Canon SD1200 IS vs Leica X Vario

Let's look more in depth at the Canon SD1200 IS versus Leica X Vario, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Large Sensor Compact by manufacturers Canon and Leica. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the SD1200 IS (10MP) and X Vario (16MP) and the SD1200 IS (1/2.3") and X Vario (APS-C) have different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The SD1200 IS was announced 5 years before the X Vario which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras feature different body design with the Canon SD1200 IS being a Compact camera and the Leica X Vario being a Large Sensor Compact camera.

Before we go right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the SD1200 IS scores vs the X Vario when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS and Leica X Vario. The whole galleries are provided at Canon SD1200 IS Gallery and Leica X Vario Gallery.

In case you're planning to carry around your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SD1200 IS comes with outer dimensions of 86mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.4" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) while the Leica X Vario has proportions of 133mm x 73mm x 95mm (5.2" x 2.9" x 3.7") accompanied by a weight of 680 grams (1.50 lbs).

Examine the Canon SD1200 IS versus Leica X Vario in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the SD1200 IS and the X Vario.

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the SD1200 IS and X Vario is 95 and 62 respectively.

Usually, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor sizes just by viewing a spec sheet. The image below will give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the SD1200 IS and X Vario.

As you can see, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The SD1200 IS with its smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower depth of field trickier and the Leica X Vario will render greater detail with its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop pics way more aggressively. The more aged SD1200 IS will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.