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Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
19
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A1200 front
 
Canon PowerShot SX170 IS front
Portability
88
Imaging
40
Features
41
Overall
40

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS Key Specs

Canon A1200
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 185g - 98 x 63 x 31mm
  • Announced January 2011
Canon SX170 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 251g - 108 x 71 x 44mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Previous Model is Canon SX160 IS
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Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS Overview

Here, we are looking at the Canon A1200 and Canon SX170 IS, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are produced by Canon. There is a huge difference among the resolutions of the A1200 (12MP) and SX170 IS (16MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The A1200 was released 3 years before the SX170 IS which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before we go straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief summary of how the A1200 matches up versus the SX170 IS in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon A1200 over the Canon SX170 IS

 A1200 SX170 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX170 IS over the Canon A1200

 SX170 IS A1200 
AnnouncedAugust 2013January 2011Newer by 32 months
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Display size3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Common features in the Canon A1200 and Canon SX170 IS

 A1200 SX170 IS 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and size. The Canon A1200 offers outside measurements of 98mm x 63mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") having a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Canon SX170 IS has specifications of 108mm x 71mm x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 251 grams (0.55 lbs).

Examine the Canon A1200 and Canon SX170 IS in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are using at that time. The following is a front view sizing comparison of the A1200 against the SX170 IS.

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the A1200 and SX170 IS is 92 and 88 respectively.

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is hard to see the difference in sensor dimensions only by going through technical specs. The image below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the A1200 and SX170 IS.

As you can tell, both the cameras come with the identical sensor size but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Canon SX170 IS to provide greater detail as a result of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop images a good deal more aggressively. The more aged A1200 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A1200 Portrait photography highlights
Canon SX170 IS Portrait photography highlights
26
includes face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
44
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A1200 Street photography advice
Canon SX170 IS Street photography advice
46
fixed screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (251g)
fixed screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A1200 Sports photography information
Canon SX170 IS Sports photography information
23
includes tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
48
great zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
max fps low (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon A1200 Travel photography information
Canon SX170 IS Travel photography information
55
flash built-in
decently wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than competition (251 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
great reach (448mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A1200 Landscape photography information
Canon SX170 IS Landscape photography information
27
decently wide (28mm)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
terrible battery pack (200 per charge)
lack of Time Lapse function
49
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (28mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Vlogging camera
Canon SX170 IS as a Vlogging camera
27
decently wide (28mm)
includes face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than competition (251 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external mic jack
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Canon A1200 vs Canon SX170 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1200 and Canon SX170 IS
 Canon PowerShot A1200Canon PowerShot SX170 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model type Canon PowerShot A1200 Canon PowerShot SX170 IS
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-01-05 2013-08-22
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-448mm (16.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 15s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/3200s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 3.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, Flash On, Slow Synchro, Flash Off
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 185 gr (0.41 lb) 251 gr (0.55 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 63 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") 108 x 71 x 44mm (4.3" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 shots 300 shots
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NB-6LH
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $109 $0