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Canon G12 vs Sony W690

Portability
83
Imaging
34
Features
50
Overall
40
Canon PowerShot G12 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690 front
Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Canon G12 vs Sony W690 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
  • Revealed January 2011
  • Old Model is Canon G11
  • Newer Model is Canon G15
Sony W690
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 142g - 94 x 56 x 22mm
  • Released February 2012
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Canon G12 vs Sony W690 Overview

Its time to look a little more in depth at the Canon G12 and Sony W690, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Canon and Sony. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the G12 (10MP) and W690 (16MP) and the G12 (1/1.7") and W690 (1/2.3") come with different sensor sizing.

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The G12 was manufactured 13 months earlier than the W690 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going through a complete comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the G12 scores vs the W690 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon G12 over the Sony W690

 G12 W690 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Sony W690 over the Canon G12

 W690 G12 
ReleasedFebruary 2012January 2011Fresher by 13 months
Display sizing3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Canon G12 and Sony W690

 G12 W690 
Touch display No Touch display

Canon G12 vs Sony W690 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Canon G12 provides physical dimensions of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") and a weight of 401 grams (0.88 lbs) whilst the Sony W690 has sizing of 94mm x 56mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 142 grams (0.31 lbs).

Check out the Canon G12 and Sony W690 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that moment. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the G12 and the W690.

Canon G12 vs Sony W690 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the G12 and W690 is 83 and 95 respectively.

Canon G12 vs Sony W690 top view buttons comparison

Canon G12 vs Sony W690 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is tough to imagine the gap in sensor sizing just by looking through technical specs. The graphic underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the G12 and W690.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The G12 due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting bokeh easier and the Sony W690 will render extra detail due to its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also allow you to crop photos a little more aggressively. The older G12 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Canon G12 vs Sony W690 sensor size comparison

Canon G12 vs Sony W690 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G12 vs Sony W690 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G12 Portrait photography factors
Sony W690 Portrait photography factors
47
focusing manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW files
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
34
resolution is good (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon G12 Street photography info
Sony W690 Street photography info
64
fully articulated screen
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
heavier than competitors in class (401g)
57
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon G12
Sports photography with Sony W690
33
image stabilization (Optical)
great battery power (370 CIPA)
low fps (1.0 fps)
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G12 Travel photography information
Sony W690 Travel photography information
60
great battery power (370 shots)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
relatively wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors in class (401g)
low resolution (10MP)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon G12
Landscape photography with Sony W690
49
focusing manually
relatively wide (28mm)
nice screen size (2.8 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
exports RAW files
great battery power (370 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/1.7")
no Time Lapse function
43
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
manual mode not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon G12 Vlogging information
Sony W690 Vlogging information
60
relatively wide (28mm)
display is selfie friendly
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no external mic socket
heavier than competitors in class (401g)
31
fairly wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.3)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
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Canon G12 vs Sony W690 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G12 and Sony W690
 Canon PowerShot G12Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
General Information
Company Canon Sony
Model Canon PowerShot G12 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W690
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2011-01-19 2012-02-28
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 BIONZ
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 10MP 16MP
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 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 3200 3200
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Display size 2.8 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - ClearPhoto TFT LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 7.00 m 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
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)
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 lb) 142 gr (0.31 lb)
Dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 94 x 56 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9")
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 photographs 220 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-7L NP-BN
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HC MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $600 $297