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Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS

Portability
95
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS front
 
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
Portability
80
Imaging
40
Features
40
Overall
40

Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Key Specs

Canon SD1200 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-105mm (F2.8-4.9) lens
  • 160g - 86 x 55 x 22mm
  • Introduced February 2009
  • Alternate Name is Digital IXUS 95 IS
Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Replacement is Canon SX510 HS
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Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Overview

Let's look a bit more closely at the Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Canon. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SD1200 IS (10MP) and SX500 IS (16MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SD1200 IS was brought out 4 years prior to the SX500 IS and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a more detailed comparison, here is a short introduction of how the SD1200 IS grades vs the SX500 IS in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD1200 IS over the Canon SX500 IS

 SD1200 IS SX500 IS 

Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Canon SD1200 IS

 SX500 IS SD1200 IS 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2009Fresher by 42 months
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD1200 IS and Canon SX500 IS

 SD1200 IS SX500 IS 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Physical Comparison

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and proportions. The Canon SD1200 IS has got exterior dimensions of 86mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.4" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Canon SX500 IS has measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") having a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs).

Look at the Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have attached at that moment. Underneath is a front view dimension comparison of the SD1200 IS against the SX500 IS.

Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability score of the SD1200 IS and SX500 IS is 95 and 80 respectively.

Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS top view buttons comparison

Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to see the gap between sensor sizing only by looking at a spec sheet. The visual underneath should provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the SD1200 IS and SX500 IS.

Clearly, both cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same MP. You can count on the Canon SX500 IS to resolve extra detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The older SD1200 IS is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS sensor size comparison

Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Portrait photography details
Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography details
25
features face detect autofocus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
46
manual focus
above average flash sync (1/1,600s)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
provides face detect autofocus
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS as a Street photography camera
Canon SX500 IS as a Street photography camera
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Sports photography information
Canon SX500 IS Sports photography information
24
has image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
45
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
provides tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (195 shots)
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Travel photography advice
Canon SX500 IS Travel photography advice
51
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse mode
MP count low (10MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
60
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse function
terrible battery (195 per charge)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f3.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Landscape photography advice
Canon SX500 IS Landscape photography advice
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no manual exposure
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
46
manual focus
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
terrible battery (195 CIPA)
missing Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Vlogging features
Canon SX500 IS Vlogging features
28
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect autofocus
wide angle not the best (35mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of microphone port
28
really wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
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Canon SD1200 IS vs Canon SX500 IS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD1200 IS and Canon SX500 IS
 Canon PowerShot SD1200 ISCanon PowerShot SX500 IS
General Information
Brand Name Canon Canon
Model Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Canon PowerShot SX500 IS
Otherwise known as Digital IXUS 95 IS -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2009-02-18 2012-08-21
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Digic 4
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 9 1
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 35-105mm (3.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-4.9 f/3.4-5.8
Macro focus distance 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 230k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 15s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500s 1/1600s
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/1600s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 160 gr (0.35 lb) 341 gr (0.75 lb)
Physical dimensions 86 x 55 x 22mm (3.4" x 2.2" x 0.9") 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1")
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 260 shots 195 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L NB-6L
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $250 $299