Canon unveils high-end PowerShot G12

The Gadget Show  Tuesday 14 September 2010

Canon's latest G-series flagship, the PowerShot G12

Canon has taken the wraps off the PowerShot G12, the latest addition to its premium G-series line offering high-end features in a compact form factor.

The most obvious difference between the G12 and the G11 it replaces is the addition of 720p video shooting – one key feature missing from its arch-rival, the equally newly launched Nikon P7000.

But probably more significant is the presence of Canon’s HS System, a combination of a high-sensitivity 10MP CCD sensor and Canon’s DIGIC 4 image processor. Once again, Canon has chosen to make quality the focus, rather than an inflated megapixel count, and it’s an approach that has been well received on other new HS System compacts launched in recent months.

Appearance-wise the G12 keeps faith with the solid, businesslike appearance of the G11 – save for the addition of a programmable thumb dial on the front – while the lens offers the same 5x zoom capability starting at 28mm equivalent.

RAW format shooting, a low-light mode maximum of ISO12800 and a removable barrel ring that you can use to add filters are all impressive features to see on a compact – albeit one that will set you back £539 when it goes on sale next month – and the PowerShot G12 deservedly takes its place at the head of Canon’s compact camera table.