VALUE

The XSi wins this head-to-head, but the G9 isn’t too far behind in terms of its performance. The G9’s price, however, is one of its most attractive perks. It retails for $499, but can be found for as low as $350. This is the best bang for your buck.

The Canon XSi retails for $799 for the body only, and $899 with the 18-55mm kit lens. The bigger costs come when accessorizing – and the XSi requires more of that. Each lens costs hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on what type of lens it is and whether it has optical image stabilization.

For what it is, the Canon PowerShot G9 is a bargain.

CONCLUSION

Head to head, the Canon Rebel XSi wins the prize. Its pictures are simply better: less noise, accurate color, less distortion, richer dynamic range, less blur, faster burst, sharper focus, better performance in low light. Its viewfinder and flash are above and beyond the equivalent components on the Canon G9. The XSi has more accessible manual controls and a body that is much easier to handle.

The Canon PowerShot G9 has its merits too though. While it doesn’t exceed the XSi’s performance, it’s not far behind at its lower ISO settings. And it does cost much less and it is much more portable, making it a great deal for families who want to pack it along in a diaper bag or backpack. The G9 comes with a movie mode, something the XSi omits, so you can catch fleeting moments without having to lug out the camcorder.

Get the XSi                                                                                
• If you absolutely want the best pictures possible                                                                                                                                                           
• If you shoot in low light often                                                                          
• If you have Canon EF or EF-S lenses                                                        
• If you shoot sports or otherwise need the 3.5 fps burst                         
• If you’ll be handling it often                                                                            

Get the G9
• If you need a small, portable camera with RAW capture and built-in image stabilization
• If you want a hybrid camera/camcorder
• If you don’t want to bother changing lenses
• If you’ll never use the optical viewfinder
• If you want more automated modes