Canon G12 10.0 Megapixel Advanced Compact Reviews Roundup
On September 15 2010, Canon announced the PowerShot G12 and the PowerShot SX30 IS. These cameras offer enthusiast-focused features like RAW shooting and manual exposure modes.
The G12 features a 10 Megapixels sensor and will be equipped with a 2.8-inch 460k-dot LCD, Digic IV image processor, and a 5x optical zoom, covering a range equivalent to 28-140mm. The G12 will now finally have 720p HD video capture capabilities along with the HS (High Sensitivity) SYSTEM for shooting photos under low-light conditions. The G12 also comes with a HDR (High Dynamic Range) mode which will layer three images together that have been captured using a tripod.
Canon Powershot G12 Sample Photos on Flickr
Canon Powershot G12 Camera Reviews Roundup
| Digital Camera Info: "Color accuracy is always a bit of a sticking point among photographers. Most would rather capture colors that are as true to life as possible, a viewpoint that most high-end cameras aspire to. The G series from Canon seems to ignore this logic, however, as both the G12 and its predecessor could only manage a color error of around 3.8, when we typically look for errors under 3 from premium models. In truth, even basi..." - Sep 13 2011 More » | |
| PhotographicCentral: "The G12 may lack the resolution power of most current DSLRS and even some compacts (hello G10), but what it loses in 'some' resolution and detail for very large prints, it makes up for in dynamic range, tonality, pleasing color, and full-of-life images, especially in raw files. The lens is suited for a wide range of composition opportunities and is very sharp corner to corner especially at f/4 where I find the lens'..." - Apr 03 2011 More » | |
| CNET US: "It retains an almost identical design to the G11, including the usable optical viewfinder and large, easy-to-turn dials. A relatively functional design, I like it save a few caveats. In addition to giving the camera a retro feel, the dials on the G12 are, for the most part, practical and much faster to use than even direct-access buttons, which always require at least some navigation. Though a few ounces lighter tha..." - Feb 12 2011 More » | |
| MacWorld: "You also get a full boat of manual controls: aperture priority, shutter priority, and independent control of each of them in Manual mode. The G12 offers a focus bracketing mode that snaps three shots in rapid succession at different focal lengths. You also get a high-dynamic-range (HDR) scene mode that brings out detail in shadowy scenes and creates otherworldly-looking shots, and an exposure bracketing mode, i..." - Feb 04 2011 More » | |
| Trusted Reviews: "Although the G12 might be pitched as a reliable back up for an enthusiast's DSLR, operational speed falls short of a lightning fast DSLR proper, and so there are frustrations in swapping from one to the other. Chiefly we felt auto focus could have been a bit quicker to lock on. Squeeze the nipple-like shutter release button halfway and following the briefest of pauses the AF point is highlighted in green accompanied..." - Feb 04 2011 More » | |
| dpreview: "Although barely a year separates the release of the two models, the Canon Powershot G12 was launched into a considerably more competitive market than its predecessor the G11. Despite this, Canon hasn't felt the need to make a huge number of changes in the new model. The shape of the body is more or less identical but, most significantly, the G12 shares the same 10MP sensor as the G11, which sits nestled behind the s..." - Jan 20 2011 More » | |
| ePhotoZine: "Throughout the tests, the G12 has been a solid performer in all-metering modes. The examples above show some extreme conditions, shooting directly into the sun, and the exposures are in general on the money. When used in flatter light, it still comes good as can be seen in the following sunset shot - shot using Av. Shutter lag is often an issue with point and click cameras, but not so much with the G12 - it is..." - Dec 08 2010 More » | |
| pdn: "The G12 is also rock solid; it feels like a small black brick and, as with previous models, has an abundance of external control that lets you change settings on the fly. In particular, I like that Canon has added more precise 1/3-stop adjustments on the ISO dial on top of the camera. (While you might not always need ISO 250, you'll be glad it's there.) Another great addition is the control dial on front of the came..." - Dec 07 2010 More » | |
| Camera Labs: "Canon's PowerShot G12 may only represent a modest update over its predecessor, but by addressing some of the criticisms of that model while adding a few small but neat new features, it's become a preferable camera overall. So the first headline is Canon's flagship compact has just got even better. Unfortunately for the G12 though, the market for enthusiast-level compacts is changing quickly, and Canon's top dog..." - Nov 23 2010 More » | |
| Imaging Resource: "It seemed to me I couldn't take a bad shot with the Canon G12. I particularly liked how well it held shadow and highlight detail with a smooth distribution of midtones, not to mention natural color. Even reds held up well, to my surprise. And the range of the lens from macro to wide-angle at 28mm was encouraging. I was a bit worried about exceeding optical telephoto but I let it fly after I saw the first result..." - Nov 20 2010 More » | |
| Pocket-lint: "Another nice feature that builds further on the creative side of things is the addition of a built-in neutral density (ND) filter. ND filters help to balance high contrast scenes providing a better balance between highlights and shadows or where you need to use slow shutter speed that would otherwise overexpose your shot. Added to that is an accessory filter ring that clips around the lens barrel and allows you to u..." - Nov 17 2010 More » | |
| PhotoReview Australia: "Shots taken with the review camera set to the Auto and P modes and with the Auto ISO setting produced image files that were similar to those from the G11. Colours were attractively rendered and the dynamic range in shots was, if anything, marginally wider than we found with the previous camera. Digital zoom shots were also less artefact-affected, although perceptibly softer than shots without this feature. The..." - Nov 15 2010 More » | |
| LetsGoDigital: "A camera such as the Canon PowerShot G12 is always received with high expectations by photographers and enthusiastic amateurs. The rumors about the arrival of the G12 right before the Photokina were doing their rounds across the internet, but the fact that a new Canon PowerShot G-camera was to be introduced was not such big news. People were expecting new, revolutionary functions or specifications from this camera...." - Nov 10 2010 More » | |
| Steve's Digicam: "While shooting some indoor close-up portraits, I found the G12 produced pleasing results in various exposure modes. The flash was nice an bright, having no problem lighting our young model from several feet away using the mid to telephoto end of the zoom for framing, along with a lower ISO setting (80 to be exact). Canon claims it can cover up to 23 feet at full wide angle when using ISO Auto. We found this was a ve..." - Nov 09 2010 More » | |
| Digital Camera Review: "With 1080p HD video already established in a number of Canon DSLRs and at least one member of the PowerShot family (SD4500 IS), it was a bit surprising to find "only" 720p video in the G12. Well, at least we know what to expect from the G13 in this department. But as 720 HD videos go, the G12 image quality is pretty good. Zoom is available, although the camera will record zoom noise, and the microphone is..." - Nov 02 2010 More » | |
| PhotoRadar: "The latest in its G-series range of high-flying compact cameras, Canon's PowerShot G12 replaces the flagship PowerShot G11 just a little over a year after the latter was released. The G11 received rave reviews on its launch, and the Canon G12 offers some interesting new features over its predecessor. In our in-depth Canon G12 review we test the articulated screen, ISO range, image quality and more in this latest Can..." - Oct 30 2010 More » | |
| Photography BLOG: "The Canon Powershot G12 offers just enough new bells and whistles to make it a worthwhile upgrade from the previous model and keep it competitive with its main rivals, most notably the very similar Nikon Coolpix P7000. The high price-tag does put it directly in the firing line of several entry level DSLRs and and the new wave of Compact System Cameras, which ultimately offer better image quality particularly at high..." - Oct 27 2010 More » | |
| Digital Camera Review: "When Canon brought out the G10 a couple years back with 14.7 megapixels on a 1/1.7" sensor, ISO noise performance came in for a steady diet of criticism. The G11 kept the sensor size but backed off resolution to 10.1 megapixels and the gripes about ISO performance disappeared. The G12 has made its debut and you'll be happy to know Canon didn't mess with success - the 1/1.7" sensor returns along with the 10..." - Oct 19 2010 More » | |
| Digital Camera Resource Page: "The PowerShot G12 is one of very few cameras that feels like a go-anywhere digital SLR. Sure, it's not as fast as the real thing, nor is the image quality as good (at higher sensitivities). But it does offer solid build quality, very good photo quality, generally snappy performance, an optical viewfinder (a rarity these days), manual controls, tons of customizable features, and the kind of expandability that you'd o..." - Oct 18 2010 More » | |
| infoSync: "The Canon PowerShot G12 never exhibited any surefire evidence leading to a basic, no-frills imaging performance. Therefore, fringing, ghosting, stepping, and dramatic contrasts were never an issue. We found that in bright light, the Canon PowerShot G12 produced images that rivaled entry-level DSLRs and Micro Four Thirds cameras. In low light, the camera exhibited a noticeable amount of noise, but it wasn't off the c..." - Sep 28 2010 More » | |
| CNET UK: "This time around, the G12 benefits from Canon's HS tech, which should help deliver better image quality in low-light conditions. This is achieved thanks to a 10-megapixel sensor and a Digic 4 processor. We're taking those claims with a pinch of salt until we give the G12 the full review treatment, but in our brief hands-on we were able to take a few snaps in pretty dark conditions, and thought they looked very reaso..." - Sep 15 2010 More » | |
| Pocket-lint: "We weren't able to take away or examine any of the shots we took whilst we had the camera in our hands, but we've seen a sample of the new HDR shooting mode in action. This is a feature we've seen on cameras in the past, but this is the first time we've seen it on a Canon PowerShot. It takes three shots the scene and combines them with the aim of giving you correctly exposed highlights and shadows without losing det..." - Sep 14 2010 More » |
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User Review of the camera - Canon Powershot G12
Fabulous, Rebecca Dresser Hege
This camera is perfect for close-ups and for photographing my artwork. Does a great job and isn't too hard to learn. But don't expect to take good distance shots with it because it just doesn't have the lens for it. Otherwise, I highly recommend it.
I love it! As simple or As complex as you want to be, Angela M. Yancy
This is a great camera I love the auto setting and also the manual one too. The CHDK hack ups the setting range and unlocks the be all end all for this camera. It looks good and has that old school boxy heavy feel. It has a great zoom and the hot shoe for flashes and bayonet for wide angles and telephoto lens which is amazing. Down side it is heavy for some and has a nice but lack luster LCD. Most photos will look better on the computer. The LCD is great for over head shooting at concerts and crowds and also for low angles. It is a really nice camera to transition to a DSLR. Overall it does what it does well, it is not the camera to print poster size prints from. The camera is also not great for shooting any then moving super fast unless in the best lighting conditions. It is a great begging camera that you will want to use and have with you all the time. The coolest thing is all the stuff you can put on it underwater housing, flashes, ring lights, telephoto lens, fish eye, pretty much anything you want or could need.I does one think that some people will love which is get up close and personal with the subject well. I am sad to see it be replaced by the G15. Oh the last thing is that all the add ons are reasonably priced yeah you can go with Canon high end flash or cheaper ones that work just as well. It is surely one of the best camera's in the G-series. Oh for sure CHDK hack it and really have fun! A vintage style leather case is awesome as well!
Excellent High-End Compact Camera, F. Andrew Anderson
I have had a G10 for some time, but for use with an underwater housing I needed a G12. It is improved in a number of ways over the G10, and worked flawlessly for underwater photography. I am going to use it as my main camera now.
Great little camera, David Simmonds
I have several cameras and this one is great when I don't want to carry my 6D and all the lenses. Takes a great picture and is small enough to take almost anywhere.
easy high quality camera, Debra Gookin
This camera is relatively easy to use for a camera with so much capability. I use it with an underwater housing for scuba.
We love it!, Beth Cook
We are very happy with this camera. It works well, the pictures look nice and the price was right. We would recommend this!
This is the perfect cammera for me, Nikolay Angelov
Perfect camera.You dont have to be a proffecionalist to make outstanding pictures.Just use the automatig functions and the cammera does everything else.
Love this camera, Lebranda Schell
I'm not going to elaborate on the technical aspects, I've read other reviews which are well written and explain the camera in full detail. I will explain in the simplest of terms this camera rocks. Definitely would recommend and gave the idea to friends who now have this camera, it's a deal . My favorite feature is the color accenting that no other camera has .... I was able to get this at a good price but it's worth the $$$ if you had to pay more. I previously owned the G7 which lasted 5 years and thousands of snapped pictures.
What a letdown, M. Luu "SuperUser"
I'm regretting buying Canon G12, but mind you, I bought it back in 2010, 3 years past, so many new cameras with much faster focus, better lenses, and so much clearer. I was using G12 to attach to my DermLite for dermoscopy, always seeing blurry edges at corner, wishing it could be more. Now I;ve just got an Olympus E-PL5 lite and wow!!!, so much clearer and sharper. I'll just have to give back the G12 to my wife to be used a a point and shoot.
Nobody talks about After Sales Service, Tito Suyono
Most of the reviews always talked about the performance of the camera. I had my G12 broken twice already. The LCD monitor goes off without no reason. I cant take any picture anymore. I had it replace for $200. Yet it broke again after 1 year. With the price of only $650. I think I am going to toss the camera to the bin. Canon does not want you to fix the camera, they want you to buy another one.
A great camera, SlowRide
I have had a few Canon Powershot cameras and this one does not disappoint. Takes great pictures but I really like the feel of the old G3 better with the metal case. It is a good camera.
YES YES YES!, Martin W. F.
What a wonderful product. This camera takes stunning pictures and comes in a rugged case that makes it ideal for travel - and backpacking specifically. Highly recommended!
Canon G12, baj
i have bought this Camera for my friend (photographer) as this is the 2ed camera G12.
He likes it so much.
Love this camera, VERY satisfying, Cherry
I saved up my money for a while trying to get a SLR but decided instead to go with this camera. One reason is that I knew from reading reviews that if I bought a SLR, the desire to buy more and more lenses would bankrupt me!
This camera has a large lens and takes very nice photos. I would say that in the right hands, there is very little difference in quality of the prints. It takes photos in RAW for the serious photographer, and in JPEG (or both) for the amateur. The movable screen has been so handy for me, I have bad knees so I can use the screen to frame shots down low without kneeling or crouching but it has a viewfinder for when you want to do some meticulous photos. The battery lasts a very long time. I have not had an issue with it giving out on me.
It is larger than most point and shoots, it feels like a real camera in your hand. I have another smaller Canon, I thought I would use it as an every day camera and just take this one out when I intended to do photoshoots but I find I can't leave the house without it. I enjoy it too much to not have it with me.
Canon G12, David A. VonStein
What a great little camera that will do every thing my 40D did, and in much easier manner. I have no regrets about not having to lug around that big camera, this one is good for all day use.
great camera, Charles Desbiens
I bought this camera to be used outdoors and so far it has worked perfectly. It is very durable and takes great pictures
Nice Camera, Christine
We bought this for our daughter or Christmas, she loves it. Perfect size and does what she wants and the pictures are great.
great product, Diana Li
Fast delivery, lovely camera, easy to use, great effect, I already recommended to many friends. Cannon made it right. It's for everyone's easy use with close to professional shots.
Great compact camera, Anna Allman "bizzymama109"
I picked this camera because about four of my friends own one and all have nothing but good things to say about it. Great images, and great in low light conditions. I almost never take my bulky SLR anywhere. This is an all-in-one with the HD video capability and camera in one small package. Perfect for me!
G12 not worth buying, problems, Wacko
I'm an avid photographer and was very pleased with the camera during the first year of ownership. Finally I encountered problems whereby the zoom did not work at all. It kind of got hung up and stuck. The camera has been pampered and I have never dropped the camera. I also encountered other problems whereby the camera would not focus. The focus gets hung up.
I just sent the camera to the repair facility and was told they would give me an estimate before they do the repairs. The repairs cost will be at least a 150.00 plus parts. The camera is good in the beginning, but over the long terms it is worthless. I don't have a camera now to use, but hopefully the estimate won't be outrageous.