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Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3

Portability
83
Imaging
35
Features
50
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot G12 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
24
Overall
31

Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3 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
  • Replaced the Canon G11
  • Replacement is Canon G15
Panasonic S3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-5.6) lens
  • 117g - 99 x 59 x 21mm
  • Launched January 2011
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Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3 Overview

Following is a detailed review of the Canon G12 versus Panasonic S3, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Panasonic. There exists a considerable gap between the sensor resolutions of the G12 (10MP) and S3 (14MP) and the G12 (1/1.7") and S3 (1/2.3") come with different sensor measurements.

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The G12 was introduced very close to the S3 and they are of a similar age. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a thorough comparison, below is a concise summary of how the G12 grades vs the S3 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Panasonic S3

 G12 S3 
Manually focus More precise focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen sizing2.8"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.1")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic S3 over the Canon G12

 S3 G12 

Common features in the Canon G12 and Panasonic S3

 G12 S3 
LaunchedJanuary 2011January 2011Similar age
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and measurements. The Canon G12 comes with physical dimensions of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") along with a weight of 401 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Panasonic S3 has proportions of 99mm x 59mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 117 grams (0.26 lbs).

Analyze the Canon G12 versus Panasonic S3 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have at that moment. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the G12 against the S3.

Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G12 and S3 is 83 and 96 respectively.

Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3 top view buttons comparison

Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes purely by going over specifications. The picture here may provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the G12 and S3.

To sum up, each of the cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The G12 having a bigger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field less difficult and the Panasonic S3 will deliver more detail using its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a little more aggressively.

Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3 sensor size comparison

Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G12 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic S3 Portrait photography highlights
47
you can focus manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000 seconds)
includes face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
28
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon G12
Street photography with Panasonic S3
64
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than average (401 grams)
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon G12 Sports photography information
Panasonic S3 Sports photography information
34
has image stabilization (Optical)
great battery (370 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
max fps low (2.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon G12
Travel photography with Panasonic S3
60
great battery (370 per charge)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (401g)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than average in class (117 grams)
megapixel count good (14MP)
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G12 Landscape photography features
Panasonic S3 Landscape photography features
49
you can focus manually
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (2.8 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW formats
great battery (370 shots)
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have Time Lapse mode
38
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon G12
Vlogging with Panasonic S3
60
pretty wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external mic support
heavier than average (401 grams)
31
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (117g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external mic jack
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Canon G12 vs Panasonic S3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G12 and Panasonic S3
 Canon PowerShot G12Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
General Information
Make Canon Panasonic
Model type Canon PowerShot G12 Panasonic Lumix DMC-S3
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-01-19 2011-01-05
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 11
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.1-5.6
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.8 inch 2.7 inch
Resolution of display 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1600 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 2.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m 3.30 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/2000 seconds -
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 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format H.264 MPEG-4
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 401g (0.88 lbs) 117g (0.26 lbs)
Dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 99 x 59 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos 250 photos
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-7L -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $600 $110