While the cameras in our smartphones are quickly proving their worth and punching way above their weight, they still have a long way to go. Therefore, having a good point-and-shoot camera has its advantages even today. They’re the perfect middle ground replacements to both the puny smartphone camera and the bulky DSLR. The Canon PowerShot G9 is one such point-and-shoot camera that a photography enthusiast would love to have.
With the right mix of manual controls and features, the Canon PowerShot G9 will force you to get creative while shooting a photo. In this article, you will learn more about the camera and how it fares against other alternatives.
What Is Canon PowerShot G9?
The Canon PowerShot G9 is a compact point-and-shoot camera with a dedicated optical viewfinder. Weighing just 370 grams including the rechargeable batteries, the camera is light enough to hold and shoot. Launched as the successor to the PowerShot G7, the G9 brings back the ability to shoot photos in RAW format, which was deliberately eliminated from the G7.
The Canon PowerShot G9 was designed to be a flagship point-and-shoot model aimed at enthusiasts wanting flexible performance without the bulk of a DSLR. Equipped with a hot-shoe that supports external flashes and accessories such as filters and lenses, the G9 places a lot of focus on flexibility.
Product Specs
The Canon PowerShot G9 is equipped with a 12-Megapixel CCD sensor with a maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels. The focal length equivalent of the lenses in the G9 is around 35 to 210mm with the aperture rated around f/2.8 to f/4.8. The ISO range of the sensor starts at 80 and goes all the way up to 1600.
With up to 6x optical zoom and an optical image stabilization system, the Canon PowerShot G9 does not reduce the quality of the pictures even when zoomed in. The rechargeable lithium-ion battery in the camera is good for taking a maximum of 240 shots on a single charge with the LCD screen switched on. When the LCD screen is switched off, the number of rated shots goes up by almost 2.5 times, to around 600 shots.
Pricing
The price is exclusive of any additional accessories as they’re not included with the camera and you will have to get them separately.
You can get the camera online from websites such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Target, among others. Or, you could even visit your local camera store to get a good look at it before you make your purchase.
How It Compares
We picked a few similar products available on the market to see how they compare to the Canon PowerShot G9.
Canon PowerShot G9
Photography enthusiasts and semi-pro photographers are sure to love the Canon PowerShot G9 for the level of flexibility that it offers and the sheer number of features it comes with, many of which are almost on par with a DSLR.
The camera comes with manual exposure controls and shutter and aperture priorities, with shutter speeds of up to 1/2500th of a second. The pre-set white balance options are vast, and the camera also has two setting options that can be defined by the user.
- ease of use
- performance
- design quality
- warranty
The Canon PowerShot G9 scores big on the ease-of-use factor with a dedicated optical viewfinder and a large 3-inch LCD display with 100% coverage for composing photos. The controls are well placed and easy to understand and get the hang of. The D-pad also features a rotary dial that can be spun around to change the values and alter the settings quickly.
When it comes to performance, the Canon PowerShot G9 does not disappoint. The camera is pretty quick to initialize once you power it up, taking just one and a half-second of your time.
Photography enthusiasts will love the camera’s ability to shoot in RAW format, which gives them full control over the photograph. The presence of plenty of built-in shooting modes enables the camera to adapt itself to any type of scene.
Being a flagship point-and-shoot camera, the Canon PowerShot G9 is a robust and well-built device. The G9 is physically identical to the previous generation G7, which is not an entirely bad thing though.
Featuring a tried and tested design and crafted entirely from metal, the camera feels solid, well-balanced, and durable. The high-quality metal construction adds slightly more weight to the camera. Most photographers would gladly accept a few more grams in weight in turn for a solid piece of equipment.
Canon offers a one-year limited warranty on the Canon PowerShot G9.
PROS
- Solid build quality
- Comes with the ability to shoot in RAW
- Features a large 3-inch LCD display
- Equipped with a hot-shoe for external flashes
- Supports a lot of accessories such as filters, lenses, and external flashes, among others
CONS
- Dust accumulates between the lenses easily
- Optical zoom is unavailable during video capture
Where to Buy
Amazon
Panasonic Lumix ZS200
The Panasonic Lumix ZS200 is a long zoom point-and-shoot camera equipped with a 20.1-Megapixel sensor. Almost everything about the Lumix ZS200 is better than the Canon PowerShot G9. The zoom lens of the camera has a focal length equivalent of around 24 to 360mm with a large 1-inch MOS sensor. The camera also has a high ISO range of up to 12,800, which is considerably more than that of the Canon PowerShot G9.
- ease of use
- performance
- design quality
- warranty
Sporting a completely revised styling when compared to its previous generation, the Lumix ZS200 has improved quite a bit on the drawbacks of the previous model. The camera is now more ergonomic and easier to hold.
The electronic viewfinder has 100% coverage that helps quite a bit while taking photos. There aren’t too many buttons to confuse the user, and the spacing between them is adequate. On the downside, although the touch-enabled display is large and visible, it does not perform well under bright light.
The 1-inch sensor helps capture bright, vivid, and sharp images with little to no loss in detail. Similar to the Canon PowerShot G9, the ZS200 also supports RAW file formats. The burst photo performance is on par with a DSLR as the camera can achieve up to 10 frames per second with the focus fixed, and up to 6 frames per second with continuous autofocus. Video capture is unparalleled in the ZS200 with the camera supporting resolutions of up to 4K at 30 and 24 frames per second.
It is quite amazing that such a feature-rich camera like the ZS200 has such a small footprint. The camera is extremely portable and features a rubberized grip that helps you hold on to it. The all-metal construction lends a more premium and solid feel to the device.
The camera features a slick, industrial design with no unnecessary elements hideously jutting out. Unfortunately, the camera is not weather-sealed, which means you’ve got to be very careful when you take it out in dusty, humid, and rainy environments.
Panasonic offers a one-year limited warranty on the Panasonic Lumix ZS200.
PROS
- Optical image stabilization is available for both photo and video capture
- Features an exceptional design and a durable build quality
- Comes with a really long zoom lens
- Amazing photo and video performance
- Equipped with a really long and powerful feature list
CONS
- Extremely expensive when compared with other point-and-shoot cameras
- Lacks a hot shoe
Where to Buy
Amazon
Canon PowerShot SX740
The Canon PowerShot SX740 is another addition to the point-and-shoot PowerShot lineup. Featuring a really long super zoom lens that supports up to 40x optical zoom with optical image stabilization, the camera treads on DSLR territory when it comes to zoom options. The focal length equivalent of the lens in the camera measures around 24mm and goes all the way up to a whopping 960mm.
- ease of use
- performance
- design quality
- warranty
Unlike the Canon PowerShot G9, the SX740 features a 3-inch display that can be tilted up to 180 degrees, allowing you to capture photos from a wide range of angles. It also comes with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity options built right in, enabling you to transfer photos to a connected smart device such as a smartphone or a laptop. Additionally, the zoom framing assistant feature in the camera helps you track your subject when you’re zoomed in with just the touch of a button.
The SX470 with its 20-Megapixel CMOS sensor and DIGIC 8 image-processing engine delivers outstanding performance for a compact point-and-shoot camera. The ability to record 4K videos at 30 frames per second, combined with the 5-axis image stabilization system built into the camera, lets you capture mind-bending 4K video footage. However, the camera suffers a little under low-light conditions, with the photos appearing a little noisy with not much detail being captured.
Considering how compact the camera is even with the 40x optical zoom lens, the design is impressive. Apart from that, there’s nothing new that the camera has to offer. Being a part of the PowerShot series, the controls are all too familiar and easy to grasp.
Canon offers a one-year limited warranty on the PowerShot SX740.
PROS
- Tilting display lets you capture selfies and photos from different angles
- Camera is equipped with highly remarkable and class leading zoom capabilities
- Photo quality under bright lights and well-lit conditions is really good
- Well-priced and inexpensive when compared with other alternatives
CONS
- The display is not touch enabled
- Lacks the ability to shoot in RAW formats
Where to Buy
Amazon
Sony Cybershot WX220
The Sony Cybershot WX220 is a sleek and compact point-and-shoot camera with an 18.2-Megapixel sensor that comes with optical image stabilization. It features a 10x optical zoom lens with a focal length equivalent of 25mm to 250mm. With an ISO range of 100 to 12,800, the camera is versatile and perfect for capturing photos in low-light conditions.
- ease of use
- performance
- design quality
- warranty
Although the camera possesses a bright and vivid display, it is unfortunately fixed and non-tilting, making it tough to capture photos from a wide range of angles. Wi-Fi and NFC are built into the camera and allow you to connect to a smart device to transfer and share photos. You can even use your connected smartphone as a remote shutter button release.
The performance of the Cybershot WX220 is nothing to write home about. Except for the burst shooting mode, which supports up to a whopping 10 frames per second, the camera is simply an average performer. In video capture mode, the camera supports a maximum resolution of just 1080p with a choice of two frame rates – 60 fps or 30 fps.
Though the camera is well-made from high-quality metal, it lacks any kind of a dedicated grip or indent and instead makes you rely on the slightly textured front to give you some grip. The buttons are too tiny and not well-positioned; this is especially true with the power button.
Sony offers a one-year limited warranty on the Cybershot WX220.
PROS
- The camera is very compact and well-built
- The user interface is highly responsive with quick shot-to-shot timings
- Relatively inexpensive when compared with other alternatives
CONS
- Lacks a dedicated grip
- Not many manual controls are on offer
Where to Buy
Amazon
Conclusion
The Canon PowerShot G9 is a very good and well-rounded point-and-shoot camera to have in your repertoire. You would be forgiven for comparing this camera with a traditional DSLR with respect to the number of accessories that the camera supports. It is a highly flexible piece of equipment with tons of features and manual controls.
But the camera was first released in the year 2007, which is a whole decade earlier. And unfortunately, as with all technological gadgets, it has started to show its age. Point-and-shoot camera technology has progressed by leaps and bounds and is now threatening the DSLR space, and the Canon PowerShot G9 possesses none of those technological advancements.