Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

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

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-G2

35

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

Touch screen
Touch screen
Less buttons
Startup delay
Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Color depth
Great color depth
21.2 bits
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
Large sensor
Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
3D
Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions

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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Size Smaller 112x76x48 mm vs 124x90x74 mm
Help
2x smaller
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Thickness Thinner 1.9" vs 2.9"
Help
Around 40% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $389.99 vs $614.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $225 cheaper (around 40% less)
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-G2

External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
More than 5.5x larger sensor
Overall image quality Better image quality 53.0 vs 47.0
Help
More than 10% better image quality
True resolution Higher true resolution 12 MP vs 10 MP
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Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 21.2 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
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The DMC-G2's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 493 ISO vs 161 ISO
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The DMC-G2 has excellent image quality 1.6 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
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CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
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4x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-G2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
64 vs 35
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
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
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
G12:Tunnel
DMC-G2:Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
G12:401 g
DMC-G2:416 g
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Color depth Poor color depth Help
G12:20.4 bits
DMC-G2:21.2 bits
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
G12:720p @ 24fps
DMC-G2:720p @ 30fps
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
G12:47.0
DMC-G2:53.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thinner
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$333 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ150

Super zoom

$499 - $500

Zoom Has much more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
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 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
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
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-G2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 body only

$700 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Battery life Shorter battery life
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $997 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Sensor size Slightly smaller sensor
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$376 with 14-42mm lens

Movie format Higher resolution movies
Size Significantly smaller
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$330 with 14-42mm lens

Weight Slightly lighter
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2

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