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Canon G12 vs Nikon S100

Portability
83
Imaging
34
Features
50
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot G12 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S100 front
Portability
94
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39

Canon G12 vs Nikon S100 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
  • Launched January 2011
  • Older Model is Canon G11
  • Refreshed by Canon G15
Nikon S100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-4.8) lens
  • 175g - 99 x 65 x 18mm
  • Introduced August 2011
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Canon G12 vs Nikon S100 Overview

Following is a extensive comparison of the Canon G12 and Nikon S100, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Canon and Nikon. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the G12 (10MP) and S100 (16MP) and the G12 (1/1.7") and S100 (1/2.3") have different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The G12 was introduced 7 months earlier than the S100 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short introduction of how the G12 scores vs the S100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Nikon S100

 G12 S100 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon S100 over the Canon G12

 S100 G12 
IntroducedAugust 2011January 2011More modern by 7 months
Screen size3.5"2.8"Bigger screen (+0.7")
Screen resolution820k461kCrisper screen (+359k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon G12 and Nikon S100

 G12 S100 
Manually focus Very exact focus

Canon G12 vs Nikon S100 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and volume. The Canon G12 comes with outer measurements of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") and a weight of 401 grams (0.88 lbs) while the Nikon S100 has sizing of 99mm x 65mm x 18mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.7") accompanied by a weight of 175 grams (0.39 lbs).

Compare the Canon G12 and Nikon S100 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view overall size comparison of the G12 versus the S100.

Canon G12 vs Nikon S100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G12 and S100 is 83 and 94 respectively.

Canon G12 vs Nikon S100 top view buttons comparison

Canon G12 vs Nikon S100 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes just by going over a spec sheet. The pic underneath may give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the G12 and S100.

Clearly, both of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G12 with its bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Nikon S100 will offer more detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged G12 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon G12 vs Nikon S100 sensor size comparison

Canon G12 vs Nikon S100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G12 vs Nikon S100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon G12
Portrait photography with Nikon S100
47
focusing manually
above average flash sync (1/2,000 seconds)
provides face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
40
manual focus
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
lack of manual exposure
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon G12 Street photography factors
Nikon S100 Street photography factors
64
fully articulated screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than competition in class (401 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides touch to focus
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon G12 Sports photography features
Nikon S100 Sports photography features
33
built in image stabilization (Optical)
great battery life (370 CIPA)
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect AF
38
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery pack (150 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G12 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon S100 as a Travel photography camera
60
great battery life (370 shots)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition in class (401g)
low MP (10MP)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
65
provides touch to focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery pack (150 CIPA)
display is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G12 Landscape photography factors
Nikon S100 Landscape photography factors
49
focusing manually
rather wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (2.8")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (370 per charge)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse mode
45
manual focus
relatively wide (28mm)
big screen (3.5 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
lack of manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery pack (150 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G12 Vlogging details
Nikon S100 Vlogging details
60
rather wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
heavier than competition in class (401g)
35
relatively wide (28mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
doesn't have external microphone socket
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Canon G12 vs Nikon S100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G12 and Nikon S100
 Canon PowerShot G12Nikon Coolpix S100
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon Coolpix S100
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-01-19 2011-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD 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 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 3200
Minimum native ISO 80 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.9-4.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.8 inches 3.5 inches
Resolution of display 461 thousand dots 820 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - Organic LED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 7.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 401 gr (0.88 pounds) 175 gr (0.39 pounds)
Physical dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 99 x 65 x 18mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 47 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 161 not tested
Other
Battery life 370 photographs 150 photographs
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-7L EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail price $600 $240