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Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS

Portability
83
Imaging
34
Features
50
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot G12 front
 
Canon PowerShot SX720 HS front
Portability
89
Imaging
46
Features
51
Overall
48

Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS Key Specs

Canon G12
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 401g - 112 x 76 x 48mm
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Previous Model is Canon G11
  • Later Model is Canon G15
Canon SX720 HS
(Full Review)
  • 20.3MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-960mm (F3.3-6.9) lens
  • 270g - 110 x 64 x 36mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Earlier Model is Canon SX710 HS
  • Renewed by Canon SX730 HS
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Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are sold by Canon. There exists a crucial gap between the image resolutions of the G12 (10MP) and SX720 HS (20.3MP) and the G12 (1/1.7") and SX720 HS (1/2.3") enjoy totally different sensor measurements.

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The G12 was brought out 6 years earlier than the SX720 HS and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the G12 grades vs the SX720 HS with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Canon SX720 HS

 G12 SX720 HS 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Canon SX720 HS over the Canon G12

 SX720 HS G12 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016January 2011More recent by 61 months
Screen sizing3"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution922k461kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Canon G12 and Canon SX720 HS

 G12 SX720 HS 
Manual focus Very exact focusing
Touch friendly screen No Touch friendly screen

Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to lug around your camera, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon G12 features outer measurements of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") having a weight of 401 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Canon SX720 HS has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") along with a weight of 270 grams (0.60 lbs).

Analyze the Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are utilising at that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the G12 versus the SX720 HS.

Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the G12 and SX720 HS is 83 and 89 respectively.

Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS top view buttons comparison

Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements simply by looking at specs. The photograph below might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the G12 and SX720 HS.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The G12 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF easier and the Canon SX720 HS will resolve more detail having its extra 10.3MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older G12 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS sensor size comparison

Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G12 Portrait photography advice
Canon SX720 HS Portrait photography advice
47
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000s)
features face detection focus
exports RAW formats
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
47
you can focus manually
MP count good (20.3 megapixels)
features face detection autofocus
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon G12 as a Street photography camera
Canon SX720 HS as a Street photography camera
64
screen articulates
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
more heavy than average in class (401 grams)
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (270 grams)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon G12
Sports photography with Canon SX720 HS
33
image stabilization (Optical)
good battery power (370 per charge)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
48
excellent zoom range (24-960mm 40.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20.3MP)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (5.9 fps)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery life (250 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G12 Travel photography highlights
Canon SX720 HS Travel photography highlights
60
good battery power (370 per charge)
has built in flash
selfie friendly screen
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (401g)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than competition in class (270 grams)
MP count good (20.3MP)
flash built-in
fairly wide (24mm)
great zoom (960mm)
doesn't have Timelapse function
low battery life (250 CIPA)
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G12 as a Landscape photography camera
Canon SX720 HS as a Landscape photography camera
49
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is good (2.8")
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (370 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
does not have Timelapse function
50
you can focus manually
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20.3MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery life (250 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G12 Vlogging information
Canon SX720 HS Vlogging information
60
pretty wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (401 grams)
34
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (270 grams)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone support
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Canon G12 vs Canon SX720 HS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G12 and Canon SX720 HS
 Canon PowerShot G12Canon PowerShot SX720 HS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot SX720 HS
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-01-19 2016-02-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 DIGIC 6
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20.3 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 5184 x 3888
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-960mm (40.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.3-6.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.8 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/3200 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s 5.9 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 7.00 m 4.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, on, off, slow synchro
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 401 grams (0.88 lbs) 270 grams (0.60 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 110 x 64 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 250 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-7L NB-13L
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $600 $379