That’s what I was told yesterday.  This, from a person with a Canon G9.  It wasn’t so much a problem with the camera, obviously, but really a problem with post-processing.

Post-processing?  What’s that?  Is that that expensive “Photoshop” thing?

Yep, I’m afraid so.  Or rather, that’s one option.  I use it, although most photos that you’ll see from me have very little Photoshop work on them.  I do most of my editing in Bridge, which focuses on colors, exposures, and intensity.  I get the overall effect there, and then head over to Photoshop for resizing and sharpening.

The Canon G9 is vastly superior to the sd500.  There’s no way that it takes poorer pictures.