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Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
83
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot G12 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 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
  • Old Model is Canon G11
  • Refreshed by Canon G15
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released January 2012
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Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Olympus. There is a large difference between the image resolutions of the G12 (10MP) and SZ-12 (14MP) and the G12 (1/1.7") and SZ-12 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

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The G12 was released 11 months before the SZ-12 so they are of a similar age. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving through a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief synopsis of how the G12 grades against the SZ-12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Olympus SZ-12

 G12 SZ-12 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution461k460kClearer display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Canon G12

 SZ-12 G12 
ReleasedJanuary 2012January 2011More modern by 11 months
Display sizing3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon G12 and Olympus SZ-12

 G12 SZ-12 
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry around your camera, you have to take into account its weight and volume. 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 Olympus SZ-12 has sizing of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") along with a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check the Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the G12 compared to the SZ-12.

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the G12 and SZ-12 is 83 and 89 respectively.

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by going over specs. The pic below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the G12 and SZ-12.

All in all, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The G12 because of its larger sensor is going to make getting bokeh simpler and the Olympus SZ-12 will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a little more aggressively. The more aged G12 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon G12
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-12
47
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
comes with face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
34
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon G12 Street photography information
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography information
64
screen articulates fully
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
more heavy than others (401 grams)
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226g)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon G12 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Sports photography camera
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery life (370 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
41
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 shots)
lack of phase detect autofocus
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Canon G12 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Travel photography camera
60
better than average battery life (370 shots)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
quite wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
more heavy than others (401g)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
lighter than competition (226g)
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
really wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low battery life (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G12 Landscape photography details
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
49
manual focus
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (2.8 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW files
better than average battery life (370 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/1.7")
lack of Timelapse mode
40
really wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery life (220 per charge)
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G12 Vlogging information
Olympus SZ-12 Vlogging information
60
quite wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
more heavy than others (401g)
31
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detect autofocus
lighter than competition (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic jack
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Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G12 and Olympus SZ-12
 Canon PowerShot G12Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Company Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot G12 Olympus SZ-12
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-01-19 2012-01-10
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 4 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.8 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 461k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/2000 secs -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
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 401g (0.88 lb) 226g (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
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 220 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-7L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Launch cost $600 $350