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Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100

Portability
95
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26
Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix S8100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
34
Features
36
Overall
34

Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100 Key Specs

Canon SD1200 IS
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 35-105mm (F2.8-4.9) lens
  • 160g - 86 x 55 x 22mm
  • Revealed February 2009
  • Alternative Name is Digital IXUS 95 IS
Nikon S8100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 30-300mm (F3.5-5.6) lens
  • 180g - 104 x 60 x 30mm
  • Announced September 2010
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Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100 Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Canon SD1200 IS and Nikon S8100, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. The resolution of the SD1200 IS (10MP) and the S8100 (12MP) is pretty close and they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The SD1200 IS was unveiled 18 months earlier than the S8100 which makes the cameras a generation away from one another. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting through a detailed comparison, below is a short view of how the SD1200 IS scores vs the S8100 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SD1200 IS over the Nikon S8100

 SD1200 IS S8100 

Reasons to pick Nikon S8100 over the Canon SD1200 IS

 S8100 SD1200 IS 
AnnouncedSeptember 2010February 2009Newer by 18 months
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SD1200 IS and Nikon S8100

 SD1200 IS S8100 
Manually focus No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera regularly, you will need to consider its weight and size. The Canon SD1200 IS has got outer measurements of 86mm x 55mm x 22mm (3.4" x 2.2" x 0.9") with a weight of 160 grams (0.35 lbs) whilst the Nikon S8100 has specifications of 104mm x 60mm x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 180 grams (0.40 lbs).

See the Canon SD1200 IS and Nikon S8100 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SD1200 IS versus the S8100.

Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SD1200 IS and S8100 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions only by viewing technical specs. The picture underneath should offer you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the SD1200 IS and S8100.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Nikon S8100 to render extra detail having an extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more aged SD1200 IS will be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100 sensor size comparison

Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon S8100 as a Portrait photography camera
24
features face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
26
comes with face detection focus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SD1200 IS
Street photography with Nikon S8100
56
image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SD1200 IS
Sports photography with Nikon S8100
24
image stabilization (Optical)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
38
max shutter speed is good (1/8,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Travel photography info
Nikon S8100 Travel photography info
51
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
55
built-in flash
very long reach (300mm)
lack of Timelapse function
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SD1200 IS Landscape photography features
Nikon S8100 Landscape photography features
26
image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no manual exposure
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
31
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no manual mode
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SD1200 IS
Vlogging with Nikon S8100
27
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
wide angle not great (35mm)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
display isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have mic jack
30
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
wide angle not fantastic (30mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone jack
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Canon SD1200 IS vs Nikon S8100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SD1200 IS and Nikon S8100
 Canon PowerShot SD1200 ISNikon Coolpix S8100
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Nikon Coolpix S8100
Also Known as Digital IXUS 95 IS -
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-02-18 2010-09-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
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 10 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 80 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 35-105mm (3.0x) 30-300mm (10.0x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-4.9 f/3.5-5.6
Macro focusing range 3cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1500 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG H.264
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 160 gr (0.35 pounds) 180 gr (0.40 pounds)
Dimensions 86 x 55 x 22mm (3.4" x 2.2" x 0.9") 104 x 60 x 30mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 260 images 220 images
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID NB-6L EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail pricing $250 $299