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DXOMark- G15 vs. G12

Started Dec 7, 2012 | Discussions thread
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DXOMark- G15 vs. G12

DXOMark published it's testing results for the G15, as some here already know. Compared to the G12, it actually doesn't test as good off the sensor as the G12 does overall. The score is practically tied with the overall score going to the G12 (47 to 46). This is interesting.

The Portrait (color depth) test is the most interesting to me. And I believe the advantage to the G12 is mainly due to its CCD sensor, vs. CMOS first, and larger pixels, second. There is a distinct advantage here, and the widest gap between the two cameras of all the tests.

The G15 gains about a 1/3rd stop of DR, and a tiny bit of low light ISO advantage over the G12 overall at least on test analysis- but that' not where it should end.

I've had a chance to run over my G15 shots in raw (ACR) now that I can use the DNG converter to import those images into Elements 10 (my preferred software nowadays)- and compare them to the G12 raw files.

What DXOMark doesn't test is grain structure. Grain structure is important to me in how the final image looks processed and printed. The luminescence grain structure of both cameras in raw is excellent, tight and nearly uniform. It's almost a chemical structure much like how good film looked. Where the G15 seems to excel, is the level of Chroma noise, and, how tightly grained that noise is compared to the G12. The G12's chroma looks more blotchy in comparison which gives the G15 a slight advantage in the highest ISO values (1600 and up).

Overall none of this equates to much difference overall in real life shooting. I still stand by my comments that ISO 2500 is my limit for the G12 (with no NR done), whereas my limit for the G15 would be ISO 6400 with no NR. I find the grain structure of the chroma noise is good enough on the G15 to carry it into the higher ISO, about a stop advantage. However with only chroma NR done on the G12, it's quite useable to 3200, and even a -1 EV push to a 6400 equivalent. 3200 below:



3200 G12 looking great no Lumi NR here, ACR converted

For those that tweak out on tests, the G15 really doesn't show much advantage overall on the testing here. The main advantage of course is the lens, which gives a 1 1/3rd stop advantage for low light through the entire range over the G10, G11, and G12 cameras.

Basically the G15 has about a two and a third shot advantage over the G12 in that ISO 6400 is useable, and I can shoot one stop brighter at max aperture- making it the preferred camera for lower light levels. However, the Portrait color depth advantage of the G12 means, I'd rather use it for landscapes and macros because it's showing/retaining better color depth.

Throwing the G10 in there, for a quick look... well the color depth isn't as good as either, but, it has a heck of a lot more detail than the G12 and a noticeable amount more than the G15 on screen and larger prints. This makes the choice more complicated for me concerning the best landscape camera.

The G15 falls in the middle of both detail and color depth, so it's a safe "all rounder" bet when comparing the three cameras.

Well, I have two of the three purchased. Guess I'm going to just have to have the G15 too.

Cheers,

Carl

http://www.photographic-central.blogspot.com
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Canon PowerShot G11 Canon PowerShot G12 Canon PowerShot G15
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