Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Canon PowerShot SX1 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
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

45

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

Zoom
Great zoom
20x
Movie format
Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Macro focus
Great macro
0 cm
Viewfinder
Great viewfinder
Digital

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12

Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Size Significantly smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 128x88x88 mm
Help
2.4x smaller
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
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.9" vs 3.5"
Help
Around 50% thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 401 g vs 615 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
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
Lowest price Much cheaper $389.99 vs $644.12
Help
The best price we've seen is $254 cheaper (around 40% less)
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Almost the same
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 SX1 IS

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Zoom Significantly more zoom 20x vs 5x
Help
16x more zoom
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4 fps vs 2 fps
Help
2x faster continuous shooting
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
Almost the same
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX1 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
71 vs 45
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot SX1 IS Canon PowerShot SX1 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

Need help deciding?

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I am considering either the G12 or the SX1 IS,
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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
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
G12:1 cm
SX1 IS:0 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G12:Tunnel
SX1 IS:Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
G12:1/4000s
SX1 IS:1/3200s
Lowest price Very expensive Help
G12:$389.99
SX1 IS:$644.12
Weight Heavy Help
G12:401 g
SX1 IS:615 g
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Thickness Quite thick Help
G12:1.9"
SX1 IS:3.5"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Screen size Very small screens Help
2.8"
Size Large Help
G12:112x76x48 mm
SX1 IS:128x88x88 mm
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
28 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
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
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam

$672

Lowest price Is much more expensive
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder

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
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 SX1 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

$569

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Size Significantly larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Zoom Significantly more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Size Much larger
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Super zoom

$742

Weight Slightly lighter
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen size Significantly smaller screen

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX1 IS
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX1 IS

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