Canon PowerShot
G12
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Canon PowerShot G1X vs Sony NEX-5N

Canon PowerShot G12

55

  
Sony Alpha NEX-5

47

  

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot G12

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Lens
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Tunnel
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
Usually standard
 
Runner-up

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
1000 ms startup delay
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
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
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 380 ms vs 670 ms
Help
 More than 40% less delay when taking photos
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 Sony NEX-5
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 69.0 vs 47.0
Help
 Around 50% better image quality
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
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs 1/1.7" 7.6x5.7mm
Help
 Around 8.5x larger sensor
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 20.4 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.8 more bits of color
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11.2 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 161 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5 has excellent image quality 2.3 f-stops higher ISO than the G12
Size Smaller 111x59x38 mm vs 112x76x48 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 7 fps vs 2 fps
Help
 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
 CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Weight Lighter 287 g vs 401 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.5" vs 1.9"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $656.43 vs $971.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $315 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G12
55 vs 47
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
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
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
HDR In-camera HDR Help
Combines multiple exposures
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
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the D3100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
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
HDR Lacks a built in HDR feature
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the D5100 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the D5100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the Alpha NEX-5
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PowerShot G12
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

Canon PowerShot G12 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$649
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
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the Finepix X10 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

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality
Continuous shooting Shoots slower
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Canon PowerShot G12 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G12 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Canon PowerShot G12 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (4:53 PM, July 08, 2012)
Hi Corrado, thanks for the feedback!

I think some of the confusion is coming from the "Reasons to consider" section.  These are not necessarily differences, just good things about the camera.  Yes both cameras have flip out screens and HDR, so these are not listed as advantages to either camera in the differences section.  Yes there are image stabilized lenses available for the NEX, like all DSLRs. 

You're right it is odd that the G12 gets recommended over the NEX, its because our scoring system gives a lot of points to the G12 for having a built in lens, which is unfair against the NEX, we're going to improve this soon hopefully.
 
Avatar for Corrado Casoni Corrado Casoni (1:21 PM, July 08, 2012)
You say that G12 is better because of:
* Image stabilization on lens. NEX also have lens image stabilization.
* Flip out screen. NEX also have it.
* In-camera-hdr. NEX also have it.
"Great Macro" and "Excellent viewfinder" seem much more important than:
Image quality: 69 vs 47
Movies at 1080p vs 720p
Double LCD res
Large sensor
Better resolution, dynamic range, ISO sensitivity, lower noise, 7fps vs 2fps, CMOS vs CCD...
...but same price !

No comment: unbelivable!
 
Avatar for bruce56 bruce56 (6:13 PM, January 26, 2012)
the Sony NEX cameras have image stabilization in the lens