paging Ben Hermann....Oh Ben where are you?

Need advice re: the Canon G9 and I figured if anyone here has one it'd be you. I am being forced against my will to buy a Canon P&S for the wifey. She has some sort of fixation on Canon since the days of the G2 she used to use. I should have kept that boat anchor and I wouldn't be in this predicament now. Anyway, is the G9 worth the $500 plus it'll cost me here? Is there a nice Canon that's slightly cheaper but takes nice JPEGS? RAW and full manual control is just wasted on her anyway. Help me save some $$$ please.

Mike
--
E-1
SHLD-2
Zuiko 14-45mm
Zuiko 40-150mm
Zuiko 14-54mm
Zuiko 50mm macro f/2.0
FL-40
Nikon D200 and D40
Nikon 55-200mm AF-S G VR
Nikon 18-70mm AF-S DX
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-S
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D
Nikkor 105mm f/1.8 AI-S
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 DG EX HSM
Nikon 10.5mm FE
Fujifilm A820
http://www.proac.smugmug.com

Photography is the power of observation, not the application of technology.

I'm not Ben but do run a few Canon list (both P&S and DSLR). Here are the list I would recommend to choose from:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_a650is%2Ccanon_s5is%2Ccanon_sx100is%2Ccanon_g9&show=all

The A650 IS does not have external flash but does come with a flip out screen. The movie mode is not as impressive either. Other then that, they have very similar specs but the A650 IS is much cheaper. I have the A630 (non-IS) camera that I bought for the underwater case and digiscoping. The S5 IS is very popular among zoom enthusiast. For whatever reason, the SX100 IS is well like as well.
--
Steve

Minds are like parachutes, they only work when they are open - Unknown

I am a self-professed camera 'whore' just like Ben, he can vouch for me... ; )

I had the G9 for a couple of months when it first came out. If your wife has a fixation on Canon cameras she will be more than happy with the G9, the image quality is produces is pretty darn good, it's built very solid and functions very nicely. It's a camera that is built to last and a decent 'investment' as far as cameras go these days. You should be able to find it for less than that. I just had a quick look and I can get it for $450CAD and I am sure I could find a better deal if I took more time to look.

I would have kept it but found I just wasn't using it very often and I don't like things gathering dust...

My favourite G9 photo:
1/60th @ f5, ISO80, -1/3





--
Neil Vanderwolf
http://thewarmland.com

....er, ah, I took a look at your list of 'gear'............and I'd say get her what she wants. She's only wanting one camera.......isn't that five cameras I see listed below your signature? And she wants just one.....

Just MHO........

ProAc_Fan said:

Mike
--
E-1
SHLD-2
Zuiko 14-45mm
Zuiko 40-150mm
Zuiko 14-54mm
Zuiko 50mm macro f/2.0
FL-40
Nikon D200 and D40
Nikon 55-200mm AF-S G VR
Nikon 18-70mm AF-S DX
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-S
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D
Nikkor 105mm f/1.8 AI-S
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 DG EX HSM
Nikon 10.5mm FE
Fujifilm A820
http://www.proac.smugmug.com

Photography is the power of observation, not the application of
technology.

Click to expand...

--
Lucy
E- 510, 40- 150, 14- 54 and ZD 35 Macro lenses
U ZI owner!
Olympus C30-20Z
http://www.pbase.com/lucy
FCAS Member #98, Oly Division
'Photography is the art of seeing what others do not.'

Lucy said:

....er, ah, I took a look at your list of 'gear'............and I'd
say get her what she wants. She's only wanting one
camera.......isn't that five cameras I see listed below your
signature? And she wants just one.....

Just MHO........

Click to expand...

I was thinking exactly the same thing! In fact, I wish my wife wanted a nicer camera, it would just be another toy/tool for me to use from time to time...

--
Neil Vanderwolf
http://thewarmland.com

You have over $5K in equipment (just a casual guess, I'm sure it's way more) listed in your profile but you are b!tching about spending $500 on 'the wifey'?

I'm thinking she's the one that should have used the boat anchor.
--
Theresa K
E-3, E-300, 14-54, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

Good one Theresa!

I lurk 99% of the time but this was too funny...almost fell out the chair!

I agree, buy the G9. Once you steal it away you'll also learn to appreciate it.

It's an easy camera to like and takes a great jpeg if you don't want to shoot RAW. It's not tiny but you can still slip it into a reasonably roomy purse. I like to take it along on outings with the grandchildren where I'm not interested in dragging a DSLR. I don't feel that I'm giving up much in the way of image quality, especially on trips to the zoo and the playground. It has a nice selection of scene modes if she's interested in them.

Okay I'll admit up front I have probably closer to 10K in photo related equipment if you count all the lighting equipment and props I own. But that is exactly my point. She has access to whatever she'd like to use but instead insists on a Canon P&S. I liken it to having a Bentley in the driveway and pining for a Yugo. I just can't wrap my head around buying the G9 when she has basically a trifecta of nicer cameras and much nicer glass to choose from already. Trust me, I love to spend money and I'm no ogre when it comes to spending it on my family.

Mike
--
E-1
SHLD-2
Zuiko 14-45mm
Zuiko 40-150mm
Zuiko 14-54mm
Zuiko 50mm macro f/2.0
FL-40
Nikon D200 and D40
Nikon 55-200mm AF-S G VR
Nikon 18-70mm AF-S DX
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-S
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D
Nikkor 105mm f/1.8 AI-S
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 DG EX HSM
Nikon 10.5mm FE
Fujifilm A820
http://www.proac.smugmug.com

Photography is the power of observation, not the application of technology.

ProAc_Fan said:

Okay I'll admit up front I have probably closer to 10K in photo
related equipment if you count all the lighting equipment and props I
own. But that is exactly my point. She has access to whatever she'd
like to use but instead insists on a Canon P&S. I liken it to having
a Bentley in the driveway and pining for a Yugo. I just can't wrap my
head around buying the G9 when she has basically a trifecta of nicer
cameras and much nicer glass to choose from already. Trust me, I love
to spend money and I'm no ogre when it comes to spending it on my
family.

Mike

Click to expand...

Your wording in your original post was pretty demeaning towards your wife.

As for using your cameras, my DH has a beautiful Harly Davidson motorcyle. I ride to, and own my own Harley. Why? If I ding up my own bike I have no one to be upset with but me.

The point is, SHE doesn't want to use YOURS. SHE wants one of her own. Respect that and get her what she wants.
--
Theresa K
E-3, E-300, 14-54, 50-200 and 50mm lenses, FL-50
http://theresak.smugmug.com/

.....there's 'your' stuff and 'her' stuff........and she wants 'her stuff'........love her and get her the camera she wants.

--
Lucy
E- 510, 40- 150, 14- 54 and ZD 35 Macro lenses
U ZI owner!
Olympus C30-20Z
http://www.pbase.com/lucy
FCAS Member #98, Oly Division
'Photography is the art of seeing what others do not.'

Neil just where can I find the G9 for $450 CDN? Everywhere I look around here it's $499 plus taxes.

Mike
--
E-1
SHLD-2
Zuiko 14-45mm
Zuiko 40-150mm
Zuiko 14-54mm
Zuiko 50mm macro f/2.0
FL-40
Nikon D200 and D40
Nikon 55-200mm AF-S G VR
Nikon 18-70mm AF-S DX
Nikon 50mm f/1.8 AF-S
Nikon 85mm f/1.8 AF-D
Nikkor 105mm f/1.8 AI-S
Nikon SB-600 speedlight
Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 DG EX HSM
Nikon 10.5mm FE
Fujifilm A820
http://www.proac.smugmug.com

Photography is the power of observation, not the application of technology.