Canon G9 lifespan

[teddillard]

I got a G9 about a year and a half ago, (Yes, right before the G10.  In fact, the G10 was announced as a direct result of me finally buying the G9.) and I used it almost daily.  I carried it in it's little case in my bike bag, carried it in the car, etc etc.  Although I love the camera, and the files, I'm looking back and have had quite a few problems with it in it's fairly short life.  I'm wondering if it's just me, or this one, or the rather heavy use.  It's always in it's case.  

These are the biggies, the ones threatening to be terminal- there have been other small things...  I've had a few occasions where the lens would not retract, and got a "lens error".  Actually, by forcing the lens back into the start position it freed the jam, and went back to working fine.  I've had (HUGE CHUNKS OF HAIR and) dust on the sensor, which ultimately I blew out, by blowing into the lens when it was extended (on the theory that the dust came in through the lens extensions in the first place.  Don't make too much fun, it worked.)  Now it won't power up.  I'm trying to decide if I should buy a new battery, but I don't think that's the problem, it's not acting like a bad battery at all...  and I have checked the cover interlock switch and the battery contacts.  This time I think it's finally dead.  

Anybody else? I think I'm on to the next camera, and I was looking for an excuse to consider the new Lumix DMC-GF1 or the G11 anyway.  I do feel that most of these cameras have to be considered disposable, but really, a year and a half ain't what I call normal lifespan...

[Gordon Buck]

My own G9 is now two years old and still working fine after some 10,000+ images.  

Your problems with lens sticking and "dead" are all too common according to what I've read on several forums.  My recommendation for the stuck lens is to "jiggle it" and sometimes doing so actually works (worked on my G3 as well).  As for the dead G9, sometimes that turns out to be a battery problem and sometimes the G9 has truely departed.  If you can't borrow a battery for testing, you might try purchasing a cheap one online.

[Ken Bennett]

(Yes, right before the G10.  In fact, the G10 was announced as a direct result of me finally buying the G9.)

I thought that was my own personal super power.....

Glad to hear I'm not the only one. I have a long list of Canon equipment bought just before the new model. You'd think I would learn.

[Bill in WV]

I thought that was my own personal super power.....

Glad to hear I'm not the only one. I have a long list of Canon equipment bought just before the new model. You'd think I would learn.

Mine wouldn't power up so I purchased a new battery, that made three, all appeared to be charging so I investigated repair and told the story on dpreview. If it is not considered sacrilege, I'll just post a link to the story. In it I said I still wanted a G10 but fixing it seemed more reasonable at the time. Now I think I'm going to want a G11 as soon as tests start coming in. Here's the link:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp...essage=31724305

Hope it helps your decision. Incidentally, the camera still won't acknowlege one of those batteries, but the other two work just fine.

Bill in WV

[teddillard]

alrighty then, went into my friendly neighborhood dealer, EP Levine here in Boston, tried out a new battery and back in business.  Never had THAT happen like that before...  

Thanks for the posts, I guess my new camera is going to have to wait a bit...  

[Eric Myrvaagnes]

alrighty then, went into my friendly neighborhood dealer, EP Levine here in Boston, tried out a new battery and back in business.  Never had THAT happen like that before...  

Thanks for the posts, I guess my new camera is going to have to wait a bit...  

Think of it this way, Ted: one battery was no doubt much less expensive than a new camera. 

[teddillard]

Think of it this way, Ted: one battery was no doubt much less expensive than a new camera. 

i know but i  WAAAAAnt a new cambera.    

seriously, though this was really weird.  like no other battery failure i've seen before...

[Bill in WV]

I feel your pain . . . and now with the G11, the 7D, 5DII, and now the M9 out there, not to mention the new lenses from Canon; I keep putting $10 to $20 a week in the fund but they just haven't pulled my numbers yet. So many cameras, so many lenses, so many workshops, ah woe is me!

Bill in WV

[teddillard]

update on update.  camera dead.  

the lens jammed again, this time permanently.  not gonna send it off, gonna get me a new cammy.  (yay)

[Andre R]

I bought 5 G9's last year for 'the office' (a tiny publishing company) and the lifespan was less than expected.

Used by people with close to no knowledge about cameras they lasted 3 months....

... 'my' copy just died after less than 20 shots. Hmmm.

This experience will however not stop me from replacing them with G11's and maybe some S90's.

Regards
AndreR

[tonypassera]

I have a G9 as well, with no problems after about a year and a half.  But I gave it pretty
light use, maybe 3k or 4k images.  However, given what I'm hearing there's no way I'll
consider a G11.  I had no idea these things were so flimsy.  I'd rather spend a little
more and get a panasonic GF1 with better image quality and better video.

I bought 5 G9's last year for 'the office' (a tiny publishing company) and the lifespan was less than expected.

Used by people with close to no knowledge about cameras they lasted 3 months....

... 'my' copy just died after less than 20 shots. Hmmm.

This experience will however not stop me from replacing them with G11's and maybe some S90's.

Regards
AndreR