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Canon PowerShot G12

Based on 58 reviews

Excellent:

23
Good:

27
Average:

4
Bad:

4

Pros

Good image quality even in dark conditions, complete manual control, supports RAW image format, large swivel LCD screen, easy to use with dedicated dials, good Macro, 720p HD video with stereo sound capture, rugged build, HDR bracketing
Very good image quality for a compact camera, Optical viewfinder, Manual controls, Articulating LCD.
Tanklike build feels like it can take a pounding. Tons of external controls on the camera body will bring out the pro in you. Locking down the resolution at 10 MP means it’s a better performer in low light. Very good 720p HD capture with stereo soun
Optical viewfinder; articulated LCD; built-in neutral-density filter; very good photo quality for its class.
Looks, Records images in both JGEG and RAW, Allows full manual control, Easy to use with a bunch of ready options to shoot
Excellent image quality, Very good feature set, Excellent handling and plenty of manual controls, RAW capture, Very good 720p HD video
Good picture quality, intuitive control system; solid build quality; effective optical image stabilizer.
Looks and handles really well, yet compact enough to fit in most pockets, Full of features, including a real HDR setting, Low distortion 5 times zoom lens produces sharp images in most situations, Control wheels rather than menus control most things you n
Excellent image quality, well made, superb lens, excellent feature set, good ergonomics and handling, JPEG and RAW capture, multi-angle LCD.
Articulated LCD screen helps compose from unusual angles, High build quality, Good grip, Dials for ISO and EV, New Front dial very handy, Excellent optics with a 28mm start to the 5x optical zoom, Excellent Optical Image Stabilization, New hybrid IS sy...
Timeless design, HD video addition, New control wheel on the camera's front
Robust manual controls with improved dials, Capable automatic controls, Versatile 5x optical zoom lens, 720p HD video, Articulating LCD display, Optical viewfinder, RAW format support.
Very good photo quality, with about a full stop advantage over typical compact cameras at high sensitivities, Nice 5X zoom lens with 28 140 mm range, New and improved "hybrid" optical image stabilization, Well built, rangefinderstyle body, Flipout, rotati
Very good picture quality, Low noise even in very low light, Tweaks galore, HDR a great option for still subjects.
Good image quality, useable results achievable up to ISO 3200 (if shooting Raw), Accurate metering and focus, Good JPEG resolution (though stick to Raw for best results), Fast and responsive in use, Excellent build quality, Good ergonomics (extra control
Superior image and video quality, Optical viewfinder, Easy to use, Superb blend of automated and manual controls, Adjustable, swiveling LCD screen, Fun-to-use creative scene modes.

Cons

Tiny field of view in optical viewfinder, no optical zoom during video capture, 4GB limit for video capture, no dedicated video capture button, a bit heavy, expensive
Pricey, Bulky, Small sensor for such a big camera.
Even lowerpriced competing models offer higherresolution 1080p HD video capture. Only digital zooming during video capture degrades quality. Imaging sensor is still tiny, though other advanced compacts have gone big. Antiquated menu system.
Shot-to-shot performance still a little sluggish; some annoying controls.
Expensive, Slow response at times
Slightly bulky, Noise noticeable at ISO800, Expensive
HDR function requires tripod; upgrades from G11 not significant.
Price, high ISO noise problems, sluggish focusing, size.
Awkward size: heavy and bulky, Controls are stiff and rough, Small Shutter button and Zoom ring, Mediocre cycle times, Poor optical viewfinder coverage, High barrel distortion at wide-angle, Moderately high chromatic aberration at wide-angle (when wide...
Could maybe of done with a few more upgrades
Slow continuous shooting at full resolution, Can't optically zoom while filming, Lumix LX5 and PowerShot S95 compelling alternatives, No longer smaller than a camera with a DSLR sensor.
No optical zoom while recording video, No microphone jack
Controls can be intimidating at first; small and cluttered buttons, especially zoom and fourway controllers and shutter release button, Lens can be seen through optical viewfinder when at wideangle position, Some redeye, though removal tool in playback mo
Poor optical finder (but no worse than G11/Nikon P7000), No direct video recording button, 24fps maximum frame rate in 720p movie mode (although many people prefer this to 30fps+), Rear control dial can be hard to manipulate precisely, Video function lack
Maximum aperture of F2.8, A bit bulky

By Buy-n-Shoot on May 23, 2012

Canon makes their range of digital cameras simple. The G12 is a solid, feature enriched camera for a solid price. The quality of image and video is good and at the higher end of it’s market’s cameras and will satisfy most users. Zoom range...

60
By PCWorld New Zealand on December 05, 2011

Canon’s flagship G-series compacts have built an enviable reputation for being the backup cameras chosen by professional photographers and for good reason. The G12 is built like a tank and is designed to go where most compacts can’t, the 5x...

100
By DigitalCameraInfo on September 09, 2011

The Canon G12 is such a substantial camera, that it feels wrong to title it simple as a “point-and-shoot.” While it doesn’t hold a candle to fixed-lens juggernauts like the Fuji X100, its size, customizability, image quality, and...

-
By TechRadar on August 03, 2011

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...

80
By Shutterbug on April 01, 2011

In the report on the Canon PowerShot G11 (April, 2010, available at www.shutterbug.com) I concluded by saying that it was “an excellent traveling companion.” Ditto on the new G12 ($499, MSRP), the latest iteration of the Canon...

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By TechTree on March 08, 2011

Canon PowerShot G12 is a worthy successor to the G11. The user is given full manual control over every feature of the camera. As always, ease of use and ergonomics have been given proper attention. Some nifty features such as the level gauge are very...

60
By PC Mag on March 03, 2011

The Canon PowerShot G12's images and features are excellent for a point-and-shoot camera, but at its size and price, you can get far better....

50
By DigitalVersus on February 17, 2011

For advanced users, the Canon G12 is an excellent and versatile camera that takes great-quality pictures. In fact, it really deserves five stars for its photos, but the disappointing video mode unfortunately cost it a...

80
By Wired on February 10, 2011

If you’re looking for a high performance camera with great image quality, you should get a digital SLR, right?Well yes, DSLRs are top-drawer picture-takers. But they’re bulky and they weigh a ton. They also aren’t exactly the most...

80
By cnet on February 04, 2011

Relatively unchanged from its predecessor, save the addition of 720p video, the Canon PowerShot G12 remains a very good, more-or-less compact model, designed to please photo...

77