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Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
19
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A1200 front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 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
  • Revealed January 2011
Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Launched August 2012
  • Replacement is Canon SX510 HS
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Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Canon A1200 versus Canon SX500 IS, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both of them are created by Canon. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the A1200 (12MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A1200 was launched 19 months before the SX500 IS which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the A1200 scores versus the SX500 IS for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A1200 over the Canon SX500 IS

 A1200 SX500 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon A1200

 SX500 IS A1200 
LaunchedAugust 2012January 2011More recent by 19 months
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution461k230kCrisper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon A1200 and Canon SX500 IS

 A1200 SX500 IS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to lug around your camera often, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Canon A1200 has external dimensions of 98mm x 63mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") and a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) whilst the Canon SX500 IS has proportions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Look at the Canon A1200 versus Canon SX500 IS in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have at the time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the A1200 against the SX500 IS.

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the A1200 and SX500 IS is 92 and 80 respectively.

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to see the gap in sensor measurements purely by checking out specs. The visual here might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the A1200 and SX500 IS.

All in all, both the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Canon SX500 IS to provide extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older A1200 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A1200 Portrait photography factors
Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography factors
26
comes with face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
46
focusing manually
flash sync is higher than normal (1/1,600s)
decent MP (16MP)
supports face detection focus
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon A1200 Street photography factors
Canon SX500 IS Street photography factors
46
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A1200 Sports photography highlights
Canon SX500 IS Sports photography highlights
23
comes with tracking focus
slow frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (200 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
45
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (195 per charge)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A1200 Travel photography info
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography info
55
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
low battery (200 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
decent MP (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
not so great battery life (195 CIPA)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A1200 Landscape photography information
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography information
27
fairly wide (28mm)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
low battery (200 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
46
focusing manually
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery life (195 shots)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1200 Vlogging advice
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging advice
27
fairly wide (28mm)
comes with face detect autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have microphone socket
28
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone port
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Canon A1200 vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1200 and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot A1200Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Company Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot A1200 Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2011-01-05 2012-08-21
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 measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.7 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 461 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m 5.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync - 1/1600 secs
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 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185 grams (0.41 lbs) 341 grams (0.75 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 63 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 200 photographs 195 photographs
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NB-6L
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 1 1
Launch cost $109 $299