Canon G12
- 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
- Succeeded the Canon G11
- Renewed by Canon G15
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
83 Imaging
34 Features
50 Overall
40
Canon G12 summary
Canon G12 is Canon's Small Sensor Compact digital camera initially announced on January of 2011. It uses a 10 MegaPixel, CCD 1/1.7" sized sensor and has a max resolution of 3648 x 2736.
Canon launched this model in an effort to update the previous Canon G11 (Read Full Comparison) & then introduced the fresher Canon G15 (Read Full Comparison) in order to replace this camera.
The G12 ranks at #34 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras & over all #706 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should try our Smart camera finder to find camera listings based on your custom criteria.
Below is a chart of specific factors used in the rating system.
Canon G12 history
The Canon G12 has a history of related digital cameras. Underneath, you can check out all older and latest models as well as important specifications.
F2.8-4.510MP1/1.7"2011
Canon G12 Gallery
You can see the G12 from several angles in the gallery here.
Canon G12 Pros and Cons
Below is a list of advantages and drawbacks of the Canon G12 based on aspects that are normally considered crucial in a digital camera.
Canon G12 Sensor specifications
The Canon G12 is powered by the Digic 4 processor chip. The measurement of the sensor in the Canon G12 is 7.44mm x 5.58mm (1/1.7"). The 42 mm² sensor has the ability to capture 3648 x 2736 pixels at aspect ratios of 1:1, 5:4, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9. The camera features Image Stabilization (Optical). Optical stabilization is better than digital stabilization as the latter might produce cropping.
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music videoThe CCD sensor has 10 megapixels and supports a standard ISO range of 80 - 3200. RAW format is supported which means that you have wider margin for error.
The picture below displays the G12's sensor dimensions when compared to other popular sizes. The G12 sensor has a crop factor of 4.8 and is pointed out in green.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneTo get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.
Canon G12 dimensions
Canon G12 has a weight of 0.88 lb (401 grams or 14.14 ounces) & has external size of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Canon G12 is heavier compared with its rivals.
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next monthBelow is a visual of the Canon G12 alongside a soft drink to help you get a feel for its scale.
The top view here will show the button arrangement on the G12.
Canon G12 Lens specifications
The G12 houses a fixed lens and a focal range of 28-140mm giving it a 5.0 x zoom which isn't really great but it is likely to be valuable in a few circumstances.
At the widest 28mm, the lens features an aperture of f2.8 making it rather slow and not the best for low light conditions and you might find it difficult to get good bokeh. You will also need to up the ISO which results in noisy shots. Towards the tele end, 140mm comes with f4.5 making it pretty sluggish and you would need to set slower shutter speeds.
Canon G12 Connectivity
The G12 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
- Wireless Yes
- HDMI Yes
Digital cameras that come with NFC and Bluetooth connectivity are able to be used wirelessly via smartphones. You will be able to send images and oftentimes alter camera settings without the hassle of connecting straight to the camera.
Several applications even allow a Liveview and hit the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera boasts a HDMI port, it can easily be attached to an external display. Nearly all cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack with the USB port.
Canon G12 Video specifications
The max video resolution in the Canon G12 is 1280 x 720 and you can capture in H.264 file format. 720p is terrible for today's standards. You should aim for a minimum FUll HD resolution for video. The camera does not have a microphone and headphone port which means you get no control over the sound. It is probably best to buy a different camera in case you require better sound for your videos.
Canon G12 Weather Sealing
There is no environment proofing in the Canon G12 so you need to be careful in rainy or dusty situations.
Canon G12 Screen and Viewfinder
The Canon G12 houses a 2.8" fully articulated screen boasting a resolution of 461k dots.
It includes a selfie friendly screen for self portraits as well as group shots when required. Unfortunately the screen isn't a touch screen.
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created ImagesThe View Finder specifications for Canon G12 are the following:
- ViewFinder Optical (tunnel)
For bright outdoor situations which make the camera displays washed out and hard to see, viewfinders are quite valuable.
Canon G12 Shutter specifications
Canon G12 has the ability to shoot continuously at 1.0 frames/s. The max shutter speed is 1/4000s.
Canon G12 Flash and Hot shoe specifications
Canon G12 features both integrated flash along with external flash support. The highest flash sync speed is 1/2000s.
Canon G12 Autofocusing specifications
Canon G12 features just Contrast Based AF & lacks Phase Detect AF. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot snappier and precise compared with Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera boasts Face detection which can be valuable for taking portraits of people.
It boasts 9 focus points to select from. Canon G12 includes manual focusing when needed in low light scenarios or you require more precise control on focusing.
Canon G12 Battery life
The battery pack (NB-7L) in the Canon G12 is fashioned to last for 370 shutters according to the CIPA standards making it above the usual in comparison to its category. The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 offers the maximum (470) battery life in this group of cameras.
Here is a number of Small Sensor Compact cameras with the best battery life:
Canon G12 for varying types of photography
The following bar chart provides a outline of the Canon G12 for varying types of photography. To read more, visit the specific paragraph below.
Canon G12 as a Portrait photography camera
The Canon G12 receives a points tally of 47 which is modest, meaning that it is somewhat suitable to use for portrait images. Photographing portrait images favors heavily to sensor size, RAW support together with the ability to utilize external lighting.
Canon G12 Street photography details
Coming in at a nice points total of 64, the Canon G12 is a respectable option for street photography. A very good street photography camera provides a fine balance of image quality and portability.
Canon G12 Sports photography information
A terrible sports photography points total of 33 suggests the Canon G12 is simply not acceptable for shooting sports. A camera needs very good tracking and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.
Canon G12 Travel photography factors
Size is super critical when picking a camera for travel. Overall, the Canon G12 gets a decent 60 as a travelling camera which is relatively acceptable for your vacations.
Canon G12 Landscape photography highlights
When you're planning to pick a camera for landscape photography, the most vital aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Canon G12 and it's average rating of 49 for a landscape camera is relatively suited among its competition.
Vlogging with Canon G12
A camera for vlogging should offer a moving display screen, microphone input and preferably image stabilization. Considering everything, the Canon G12 is relatively acceptable as a vlog camera as it gets a reasonable rating of 60.
Canon G12 Alternatives
If you are interested in replacements to the G12, below is a list of the highest ranked cameras that fall in to the family of Small Sensor Compact.
The diagram listed below provides you a summary of the G12 versus it's top ranking rivals shown earlier.
These are some more cameras you may look into as alternate options. To review a comprehensive comparison, visit the "compare" link.