Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

58

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/2.0
Wide angle
Wide angle lens
24 mm
Size
Really small
Compact 109x60x27 mm
Supports 24p
24p movies
For that film look
Macro focus
Great macro
1 cm
Thickness
Thin
1.1"

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12

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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 161 ISO vs 94 ISO
Help
The G12 has a slight edge (0.8 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Overall image quality Better image quality 47.0 vs 39.0
Help
More than 20% better image quality
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 20.4 bits vs 19.6 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
0.4 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
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $389.99 vs $573.31
Help
The best price we've seen is $183 cheaper (more than 30% 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 Panasonic DMC-LX3

Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
Around 20% larger sensor
Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/2.8
Help
At its widest zoom, the DMC-LX3's lens captures slightly more light (1 f-stop)
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle 24 mm vs 28 mm
Help
More than 10% better wide angle
Screen size Larger screen 3.0" vs 2.8"
Help
Around 10% larger screen
Size Smaller 109x60x27 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
2.3x smaller
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
Weight Lighter 265 g vs 401 g
Help
More than 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.1" vs 1.9"
Help
More than 40% thinner
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
4x longer exposures
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 2.5 fps vs 2 fps
Help
Around 30% faster continuous shooting
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
71 vs 58
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot G12.

advice

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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
DMC-LX3:1/1.7" 8.3x6.2mm
Supports 24p Both support 24p, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
For that film look
Aperture Wide aperture Help
G12:f/2.8
DMC-LX3:f/2.0
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Lowest price Very expensive Help
G12:$389.99
DMC-LX3:$573.31
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
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
720p @ 24fps
Zoom Poor zoom Help
G12:5x
DMC-LX3:2.5x

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
Screen type No OLED screens Help
LCD
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
G12:2 fps
DMC-LX3:2.5 fps
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
G12:461k dots
DMC-LX3:460k dots

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly higher boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Supports 24p Doesn't record movies in 24p
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
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Light sensitivity (boost) Significantly higher boost light sensitivity
Weight Is slightly lighter
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
External flash Doesn't support an external flash
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam

$672

Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Canon PowerShot G10

Canon PowerShot G10

Pro digicam

True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Nikon Coolpix P510

Nikon Coolpix P510

Super zoom

$397 - $400

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Sensor size Much larger sensor
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Macro focus Much worse macro capability
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
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
Color depth Worse color depth
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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot S90

Canon PowerShot S90

Pro digicam

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Better image quality
Sensor size Much smaller sensor
Supports 24p No 24p support

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

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