Canon G16 review

Canon's workhouse G series premium compact gets refreshed

Canon PowerShot G16 review
The Canon PowerShot G16 improves on the G15

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We shoot a specially designed chart in carefully controlled conditions and the resulting images are analysed using DXO Analyzer software to generate the data to produce the graphs below.

A high signal to noise ratio (SNR) indicates a cleaner and better quality image.

For more more details on how to interpret our test data, check out our full explanation of our noise and dynamic range tests.

Here we compare the Canon G16 with its predecessor, the Canon G15, as well as its main rivals, the Nikon Coolpix P7800 and the Sony RX100 II.

JPEG signal to noise ratio

Canon Powershot G16

The G16 actually performs slightly worse than the G15 in our labs test, although the results are reasonably similar. It's also pretty closely tied with the Nikon P7800, although it does lag behind at almost every sensitivity. It is the Sony RX100 II that is the real performer in this chart though, beating all of the other cameras by some distance.

Raw signal to noise ratio

Canon Powershot G16

Here we can see a marginal improvement from its predecessor, but it is still beaten by the Nikon P7800 at every sensitivity. Again, the RX100 II is out in front.

Canon Powershot G16

In terms of dynamic range, the G16 is one of the best performers here, being reasonably close, but better than, its predecessor. It also beats the P7800 by quite some margin. The RX100 is better at lower and higher sensitivities, but is almost tied with the G16 in the middle of the range.

Raw dynamic range

Canon Powershot G16

The G16 puts in a consistent performance, beating both its predecessor and the Nikon, but not by a huge margin. Although it performs better at the lower end of the sensitivity run, from ISO 400 and above, the Sony RX100 performs significantly better than all of the cameras.

TOPICS
Amy Davies

Amy has been writing about cameras, photography and associated tech since 2009. Amy was once part of the photography testing team for Future Publishing working across TechRadar, Digital Camera, PhotoPlus, N Photo and Photography Week. For her photography, she has won awards and has been exhibited. She often partakes in unusual projects - including one intense year where she used a different camera every single day. Amy is currently the Features Editor at Amateur Photographer magazine, and in her increasingly little spare time works across a number of high-profile publications including Wired, Stuff, Digital Camera World, Expert Reviews, and just a little off-tangent, PetsRadar. 

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