• 1/1.7 inch 43.3mm2
  • 12.1 megapixels
  • 35.00mm - 210.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • 24.00mm - 840.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon PowerShot G9
  • Nikon Coolpix A900
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Canon G7
G7 vs G9
Nikon S9900
S9900 vs A900
Successor: Canon G10
G9 vs G10
Nikon A1000
A900 vs A1000
General
Model Number: G9 A900
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Mid-Sized Compact
Currently Manufactured: No Yes
Retail Price: $499.99 $399.95
Street Price:   $396.95
Date Available: 2007-10-30 2016-04-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 12.8 oz (364 g)
includes batteries
10.2 oz (289 g)
includes batteries
Size: 4.2 x 2.8 x 1.7 in.
(106 x 72 x 43 mm)
4.4 x 2.6 x 1.6 in.
(113 x 67 x 40 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:   BSI
Effective Megapixels: 12.1 20.2
Sensor Format: 1/1.7 inch 1/2.3 inch
Sensor size: 43.32mm2 (7.6mm x 5.7mm) 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.90 microns 1.19 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a n/a
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG RGBG
Anti Aliasing Filter:   None
Self-Cleaning: No No
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score: 35  
DxO Color Depth Score (bits): 18.8  
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs): 10.1  
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso): 146  
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 4000 x 3000 (12.0 MP, 4:3),
4000 x 2248 (9.0 MP, 16:9),
3264 x 2448 (8.0 MP, 4:3),
2592 x 1944 (5.0 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
5184 x 3888 (20.2 MP, 4:3)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2), RAW CR2 JPEG (EXIF 2.3)
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.1 7.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 1024x768 (15)
640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
160x120 (15)
3840x2160 (30p/​25p)
1920x1080 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p)
1280x720 (60p/​50p/​30p/​25p)
640x480 (120p/​100p)
1280x720 (60p/​30p)
1920x1080 (15p/​12.5p)
Movie File Format: AVI (Motion JPEG) MP4 (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, Audio: AAC stereo)
Composite Video Out: Yes No
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes n/a
Video Usable as Viewfinder: n/a
HD Video Out: Yes
HD Video Connection: HDMI
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a n/a
Lens: Canon Zoom Lens, 9 elements in 7 groups (including 1 aspherical element) Zoom-Nikkor; 13 elements in 11 groups including 4 ED lens elements
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 35 - 210mm 24 - 840mm
Focal Length (actual): 7.4 - 44.4mm 4.3 - 151mm
Zoom Ratio: 6.00x 35.00x
Aperture Range: f/2.8 (W) / f/4.8 (T) - f/8 f/3.4 (wde) / f/6.9 (tele) - ??; 3-blade iris diaphragm
Integrated ND Filter: Yes No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 1 - 50 cm
0.4 - 19.7 in
1 cm to Infinity
0.4 in to Infinity
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: No Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x Up to 4x; up to 2x Dynamic Fine Zoom
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detect; 9-point AIAF, Face Detect AF, Single AF point, FlexiZone Contrast Detection: Center, Face priority, Manual with 99 focus areas, Subject tracking, Target finding AF
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes No
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: Optical / LCD No / LCD
Viewfinder Type: Real-image optical zoom  
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):   0.00x
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):   0.00x
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: Yes No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,000 dots 921,600 dots (230,400 px)
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No Yes
Tilt Swivel Screen: No No
Selfie Screen: No Yes
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x  
Top Deck Display: No
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):   1600
Minimum ISO (native):   80
ISO Settings: Auto, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600. 3200 requires special scene mode Auto, ISO 80 - 1600; ISO 3200 (available when using P, S, A or M mode)
Auto ISO Mode: No Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Underwater, Custom Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Preset Manual
Shutter Speed Range: 1/2500 - 15 sec 1/4000 - 8 sec
Bulb Mode: No No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted, Spot (center or linked to active AF point), Face Detect AE Matrix, Center-weighted, Spot
Program Auto Exposure: No Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes Yes
Shutter Priority: Yes Yes
Full Manual Exposure: Yes Yes
Creative Exposure Modes: Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Night Snapshot, Sports, Indoor,Kids & Pets, Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, ISO 3200, Underwater,Stitch Assist Scene Modes: Backlighting, Beach, Close-up, Dusk/Dawn, Easy Panorama, Fireworks Show, Food, Multiple Exposure Lighten, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Pet Portrait, Portrait, Scene Auto Selector, Snow, Sports, Sunset, Superlapse Movie; Smart Portrait, Special Effects
Self Timer: 1 - 30 seconds 10 , 5 or 2 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, On, Off, Slow-sync (second-curtain sync not available) Auto, Auto w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off, Flash On, w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; Slow Syncro
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: 9.8 ft (W) / 6.6 ft (T); ISO set to Auto Auto ISO: [W]: 0.5 to 6.0m (1 ft. 8 in. to 19 ft.), [T]: 1.5 to 3.2m (5 ft. to 11 ft.)
Max Flash Sync: 1/500  
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps  
External Flash Connection: Hot Shoe n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:   No
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:   No UHS support
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: Yes No
Uncompressed Format: RAW CR2  
Movie File Format: AVI (Motion JPEG) MP4 (Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC, Audio: AAC stereo)
Included Memory: No memory included No memory included
Included Memory Type:    
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No Yes
NFC: No Yes
Bluetooth: No Yes
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed,Bluetooth,WiFi
PictBridge Compliant: Yes Yes
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: No Yes
Remote Control Type:   Via Wi-Fi
Connections (extended): DC Input Micro (Type D) HDMI
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 2.12  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame): 2.79  
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames): Unlimited  
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press? No
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 1.1 7.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution): Unlimited 7
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.57 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.69 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus): 0.580 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.088 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 1.5 seconds  
Play -> Record Time: 1.5 seconds  
Flash cycle time, full power: 5.4 seconds  
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 240 shots 270 shots
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:   50 minutes
Battery Form Factor: Proprietary NB-2LH Proprietary EN-EL12
Usable Battery Types: Lithium Ion rechargeable Lithium-ion rechargeable
Batteries Included: 1 x Proprietary NB-2LH Lithium Ion rechargeable 1 x Proprietary EN-EL12 Lithium-ion rechargeable
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): Yes Yes
Dedicated Battery Charger Included: No
Internal Charging Supported: Yes
Software
Included Software: Canon software suite  
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS  
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Optical Image Stabilization, Face Detection, RAW mode, Hot Shoe. Available in silver and black.