Canon PowerShot
G12
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-LX5

Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G15 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

54

  
Canon PowerShot G12

51

  

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/2.0
Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
24 mm
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Light sensitivity (boost)
 High ISO (boost)
12,800 ISO
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
 

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
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
 

differences

Advantages of the Canon G12
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 47.0 vs 41.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 161 ISO vs 132 ISO
Help
 The G12 has a slight edge (0.3 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.2 EV vs 10.8 EV
Help
 0.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 20.4 bits vs 19.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-LX5
Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/2.0 vs f/2.8
Help
 At its widest zoom, the DMC-LX5's lens captures slightly more light (1 f-stop)
Sensor size Larger sensor 1/1.6" 8.3x6.2mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 Around 20% larger sensor
Wide angle 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
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 6 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 3x faster continuous shooting
Lowest price Much cheaper $454.89 vs $971.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $516 cheaper (2.1x less)
Startup delay Less startup delay 2300 ms vs 2700 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when turning on
Size Slightly smaller 109x65x42 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Battery life Longer battery life 400 shots vs 350 shots
Help
 More than 10% more shots per battery charge
Weight Lighter 277 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
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-LX5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent pro digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
51 vs 54
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5.

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Sensor size Very large sensors Help
G12:1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
DMC-LX5:1/1.6" 8.3x6.2mm
Aperture Wide aperture Help
G12:f/2.8
DMC-LX5: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
Battery life Great battery life Help
G12:350 shots
DMC-LX5:400 shots
External flash Support external flash Help
Better lighting
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/4000 of a second
Lowest price Very expensive Help
G12:$971.00
DMC-LX5:$454.89
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
Startup delay Significant startup delay Help
G12:2700 ms
DMC-LX5:2300 ms
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
G12:161 ISO
DMC-LX5:132 ISO
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
G12:11.2 EV
DMC-LX5:10.8 EV
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
G12:720p @ 24fps
DMC-LX5:720p @ 30fps
Zoom Poor zoom Help
G12:5x
DMC-LX5:3.8x

Compared to recent pro digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
10 MP
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Screen type No OLED screens Help
LCD
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
G12:461k dots
DMC-LX5:460k dots
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
G12:47.0
DMC-LX5:41.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$398
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Startup delay Has significantly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon PowerShot G15

Canon PowerShot G15

Pro digicam

$449 - $499
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Focus points Has slightly fewer focus points
Wide angle Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the PowerShot G15 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Nikon Coolpix P7100

Nikon Coolpix P7100

Pro digicam

$299
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Weight Is slightly heavier
Wide angle Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Coolpix P7100 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$310 - $349
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
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 Lumix DMC-LX5
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
Sensor size Has a marginally larger sensor
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Wide angle Has a slightly narrower wide angle lens
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$333
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Image stabilization Has worse image stabilization
Compare the XZ-1 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$461 - $602
Weight Is slightly lighter
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 Lumix DMC-LX5

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$649 - $699
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
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot G12
Canon PowerShot G11

Canon PowerShot G11

Pro digicam
Battery life Much longer battery life
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
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
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Supports 24p No 24p support
Overall image quality Significantly worse image quality
Compare the PowerShot G10 vs the PowerShot G12

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Leica D-LUX 5

Leica D-LUX 5

Pro digicam

$1,049
Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Lowest price Much more expensive
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Compare the D-LUX 5 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3

Pro digicam
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Size Smaller
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX3 vs the Lumix DMC-LX5

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5
Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

discussion

Showing 13 comments

Tin (4:03 AM, January 06, 2012)
I'm a makeup artist and a beauty blogger. For work, I take photos of the makeup I've done, usually up close. For blogging, I take photos of makeup products, also up close, and swatches. Which is best for me?
 
Avatar for Steven Steven (4:30 PM, January 03, 2012)
smaller - LX5
wide-angle view for landscape (24mm vs 28mm) - LX5
longer telephoto reach (140mm vs 90mm) - G12
tilting LCD for shots from different angles - G12
slightly longer battery life - LX5
multi-aspect sensor (16:9 images are not just cropped versions of the 4:3) - LX5
 
Tina33tina (3:31 PM, December 24, 2011)
One question ... which is the best camera for travelers?
 
Avatar for sue_a sue_a (8:15 PM, December 19, 2011)
we have a dmc-lx3 and love it except that sometimes when we try to shoot a photo (especially if the flash is on) the camera doesn't take the picture and we have to keep pressing the button)  We didn't have this issue with the Canon G9 but aren't sure if this is a defect with the camera or if we'll have this same issue if we get the LX5.  Anyone else have this trouble?  We're mainly shooting kids.  We were deciding between the LX5 and the G12.  Suggestions? 
 
Avatar for harvkr harvkr (6:29 PM, December 11, 2011)
The g12 has a viewfinder. This is the most important difference between the cameras. To shoot with the Lumix you have to hold the camera at three quarters arms length not always easy to do when shooting kids. Also, there is the problem of outside sun glare on the screen. Sometimes you cannot see what you are shooting. In short, the G12 is more like a traditional camera it also has image stabilization does the lumix?  

In most of the blogs I always here about the glare off of the screen in bright sun and because of it one can't take a picture.  Does not happen with the G12. 

With the G12 you pick up the camera put it to your eye and shoot.  
 
Rick F (9:41 AM, November 29, 2011)
For taking photo's inside I think the wider zoom range of the LX5 would be of more benefit.
 
woosh (0:16 AM, September 13, 2011)
Lumix has the best macro option in this category
 
Jenniferfsy (4:24 PM, September 07, 2011)
which is the best to go Underwater ?
 
360xin (9:38 AM, September 02, 2011)
i think u should take lumix lx5. because it is easier to handle n have better forcusing
 
cuyeclc (10:09 AM, July 13, 2011)
I like both G12 & LX5 but can't decide! Help! I'm a teacher and I take indoor photos of children. So - which one takes better indoor image quality of highly active children!
 
Phillaart (2:48 PM, January 24, 2011)
I would like to know which one is better for take the jewelry. Thanks
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (2:04 PM, January 03, 2011)
You're right, the G12 has got 5x zoom and the LX5 only 3.8x zoom, you can see that on the specs page. Definitely worth mentioning!
 
sup (3:35 PM, January 01, 2011)
zoom difference forgoten?