Clicky

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
19
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A1200 front
 
Nikon Coolpix AW120 front
Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 Key Specs

Canon A1200
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 185g - 98 x 63 x 31mm
  • Revealed January 2011
Nikon AW120
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-4.9) lens
  • 213g - 110 x 66 x 26mm
  • Launched February 2014
  • Replaced the Nikon AW110
  • Newer Model is Nikon AW130
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 Overview

In this write-up, we will be contrasting the Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Waterproof by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the A1200 (12MP) and AW120 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The A1200 was launched 4 years before the AW120 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a thorough comparison, below is a simple summary of how the A1200 scores against the AW120 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary

				

Reasons to pick Canon A1200 over the Nikon AW120

 A1200 AW120 

Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Canon A1200

 AW120 A1200 
LaunchedFebruary 2014January 2011More modern by 37 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon A1200 and Nikon AW120

 A1200 AW120 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither has Touch friendly screen

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Canon A1200 has exterior measurements of 98mm x 63mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") having a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) while the Nikon AW120 has measurements of 110mm x 66mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") along with a weight of 213 grams (0.47 lbs).

Contrast the Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you use at that time. Underneath is the front view scale comparison of the A1200 against the AW120.

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A1200 and AW120 is 92 and 92 respectively.

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 top view buttons comparison

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizes purely by reading a spec sheet. The image underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A1200 and AW120.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Nikon AW120 to deliver greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will allow you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged A1200 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor technology.

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 sensor size comparison

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A1200 Portrait photography info
Nikon AW120 Portrait photography info
26
has face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
MP count low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
35
good MP (16 megapixels)
features face detection focus
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Street Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Street photography camera
Nikon AW120 as a Street photography camera
46
no moving screen
no image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A1200
Sports photography with Nikon AW120
23
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect AF
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
great battery power (350 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Canon A1200 Travel photography info
Nikon AW120 Travel photography info
55
flash built-in
quite wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery life (200 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
great battery power (350 per charge)
environment sealing
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A1200
Landscape photography with Nikon AW120
27
quite wide (28mm)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
no image stabilization
MP count low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery life (200 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
48
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
environment sealing
great battery power (350 shots)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse recording
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A1200
Vlogging with Nikon AW120
27
quite wide (28mm)
has face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
no mic support
33
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
missing external mic support
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Canon A1200 vs Nikon AW120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1200 and Nikon AW120
 Canon PowerShot A1200Nikon Coolpix AW120
General Information
Brand Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot A1200 Nikon Coolpix AW120
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Revealed 2011-01-05 2014-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 125
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/2.8-4.9
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 3"
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 5.20 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 185 grams (0.41 lbs) 213 grams (0.47 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 63 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") 110 x 66 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 350 pictures
Style of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA EN-EL12
Self timer Yes -
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD / SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail cost $109 $350