Canon PowerShot
G12
 vs
Canon PowerShot
S95

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Canon Powershot S100

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 RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
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
Canon PowerShot S95

70
"Image quality is still excellent, with a usable ISO range of 80-800 and fast f/2.0 maximum aperture, albeit only at the wide-angle lens setting, making the S95 very well-suited to low-light, hand-held photography."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S95's iso-noise
"Something that was glaringly missing from the S90 - HD video capture - has been rectified on the S95, with 720p movies at 1280x720 pixels resolution available at 24fps complete with stereo sound."
photographyblog.com | talking about the S95's video-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S95

Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/2.0
Size
 Really small
Compact 99x58x29 mm
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12
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
Battery life Much longer battery life 370 shots vs 200 shots
Help
 Around 90% more shots per battery charge
Macro focus Significantly better macro capability 1 cm vs 5 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 5x closer to the lens
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 161 ISO vs 153 ISO
Help
 The G12 has a slight edge (0.1 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/1600s
Help
 2.5x faster max shutter speed
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 380 ms vs 610 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when taking photos
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Canon S95
Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/2.8
Help
 At its widest zoom, the S95's lens captures slightly more light (1 f-stop)
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
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
Size Smaller 99x58x29 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
 2.4x smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 193 g vs 401 g
Help
 2.1x lighter
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.9"
Help
 Around 40% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $340.00 vs $389.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $50 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Canon PowerShot S95 Learn more about
the Canon S95
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
71 vs 70
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot S95 Canon PowerShot S95
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

advice

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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
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Aperture Wide aperture Help
G12:f/2.8
S95:f/2.0
Overall image quality Good image quality Help
47.0
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Color depth Good color depth Help
20.4 bits
Dynamic range Good dynamic range Help
G12:11.2 EV
S95:11.3 EV
Lowest price Very expensive Help
G12:$389.99
S95:$340.00
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
S95:1.9 fps
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
28 mm
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 24fps
Zoom Poor zoom Help
G12:5x
S95:3.8x

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
G12:$389.99
S95:$340.00
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
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
10 MP
Screen type No OLED screens Help
LCD
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
461k dots

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot S95
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 S95
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$450
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot S95
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot S95
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 much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot S95
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 much heavier
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot S95
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Compare the XZ-1 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the XZ-1 vs the PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon PowerShot G12.

Canon PowerShot S95 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P300

Nikon Coolpix P300

Pro digicam

$299
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Supports RAW No RAW support
Compare the Coolpix P300 vs the PowerShot S95
Canon ELPH 300 HS

Canon ELPH 300 HS

Compact

$148 - $179
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Supports RAW No RAW support
Compare the ELPH 300 HS vs the PowerShot S95

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot S95
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot S95
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot S95

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Avatar for Shaun9lives Shaun9lives (6:59 PM, November 26, 2011)
I disagree.  Popularity directly affects the number and availability of aftermarket accessories.  It also, affects resale value, increases the likelihood of continued manufacturer support, and insures a wealth of online support from blogs and forums.  Now, I believe popularity should only be a minor consideration.  However, it most certainly is a factor. 
 
La_romaa (1:21 AM, July 26, 2011)
hey im from argentina. what do u recommend a p7000 or a s95?. i dont know what to buy!. i like the fuctions of the s95. but i like the desing and ergonomics of the p7000. the dials are very useful too. 
So what should i buy?!. please help me ., see ya
 
Hayduke (3:43 PM, April 20, 2011)
I am sorry,but awarding points for popularity is insane .It has NO place in rating a camera. and removing it makes these 2 even