Canon G9 accessories

[AaronTM]

So I was just given a Canon G9 over the past weekend. Yes...given. It is an awesome camera for a non-DSLR. So I am looking for accessories. (And yes I have searched here for G9, but G9 is removed from searches because of the shortness of the word). Anyways. So I curious what other people are using.

Here is what I have:
3x Canon batters and charger
Tripod and monopod
16GB SDHC card
Camera bag

I am looking for:
External flash
Adapter lenses
Macro lenses
Macro flashes
Filters

Please let me know what you have or recommend and links to the items.

Thank you,
Aaron

[AaronTM]

Anyone please?

[oldwolf]

Very nice camera. Wish I had the money to buy one.

Here's a link to Amazon. Check out the Frequently Bought Together part under the main picture.

Amazon.com: Canon TC-DC58C Tele Converter Lens for Canon A650IS, G7 & G9 Digital Cameras: Camera & Photo

You can also check out B&H's website for accessories that work with the G9. Scroll towards the bottom.

Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera 2082B001 - B&H Photo Video

[LeeR]

Generally speaking the accessories you want to have will be a good tripod, a polarizing filter, extra batteries, a flash, extra memory cards and a good bag to carry everything. You say you have a tripod but I'd be willing to guess it's too light to be much good. With rare exception, good equals heavy when it comes to tripods. It may seem like overkill to have a heavy tripod for a point and shoot camera, but this is one of the secrets of the pros: if you want sharp photos you need a good tripod.
You can also buy auxiliary lenses for your G9 that will extend the telephoto and wide angle range of the lens you currently have. I wouldn't call them a "must have" but something you may want to consider down the road. One more thing I would consider "must have" is some sort of imaging software. There are a number of choices but you would be hard pressed to find something better than Photoshop Elements. It has many fabulous features and serves as a great learning environment should you one day decide to upgrade to Photoshop. There are many alternatives, however. Many on this site use Paint Shop Pro while others use free software like GIMP. Just keep in mind that to get the most from your camera you will need good software.

Mostly you just need to spend a lot of time taking pictures. You now have what may be the finest point and shoot camera on the market. One with some remarkable features and capabilities. Even if you don't buy a single accessory you could easily spend the next several years mastering the camera you have.

[sk66]

I have a G10, the only accessories I use with are a sunpack rd2000 flash and a leather cover sometimes. (case is similar to this)

Accessory lenses/filter/etc for the G series are a waste of money IMO. Additional cards, a card reader, might be in order....

[inkista]

Originally Posted by sk66

Accessory lenses/filter/etc for the G series are a waste of money IMO...

IMO, not all of them are. Just most of them. The teleconverter "wide angle" and "telephoto" types are a waste, and you don't really need an ND filter since the G9 has one built in. But I do like being able to use a Hoya R72 infrared filter on my G9.


Canon G9. Ultrapod. Hoya R72 infrared filter. timer. 10s exposure.

The general rule of thumb I'd use for buying stuff for a G9 is (assuming you're eventually heading into dSLR territory), if you're not also going to use it on a dSLR, then don't consider it. With two exceptions: a small tripod, and the lensmate. And you only want the lensmate if a) you're not using the on-camera flash, and b) you're not using the optical viewfinder, because the lensmate will obstruct both. But it costs about as much as the Canon accessory tube and it's aluminum not plastic. It basically gives you something to grip SLR-like and an attachment point with a 58mm thread for filters or step-up/step-down rings.

When it comes to flash accessories, I'd say, again, go with what you'd buy for a full-on dSLR Strobist set-up. Canon speedlights aren't actually going to buy you much here, though, even for on-camera use, because the G9 doesn't do e-TTL. It has an electronic shutter, so you'll have high-speed synch even with a manual flash. The only gain you have is power-control from the camera back if a speedlight is on the hotshoe, and putting a speedlight on the G9 hotshoe is simple folly. It's a seriously top-heavy combination. So, a manual speedlight like a Lumopro LP160, or cheap Yongnuo YN might be enough. Whatever you do, do not get one of those tiny flash units with no manual control.

The perfect fit on the hotshoe, I've found, is to slap on a cheap eBay radio transmitter, like a Cactus V4, or Yong Nuo RF-602, or use an ST-E2 (or yongnuo cheapie clone), if you're going Canon proprietary wireless. These are the perfect weight and size for the G-series.


G9. ST-E2 on hotshoe, 580EX, 430EX, and SB-26 (built-in dumb optical slave), and an Ikea Fniss trashcan.

[AaronTM]

Thank you everyone for you reply. I am going to get the Lensmate soon. I then I will see about a flash.

My tripod is not a lightweight. I am mean it is not some well known brand. My wife bought it off of Newegg for me. It came with a mono-pod as well.

Would you recommend this accessory as well....Raynox MSN-202 Macro lens that fits on the Lensmate?

Thanks,
Aaron

[inkista]

Originally Posted by AaronTM

My tripod is not a lightweight. ...

I disagree with LeeR on this point, actually, since we're not talking about a dSLR, or a camera with bulb exposure capability. A small lightweight tripod, like an Ultrapod or Gorillapod might actually be more suitable, simply because you can take it with you anywhere. The ultrapod is pocketable. The G9's maximum shutter speed is around 30s, iirc. You're not going to be doing star trail photography with it. You don't need super stability with such a smalll, light camera. Just my personal taste. A big full-sized tripod might be overkill unless you need the height.

Would you recommend this accessory as well....Raynox MSN-202 Macro lens that fits on the Lensmate?

No. As I said, if it's not gear you would also use with an SLR, it's typically not going to be getting you great results, and probably not worth bothering with. Filters that you would put on the front of an SLR lens, like a circular polarizer, ND, or infrared are worth it. Close-up filters typically aren't.

The G9's macro capability is pretty impressive all on its own--it can get within 1cm of a subject, if you're zoomed all the way out to the wide end of the lens.

[AaronTM]

@inkista, Thank you very much for your input. I am very impressed with how well the G9 does with Maco. So I am planning on buying the lensemate and eventually some filters.

Thanks again.

[LeeR]

Originally Posted by inkista

I disagree with LeeR on this point, actually, since we're not talking about a dSLR, or a camera with bulb exposure capability. A small lightweight tripod, like an Ultrapod or Gorillapod might actually be more suitable, simply because you can take it with you anywhere. The ultrapod is pocketable. The G9's maximum shutter speed is around 30s, iirc. You're not going to be doing star trail photography with it. You don't need super stability with such a smalll, light camera. Just my personal taste. A big full-sized tripod might be overkill unless you need the height.

I know there is a lot of disagreement with the tripod issue and I have no problem with someone taking a different point of view. Generally, it makes sense that any kind of tripod is better than nothing in low light situations. If you tend to leave your heavy tripod behind, then you are better off carrying a lighter one. But as one pro pointed out, there is something to be said for having a certain amount of mass connected to your camera. It tends to do a much better job counteracting the wind and other vibrations. One of the most popular styles of tripod these days are the lightweight carbon fiber models. These are twice as strong as aluminum and weigh half as much, however, we are back to the same problem with not having enough mass to get the job done. One thing I have learned to do is hang my camera bag on the tripod. I assume I now have the mass of a tripod much heavier than the one I am carrying. Another way to do the same thing with a tripod stone bag. It fits just inside the three legs of the tripod and allows you to fill it with rocks or equipment to accomplish the same thing.

As an emergency backup I suggest you check out this very inexpensive yet surprisingly effective stabilizer you can carry in your pocket made of string. Check out the video below:



Oh, and by the way, Inkista, that's a fabulous IR shot you took with your G9. I'm adding one of those to my Christmas wish list now.