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Canon G12 vs Nikon S30

Portability
83
Imaging
34
Features
50
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot G12 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S30 front
Portability
90
Imaging
33
Features
18
Overall
27

Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 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
  • Released January 2011
  • Previous Model is Canon G11
  • Refreshed by Canon G15
Nikon S30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 29-87mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 102 x 65 x 40mm
  • Released February 2012
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Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Canon G12 vs Nikon S30, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by rivals Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the G12 (10MP) and the S30 (10MP) is pretty well matched but the G12 (1/1.7") and S30 (1/3") come with different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The G12 was released 12 months earlier than the S30 which means that they are of a similar generation. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a complete comparison, below is a brief overview of how the G12 matches up versus the S30 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Nikon S30

 G12 S30 
Manual focus More exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimension2.8"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.1")
Screen resolution461k230kClearer screen (+231k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Canon G12

 S30 G12 
ReleasedFebruary 2012January 2011More modern by 12 months

Common features in the Canon G12 and Nikon S30

 G12 S30 
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to carry around your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Canon G12 offers outside 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 Nikon S30 has dimensions of 102mm x 65mm x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Look at the Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 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 change depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view physical size comparison of the G12 against the S30.

Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G12 and S30 is 83 and 90 respectively.

Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 top view buttons comparison

Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by looking at a spec sheet. The pic underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the G12 and S30.

As you can see, both the cameras posses the exact same megapixel count albeit different sensor sizes. The G12 has got the bigger sensor which should make obtaining shallow depth of field easier. The more aged G12 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 sensor size comparison

Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G12 Portrait photography factors
Nikon S30 Portrait photography factors
47
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
offers face detection focus
delivers RAW files
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
25
offers face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
no external flash support
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon G12
Street photography with Nikon S30
64
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
heavier than average (401 grams)
51
weather sealing
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/3")
lack of RAW support
heavier than competition (214 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon G12 as a Sports photography camera
Nikon S30 as a Sports photography camera
33
image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery life (370 shots)
low fps (1.0 frames/s)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
lacks phase detect auto focus
29
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
weather sealing
max fps very slow (1.5 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G12 Travel photography advice
Nikon S30 Travel photography advice
60
better than average battery life (370 CIPA)
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
rather wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (401 grams)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
52
weather sealing
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (214 grams)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G12 Landscape photography advice
Nikon S30 Landscape photography advice
49
has manual focus
rather wide (28mm)
nice screen size (2.8")
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (370 shots)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse recording
26
weather sealing
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7")
no manual mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G12 as a Vlogging camera
Nikon S30 as a Vlogging camera
60
rather wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external mic port
heavier than average (401g)
23
offers face detect autofocus
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have mic support
heavier than competition (214g)
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Canon G12 vs Nikon S30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G12 and Nikon S30
 Canon PowerShot G12Nikon Coolpix S30
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot G12 Nikon Coolpix S30
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-19 2012-02-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 4.8 x 3.6mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 17.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 29-87mm (3.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 7.5
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.8" 2.7"
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/8000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 1.5 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 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 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format H.264 MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 401 gr (0.88 lbs) 214 gr (0.47 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 102 x 65 x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6")
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 pictures 240 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery model NB-7L 2 x AA
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 Single Single
Pricing at launch $600 $119