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Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
19
Overall
29
Canon PowerShot A1200 front
 
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS front
Portability
89
Imaging
39
Features
47
Overall
42

Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS 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
  • Launched January 2011
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced February 2012
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Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Canon A1200 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Canon and Olympus. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the A1200 (12MP) and SZ-31MR iHS (16MP) but they possess the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The A1200 was launched 13 months prior to the SZ-31MR iHS which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summary of how the A1200 matches up versus the SZ-31MR iHS when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A1200 over the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 A1200 SZ-31MR iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-31MR iHS over the Canon A1200

 SZ-31MR iHS A1200 
AnnouncedFebruary 2012January 2011More recent by 13 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution920k230kSharper screen (+690k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Canon A1200 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS

 A1200 SZ-31MR iHS 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen

Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to lug around your camera, you will want to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon A1200 offers external dimensions of 98mm x 63mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") with a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS has measurements of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") accompanied by a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Canon A1200 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the A1200 compared to the SZ-31MR iHS.

Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the A1200 and SZ-31MR iHS is 92 and 89 respectively.

Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS top view buttons comparison

Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be tough to see the gap in sensor measurements simply by seeing technical specs. The photograph below will help give you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the A1200 and SZ-31MR iHS.

As you can tell, both of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Olympus SZ-31MR iHS to show greater detail utilizing its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older A1200 will be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS sensor size comparison

Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A1200
Portrait photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
27
features face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
34
decent MP (16MP)
supports face detection focus
no manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Street photography camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Street photography camera
46
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
64
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (226g)
screen is fixed
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A1200 Sports photography information
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Sports photography information
24
features tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (200 CIPA)
does not have phase detect auto focus
44
long zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (200 per charge)
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A1200 Travel photography details
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Travel photography details
55
has built in flash
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
low battery (200 shots)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
features focus via touch
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
great zoom (600mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
low battery (200 CIPA)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A1200
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
27
relatively wide (28mm)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
41
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-31MR iHS as a Vlogging camera
27
relatively wide (28mm)
features face detection focus
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
35
pretty wide (25mm)
built-in touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (226 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
screen isn't selfie friendly
doesn't have external mic socket
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Canon A1200 vs Olympus SZ-31MR iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1200 and Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
 Canon PowerShot A1200Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
General Information
Make Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot A1200 Olympus SZ-31MR iHS
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-01-05 2012-02-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology Dual TruePic V
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 80 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 3"
Screen resolution 230 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD Hypercrystal III TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 9.30 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185 gr (0.41 lb) 226 gr (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 98 x 63 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 shots 200 shots
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA LI-50B
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at launch $109 $0