Design and Interface
The Canon G9’s menus hail from the PowerShot lineup of digital cameras: the same menu structure and color scheme appears in all PowerShots from A-to-SD-series in the past few years. This makes the G9 an easy choice for those who have previously owned PowerShots and don’t want to get used to a new menu. The XSi, however, is not radically different. Its navigation is similar and the graphics are freshened up a bit – a nice touch from the archaic hammer and wrench icons of the G9’s setup menu. Which is better? Probably the XSi. But if you’ve always owned a PowerShot and don’t want to venture into graphics 2.0, the G9 is your camera.

The controls are also reminiscent of each other – probably because the two cameras are vying for the same market. The Canon G9 is a compact camera that takes on a few characteristics of old-school SLRs, such as the ISO dial and on-body controls, so that it will earn its high-end tone. The XSi is an SLR, although as an entry-level model it keeps controls to a minimum to attract compact digital camera users who are stepping into the world of SLR photography for the first time. Which camera has better controls?

The G9 has a really nice rotary dial that the XSi is lacking, but the XSi has a bigger and better shutter release button, a chunkier mode dial that is easier to handle, and a more accessible power switch.
 

Canon PowerShot G9

Canon Rebel XSi

Canon PowerShot G9	Canon Rebel XSi

Usability
The Canon G9 is much more “usable” if you’re going for a long hike or otherwise need a smallish camera. It’s much easier to pack a 4.2 x 2.8 x 1.67-inch camera than to tug along a DSLR and a few lenses, flash, and accessories. The G9 is more portable, but the XSi is easier to handle.

The Rebel XSi measures 5.1 x 3.8 x 2.4 inches and fills those dimensions with bodacious curves, a really comfortable hand grip, cushy rubber pads, and controls that are placed accessibly. The G9 scores low for handling: its flat shape and heavy weight make it difficult to heft, and are even worse when a flash accessory is added. The G9 comes with a neck strap, but it is thin – while the XSi’s neck strap is thick and sturdy.

Lens
The Canon PowerShot G9 comes with a Canon-branded 6x optical zoom lens with a nice, wide aperture of f/2.8. The 35-210mm equivalent lens has optical image stabilization which keeps blur from creeping into pictures. The G9’s lens shows some distortion and softness on the outer edges of the frame.

The Canon Rebel XSi is sometimes packaged with an 18-55mm kit lens. The XSi’s body does not have optical image stabilization, but the kit lens does include it in its optics. The kit lens has zoom and focus rings, which feel much better than the rocker-type control that moves the G9’s lens in and out (and it doesn’t have that electronic sound either). The XSi’s 18-55mm lens has less zoom than the G9’s lens, but the XSi’s main advantage is the ability to switch this lens with more able lenses from the Canon EF and EF-S line. And you might have to do just that: the kit lens has a max aperture of f/3.5, which isn’t a lot of light when it comes to shooting in low light.

 

Canon PowerShot G9	Canon Rebel XSi

Operations
Auto Focus – Both the XSi and G9 have 9-point autofocus systems, but they are not implemented equally. The G9 is quick for a compact, but the XSi is quicker to the focus.

The Canon Rebel XSi’s autofocus works fastest when the optical viewfinder is used. The camera also has two live view modes on the LCD. The Quick live view uses a phase-detection autofocus system and blacks out the image on the LCD when focusing. The live view designated as “Live” in the menu uses contrast detection autofocus and takes a little more time, but shows the image even when focusing right up until the shutter opens.

The Canon G9 shows its autofocus as green boxes in the central two-thirds of the LCD – except for when the face detection system is employed, in which case the boxes vary in size and appear around faces wherever they may be. The Digital Rebel XSi’s nine autofocus points are arranged in a diamond pattern and are visible only on the optical viewfinder.

The G9’s autofocus mode is selected in the menu system, but the Canon XSi keeps its autofocus modes more accessible with a position on the right side of the multi-selector. True to SLR form, the XSi keeps controls like this easy to access without getting into menus.

Face Detection – Of the two cameras, only the Canon PowerShot G9 has the face detection system. This system is advertised to focus on up to 35 faces at a time, even with faces turned at 45-degree angles. The G9’s LCD shows white boxes surrounding the faces that it recognizes, focuses on, and properly exposes for. This is a fun feature that has made its way onto lots of trendy cameras, but Canon didn’t deem it necessary on its XSi because its users shouldn’t need that kind of automation to focus on subjects. The DSLR, after all, is all about manual control.

Optical Image Stabilization – Both of these cameras flaunt their ability to freeze any jumping toddler or darkened portrait with optical image stabilization. The Canon PowerShot G9 has image stabilization built into its 6x zoom lens. The XSi technically does not have optical image stabilization in it. If you buy the body only, you don’t get any benefits from stabilization. The XSi’s kit lens comes with image stabilization in it, but keep in mind that all of Canon’s lenses do not have that feature – you pay extra for that. For instance, the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L IS USM lens (image stabilization included) retails for $1,699, while the Canon EF 70-200mm f/2.8L USM lens (without image stabilization) goes for $1,190. Ouch; that’s a lot of money.

Movie Mode – As an SLR, the XSi completely bypasses this feature. The G9, however, shoots excellent video at 640 x 480 pixels, 30 fps, and records clear audio. Of note: the G9 records 1024 x 768-pixel video too, but with only a 15 fps frame rate, the TV-quality resolution is preferable. The 6x optical zoom locks up while shooting video – typical of compact cameras – but the G9 still has a big advantage over the XSi in that the G9 can record movie clips of band concerts and park outings without adding the extra bulk of a camcorder.