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Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS

Portability
83
Imaging
34
Features
50
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot G12 front
 
Olympus SZ-16 iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
36
Overall
37

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS 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
  • Introduced January 2011
  • Succeeded the Canon G11
  • Updated by Canon G15
Olympus SZ-16 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 108 x 70 x 40mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Canon G12 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Canon and Olympus. There is a sizable difference among the sensor resolutions of the G12 (10MP) and SZ-16 iHS (16MP) and the G12 (1/1.7") and SZ-16 iHS (1/2.3") offer different sensor sizing.

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The G12 was introduced 24 months before the SZ-16 iHS making them a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go right into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the G12 grades versus the SZ-16 iHS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 G12 SZ-16 iHS 
Manually focus More exact focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution461k460kCrisper display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-16 iHS over the Canon G12

 SZ-16 iHS G12 
LaunchedJanuary 2013January 2011More recent by 24 months
Display dimensions3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon G12 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS

 G12 SZ-16 iHS 
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and measurements. The Canon G12 offers external dimensions 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 Olympus SZ-16 iHS has proportions of 108mm x 70mm x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Canon G12 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the G12 against the SZ-16 iHS.

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the G12 and SZ-16 iHS is 83 and 89 respectively.

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS top view buttons comparison

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very difficult to picture the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through specs. The graphic underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the G12 and SZ-16 iHS.

All in all, both of those cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The G12 having a larger sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF easier and the Olympus SZ-16 iHS will render greater detail using its extra 6MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop photos more aggressively. The older G12 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS sensor size comparison

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G12 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Portrait photography highlights
47
you can focus manually
above average flash sync speed (1/2,000 seconds)
features face detect focus
saves RAW formats
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
34
decent megapixels (16MP)
offers face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon G12
Street photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
64
screen articulates
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
sensor is small (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors in class (401 grams)
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon G12
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-16 iHS
33
built in image stabilization (Optical)
better than average battery (370 CIPA)
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
no phase detect auto focus
41
incredible zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
not so great battery pack (220 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G12 Travel photography advice
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Travel photography advice
60
better than average battery (370 per charge)
has built in flash
screen is selfie friendly
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (401 grams)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
decent megapixels (16MP)
has built in flash
really wide (25mm)
great reach (600mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery pack (220 shots)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G12 Landscape photography features
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Landscape photography features
49
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (2.8 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (370 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse function
41
really wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G12 Vlogging details
Olympus SZ-16 iHS Vlogging details
60
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is selfie friendly
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (401 grams)
31
really wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
offers face detection focus
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
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Canon G12 vs Olympus SZ-16 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G12 and Olympus SZ-16 iHS
 Canon PowerShot G12Olympus SZ-16 iHS
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model type Canon PowerShot G12 Olympus SZ-16 iHS
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2011-01-19 2013-01-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 -
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 surface area 41.5mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen size 2.8" 3"
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/2000s -
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 format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone 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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 401g (0.88 lb) 226g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 108 x 70 x 40mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.6")
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 shots 220 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-7L LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $600 $230