Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Canon PowerShot G15

Canon PowerShot G1X

76

vs
Canon PowerShot G12

55
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G1X

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1900 ms startup delay
Color depth
 Great color depth
21.7 bits
 

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G12

Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon G1X
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 461k dots
Help
 Around 2x higher resolution screen
Overall image quality Better image quality 60.0 vs 47.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 700 shots vs 350 shots
Help
 2x more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The G1X's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Color depth Better color depth 21.7 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Four thirds 18.7x14.0mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 More than 6x larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 1900 ms vs 2700 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 644 ISO vs 161 ISO
Help
 The G1X has excellent image quality 2 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
Lowest price Cheaper $599.00 vs $971.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $372 cheaper (around 40% less)
Canon PowerShot G1X Learn more about
the Canon G1X

Advantages of the Canon G12
Macro focus Much better macro capability 1 cm vs 20 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 20x closer to the lens
Size Smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 117x81x65 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 380 ms vs 697 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when taking photos
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Thinner 1.9" vs 2.6"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G1X Canon PowerShot G1X
76 vs 55
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G1X. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a boutique with a pro digicam.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Both have tunnel viewfinders Help
Tunnel
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G1X:10.8 EV
G12:11.2 EV
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
G1X:1.9 fps
G12:2 fps
Startup delay Significant startup delay Help
G1X:1900 ms
G12:2700 ms
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
28 mm
Zoom Poor zoom Help
G1X:4x
G12:5x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G15

Canon PowerShot G15

Pro digicam

$499
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the PowerShot G12
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the PowerShot G12
Nikon Coolpix P7700

Nikon Coolpix P7700

Pro digicam

$389 - $447
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the Coolpix P7700 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Coolpix P7700 vs the PowerShot G12
Fujifilm FinePix x20

Fujifilm FinePix x20

Pro digicam

$599
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the FinePix x20 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the FinePix x20 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Canon PowerShot SX50 HS

Super zoom

$369 - $450
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the PowerShot SX50 HS vs the PowerShot G12
Canon EOS M

Canon EOS M

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$479 - $599 with 22mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the EOS M vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the EOS M vs the PowerShot G12
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$394 - $549
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G1X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon PowerShot G1X.

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$393 - $479
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam
Battery life Much longer battery life
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the PowerShot G11 vs the PowerShot G12

appearance

Canon PowerShot G1X Canon PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G1X Canon PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G1X Canon PowerShot G12

discussion

Showing 4 comments

Dr_yang (8:29 PM, March 18, 2012)
The sensor size of Canon G1 X is larger the four-third sensor!
 
Axlslash82 (9:06 AM, March 14, 2012)
Is the canon g1x going to be better then the g12 in terms of pic for macro?
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:16 PM, March 06, 2012)
Thanks for letting us know, we will fix that up soon
 
Dodie (8:40 AM, March 06, 2012)
The Canon G12 also has an HDR feature, FYI