Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon Powershot SX40 vs Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon Powershot SX40

75

Reasons to buy the Canon Powershot SX40

Zoom
Great zoom
35x
Wide angle
Wide angle lens
24 mm
High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10.3 fps
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
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

Size
Really small
Mid size 112x76x48 mm
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Macro focus
Great macro
1 cm
Thickness
Thin
1.9"
Weight
Light-weight
401 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon SX40

Zoom Much more zoom 35x vs 5x
Help
49x more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
More than 10% better wide angle
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
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10.3 fps vs 2 fps
Help
More than 5x faster continuous shooting
Aperture Slightly wider aperture f/2.7 vs f/2.8
Help
At its widest zoom, the SX40's lens captures marginally more light (0.1 f-stops)
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
Almost the same
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 380 shots vs 370 shots
Help
Almost the same
Lowest price Cheaper $347.00 vs $389.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $43 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Canon Powershot SX40 Learn more about
the Canon SX40

Advantages of the Canon G12

Size Much smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 123x92x108 mm
Help
3x smaller
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
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
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 461k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
Thickness Much thinner 1.9" vs 4.3"
Help
2.2x thinner
Screen size Larger screen 2.8" vs 2.7"
Help
Almost the same
Weight Significantly lighter 401 g vs 600 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
True resolution Higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.7 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 SX40 Canon Powershot SX40
75 vs 71
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot SX40. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a super zoom with a pro digicam.

advice

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0
votes
by Brooklyn-Ann-Haag this month
Canon SX40 vs Canon G12

I am more of a beginner. I love taking pictures but don't quite understand all the photography l...

0
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by kimjragle last month
Canon SX40 vs Canon G12

I want a camera that focuses fast, that I can get good shots at soccer and baseball games. I wan...

0
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by Lorraine-Allder last month
Canon SX40 vs Canon G12

Will be wanting to take it with me so size a slight factor. Current camera fuji s8100fd, good zo...

0
votes
by webb-gvec-net last month
Canon SX40 vs Kodak Z990 MAX

Not very technological. Need something easy to learn. Want a good zoom, fast shutter speed is a pl...

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 ..."

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

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
SX40:f/2.7
G12:f/2.8
Battery life Great battery life Help
SX40:380 shots
G12:370 shots
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
SX40:0 cm
G12:1 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
SX40:Digital
G12:Tunnel
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
SX40:1/3200s
G12:1/4000s
Lowest price Very expensive Help
SX40:$347.00
G12:$389.99
Weight Heavy Help
SX40:600 g
G12:401 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
SX40:4.3"
G12:1.9"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Screen size Very small screens Help
SX40:2.7"
G12:2.8"
Size Large Help
SX40:123x92x108 mm
G12:112x76x48 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has much more zoom
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$499

Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$372 - $430

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Autofocus Lacks autofocus
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

Canon Powershot SX40 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Supports 24p No 24p support
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

True resolution Slightly higher true resolution
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$399

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Supports 24p No 24p support
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Screen size Significantly larger screen
Battery life Much longer battery life
Supports 24p No 24p support
Zoom Significantly less zoom

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
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
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
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

appearance

Canon Powershot SX40 Canon PowerShot G12
Canon Powershot SX40 Canon PowerShot G12
Canon Powershot SX40 Canon PowerShot G12

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