Otherwise, it’s pretty much the same flagship PowerShot G-series camera we all knew and loved from last year and that’s a good thing. The G11 was so well received when it came out last year—we named it Compact of the Year for 2009 and it ended up on many other “Best of” lists—it’s already produced some imitators. Last month I reviewed the 10.1-megapixel Nikon Coolpix P7000, and while I really liked that camera (especially compared to the previous model), I found it looked suspiciously similar to the Canon. But as I said in this column last month, imitation really is the sincerest form of flattery.
Sticking To The Formula
Digital cameras that resemble rangefinders are all the rage right now which must be flattering to Canon’s G-series designers since the last several iterations have sported that same classic RF-like look. Also, G-series cameras continue to keep their “throwback” optical viewfinders intact, even though they’re teeny-weenie in size. Of course the G12 and its predecessors aren’t true rangefinders but they do have a rugged, discreet style that makes them suited to a variety of low-key shooting situations.
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 camera just above the handgrip which is a carryover from Canon’s DSLRs. In the G12’s manual modes you can use it to quickly change shutter speed and/or aperture.
Otherwise, the G12 is pretty much a dead-ringer for the G11 and it is good that Canon didn’t mess too much with the formula. Some genius decided to drop the swiveling screen from the G-series back in 2006 and it took many angry complaints from photographers to get it back with the last model. One gripe about the screen on the G12 is that it would’ve been nice to increase the size to 3-inches for this upgrade. (Images still look sharp on it thanks to 461,000 pixels of resolution.)
Also, would it have killed Canon to increase the zoom a bit on the newer model, preferably on the wide end? As it is, it’s the same optically stabilized 5x (28-140mm equivalent) lens that was in the G11. It’s worth noting that this is one major area where Nikon’s P7000 eclipses the G12; the Nikon camera has 7x (28-200mm) lens with ED glass elements to cut down on chromatic aberrations.
The other good area to see Canon upgrade its future G-series PowerShots is the imaging chip size. While it’s great they’ve kept the megapixels steady on the G12 at 10 megapixels, the sensor is the same 1/1.7-inch sized chip from the previous model. Consequently the camera still struggles with noise at ISO 1600 and above in low light without a flash. Someday Canon or Nikon (or both!) will put a DSLR-sized sensor in one of their compact cameras and the earth will literally shake.
A disappointment is that the G12 still can’t zoom optically while recording video, only digitally, though the company’s lower-priced Digital ELPH models can.
Despite these omissions, the 720p video I shot at the performance was of excellent quality and the new stereo recording capabilities of the G12 are a much-appreciated upgrade. There are also few compacts on the market right now that can beat the still image quality of the G12 at up to ISO 800. Pros will also like that this camera can record in JPEG or RAW or both at the same time.
So while it may not razzle-dazzle like all the Micro Four Thirds and other mirrorless interchangeable lens compacts out there right now, the Canon G12 is a dependable sharpshooter.
The Bottom Line
Canon hasn’t changed a whole heck of a lot with the PowerShot G12 from the previous model and that’s a good thing. Canon’s G-series cameras have long been the standard bearers in the advanced compact category and with the addition of 720p HD video and several other notable features to the G12, there’s a new top dog in town. If there are some disappointments with this camera—only digital zooming during video capture, noisy images at ISO 1600 and above—the G12 is still a solid, small camera that should comfortably find space in any pro’s bag (or coat pocket).
Canon PowerShot G12
Pros: Solid, rugged and highly usable compact design; shoots 720p HD video with stereo sound; plenty of external control including more precise ISO adjustment; in-camera HDR processing
Cons: Images noisy at ISO 1600 and above; no 1080p HD video capture; can only digitally zoom during video capture
Source: DC Reviews
Canon PowerShot G12
