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Expert Recommendation
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Overview
Equipped with an excellent lens, good zoom range, great performance in low light, fast operation and compact size, the Canon G9 will delight you every time you press that shutter button. It has a sturdy build and comes with useful features like face-detection, dedicated ISO dial and optical viewfinder for live tracking the kids.
My Best In Class Pick
Canon PowerShot G9
All these cameras have good resolution and are well built. All offer enough manual controls to satisfy advanced users, at the same time offering auto & numerous scene modes (including auto high sensitivity mode which helps to take blur free shots in natural lights) for novice users.
Fuji F50fd’s size makes it easy to carry in a shirt pocket. However it lags behind the Nikon P5100 & Canon G9 in the most important parameter of image quality in low light (excessive noise reduction makes the images blotchy & devoid of fine details at ISO 800 and above). Disappointing results, considering that its predecessor Fuji F31fd had low light performance as its USP.
Canon G9 coupled with sharp zoom lens (better than P5100’s) capture enough details and contrast to result in usable images even at ISO1600 (when printed at size 8”x10” or less; at larger sizes image will appear grainy.). G9 has more reach and better shot-to-shot speed & focus times too facilitating hassle free shooting of kids & pets.
The Canon PowerShot G9 is my Top Pick.
Where to buy
Canon PowerShot G9
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Best Price:
$979
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Specifications
- Zoom: 6.0x
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Resolution: 12.1MP
- AF Shutter Lag: 0.6 sec
- Max ISO: 3200
- Easy to Use: Yes
Comparing My Best In Class Pick with Other Good Choices
| Product |
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| Price | $979.00 | $594.00 | $120.00 |
| Shutter Lag Time (pre-focused) | 0.12 sec | 0.25 sec | <0.01 sec |
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Shutter Lag Time (including auto-focus time)
This is the time from fully pressing the shutter button until the image is captured. Longer shutter lag times make it more difficult to capture the desired moment.
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0.6 sec | 0.5-1.0 sec | 0.6 sec |
| Power to First Shot Time | 1.2 sec | 2.1 sec | 2.8 sec |
| Continuous Shooting Speed (single shot mode) | - | 0.3 frames/sec | - |
| Optical Zoom | 6.0x | 3.5x | 3.0x |
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Image Stabilization Available
Image stabilization features are designed to reduce the blur that results from normal, minute shaking of a lens due to hand-held shooting. However, image stabilization does not prevent motion blur caused by the movement of the subject or by extreme movements of the camera.
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Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Manual Focus Available | Yes | Yes | No |
| Auto Focus Assist Light Available | Yes | Yes | Yes |
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Max Aperture (wide-angle)
The aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens that determines the amount of light falling onto the sensor. The maximum aperture (wide-angle) is the largest possible size at the wide-angle limit of the zoom lens. The lens aperture is usually specified as an f-number, the ratio of focal length to effective aperture diameter. A lower f-number denotes a greater aperture opening, which allows more light to reach the image sensor.
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f/2.8 | f/2.7 | f/2.8 |
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Max Aperture (tele-photo)
The aperture refers to the size of the opening in the lens that determines the amount of light falling onto the sensor. The maximum aperture (tele-photo) is the largest possible size at the tele-photo limit of the zoom lens. The lens aperture is usually specified as an f-number, the ratio of focal length to effective aperture diameter. A lower f-number denotes a greater aperture opening, which allows more light to reach the image sensor.
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f/4.8 | f/5.1 | f/5.1 |
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Face Detection Available
Face detection technology will try to set the focus, exposure, and color balance so that faces appear sharp, well-exposed, and with the proper color.
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Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Viewfinder Type | Optical | Optical | Only LCD. |
| Flash Recycling Time | 2.7 sec | >3.5 sec | 3.1 sec |
| Battery Life | 240 shots | 240 shots | 230 shots |
Nikon Coolpix P5100
This is currently the flagship model in Nikon’s point & shoot camera lineup. Boasting 12MP resolution and an image-stabilized 3.5x zoom lens (35-123mm equivalent) and a sturdy body, it aims to give tough competition to the Canon G9. This camera also has an optical viewfinder, full manual modes and a face detection feature. It has an ISO rating up to 1600 (ISO3200 available only at reduced resolution).
Where to buy
Nikon Coolpix P5100
Fujifilm FinePix F50fd
The successor of undisputed low light king Fuji F31fd, this model is a significant upgrade. Fuji F50fd has a resolution of 12MP and comes with a 3x zoom lens (35-105mm equivalent), which is image-stabilized (a first from Fuji). This ultra compact also has aperture priority/shutter priority modes, a face detection feature, and ISO rating up to 1600 (ISO3200 & 6400 is available only at reduced resolutions).
Where to buy
Fujifilm FinePix F50fd
Specifications
- Zoom: 3.0x
- Image Stabilization: Yes
- Resolution: 12.0MP
- AF Shutter Lag: 0.6 sec
- Max ISO: 6400
- Easy to Use: Yes
How It Works
You tell us your budget, intended uses, and desired features. We show you personalized recommendations from unbiased experts to quickly identify the best digital camera for you.
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How to Pick Digital Cameras
- For Travel Photos
- For Photos of Children or Pets
- For Action or Sports Photos
- For Photos in Low Light
