Canon G12 vs Fujifilm JX370: A Hands-On Comparison for Discerning Photographers

When diving into the compact camera market around 2011, two models often pop up for consideration: the Canon PowerShot G12 and the Fujifilm FinePix JX370. Both present themselves as small sensor compacts, yet they cater to distinct types of users and photographic ambitions. Having thoroughly tested thousands of cameras over the years, I find this comparison particularly intriguing - not just because of the spec sheets, but how these cameras translate into real-world performance across genres from portraiture to travel.

Let’s unpack these two models, starting with their physical forms, navigating through their technical cores, and ultimately exploring how they behave in practice across various photography disciplines.

Feeling the Cameras: Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

My first step was to get a tactile sense of both cameras. The Canon G12 sports a notably more substantial body compared to the gentle, lightweight Fujifilm JX370.

At 112 x 76 x 48 mm and weighing 401 grams, the G12 is unmistakably chunkier than the JX370’s 95 x 57 x 24 mm body and mere 124 grams weight. Handling the G12 feels more like holding a camera designed with some serious photography in mind - ample grip, well-placed buttons, and a sturdy build. The JX370, in contrast, is more a pocket-friendly device, ideal when extreme portability is a priority.

In practical terms, the G12’s heft permits more precise manual control without sacrificing comfort for extended use. The articulated screen on the G12 - more on that shortly - adds to its versatility in shooting angles. The JX370 offers an unassuming fixed 2.7” screen with lower resolution, accommodating casual shooters who want simplicity over sophistication.

Design and Controls: Top Layouts that Influence Usability

Understanding camera control layouts tells us a lot about the shooting experience. I placed these two side-by-side and examined their top plates.

Canon's decision to include dedicated dials for shutter speed, aperture, and shooting modes on the G12 means you’re never far from manual adjustments. It’s a system aimed at enthusiasts and semi-pros who rely on tactile feedback when framing shots quickly.

Fujifilm’s JX370, devoid of manual exposure modes, migrates away from physical dials altogether. Its simplified control scheme suits snapshooters who prefer auto modes and minimal intervention. For example, if you value quick access to depth of field or shutter priority - spoiler alert, the JX370 doesn’t offer those - then the G12 is a clear winner.

Sensors and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Now, for the technophiles: sensor size and capabilities largely dictate image quality. Here, the Canon G12’s 1/1.7" CCD sensor with 10 megapixels comfortably outclasses the Fujifilm JX370’s smaller 1/2.3" CCD sensor sporting 14 megapixels.

You might ask, how does a lower megapixel count beat a higher number? The answer lies in pixel size and sensor area. The G12’s sensor measures 41.52 mm², almost 50% larger than the JX370’s 28.07 mm². Bigger pixels gather more light, crucial for noise control, dynamic range, and subtle tonality.

Lab-based DxOMark scores reinforce this real-world fact: the G12 scores an overall 47 with a very respectable 20.4 bits color depth and 11.2 EV dynamic range, while the JX370 remains untested by DxO but, given the sensor trends and construction, would perform notably lower in low light and highlight retention.

In practical terms, the G12 handles higher ISOs cleaner (native max ISO 3200 vs JX370’s 1600), and its anti-aliasing filter balances sharpness and moiré prevention efficiently. The JX370’s 14 MP sensor sounds alluring on paper but tends toward noisier images and less tonal richness, especially in shadow detail.

Interface and Display: Monitoring the Creative Process

Both cameras offer LCD screens, but their quality and flexibility couldn’t be more different.

Canon’s fully articulated 2.8” screen at 461k dots offers exceptional framing options - shoot over a crowd or from low angles without twisting your body awkwardly. This flexibility greatly benefits macro and creative portrait work.

In contrast, the JX370’s 2.7” fixed TFT screen featuring 230k dots is perfectly adequate for casual use but doesn’t inspire confidence on tricky compositions. Additionally, the lack of a viewfinder on the JX370 is a notable omission. The G12, while lacking an electronic viewfinder, provides an optical tunnel finder that, while not perfect, helps in bright daylight.

Autofocus Systems: The Pursuit of Sharpness

Focusing speed and accuracy can make or break a shoot, especially in action or wildlife settings.

The Canon G12 offers a contrast-detection autofocus system with 9 focus points and face detection, but it lacks continuous AF tracking. Its manual focus option, though present, is rather basic. In practice, I found the G12’s AF quick enough for street and travel photography but limited under fast-moving subjects.

Fujifilm’s JX370 boasts continuous autofocus and tracking capabilities, albeit using a contrast-detection system with fewer focus zones and no face detection. However, in daylight conditions, it manages to lock focus quickly for casual snapshots. Night or sports action, however, reveals its limitations.

Neither camera boasts the sophisticated hybrid or phase-detection AF systems we expect in modern cameras, so their performance here is best considered in the budget-friendly compact category.

Burst and Shutter: Chasing Moments

Both cameras cap continuous shooting at one frame per second, which is painfully slow by today’s standards and inadequate for serious sports or wildlife photography. If firing off bursts matters to you, neither body excels here.

Maximum shutter speeds offer another point of contrast: the G12 moves from 15 seconds up to 1/4000 s, covering long exposures for night scenes or astro and intense sports scenarios alike. The JX370’s 8 seconds minimum and 1/1800 s maximum are more restrictive but okay for snapshots indoors and casual daytime use.

Lens and Zoom: Versatility in Your Hands

A 28-140mm equivalent zoom range with 5x optical reach defines both lenses, worthy of note since these focal spans are broadly practical.

Canon’s faster aperture range of f/2.8 to f/4.5 gives it an edge in low light and shallow depth of field control - a critical factor for portraits and creative bokeh. Fujifilm’s lens, ranging from f/2.6 to f/6.2, slows down significantly at telephoto, reducing its usefulness in dim environments or isolating subjects from backgrounds.

Macro focus distances reveal fascinating differences: the G12 can focus as close as 1 cm, allowing excellent macro shots with fine detail, while the JX370 requires a 10 cm minimum distance, limiting close-up potential.

The G12 also includes optical image stabilization, a crucial advantage for handheld shooting at longer focal lengths or slower shutter speeds. The JX370 lacks any stabilization, making sharper shots more challenging, especially at the telephoto end.

Real-World Genre Performance: Where Each Camera Shines

Now, the proof is in the pudding: how do these two fare across photography genres? I tested both extensively across 10 different categories - note the nuanced performance differences.

Canon G12 screen back Fujifilm JX370 front Fujifilm JX370 screen back

Portrait Photography

Skin tones are better rendered on the G12, thanks to better color depth, higher bit depth processing, and face detection autofocus to lock eyes precisely. The aperture flexibility and close focusing distance add more control over background blur, delivering professional-looking portraits.

The JX370 handles basic portraits in good light but falls short on bokeh control or AF accuracy, leading to less separation from backgrounds and softer facial detail.

Landscape Photography

The G12 wins hands down here with its larger sensor and wider dynamic range, capturing subtle gradations in shadow and highlight. Its weather resistance is minimal (neither camera is weather sealed), but the optical quality and flexibility of the Canon's lens allow for rich landscape captures.

JX370 struggles in high contrast scenes and reveals more noise at higher ISOs, reducing image quality in less ideal lighting. Its lower resolution and smaller sensor limit detail capture sharply.

Wildlife Photography

If you chase wildlife, autofocus speed and burst rate are critical - and neither camera is built for it. The G12’s limited continuous shooting and no AF tracking make it frustrating for sudden subject movement. The JX370’s continuous AF somewhat helps, but the slow 1fps burst is a bottleneck.

Neither body appeals to serious wildlife shooters; you'd want to consider other options if this is your primary interest.

Sports Photography

Similar frustrations surface here. The G12’s 1 fps and no AF tracking make capturing fast action a trial. The JX370 doesn’t add anything significant either.

If shutter speed and continuous shooting drive your purchase, unfortunately, neither fits the bill.

Street Photography

For discrete, lightweight shooting, the JX370’s small size is a blessing, slipping easily into pockets with little attention drawn. However, the G12’s better controls, articulated screen, and face detection provide creative advantages at the expense of portability.

If portraiture and image quality trump outright pocketability, the G12 still edges ahead.

Macro Photography

Here, Canon’s 1 cm macro focus and image stabilization shine. Detailed close-ups are sharper and with more creative control. The JX370, restricted at 10 cm, is less versatile in this category.

Night and Astro Photography

The G12’s ISO range, peak shutter speed of 15 seconds, and better low-light performance allow workable night sky and low-light shots. The JX370, with limited ISO and 8 second max shutter, is less flexible.

Video Capabilities

Both cameras provide 1280x720 HD video, but the Canon records at 24fps with H.264 encoding, whereas the Fujifilm records at 30fps using Motion JPEG, a bulkier and lower quality compression. Neither offers microphone inputs or in-body stabilization for video, but the G12’s better lens aperture and sensor size yield more cinematic results.

Travel Photography

Considerations: weight, size, battery life, and lens versatility.

The JX370’s tiny form factor and lighter weight appeal to travelers craving ease of carry, yet its shorter battery life (~190 shots) may limit shooting days without charging.

The G12, while heavier, offers 370 shots per charge - a near doubling - plus articulated screen versatility for tricky angles.

Professional Use

Both cameras fall short here. The G12 supports RAW, which is crucial for professionals wanting post-processing freedom. The JX370 does not, restricting workflow flexibility.

Neither offers advanced ruggedness or weather sealing, meaning both are secondary or leisure tools rather than workhorses.

Durability and Build Quality: Holding Up in Harsh Conditions

Neither camera sports weather sealing or shock/freeze proofing. The G12’s robust plastic and metal construction provide a more premium feel and endurance for occasional ruggedness, while the JX370’s plastic shell suits casual everyday use but less so for tough environments.

Connectivity and Storage Options: Sharing and Expanding

The Canon G12 supports Eye-Fi wireless cards for photo transfer - not built-in Wi-Fi - a sign of its era but useful nonetheless. It also offers an HDMI port and USB 2.0 for tethering.

The Fujifilm lacks wireless features altogether and lacks HDMI output, limiting modern connectivity.

Both accept SD card formats with a single slot, sufficient for casual use.

Battery Life: Shooting Time That Matters

From hands-on testing, the G12’s NB-7L battery lasts roughly 370 shots per charge, a commendable stamina for a small sensor compact.

The JX370’s NP-45A battery, however, delivers around 190 shots, which may prompt more frequent recharging on longer outings.

Price and Value: What You Get for Your Money

At launch, the Canon G12 was priced around $600, reflecting its enthusiast-grade features and build.

The Fujifilm JX370 targeted entry-level buyers, with a price just over $150.

If your budget permits, the G12 delivers performance aligned with its cost class. The JX370 is a thrifty option for casual shooters prioritizing simplicity.

Final Scores: Performance in Numbers and Genres

Bringing together these results in a calibrated overview:

The G12 secures strong scores in image quality, build quality, and manual control, with modest weaknesses in autofocus and burst shooting.

The JX370 performs adequately in portability and basic shooting modes but fundamentally lacks in advanced functionality.

Delving deeper, here’s the genre-specific breakdown:

So, Which Should You Choose?

If you crave creative control, image quality, and versatility:

The Canon G12 is your clear choice. Its larger sensor, RAW support, articulated screen, and manual exposure make it a compact powerhouse for enthusiasts, travel photographers, macro fans, and casual professionals.

If you want an affordable, pocket-friendly camera for snapshot moments:

The Fujifilm JX370 fits the bill. Its small size and basic operation are ideal for users placing portability and ease over advanced features.

For specialized fields like sports or wildlife:

Look elsewhere. Neither camera's burst speed or autofocus is up to professional or serious enthusiast standards.

A Final Note from Experience

I’ve always valued cameras that actively empower photographers to create rather than constrain them with oversimplified modes. The G12, despite its age, remains a choice bargain for its class, offering features that hands-on testing proves reliable and versatile.

Meanwhile, the JX370 could be your “grab-and-go” camera, especially if weight and price are your primary factors - but don’t expect miracles when lighting and speed demands increase.

Dear Canon, if you’re reading this, please consider bringing back a modern G-series compact with improved AF tracking and even better ergonomics! The photography community would welcome that dearly.

I hope this comparative deep dive helps you make a well-informed decision tailored to your photographic style and needs. Happy shooting!