Canon’s new entry into the advanced amateur space is the G9.  What makes it intriguing is the reintroduction of the ability to save RAW data, something which very few non-DSLR cameras have been allowed to do (they all could, since every digital camera creates RAW data from the sensor.  The manufacturers just choose not to support the RAW data outside the camera).  Anyone with experience in using a RAW capture workflow is fully aware of the advantages this has when trying to create better than average images.

Canon sent me a pre-production model of this camera in late August.  I played around with it and even managed to “lose” it at the Luxor in Las Vegas while attending photoshop world.  I was amazed when checking with security the next day someone had actually turned it in.  I should have more faith in human nature.

Road to Vegas

Canon G9, 1/640 at f/8.0, ISO 100, 44mm (max telephoto)

I have been carrying around a little Olympus ... sort of a “better than nothing” camera.  We all stumble across photographic possibilities, and I prefer to have at least something in my briefcase.  I also like a small camera like this for snapshots of the grandkids.  While the camera is “noisy” (I believe that word is part of the definition of this category of cameras ), I felt using good RAW processing software would be advantageous over other cameras, and would mitigate some of the noise.

Back Porch Guest

Canon G9, 1/60 at f/7.1, ISO 200, 44mm

I don’t have a lot of experience with this type of camera, so I’ll refrain from commenting on feature set, ease of use compared to others.  I will say I liked the camera enough to purchase my own, and have used it a few times.  The picture above is a guest I discovered sitting  on my back porch when I returned home from work one day.  I believe it is some type of falcon, but I’m certainly no bird expert.  Anyway, I grabbed the G9 and took the picture (this is pretty much full frame) through the window.  A 17x22” print look quite nice, with very little sign of noise, good sharpness and detail, considering it was from this type of camera.

My main use for this camera is in my golf bag.  Golf courses can present a myriad of photographic possibilities, so I hate playing without a camera.  The flower picture was taken while I was playing golf last week.  (I’ve been known to let groups go through so I could stop to shoot.) The G9 will be a perfect carry along for such occasions.

I’ll eventually add a page that shows some of these images at 100% to provide a little idea of the noise and detail.

Reflections of Mandalay Bay

Canon G9, 1/60 at f/8.0, ISO 80, 36mm

Bridges of Rancho Santa Fe, #6