Canon PowerShot G12

Canon’s flagship G-series compacts have built an enviable reputation for being the backup cameras chosen by professional photographers and for good reason. The G12 is built like a tank and is designed to go where most compacts can’t, the 5x zoom lens is superb (albeit limited to 28mm at the wide end) and there’s even a viewfinder for those sunny days, although the articulated screen works like a charm.

The G12 also has Canon’s new generation 10MP sensor up its sleeve. Dropping the resolution of the sensor was a brave move but it’s paid dividends in a big way as the G12 has low light abilities that seem improbable in a compact. This is one of the best point and shoot cameras available today because the G12 can be left to its own devices and the images will almost always be realistic, properly exposed and sharp pretty much regardless of the ISO setting. Shots from the G12 were the best of any of the compacts on test and its 720p video output was also top notch.

The handling has been class leading since the days of the G9 and the dual control dial equipped G12 is the best yet, so if you prefer to drive your cameras yourself, the intuitive control layout will reward your involvement. As quick as the G12 is, it can’t come close to a DSLR in terms of autofocus speed or frame rate, but that’s not its forte, instead its compact size and fine balance of abilities make it a stellar performer among compacts.