G9 owners: maximum repro size in macro

[qtluong]

This question is about macro capabilities of the Canon G9. If you have one,

could you please indicate what is the width in millimeters of the smallest

object that can fill the frame in its longest dimension while remaining in focus ?

[les]

It has the same lens as G7. Have a look at http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong7/ and see for yourself (I do not think that slightly different sensor would have too much impact).

[qtluong]

Thanks. For the G7, this was 24mm. Not too bad considering that on 35mm a regular macro lens that goes to 1:1 does 36mm.

[ralph_jensen]

NOTE, however, that that 24mm frame-filling measurement happens only at the widest-angle setting, where barrel distortion is most extreme and near-far relationships are most most exaggerated. So while it is, as you inquired, the "maximum" repro size, it is often not particularly desirable.

 

To me, a better measure of P&S macro capabilities is how close the camera focuses at mid-focal and telephoto lengths, as these cameras ALL seem to focus fairly close at the wide-angle setting.

 

So while the G7 can fill the frame with a 24x17mm at the wide-angle end, at the telephoto end the smallest area that can fill the frame is 102x76 mm (4x3 inches). That's not bad at all in SLR terms, but it could make a difference to some buyers.

 

Source: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong7/page6.asp , where the barrel distortion of wide-angle macro is also vividly shown.