New to the "G" world

Hello all,

I have been shooting with my XTi with either Canon 75-300IS or the Sigma 10-20 on it and 40D with my workhorse Tamron 17-55 2.8 on it, for like... forever. Love them to death. However, I have found that 90% of the time I really don't need to lug them around. I mean, I still want to take nice photos but really don't need to haul all the gear around. Factor in a border line rotator cuff tear and you can see why I don't want a bag hanging over the shoulder for every day use.

So... was thinking of getting a Canon G. But am totally lost on this subject. I see G12 on Amazon for under $500 but G9s on there for over $900. I thought the G12 would be newer, so therefore more expensive????

For the majority of my shots, I usually take them in dark places (i.e. parties, night clubs, street festivals, walk about night photography of monuments...) I can still do that with my other gear. But the rest of the photos are generally daylight type. Oceans, travel photos, my puppies, family gatherings, etc... A 2.8 would come in handy about 20% of the time here.

So any help on directing me where to find any info to start my research? Or if someone could help suggest something for me to look into would be greatly appreciate.

Many thanks my friends

G12 cameras might be found below $400 from time to time if you catch right deal in early 2011. G9 cameras will likely be either used or refurbished (hard to think there is still a factory new G9 floating around unless it is left over from Katrina). Used G9 are $250 and up... maybe find a good deal, lower, by chance on eBay or CL.

Check out Dell.com this time of year... they should be running some specials to include G-series.

Low light.
Do some searches on this Forum... low light
you will see many comments about the improvement that G11 and G12 offer over the G9.

Other folks have reported great low-light and night photography with S90/S95... again do some Forum searching. And of course other brands.

Ultimately it depends on your purposes... profit or hobby, and what you want to do with the photo opportunities.
If you are doing nightclubs or concerts... try searching for that
(it seems the G9 is borderline or handycapped there).

Got money to spend? http://www.red.com/

In my brief experience with the G12, photographing in dark areas is one of the things it is least good at.

Thanks for the responses, but I won't be doing my nightclub photography and such with the G camera. I will do that work still with my 40D.

I would be doing everyday - outside or inside light shooting with the G camera. My puppies playing, family moments, etc...


One thing I would like to know is does the G camera - any one - allow for bokeh backgrounds like I get with 70-200 2.8? Good portrait style photo types?

Like all lenses, the G12 has bokeh but getting significant background blur on non-macro shots is a weakness of the G series and all such small sensor cameras. You will be frustrated while attempting to get portraits with significant background blur with the G12 -- kind of like the frustration when attempting to get deep depth of field with full size sensor cameras.

ClickClick wrote in post #11883736
One thing I would like to know is does the G camera - any one - allow for bokeh backgrounds like I get with 70-200 2.8? Good portrait style photo types?

I bought a G 12 because my old P&S bit it. I wanted to take my understanding of photography and capabilities to the next level with a nice camera. I quickly found the G was quite limited in this respect (bokeh background). Not impossible, but limited. I bought a 60D and 50 mm 1.8. The G does great for the other things you describe.

A lot of the time, humping around a bunch of heavy stuff is not my cup of tea.

At times like these, a G12 really fits the bill. It's light, unobtrusive (read - unintimidating), and has many of the features that I use most of the time with my 5D mark II.

I don't worry about the bokeh because bokeh can be manipulated by adjusting focus, vignette, and depth of field using software plug-ins to PS or LR. Some software will take F22 down to F1...

Well you guys have pretty much sold me on the idea that I need one of these now.

I guess my biggest fear is that I will love the G12 so much that I will never pick up my other gear again. (silly gear collector that I am)

I like the portability of my G11 and the quality of its shots so much that I seldom use my 40D anymore. Which is sometimes not for the better. There are definitely times when I have left the 40D at home and should have brought it. Mainly for long tele, good bokeh, low light or fast action. The G11 (12) can be made to do ok in these areas but is no substitute for the real deal.