G9: I fear I am going to be disappointed

[THobson]

I loved my old G2. It brought me back to photography after many years and the swivel screen was fantastic for difficult angles and close in candid shots. I now have a 5D but was looking for a companion point and shoot. Choice was the A650 (I think) with a swivel screen but no RAW capability or the G9 with no swivel screen but able to produce RAW files.

I went for the G9. Ordered in Wednesday evening then yesterday I discover the awful truth. The G9 does not do RAW!! Not as Adobe or anybody else recognise it anyway. Have I been misinformed? It seems this camera out puts RAW files that can only be read by Canon software? If so then I am appalled. I have a really neat workflow using Lightroom and CS3 and along come Canon and screw it up.

Canon make world class cameras, but let’s be honest, their software is not in the same league. They should stick to cameras and not fiddle about with software files.

Please someone tell me I am wrong.

[Peasap]

Mine came yesterday. I use a 30d normally but wanted something more compact when it's not practical to take my SLR as I like to take a camera everywhere. So far, it's awesome!

I'll add pics later today.

[HectikHector]

If you're using CS2, I believe there is an update for raw for the 40D, I'm sure they have, if not will come out with an update for the G9....

[lakiluno]

Almost all new cameras use raw that is not supported initally by 3rd party software. Unfortunately in this case, you have to wait.

[canonpink]

It'll be along. Patience.

[THobson]

Patience? Who's that

Okay I'll wait. I have to.

Why don't they all go for a standard like DNG and save all the hastle?

[JohnJ80]

My understanding is that the LR 1.2 update supports G9 RAW as a beta. Full up support should be along in about 60 days (guess).

j

[KarlMarsh]

Originally Posted by JohnJ80

My understanding is that the LR 1.2 update supports G9 RAW as a beta. Full up support should be along in about 60 days (guess).

j

That is exactly what an Adobe "insider" said in the Post Processing forum.

I agree, Canon should go to DNG. Nikon and Canon are 2 of the last holdouts not to switch over to the DNG standard. I convert all my CR2 files to DNG as part of my work flow.

[JohnJ80]

In reading some posts at dpreview, a number of users report being able to read g9 raw files with lightroom 1.2.

DNG is ok. I use ImageIngestor to download my files, backup the originals, convert them to DNG and then import the DNG into Lightroom.

j

[sharky]

I don't think you will be disappointed. I have a G7 and recently used it as my only camera on a trip around Malaysia and was very impressed with the results, a couple of which I'll attach here. In fact I was so impressed that I downloaded a couple of RAW samples from the G9 to see if it would be worth the upgrade, and while I'm still not sure on that question, I can confirm that Lightroom 1.2 will process the files.

[Savas K]

Originally Posted by THobson

Patience? Who's that

Okay I'll wait. I have to.

Why don't they all go for a standard like DNG and save all the hastle?

Canon has certain exif data that is lost when converted to DNG. They need to include their own software so that the user gets a complete product out of the box. Photographers are free to use whatever third party software they like.

[JohnJ80]

DNG is no panacea as Savas has demonstrated.

J.

[THobson]

They need to include their own software so that the user gets a complete product out of the box

The problem is though that although they make world class cameras the same cannot be said of their software. If they have exif data that is not included in DNG files then I would be happy to do without it.

It arrived today. I have some intial views on its operability that I will keep to myself until I am more fluent with using it. I am already regretting not getting the A650 with the swivel screen. There I was in the centre of Coventry today and everytime I raised the camera people stopped so they would not get in the way! With the swivel screen people don't notice the photographer.

I have Lightroom 1.2 but not had the chance to download the pictures yet - the battery died mid-afternoon. Something else I will have to get used to I suppose. I am struggling though with the thought that the RAW files from the G9 are ~2Mbts more than from my 5D!

Apologies if this is downbeat - I guess that's the sort of guy I am. I am sure I will grow to love it.

Sharky: Thank you for the pictures. I used to live in Malaysia.

[otispine]

Newbie-to Canon. I am thinking of getting the G9. Love the size, not too big, not too small. Right now I'm using the Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 which is the last of it's line since Sony bought the company. It's too large for me. I take pics of my granddaughters, scenery on trips (lots), even Nascar race pics. Do you think RAW means anything to me? Do you think the G9 would be the right camera for me? I like a point and shoot most of the time. Thanks for any input.

PS: My favorite digital camera is the Olympus D-510 because of it's always perfect pictures and size is good. However the camera is very slow.

[JohnJ80]

Originally Posted by otispine

Newbie-to Canon. I am thinking of getting the G9. Love the size, not too big, not too small. Right now I'm using the Konica Minolta Dimage Z6 which is the last of it's line since Sony bought the company. It's too large for me. I take pics of my granddaughters, scenery on trips (lots), even Nascar race pics. Do you think RAW means anything to me? Do you think the G9 would be the right camera for me? I like a point and shoot most of the time. Thanks for any input.

PS: My favorite digital camera is the Olympus D-510 because of it's always perfect pictures and size is good. However the camera is very slow.

If you are doing point and shoot, you might be happier with some of the Elph line of Canon cameras than with the G9. Simpler to use, good results. The higher cost of the G9 is paying for things like RAW, ISO adjustment, etc.., some of the other internals in a higher end camera.

J.