Canon's new PowerShot G9 digital camera is designed for creative control and compact convenience. The camera comes standard with Raw Mode and gives the photographer the option of using RAW/JPEG simultaneous-capture functionality, JPEGs for immediate use and RAW images for reproduction. The 12.1-megapixel resolution and 6X optical zoom lens combine with Canon's Optical Image Stabilizer for sharp results.

The PowerShot G9 lets the user review and compare photos prior to printing with Canon's Image Inspection Tool. The camera also links Image Inspection with Advanced Face Detection technology, automatically enlarging and detecting the main subject. Additionally, the camera comes with 23 shooting modes, including Automatic, Manual, Shutter-Speed-Priority, Aperture-Priority, two custom modes and special scene modes, such as Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Sports, Indoor, Beach and Snow.

Designed with the Digic III Image Processor and a 3-inch PureColor LCD II monitor, the PowerShot G9 is compatible with Canon's wide-angle, telephoto and macro supplementary lenses, EOS Speedlite flashes and a waterproof case, rated to a depth of 40 meters/130 feet.

The camera can detect up to nine faces per frame with the lock-on and track-up features of its Genuine Face Detection technology. It also features red-eye correction, which can work automatically or manually while viewing the photos.

The camera is compatible with Canon's compact photo printer, producing borderless 4 x 6-inch prints, and accommodates Multimedia MMC, standard SD and high-capacity SDHC memory cards.

The Canon PowerShot G9 has an estimated selling price of $499.