Compared to... Nikon COOLPIX P5100

Below you will find a studio comparison between the Canon PowerShot G7 and the Nikon COOLPIX P5100 at ISO 1600.

Studio scene comparison (@ ISO 1600)

• Canon PowerShot G9: Aperture Priority mode, ISO 1600, Default Image Parameters,
  Manual white balance, +0.67 EV compensation

• Nikon COOLPIX P5100: Aperture Priority mode, ISO 1600, Default Image Parameters,
  Manual white balance, +0.33 EV compensation

• Lighting: Daylight simulation, >98% CRI

Canon PowerShot G9	Nikon COOLPIX P5100
ISO 1600, 1/807 sec, F5	ISO 1600, 1/1000 sec, F4.9
5,489 KB JPEG	4,357 KB JPEG

Although there are differences in the 'quality' of these results (and certainly in their appearance) it's not as if the Canon is wiping the floor with the Nikon; both cameras are facing the same issue: in the words of Star Trek's Scotty, 'Ye cannae change the laws of physics'. Getting an image at ISO 1600 from a CCD sensor this densely packed with pixels you're working with such a tiny signal, amplified so much, that you might as well just draw the scene from memory when you get home. Ok, I exaggerate, but you get the point...