Canon G9 upgrade

I recently upgraded my G9 which has served me brilliantly for 6 years or so. One of my major uses of a small camera is for underwater photography - a need which Canon is very good at fulfilling.
I actually "upgraded" a year ago to an S100 but I find the camera too small for my hands. It was great in its underwater housing, because I can use it one-handed. But although the S100 was advertised as having much faster AF than earlier models, I didn't find in practice that it did. I then thought about an S15, but since it shares the same engine (Digic 5) as the S100, I didn't see what benefit would result.

So I waited for the G16 which has much faster AF than either my G9 or S100. I ordered it before the reviews came out because I need the camera very soon and since it is a minor upgrade to the highly-regarded G15 it seemed like a small risk. I'm delighted with it.

OK, it costs more than the G15 which is now being quite heavily discounted. But I picked up a grey import G16 for not much over £300. It even has a special mode for Starry Skies.

I also still have my G9, but I also own the G11 with somewhat better higher ISO results. I like the longer zoom reach of the G9, but also like the swivel LCD on the G11 and it's "cleaner" results at higher ISOs. The G9 ISO only goes to 1600, while the G11 goes to 3200. I've shot both at their highest ISOs, but have to PP the RAW images and apply noise fixes with Noiseware Pro to get the best results.

This year I purchased a Samsung NX20 with the APS-C sensor, so I can get better results due to the much larger sensor, but do not have the smaller size and convenience of the G cameras. If I only had the G9, then I would seriously consider the G15. It has much improved capabilities over the G9, but it does have a shorter zoom range than the G9.

What kinds of night shots are you having problems with? Can you add a small flash like the 270EX II? I use one with my G9 and G11, as well as the larger 430EX II at times. Could you get better night shots by using a small tripod and lower ISOs without flash, etc.?

Dennis

The last 'G' I had was the G9 - quite some few years ago now of course - but I skipped the later ones as they just got bulkier with the newer layouts and not my fancy... but about 9 months ago now I happened to be in a Currys Superstore and they had a G15 on tethered display. I merely picked it up out of curiosity...but I was just overwhelmed by the SUPER feel of it and how it just fell into my hands.. by the end of the day I'd bought one.. and NOT ONCE regretted it. It is a super G ..I'm sure probably taking into account the quality it can give..plus the sheer delight in general handling, I've never once had the slightest inclination to go for the G16 - what is a greatly more expensive camera and which in my way of thinking cannot possibly give me any better results or satisfaction that what I've got. I've NO inclination towards the Wi-Fi on this or any other camera. so what else makes the G16 so much more expensive...

I'm a permanent P mode setting user on any camera of this type and it just gives me really excellent results in more or less anything I care to shoot. The G15 is excellent at close shots..go literally to a few inches from subject and mostly without even having to go into Macro mode...BUT.. if you do shoot really close..although the small rectangle for focussing, and using Certer Weighted Metering.. is OK most of the time...when REALLY close..it can be a bit too much area for what then is a quite small overall composition as really close..so that's when (and mostly only when) Macro mode IS a benefit.. so I set this - with everything else as usual P mode etc etc but ADDED Macro mode..then via the Menu saved it all on C1 Dial position..so it's just normal P mode..or sometimes when really close..just switch to C1 position.
This camera takes one Helluva lot to beat in my book..and I've had and used many compact types...

Thanks for the replies Very much appreciated. The G15 sounds the best of both worlds as i dont need the extars of the G16 plus the extra cost. Yes the G9 has a good zoom but as its still works 100% when i do go on my travels i can take both not that bulky .

Re the night shots they are night city scenes and it could be me but i just cant get the lighting right. They seem to be too dark. I tried tripod and not too bad but i just struggle with them. Rest of the G9 is perfect. Had some cracking shots but i appreciate things move on. I am not after the latest gizzmos but realistic to know that cameras do get better. I just dond want a heavy slr to lug around.

Cheers

Peter

I did not have G9, but tried G15,G16 and other simillary priced cams, so here is what I found.

Zoom and reach: I think that 28mm range is more important than 210mm (over 140mm). If you could see the difference between those focal ranges, you´d propably drop it. I have 1,7x teleconverter for my G15, and while "it does something" with total range of nearly 240mm, it does not add much. At 200mm, I would not even use that teleconverter. It would be nonsense.

Low light ability: This beast delivers. For that lens and good sensor performance, good processing, you will gain over two stops of light. This is something, but I still believe, it maybe won´t be enaugh. Who knows.

Speed: It´s quick, it does what it should do quick. Only with RAW mode, I still feel shot to shot times a bit poor.

Compared to G16: While newer one has wifi and those modern features, it is supposed to be faster, there is nothing for me, why should I pay more than I did for G15. Actually It´s clear for me, that G15 has HIGHER IQ (resolution, noise characteristics), than G16. You can see it here on dpr and also in more reviews around. G16 propably has stronger AA filter, which kills it. There are cams with better IQ on low ISO like Nikon P7800, but it does not hold the edge if you go to shoot ISO 400 and more. Only RX100 can do more, but it also lacks many things I could not drop, and is even more expensive.

If was be you, I´d think twice about what brand and system to go. Every manufacturer gives some extras in their machines. There is no better one. All are great, and it only depends on what you need to use. If you go Canon again, I´d go G15 (again). Think twice about ILCs. There are very small and thin machines around, with new small zooms lenses, which still can fit in bigger pocket, but you´ll have nice 4/3 or even APS-C sensor. Of course, it does cost money on this planet

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Why does he do it?

Peter B from UK said:

Hi

I have a Canon G9 which has served me well since 2007 and has been all over place on my travels. Thinking of an upgrade . Cant justify the cost of a G16 but the G15 looks a good alternative.

Is the difference between the G9 and the G15 that much to justify another camera when the G9 is working fine?

Other alternative is the Canon 110 D slr but I really want a compact with full manual override as the slr is too bulky.

Read the reviews on here and am a little confused . The G9 struggles with night shots which I have the only problem with .

Click to expand...

Hi Peter,
I have several of the G series cameras, so have a good idea of how they have evolved and how they perform. I have the G5, G6, G9, G12 and G15. I can tell you for sure that the G15 out performs the G9 in every way.

My main disappointment with the G9 when I first got it was that it performed so poorly in low light. It got pretty noisy even by ISO 200. In good light it took nice detailed pictures, but as the light faded, so did the camera. It was worse than the G6 in that regard.

The G12 was somewhat better, and the G15 is the best of the bunch. It continues to please and amaze me. It is smaller, lighter, faster, Much faster AF, and produces better more accurate pictures. Great Camera. And for the price it is selling, it is a bargain.

Oh, and the faster lens is wonderful! It is f1.8 at the wide end and f2.8 at full zoom, which expands your low light picture taking range in addition to the better sensor. The lens is also very sharp and well corrected. Less CA than the G9. Great camera!

I don't miss the movable LCD from the G9, I like the one on the G15 just the way it is. Brighter, easier to see and larger. I do miss the additonal reach of the G9, but the 28mm wider on the G15 more than makes up for it, so all in all, it is a good tradeoff. You won't be disappointed with the G15

Yet again many thanks for all your replies. Definitely will get the G15. The 16 is a waste of the extra money as I don't need the wi fi etc.

As compared to spec I presume I am getting a better camera in the G15 compared to the Canon eos 110d slr. I appreciate they are different type of camera but I wanted to know before I invest my money.

I really appreciate your advise. I am just an average snapper who loved the old 35mm many moons ago with my Olympus OM1 (which I still have!!) but can not just convert to a digital slr as I really fell in love with the G series.

They are prefect to put in my Bergen and carry everywhere as the slr just would be a real pain despite its advantages.

Many thanks again

Peter

Peter B from UK said:

Yet again many thanks for all your replies. Definitely will get the G15. The 16 is a waste of the extra money as I don't need the wi fi etc.

As compared to spec I presume I am getting a better camera in the G15 compared to the Canon eos 110d slr. I appreciate they are different type of camera but I wanted to know before I invest my money.

I really appreciate your advise. I am just an average snapper who loved the old 35mm many moons ago with my Olympus OM1 (which I still have!!) but can not just convert to a digital slr as I really fell in love with the G series.

They are prefect to put in my Bergen and carry everywhere as the slr just would be a real pain despite its advantages.

Many thanks again

Peter

Click to expand...

If you mean EOS 1100D, then If we close eyes for focus speed, and think about kit lens (to make it the same price range), then yes. G15 propably won´t be worse.

The prices of the G15 today, make them a real deal. You should see a big improvement, moving from your G9 to the G15.

G15 it is I will order one after Xmas once the madness has died down. Also prices might even drop!

Thanks again to all

Peter

Peter B from UK said:

G15 it is I will order one after Xmas once the madness has died down. Also prices might even drop!

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Drop? Usually they go on sale for December and back up in January. Try your luck I guess. The faster aperture of the G15 allows for better autofocus in low light as well as the G15's faster operation and faster AF even in good light. I know someone with a G10 and in poorly autofocus indoors often focusing on infinity because it couldn't find anything to lock on to.