G9 or G10

.....we have a college student going abroad next year to study. Thinking about picking up a G9 or G10 to send along with her. I'm thinking this would be a nice little low-profile camera that would still give good images. Anybody care to share your comments on one of these cameras ? Thanks.

I have a G9 which I bought primarily for underwater use and although it took a while to find it's strong side I have done so. Keep in mind that I'm shooting some decent DSLR's and expect a lot from any camera buy. At low ISO's the G9 does very well shooting jpg's but once you pass ISO 200 the images get a bit noisy and I think the colors don't seem as vibrant. However if I shoot RAW (which isn't the same RAW our DSLR's shoot) you can get some much nicer images with a bit of time spent processing them.
It's well built, fits pockets or purses, and decent on batteries with several features many like but I think it would have been a better camera at around 8 MP. Compared to many lower priced 8 MP cameras that friends / relatives have the G9 is producing better files, and it should, but I really don't like the higher ISO's enough to use them.

Thanks cicopo for the comments. Your take on the high ISO performance mirrors what the DPreview test found. If I can find a used one cheap enough, I think I'll try it out, and have her try it....if it doesn't work out I should be able to sell it and get most of my money back. Thanks again.

A couple of samples to show what less than a minute of editing can do to the RAW's (jpg's first RAW second)

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/png' | Byte size: ZERO

HTTP response: 404 | MIME changed to 'image/png' | Byte size: ZERO

I'd add the S90 into the mix - same sensor as the G11, gain a little wide end, lose a little long end, lose the hotshoe, much much much more pocketable, cheaper.

Try posting on the G-series forums instead, you might get better advice than here in the EOS forum:

https://photography-on-the.net/forum/forumdis​play.php?f=17

Thanks guys, I'll look at the S90, and I'll poke around over on the "G" forum.
And cicopo....awesome underwater shots ! Thanks for posting those.

+1 on the S90.

I had a G11 before I got involved in all of this nonsense, and I loved it! S90 is great too, but I would go G11 for the sake of superior battery life, articulating LCD and a hot shoe.