Canon PowerShot
G12
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF2

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Canon PowerShot G12

58

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

34

  

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
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm
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
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
 0.9 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 350 shots vs 300 shots
Help
 Around 20% more shots per battery charge
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF2
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 24fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video at a higher frame rate
Startup delay Significantly less startup delay 1000 ms vs 2700 ms
Help
 2.7x less delay when turning on
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 54.0 vs 47.0
Help
 More than 10% 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
Size Smaller 113x68x33 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Color depth Better color depth 21.2 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
True resolution Higher true resolution 12 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 506 ISO vs 161 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF2 has excellent image quality 1.7 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF2's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Thinner 1.3" vs 1.9"
Help
 More than 30% thinner
Weight Lighter 310 g vs 401 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.2 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 More than 60% faster continuous shooting
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
Lowest price Cheaper $154.50 vs $971.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $817 cheaper (6.3x less)
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
58 vs 34
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
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.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G12:11.2 EV
DMC-GF2:10.3 EV
Color depth Poor color depth Help
G12:20.4 bits
DMC-GF2:21.2 bits
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
G12:47.0
DMC-GF2:54.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Shutter lag Has slightly more shutter lag
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$455 - $514
Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$398
Aperture Has a much wider aperture
Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Startup delay Has much more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$270 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously while recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G15

Canon PowerShot G15

Pro digicam

$449 - $499
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$649 - $699
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Better image quality
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Size Larger
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$299
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Screen size Larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam
Battery life Much longer battery life
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Supports 24p No 24p support
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the PowerShot G11 vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10

Pro digicam
Battery life Much longer battery life
Screen size Larger screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the PowerShot G10 vs the PowerShot G12

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$514 with 14-42mm lens
Weight Slightly lighter
Startup delay More startup delay
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
HDR Has in-camera HDR
True resolution Higher true resolution
Startup delay More startup delay
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,100 with 14-45mm lens
Battery life Longer battery life
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor
Touch screen No touch screen
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$329 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Slightly longer battery life
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$491 body only
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
True resolution Higher true resolution
Size Larger
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF2

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

discussion

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