Canon EOS Digital
Rebel XSi
 vs
Canon PowerShot
G12

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi vs Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G12

64
"Excellent build quality"
dpreview.com | talking about the G12's build-quality
"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

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G12

Size
 Really small
Mid size 112x76x48 mm
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
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

35
"Just like the EOS 400D the 450D is primarily made from three materials; a stainless steel chassis, the mirror box which is made of high-strength 'engineering plastic' and the body made of a special lightweight 'engineering plastic' which also provides some electromagnetic shielding. Construction is very good with no creaks or rattles."
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's build-quality
"Superb resolution, good per-pixel sharpness"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XSi's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi

Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
400 ms startup delay
Color depth
 Great color depth
21.9 bits
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 22.2x14.8mm
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XSi
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Overall image quality Better image quality 61.0 vs 47.0
Help
 Around 30% better image quality
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 22.2x14.8mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 More than 7.5x larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 21.9 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.5 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 692 ISO vs 161 ISO
Help
 The Rebel XSi has excellent image quality 2.1 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Battery life Longer battery life 500 shots vs 370 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 160 ms vs 380 ms
Help
 2.4x less delay when taking photos
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.5 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 Around 80% faster continuous shooting
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
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XSi

Advantages of the Canon G12
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
Movie format Shoots movies 720p @ 24fps vs None
Help
 Shoots HD (720p) video as well as still pictures
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Size Smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 129x98x62 mm
Help
 Around 50% smaller
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 461k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 2x higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 800 ISO
Help
 The G12's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Weight Lighter 401 g vs 524 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.9" vs 2.4"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi
35 vs 64
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 entry-level DSLR with a pro digicam.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
Rebel XSi:Pentamirror
G12:Tunnel
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
Rebel XSi:524 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
Movie format One shoots movies Help
Rebel XSi:None
G12:720p @ 24fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PowerShot G12
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot G12
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Records higher quality movies
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Compare the D3100 vs the PowerShot G12

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Rebel T1i

Canon Rebel T1i

Entry-level DSLR

$471 - $629 body only

$549 - $580 with 18-55mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Battery life Shorter battery life
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Rebel T1i vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$348 - $595 body only

$439 with 18-55mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Screen size Much smaller screen
Autofocus Slower autofocus
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$848 - $1,304 body only

$1,177 - $1,342 with 18-135mm lens
Movie format Shoots movies
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Larger
Weight Heavier
Compare the EOS 60D vs the EOS Digital Rebel XSi

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

$356 - $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
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380
Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Much larger
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the Powershot SX40 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

appearance

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon PowerShot G12
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon PowerShot G12
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi Canon PowerShot G12

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