Well, I went and did it. Canon G9...

[Azurerana]

I told people I was getting a Canon G9, and asked for goodies for Christmas. I received a Sunpak Canon-compatible flash, 2 2GB SD cards, a memory card case, a hard camera case and a spare battery.

So, two nights ago, I ordered up the G9, an off-camera cord, the wide angle lens, the converter tube and a 58mm polarizer. I'm holding back on the 2.0x teleconverter lens. I don't know that I need that: the zoom lens is a 35-210 mm equivalent, with an f2.8-4.8 equivalent speed lens.

And yesterday my credit card company called and reported that my card was being used in a highly unusual manner.

Any other goodies people can think of? Eugene says that I should get as many accessories up front, because they often stay in production for only a short time.

Santa drives a big brown truck...

[Brian Roebuck]

I believe Alan Cressler uses a G9 and loves it. He does some amazing photography with all his cameras. I think you'll be very pleased with that camera.

[L Roebuck]

From all the User Reviews I have read the Canon PowerShot G9 Digital Camera is an fine choice! Congratulations! Alan Cressler does have a G9 as well as a Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi. Both cameras take excellent photos!

Other goodies? Well an extra battery always comes in handy. (I guess you did get get the g9 charger?) And having a couple of extra flash cards on-hand is nice too.

[Azurerana]

I've now been in two caves and used the cave outside to photo eagles at about 15 degrees.

Results have been absolutely well-lit, both on camera and off camera flash, in focus and amazing.
Smashing pictures with incredible detail for a digital.

In the bitter cold, the battery went after about 75 shots, but in cave, twice that many were possible and still no battery warning. (I have a spare battery). I've never had TTL before, and can't imagine going back. The off camera cord is a bit too short for my tastes (shorter than one for a dSLR) but it's better than none at all. Other than those two things...it's about perfect, I think, even though I haven't yet ventured too far off Program and Auto Settings. (Have done some, but not much).

I'd recommend this camera to anyone used to 35 compact rangefinder as I was for many years. And the whole kit cost about half what an equivalent kit for a dSLR would.

At this point, I am happy.

[L Roebuck]

Sounds like a thumbs-up caving camera review to me, Az! So far I have not hear any cavers who own a G9 report anything negative about the camera.

It's all good!