Canon's enthusiast compact with vari-angle LCD and optical viewfinder — the last great 1/1.7-inch G-series.
The Canon PowerShot G12 launched in 2010 as the final evolution of Canon's traditional G-series enthusiast compact cameras before the transition to larger sensors. It featured a 10MP 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor with a fast 28-140mm equivalent f/2.8-4.5 zoom lens.
Image quality is good for the 1/1.7-inch CCD class — the deliberate choice of 10MP over higher resolution improved per-pixel quality and high-ISO performance. The fast f/2.8-4.5 aperture helps in low light. DIGIC 4 processor. Hybrid IS stabilisation. RAW shooting with full manual controls.
Vari-angle 2.8-inch LCD plus optical viewfinder — a combination unique to the G-series. Hot shoe for external flash. 28-140mm f/2.8-4.5 zoom. SD card slot. Front control dial for direct parameter adjustment. Built-in flash. 355g. USB 2.0 charging.
Available used at budget prices — the G12 was the last G-series with this form factor before Canon moved to larger sensors. The vari-angle LCD and optical viewfinder were well-loved features. The 1/1.7-inch CCD sensor class has been completely superseded by 1-inch and APS-C compact cameras.