We spent some time with three of the hottest high-end compacts currently available, the Canon G12, the Nikon P7000 and the Panasonic LX5. The goal? To test out the capabilities of each by shooting all three, side by side, in similar situations.
So why the G12, LX5 and P7000? All three cameras cost between $420 and $499, all three cameras feature a 10 megapixel sensor (LX5 and P7000 are 10.1), and all three have a similar sensor size (the G12 and P7000 feature a 1/1.7” sensor, the LX5 features a 1x1.63” sensor). Not to mention the fact that they all feature professional features like RAW capture, a hotshoe,optical image stabilization and full manual settings not found on most other compacts.
Sure there are a few differences, like the LX5 is somewhat smaller because it doesn’t feature an optical viewfinder (although the optional DMW-LVF-1 hotshoe EVF is available for about $130) and the G12 shoots higher-res video than the other two, but essentially the three are equivalent in terms of what they offer.
The Comparison: It should be noted that before we started shooting these sample images, all three cameras were reset to their factory specifications. The images were all shot as jpgs in the SRGB color space. The cameras were also all tripod-mounted, and samples images were taken one right after another for each camera. All images were shot on Auto white balance and on either aperture priority mode or manual exposure mode.
Due to differences in focal length, not all comparison images are exactly the same. These images are not meant for scientific testing purposes but to give a general idea of how each camera performs in various conditions. Stay tuned for full-blown tests on each of these compacts.
Somehow I'm not surprised this is the best of the bunch. Thank you for the breakdown and analysis.
wow, what a waste of time.....subjects shoot dull, whole story told us absolutely nothing.
What's the point of having a "shoot out" with no winners, losers and a numerical evaluation? You might as well have called the article "a cursory examination". Also, on what is an expensive camera (they are on the lower edge of the DSLR market by only about a hundred bucks); no mention of shutter lag is unforgiveable.
Pick any one. They all seem crappy.
Pop Photo Team:
Disappointing article.
I expect better work and reporting from you. The photography examples are not very helpful...it looks like you had about 1 hour on a cloudy overcast day to "wing it" with some thrown together photos. Where are photos of human faces? (The photo type taken by most people.) Where are photos showing sun/shadow contrast? Where are photos showing shots in low light/evening?
Separate from the photography - the writing leaves the reader wondering if you have any complete opinion at all. We want to hear your opinion of the photo quality (both objective and subjective)...the camera? is it worth it, would you buy it, etc...that is why we subscribe to you.
You are much better at photographic reporting than what you are showing us here.
Best regards,
Doug
I was looking forward to reading this article. However, i am very disappointed in the content. The photo comparisons are very poor with no attempt to compare photos side by side. I also think portrait pictures would have been a good idea. Cheers Jay
This is not a helpful article. Providing you are experts checking camera performance, we had expected you gave your conclusions in any situation and not just post the pictures.
It looks like, or you don't have an opinion or that you prefer not saying it.
Generally a good review but it amazes me that you guy/gals will look at a design compromise, and relish the benefit while attacking the sacrifice. E.g. you love that a camera is small and sleek, but hate that it doesnt have a big rubber grip and the tripod mount is off-center. That is two sides of the same coin. You either agree with the compromise the designers took, or you don't. You can't have your cake and eat it too - take a side!
On a more positive note - it's nice to see some New Jersey resident's reading up on How to be a Gentleman.
Cheers.
I appreciate your review of these three compacts. The choice I make will be determined by the features that are important for the shooter not the one that the editors think is the best. If fitting it into a pocket is important I'll make a different choice than if a rubber grip is important. You've pointed out pros and cons of different features not buying the camera for us.
And the winner is ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ?
99% of what I look for in a camera any camera is the overall image quality....the other 1% is *&@$#^%^^%#
I liked the Toshiba. You should too.
As others have said, this article is silliness. Poorly written, poorly organized, and basically pretty useless. I truly believe that this kind of stuff will keep appearing here unless people respond with comments and pound articles like this into the ground. Come on. Improve the quality!
And get rid of the damn 3.8X, 4X and 7X zoom nomenclature. Tell us if it is 24-90mm, 28-120mm or 35-250mm equivelant!
Lots of complaints about the article here.
Folks, get used to it. The best part of Pop Photo was Herb Keppler, and when that great old guy passed away the magazine started slipping badly. I've been a subscriber for more years than I can remember, still have a year or so left on my subscription, but I'm not sure I'll renew anymore unless they get rid of the feckless amateurs and start hiring more people who actually know something about cameras and photography.
Contrary to those comments which allege that the photos are not very helpful, they vividly demonstrate (especially the last page), that even having a Leica f2 lens doesn't do anything to control depth of field on these compacts -- unlike a DSLR. So if you want more control over your images...
Why do you just concentrate on factory default settings. Really useful would be some comparison/analysis of the variable functions and adjustments allowed by each camera and how they can affect your shooting. You pretty much compare these advanced, multi-faceted cameras as if they were all simple point and shoots for people who want everything on automatic, precisely the audience that these cameras are not aimed at. In my opinion, you miss/downplay/ignore the real excitement or appeal of these units--for better or worse.
I hope the Manual controls on the Canon G12 are a lot better than on their G10. Mine was useless as a street Camera also terrible Shutter lag, the G10 no better than a $100 point and shoot .I'll stick with My 20D and 40D.
Thanks for this comparison. I look forward to your full evaluation, especially on the LX5.
"Don't expect the LX5 to perform like the M9, it wont"....Duh. Look at the $$$$x5 price difference. What a brilliantly stupid statement.
I am missing the page on conclusions and recommendations. Or was it not written?
Look, you either go as thorough as DPReview and come-up with professional authors that can write and defend their conclusions, or your continue with a bunch of parttimers, dont invest in studio equipment but half the subscription price.
This article gives barely more information than a 3-liner with links to the Nikon, Pana and canon web-sites.
You posters are pathetic. This guy took the time to show the actual results of three cameras. If you are such a limp wrist that you need to have someone tell you the winning score before you buy a camera, you should just ask Mommy and Daddy to decide. I for one appreciate the effort and can compare and make my own decisions, which was for the Nikon.
Unless you paid to read his review, quit your whining you bunch of puss***!
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Somehow I'm not surprised this is the best of the bunch. Thank you for the breakdown and analysis.
wow, what a waste of time.....subjects shoot dull, whole story told us absolutely nothing.
What's the point of having a "shoot out" with no winners, losers and a numerical evaluation? You might as well have called the article "a cursory examination". Also, on what is an expensive camera (they are on the lower edge of the DSLR market by only about a hundred bucks); no mention of shutter lag is unforgiveable.
Pick any one. They all seem crappy.
Pop Photo Team:
Disappointing article.
I expect better work and reporting from you. The photography examples are not very helpful...it looks like you had about 1 hour on a cloudy overcast day to "wing it" with some thrown together photos. Where are photos of human faces? (The photo type taken by most people.) Where are photos showing sun/shadow contrast? Where are photos showing shots in low light/evening?
Separate from the photography - the writing leaves the reader wondering if you have any complete opinion at all. We want to hear your opinion of the photo quality (both objective and subjective)...the camera? is it worth it, would you buy it, etc...that is why we subscribe to you.
You are much better at photographic reporting than what you are showing us here.
Best regards,
Doug
I was looking forward to reading this article. However, i am very disappointed in the content. The photo comparisons are very poor with no attempt to compare photos side by side. I also think portrait pictures would have been a good idea. Cheers Jay
This is not a helpful article. Providing you are experts checking camera performance, we had expected you gave your conclusions in any situation and not just post the pictures.
It looks like, or you don't have an opinion or that you prefer not saying it.
Generally a good review but it amazes me that you guy/gals will look at a design compromise, and relish the benefit while attacking the sacrifice. E.g. you love that a camera is small and sleek, but hate that it doesnt have a big rubber grip and the tripod mount is off-center. That is two sides of the same coin. You either agree with the compromise the designers took, or you don't. You can't have your cake and eat it too - take a side!
On a more positive note - it's nice to see some New Jersey resident's reading up on How to be a Gentleman.
Cheers.
I appreciate your review of these three compacts. The choice I make will be determined by the features that are important for the shooter not the one that the editors think is the best. If fitting it into a pocket is important I'll make a different choice than if a rubber grip is important. You've pointed out pros and cons of different features not buying the camera for us.
And the winner is ! ? ! ? ! ? ! ?
99% of what I look for in a camera any camera is the overall image quality....the other 1% is *&@$#^%^^%#
I liked the Toshiba. You should too.
As others have said, this article is silliness. Poorly written, poorly organized, and basically pretty useless. I truly believe that this kind of stuff will keep appearing here unless people respond with comments and pound articles like this into the ground. Come on. Improve the quality!
And get rid of the damn 3.8X, 4X and 7X zoom nomenclature. Tell us if it is 24-90mm, 28-120mm or 35-250mm equivelant!
Lots of complaints about the article here.
Folks, get used to it. The best part of Pop Photo was Herb Keppler, and when that great old guy passed away the magazine started slipping badly. I've been a subscriber for more years than I can remember, still have a year or so left on my subscription, but I'm not sure I'll renew anymore unless they get rid of the feckless amateurs and start hiring more people who actually know something about cameras and photography.
Contrary to those comments which allege that the photos are not very helpful, they vividly demonstrate (especially the last page), that even having a Leica f2 lens doesn't do anything to control depth of field on these compacts -- unlike a DSLR. So if you want more control over your images...
Why do you just concentrate on factory default settings. Really useful would be some comparison/analysis of the variable functions and adjustments allowed by each camera and how they can affect your shooting. You pretty much compare these advanced, multi-faceted cameras as if they were all simple point and shoots for people who want everything on automatic, precisely the audience that these cameras are not aimed at. In my opinion, you miss/downplay/ignore the real excitement or appeal of these units--for better or worse.
I hope the Manual controls on the Canon G12 are a lot better than on their G10. Mine was useless as a street Camera also terrible Shutter lag, the G10 no better than a $100 point and shoot .I'll stick with My 20D and 40D.
Thanks for this comparison. I look forward to your full evaluation, especially on the LX5.
"Don't expect the LX5 to perform like the M9, it wont"....Duh. Look at the $$$$x5 price difference. What a brilliantly stupid statement.
I am missing the page on conclusions and recommendations. Or was it not written?
Look, you either go as thorough as DPReview and come-up with professional authors that can write and defend their conclusions, or your continue with a bunch of parttimers, dont invest in studio equipment but half the subscription price.
This article gives barely more information than a 3-liner with links to the Nikon, Pana and canon web-sites.
You posters are pathetic. This guy took the time to show the actual results of three cameras. If you are such a limp wrist that you need to have someone tell you the winning score before you buy a camera, you should just ask Mommy and Daddy to decide. I for one appreciate the effort and can compare and make my own decisions, which was for the Nikon.
Unless you paid to read his review, quit your whining you bunch of puss***!