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Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
19
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A1200 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S3500 front
Portability
95
Imaging
45
Features
25
Overall
37

Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500 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
  • Launched January 2011
Nikon S3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-182mm (F3.4-6.4) lens
  • 129g - 97 x 58 x 21mm
  • Announced February 2013
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Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Canon A1200 versus Nikon S3500, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Canon and Nikon. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the A1200 (12MP) and S3500 (20MP) but they come with the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A1200 was revealed 3 years prior to the S3500 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the A1200 scores against the S3500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A1200 over the Nikon S3500

 A1200 S3500 

Reasons to pick Nikon S3500 over the Canon A1200

 S3500 A1200 
AnnouncedFebruary 2013January 2011More recent by 25 months

Common features in the Canon A1200 and Nikon S3500

 A1200 S3500 
Focus manually No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.7"2.7"Equivalent screen measurements
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera often, you'll need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon A1200 offers outside dimensions 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 S3500 has dimensions of 97mm x 58mm x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8") along with a weight of 129 grams (0.28 lbs).

Analyze the Canon A1200 versus Nikon S3500 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the A1200 and the S3500.

Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A1200 and S3500 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500 top view buttons comparison

Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very hard to see the difference between sensor measurements just by reading specifications. The graphic here may provide you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the A1200 and S3500.

To sum up, the two cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Nikon S3500 to offer more detail because of its extra 8MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop pictures far more aggressively. The older A1200 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500 sensor size comparison

Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon S3500 as a Portrait photography camera
26
includes face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
33
good megapixels (20MP)
manual focus not available
no manual mode
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon A1200 Street photography advice
Nikon S3500 Street photography advice
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
64
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (129 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A1200
Sports photography with Nikon S3500
23
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
lacks phase detect AF
42
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon S3500 as a Travel photography camera
55
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
69
lighter than competition in class (129g)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (26mm)
no Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A1200 Landscape photography details
Nikon S3500 Landscape photography details
27
reasonably wide (28mm)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.7 inch)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
not so great battery power (200 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse function
41
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
no Timelapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Vlogging camera
Nikon S3500 as a Vlogging camera
27
reasonably wide (28mm)
includes face detection focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external microphone socket
32
decently wide (26mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (129 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.4)
display is not selfie friendly
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
no external microphone jack
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Canon A1200 vs Nikon S3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1200 and Nikon S3500
 Canon PowerShot A1200Nikon Coolpix S3500
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot A1200 Nikon Coolpix S3500
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-01-05 2013-02-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 5152 x 3864
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 26-182mm (7.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.4-6.4
Macro focusing range 3cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.7" 2.7"
Resolution of display 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT LCD TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15s 4s
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Microphone 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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 185g (0.41 lbs) 129g (0.28 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 63 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") 97 x 58 x 21mm (3.8" x 2.3" x 0.8")
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 images -
Battery format AA -
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes -
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus -
Storage slots One One
Retail pricing $109 $85