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Best Compact Digital Camera Ever? The Canon PowerShot G9
September 14, 2007
Is the new Canon PowerShot G9 the best compact digital camera around? Quite possibly, yes. I cherish my beloved Digital Rebel — my Rebel is my work horse and my buddy — but lots of times I'd rather have something less bulky, and the Canon G9 looks like the solution. As far as pricing goes, the Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera with 6x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom is inexpensive at $499 for what it offers. The Canon PowerShot G9 is $436 at B&H Photo.
This camera has a built in image stabilizer. That's huge for me, as I suffer from a subtle but noticeable "shakes by Starbucks" problem. Well no more. I can still drink my java and have super sharp pictures too, and all without hauling around a tripod. Read on for more details about this little miracle camera.
For those who want more than just a point and shoot experience without the complexity or bulk of a Digital SLR, the Canon Powershot G9 stands above the competition with 12.1 megapixels of resolution, a 6x optical zoom with Optical Image Stabilizer, and RAW mode for the ultimate in creative control.
Advanced Face Detection
With Canon's new Genuine Face Detection technology, the camera can detect, lock-on and track up to nine forward-looking human faces in a scene. The Face Detection algorithm automatically prioritizes and selects faces and not simply the closest object (based on Canon's Intelligent Scene Analysis/iSAPS technology). It will then optimize the focus, exposure and flash to ensure the best possible results.
Using Canon's Face Detection, photographers can keep up to nine faces in focus at any one time no matter where they are within the image. The PowerShot G9 camera also introduces an exclusive new function called Face Select and Track. With this feature, when multiple faces are detected, photographers can select any individual face they want the camera to specifically track and be a primary focus. This feature is ideal for many shooting situations such as birthday parties or graduation ceremonies, where many people are present, but the photographer is primarily interested in just one of them.
Working in concert with Face Detection, the G9's "Red-Eye Correction" feature helps to detect and correct red-eye during playback mode. Images can be corrected automatically or manually while viewing photos on the LCD screen. All in all, Canon's new Face Detection Technology makes for even easier picture-taking moments, helping users ensure in-focus smiles, and assisting in the elimination of over-exposed faces.
Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)
The extended zoom range of the PowerShot G9 camera makes optical image stabilization (OIS) essential. Canon's lens shift OIS provides an effective antidote to camera shake, particularly at longer zoom lengths or during long exposures when even the slightest hand-held shake is magnified to picture-blurring proportions.
Superior to electronic image stabilization systems that simply use software to mask movement, OIS actually shifts the lens proportionately to compensate for unwanted motion, making it easier to snap great images. The OIS found in Canon PowerShot digital cameras is based on technology developed for Canon's renowned high-end professional SLR cameras.
The steady effectiveness is further enhanced when paired with the new "Auto ISO Shift" feature which, at the touch of a button, can automatically increase the ISO speed setting as required to maintain fast shutter speeds when shooting in low light conditions without a flash.
25 Shooting Modes, Including 9 Special Scene Modes
Shooting Modes - Advanced presets for the best possible photos under certain conditions.
Auto - The camera chooses all the settings so you can concentrate on your subject.
P Program - Access advanced exposure compensation features while shooting mostly automatically.
Av Aperture-priority - You define the aperture to either isolate your subject or have clarity throughout the entire picture, and the camera will choose the corresponding shutter speed.
Tv Shutter-priority - You select the shutter speed to stop or blur action, and the camera finds the appropriate aperture. With slow exposure times, Canon's noise reduction system activates to ensure low image noise.
Manual - The ultimate in creative control, you set both aperture and shutter speed manually.
C Custom - Define and store your own settings to achieve the effects you prefer.
Stitch Assist - Build awe-inspiring panoramas by neatly aligning sequential images.
Movie - Shoot in High Resolution (1024 x 768 at 15 fps), VGA (640 x 480 at 30 fps/30 fps LP), QVGA (320 x 240 at 30 fps) for up to 1 hour or 4GB, QQVGA (160 x 120 at 15 fps) for up to 3 minutes or Time Lapse (640 x 480 at 1 second/2 second intervals) for up to 2 hours.
Portrait - The camera sets a large aperture, focusing the subject and artistically blurring the background to make your subject "pop."
Landscape - For front to back sharpness, the camera sets a small aperture.
Night Scene - For impressive sunset or nightlife shots, the camera properly exposes the background and uses slow-sync flash for the subject.
Sports - Ensure highly accurate autofocusing when shooting fast-moving subjects.
Foliage - Capture brilliant shots of autumn foliage, greenery and blossoms.
Snow - Shoot clear snow scenes without darkened subjects or an unnatural bluish tint.
Beach - Get clear shots of people at a sunny beach without darkened faces.
Fireworks - Grab brilliant images of skyrocketing fireworks.
Aquarium - Achieve proper flash-free exposure and natural hues at indoor aquariums.
Underwater - Capture underwater images with reduced backscatter effect.
ISO 3200 - Expands the user's ability to shoot in dark settings without using the flash.
Indoor - Reduce blur and improve color accuracy when shooting handheld indoors.
Kids and Pets - Reduced focusing time freezes fast-moving subjects, so you won't miss those special shots.
Night Snapshot - Get natural-looking pictures with brighter backgrounds and subjects lit by flash.
Color Accent - Choose to retain a single color in your image while other colors turn monochrome.
Color Swap - Select a color and replace it with a color you specify for special effects.
The Canon PowerShot G9 is $436 at B&H Photo. Read more about the Canon PowerShot G9 12.1MP Digital Camera at Amazon.com.
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Photoshop CS3 Upgrade Options And Bundles From The Adobe Store
Photoshop CS3 Extended is ideal for film, video, and multimedia pros and for graphic and web designers using 3D and motion. Get the full version for US $999, or upgrade for US $349. The standard version of Photoshop CS3 is available for US $649, or as an upgrade for US $199. See all upgrade options at the Adobe Store. See our CS3 Resource Center for free Photoshop CS3 tutorials.
Photoshop Extended is also available as part of Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Premium, which combines all-new CS3 versions of Photoshop, Flash Pro, Dreamweaver, Illustrator, InDesign and Acrobat 8 Pro. Upgrade options for customers in Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Asia can be found at the Adobe International Store.
Adobe Photoshop Lightroom Available At The Adobe Store
There are tons of new features in Adobe Lightroom 1.0 that you won't find in the beta version. From Clone and Healing functionality to metadata browsing, you'll be able to free-up post-processing time like never before. Get it now at the Adobe Store. Customers in Europe, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Asia can find special pricing and offers at the Adobe International Store. For free Lightroom tutorials see our Lightroom tutorials page.
SiteGrinder Photoshop Plugin - Create Websites Instantly
There often seems to be a strict division of labor within the world of web design and development. Creative professionals tend to stick to the Photoshop domain, while those well-versed in scripting are left to the task of implementing their work. Indeed, the two realms are quite different from each other, to which any of us even vaguely familiar with either can easily attest.
Essentially, Photoshop is a no-holds-barred design studio, offering the artist a seemingly endless array of creative options. On the other hand, HTML, CSS, Java and the like follow strict rules of engagement, requiring the developer to take any number of esoteric concerns into consideration in order to ensure that designs are properly displayed on the web.
Turn Photoshop Into A Complete Web Design Tool
SiteGrinder seeks to bridge this gap between design and development. Basically, this program turns Photoshop into an easy-to-use and fully functional web design tool. With SiteGrinder, designers will now have the freedom to totally let their creativity loose and then, without skipping a beat, transfer their designs to the web. Bringing esthetic concerns together with more practical considerations, this program is an amazingly powerful tool that would make a fantastic addition to any web designer's bag of tricks.
Generate Your Web Pages Directly From Photoshop
By generating web pages directly from Photoshop, you'll be able to spend much more time on the creative end of the spectrum, since you'll know right off the bat how well particular designs will translate to the web. No more going back to the Photoshop drawing board after getting a phone call from your development team, telling you that what you had envisioned doesn't have a chance of being displayed on the web. You can immediately visually and interactively test your designs, which permits you to then make changes to either esthetics or functions while it's still relatively early on in the design process.
Pricing and Availability
Mac OS X and Windows versions of the SiteGrinder unlockable demo are available now via download. SiteGrinder can be ordered from Media Lab's online store.
Photoshop CS3 Book - CS3 Essential Skills - By Mark Galer And Philip Andrews
Brimming with beautiful pictures, Photoshop CS3 Essential Skills guides you through a project-based, progressive curriculum so that you can build all the essential skills to enhance photographs creatively and professionally with Photoshop CS3. If you are an aspiring professional, enthusiastic amateur photographer, or a student learning photography, digital imaging, art and design, or design graphics, you'll be amazed at the stunning results you can achieve. A DVD is included free.
The Essential Skills Photography Series from Focal Press uniquely offers a structured learning experience for photographers of all ages, with both the underlying theory and loads of invaluable 'how to' and real-life practice projects - all from the most talented photography practitioners/educators in the world.
Read 2 free sample chapters:
Adjusting Exposure in Adobe Camera Raw CS3
Photoshop CS3 Tutorial High Dynamic Range
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Photoshop CS2 Book - Photoshop CS2: Essential Skills - By Mark Galer And Philip Andrews
An inspirational and user-friendly guide to creative image editing, Photoshop CS2: Essential Skills provides direction for photographers and designers alike who have ventured into the realm of the 'digital darkroom.' The book offers a progressive curriculum to guide you through Photoshop with a series of clear, step-by-step projects designed to place knowledge into a practical context.
Whether you simply want to retouch an image, create a glamour makeover or create a highly sophisticated montage - this book will give you the essential skills to complete the work to a professional standard.
Read 2 free sample chapters:
How To Sharpen An Image In Photoshop — Advanced Sharpening Techniques
Working With Shadows In Photoshop - Advanced Shadow Techniques
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Photoshop CS2: Essential Skills (Amazon.com - $20.76 - save 37%)
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Learn Adobe Photoshop with 21 hours of interactive Adobe Photoshop tutorials. This is training for real-world situations and includes additional tips and techniques used by the pros.
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