Canon PowerShot
G1X
 vs
Canon PowerShot
G12

Canon PowerShot G1X

80

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G1X

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
920k dots
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
True resolution
 High true resolution
14.2 MP
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Canon PowerShot G12

64
"We have no hesitation in saying that the G12 is the best Canon G-series camera to date, but its original USP - as a bridge between compact cameras and DSLRs - is in danger of being eroded."
dpreview.com | talking about the G12's overall-performance
"Fast and responsive in use"
dpreview.com | talking about the G12's auto-focus

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G12

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel

differences

Advantages of the Canon G1X
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
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
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Four thirds 18.7x14.0mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 More than 6x larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 21.7 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
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 Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
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
Battery life Longer battery life 370 shots vs 250 shots
Help
 Around 50% more shots per battery charge
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
Lowest price Cheaper $389.99 vs $799.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $409 cheaper (2x less)
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
80 vs 64
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.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the G1X or the G12,
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1
votes
by Di-ry-Prudent 2 months ago
Canon G12 vs Canon G1X

(No description given)

One person recommends the Canon G1X:

"The G1X will get much better video quality because of its larger sensor"
0
votes
by Kathy-Smith last month
Canon G12 vs Olympus XZ-1

My last camera was a CANON A90. It no longer works.

One person recommends the Canon G12:

"Both cameras can shoot RAW images, but I think I would lean toward to the G12 because it is a bit ..."
0
votes
by Julie-Maddams-Huggins last month
Canon G11 vs Canon G12

I love taking pictures of my family , particularly when we're on holidays or just playing around i...
0
votes
by Roxielees 11 hours ago
Canon G12 vs Nikon P7000

I want something with similar parameters as the Canon G12 but would prefer a shorter autofocus l...
0
votes
by Julie-Maddams-Huggins last month
Canon G12 vs Nikon P7000

I carry my camera with me whenever we go out. I love taking portrait and landscape photos. I need ...

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Supports RAW RAW support 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
Weight Heavy Help
G1X:390 g
G12:401 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Zoom Poor zoom Help
G1X:4x
G12:5x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$372 - $430
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G12
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$450
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot G12
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Macro focus Much worse macro focusing
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the PowerShot G12
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$325
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot G12
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PowerShot G1X
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G1X Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$739 - $964 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
3D Takes 3D photos
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PowerShot G1X
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Longest exposure Significantly shorter max exposures
Compare the NEX-7 vs the PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Pro digicam

$249
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the Coolpix P7000 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