Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Canon PowerShot S5 IS

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
Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing
Canon PowerShot S5 IS

31

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Macro focus
Great macro
0 cm
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital
External flash
External flash
Better lighting

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12

Wide angle Much better wide angle 28 mm vs 36 mm
Help
More than 20% better wide angle
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.5" 5.8x4.3mm
Help
More than 70% larger sensor
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
True resolution Much higher true resolution 10 MP vs 8 MP
Help
Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Screen size Significantly larger screen 2.8" vs 2.5"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies 720p @ 24fps vs 480p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots high resolution HD (720p) video but at a lower frame rate
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Size Smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 117x80x78 mm
Help
More than 40% smaller
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 207k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
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
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.9" vs 3.1"
Help
Around 40% thinner
Weight Lighter 401 g vs 550 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 2 fps vs 1.5 fps
Help
More than 30% faster continuous shooting
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

Advantages of the Canon S5 IS

Zoom More zoom 12x vs 5x
Help
Around 6x more zoom
Aperture Slightly wider aperture f/2.7 vs f/2.8
Help
At its widest zoom, the S5 IS's lens captures marginally more light (0.1 f-stops)
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
Almost the same
Canon PowerShot S5 IS Learn more about
the Canon S5 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
71 vs 31
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot S5 IS Canon PowerShot S5 IS
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 pro digicam with a super zoom.

advice

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0
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by Kathy-Smith last month
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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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2
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by Andy-Stone last month
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I'm looking for a camera for my partner, a wildlife officer. Any type is considered. It should...

0
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by Shirley-Boey last month
Canon G12 vs Samsung NX200

Used compact cameras for a long time. Very little SLR knowledge. Intend to take up photography les...

One person recommends the Canon G12:

"Hi Shirley, I wouldn't generally recommend the Samsung NX200 mirrorless camera, if you do want a m..."

2
votes
by David-Bavers last month
Canon G12 vs Panasonic DMC-FZ150

I have had a Lumix DMC-FZ7 and loved it but it was pretty heavy. Still worth the weight for the pi...

0
votes
by Rich-Hagen this month
Canon G12 vs Panasonic DMC-FZ150

i am a beginner and like to shoot video and still shots.  I need a wide angle lens. A camera ...

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Aperture Wide aperture Help
G12:f/2.8
S5 IS:f/2.7
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
G12:1 cm
S5 IS:0 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G12:Tunnel
S5 IS:Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
G12:1/4000s
S5 IS:1/3200s
Weight Heavy Help
G12:401 g
S5 IS:550 g
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Thickness Quite thick Help
G12:1.9"
S5 IS:3.1"
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
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
G12:2 fps
S5 IS:1.5 fps
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Screen size Very small screens Help
G12:2.8"
S5 IS:2.5"
Size Large Help
G12:112x76x48 mm
S5 IS:117x80x78 mm
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
G12:28 mm
S5 IS:36 mm
Movie format Poor movies Help
G12:720p @ 24fps
S5 IS:480p @ 30fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
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
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
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
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lowest price Is significantly 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
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has much better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

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
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

$350

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Supports 24p No 24p support
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Screen size Larger screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Battery life Much shorter battery life

Canon PowerShot S5 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Super zoom

$742

Wide angle Much better wide angle
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Size Larger
Aperture Slightly narrower aperture
Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Travel zoom

$130 - $245

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen size Much larger screen
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Zoom Less zoom

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot S5 IS

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