Canon PowerShot
G12
 vs
Canon PowerShot
G9

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Canon PowerShot G9

Canon PowerShot G12

71
"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

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
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Canon PowerShot G9

43
Runner-up

Canon PowerShot G9

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G9

True resolution
 High true resolution
12 MP
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12
Wide angle Much better wide angle 28 mm vs 35 mm
Help
 20% better wide angle
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
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 47.0 vs 35.0
Help
 More than 30% better image quality
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Color depth Better color depth 20.4 bits vs 18.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 1.1 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 461k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 2x higher resolution screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 161 ISO vs 146 ISO
Help
 The G12 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The G12's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Movie format Higher resolution movies 720p @ 24fps vs 1024 x 768 @ 15fps
Help
 Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video at a higher frame rate
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2500s
Help
 Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Canon G9
True resolution Much higher true resolution 12 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Size Slightly smaller 106x72x43 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Weight Slightly lighter 370 g vs 401 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.7" vs 1.9"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Canon PowerShot G9 Learn more about
the Canon G9
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
71 vs 43
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot G9 Canon PowerShot G9
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G12.

advice

Need help deciding?

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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Both have tunnel viewfinders Help
Tunnel
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
G12:1/4000s
G9:1/2500s
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Weight Heavy Help
G12:401 g
G9:370 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
G12:28 mm
G9:35 mm
Movie format Poor movies Help
G12:720p @ 24fps
G9:1024 x 768 @ 15fps

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
15 seconds
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Screen type No OLED screens Help
LCD
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
G12:461k dots
G9:230k dots
Aperture Very narrow widest aperture size Help
f/2.8

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G9
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G9
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot G9
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G9
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot G9
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam

$672
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Compare the PowerShot G11 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot G11 vs the PowerShot G9
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Size Is slightly smaller
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the PowerShot G9

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
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G9 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon PowerShot G9.

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G9
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G9
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G9

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Rosy (11:26 PM, May 08, 2012)
I've got a G9 and love it!!!!  I even have got pictures taken with it published in a book about orchids.  The only reason for the high price for the G9 is to get people to buy the others Gs, that aren't as half as complete as the G9 is, no matter what this survey says. 
I wouldn't change it for the G12 even if it was for free.  
 
Katrentlage (1:45 AM, March 21, 2011)
Where are these ridiculous prices coming from for the G9? It originally listed for $499. I got mine for about $425. By the way, the G9 is my 1st digital camera & I love it. My Speedlite 420EX from my Elan 7 works just great with the G9.