Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Pentax Optio P70

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
Supports RAW
Shoots RAW
Better editing
Pentax Optio P70

36

Runner-up

Pentax Optio P70

Reasons to buy the Pentax Optio P70

Size
Really small
Super compact 97x54x22 mm
Light sensitivity
High ISO
6,400 ISO
Thickness
Thin
0.9"
Weight
Light-weight
155 g

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
Sensor size Much larger sensor 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
More than 50% larger sensor
Macro focus Much better macro capability 1 cm vs 10 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 10x closer to the lens
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 461k dots vs 230k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
Screen size Larger screen 2.8" vs 2.7"
Help
Almost the same
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Tunnel vs None
Help
A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/1000s
Help
4x faster max shutter speed
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 10 MP vs 9.8 MP
Help
Almost the same
Longest exposure Longer exposures 15s vs 4s
Help
Around 4x longer exposures
Canon PowerShot G12 Learn more about
the Canon G12

Advantages of the Pentax P70

Size Smaller 97x54x22 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
3.5x smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The P70's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Significantly lighter 155 g vs 401 g
Help
2.6x lighter
Thickness Thinner 0.9" vs 1.9"
Help
2.2x thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $293.74 vs $389.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $96 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Pentax Optio P70 Learn more about
the Pentax P70
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digicams, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
71 vs 36
Explain scores
Pentax Optio P70 Pentax Optio P70
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 compact.

advice

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0
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by Kathy-Smith last month
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2
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0
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by Shirley-Boey last month
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Used compact cameras for a long time. Very little SLR knowledge. Intend to take up photography les...

One person recommends the Canon G12:

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2
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by David-Bavers last month
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similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Aperture Wide aperture Help
f/2.8
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Lowest price Very expensive Help
G12:$389.99
P70:$293.74
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
Screen size Very small screens Help
G12:2.8"
P70:2.7"
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
28 mm
Movie format HD (720p) video Help
G12:720p @ 24fps
P70:720p
Zoom Poor zoom Help
G12:5x
P70:3.9x

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is much 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 much better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker

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
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
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 Much 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
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-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$350

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Wide angle Significantly better wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Supports 24p No 24p support

Pentax Optio P70 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon Coolpix P90

Nikon Coolpix P90

Super zoom

Zoom Much more zoom
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Size Much larger
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Nikon Coolpix P50

Nikon Coolpix P50

Digicam

Macro focus Significantly better macro capability
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$180 - $229

Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Size Significantly larger
Aperture Narrower aperture
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$185 body only

$375 with 17mm lens

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Samsung ST6500

Samsung ST6500

Compact

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Aperture Narrower aperture
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Pentax Optio P70
Canon PowerShot G12 Pentax Optio P70
Canon PowerShot G12 Pentax Optio P70

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