Canon S90 vs Canon G12

Cameras
Compare Cameras
Canon S90 vs Canon G12

1/1.7 inch 43.3mm²
10.0 megapixels
28.00mm - 105.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon S90 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the S90.

1/1.7 inch 43.3mm²
10.0 megapixels
28.00mm - 140.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G12 Review.
See real-world photos taken with the G12.

Succeeded by the Canon S95
Compare S90 vs S95

Succeeded by the Canon G15
Compare G12 vs G15

Compare CANON S95 vs CANON G15

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Differences

Canon S90 advantages over Canon G12

Less expensive
$430 vs $500 (MSRP)
Save money for lenses or accessories
Larger lens aperture
f/2.0 vs f/2.8
Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
S90 test data on DxO Mark G12 test data on DxO Mark

185 vs 161 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Thinner
30 mm vs 48 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
175g vs 402g
Lighter weight
Less shutter lag
0.43 vs 0.66 sec
Focus and take a photo quickly (wide angle)

Canon G12 advantages over Canon S90

Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
Tiltable Screen
Tiltable vs Fixed
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
More telephoto lens reach
140 mm vs 105 mm
Capture objects farther away
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

370 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Integrated ND filter
Yes vs No
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
Higher max flash sync
1/2000 vs 1/500 sec
Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
HDMI out
HDMI out vs None
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
Shoots 24p video
Yes vs No
Gives your movies a big-screen feel
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Faster JPEG shooting
2.0 fps vs 0.9 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/1600 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Common Weaknesses

Focus peaking
Neither provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
Touchscreen
Neither provide
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Built-in Wi-Fi
Neither provide
Share your photos wirelessly
NFC
Neither provide
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
Manual focus
Neither provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
Bulb shutter
Neither provide
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Slow-motion videos
Neither provide
Shoot slow-motion videos

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Buy the Canon S90

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Buy the Canon G12

Review Excerpt

Read our Canon S90 Review

Read our Canon G12 Review

The Competition

Compared to Canon G11

Canon S90

Canon G11

$430
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Larger lens aperture

$577
1/1.7 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

Compare Canon S90 vs Canon G11

Canon G12

Canon G11

$854
1/1.7 inch

Shoots 24p video
Faster JPEG shooting

$577
1/1.7 inch

Compare Canon G12 vs Canon G11

Compared to Canon S95

Canon S90

Canon S95

$430
1/1.7 inch

Higher effective ISO
Less shutter lag

$428
1/1.7 inch

HDMI out
Shoots 24p video

Compare Canon S90 vs Canon S95

Canon G12

Canon S95

$854
1/1.7 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

$428
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Larger lens aperture

Compare Canon G12 vs Canon S95

Compared to Nikon P7000

Canon S90

Nikon P7000

$430
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Larger lens aperture

$400
1/1.7 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon S90 vs Nikon P7000

Canon G12

Nikon P7000

$854
1/1.7 inch

Tiltable Screen
Faster JPEG shooting

$400
1/1.7 inch

More telephoto lens reach
More dots on screen

Compare Canon G12 vs Nikon P7000

Compared to Canon S100

Canon S90

Canon S100

$430
1/1.7 inch

Higher effective ISO
Bigger JPEG buffer

$429
1/1.7 inch

Built-in GPS
Manual focus

Compare Canon S90 vs Canon S100

Canon G12

Canon S100

$854
1/1.7 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

$429
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Larger lens aperture

Compare Canon G12 vs Canon S100

Compared to Canon S110

Canon S90

Canon S110

$430
1/1.7 inch

Higher effective ISO
Bigger JPEG buffer

$249
1/1.7 inch

Touchscreen
Built-in Wi-Fi

Compare Canon S90 vs Canon S110

Canon G12

Canon S110

$854
1/1.7 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
Tiltable Screen

$249
1/1.7 inch

Less expensive
Touchscreen

Compare Canon G12 vs Canon S110

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