Megapixels and Zoom
The Canon Powershot G9 is a 12 megapixel camera with a 6x optical zoom lens. Zoom can be further increased at lower resolutions with a safety zoom feature offering an extra 2x zoom. Also available are a Digital Tele-Converter (1.5x) and standard digital zoom (4x).
The focal length of the lens is equivalent to 35 - 210mm in 35mm format.
The capabilities of the lens can be further enhanced by buying optional conversion lenses. These are a 2x tele converter (TC-DC58C), and a 0.75x wide converter (WC-DC58B). To use these lenses you will also need to purchase a lens adapter / hood set (LA-DC58H).
Basics
- Image stabilisation
- Special resolution for widescreen television playback or prints
- Self timer
- Red eye correction after a photo has been taken
- 60 seconds of commentary or sound can be added to a photo
- Stitch Assist for panoramic photos.
- RAW file capture.
- Histogram.
- Hotshoe
Focusing
There are a number of focusing options available. These include manual focus and a face detection setting. You can also use focus bracketing, an auto focus assist beam for low light and auto focus lock.
For close up shots the Powershot G9 can focus from 1cm away from the subject in macro mode.
LCD Screen and Viewfinder
The LCD screen is 3 inches in size and is made up of around 230,000 pixels. I found the screen very easy to see.
The Powershot G9 also has a viewfinder. You can use the dioptre correction to focus the finder to suit your own eyesight.
Flash
The flash modes are Auto, Manual Flash On and Off. Slow sync speed, second curtain sync and red eye reduction can be turned on and off. If you notice red eye in a shot after it has been taken it can be cleaned up with a special menu option.
Flash exposure compensation (+/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments), Face Detection FE, Safety FE, and flash exposure lock can be used. The power of the flash can be adjusted to suit conditions.
The built in flash unit has a range of 4m (wide) and 2.5m (tele). An external flash unit can be added to increase flash power.
Scene Modes
The scene modes available are Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Sports, Night Snapshot, Kids & Pets, Indoor, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium and Underwater.
Colour Effects
There are a range of different colour filters you apply to a photo. These are Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red and Custom Color. There is also a colour swap feature this allows you to select a particular colour in a scene such as blue and change it to another colour such as red. Finally there is a colour accent. This takes a black and white photo apart from the one colour you have selected.
Movies
Movies of up to 4gb in size or 1 hour in duration can be recorded. The maximum resolution is 1024 x 768 pixels (top speed 15 frames per second). Lower resolutions are also available such as 640 x 480 pixels (top speed 30 frames per second).
Only digital zoom can be applied while a movie is being recorded, although you can zoom in before you start to record. Sound can also be captured.
Time lapse movies can also be made.
Advanced Features
Manual exposure, aperture priority and shutter priority are all available. There are also custom settings you can use to store settings you use on a regular basis. The maximum aperture is f/2.8 (wide) and f4.8 (tele). Shutter speeds work in the range 15 - 1/2500 seconds.
Other advanced features include metering (Evaluative (linked to Face Detection AF frame), Centre-weighted average, Spot (centre or linked to Face Detection AF or FlexiZone AF frame)), exposure compensation (+/- 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments), auto exposure bracketing (1/3 - 2 EV in 1/3 stop increments), sensitivity (AUTO, High ISO Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600) and white balance (Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Underwater, Custom1, Custom2).
Auto exposure lock and continuous shooting (Approx. 1.5 fps, AF: Approx. 0.7 fps, LV: Approx. 0.8 fps) can also be used.
Computer - Printers - Television
All the necessary cables and software are supplied by Canon to connect the Powershot G9 to a computer, television set and compatible printer.
Underwater Case
For taking underwater photos a special case (WP-DC21) and weights for the case (WW-DC1) are available to buy. The case is waterproof to a depth of 40m.
Canon Powershot G9
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