Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Canon PowerShot SX200 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 SX200 IS

37

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX200 IS

Size
Really small
Compact 103x61x38 mm
Macro focus
Great macro
0 cm
Weight
Light-weight
220 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12

Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/3.4
Help
At its widest zoom, the G12's lens captures marginally more light (0.6 f-stops)
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
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
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
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 SX200 IS

Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
Zoom More zoom 12x vs 5x
Help
Around 6x more zoom
Size Smaller 103x61x38 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
More than 40% smaller
Weight Significantly lighter 220 g vs 401 g
Help
Around 50% lighter
Macro focus Better macro capability 0 cm vs 1 cm
Help
Almost the same
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.9"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Canon PowerShot SX200 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX200 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
71 vs 37
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot SX200 IS Canon PowerShot SX200 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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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
G12:1 cm
SX200 IS:0 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
G12:1/4000s
SX200 IS:1/3200s
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
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
28 mm
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
G12:720p @ 24fps
SX200 IS:720p @ 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
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Battery life Has a significantly shorter battery life
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX9v

Travel zoom

$319 - $330

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Battery life Has a slightly shorter battery life

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 SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Much larger
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
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 SX200 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot SX210 IS

Canon PowerShot SX210 IS

Travel zoom

$294

Aperture Wider aperture
Zoom Slightly more zoom
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Canon PowerShot SX230 HS

Travel zoom

$239 - $307

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Canon PowerShot SX220 HS

Travel zoom

$281 - $332

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20

Travel zoom

Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Longest exposure Longer exposures
Wide angle Much worse wide angle
Aperture Slightly narrower aperture
Nikon Coolpix S8100

Nikon Coolpix S8100

Travel zoom

$100

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Aperture Slightly narrower aperture

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX200 IS
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX200 IS
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX200 IS

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