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Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20

Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
19
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A1200 front
 
Pentax Optio VS20 front
Portability
90
Imaging
38
Features
35
Overall
36

Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 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 VS20
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-560mm (F3.1-4.8) lens
  • 235g - 111 x 61 x 38mm
  • Revealed January 2012
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Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the A1200 (12MP) and VS20 (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A1200 was announced 12 months earlier than the VS20 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief synopsis of how the A1200 grades versus the VS20 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A1200 over the Pentax VS20

 A1200 VS20 

Reasons to pick Pentax VS20 over the Canon A1200

 VS20 A1200 
RevealedJanuary 2012January 2011Fresher by 12 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen dimensions3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Canon A1200 and Pentax VS20

 A1200 VS20 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Canon A1200 enjoys outer 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 VS20 has measurements of 111mm x 61mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5") having a weight of 235 grams (0.52 lbs).

Compare the Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the A1200 compared to the VS20.

Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the A1200 and VS20 is 92 and 90 respectively.

Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 top view buttons comparison

Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to imagine the contrast between sensor sizing merely by going over specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the A1200 and VS20.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit different MP. You should count on the Pentax VS20 to offer extra detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures more aggressively. The older A1200 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 sensor size comparison

Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A1200 Portrait photography info
Pentax VS20 Portrait photography info
26
comes with face detect autofocus
lack of manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
36
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
no manual mode
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A1200
Street photography with Pentax VS20
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
61
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon A1200 Sports photography features
Pentax VS20 Sports photography features
23
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
has no phase detect autofocus
44
amazing zoom range (28-560mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16MP)
comes with tracking focus
low frames per second (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon A1200
Travel photography with Pentax VS20
55
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
bad battery pack (200 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
68
lighter than average (235g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
great zoom (560mm)
missing Time Lapse function
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon A1200 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax VS20 as a Landscape photography camera
27
relatively wide (28mm)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (12MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
bad battery pack (200 shots)
lack of Timelapse recording
46
you can focus manually
decently wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A1200 Vlogging highlights
Pentax VS20 Vlogging highlights
27
relatively wide (28mm)
comes with face detect autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of microphone support
30
decently wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (235g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic jack
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Canon A1200 vs Pentax VS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A1200 and Pentax VS20
 Canon PowerShot A1200Pentax Optio VS20
General Information
Company Canon Pentax
Model Canon PowerShot A1200 Pentax Optio VS20
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-01-05 2012-01-25
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 3
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-112mm (4.0x) 28-560mm (20.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-4.8
Macro focus range 3cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.7 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/2500 secs
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 4.00 m 2.80 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AEB
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic 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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 185g (0.41 lbs) 235g (0.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 63 x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2") 111 x 61 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.4" x 1.5")
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 shots -
Type of battery AA -
Battery model 2 x AA D-LI122
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $109 $106