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Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
19
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A1200 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1 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
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Released July 2013
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Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Canon A1200 versus Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by manufacturers Canon and Pentax. The resolution of the A1200 (12MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is fairly similar but the A1200 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") boast totally different sensor measurements.

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The A1200 was launched 3 years prior to the MX-1 and that is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a short view of how the A1200 grades vs the MX-1 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon A1200 over the Pentax MX-1

 A1200 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Canon A1200

 MX-1 A1200 
ReleasedJuly 2013January 2011More recent by 30 months
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display dimensions3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution920k230kClearer display (+690k dot)

Common features in the Canon A1200 and Pentax MX-1

 A1200 MX-1 
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon A1200 enjoys outside dimensions of 98mm x 63mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) while the Pentax MX-1 has dimensions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") along with a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Analyze the Canon A1200 versus Pentax MX-1 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the A1200 compared to the MX-1.

Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the A1200 and MX-1 is 92 and 84 respectively.

Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements purely by reading specifications. The photograph below will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the A1200 and MX-1.

To sum up, both of the cameras have the same MP but not the same sensor measurements. The A1200 comes with the tinier sensor which should make getting shallower depth of field more difficult. The older A1200 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A1200 Portrait photography information
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography information
26
provides face detect focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
42
you can focus manually
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
low resolution (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/1.7")
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon A1200 Street photography highlights
Pentax MX-1 Street photography highlights
46
no moving screen
no image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
65
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
small sensor (1/1.7")
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Canon A1200 Sports photography information
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography information
23
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 shots)
lacks phase detect AF
43
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
great battery life (290 per charge)
low frames per second (1.0 frames per second)
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon A1200
Travel photography with Pentax MX-1
55
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
61
great battery life (290 CIPA)
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
missing Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A1200 Landscape photography information
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography information
27
pretty wide (28mm)
no manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.7")
no manual control
no image stabilization
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
55
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
delivers RAW formats
great battery life (290 shots)
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
low resolution (12MP)
small sensor (1/1.7")
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1200 Vlogging factors
Pentax MX-1 Vlogging factors
27
pretty wide (28mm)
provides face detect focusing
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have microphone jack
33
fairly wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
missing microphone support
more heavy than competitors (391 grams)
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Canon A1200 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1200 and Pentax MX-1
 Canon PowerShot A1200Pentax MX-1
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model type Canon PowerShot A1200 Pentax MX-1
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-01-05 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 80 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Highest aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing distance 3cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 2.7" 3"
Resolution of display 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 4.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
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) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 185 gr (0.41 lbs) 391 gr (0.86 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 63 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life 200 shots 290 shots
Battery style AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA D-Li-106
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Retail price $109 $400