Canon G16 vs Canon G9X

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Canon G16 vs Canon G9X

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1/1.7 inch 43.3mm²
12.1 megapixels
28.00mm - 140.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G16 Review.
How does it shoot? Canon G16 in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the G16.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon G16 conclusion.

1 inch 116.2mm²
20.2 megapixels
28.00mm - 84.00mm (35mm eq.)

Go in depth with our full Canon G9X Review.
How does it shoot? Canon G9X in the real world.
See real-world photos taken with the G9X.
Compare Canon G9X image quality against competitors.
What’s the bottom line? Read our Canon G9X conclusion.

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Differences

Canon G16 advantages over Canon G9X

Eye-level viewfinder
Eye-level vs Rear display only
You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
More telephoto lens reach
140 mm vs 84 mm
Capture objects farther away
Longer stills battery life
More info

Longer stills battery life

Cameras with longer battery life can take more photos before exhausting their batteries.

Special note: The measurement standard for battery life stipulates that if a camera has an internal flash, it must be used for 50% of photos taken. For this reason, comparisons of one camera with an internal flash to another without will not be comparable

770 vs 220 shots
Capture more photos
Hot shoe
Hot shoe vs None
Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
Longer exposure
250 vs 30 sec
Long exposures for night shots
Faster JPEG shooting
12.5 fps vs 6.5 fps
Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
Faster RAW shooting
1.8 fps vs 0.8 fps
Faster RAW shooting in burst mode
Slow-motion videos
Yes vs No
Shoot slow-motion videos
Faster shutter
1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
Shoot wide open in bright light

Canon G9X advantages over Canon G16

Larger sensor
1 inch vs 1/1.7 inch
More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
Less expensive
$369 vs $499
Save money for lenses or accessories
Bigger pixels
~ 2.41 vs 1.90 microns
Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
Touchscreen
Touch vs No touch
Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
NFC
Yes vs No
Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
Higher effective ISO

Higher effective ISO

Maximum effective ISO is an estimate of the highest sensitivity at which a camera can capture excellent quality photos.

Cameras with higher effective ISO will be better choices for indoor photography, night shooting, and indoor sports photography, especially if you intend to make large prints.

You can learn more at our glossary entry.

Maximum effective ISO test data courtesy of DxO Mark.
G9X test data on DxO Mark G16 test data on DxO Mark

495 vs 230 iso
Take photos in low light with less noise
Thinner
30 mm vs 40 mm
Thinner
Lighter weight
206g vs 355g
Lighter weight
More pixels
20.2 vs 12.1 megapixels
Higher resolution photos
Bulb shutter
Bulb vs No bulb
Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
Bigger JPEG buffer
10 vs 5 shots
Take more JPEG shots before waiting (burst mode)
Bigger RAW buffer
Unlimited vs 39 shots
Larger buffer for RAW shots (burst mode)

Similarities

Common Strengths

Focus peaking
Both provide
Your camera will highlight what's in focus
In-Camera Image Stabilization
Both provide
Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
RAW file ability
Both provide
Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
Built-in Wi-Fi
Both provide
Share your photos wirelessly
Internal flash
Both provide
Useful in a pinch for fill flash
Manual focus
Both provide
AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
Integrated ND filter
Both provide
Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
HDMI out
Both provide
Use HDMI output to monitor or review video

Common Weaknesses

Tilt-swivel screen
Neither provide
Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
In-camera panoramas
Neither provide
Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
Tiltable Screen
Neither provide
Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
Built-in Bluetooth
Neither provide
Always-on wireless connectivity
Built-in GPS
Neither provide
Geotag your photos
On-sensor phase detect
Neither provide
Usually improves live view and video AF performance
External Mic Jack
Neither provide
Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
Headphone jack
Neither provide
Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Adorama
Read G9X User Reviews

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Review Excerpt

AF speed vastly improved; Increased continuous frames per second (JPEGs at 12.5fps vs 10fps in G15); Solid build and ergonomic, comfortable feel; Excellent f/1.8-2.8 5x optical zoom lens; Advanced photographic features, including PASM dial and RAW capture; Dedicated ISO button; Customizable buttons; Excellent macro mode; 1080p/60fps Full HD video.
LCD screen not articulated; Larger design makes it not very pocketable; Optical viewfinder not very accurate; RAW burst shooting still slow; Wi-Fi is clunky to set-up & no remote shooting capabilities; No built-in GPS.
Read our Canon G16 Review

Smallest 1-inch sensor camera available; Slips in a pants pocket almost unnoticed; Bright lens at wide-angle; Great image quality; Swift 6.5 fps JPEG burst shooting; Intuitive touch-screen control; In-camera Wi-Fi gets images onto your phone easily
Limited 3x zoom range; Tighter wide-angle than competitors; JPEG buffer limited to 10 frames; very slow bracketing / raw burst shooting; Touch-screen menus take lots of tapping; Poor battery life
Read our Canon G9X Review

The Competition

Compared to Olympus XZ-2

Canon G16

Olympus XZ-2

$499
1/1.7 inch

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$470
1/1.7 inch

Touchscreen
In-camera panoramas

Compare Canon G16 vs Olympus XZ-2

Canon G9X

Olympus XZ-2

$369
1 inch

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$470
1/1.7 inch

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Canon G9X vs Olympus XZ-2

Compared to Canon G15

Canon G16

Canon G15

$499
1/1.7 inch

Focus peaking
Built-in Wi-Fi

$650
1/1.7 inch

Shoots 24p video
Bigger JPEG buffer

Compare Canon G16 vs Canon G15

Canon G9X

Canon G15

$369
1 inch

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$650
1/1.7 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
More telephoto lens reach

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon G15

Compared to Canon S110

Canon G16

Canon S110

$499
1/1.7 inch

Focus peaking
Eye-level viewfinder

$249
1/1.7 inch

Touchscreen
Thinner

Compare Canon G16 vs Canon S110

Canon G9X

Canon S110

$369
1 inch

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$249
1/1.7 inch

More telephoto lens reach
Shoots 24p video

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon S110

Compared to Pentax MX-1

Canon G16

Pentax MX-1

$499
1/1.7 inch

Focus peaking
Slower slow-motion

$399
1/1.7 inch

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Canon G16 vs Pentax MX-1

Canon G9X

Pentax MX-1

$369
1 inch

Focus peaking
Larger sensor

$399
1/1.7 inch

In-camera panoramas
Tiltable Screen

Compare Canon G9X vs Pentax MX-1

Compared to Canon G9X Mark II

Canon G16

Canon G9X Mark II

$499
1/1.7 inch

Eye-level viewfinder
More telephoto lens reach

$449
1 inch

Larger sensor
Bigger pixels

Compare Canon G16 vs Canon G9X Mark II

Canon G9X

Canon G9X Mark II

$369
1 inch

Less expensive
Bigger RAW buffer

$449
1 inch

Fast startup
Built-in Bluetooth

Compare Canon G9X vs Canon G9X Mark II

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