The world has changed, and now Olympus, Panasonic, Sony or Samsung models with large sensors and interchangeable optics are sometimes even lighter and smaller than premium superpacs. Canon hasn’t noticed it yet, and instead of a system mini-camera, they’ve released an updated PowerShot G12. It turns out it still makes sense and can still compete for a place in your pocket.
10MP 28-140mm 5 x 2.8″ $670
Canon is completely ignoring the fact that a new segment of “system” cameras without a mirror – the cameras equipped with large sensors and interchangeable optics, but compact enough to fit into a pocket.
With the newfangled inventions Canon expects to fight the old way with a powerful premium compact PowerShot G12 without interchangeable optics and a large sensor, but advanced enough to compete for the attention and pockets of experienced and demanding amateur photographers. A strange idea, but not without merit.
Serious photographers are seldom greedy for colorful words and promises and in cameras they value not so much special qualitative characteristics as ergonomics and operability of control.
After all, it’s these factors that determine the chance of getting the right shot at the right time, no matter how good it is.
You should also admit that although interchangeable optics is considered one of the main advantages of system cameras, statistically very few amateur photographers actually bother to buy additional lenses, and most easily removes with the simplest “kit” zoom.
In essence, the PowerShot G12 dispenses with any superfluous illusions and is in no way inferior to the competition.
Made with the technology of the production “DSLR” optics Canon EF lens covers a range from 28 to 140 mm at apertures from F2.8, is able to focus from a distance of 1 cm and is equipped with an advanced stabilization system that effectively extends the range of “safe” shutter speeds and apertures by about four steps and, thanks to special algorithms of drift compensation, helps you to capture close-up.
A priori the G12 beats if not any, then at least many “non-smooth” so far such does not yet produce a Canon on the control: a long track record of the company in the field of interface is priceless, not for nothing are chosen almost all professional photographers.
“The G12 adds a dedicated click wheel on the side of the handgrip like many DSLRs in fact, it’s almost identical to the previous G11, but with a few changes . Separate degree of freedom and comfort is given by the 461K tiltable pivoting display. points at 2.8 inches.
A 10-megapixel 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor and the high-performance Digic 4 processor are responsible for the photos. Together they provide a decent shooting quality at sensitivities up to 3200 ISO also available up to 12 800 units, but with a disproportionate drop in quality , some trendy photo processing functions like “smart” contrast correction and automatic creation of HDR-images from several pictures.
But they don’t deliver the high speeds expected: with autofocus on and no flash, the camera spends more than a second per frame in a series. Similarly, the G12’s video mode promises only the standard 720p at 24 frames per second.
Debatable situation with sensor size as a key quality indicator. On the one hand, the G12’s sensor is noticeably larger than the tiny sensors of conventional compacts, and of course, this camera offers much better quality than most compact competitors can deliver.
On the other hand Four Thirds sensors, not to mention standard APS-C, are much bigger than compact ones and unfortunately the G12 cannot compete with them.
The camera is powered by a lithium-ion battery with enough energy for three and a half hundred pictures.
All this combined with the classically minimalist design means the G12 can keep up with the latest non-smear cameras and even surpass them in some respects.
All of this, of course, allows the G12 to confidently compete with any compact cameras, and the high price in its class only reflects the real position of the camera against the competition.
But with non-mirror cameras the situation is much more complicated. The G12 isn’t small enough to claim any particular advantage in terms of compactness.
The only serious cause for doubt is not the optics and especially not the functionality of the G12 but the size of the sensor installed. Technology still hasn’t beaten physics, and the 1/1.7 inch form factor is inferior to the four-thirds standard, much less APS-C.
While it is a very good camera, it doesn’t shoot well enough to seriously compare it to compact system cameras. And it’s not affordable enough to firmly occupy the niche between mirrorless and traditional compacts.
it is quite possible to buy this camera and it is very unlikely that you will have anything to complain about after you have done so. But if you’re going to go for compact quality, you should also pay attention to really compact cameras like the relative S95, for example.
If you don’t mind some of the subtleties of the image quality or you don’t notice them which, by the way, is absolutely normal , the G12 should definitely be considered a very promising camera. If you notice – it looks like you’re reading reviews of the wrong class of camera.
Is the lack of interchangeable optics or a large sensor in the Canon PowerShot G12 compact camera a major drawback, or does it still deliver impressive image quality and performance despite these limitations?
Is the Canon PowerShot G12 capable of delivering high-quality images and accommodating versatile shooting scenarios, despite its limitation of fixed optics and smaller sensor size?
What are the key features and benefits of the Canon PowerShot G12 that make it stand out as a premium compact camera, considering it lacks interchangeable optics and a large sensor?
Is the lack of interchangeable optics and a large sensor in the Canon PowerShot G12 compact camera a significant drawback for someone looking for a high-quality compact camera option?
For someone seeking a high-quality compact camera option, the lack of interchangeable optics and a large sensor in the Canon PowerShot G12 could be considered a drawback. Interchangeable optics allow for more versatility in capturing different types of shots, while a larger sensor typically means better image quality, especially in low light conditions. However, the G12 still offers excellent image quality, manual controls, and a variety of shooting modes, making it a solid choice for those who prioritize portability and ease of use over interchangeable lenses and sensor size. Ultimately, it depends on the individual’s specific needs and priorities in a compact camera.