Canon PowerShot G16 vs Canon PowerShot G5 X

In this comparison, we will evaluate the Canon PowerShot G16 and the Canon PowerShot G5 X, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

Canon PowerShot G16 was introduced in November 2013 and Canon PowerShot G5 X was introduced in September 2015. Let us first list highlights of the models.

Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Canon PowerShot G16 over Canon PowerShot G5 X.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Canon PowerShot G5 X over Canon PowerShot G16.

We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

Screen

Canon PowerShot G16 and Canon PowerShot G5 X have 3.0" screens with 922k dot and 1,040k dot resolutions respectively. Canon PowerShot G16 has a Fixed screen Canon PowerShot G5 X has a Fully Articulated screen which makes it selfie and vlogger friendly and generally very useful for video shooting. Canon PowerShot G5 X also features touchscreen which has advantages such as easy menu navigation, intuitive controls, quick setting adjustment and most importantly a Touch-to-Focus functionality (available only on Canon PowerShot G5 X) allowing users to select a specific point on the screen where they want the camera to focus. This feature can be helpful for achieving precise focus in both photo and video recording.

Viewfinder

Canon PowerShot G16 has a built-in Optical (tunnel) viewfinderCanon PowerShot G5 X has a built-in Electronic viewfinder with 2,360k dot resolution. Canon PowerShot G16 has 80% coverage magnification and Canon PowerShot G5 X has 100% coverage magnification.

BSI-CMOS Sensor

Canon PowerShot G16 features a 12.1 megapixel 1/1.7-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with dimensions of 7.44 x 5.58 mm and a total area of 41.5 mm². Its native ISO range is 80 - 12,800. Canon PowerShot G5 X features a 20.2 megapixel 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with dimensions of 13.2 x 8.8 mm and a total area of 77.4 mm². Its native ISO range is 125 - 12,800.

The cameras have BSI-CMOS sensor, short for Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor sensor. In traditional CMOS sensors, the wiring and circuitry are located on the front side of the sensor, which can block some of the incoming light. BSI technology flips this design by placing the photosensitive elements (pixels) on the backside of the sensor, allowing more light to reach the pixels. This significantly enhances light sensitivity and improves low-light performance. BSI-CMOS sensors are particularly effective in low-light conditions, as they can capture more light, resulting in brighter and less noisy images. This makes them well-suited for indoor and night photography. BSI-CMOS sensors deliver a higher SNR and reduced cross-talk.

Cameras are equipped with DIGIC 6 processor.

Image Stabilization

The cameras have a built-in [y] image stabilization.

Built-in Wi-Fi

Cameras have built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz on Canon PowerShot G5 X) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
  Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.

NFC on Canon PowerShot G5 X

Canon PowerShot G5 X has Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which simplifies the process of pairing it with other NFC-enabled devices like smartphones or tablets. It allows to quickly transfer photos and videos or remotely control the camera from compatible device. NFC can also be used for authentication and security purposes. It can verify your identity before accessing certain features or transferring sensitive data. It can be used with NFC-enabled accessories as well, such as lenses, flashes and GPS devices.

USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. Canon PowerShot G16 has a Mini HDMI and Canon PowerShot G5 X has a Micro HDMI connector for video signal output.

Battery

Canon PowerShot G16 comes with NB-10L battery pack with battery life of 360 shots and Canon PowerShot G5 X comes with NB-13L battery pack with battery life of 210 shots.

External Storage Slots

Cameras have a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

Shutter

Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Canon PowerShot G16, and up to 1/2000 sec on Canon PowerShot G5 X. Canon PowerShot G16 can shoot continuously up to 12.2 fps. Canon PowerShot G5 X can shoot continuously up to 5.9 fps.

Flash

Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 7.00 m on Canon PowerShot G16 and 7.00 m at Auto ISO on Canon PowerShot G5 X. They also accept external flash which can be connected via Shoe Mount. The fastest flash synchronization speed is 1/2000 sec on Canon PowerShot G16.

Canon PowerShot G16 body has dimensions of 109 x 76 x 40 mm (4.29 x 2.99 x 1.57") and Canon PowerShot G5 X body has dimensions of 112 x 76 x 44 mm (4.41 x 2.99 x 1.73"). Canon PowerShot G16 weighs 356 g (0.78 lb / 12.56 oz) and Canon PowerShot G5 X weighs 353 g (0.78 lb / 12.45 oz).

Canon PowerShot G16

Canon PowerShot G5 X

109 mm

76 mm

112 mm

76 mm

76 mm

76 mm