Canon PowerShot G9

Model Design / Appearance (8.0)
The Canon PowerShot G9 is styled somewhere between a DSLR and compact digital camera. It has a hot shoe, a rotary dial, and a mode dial reminiscent of DSLRs, but the small size of the controls and camera body come from compact point-and-shoot designs. The ISO dial and funky grooved edges of the dials and lens ring give the G9 a retro look.

The G9 also looks very much like the Canon G7. They have almost the exact same shell, with the exception of the redesigned back that accommodates the larger LCD screen on the G9.

Size / Portability (6.5)
The Canon G9’s body looks like a DSLR that has been flattened on the front and back. It isn’t built to slide in a pocket, but it is made to travel where a DSLR cannot. It measures 4.19 x 2.83 x 1.67 inches and, like the G7, is compatible with a waterproof case.

Canon designed this camera with the idea that some serious photographers don’t want to carry DSLRs to birthday parties, bar mitzvahs, and family outings because of the bulk of carrying a DSLR and lenses. The G9 has a flatter body and 11.29-ounce weight (body only) that allow it to slip into a backpack or coat pocket. The weight is a bit much for a camera of this size, but there are a lot of quality components jammed into that space.

The camera is outfitted with strap lugs on both sides; the included neck strap can be strung across these. The G9 can hang from the neck comfortably and can be toted around much more easily than a DSLR, which is the point.

Handling Ability (6.75)
Canon made a few attempts to improve handling the G9, but more attention was paid to its size. DSLR users will miss a decent hand grip. The G9 has a slight protrusion where the right hand holds the camera and even includes a vertical rubber strip on the front to ensure fingers don’t slide around, but fingers still can’t really get a good grip.

There isn’t much on the back to counter the handling features on the front. There is a slight bump where the AE lock/FE lock/microphone button resides, but it isn’t much to hang onto. Most of the camera’s surfaces are flattened out, which isn’t good for handling but is optimized for better portability and better fits the underwater housing.

The hefty weight of the Canon G9 requires two hands to properly handle it. The problem with this is that the left fingers often block the poorly-positioned flash component.

The handling of the G9 isn’t impressive, but it’s hard to improve upon without moving into the bulkier DSLR-like bodies most ultra-zoom digital cameras now have. That’s the price of portability.

Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (8.25)
The G9 has a control layout that combines design elements of DSLRs and compacts. The mode and ISO dials atop the camera look retro but are very functional and accessible. There are plenty of buttons on the back, even one that acts as a "shortcut." This button, located in the upper left corner, can be set to access the following with only one touch: light metering, ND filter, white balance, custom white balance 1, custom white balance 2, digital tele-converter, AF lock, and display off.

The shutter release button is a bit small when compared to other digital cameras, but it protrudes farther upward than most. Of note is the interesting multi-selector/rotary dial combination on the back of the camera. It consists of a central function/set button that accesses the menu of frequently used options. It also makes selections in the standard menus. Surrounding this button is a traditional dime-sized multi-selector. It is surrounded by a grooved rotary dial that rotates easily through pictures and menu items. It is much more comfortable than the traditional multi-selector, and thumbs will appreciate this feature.

The buttons and controls on the G9 are properly spaced, labeled, and accessible.

Menu (7.25)
The menu system on the G9 looks like those on other Canon PowerShot digital cameras – only bigger than most because of the enormous LCD screen. The 3-inch LCD allows the menu to be displayed in a larger font and is therefore easier to read. Canon’s menus are split with the more frequently used settings accessible by pushing the function/set button in the middle of the multi-selector. When pushed, the left and bottom edges of the LCD are darkened and white graphics appear to show the menu. The functions appear on the left and the respective settings appear horizontally along the bottom. This leaves a wide space in the frame that gives a good view of the live preview.

With dedicated buttons, Canon tries to simplify the camera’s layout so the menu system can be avoided. It has designated buttons for functions like deleting pictures; there is even a shortcut button that can be set to access a feature customized by the user. The G9 also has functions like Macro and Burst modes that can be accessed from the multi-selector. But if the menu must be accessed, the Function menu provides a quick and simple in-and-out solution. All options can be seen on one screen, yet there is still a nice, large live preview.


The standard Recording menu takes a little more fishing to find the right option. It is organized in "folders" with color-coded and icon-labeled tabs at the top.

Record Menu
AF Frame	FlexiZone, Face Detect, AiAF
Flash Control	Flash Mode (Auto, Manual), Flash Exposure Compensation (+/- 2 in steps of 1/3), Shutter Sync (1st curtain, 2nd curtain), Slow Synchro (On, Off), Safety FE (On, Off)
Digital Zoom	Standard, Off, 1.5x, 2x
Red-Eye	On, Off
Custom Self-Timer	Delay (0-30 seconds), Shots (1-10)
Spot AE Point	Center, AF Point
Safety Shift	On, Off
Auto ISO Shift	Off, Shortcut button, On
MF Point Zoom	On, Off
Safety MF	On, Off
AF Mode	Continuous, Single
AF-assist Beam	On, Off
Review	Off, 2-10 seconds, Hold
Review Info	Off, Detailed, Focus Check
Record RAW + JPEG	On, Off
Auto Category	On, Off
IS Mode	Shoot Only, Panning, Continuous, Off
Converter	None, WC-DC58B, TC-DC58C
Custom Display	LCD 1 or 2 views with shooting info, grid lines, 3:2 guide, or histogram
Set Shortcut Button	Not Assigned, Light Metering, ND Filter, White Balance, Custom White Balance 1, Custom White Balance 2, Digital Tele-converter, AF Lock, Display Off
Save Settings	C1, C2
Setup Menu
Mute	On, Off
Volume	Start-up, Operation, Self-Timer, Shutter, Playback all with levels 0-5
Audio	Mic Level (Auto, Manual), Level (32 levels), Wind Filter (On, Off)
LCD Brightness	+/- 7
Power Saving	Auto Power Down (On, Off), Display Off (10 seconds-3 minutes)
Time Zone	Select from world map
Date/Time	Set date and time, Daylight Saving Time
Clock Display	0 seconds-3 minutes
Format	Cancel, OK, Low Level Format (On, Off)
File Numbering	Continuous, Auto Reset
Create Folder	Create New Folder (On, Off), Auto Create (Off, Daily, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monthly), Time (0-24)
Auto Rotate	On, Off
Distance Units	meters/centimeters, feet/inches
Lens Retract	0 seconds, 1 minute
Language	English, German, French, Dutch, Danish, Finnish, Italian, Norwegian, Swedish, Spanish, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Portuguese, Korean, Greek, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Thai, Arabic, Romanian, Ukrainian
Video System	NTSC, PAL
Print Method	Auto, PictBridge
Reset All	Cancel, OK

There is a third tab in the menu system that allows users to customize the camera’s less important features: start-up image and sound and sounds for operation, self-timer, and shutter.

The tabs are helpful, and there is a vertical bar on the right that shows approximately what page of the menu users are currently viewing, however there is still no easy way to jump from page one to three of the menu. The lengthy menu, easily found with the menu button, is best avoided. Luckily, the G9’s buttons and simpler Function menu make this a possibility.

Ease of Use (6.75)
The Canon PowerShot G9 isn’t built for point-and-shooters. Its body is hefty and chunky, but DSLR owners will think it’s a featherweight compared to the larger bodies they’re used to. The G9 is easy to use for consumers who are familiar with Canon digital cameras; the split-menu systems, control placement, etc. But technology-deprived consumers might have a hard time maneuvering the different controls and menus on the G9.