This review is from: Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera (High Sensitivity 10 MP, 5x Zoom) 2.8 Inch Vari-angle Purecolor LCD (Electronics)
I’m a professional photographer and brought this camera for those occasions when lugging around a 5+kg DSLR/lens combo just isn’t practical.
So after much interent research (as we all do these days) I decided to go for the G12 and am very pleased I did. I also own the Lumix LX3 but the G12 feels so much nicer to hold and use and the manual controls are a dream (no fiddly menu system).
The inclusion again of the front jog wheel is genius (why did Canon ever remove it?!?!) and the ability to use my flashguns and ST-E2 on the hot shoe are just an added bonus.
Image quality is fantastic and noise is kept in check even at higher ISO settings for a sensor this small. Of course it’s not going to out-perform a 1D MkIV with a £1.5K prime lens but that’s the compromise for portability.
It may be that I’m too used to large DSLRs but it doesn’t feel that big to me either and fits in my trouser pocket just fine. Perhaps I just have big trousers!
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This review is from: Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera (High Sensitivity 10 MP, 5x Zoom) 2.8 Inch Vari-angle Purecolor LCD (Electronics)
I do have a great selection of cameras, Canon 7D, Lumix TZ 20, Leica V-Lux 2 plus a couple more, so I was initially hesitant to buy this camera as it sort of looked like overkill. Yet having owned the never failing G2 for nearly a decade I finally took the plunge.
First of all I fell in love with the looks, and you really need to hold one to really understand why…. the retro style knobs and little orange lights indicating the settings really got the better of me. Just a glance at the top of the camera and you can see and set the ISO, shutter speed and exposure. The camera still sports the canon DSLR like dial on the rear and another one just in front of the shutter release.
Yet having said that, we do buy cameras ultimately for image quality. And all I could say when looking at the pics was WOW!! This camera has got such a great IQ, and unless you go to full size view, you could find yourself wondering whether the pics are from the 7D or the Canon G12, which costs a fraction of a half descent lens for a DSLR.
This is really a great camera, no wonder it holds its price. It is and feels rock solid, and is truly a masterpiece of technology.
The viewfinder is not a digital one, so really it does not see through the lens,(no information is displayed on it either) which could result in some close up photos being offset, yet once you go beyond a few meters than this tends to become more accurate. I personally hate digital viewfinders, as they do tend to tire the eye. The fold-able screen is packed with all the details you could wish for. (not touch screen)
This is a great camera for pros as it really compliments a DSLR. It is also very appealing to the enthusiast, who wants total control over his shots (even though the auto mode copes extremely well).
The G12 does offer loads of features which can be looked up on dpreview or other sites, yet I would like to mention the miniature mode which produces some great effects.
Whenever I read a review of a camera, my main priority is image quality, as its useless to have a gazillion of features yet so and so quality.
All I can say is that this little jewel will perform and live up to your expectations. The added DSLR features are a great bonus.
If I had to loose this camera I would get another G12 without hesitating.
I do hope that this unbiased review could guide you in selecting the right camera for your needs, and wish you happy shooting 🙂
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
This review is from: Canon PowerShot G12 Digital Camera (High Sensitivity 10 MP, 5x Zoom) 2.8 Inch Vari-angle Purecolor LCD (Electronics)
I deliberated long and hard about buying a Canon “G11” series camera. In fact, so long that by the time I’d decided to investigate/research prices online, the G12 had been released! I wasn’t sure I could justify the cost as I own an EOS450d, which for my amateur purposes was more than adequate. Only thing with the EOS: size and weight. I wanted a pocket-size camera that would still give me freedom to play with aperture/shutter speed etc. and that I could comfortably carry around all day – even when just going out to the shops or collecting children from school.
The camera is certainly bigger and heavier than a simple point-and-shoot: you’d need pretty big pockets! (But I knew that from reading online reviews.) Having looked at point-and-shoot, I knew I wouldn’t be happy with one: they’re too light and flimsy for me and another major point: I didn’t like the fact that most came without a viewfinder.
The Canon G12 feels good in the hand, and – surprise, surprise, I’ve hardly used the viewfinder, as the swing-out screen with its useful “spirit level” function is really good quality in all lights. If you’re used to a Canon dslr then the controls on the G12 should look/feel familiar.
I’m really pleased with initial pictures, using the auto function(nothing too ambitious yet); you can see two of the first set I took above: close-up of rose and close-up of autumn leaves.
Slight niggle: it would have been nice to have had a paper manual included rather than just a cd.
So, after reading the reviews here on Amazon and on dpreview online, I’m really pleased with my purchase. No nasty surprises: just as I expected and a good price from Amazon.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
A perfect compromise,
I’m a professional photographer and brought this camera for those occasions when lugging around a 5+kg DSLR/lens combo just isn’t practical.
So after much interent research (as we all do these days) I decided to go for the G12 and am very pleased I did. I also own the Lumix LX3 but the G12 feels so much nicer to hold and use and the manual controls are a dream (no fiddly menu system).
The inclusion again of the front jog wheel is genius (why did Canon ever remove it?!?!) and the ability to use my flashguns and ST-E2 on the hot shoe are just an added bonus.
Image quality is fantastic and noise is kept in check even at higher ISO settings for a sensor this small. Of course it’s not going to out-perform a 1D MkIV with a £1.5K prime lens but that’s the compromise for portability.
It may be that I’m too used to large DSLRs but it doesn’t feel that big to me either and fits in my trouser pocket just fine. Perhaps I just have big trousers!
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|For Pros and Enthusiats,
I do have a great selection of cameras, Canon 7D, Lumix TZ 20, Leica V-Lux 2 plus a couple more, so I was initially hesitant to buy this camera as it sort of looked like overkill. Yet having owned the never failing G2 for nearly a decade I finally took the plunge.
First of all I fell in love with the looks, and you really need to hold one to really understand why…. the retro style knobs and little orange lights indicating the settings really got the better of me. Just a glance at the top of the camera and you can see and set the ISO, shutter speed and exposure. The camera still sports the canon DSLR like dial on the rear and another one just in front of the shutter release.
Yet having said that, we do buy cameras ultimately for image quality. And all I could say when looking at the pics was WOW!! This camera has got such a great IQ, and unless you go to full size view, you could find yourself wondering whether the pics are from the 7D or the Canon G12, which costs a fraction of a half descent lens for a DSLR.
This is really a great camera, no wonder it holds its price. It is and feels rock solid, and is truly a masterpiece of technology.
The viewfinder is not a digital one, so really it does not see through the lens,(no information is displayed on it either) which could result in some close up photos being offset, yet once you go beyond a few meters than this tends to become more accurate. I personally hate digital viewfinders, as they do tend to tire the eye. The fold-able screen is packed with all the details you could wish for. (not touch screen)
This is a great camera for pros as it really compliments a DSLR. It is also very appealing to the enthusiast, who wants total control over his shots (even though the auto mode copes extremely well).
The G12 does offer loads of features which can be looked up on dpreview or other sites, yet I would like to mention the miniature mode which produces some great effects.
Whenever I read a review of a camera, my main priority is image quality, as its useless to have a gazillion of features yet so and so quality.
All I can say is that this little jewel will perform and live up to your expectations. The added DSLR features are a great bonus.
If I had to loose this camera I would get another G12 without hesitating.
I do hope that this unbiased review could guide you in selecting the right camera for your needs, and wish you happy shooting 🙂
Was this review helpful to you?
|I Love This Camera!,
I deliberated long and hard about buying a Canon “G11” series camera. In fact, so long that by the time I’d decided to investigate/research prices online, the G12 had been released! I wasn’t sure I could justify the cost as I own an EOS450d, which for my amateur purposes was more than adequate. Only thing with the EOS: size and weight. I wanted a pocket-size camera that would still give me freedom to play with aperture/shutter speed etc. and that I could comfortably carry around all day – even when just going out to the shops or collecting children from school.
The camera is certainly bigger and heavier than a simple point-and-shoot: you’d need pretty big pockets! (But I knew that from reading online reviews.) Having looked at point-and-shoot, I knew I wouldn’t be happy with one: they’re too light and flimsy for me and another major point: I didn’t like the fact that most came without a viewfinder.
The Canon G12 feels good in the hand, and – surprise, surprise, I’ve hardly used the viewfinder, as the swing-out screen with its useful “spirit level” function is really good quality in all lights. If you’re used to a Canon dslr then the controls on the G12 should look/feel familiar.
I’m really pleased with initial pictures, using the auto function(nothing too ambitious yet); you can see two of the first set I took above: close-up of rose and close-up of autumn leaves.
Slight niggle: it would have been nice to have had a paper manual included rather than just a cd.
So, after reading the reviews here on Amazon and on dpreview online, I’m really pleased with my purchase. No nasty surprises: just as I expected and a good price from Amazon.
Was this review helpful to you?
|