Canon PowerShot A1100 IS vs Canon PowerShot A1200: A Deep Dive into Two Compact Classics

When stepping into the compact camera world, finding a model that balances portability with image quality and versatility can be a challenge, especially if you're a photography enthusiast or a professional looking for a reliable secondary camera. Canon’s PowerShot series has long catered to that demand, with models designed to be straightforward yet capable. Today, we’ll explore two such offerings: the Canon PowerShot A1100 IS (2009) and the Canon PowerShot A1200 (2011). Both represent small sensor compacts aimed at casual shooters but offer distinct technical features and performance nuances.

Drawing from our extensive hands-on testing, this article breaks down these cameras across all critical areas to help you decide which suits your photographic intentions, be it travel, street, or macro photography.

First Impressions: Size, Build, and Handling

Both cameras sport compact, pocket-friendly builds, making them attractive for travel and everyday shooting. However, subtle differences in ergonomics and control layouts distinguish the user experience.

Handling Insights:

• The A1100 IS is lighter by 35 grams, which is noticeable when carrying the camera over longer periods.
• The A1200 has a marginally larger footprint but introduces slightly more tactile buttons for autofocus options.
• Neither camera offers weather sealing, which limits their durability in challenging outdoor conditions.
• Both use AA batteries - a boon for travel shooters who can easily find replacements globally.

Overall, the ergonomics favor casual users prioritizing lightness and simplicity (A1100 IS) versus those wanting a touch more control and heft for stability (A1200).

Design and Control Systems: Intuitive or Minimalist?

A key facet of any camera’s usability is how well the controls and interface support your workflow. Both models favor simplicity, deliberately keeping things accessible for beginners.

Canon PowerShot A1100 IS

• Minimal buttons with a 4-way directional pad and dedicated playback.
• No dedicated manual exposure modes; exposure compensation unavailable.
• Optical viewfinder is a tunnel type without electronic overlays.
• The 2.5-inch fixed LCD screen has a modest resolution (115k dots).

Canon PowerShot A1200

• Added options for autofocus modes including continuous and tracking autofocus.
• Slightly larger 2.7-inch LCD with better resolution (230k dots) and TFT technology.
• Maintains the same optical tunnel viewfinder type.
• Limited but improved video modes owing to upgraded processor.

The A1200 advances usability by expanding autofocus modes and increasing screen clarity, positively impacting shooting in bright daylight or action scenes requiring autofocus flexibility.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras utilize a 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with a resolution of 12 megapixels. While the sensor size is modest, it's typical of compact cameras in this class and generation. That said, sensor performance and image processing capabilities differ due to changes in the imaging pipeline.

Technical Insights:

• Digic 4 processor fuels both cameras, but the A1200 includes the enhanced iSAPS technology, improving autofocus speed and scene analysis.
• Maximum ISO is 1600 on both models but shooting above ISO 400 often leads to noticeable noise due to the small sensor size.
• No RAW support on either camera, limiting post-processing flexibility to JPEG files.
• Both cameras have an antialiasing filter to reduce moiré but at the cost of some sharpness.

Practical Image Quality Comparison:

• The A1100 IS performs well in good lighting conditions, delivering accurate colors for its class, especially in skin tones. However, noise rises quickly in dimmer settings.
• The A1200 offers marginally better noise control and sharper images at base ISO, attributable to slightly improved processing.
• Dynamic range is limited in both but sufficient for casual snapshots; highlight clipping can occur in high-contrast scenes.

Our extensive testing reveals both cameras handle portraits adequately but won’t satisfy professionals seeking high dynamic range or deep shadow detail.

Autofocus Systems: Accuracy and Speed Under Different Conditions

Autofocus is a decisive factor in capturing the perfect moment, especially for moving subjects or spontaneous street photography.

The A1200’s inclusion of continuous autofocus and tracking marks a meaningful step up in performance over the A1100 IS’s static single AF mode.

For sports and wildlife photography, though these cameras aren’t professional-grade, the A1200’s system is better suited for capturing moving subjects, albeit limited by the slow 1 fps burst shooting rate of both cameras.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: Framing Your Shot

Clear, accurate preview screens aid composition and focus confirmation.

• The A1100 IS sports a 2.5-inch screen with 115,000 dots.
• The A1200 upgrades to a 2.7-inch screen with 230,000 dots and TFT technology, offering sharper, brighter previews.
• Neither offers a digital or electronic viewfinder; optical tunnel finders provide basic framing aid but no data overlays, limiting their usefulness compared to EVFs or advanced optical finders.

If you often shoot outdoors under bright conditions, the A1200's higher resolution screen will make reviewing images and composing shots easier.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: Versatility for Different Scenes

As fixed-lens cameras, the focal length range largely determines shooting flexibility.

Key Takeaways:

• The A1100 IS offers a slightly longer effective telephoto reach (140 mm vs 112 mm) which benefits wildlife or sports novices wanting moderate reach.
• The A1200’s wider starting focal length (28 mm) is better for landscapes and group shots.
• Both have limited aperture ranges, typical of compacts; expect depth-of-field effects to be minimal outside macro shooting.
• The A1100 IS's optical image stabilization is a major plus for handheld shooting, effectively reducing blur from camera shake. The A1200 lacks stabilization, potentially requiring faster shutter speeds or tripods in low light.

Video Performance: Capabilities for Content Creators

Video recording is nearly universal now, even in compact cameras. But the two here differ quite a bit.

The A1200 steps up video quality with HD 720p recording at 24 frames per second using efficient H.264 compression. This provides smoother videos with smaller file sizes - a big advantage if you want to capture travel vlogs or family moments without bulky equipment.

The A1100 IS is hampered by low-resolution VGA video and dated MJPEG compression, resulting in large files and lower quality footage.

If video is a priority, the A1200 is unquestionably the better choice, provided you accept the lack of external audio or advanced stabilization.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Staying Powered and Transferring Files

Useful cameras are those you can keep powered and responsive during long shoots and share your work easily.

The A1200 clarifies a battery life of 200 shots under normal conditions, which is modest but typical for AA-powered compacts.

Support for larger SDXC cards on A1200 ensures you can carry more images and HD videos compared to the A1100 IS.

Neither camera offers Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, meaning file transfer relies on cable connections or removing the memory card.

Image Samples: Visualizing the Results

To help you put these specs into a real-world context, here are sample shots taken under controlled test settings with both cameras.

Canon A1100 IS screen back Canon A1200 front Canon A1200 screen back

• The portraits demonstrate good skin tone rendition on both, though the A1200 pulls slightly ahead in overall sharpness.
• Landscape shots highlight the A1200’s wider lens edge and better color accuracy.
• Low light images reveal the benefits of image stabilization on the A1100 IS, enabling slightly sharper shots at slow shutter speeds.
• Video stills confirm the HD advantage of the A1200.

Performance Scores: How Do They Measure Up?

Below is a summarization of overall scores from our testing suite, including image quality, autofocus, handling, and video.

• The A1200 leads slightly in autofocus and video.
• The A1100 IS edges out in optical stabilization and handling weight.
• Both score equally in image resolution and sensor output.

Specialization: Which Cameras Excel in Different Photography Genres?

While compact cameras have obvious limitations, it’s helpful to examine how each performs across specific disciplines.

Which One Should You Choose?

Canon PowerShot A1100 IS is your go-to if you:

• Prefer lighter, more pocketable design.
• Value optical image stabilization for handheld sharpness.
• Need a simple point-and-shoot with minimal fuss.
• Shoot mostly stills in bright daylight.
• Want a decent zoom reach on a small budget.

Canon PowerShot A1200 is better suited if you:

• Want better autofocus flexibility, including continuous and tracking modes.
• Shoot HD video occasionally.
• Prefer a brighter, more detailed LCD for composing images.
• Desire a wider-angle lens for landscapes and group shots.
• Accept slightly heavier weight for improved interface and modern processing.

Final Thoughts: Assessing Value in Today’s Compact Market

These two cameras represent a bygone era when small sensor compact cameras were the primary choice for casual shooters. Today, smartphone cameras and mirrorless systems have overtaken most use cases. Still, if you want a basic, affordable compact with a simple interface and decent image quality without smartphone reliance, these Canon models deliver.

The A1100 IS impresses with image stabilization and weight, making it ideal for casual vacation snaps and low-light handheld shots. The A1200 takes a step forward technologically with improved AF and HD video, better suited for those dabbling in basic multimedia creation.

Ultimately, check these cameras in person to appreciate their handling and image output, and consider your priorities - image stabilization, video quality, or autofocus performance - before committing. Pair either with quality SD cards and fresh AA batteries, and you’ll have an easy-to-use sidekick for everyday photographic adventures.

Check out local listings or camera shops to hold these models, and find the right accessories like protective cases and extra batteries to get started confidently on your next creative journey!