Is the G9 overkill for a newb?

[JJ4417]

I'm looking for a compact, rechargable, raw shooting camera. Pics will range from the macro tank shots to triathlons to landscape while hiking. I've been over the the dpreview.com site and that was really the only thing that they came up with that is out in the last two years.

Do you think it is overkill? I've got really basic photo skills, but work bought me a power mac and soon I am getting all sorts of training for cs3. This is the reason for the raw requirement. I figure if they are going to pay for it, I might as well use the skills at home.

Any thoughts? Thanks

 

[CaptainNemo]

The g9 is a wonderful camera, and one that you can grow with. Learn it, and you will have no problems going to an slr later.

Whats really cool is, learning on this type of cam, is a great way to actually see LIVE what effect any changes you make to aperature, shutter speed or ISO have on a scene.

You can start out on full auto (green box I believe), work your way to "P" mode, not much different than full auto, and eventually you can venture into the priority modes, which really makes things fun.

I am currently teaching my brother on his g7. Hopefully he gets a grasp of it, and then I can sell him my SLR (hehe). Im anxiously awaiting the 5d replacement.

In case you are wondering, the g7 does NOT have raw.

johnny

 

[JJ4417]

I did read that about the g7. i didn't want to come and ask on here if I hadn't read anything at all. The g9 was the answer to some of the biggest g7 issues, the raw and a grip for stabilization.

I did go play with it a Circuit City tonight while xmas shopping. It is a little bigger than I thought, but still not too bad. Pretty much as big as my old coolpix 5200 that I have. Leaning towards the G9, unless someone can give me a good reason not to.

Anyone?

 

[sixfins]

If you know that you're going to go DSLR in the future I would just start there if it's affordable.

 

[JJ4417]

I don't know if I am going to go that route. This will be the first camera that I manually play with the 'film' speed and aperture. If I get into it, then of course, I'll throw money at it. I could just shrug, turn the thing on auto and snap away.

 

[sixfins]

Then by all means stick with the G9. It's a very capable point and shoot, probably the closest thing to a DSLR and has a lot of attachments and options available as well.

 

[jedininja]

I have the G9 as my backup camera. Great camera, awesome pictures. Only problem is that its noisy at high ISOs, but thats the same as every other non DSLR.

 

[JJ4417]

Thanks for the info guys. I appreciate it. Hopefully I'll get some shots up after the new year and start participating in this forum a little more. I can already see how many 'what camera' threads you folks have to sift through.