics of the digital chip, creats noise, between the photosites on the chip. if there is no other light landing on the photosite, only the noise is recorded. This is what happens in the dark areas of the image.

Set the G9 to capture in RAW, and pay close attention to the histogram.

This noise can be washed out, by adding light to the chip. In our case, take the exposure to the very highest point, without clipping (blinkies). The image might seem over exposed, when viewed on the back of the camera; but post processing can bring it back down. And it will come down, with much less noise in the dark areas.

Avoid underexposing, with a low ISO. Better to use a higher ISO, and push the exposure to the top.

Do a few test runs at the house, and see what you think.:wavey:

 

[SOAZ]

Here are a couple of shots from my new G9.
Nothing too special, just auto or macro setting with a polarizer.