Best Powershot G

John,

I may be able to help.  I have owned the G5, G6, G7, G9, G11, G12, and G15.  Unless you're into nostalgia, I don't recommend the G5 or G6.

The G7 has 10 MP, and the G9 has 12 MP.  Both cover 35-210 mm, and both use the same defective OVF.  Normally, an OVF and the optical axis of the lens cross at infinity, so that anything closer to the camera will be shot a little too low.  The G7 & G9, however, have the optical axis of the OVF crosses that of the lens at around 5-6 feet.  With the result that the lens aims high for anything over 5-6'.  In fact at a long distance, a shot of a cruise ship showed just the top 1/3 of the ship.  I eventually learned to compensate and the results were pretty good after a while.  Both cameras do have a cross shaped reticle in the finder, and I used the top of the upper bar as the aiming point for distant shots.  Reviews on the G7 harped on the lack of RAW.  The G9 has RAW; but I preferred the color on the G7.  The lens is very sharp on these.  Front grip is small and needs to be built up.  ISO 800 is pretty noisy.

I don't know the OVF on the G10; but suspect it's like the G11/12.  It's lens covers 28  to 140 mm, and it has 14.1 MP.  I never bought one because I didn't like the feel in my hands.  The lens is not quite as sharp as the G9's.

G11 & G12 went back to 10 MP using the same sensors as the S90 and S95.  Their big thing was lower noise at higher ISO and, indeed, ISO 800 is quite good, and ISO 1600 is usable.  However, the S90/95 has an f/2 lens, and the G11 & G12 lenses start at f/2.8.  I thought the G7 was sharper.  The G11 & G12 OVF is fixed, and the optical axis of the lens and OVF cross at infinity; but the reticle is gone.

The G15 has the fastest lens in the series and covers 28-140 mm f/1.8-2.8.  It's very sharp.  The grip is also better, and the OVF is generally well aligned; but misaligned ones do exist. (a friend has one)  I still have a G15, and still use it.  It does flash very well.

For other brands, take a look at the Olympus XZ-2.