Canon Rebel
T3i
 vs
Canon PowerShot
G12

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon Rebel T3i vs Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon Rebel T3i

84
"Excellent image quality even at high ISO settings"
dpreview.com | talking about the T3i's image-quality
"Good quality 1080/720p video output with a range of frame rates and control over exposure"
dpreview.com | talking about the T3i's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon Rebel T3i

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
1,040k dots
True resolution
 High true resolution
17.9 MP
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
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

Size
 Really small
Mid size 112x76x48 mm
Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Thickness
 Thin
1.9"

differences

Advantages of the Canon T3i
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen 1,040k dots vs 461k dots
Help
 Around 2.5x higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 65.0 vs 47.0
Help
 Around 40% better image quality
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
True resolution Much higher true resolution 17.9 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 80% more detail in your photos
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 22.3x14.9mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 More than 7.5x larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 22.1 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.7 more bits of color
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 793 ISO vs 161 ISO
Help
 The T3i has excellent image quality 2.3 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The T3i's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.5 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.7 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 Around 90% faster continuous shooting
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 440 shots vs 370 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Viewfinder Has a through-the-lens viewfinder Pentamirror vs Tunnel
Help
 Through-the-lens viewfinders let you see exactly what your photo will look like
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 283 ms vs 380 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Canon Rebel T3i Learn more about
the Canon T3i

Advantages of the Canon G12
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Size Significantly smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 133x99x79 mm
Help
 2.6x smaller
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.9" vs 3.1"
Help
 Around 40% thinner
Weight Lighter 401 g vs 570 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $389.99 vs $618.94
Help
 The best price we've seen is $229 cheaper (around 40% less)
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Rebel T3i Canon Rebel T3i
84 vs 64
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Rebel T3i. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a pro digicam.

advice

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the T3i or the G12,
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My last camera was a CANON A90. It no longer works.

One person recommends the Canon G12:

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by dinsky this month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

My daughter wants to start taking photo classes, which camera is better for a beginning student....

26 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" i think it´s too much to start, i don´t know if the girl has got a camera already... but since t..."

" it is the best entry level camera and even most professionals use this. better get this camera f..."

" Very good for beginners. And keeping that in mind, the D3100 has more expensive lenses than cano..."
26 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" I would say that from what I know, nikon has a better beginner friendly interface which will hel..."

" * More comfortable * Easy to use * More Auto modes * Smaller and lighter * Cheaper too"

" They are both as good as one another, neither is particularly better than the other. If you real..."
1
votes
by Ameera-Khan1 last month
Canon T3i vs Nikon D3100

This will be my first purchase of a dslr. I want to buy the best available camera that I can use...

6 people recommend the Canon T3i:

" Since Ameera wants a camera that she expects to use for many years to come, the Canon T3i is ide..."

" Thy are easy to use. I have used Canon's for many many years. I have tried Nikon they are not ea..."

" If filmography is your calling, then go with the T3i. Trust me. "
One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" Nikon have better cheaper lenses and some of them even don't have a Canon version, for example t..."

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
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
T3i:Pentamirror
G12:Tunnel
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
T3i:570 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

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PowerShot G12
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a significantly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot G12
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Movie continuous focus Can focus continuously while recording movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the D3100 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 Rebel T3i
Compare the Powershot SX40 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
Light sensitivity Much higher maximum light sensitivity
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Rebel T3i
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PowerShot G12

Canon Rebel T3i Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Better image quality
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Compare the D5100 vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Battery life Much longer battery life
Cross type focus points More cross-type focus points
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the Rebel T3i
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$699 - $700 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Video autofocus
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D3200 vs the Rebel T3i
Canon EOS 7D

Canon EOS 7D

Pro DSLR

$1,549 - $1,821 body only

$1,500 - $1,849 with 18-135mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Cross type focus points Significantly more cross-type focus points
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Screen resolution Lower resolution screen
Compare the EOS 7D vs the Rebel T3i

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$372 - $430
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Powershot S100 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

appearance

Canon Rebel T3i Canon PowerShot G12
Canon Rebel T3i Canon PowerShot G12
Canon Rebel T3i Canon PowerShot G12

discussion

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