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Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
19
Overall
29
Canon PowerShot A1200 front
 
Olympus Stylus 550WP front
Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26

Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP 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
  • Released January 2011
Olympus 550WP
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • Digital Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-114mm (F3.5-5.0) lens
  • 167g - 94 x 62 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Also Known as mju 550WP
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Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the A1200 (12MP) and the 550WP (10MP) is relatively well matched and both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A1200 was announced 2 years later than the 550WP and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a full comparison, here is a short highlight of how the A1200 grades against the 550WP in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A1200 over the Olympus 550WP

 A1200 550WP 
ReleasedJanuary 2011January 2009Fresher by 25 months
Screen dimensions2.7"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.2")

Reasons to pick Olympus 550WP over the Canon A1200

 550WP A1200 

Common features in the Canon A1200 and Olympus 550WP

 A1200 550WP 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon A1200 comes with exterior measurements of 98mm x 63mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) and the Olympus 550WP has sizing of 94mm x 62mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9") with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you select during that time. Here is a front view scale comparison of the A1200 and the 550WP.

Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the A1200 and 550WP is 92 and 94 respectively.

Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP top view buttons comparison

Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizing only by reading through a spec sheet. The visual below will help provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the A1200 and 550WP.

As you can see, both of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You can count on the Canon A1200 to give you extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop shots more aggressively. The more modern A1200 should have an advantage when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP sensor size comparison

Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A1200 Portrait photography advice
Olympus 550WP Portrait photography advice
27
offers face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Street photography camera
Olympus 550WP as a Street photography camera
46
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
61
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A1200 Sports photography info
Olympus 550WP Sports photography info
24
offers tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery (200 CIPA)
has no phase detect auto focus
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/1,000s)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A1200 Travel photography info
Olympus 550WP Travel photography info
55
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
bad battery (200 CIPA)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
55
weather proofing
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
low megapixels (10MP)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon A1200
Landscape photography with Olympus 550WP
27
relatively wide (28mm)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery (200 shots)
doesn't have Timelapse mode
30
has image stabilization (Digital)
weather proofing
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1200 Vlogging features
Olympus 550WP Vlogging features
27
relatively wide (28mm)
offers face detection focus
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
25
has image stabilization (Digital)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
does not have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone port
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Canon A1200 vs Olympus 550WP Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1200 and Olympus 550WP
 Canon PowerShot A1200Olympus Stylus 550WP
General Information
Brand Canon Olympus
Model Canon PowerShot A1200 Olympus Stylus 550WP
Also Known as - mju 550WP
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2011-01-05 2009-01-07
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 10MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
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 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 38-114mm (3.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.5-5.0
Macro focus range 3cm 7cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.7" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/1000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 1.0 frames per sec -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 4.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Off, On
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185 gr (0.41 lb) 167 gr (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 98 x 63 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") 94 x 62 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 0.9")
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 photos -
Type of battery AA -
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (12 seconds)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus xD-Picture Card, microSD, internal
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $109 $399