What you're buying into here is a camera that provides the build quality and manual controls of a mid-range DSLR yet remains just about pocketable. It doesn't offer the fast lenses and more compact bodies of some rival high-end compacts but counters this with even great manual control, the option to add lens accessories like filters and a greater zoom range. For our money, though, we would take the faster more compact alternatives.
What's more we wonder, like its arch rival Nikon, how long Canon will be content to go without fielding an interchangeable lens compact system camera, and missing out on gaining its own share of a rapidly expanding market. These cameras offer true DSLR quality in more compact bodies and are a tempting alternative to having both an SLR and high-end compact.
While it's not without flaws, and it's not cheap, it's the creativity and versatility that are the watch words that really make the G12 - and the G-series cameras as a whole - ideal as pro's back up or an enthusiast's photographic powerhouse.
If you want a small, well-featured camera that allows you to easily take manual control over its exposure settings, the PowerShot G12 is a good choice -- it also does HD video. However, its picture quality isn't perfect: it's grainy and there is noticeable barrel roll from the lens. Overall, though, it can capture well-defined and naturally coloured images. It's convenient for anyone -- especially travellers -- who wants an easy-to-carry camera with plenty of features.
The PowerShot G12 sports scene modes and custom colour modes, and it also includes an HDR mode. It's a very good camera overall, but its picture quality is not up to the standard of an interchangeable lens camera, nor a digital SLR (such as the great Canon EOS 60D). Its video quality also isn't great, but it's an improvement over the G11. However, its compact size, convenience and manual features make the PowerShot G12 an interesting proposition. Enthusiasts who are sick of changing lenses but still want a quick way to change exposure settings should consider it, as should travellers, due to its relatively small size and vast range of capabilities. Alternatively, the Canon PowerShot S95 can be considered if you want a small camera with manual features ' it has the same sensor as the PowerShot G12, but a slightly different lens (f/2.0, 28-105mm).
+ : Rugged build Variable-angle rear LCD, Comprehensive array of dedicated buttons to press and dials to spin - : Optical zoom frozen when shooting video Picture quality doesn't match hybrid nor DSLR cameras, Handgrip could be more pronounced
(Les notes de la presse sont données à titre indicatif et représentent une interprétation du test par Numerama)
