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Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS

Portability
83
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot G12 front
 
Canon PowerShot SD970 IS front
Portability
94
Imaging
35
Features
24
Overall
30

Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS Key Specs

Canon G12
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 401g - 112 x 76 x 48mm
  • Released January 2011
  • Replaced the Canon G11
  • Successor is Canon G15
Canon SD970 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 37-185mm (F3.2-5.7) lens
  • 160g - 96 x 57 x 26mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Additionally referred to as Digital IXUS 990 IS
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Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and they are both manufactured by Canon. The sensor resolution of the G12 (10MP) and the SD970 IS (12MP) is relatively well matched but the G12 (1/1.7") and SD970 IS (1/2.3") come with different sensor size.

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The G12 was released 24 months after the SD970 IS which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a in depth comparison, below is a quick summation of how the G12 grades vs the SD970 IS when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Canon SD970 IS

 G12 SD970 IS 
IntroducedJanuary 2011February 2009Newer by 24 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SD970 IS over the Canon G12

 SD970 IS G12 
Screen sizing3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon G12 and Canon SD970 IS

 G12 SD970 IS 
Screen resolution461k461kEqual screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon G12 offers physical measurements of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") accompanied by a weight of 401 grams (0.88 lbs) and the Canon SD970 IS has sizing of 96mm x 57mm x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0") and a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs).

See the Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Following is the front view scale comparison of the G12 against the SD970 IS.

Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G12 and SD970 IS is 83 and 94 respectively.

Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor dimensions just by reading through specs. The image underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the G12 and SD970 IS.

All in all, the 2 cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor dimensions. The G12 because of its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field less difficult and the Canon SD970 IS will give extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The newer G12 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS sensor size comparison

Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G12 Portrait photography highlights
Canon SD970 IS Portrait photography highlights
47
has manual focus
above average flash sync (1/2,000s)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
26
supports face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon G12 Street photography info
Canon SD970 IS Street photography info
64
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than others (401g)
56
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon G12 as a Sports photography camera
Canon SD970 IS as a Sports photography camera
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
great battery (370 per charge)
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max fps very slow (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon G12
Travel photography with Canon SD970 IS
60
great battery (370 shots)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
quite wide (28mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
heavier than others (401g)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
51
built-in flash
missing Timelapse function
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G12 as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SD970 IS as a Landscape photography camera
49
has manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (2.8 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
great battery (370 per charge)
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
32
decent sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
no manual control
megapixel count low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon G12
Vlogging with Canon SD970 IS
60
quite wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
heavier than others (401g)
28
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
wide angle not good (37mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.2)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing microphone port
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Canon G12 vs Canon SD970 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G12 and Canon SD970 IS
 Canon PowerShot G12Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
General Information
Make Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SD970 IS
Alternative name - Digital IXUS 990 IS
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-19 2009-02-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 3200 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 37-185mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.2-5.7
Macro focus range 1cm 2cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.8" 3"
Resolution of screen 461k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m 3.50 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 401 gr (0.88 pounds) 160 gr (0.35 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 96 x 57 x 26mm (3.8" x 2.2" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 47 not tested
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range score 11.2 not tested
DXO Low light score 161 not tested
Other
Battery life 370 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-7L NB-5L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD /MMCplus
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $600 -