Re: Canon G9

Chris Townsend wrote:

I wouldn't consider the G9 because it lacks a wide angle lens. 28mm
is the minimum requirement for me.

Fair enough. You could buy the wide angle converter but with the
extra weight and bulk you may as well just use a DSLR instead.

Exactly. I want a compact to carry as a back-up to an SLR and to carry
all the time so I always have a camera with me.

Same here. In fact, here's a quick anecdote:

I went over to the post office today and I took my G9 with me. I didn't take
any photos with it, but here's the point: I could have if I'd wanted to!

Fact is, I just slung it over my neck, zipped up my fleece and forgot all
about it. I wasn't really aware of it and I didn't need to use it. But on
the off chance that a Boeing 747 had crashed into the post office just
before I got there, my photos would have been all over the news by now! ;-)

It's just a question of having a camera with you on the off chance that you
need it, without being bothered by carrying it, or even being really aware
of it, just like carrying a mobile phone.

I have the 18-55 IS and have the 55-250 IS on order.

Nice.

The 18-55 IS is
excellent and I gain about 4 stops, as Canon claims, inside with warm
hands. Outside with cold hands, a strong wind and sometimes out of
breath it's more like 2 stops. Still worth having.

Useful to know.

I use wide angle far more than telephoto so I'd rather have 24 or 28mm
than a longer telephoto.

Most landscape photographers do. But I've been increasingly attracted to
telephoto landscapes in recent years, and I think a telephoto is more use
generally for snapshots, since unexpectedly interesting things tend to be
further away rather than right next to you.

I've never had an underwater case for any
camera. I guess one might be useful.

I've wanted one for a long time. This is partly due to my admitted obsession
with waterfalls (which look at their best during heavy rain) and partly due
to the all-too-common risk that all walkers face with walking in the rain,
not to mention camping in it. I'm just sick of trying to protect my cameras
from it and want to face it with impunity! I'll be ordering the case
tomorrow (just in time for the next spell of rain). :-)

2.5 seconds sounds fast to me. The GR-D takes 13 seconds to write a
raw file! Definitely not a camera for action. But then neither is the
fixed 28mm lens.

No. 13 seconds?

I've never seen any images from a compact shot at above 400 ISO that I
consider really usable. The small sensor means noise is inevitable,
especially with high megapixels.

Of course.

I mostly use 100 ISO with my DSLR, occasionally 200, 400 when I must
and above that only for record shots.

I go up to 400 with my 400D, if the shots aren't critically important. I've
gone up to 1600 for snaps, and they've produced decent A4 prints. It's only
a gut feeling at the moment, but I don't think the highest ISOs on the G9
are much worse than on the 400D, but I'll have to do some tests to be sure.
I think there's more to it than just good shots and record shots, I'd have
other categories in between, like action shots or portraits in which more
noise is acceptable.

Yes, I was disappointed to learn about the 450D's cards and batteries.
That's a reason not to upgrade from the 350D. I have six 350D
batteries and about 12GB worth of Compact Flash cards.

Yeah. I have 8GB of Compact Flash, but on the plus side, it seems that SD-HC
are now cheaper than Compact Flash. I bought an 8GB SD-HC card for just £30
or so, including P&P. Having to buy extra batteries is a pain though, it all
adds up.

I really like the way top end Ricoh compacts operate.

I've always like Ricoh cameras, even though I've never bought one. I
remember back in 1986 I analysed all the available SLR cameras and narrowed
my choice down to four models. One was a Nikon, one a Canon (the F1, "built
like a brick shithouse"), one an Olympus and one a Ricoh. I can't remember
the exact Ricoh model, but I ended up going for the Olympus OM3, the pro
version of the OM4, due to its light weight, small size and built in spot
meter. I might have gone for the Ricoh if I hadn't chosen that.

I'd go for the Ricoh but what I'd really like to see is a compact
with a larger sensor.

Well there's always the Sony R1, and that has a 24mm zoom, but that's not
perfect either.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonydscr1/

Paul
--
http://www.wilderness-wales.co.uk


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