Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Canon PowerShot SX120 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 SX120 IS

31

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX120 IS

Macro focus
Great macro
1 cm

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
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
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
True resolution Much higher true resolution 10 MP vs 8.6 MP
Help
Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
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
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 230k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
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
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 2 fps vs 0.9 fps
Help
More than 2x faster continuous shooting
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 SX120 IS

Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
Zoom Slightly more zoom 10x vs 5x
Help
4x more zoom
Weight Lighter 285 g vs 401 g
Help
Around 30% lighter
Size Slightly smaller 111x71x45 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $225.24 vs $389.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $165 cheaper (more than 40% less)
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.8" vs 1.9"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Canon PowerShot SX120 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX120 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 SX120 IS Canon PowerShot SX120 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 travel zoom.

advice

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0
votes
by Kathy-Smith last month
Canon G12 vs Olympus XZ-1

My last camera was a CANON A90. It no longer works.

One person recommends the Canon G12:

"Both cameras can shoot RAW images, but I think I would lean toward to the G12 because it is a bit ..."

2
votes
by Andy-Stone last month
Canon G12 vs Fujifilm X10

I'm looking for a camera for my partner, a wildlife officer. Any type is considered. It should...

0
votes
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
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
G12:1/4000s
SX120 IS:1/2500s
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Weight Heavy Help
G12:401 g
SX120 IS:285 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
G12:1.9"
SX120 IS:1.8"
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
SX120 IS:0.9 fps
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
G12:28 mm
SX120 IS:36 mm
Movie format Poor movies Help
G12:720p @ 24fps
SX120 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
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has way more more zoom
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 SX120 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Travel zoom

$130 - $245

Wide angle Much better wide angle
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Travel zoom

$136 - $179

Wide angle Much better wide angle
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Weight Slightly heavier
Canon ELPH 100 HS

Canon ELPH 100 HS

Compact

$106 - $189

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Zoom Less zoom
Macro focus Worse macro capability
Fujifilm FinePix S1800

Fujifilm FinePix S1800

Super zoom

Wide angle Much better wide angle
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Aperture Narrower aperture
Size Larger
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS

Canon PowerShot SX240 HS

Travel zoom

$354 - $419

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX120 IS

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