Are you someone who loves photography and is always on the lookout for new gadgets to upgrade your skills? If so, have you ever considered going back in time and using a camera that's 16 years old? Yes, that's right. We're talking about a Canon Powershot G9 camera from 2007! Now, before you brush this off and dismiss it as an outdated device, hear us out.
As someone who has been using this camera for over a month now, let me tell you that the raw images you get from its 12-megapixel CCD sensor are unlike anything you see from most digital cameras today. The combination of this sensor and the optics built into the camera produce soft, film-like images that have a unique character of their own.
But why should you consider buying a camera from 2007 when you have so many options available in the market today? For starters, cameras of this age are often available for under $100, making them a great investment for anyone looking for a unique shooting experience. Additionally, using an older camera forces you to rely on your skills rather than relying on the crutches of modern technology.
When it comes to street photography, in particular, using an older camera can be incredibly beneficial. As we explore street photography as a genre, we begin to acquire gear to do the job or to prevent errors, mostly. But the little advantages we get from better AF performance cameras, longer focal length lenses, constant f, two eight zoom lenses, etc., soon turn into crutches. And then what was once the unlock ability that we get from a brand new mirrorless camera body and fancy new lenses soon become the lazy option for practicing street photography. And that removes a lot of the character, a lot of the challenge, and most importantly, it removes a lot of the risk. Sometimes that lack of risk actually makes taking photos unexciting.
That's where the Canon Powershot G9 comes in. This little dude that came out when I was eleven years old has so much wrong with it that it makes it so much fun to use when shooting street photography. It takes away any of the shallow depth of field decision-making and allows you to just point and shoot, like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. Very simple, point, shoot, point, shoot!
Now, let's talk about the specs of the Canon Powershot G9. This compact camera from 2007 has a 12-megapixel resolution and shares a common trait with a lot of cameras from the mid-2000s of having a CCD sensor rather than the more commonly used CMOS sensor today. And although the images come from a smaller sensor, the combination of the CCD technology with the built-in lens and then also the pixel density on a sensor like this actually provides us with really pleasing soft images at a glance.
The lens provided actually gives an optical zoom of 35 millimeters up to 210 millimeters. And while you might not zoom in that much on this camera, you can take some shots at around 50 millimeters and sometimes around 100. But for the most part, you can power it on and shoot at the 35 millimeter setting. The widest aperture is actually an f/2.8, and the smallest aperture is actually an f/8. To compensate for this, they have also included an ND filter within the camera.
All in all, if you're someone who loves photography and wants to experiment with different gadgets and techniques, we highly recommend giving the Canon Powershot G9 a try. It's a great investment for anyone looking for a unique shooting experience, and the raw images you get from this camera are truly a sight to behold.