Canon PowerShot
G12
 vs
Olympus
XZ-1

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Olympus XZ-1

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
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Olympus XZ-1

60
Runner-up

Olympus XZ-1
"It doesn't bristle with dials or buttons and only the most basic shooting settings have direct access."
dpreview.com | talking about the XZ-1's button-layout
"The XZ-1 combines simple direct controls with an excellent lens to create probably the best photographers' compact currently available."
dpreview.com | talking about the XZ-1's overall-performance

Reasons to buy the Olympus XZ-1

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/1.8
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
6,400 ISO
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
7 fps
Screen type
 OLED Screen
Bright and vivid
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Weight
 Light-weight
275 g

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 47.0 vs 34.0
Help
 Around 40% better image quality
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
Color depth Better color depth 20.4 bits vs 18.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.6 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 161 ISO vs 117 ISO
Help
 The G12 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
 0.8 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Battery life Longer battery life 370 shots vs 320 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Cheaper $389.99 vs $499.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $109 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Olympus XZ-1
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 Around 20% larger sensor
Aperture Much wider aperture f/1.8 vs f/2.8
Help
 At its widest zoom, the XZ-1's lens captures much more light (1.3 f-stops)
Screen type Has an OLED screen OLED vs LCD
Help
 OLED screens are often brighter and more vibrant than typical LCD screens
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
 Around 10% larger screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The XZ-1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 614k dots vs 461k dots
Help
 More than 30% higher resolution screen
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Size Smaller 110x64x42 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Weight Lighter 275 g vs 401 g
Help
 More than 30% lighter
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.7" vs 1.9"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Olympus XZ-1 Learn more about
the Olympus XZ-1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
71 vs 60
Explain scores
Olympus XZ-1 Olympus XZ-1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G12.

advice

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0
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by Kathy-Smith last month
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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
G12:1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
XZ-1:1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm
Aperture Wide aperture Help
G12:f/2.8
XZ-1:f/1.8
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Battery life Great battery life Help
G12:370 shots
XZ-1:320 shots
Lowest price Very expensive Help
G12:$389.99
XZ-1:$499.00
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
XZ-1:720p @ 30fps
Zoom Poor zoom Help
G12:5x
XZ-1:4x

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
10 MP

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the XZ-1
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the XZ-1
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$450
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the XZ-1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the XZ-1
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Sensor size Has a significantly larger sensor
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the XZ-1
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thinner
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the XZ-1
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
Sensor size Has a much larger sensor
Low light performance Is much less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the 1 J1 vs the XZ-1

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380
Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Supports RAW No RAW support
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot G12

Olympus XZ-1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$300 - $315
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Supports RAW No RAW support
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the XZ-1
Samsung TL500

Samsung TL500

Pro digicam
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the TL500 vs the XZ-1

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Olympus XZ-1
Canon PowerShot G12 Olympus XZ-1
Canon PowerShot G12 Olympus XZ-1

discussion

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