Updated (February, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Nikon Coolpix P510

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
Macro focus
Great macro
1 cm
Thickness
Thin
1.9"
Nikon Coolpix P500

64

Runner-up

Nikon Coolpix P500

"doubles up as an effective video camera thanks to its excellent video mode."
photographyblog.com | talking about the P500's video-quality
"This feature really does seem to make a difference and could mean capturing a successful, sharp shot or missing the opportunity altogether."
photographyblog.com | talking about the P500's image-stabilization

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P500

Zoom
Great zoom
36x
Wide angle
Wide angle lens
23 mm
Screen resolution
High resolution screen
920k dots
High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Continuous shooting
Rapid fire
10 fps
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12

Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.8 vs f/3.5
Help
At its widest zoom, the G12's lens captures slightly more light (0.6 f-stops)
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 Much smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 116x84x103 mm
Help
2.5x smaller
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
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 370 shots vs 220 shots
Help
Around 70% more shots per battery charge
Thickness Much thinner 1.9" vs 4.1"
Help
2.1x thinner
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
Less risk of blur
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
True resolution Higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
Almost the same
Weight Lighter 401 g vs 481 g
Help
Around 20% lighter
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
2x faster max shutter speed
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 8s
Help
Around 90% longer exposures
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Nikon P500

Zoom Much more zoom 36x vs 5x
Help
Around 52x more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle 23 mm vs 28 mm
Help
Around 20% better wide angle
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 920k dots vs 461k dots
Help
Around 2x higher resolution screen
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots significantly faster 10 fps vs 2 fps
Help
5x faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Cheaper $299.99 vs $389.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $90 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Nikon Coolpix P500 Learn more about
the Nikon P500
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
71 vs 64
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P500 Nikon Coolpix P500
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 Canon G12 or the Nikon P500,
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0
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by Kathy-Smith last month
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My last camera was a CANON A90. It no longer works.

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0
votes
by Ali-Elhami last month
Nikon P500 vs Nikon P100

i wana use it in my travels and in parties, so i do not use it in profetional ways. i travel ...

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..."

0
votes
by Magxane-Maglite last month
Fujifilm HS20 vs Nikon P500

To shoot some silver Jewellery, in order to settle a pro shooting for a catalogue........ I'm a ...

One person recommends the Fujifilm HS20:

" What Is the best way to work with this numeric Bridge - Is this a material easy to use without s..."

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G12:Tunnel
P500:Digital
Lowest price Very expensive Help
G12:$389.99
P500:$299.99
Weight Heavy Help
G12:401 g
P500:481 g
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Thickness Quite thick Help
G12:1.9"
P500:4.1"
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
Size Large Help
G12:112x76x48 mm
P500:116x84x103 mm

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has much more zoom
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$499 - $500

Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
3D Captures 3D images
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Pro digicam

$249

External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Color depth Has significantly less color depth
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
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has much better image quality
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
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
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Lowest price Is much 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
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
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

Nikon Coolpix P500 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS30 EXR

Super zoom

$438 - $500

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Battery life Much longer battery life
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Size Much larger
Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Sony Cybershot DSC-HX100v

Super zoom

$409

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Battery life Much longer battery life
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Fujifilm FinePix HS20 EXR

Fujifilm FinePix HS20

Super zoom

$299 - $335

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Screen resolution Significantly lower resolution screen
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX200V

Super zoom

$399

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Zoom Significantly less zoom
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Image stabilization Better image stabilization
Screen resolution Much lower resolution screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon Coolpix P500
Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon Coolpix P500
Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon Coolpix P500

discussion

Showing 1 comments

Oob_si (8:02 AM, May 24, 2011)
ชอบP500 ตรงที่ซูมได้มากจริงๆ แล้วภาพก้อไม่แตกด้วย คราบ