Considering the leap that was made between the G10 and the G11, both with regards to specification and design tweaks, it would be easy to be disappointed with a perceived lack of evolution between the G11 and the G12. However, the Canon Powershot G11 was a fantastic camera and the Canon G12 has simply added to it in certain areas, and as such it hasn’t become a bad camera overnight. Expect to see some big changes with the next G series model, however.
Performance
Canon PowerShot G12 review – Performance
As observed on previous models in the G series, the start up
time isn’t the quickest with the G12, although the compact is ready for shooting within a matter of seconds. Once shooting, waiting isn’t an issue either – the G12 clearly packs quite a punch under the hood as it manages to process Raw and JPEG capture in no time at all (the same cannot be said for some of the G12’s competitors).
Auto focus on the G12 is also refreshingly prompt and accurate. The model snaps to focus in no time at all, while the addition of a fast and accurate Tracking AF system is also welcome. Add to this an easy-to-use manual focus system and the result is a fairly complete configuration.
While the G12’s LCD doesn’t have the highest resolution on the market, it still succeeds in displaying accurate tone and detail in both composition and review. While the vari-angle element may not be to everyone’s liking, there’s no doubt that at certain times it will come in handy for almost all photographers.
One of the standout benefits of the G12 is just how easy it is to get the results that you want. The control layout is very well thought through, and the addition of the front control wheel only serves to enhance this. One gripe would possibly be that the rear control wheel sits a touch too close to the camera’s vari-angle LCD screen, although this is a problem solved by simply pulling the screen from the camera’s body. All in all, the combination of an intuitive menu system and first-class control layout make the
G12 a joy to use.
Score
Score in detail
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Features 90
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Image Quality 95
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Design 95
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Performance 90
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Value 90