Canon PowerShot G9

The Canon PowerShot G9, part of Canon’s line of high-end compact digital cameras, was introduced a year after the G7 hit the market. The G9 boasts more resolution and added RAW shooting capability, as well as a new image processor, the Digic III, which improves on its face detection technology. The 12.1-megapixel Canon G9 has the same optically stabilized 6x zoom lens and manual functionality its predecessor had, but while the G7 started out at $599, the new G9 retails for $499.

Physical Tour

Front (8.25)
The front of the Canon G9 looks almost exactly like the older G7. Both cameras have black, retro-style fronts, although the G7 has a few more chrome highlights on its ring and ring release button. Those components are darker on the new G9. The front of the camera body is nearly flat with a few shallow contours. The hand grip on the left protrudes about an eighth of an inch, and there is a vertical strip of rubber on the inner portion of the hand grip where the fingers grab the camera. To the right of the lower portion of this strip is a white G9 label that stands out from the rest of the camera body.

The ring surrounding the lens is labeled "Canon Zoom Lens 6x IS" on the top and "7.4-44.4mm 1:2/8-4.8" along the bottom edge. A chrome lens ring surrounds the extending portion of the lens. To the lower right of the lens is the ring release button; this allows the ring to be removed so conversion lenses can be attached to the threading beneath.

To the upper left of the lens is the relatively enormous autofocus assist/self-timer lamp. To its right is the optical viewfinder window, and in the upper right corner is a skinny flash unit with the Canon logo embossed in chrome below it.

Back (9.0)
The LCD screen has been redesigned on the Canon PowerShot G9. The G7PowerShot has a smaller screen that protrudes slightly and looks separated from the rest of the camera back, but the G9’s LCD screen is upgraded to 3 inches and includes a small ledge above it that incorporates a few controls.

The Canon logo is printed in white above the LCD screen and just below the optical viewfinder. The viewfinder is small and oval-shaped. It is positioned on a protruding box with two LEDs to the right of the window and a diopter adjustment dial to the left. In the upper left corner of the back is a shortcut and print transfer button. To the right of the viewfinder is a chrome playback button.

To the right of the LCD is about 1.5 inches of space that looks exactly like the G7’s layout. In the upper right corner is a button that serves triple duty for the AE lock, FE lock, and microphone functions. Below it are two buttons aligned horizontally: the AF frame selector/delete button on the left and the exposure compensation/jump button on the right. Below these buttons is a grooved rotary dial that surrounds a small multi-selector and a function/set button in the center. Around the multi-selector are various icons representing the functions that can be accessed: MF on top, flash on the right, burst/self-timer on the bottom, and macro on the left. Below this set of controls are two more buttons: display on the left and menu on the right.

Left Side (7.5)
Not much has changed on the left side of the Canon G9. It is quite plain. The only difference between the G7 and G9’s left sides is the shape of the speaker grill. It looks like a flower on the G9 but is a set of holes patterned as a rectangle on the G7. Near the top of the G9’s left side is a chrome eyelet where the neck strap can be attached.

Right Side (8.0)
There is a chrome eyelet at the top of the right side, too. Just below it is a springy plastic door that covers the separate AV and USB jacks. This door is slightly different than the G7’s. While the G7’s door had to be pushed and slid to the back, this door has a small tab. Near the bottom is a tiny door where the power adapter is threaded through and into the battery compartment.

Top (8.75)
The top of the G9 looks identical to the G7, with the exception of a few identifying labels. On the left side, the G9 flaunts its resolution: "12.1 megapixels." Below that label is a dime-sized ISO dial with Auto, Hi, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 options printed on it. To the right of this and behind the viewfinder is the hot shoe with its five chrome leads on it. The hot shoe is on a slight protrusion, which flattens out to the right where the mode dial, power button, and shutter release/zoom ring reside. Another PowerShot G9 label sits in the lower right corner of the camera’s top.

Bottom (8.0)
Below the hand grip is the battery compartment covered by a friction grip door that has no lock. In the middle of the camera is a metal tripod socket surrounded by bumps to enhance the traction on the mount and prevent scratching the camera.