Canon's New Backpacker Camera

[jeffblaylock]

Well, it's not really a backpacker camera, but it sure looks cool and packs quite a load of features for only 9.4 ounces. This might be the solution to my camera-gear problems:

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0708/07082005canong9.asp

Highlights:

12.1 megapixels (4000 x 3000)
35-210mm optical zoom (6x) with additional reach via teleconverter
RAW images
3 inch LCD screen
ISO range 80-1600
25 shooting modes, including full manual

Drawbacks (as I see them):

35mm is a little higher than I'd like my wide-angle to be
Does not appear to have Bulb setting (for nighttime photography)
Uses proprietary rechargeable batteries
Uses different kind of memory cards than I currently own
$499

Still, having spent the weekend watching Randell take beautiful photos with a little camera while I lugged around my SLR makes we wonder if this little Canon isn't a good answer for backpacking trips. 9.4 oz versus 2 pounds, 3 ounces. Hmmm :-k

[Roy]

Come on Jeff, go for the gusto:
http://www.dpreview.com/previews/canoneos1dsmarkiii/

Of course, you'd need a pack mule to get the thing past the trail head.

[SHANEA]

:lol:

Our Price: $5899.00

 :shock:

[Al]

I have a G6 which I love. The G7 did not even tempt me.  The G9 on the other hand . . .

Al

[Roy]

:lol:

Our Price: $5899.00

 :shock:

That's the old" 16 mp MarkII you're talking about.  The new Mark III Ds is 21 mp and app. $8000  :shock: ;  hasn't been released yet.  Someone at Amazon posted the specs the other day, as well as Canon's new 40D "prosumer" SLR, which I think will list for about 1300.   The listings were removed within a couple of hours. Accident, or clever marketing.

[Doc Savage]

Nah, give me a good ole SLR (well I'll go for a dSLR these days). :)

My backpacking camera (in my backpacking days) was a Canon A1 with a 35mm to 200mm zoom. I used a zoom holster bag strapped to the side of my pack's belt.

Robert

[tjavery]

Yeh, the G9 looks pretty cool. I'll be very interested in seeing DPreview's full review when Phil gets around to it. If Canon can manage to control the noise issues, especially with 12mp cram-packed into a tiny sensor, then this may be one heck of a point-n-shoot.

(I wish Canon would learn a few tricks from Fuji. I have the little F30 point-n-shoot, and at low ISO's (100, 200), the picture quality and lack of digital noise is astounding - very DSLR-like.)

I'll be saving my pennies for the 1Ds Mark III :D :D I figure I'll be able to afford a used one in about 3 - 4 years :D Maybe then it will be affordable (and still be slightly more valuable than a paperweight).