G16 vs S120

It could well be that the bigger lens of the G16 makes it take sharper images. It could also be that the G16 is sharper at specific focal lengths but the S120 is sharper at other focal lengths. Also the aperture could be of influence. Using a smaller aperture (bigger number) could result in sharper images. (If I take a macro shot with my G9X II at 10mm and F2.0 it results in slightly blurry images if I change the aperture to F4.0 the images are very sharp).

To really compare the sharpness of two camera’s you should take a picture at every focal length with every possible aperture with a subject at every possible distance. (because also distance can have an influence on the sharpness of the picture.) Or actually several pictures to rule out any focus errors. What you know then is which of the two camera’s you have is sharper at which focal length with which aperture at which distance. But that’s only for those two camera’s because due to sample variation other cameras of the same brand and type can perform differently.

(there are even more thinks that could influence the sharpness of a specific camera that I have skipped to keep my reaction readable)

But then you still don’t know which of these two camera’s will give you the sharpest images. Because it may well be that the G15 is generally sharper, but the S120 could be sharper at the combinations of focal lengths, apertures and distances you use most.

What I would do is take a few comparison shots of thinks you usually photograph. If the difference in sharpness is not easy to see or if you find the sharpness or both camera’s acceptable. I would not use sharpness as argument to choose one camera over the other.

If I had to choose between these cameras it would choose the S120 without hesitation. Simply because it is smaller and lighter.

Hope this helps,

Michiel

“ Gear simply doesn’t matter. If people ask me which camera they should buy, I always say buy the cool one” Mattias Burling