Canon G12 10 MP Digital Camera with 5x Optical Image Stabilized Zoom and 2.8 Inch Vari-Angle LCD

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As Im an old film guy who has resisted digital photography almost as much as dentist visits, Ive really avoided making the jump. Of course, Ive had a few small point and shoot cameras for quick snapshots. But recently, Ive found it necessary to get a camera with more capabilities and quality. Id love to have a higher-end DSLR, but flying these days really doesnt lend itself to lugging a big camera bag with a couple of lenses, flash, etc. I gripe just taking my shoes off at the security checkpoint. And I am avoiding paying checked bag fees as much as I possibly can! Last April, I finally decided to get something a bit nicer, and after weeks of searching through review after review, I finally settled on a Fuji HS10. At first, I loved that camera. Then, I discovered that particular unit was eating batteries with the voracity of John Pinette at a Vegas buffet. So, back it went. And I waited and continued to research. Then, along comes Canon with this G12. Remember, Im an old film guy, so I like some controls. But after 5 minutes playing with this camera, I was most impressed. Startup - its ready to go in a flash. Focus - spot on for 99% of the photos Ive shot (nothings perfect), and that 1% I can peg on me for focus issues. Low light? Simply amazing! This cameras ability to compensate for low light is borderline spooky. Combined with the lens image stabilization, Ive taken shots that would have required a tripod, cable release, and good old-fashioned luck with a film camera. Sports mode is very good. While the rapid-fire shots arent blazing fast, they are sharp, clean, and quick to save. In fact, the camera is fast with saves in most every mode Ive tried. And speaking of modes, I discovered one that Ive fallen in love with - Nostalgia mode. With a quick click of the front-mounted scroll-wheel, one can age a photo making it appear a bit washed out and grainy. For artistic shots, this mode just made me feel like I was working darkroom magic without the darkroom! Some folks have complained that its too big for a pocket. I didnt really have any issues with that. In fact, I think that for everything this camera can do, its size is one of the biggest selling points. I just returned from a quick trip to Jamaica where I took all sorts of shots. The ones that got the most compliments were the low-light shots. And everyone that asked and showed this camera were amazed at what it was able to do. As I mentioned - Im incredibly impressed with this camera.

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Hello, I am a part-time fine art photographer and my favorite subjects are landscapes, flowers, classic European architecture, travel, visual arts and crafts. I work with two DSLR systems but like to have with me a compact camera at all times for any eventuality. Depth of field, composition and sharpness are typically more important to me than very fast focusing and shooting (I work mostly in Av mode) but sometimes I need my equipment to be responsive enough to capture travels fleeting moments. I have recently replaced my award-winning compact Fuji E900 with a Canon G12. Living not far from B&H in Manhattan, I had the chance to "play" with it and the other two cameras I was considering - the Nikon P7000 and the Panasonic LX5 with its external EVF - before buying. After putting the camera through its paces for a couple of weeks with my kind of photography I have come to the following conclusions. The G12 is an advanced compact camera larger than your average pocketable but smaller than a micro 4/3" or similar. It does not fit in a shirt pocket but it does it in a regular pouch together with your wallet, cell phone etc. (I never use photo bags to avoid advertising the equipment). The fact that it has some size and weight makes it more stable in my hands and allows for its numerous external controls. The cameras key features include a larger than average 1/1.7" 10Mp sensor with superior image quality in low light and higher ISO values, a sharp 28-140mm zoom lens, an optical viewfinder, a fully articulated LCD monitor, many dedicated external controls, manual exposure, Raw format, good responsiveness, reasonably fast autofocus even in low light, and a powerful flash. Beginning with the G11, Canon has dared bringing down the resolution of its G series sensors from 14Mp to 10Mp, which is more than enough for most users. This gutsy move has significantly reduced high ISO noise. I can make enlargements around 16x20" from the G12 with ISO 800 pics in good light and ISO400 in low light (in Raw format and proper processing in Camera Raw). The 5x zoom lens, even if not particularly bright, extends from a very useful 28mm wide angle to a 140mm short telephoto. This conservative zoom range covers most of my typical photography, keeps the lens sharp through every focal length and reduces distortions and aberrations. Some kinds of photography can be done with inexpensive equipment but true wide angle and telephoto work requires high quality, expensive equipment and solid technique (if you are serious about your photography stay away from superzoom cameras). The zoom control is a bit on the sensitive side. Composing with an LCD monitor is sometimes useful but generally awkward and unstable, does not help you concentrate on your subject, and is downright impossible in bright light. The G12 offers an optical viewfinder which, while small and covering only 77% of the image, is often a life saver. When I worked with slide film I strove for a final crop in-camera. Then I moved to digital and learned the creative advantage of shooting wider and doing final cropping in processing. Hence the 77% viewfinder coverage is not an issue for me, I just shoot very tight. The camera has a sharp 2.8", 461Kp fully articulated LCD monitor hinged on the side (so that it is never in the way of the tripod head). There are specific shooting conditions where a monitor like this is useful. This includes shooting over peoples heads, at ground level and wherever your arms can reach but your head cant. I do macro in the field where this feature is invaluable. A few days ago I photographed the always crowded New York Botanical Garden train show and used the LCD monitor for most of my pictures. With the camera in P mode and forced flash I got many publication-quality pics. I like the cameras external controls a lot, especially the top and front dials. I am less enthused with the back dial which is a little awkward to operate. I have to be careful with my right hand because sometimes I touch the four-way controller, especially the manual focus button. The menu system is more modern and fancier than my Pentax and Olympus cameras but it is a bit slower. The same holds true for the autofocus which is however quite fast and accurate in low light due to the focus assist lamp. In the end, the G12 is overall much faster than the "mythical" EVF cameras I owned in the past, including the Olympus C8080 and the Fuji S9100 which took ten seconds or more to write a Raw pic to memory (the G12 does it in two seconds). Continuous shooting is up to 2fps in best possible conditions (jpeg and fixed focus and exposure) and drops to 0.8fps with continuous focus. All the manual controls are there. The camera can shoot Raw and, my favorite, Raw + jpeg. I do all my main work in Raw but having jpegs readily available for the web and for portability is a real treat (you can check or show your jpegs with every computer). The flash is quite powerful reaching 21 at wide angle in P mode. Using the camera in automatic is as simple as it gets but learning its functions serves two purposes: it allows you to get out of trouble if you press the wrong button, and to use all that the camera can offer to the creative photographer. If all you want is a point-and-shoot, there is plenty of smaller, simpler and/or less expensive models out there. The camera offers a cornucopia of operating functions. I particularly value the live histogram before and after shooting, enlarged playback for checking focus, auto exposure bracketing up to +-2 f/stops (for out-of-camera HDR applications), spot autofocus and custom white balance. In jpeg format, I appreciate the Shadow Correct more than the Dynamic Range Correction because it does not crank up the ISO setting (= more noise). I prefer to process my Raw HDR pictures in Photoshop but I am impressed with the effectiveness of the in-camera HDR function (jpeg only). It requires the use of a tripod because the G12 cannot fine-align the three pictures it takes but with this camera you can use the lightest carbon fiber tripod on the market. Macro photography is all right with the usual limitations: the maximum magnification happens at wide angle which puts the front of the lens very close to the subject (= lighting problems). Focus bracketing is limited by the fact that is does not work in macro. It would be a killer macro feature when paired with Photoshops extended focus function. The G12 has an exhaustive set of accessories including an AC adapter, remote release and a ring flash (there are compatible ring flash units that cost a fraction of the Canons). The lack of a printed manual is disappointing. I immediately printed my own from the enclosed CD. I almost always work in Av mode with the autofocus set on center spot and locking, and unlocked exposure. With static subjects I like to pick my focus where I want it by pressing the shutter button half way, recompose (with the exposure continuously updating) and take the picture. With the G12 I have to pick the exposure first and lock it with the star button (top right in the back), then half press the shutter button to pick the focus point, recompose again and shoot (it takes much longer to explain it than do it). Please correct me if there is a better way to do this. In jpeg and Quick Shot mode the camera is at its fastest. The LCD monitor turns into an info screen similar to a DSLR camera, autofocus is set to continuous and you compose with the optical viewfinder. The G12 takes movies at 720p at 24fps or lower resolutions at 30fps with stereo sound but without manual controls or optical zoom. I tried and it works as intended (but I use a camcorder for video). As for the competition, the Nikon 7000 is a great camera but independent testing indicates that it is unresponsive and can be frustrating to operate. The Panasonic LX5 is also very good but has no optical viewfinder. I would have to buy and use the external electronic viewfinder which I dont like and makes the whole setup somewhat awkward. In conclusion, I find working with this camera in all the situations that do not require high speed or low light performance to be truly enjoyable. With all the limitations inherent in a compact camera, the G12 is a truly remarkable piece of photographic equipment. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to professional photographers as a go-everywhere camera as well as to serious amateurs who really want to learn the art and dont mind reading the manual. ONE YEAR LATER: after four seasons of not heavy but regular use, I would not replace the G12 with any other comparable camera on the market. There are several points that I would like to make. Shooting coastline landscapes, I have grown a real appreciation for the 16:9 format. With the LCD open to the side and facing down, I am able to lift the camera well over my head and, in specific cases, gain a crucial, higher point of view. While I am a Raw + Photoshop kind of photographer, I am always mystified by the quality of the cameras jpeg HDR function (using a very light tripod). I am also an adult educator and the pictures of my students in the classroom that I take with the flash are really good. The major sacrifice imposed by the size of this camera is the lack of an EVF. The LCD monitor is OK in low light but in the sun you can kiss it goodbye. With all its limitations, its the optical viewfinder that ends up saving the day.

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I have had this Camera for a few weeks and want to share my findings in this review. I shoot with Canon DSLRs like the 50D and 5D MkII and needed something pocketable with enough manual control plus a lot of electronic wizardy when I didnt have time to set up a shot. This camera fills all those needs. 1. Easy to carry in a coat pocket and very light compared to any interchangeable lens camera 2. Excellent Image Quality (IQ)at ISO 80, 100 and 200, reasonable upto even 800 for small prints 3. Seems quite well built, and has reasonable control through 5 dials (total) on the outside. 4. Much more depth of field (DOF)than an APS-C of Full Frame sensor, this helps tremendously for just about everything other than artsy portraits where shallow DOF may be desirable. Great for Macros, Landscape etc. where it is a struggle with larger sensors to get the right DOF. 5. Fast startup time, and response to inputs. 6. JPegs are very very good compared to the time and effort to process RAW files and get just a little more of anything, at all, as compared to high end DSLRs where the opposite is true. 7. 720p HD movies. You cant change focus during recording, but this isnt a movie camera, get a dedicated one if you are really wanting to shoot movies, but in a pinch, this works for landscapes and anything else where you arent focussing a moving objects and looking for a shallow DOF. Even DSLRs like Sonys A55 etc make compromises in order to get focussing when shooting movies. 8. Someone here critized the frame rate/speed of this camera. Well, it is only 1 frame per second slower than a 5D MKII that costs 5 times as much without a lens! I would never use this to shoot sports or birds in flight, no kidding. 9. The movable LCD screen is a real plus, lots and lots of uses for this, and flipping it over protects the screen, a big plus. 10. F2.8 lens, instead of a faster lens. I would take a better quality F2.8, (still a fast lens, fast enough for Pros) than a much larger F2.0 lens, if it lowers Image Quality in any way. At ISO 100, the portrait detail is almost as good as a DSLR and lens costing atleast twice as much, if not much, much more. 11. The Hybrid IS is great, have not had a single Out of Focus shot, even a slow as 1/15th of a second, and Im old! 12. Im adding a 270EX flash for more range and to save the camers batteries. Very cute pair. 13. Im getting the FA(?) lens filter attachment, so I can use a polarizer filter, and so I can put on a lens cap to protect the filter. This moves in and out with the lens and avoids vignetting, and will be great in protecting the lens with a replaceable filter and keeping the lens free of dust. Very few negatives, since you really should not be comparing this to a DSLR. If you must have a DSLR, get a Canon XS for about the same money, which then has its own limitations. Is this a pro camera? NO. Its a great back up camera for a pro, who wants to travel light and stealthy, and get 80% of the shots. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Update after 4 weeks of extensive use: Like: 1. Very fast response and great handling 2. Shot about 8 GB (~600 pics +25 short video clips), and only less than 10 pictures and 1 video were out of focus. 3. The Canon FA-DC58B filter adapter held up well,and kept dust away from the lens. Used polarizers effectively with no vignetting. 4. The Lowepro 100 AW soft case worked well with the camera + lens adapter, and I was able to keep an 8GB card, spare battery and filter in a small, weather tight unobtrusive package that didnt invite unwanted attention, like a SLR would when travelling and with customs. 5. Once I got used to switching modes, flash on-off, video to pictures, low-light mode, all in a jiffy, I was really getting a lot of great shots and videos. I doubt if I would have been able to do all this with my DSLR without an assistant! 6. The low light mode with IS is incredible. The noise is easily removed with software like Topaz Denoise, and the end results are good enough for the web and small prints. Dislike: 1. Not much, other than keep your fingers away from the flash, and thats user error! All in all, unless I needed the highest quality for landscapes of studio work, this camera does the trick, with a lot less stress!

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I purchased this used Canon G12 5X zoom camera to replace my similar Canon G11 which experienced a failure in the lens retract and focusing mechanism which could not be repaired at reasonable cost. This was actually the third used Canon G12 which I purchased via Amazon over the past several months, but is the first camera I have purchased from Karen Camera Net. All three cameras purchased were described as being in "Very Good" condition by their respective sellers, but the first one had deep scratches on the protective glass over the lens and exhibited other signs of rough handling, and the second one (from a different seller) appeared to be in very good condition, but suddenly failed after less than one month. (Both were returned to their respective sellers and full refunds were issued.) The Canon G12 purchased from Karen Camera Net was in "almost new" condition (better than the described "Very Good" condition) with virtually no signs of wear and has worked flawlessly. At a price point of approximately $200 this camera was a great buy and also was delivered with the original Canon battery charger and neck strap, unlike the two previous cameras. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with the quality of the used camera purchased from Karen Camera Net!

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I have been using a camera phone for the last five years. I decided to up grade. When I saw the pictures from this unit, I was blown away. They are so much better. And that is on automatic. I am still learning all the features. Two features that set it apart are the glass look through sight at the top. You can just aim through there like an old school camera. It also has a flip out screen you can use for framing your shots. Its good for odd angle shots and reading the menu of functions. I also got the flash Canon speedlite 270EX. it is perfect for this camera and a must for low light conditions. It will give you a message on the screen if you need it. It is not as convenient as a smart phone, but the picture quality makes up for it. You can also get housings for underwater photagraphy. I have video of me swiming with manta rays at the flower gardens. I bought mine used so it came with no instructions. I went to www,camera-manual.com and got one from them. The instructions are good and you will need them.

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Nothing is perfect in this world and when it comes to gadgets its all very personal, so when I say this is the perfect camera I mean for me, today, until the next perfect camera comes along. To me, this is the last great compact camera with both a viewfinder and a serious flash setup. I hate, loathe, despise LCDs. Without image stabilization, shooting with an LCD pretty much stinks. Let me tell you why this is the perfect camera for me. 1) Viewfinder. Using an LCD means Im seeing EVERYTHING, in and out of the shot. The viewfinder helps me, well, focus. Plus it has a diopter adjustment. 2) Built-in flash. The flash is handy as a fill flash or when Im in snapshot mode. But it also has a hot shoe if I want to use one of my serious flash units. 3) Articulated LCD. Yeah, I said I dont like LCDs, and I dont, but its nice when youre in a crowd to flip the screen out and hold the camera over your head. 4) Ergonomics. Not as bulky as an SLR, but not as flimsy as your iPhone. You can grip this camera, get a good hold, and keep it steady. 5) Custom controls. Theres a special button, settings on the control dial, and a wheel by the shutter. All can be programmed. 6) Lens. Image stabilized from 28mm-140mm. A good, usable range. My only criticisms with the camera are its lack of viewfinder display (It would be nice to see at least the basics so that you can make corrections without taking the camera away from your eye.) and those odd amber lights on either side of the flash shoe. Theyre there, I suppose, to provide a more visible indicator when setting the dials. I just find them annoying. And they cant be helping battery life. Update: The lights indicate whether an adjustment is active. If you are in AUTO mode, the exposure compensation light doesnt illuminate. When you switch to P, say, it comes on. If the light is on, you can use the feature. If off, it has no effect. But what about the pictures? It was a gutsy move for Canon to downgrade to a smaller sensor, but A) No normal shooter needs more than 5mp, and B) The less dense sensor delivers superb results. 10mp is overkill, but not absurdly so. And what comes out is well into the pro-quality range. Unless you make prints larger than 11x17in, this is WAY more camera than you need. Bottom line: A camera that works and feels like a real camera. Simple controls replace the need to go menu hunting. A viewfinder and an articulated LCD. Customizable features. Pro-level picture quality. Usable lens range. Update: Flash. A 270EXII mounts and works perfectly with this camera, but it totally obscures the ISO dial where it counts most; i.e. where you set the dial. Seriously. It covers more than 2/3 of the ISO dial. Since I can see the setting on the LCD its not a big deal, but it is annoying because I rely more on the dials and my experience than the LCD display. Quibbles aside, 5 Stars

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First let me comment on the "One Star" reviews. These people need to wake up to reality. This is the best compact digital camera in this price range.... PERIOD. I have the Canon XTI, the 40D, the 5D Mark II, the G-11 and a $2,500 Panasonic Vid Cam. Im a retired professional photographer. What camera do I always have with me? The G-12. For anything up to 11x14 prints they all fit the bill nicely. Of course for high end work, its the 5D Mark II or the Panasonic. I just tested the G-12 against the Panasonic for video capability. The Panasonic has two distinct advantages. Power zoom while shooting and the ability to use an external microphone with wind screen (Dead Cat). But we are talking apples and pears. You dont carry a large vid-cam on your belt. I spent a few hours on the Virginia & Truckee Railway out of Carson City, NV. (Side note-- a great steam train ride) I shot with the G-12 and the Panasonic Professional AG-HMC40 AVCHD Camcorder with 10.6MP Still and 12x Optical Zoom. I planned to use the video to create a DVD of the ride. On the finished DVD if is not possible to tell the difference in the video shot with which camera. However, there is objectionable wind noise with the G-12 when shooting into the wind. But thats a given that any videographer already knows will happen with an unprotected microphone. Five stars for the G-12. It does a great job for stills and video. Lots of great usable features. The one star folks need to spend the $$$ if they want a "does everything any time any where features" and stop crying.

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Ive been a fan of Canon PowerShot. The first one I used was A200 that I borrowed from my friend before buying the A590 two years ago. While I love my A590, I find it difficult to take pictures in low lightning. When I set foot to get a new camera, I was debating between G12 and S95. The two of them have very similar specs, except S95 is smaller and has aperture priority starting at 2.0. However, when I went to Best Buy to take some test shots, the S95 is too small for me. I felt like I could drop it at any moment. Also, I took about 10 shots and about 3 of them were blurry. With the same specs, the G12 did not even fail to take a blurry photo. The images were sharp and it felt right in my hands, despite a bit heavier than my A590. Still, I debated on whether I should get the G12 until I saw it on sale. At the time I purchased it, G12 was slightly cheaper than S95! I ordered it with 1 day shipping and it arrived promptly. As soon as I took it out of the box, I immediately began to play with it. The G12 is very user-friendly. I tested it under my very bad indoor lightning and it did not fail to take good pictures. Among the 300+ photos I took until the battery ran out, I only found 1 or 2 out of focus pictures. The colors are true and the pictures look very artistic. A lot of people who saw my pictures were surprised at the quality. The extra features such as color swap, fish eyes, and miniature mode are nice and also very easy to use. I took some portraits and my skin looked so smooth. Despite it being a bulky camera, the G12 is the best camera Ive ever used. Again and again, I keep on recommending Canon to people who are looking for new cameras. Although the battery life needs improvement and the lens can be a bit faster, the G12 is a beast. Even in very low lightning and the lens about 1cm to the object, this camera manages to produce some unbelievably sharp pictures. Its like I dont even have to do the work! All I need to do is to click a button. Yes, its THAT amazing!

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Im an avid photographer and was very pleased with the camera during the first year of ownership. Finally I encountered problems whereby the zoom did not work at all. It kind of got hung up and stuck. The camera has been pampered and I have never dropped the camera. I also encountered other problems whereby the camera would not focus. The focus gets hung up. I just sent the camera to the repair facility and was told they would give me an estimate before they do the repairs. The repairs cost will be at least a 150.00 plus parts. The camera is good in the beginning, but over the long terms it is worthless. I dont have a camera now to use, but hopefully the estimate wont be outrageous.

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Had the G12 for over 8 months. At the time, I was looking at 6 other cameras: Ricoh GR Digital IV, Samsung TL500, Olympus XZ-1, Canon S100, Nikon P7100, & Panasonic LX5. Canon G1X, Sony RX100, and Fujifilm X10 were not out yet. - Ricoh & Samsung ruled out because of poor zoom (1X & 3X); cutoff was 3.5X - Scoffed at the XZ-1 because I was convinced that optical IS was MUCH better than sensor shift IS. (Could eat those words, because I have this camera on order as a complement to the G12.) - Canon S100 was my dream camera at the start of the search: 2.0 aperture & 24mm. But discovered that I hated menues & loved external controls; S100 didnt feel right. - Nikon P7100 had the best zoom, great external controls though not to my liking, but was turned off by partially articulated display, less dynamic range, and slow as the G12. Very close. - Panasonic LX5 was the speed demon of my top 3 choices, but disliked the controls & inferior image quality compared to the G12. 2.0 aperture, 24mm lens, & largest sensor of my top 4 choices were its strengths. It was in my Amazon.com cart, when I went to handle the G12. G12s attractions: 1) Large sensor (1/1.7) compared to other P&S cameras, 2) Great control layout, 3) Excellent image quality, 4) Self-closing lens cap, 5) Articulated LCD display can be protected by folding it in on itself, 6) Images can be saved as RAW (.CR2), 7) Ability to add filters; ND filter built-in, 8) Good zoom, 9) PASM (wanted to learn how to use these modes), 10) Great macro mode, and 11) Pocketable; if you have large pockets. Will not fit in a shirt & jeans pocket. That was BEFORE I bought it. One of its modes is HDR (High Dynamic Range); take 3 photos at diffent exposures & merges them ... requires a tripod. Use this when photographing a scene with a bright sky, shaded area, and normal landscape. Sky is darkened to make it a deep blue, detail is exposed in the shaded area. AEB mode is better because you can control the aperture & dont need a tripod ... but you will need software such as SNR (personal favorite), Photomatix, etc, etc. Latest version of DPP (included) merges photos, just not as good as the commercial packages. Why not 5 stars? Video is bad, and didnt realize until tonight when I used a Nikon P310, had bad the video quality really is. Its also slow, but I knew that before I bought it. If the G12 isnt for you, consider one of the others mentioned. Update Wed, 4-Jul-2012: Between having the Olympus XZ-1 for a week, and playing with a B+W polarizing filter, I was too harsh in this review ==> changing from 4 to 5 stars. Olympus did some things better than Canon, but the controls & menus are much better for the G12. Plus there are useful books about the G12; none about the XZ-1.

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