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Canon G9 X vs Canon G15 Comparison

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Canon G9 X

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Canon G9 X
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Canon G15

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon G15
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Canon G9 X vs Canon G15 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing G9 X and G15, two Compact cameras by Canon. Canon PowerShot G9 X is a Large Sensor Compact class camera and Canon PowerShot G15 is a Small Sensor Compact class camera.

Canon G9 X was introduced to market in October 2015 and Canon G15 was launched in September 2012. As you can see, G15 is 3 years older than G9 X. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon G9 X and Canon G15 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon G9 X Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-10-12
  • 20MP - 1' BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 12800
  • 28-84 mm F2.0-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 6.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 209g. 98 x 58 x 31 mm

Canon G15 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-09-17
  • 12MP - 1/1.7-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 28-140 mm F1.8-2.8 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (tunnel) viewfinder
  • 2.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • 352g. 107 x 76 x 40 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot G12 Compare

Canon G9 X was replaced by Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II vs Canon PowerShot G9 X
Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II vs Canon PowerShot G15

Canon G15 was replaced by Canon PowerShot G16. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon PowerShot G16 vs Canon PowerShot G15
Canon PowerShot G16 vs Canon PowerShot G9 X

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon G9 X and Canon G15 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot G9 X over Canon PowerShot G15
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs Eye-Fi Connected Better connectivity
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Max Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 12 MP 66% more pixels
LCD Screen Resolution
1.040k dots vs 922k dots 12% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting
6.0fps vs 2.0fps 4 fps faster
Weight
209 g vs 352 g 143 g lighter
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Color Depth
21.5 vs 19.9 higher color depth
Dynamic Range
12.3 vs 11.5 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
495 vs 165 better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area
5.82µm2 vs 3.46µm2 68% larger pixel area
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
CHECK G9 X PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot G15 over Canon PowerShot G9 X
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Optical vs None Better framing and control
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
350 shots vs 220 shots 130 more frames with a single charge
Focal Length - Tele
140mm vs 84mm 56 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5× vs 3x more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 2.00 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
2.80 vs 4.90 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
7.0m vs 6.0m 1m longer range
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Built-in ND Filter
Yes vs No Use larger aperture under strong light
CHECK G15 PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot G9 X and Canon PowerShot G15
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Manual Focusing
Yes vs Yes both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
Yes vs Yes better exposure control
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot G9 X and Canon PowerShot G15
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Canon G9 X vs Canon G15: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Canon G9 X and Canon G15 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon G9 X has external dimensions of 98 x 58 x 31 mm (3.86 x 2.28 x 1.21″) and weighs 209 g (0.46 lb / 7.37 oz) (including batteries). Canon G15 has external dimensions of 107 x 76 x 40 mm (4.21 x 2.99 x 1.57″) and weighs 352 g (0.78 lb / 12.42 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon G9 X and Canon G15. Canon G9 X is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 9mm narrower, 18mm shorter and 9mm thinner than Canon G15.

Canon G9 X vs Canon G15 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Canon G9 X and Canon G15 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Canon G9 X and Canon G15.

Canon G9 X vs Canon G15 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Canon G9 X and Canon G15 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon G9 X and Canon G15.
Canon G9 X vs Canon G15 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Canon G9 X and Canon G15 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon G9 X is significantly lighter (143g ) than the Canon G15 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

G9 X
G15
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

G9 X
G15
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot G9 X nor Canon PowerShot G15 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon G9 X and Canon G15's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Canon G9 X vs Canon G15: Sensor Comparison

Canon G9 X has a 20.0MP 1' (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features DIGIC 6 processor. On the other hand, Canon G15 has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Digic 5 processor.

Canon G9 X's sensor provides 8MP more than Canon G15's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the G9 X and G15 sensor size comparison.

Canon G9 X vs Canon G15 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon G9 X and Canon G15 Cameras


As seen above, Canon G9 X has a 2.8x Larger sensor area than Canon G15. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Canon G9 X and Canon G15 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, G9 X has scored 63, 17 points higher than G15.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Canon G9 X 63 21.5 bits 12.3 Evs 495 ISO
Canon G15 46 19.9 bits 11.5 Evs 165 ISO
Canon G9 X vs Canon G15 Lens Specs Comparison

Canon G9 X features a 28-84 mm F2.0-4.9 3x zoom lens whereas Canon G15 features a 28-140 mm F1.8-2.8 5× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 28mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Canon G15 is faster than Canon G9 X at this focal length. On the tele end, Canon G15 has 56mm longer reach than the Canon G9 X. At f2.80, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

G9 X
G15
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

G9 X
G15
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

G9 X
G15
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

G9 X
G15
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Canon G9 X and Canon G15 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon G9 X and Canon G15 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon G9 X for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon G15 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon G9 X for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon G15 for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Canon G9 X for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon G15 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Wireless Connection
Average Continuous Shooting: 6.0fps
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
84 mm Tele Lens
Read the details
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Fast Lens at Tele: f2.80
140 mm Tele Lens
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 2.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Read the details

Canon G9 X for Daily Photography

GOOD

Canon G15 for Daily Photography

GOOD
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
209g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
3.0X Optical Zoom
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
352g
Body Thickness 40mm
Read the details

Canon G9 X for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon G15 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon G9 X vs Canon G15: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Canon G9 X and Canon G15, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon G9 X and Canon G15 scores compare:

Canon G9 X
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #9 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #293 out of 1243 in all Cameras
Canon G15
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #27 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #409 out of 1243 in all Cameras

Canon G9 X is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon G15 in all criteria. It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Canon G9 X
Canon G9 X
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Canon G15
Canon G15
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Canon G15 vs Canon G9 X Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot G9 X Canon PowerShot G15
Brand Canon Canon
Announced 2015-10-12 2012-09-17
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Size 1' 1/1.7-inch
Dimensions 13.2 x 8.8 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 116.16mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 20 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 5472 x 3648 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,800 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-84 mm (3x) 28-140 mm (5×)
Max Aperture F2.0-4.9 F1.8-2.8
Macro Focus Range 5cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 922k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Optical (tunnel)
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.00 m (at Auto ISO) 7.00 m
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/2000s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 6.0 fps 2.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 209g 352g
Dimensions 98 x 58 x 31mm 107 x 76 x 40mm
Battery Life 220 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 63 46
DxO Color Depth 21.5 19.9
DxO Dynamic Range 12.3 11.5
DxO Low Light ISO 495 165
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