Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G15 vs Nikon Coolpix P7700

Canon PowerShot G12

45

vs
Nikon Coolpix P7100

45
 
 
 
 

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G12

Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel
 

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix P7100

Screen resolution
 High resolution screen
921k dots
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1900 ms startup delay
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
 
Differences | Recommendations | Similarities | Competitors | Appearance | Discussion

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Overall image quality Better image quality 47.0 vs 41.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.7 EV
Help
 0.5 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 20.4 bits vs 19.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/1.8" 7.5x5.5mm
Help
 Almost the same
Macro focus Better macro capability 1 cm vs 2 cm
Help
 Focus on subjects 2x closer to the lens
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 2 fps vs 1.3 fps
Help
 More than 50% faster continuous shooting
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Nikon P7100
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 461k dots
Help
 Around 2x higher resolution screen
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Startup delay Less startup delay 1900 ms vs 2700 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 6,400 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Lowest price Much cheaper $477.84 vs $971.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $493 cheaper (2x less)
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 281 ms vs 380 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when taking photos
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.8" vs 1.9"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Nikon Coolpix P7100 Learn more about
the Nikon P7100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
45 vs 45
Explain scores
Nikon Coolpix P7100 Nikon Coolpix P7100
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

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
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
G12:1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
P7100:1/1.8" 7.5x5.5mm
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Battery life Great battery life Help
350 shots
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
G12:1 cm
P7100:2 cm
Viewfinder Both have tunnel viewfinders Help
Tunnel
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Lowest price Very expensive Help
G12:$971.00
P7100:$477.84
Weight Heavy Help
G12:401 g
P7100:395 g
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
P7100:1.3 fps
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G12:11.2 EV
P7100:10.7 EV
Startup delay Significant startup delay Help
G12:2700 ms
P7100:1900 ms
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
G12:720p @ 24fps
P7100:720p @ 30fps
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
28 mm
Zoom Poor zoom Help
G12:5x
P7100:7.1x

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
Waterproof Not waterproof Help
Stay on land
Light sensitivity (boost) One has boost ISO Help
G12:None
P7100:6,400 ISO
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
10 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Screen type No OLED screens Help
LCD
Aperture Very narrow widest aperture size Help
f/2.8
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
G12:47.0
P7100:41.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
G12:161 ISO
P7100:165 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G15

Canon PowerShot G15

Pro digicam

$499
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the Coolpix P7100
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$599 - $699
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the Coolpix P7100
Nikon Coolpix P7700

Nikon Coolpix P7700

Pro digicam

$389 - $447
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Coolpix P7700 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Coolpix P7700 vs the Coolpix P7100
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam
Battery life Has a much longer battery life
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the PowerShot G11 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot G11 vs the Coolpix P7100
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$394 - $549
Sensor size Has a significantly larger sensor
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Coolpix P7100
Nikon Coolpix P7000

Nikon Coolpix P7000

Pro digicam

$423
Weight Is slightly lighter
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Compare the Coolpix P7000 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Coolpix P7000 vs the Coolpix P7100
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$285 - $299
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the Coolpix P7100

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Canon PowerShot G12.

Nikon Coolpix P7100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$345
Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports RAW No RAW support
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the Coolpix P510 vs the Coolpix P7100

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon Coolpix P7100
Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon Coolpix P7100
Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon Coolpix P7100

discussion

Showing 11 comments

Kpw (9:58 AM, July 01, 2012)
Your comparison didn't mention the main advantage the P7100 has over the G12, a larger zoom. This is actually quite a significant difference, and the advantages you cite for the G12 are mostly pretty trivial.
 
??? (4:34 AM, June 23, 2012)
nikon has 6400
 
Julio (4:44 PM, March 29, 2012)
I can not understand why don't speak about the 28-200 nikon zoom against the 140 from Canon. I use a Canon 5D but think this review in not fair enough.
 
Wverge (0:23 PM, February 29, 2012)
If you do a comparison of the G12 and P7100 at DPReview they give the Nikon the edge in image quality over the Canon for both JPEG and RAW.  Also, nothing was mentioned of the Nikon's superb 28-200 lens which is much better than the 28-140 of the Canon.  If you look at the Canons advantages they are minor.  The Nikons are major; higher resolution LCD screen that is larger, 60mm longer lens.  And the 30fps video is much better than 24fps.  This comparo has dropped the ball.
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (4:31 PM, February 26, 2012)
You're right, we'll get our P7100 specs updated to reflect that it has an external microphone jack, thanks.
 
Saviore (6:11 AM, February 26, 2012)
I haven't shot with either (researching to buy) but I was under the impression that the 7100 has an external microphone jack.
 
Kendall (7:14 PM, February 21, 2012)
Having shot both I can say the P7100 is more durable and has better features for the working photographer needing a carry-along camera. If you are using the Canon for pro video you need to rethink your position to start with. The Nikon is just plain and simple better.
 
Normanwhk (7:11 AM, February 19, 2012)
Why all reviewvers giving points for features never point out the G12 built-in flash offers only 3 steps of power setting vs 6 steps for the 7100.I use this feature a lot in full manual and sold the G12 when i discovered this weakness.
 
Avatar for Steven Steven (11:41 PM, January 14, 2012)
P7100 is newer just because it's the "fixed" version of the old and slow P7000. Same lens, same sensor.
 
Sophomore (9:15 PM, December 19, 2011)
The G12 actually has 3200 ISO.
http://www.usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/digital_cameras/powershot_g12#Overview 
 
One800 (0:35 PM, October 15, 2011)
The G12 is much older than the P7100. If a newer G model addresses shortcomings of the G12, then it'll be a clear winner, even at a higher price. Any sense of when Canon might roll out the G13 [or G14 if the company thinks its target audience is superstitious]?