Canon PowerShot
SX230 HS
 vs
Canon PowerShot
G12

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS vs Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G12

71
"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

Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Battery life
 Great battery life
370 shots
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

54
"If you want a compact megazoom with manual controls, GPS, and excellent photo quality, the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS is a good place to start."
reviews.cnet.com | talking about the SX230 HS's overall-performance
"The noise and noise reduction are well balanced so you still get very good color and detail at these higher sensitivities."
reviews.cnet.com | talking about the SX230 HS's iso-noise

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Size
 Really small
Compact 106x59x33 mm
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Thickness
 Thin
1.3"

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX230 HS
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Zoom More zoom 14x vs 5x
Help
 Around 8x more zoom
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Size Smaller 106x59x33 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
 Around 50% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 215 g vs 401 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.9"
Help
 More than 30% thinner
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.2 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 More than 60% faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $239.00 vs $389.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $151 cheaper (around 40% less)
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Learn more about
the Canon SX230 HS

Advantages of the Canon G12
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 50% larger sensor
Aperture Wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/3.1
Help
 At its widest zoom, the G12's lens captures marginally more light (0.3 f-stops)
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
 Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 370 shots vs 210 shots
Help
 Around 80% more shots per battery charge
Macro focus Significantly better macro capability 1 cm vs 5 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 5x closer to the lens
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/3200s
Help
 20% faster max shutter speed
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Canon PowerShot SX230 HS
54 vs 71
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G12. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a travel zoom with a pro digicam.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
SX230 HS:Sensor shift, Lens
G12:Lens
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
SX230 HS:1/3200s
G12:1/4000s
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
28 mm

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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot SX230 HS
Compare the Powershot S100 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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot SX230 HS
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the PowerShot SX230 HS
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$299
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Zoom More zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the PowerShot SX230 HS
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319 - $330
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX9v vs the PowerShot SX230 HS
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS

Canon PowerShot SX240 HS

Travel zoom

$354 - $450
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Zoom More zoom
Aperture Narrower aperture
GPS No built-in GPS
Compare the PowerShot SX240 HS vs the PowerShot SX230 HS
Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Travel zoom

$281 - $366
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
GPS No built-in GPS
Compare the PowerShot SX220 HS vs the PowerShot SX230 HS
Nikon Coolpix S9100

Nikon Coolpix S9100

Travel zoom

$237 - $328
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Supports 24p No 24p support
Aperture Narrower aperture
Compare the Coolpix S9100 vs the PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800
Sensor size Much larger sensor
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$450
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
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$325
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot G12
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
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Coolpix P7000 vs the PowerShot G12

appearance

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Canon PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Canon PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS Canon PowerShot G12

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