Canon PowerShot
G12
 vs
Canon PowerShot
SX30 IS

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Canon Powershot SX40

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

Size
 Really small
Mid size 112x76x48 mm
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 SX30 IS

47
"HD image quality is excellent and the stereo mics do a good job of picking up voices at distances of up to several metres."
cameralabs.com | talking about the SX30 IS's video-quality
"The PowerShot SX30 IS is a super-zoom truly worthy of the name. It will, without doubt, prove even more popular than its predecessors."
cameralabs.com | talking about the SX30 IS's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Zoom
 Great zoom
35x
Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
24 mm
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
Size Much smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 123x92x108 mm
Help
 3x smaller
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
Thickness Much thinner 1.9" vs 4.3"
Help
 2.2x thinner
Screen size Larger screen 2.8" vs 2.7"
Help
 Almost the same
Weight Significantly lighter 401 g vs 601 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
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
 Almost the same
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 2 fps vs 1.1 fps
Help
 More than 80% faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $389.99 vs $419.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $30 cheaper (around 10% less)
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 SX30 IS
Zoom Much more zoom 35x vs 5x
Help
 49x more zoom
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
 More than 10% better wide angle
Aperture Slightly wider aperture f/2.7 vs f/2.8
Help
 At its widest zoom, the SX30 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 SX30 IS Learn more about
the Canon SX30 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
71 vs 47
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Canon PowerShot SX30 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?

Ask the community!
I am considering either the G12 or the SX30 IS,
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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
SX30 IS:f/2.7
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
G12:1 cm
SX30 IS:0 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G12:Tunnel
SX30 IS:Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
G12:1/4000s
SX30 IS:1/3200s
Lowest price Very expensive Help
G12:$389.99
SX30 IS:$419.99
Weight Heavy Help
G12:401 g
SX30 IS:601 g
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Thickness Quite thick Help
G12:1.9"
SX30 IS:4.3"
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
SX30 IS:1.1 fps
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Screen size Very small screens Help
G12:2.8"
SX30 IS:2.7"
Size Large Help
G12:112x76x48 mm
SX30 IS:123x92x108 mm
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
G12:720p @ 24fps
SX30 IS:720p @ 30fps

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380
Movie format Records higher quality movies
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400
Zoom Has much more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$499 - $500
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a slightly larger screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ150 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ150 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
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
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
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
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
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
Compare the D3100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the D3100 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS

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
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Battery life Much shorter battery life
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G12
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
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12
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
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12
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
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$300
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Aperture Significantly narrower aperture
Image stabilization Worse image stabilization
Compare the Coolpix P500 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Compare the Cybershot DSC-HX100v vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Size Larger
Compare the FinePix HS20 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100

Super zoom

$611
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Zoom Much less zoom
Wide angle Worse wide angle
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ100 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $229
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Size Significantly smaller
Zoom Much less zoom
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the PowerShot SX30 IS

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX30 IS
Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Avatar for demonofthesword demonofthesword (10:06 PM, February 22, 2011)
The only downside to the G12 is its limitations in video. I hear focus and zoom cn't be changed while recording. And I just really like the ergonomics of the SX30IS, like a little DSLR. I don't like bricks like the S95, but the G12 does look to have a nice grip.