Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Canon PowerShot G12

64

"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

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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

42

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

True resolution
High true resolution
15.8 MP
Light sensitivity
High ISO
12,800 ISO
Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
HDR
In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Interchangeable lenses
Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.6 EV
Help
0.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Battery life Slightly longer battery life 370 shots vs 310 shots
Help
Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $389.99 vs $642.80
Help
The best price we've seen is $253 cheaper (around 40% less)
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GX1

Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 60fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 15.8 MP vs 10 MP
Help
Capture around 60% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The DMC-GX1's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Overall image quality Better image quality 55.0 vs 47.0
Help
Around 20% better image quality
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Sensor size Larger sensor Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
More than 5x larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 703 ISO vs 161 ISO
Help
The DMC-GX1 has excellent image quality 2.1 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
Size Slightly smaller 116x68x39 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
More than 20% smaller
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 4.2 fps vs 2 fps
Help
More than 2x faster continuous shooting
Color depth Better color depth 20.8 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.4 more bits of color
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
4x longer exposures
Weight Lighter 318 g vs 401 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 259 ms vs 380 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when taking photos
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.9"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GX1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
64 vs 42
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
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.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
HDR Both have in-camera, most cameras like these don't Help
Combines multiple exposures
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Color depth Poor color depth Help
G12:20.4 bits
DMC-GX1:20.8 bits
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
G12:47.0
DMC-GX1:55.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Thickness Is thicker
Macro focus Much worse macro focusing
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
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
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a significantly wider wide angle lens
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

External flash Doesn't support an external flash
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens

High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

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
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Much more zoom
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Much larger
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Screen size Larger screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$755 - $964 body only

$803 with 14-42mm lens

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Size Slightly smaller
True resolution Significantly lower true resolution
External flash No external flash support
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Image stabilization Image stabilization
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,200 body only

$1,350 - $1,499 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Touch screen No touch screen
Lens availability Fewer lenses available

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

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