Canon PowerShot
G12
 vs
Nikon 1
J1

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G15 vs Nikon 1 J2

Canon PowerShot G12

58

  
Nikon 1 J1

34

  

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G12

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel
 
Runner-up

Nikon 1 J1

Reasons to buy the Nikon 1 J1

High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
1,200 fps
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
60 fps
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Phase detection video autofocus
fast and accurate
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12
Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Battery life Longer battery life 350 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 More than 50% more shots per battery charge
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 0.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Nikon J1
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 1,200 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 60 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 30x faster continuous shooting
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Overall image quality Better image quality 56.0 vs 47.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 1400 ms vs 2700 ms
Help
 Around 50% less delay when turning on
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Size Smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
 2.1x smaller
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.1 more bits of color
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 94 ms vs 380 ms
Help
 4x less delay when taking photos
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Sensor size Larger sensor Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 More than 2.5x larger sensor
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 372 ISO vs 161 ISO
Help
 The J1 has excellent image quality 1.2 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.9"
Help
 Around 40% thinner
Weight Lighter 277 g vs 401 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
58 vs 34
Explain scores
Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
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 mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
G12:1/4000s
J1:1/16000s
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G12:11.2 EV
J1:11 EV
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
G12:161 ISO
J1:372 ISO
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
G12:47.0
J1:56.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 J1
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the 1 J1
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$320 - $349
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the 1 J1
Canon PowerShot S110

Canon PowerShot S110

Pro digicam

$399
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the PowerShot S110 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot S110 vs the 1 J1
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Focus points Has much fewer focus points
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the 1 J1
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$270 with 14-42mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously while recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the 1 J1
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the 1 J1

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G15

Canon PowerShot G15

Pro digicam

$449
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$649
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Better image quality
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$299
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen size Larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam
Battery life Much longer battery life
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the PowerShot G11 vs the PowerShot G12
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12

Nikon 1 J1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon 1 J3

Nikon 1 J3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
True resolution Higher true resolution
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the 1 J3 vs the 1 J1
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$392 - $395 with 10-30mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Longer battery life
Size Larger
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the 1 V1 vs the 1 J1
Nikon 1 J2

Nikon 1 J2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$449 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the 1 J2 vs the 1 J1
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$325 - $499 with 20-50mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
True resolution Much higher true resolution
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the NX1000 vs the 1 J1
Nikon 1 S1

Nikon 1 S1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$447 with 11-2mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the 1 S1 vs the 1 J1

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon 1 J1
Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon 1 J1
Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon 1 J1

discussion

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