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Canon has given its popular PowerShot series a face lift with the addition of the PowerShot G12 Digital Camera. While remaining true to many of its predecessor's features, the G12 comes busting out of the gate with what's fast becoming a standard on digital cameras: digital video (with stereo sound no less!). Shoot 1280 x 720p HD video with stereo audio using this compact, yet versatile camera. Awesome, right?
In addition to riding the video tide the G12 also stays competitive with its 10MP still image capture. Shoot RAW and JPEG files to SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards, among others, with the help of the camera's 1/1.7" CCD image sensor and DIGIC 4 image processor, otherwise referred to as Canon's HS System. The G12 additionally sports a 3200 ISO setting for excellent shooting in low light settings.
Long loved for its unobtrusive nature, the PowerShot series of cameras are excellent for the pro or amateur alike - it's no behemoth Pro DSLR, but it still manages to pack in many of the exciting and appreciated features of one. That being said, the G12's a heck of a lot easier to carry around in your bag. Some additional features pros, or anyone looking to make great photos, will appreciate include, the option for manual control, along with Canon's much celebrated Hybrid IS function which is the combination of the genuine Canon 28mm lens, 5x optical zoom, and optical image stabilization. Hybrid IS is particularly touted to make easy work of capturing stunning macro shots.
Another notable feature on the G12 is its High Dynamic Range. Based on the principle of bracketing, HDR helps you capture a well balanced image that presents both highlights and low lights (AKA: shadow) in an appealing manner - giving your images that pop factor! This function also has an aspect to it named, i-Contrast. i-Contrast lets the user determine the amount of HDR correction that's applied to the image, which can be helpful in avoiding highlight blowout and keeping details from getting lost in the shadows. Canon's Tracking AF also comes into play here by allowing the shooter to select a subject to 'track' in case of movement while shooting.
You'll be happy to hear that Canon kept its well-received Vari-Angled LCD screen as well - giving you a whole 2.8" of flip-out, multi-angled flexibility for composition and playback of all your video and still images. As a step up from the previous permutation the G12 features a number of aspect ratios, including: 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 4:5, and 16:9. Other notable features include Canon's Smart AUTO, electronic leveling, a high dynamic range, AF tracking, and a front dial - all of which are designed to help make your shooting enjoyable and successful.
In addition, a low light mode, new to the G series, lets you capture images in an astonishing range of conditions. The camera automatically adjusts the ISO speed from 3200 up to an enhanced 12800 when reacting to ambient brightness, subject movement, and camera shake
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Resolution | Effective: 10 Megapixel, Actual Pixels: 10.4 Megapixel |
| Sensor | 1/1.7" CCD |
| File Formats |
Still Images: JPEG, RAW Movies: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, MOV Audio: Linear PCM |
| Other Resolutions |
3648 x 2048 @ 16:9 3648 x 2432 @ 3:2 3648 x 2736 @ 4:3 2736 x 2736 @ 1:1 2192 x 2736 @ 4:5 |
| Aspect Ratio | 1:1, 3:2, 4:3, 4:5, 16:9 |
| Image Stabilization | Optical |
| Color Spaces | sRGB |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens |
EFL: 28-140 mm Aperture: f/2.8 (W) - 4.5 (T) |
| Zoom |
Digital: 4x Optical: 5x |
| Focus Range |
Macro: 0.4" (1.02 cm) - 1.6" (4.06 cm) Auto: 1.6" (4.06 cm) - Infinity |
| Exposure Control | |
|---|---|
| ISO Sensitivity | Auto, 80-3200 |
| Shutter | 15 - 1/4000 sec |
| Exposure Metering | Center-weighted, Evaluative, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Modes: AE Lock, Auto ISO Shift |
| White Balance Modes | Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Tungsten, Underwater |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes: Auto, FE Lock, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction |
| Effective Flash Range | 16 - 23' (487.68 - 701.04 cm) |
| External Flash Connection | Hot Shoe |
| Memory | |
|---|---|
| Memory Card Type |
SD SDHC SDXC MMC MMCplus HC MMCplus |
| Recording | |
|---|---|
| Video Recording | Yes, NTSC/PAL |
| Video | |
|---|---|
| Video Clip Length | Up to 4GB or 2 Hours |
| Audio Recording | With Video, Stereo |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder Type | Optical |
| Screen | 2.8" LCD |
| Connectivity/System Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Connectivity |
USB 2.0 Audio Out AV Output HDMI C (Mini) 1 Please Note:Audio out= stereo audio out close |
| Environmental | |
|---|---|
| Operating/Storage Temperature |
Operating 32 to 104 °F (0 to 40 °C) |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery | Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery Pack |
| AC Power Adapter | ACK-DC50 (Optional) |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 4.41 x 3 x 1.9" / 112.01 x 76.20 x 48.26 mm |
| Weight | 12.4 oz / 352 g |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Most Liked Positive Review
Excellent image quallity
I have been photographing for many years as both professional and enthusiast with Leica's, Hasselblad's and Nikon's, and I am continually amazed at the image quality from the Canon G12, even from its jpegs...Read complete review
I have been photographing for many years as both professional and enthusiast with Leica's, Hasselblad's and Nikon's, and I am continually amazed at the image quality from the Canon G12, even from its jpegs (RAW is very impressive). I typically photograph with both formats, jpg and RAW, and save times are typically three seconds at most--not inconvenient but not instant either. Startup is very fast with the G12, AF is accurate, and the close-up capabilities are crisply impressive at wide-angle. Lens flare is virtually non-existent, image contrast is very high, sharpness is excellent, noise is extremely well controlled, and chromatic aberrations are hard to find (and easily corrected with software). I'd previously owned a G9, which was notable, but the G12 blows it away. I've also owned the Panasonic ZS7, which the G12 leaves in the dust, and own an Olympus E-P2, which G12 images compare favorably with although not as detailed. Even when printing at 13 x 18 inches the G12 results are surprisingly nuanced and detailed with little or no noise (ISO 80-200). Needless to say, I'm very happy with the results. I think it's Canon best G series to date.MOVIES: AF (continuous), AE Lock, and Exposure Compensation ARE NOT AVAILABLE in movie mode! In other words whichever focus point you began with when you started shooting is exactly where the camera will remain for the remainder of that video. No, you can't begin with a close-up and then shift to focus on something far. The AF won't work. Which is dumb. A huge disappointment from Canon for those interested in video! I hope they fix this with a firmware update.SOFTWARE: The included Canon Digital Photo Professional software does a great job of converting RAW files into 16-bit or 8-bit Tiff, including manipulating the parameters for Unsharp Mask, and notates the RAW file so that your settings can be recalled when re-opened. It also lets you adjust White Balance, Contrast, Tone Curve, Saturation, Sharpness, Noise, Crop, etc. While it doesn't have the finesse of controls in Adobe Camera Raw (Adobe Bridge) it does a very good job, including Batch processing. HANDLING: I found the handling and heft of the Canon G12 to be very comfortable, especially in using the swivel-tilt LCD screen (which is very sharp, by the way). The knurled ring on the front just below the shutter/zoom button (which allows you to adjust shutter speed of aperture, depending on Mode) is very useful, although I times I found it too easy to mistake it for the zoom control.Infrequently I found myself wishing that the zoom range was a bit longer, perhaps 28 to 200mm. But realistically I think Canon's decision to limit the zoom range to 28-140mm (more than enough for most situations) is probably one of the factors that makes the lens such an outstanding performer. The Canon G12 is a great little camera that tries to compete with Micro Four Thirds and blows point-and-shoots out of the water.
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Most Liked Negative Review
Nice camera, but a little overpriced
Overall, I think the G12 is a nice camera. My last Canon G-Series was a G2, which I really liked. Since the G2, I've mainly use Panasonic FZ series digital compacts, because ...Read complete review
Overall, I think the G12 is a nice camera. My last Canon G-Series was a G2, which I really liked. Since the G2, I've mainly use Panasonic FZ series digital compacts, because of the high-quality Leica lenses, the zoom range, the ability to achieve focus quickly, and the intuitive controls. I made the switch to the G12 because I wanted better quality from high-ISO images, decent manual controls, and the capability to take HD movies. The good… The camera produces very nice images that I have no doubt will allow printing up to 12"x18" at near the quality of my D300. The images at ISO 100 and 200 are very clean, and ISO 400 is completely usable. The lens has a little bit of distortion (mainly at the wide end), but it is very sharp. Also, the zoom range is fairly decent. The camera feels nice in-hand, and has all of the main controls very accessible.The bad… My main gripe has to do with the build quality and the price. The build quality is definitely nice, but it doesn't feel as nice as what a [$] compact should provide. It really should have an all metal body in this price range (only the front plate is metal). Also, some of the dials feel a little cheap. The other gripe has to do with the controls. As you adjust aperture/shutter speed/ISO/etc., the camera feels a bit sluggish to respond. It's not as fast as my 2 year old Panasonic. It's also not a speed demon when it comes to focusing. It takes about ½ to 1 sec to focus in good light. It's not bad, but I was hoping for closer to DSLR-speed for a high-end compact camera in the $500 price range. The battery charge indicator isn't very useful – it goes from full charge (three bars) to dead in about 10 minutes of actual use. However, this syndrome is pretty common with digital compacts. The tripod hole is not centered with lens axis. Lastly, the optical finder is almost useless.Sorry, no ugly… it's a good looking camera with very intuitive controls.Because of the build quality and the sluggish controls, I'm left just a bit disappointed. I would probably be satisfied had I only paid $400 for this camera. Despite this, I will still enjoy the nice images that can be produced using this camera.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
I use the G12 to document appraisals of personal property. Often I am forced to photograph items at close range, in low light conditions, and where a large depth of field is required. The camera excels at it. As an unexpected bonus, the lens is listed as a choice in Lightroom 3's lens correction feature. I use that feature to remove the "pincushion effect" that comes from photographing rectilinear objects, close-up, with a wide angle lens -- automatically. The controls are very intuitive, and I was able to master my applications in a couple of hours.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
I am an amateur photographer and I shoot photos of everything from my kids to work things. I am in the visual arts and I recently took the camera with me to a convention. It did the job and then some! It is heavier than my Panasonic Lumix point and shoot cameras [which I love as well] but it was worth carrying that weight around. The end results were more than satisfying.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
i love the idea that the camera is sleek and compact.the zoom system is great and the images are of high super quality. i was looking for a highly professional camera without spending too much and your kind staff were so helpful in helping me pick and choose the exact one!i came all the way from London to B & H!!
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
Awesome picture clarity and image quality. Continuous shoot mode is very fast for a point and shoot camera. I like the no slip coating on the camera. Great HD video.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
Our daughter was convinced that she needed a bigger, more expensive camera with different lenses, etc. She could not have been more surprised by the high resolution and photo quality with the portability of the popular point and shoots. Bigger, more expensive cameras cannot compete with this camera, which gets taken everywhere. And isnt that the point?
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
I was surprised by the high quality of the photo this portable camera took. There is a lot of manual functions help me to achieve the DSLR can do. The size is little bigger than small pokcet camera. The video is OK and there is no autofocus during zooming.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
I have a Nikon digital SLR, but the Canon G12 is what I carry in my purse all the time. I had Canon's Powershot 630A and liked that, too, until it finally gave out. I'd been looking at the G12 and promising myself that if I needed to replace the 630A, I'd buy it, but then I talked myself into buying the more compact s100. After a brief period, I traded it in for the G12. The G12 is one of the larger point-and-shoots but that's mainly because it has two features I love: an optical viewfinder and an articulated monitor. For me, there's no contest. It's well worth the larger size. Furthermore, the controls are beautifully placed and easy to use and the pictures are crisp and clear with beautiful color.
The one thing I miss (compared to an SLR) is that in Aperture or Shutter priority modes, you don't see the shutter speed (if you're in Av mode) or the aperture (if you're in Tv mode) that the camera has chosen. I hope Canon can correct that in the next iteration.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
I've been taking photo's for over fourty years; my first camera was a Yashica Mat 124G. I've bought and sold many cameras, worked retail photographic and worked in labs as a printer on Fuji gear.
I wanted a camera to upgrade from a second hand G6 Canon and waited till the G12 came out to have the vario screen and other goodies Canon put back.
If you want a camera to grab that shot you just have to shoot, if you're over spec's and specs and want a good all rounder (and don't expect a video camera thrown in)then I'd grab a G12.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
Very very profesional pictures.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
I have a Canon 7d and a G11. They both serve me well. The G11 is fine but old and I wanted to migrate to a newer compact. I chose the G12 since my battery packs, underwater rig, case, and other accessories would easily fit the new G12. I had considered the new G1X but there are a few things that held me back none of my current accessories would fit, the unit is not good at all for closeups, the price (almost twice) and its the first of its kind (I had a 10d and had a few glitches). There is nothing wrong with a G1X it just does not fit my needs. So with that said the G12 was easy, no learning curve, same great quality, and the minor improvements that I needed from my G11. And yes I am a CANON fan !
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
More complex to use
Less telefoto capability
5x vs 6x on G9
cover over the viewing screen is only good improvement
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
A high quality camera, easy to use, light to carry and delivers great pictures
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
Simple to use but versatile enough to shoot great photography
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
Although I wouldn't use this camera as I would a Mark II - as some claim you can - I do think it's a spectacular camera for a family or photographer that wants to take pictures while on the run without using their phone!
I never leave my house without my G12.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
I like to do street photography and I like to have a camera with me at all times. And, if I go through the trouble of pointing at something, I like to have a quality image. This G12 fits my needs very well.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
Point and shoot street camera
Light weight travel camera
Great Battery Life
I like all the manual overide options for control of image.
I own a G10 (prior version) and use it daily for documentation at work so I wanted a new travel camera and looked no farther than the Canon PowerShot G12
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
Super nice camera. easy to use on manual and great to work with external flashes.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
I like how this camera "feels" in my hand.
The screen is large and I love the way the dial scrolls through the pictures like a slide show.
I have been able to figure out the basics of this camera fairly quickly and haven't needed the handbook to navigate around the features yet.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
I bought this to upgrade a point and shoot camera that I use for vacations. The optical viewfinder is the primary reason I chose it since this makes it easy to use in bright sunlight. I discovered this is an even more sophisticated camera than I expected and is a great choice for a compacet camera that will fit in a pocket and yet give superlative images with very sophisticated imaging handling software in the camera.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera:
This product was recomended to me as one of the best digital cameras, and as far as can use it, it has worth every dollar I payed.
I strongly recomend it, not only for begginers as me, but for profesionals, due to its small size and great versatility
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