Canon PowerShot G16
Announced August 22, 2013
PixelMeter The PixelMeter is our 1–100 aggregate of reviewer scores from trusted publications and creators. Weighted by source tier — not a raw average, and not PetaPixel’s own review.
Reviewer Consensus
Strong
The Canon PowerShot G16 is a robust, well-built compact camera that offers fast performance and a bright lens for enthusiast-level photography. That said, it remains a modest update over its predecessor, held back by a small sensor and a lack of modern conveniences like a tilting touchscreen.
Weighted from 17 reviewer scores
Pros
- Excellent build quality and physical control layout
- Fast, bright f/1.8-2.8 lens
- High-speed performance with fast autofocus and burst shooting
- Integrated Wi-Fi connectivity
- Capable video recording at 1080p 60fps
Cons
- Underwhelming optical viewfinder
- Fixed, non-articulating LCD screen
- Limited Wi-Fi functionality and lack of remote control
- High price relative to performance and sensor size
- Lacks modern features like touchscreen and panorama mode
- Launch price $549.99 (USD)
- Sensor 12.1MP 1-inch
- Burst 12.2 fps mechanical
What the Reviewers Say
All 17 expert reviews, weighted into the PixelMeter score.
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The G16 is an easy camera to underestimate, on the face of it, it doesn’t seem like it has a lot to offer one year on from its predecessor and at first glance you’d probably guess that existing G15 owners would hold off for whatever the G17 might have to offer.
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The feature set on the Canon PowerShot G16 is limited in comparison to the technology offered by other manufacturers.
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The Canon Powershot G16 offers a number of improvements over the previous model, including a number of new and useful shooting modes including Handheld HDR, Star modes, and built in Wi-Fi for quicker sharing, although the lack of remote shooting will be disappointing to many.
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The Canon PowerShot G16 is a rather modest update of last year's G15 camera, principally making things faster and adding wi-fi connectivity, focus peaking and some new shooting modes into the now familiar mix.
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The Canon G16 is a solid compact camera that offers a good balance between features and price.
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The Canon PowerShot G16 offers an impressive control layout and Wi-Fi, but its underwhelming optical viewfinder disappoints.
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The G16 marks another incremental upgrade for the G series of compacts, which remains a solid and reliable camera in the now fairly crowded premium compact market.
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If you’re looking for an advanced compact for hobby photography, or as a lighter camera to use alongside your DSLR then it remains one of the best choices on the market.
- Digital Trends 7.5/10
On paper, Canon’s PowerShot G16 has specs that match those of DSLR and CSC cameras. Unfortunately, a small sensor holds it back from its full potential.
- CNET 7.8/10
While the Canon PowerShot G16 is better than the G15 and remains a nice enthusiast compact, its low-light photo quality disappoints for the money.
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The PowerShot G16 is a compact workhorse camera that’s hard to beat. It has a rock-solid build quality, a DSLR-like feature set, and great-looking picture quality.
- Photo Review 8.6/10
Like previous G-series cameras, the G16 is a compact, feature-rich digicam with integrated raw file support.
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Ultimately then, unless the somewhat hefty price is an issue, buying a G16 isn’t a decision over which you need agonise for too long. Because it's a brilliant camera that's professional at every turn and you can fit it in a (rather large) pocket.
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As far as premium compacts go, the Canon PowerShot G16 is reassuringly brick-like, and in that respect as with its predecessors should satiate those who want their compact to feel as if from the same family as their EOS DSLR.
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The Canon G16 beats [the Panasonic LX7 and GM1] both for physical controls, though, and it includes a viewfinder – that’s enough to keep it in the running.
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The camera is fast and responsive. The stills under enough light have good details overall, and there is natural color tone with good saturation and hue.
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[T]he body housing is very solid, very durable; it feels real similar to like Canon's other DSLRs with that like the magnesium body.
