Canon A1200
- 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 80 - 1600
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-112mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
- 185g - 98 x 63 x 31mm
- Introduced January 2011
- Read full specs
- Alternatives
- Size Comparison
- FAQ
92 Imaging
35 Features
19 Overall
28
Canon A1200 summary
Canon A1200 is Canon's Small Sensor Compact digital camera first released on January of 2011. It comes with a 12 MegaPixel, CCD 1/2.3" size sensor with a max resolution of 4000 x 3000.
The A1200 ranks at #199 out of 261 in Small Sensor Compact cameras and over-all #1154 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. You should try out our Smart camera search to get camera rankings based on your custom factors.
The following is a diagram of multiple factors used in the rating system.
Canon A1200 history
The Canon A1200 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Listed below, you can look at all older and the latest models as well as main specifications.
F2.8-5.912MP1/2.3"2011
Canon A1200 Gallery
You can view the A1200 from several angles in the gallery underneath.
Canon A1200 Pros and Cons
Here is a selection of pros and cons of the Canon A1200 based on aspects that are generally considered important in a digital camera.
Canon A1200 Sensor information
The Canon A1200 features the DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology processor chip. The sensor dimension in the Canon A1200 is 6.17mm x 4.55mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9.
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or banThe CCD sensor boasts 12MP and gives a standard ISO range of 80 - 1600. Unfortunately, RAW format is not saved so you have less margin for error.
The image below shows the A1200's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The A1200 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is showcased in green.
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modesTo get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.
Canon A1200 dimensions
Canon A1200 weighs 0.41 lb (185 grams or 6.53 ounces) and the size of the camera is 98mm x 63mm x 31mm (3.9" x 2.5" x 1.2"). The weight of typical Small Sensor Compact camera is 174 grams so the Canon A1200 is very much the same in comparison with various competitors.
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe following is a photo of the Canon A1200 alongside a softdrink so you can have a feel for its size.
The top view directly below will show the button arrangement on the A1200.
Canon A1200 Lens information
The A1200 provides a built-in lens giving a focal range of 28-112mm giving it a 4.0 x zoom which might not be exceptional however it may be helpful in some circumstances.
At it's widest 28mm, the lens offers an aperture of f2.8 making it pretty sluggish and not great in low light occasions and you might struggle to capture good bokeh. You will likely also need to increase your ISO producing noisy photos. With the long end, 112mm comes to f5.9 making it fairly sluggish and you may have to apply slower shutter speeds.
Canon A1200 Connectivity
The A1200 has the following connectivity:
- USB Yes
Digital cameras that feature NFC or Bluetooth connectivity can be used wirelessly via smartphones. You are able to transfer files and usually change camera settings without the hassle of connecting physically with the camera.
Certain apps also stream a Liveview and hit the shutter in case you are not close to the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI out, it can be hooked up to an external screen. A lot of cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack using the USB port.
Canon A1200 Video information
The max video resolution in the Canon A1200 is 1280 x 720 and it can save in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 720p is awful by today's standards. You should really strive for at least FUll HD resolution for video. The body does not have a mic or headphone socket so you have got zero control over your sound. It is probably best to get another camera if you require good sound in your videos.
Canon A1200 Weather Sealing
There is no environment proofing in the Canon A1200 so you have to be careful in rainy or dusty situations.
Canon A1200 Screen and Viewfinder
The Canon A1200 comes with a 2.7" fixed display screen with a resolution of 230k dots.
Unfortunately the display screen isn't a touch screen.
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhoneThe View Finder specifications regarding Canon A1200 are the following:
- ViewFinder Optical (tunnel)
Viewfinders can be rather helpful during bright outdoor situations which may make the camera screen washed out and difficult to view.
Canon A1200 Shutter information
Canon A1200 is able to shoot continuously at 1.0 frames/s. The maximum shutter speed is 1/1600 sec.
Canon A1200 Flash and Hot shoe information
Canon A1200 includes just inbuilt flash without external flash support.
Canon A1200 Autofocus information
Canon A1200 includes only Contrast Based Auto Focus and lacks Phase Detect Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is more faster and accurate compared to Contrast Based autofocusing. The camera comes with Face detection which makes it valuable for people photography.
The AF system comes with 9 focus points to select from. It also features Tracking Auto Focus for moving subjects. Canon A1200 has no manual focusing. Manual focusing option is good during low light or you need to have more accurate focus control.
Canon A1200 Battery life
The battery pack (2 x AA) in the Canon A1200 is designed to last for 200 pictures according to the CIPA standards which is lesser as compared to its rivals. The usual Small Sensor Compact camera battery life is 241. Fujifilm X30 offers the maximum (470) battery life within this group of cameras.
Listed below is a collection of Small Sensor Compact cameras which have the best battery life:
Canon A1200 for specific kinds of photography
The following graph shows a rundown of the Canon A1200 for specific kinds of photography. To find out more, browse to the specific section below.
Canon A1200 Portrait photography features
The Canon A1200 gets a points tally of 26 which is really bad, meaning that it is not really acceptable to use for portrait images. Taking portrait images favors heavily to sensor size, support for RAW files in addition to the capability to utilize off-camera flash.
Canon A1200 Street photography highlights
Getting a decent points total of 46, the Canon A1200 is reasonably appropriate to buy for street photography. A good street photography camera has a good balance of image quality plus portability.
Canon A1200 as a Sports photography camera
A really bad sports photography score of 23 suggests the Canon A1200 is not really acceptable for taking pictures of sports. A camera must have good autofocus and fast continuous shooting for sports photography.
Canon A1200 Travel photography advice
Weight is super crucial in picking a travel camera. Over-all, the Canon A1200 gets a reasonable 55 for a travel camera which makes it fairly suited to buy for your vacations.
Landscape photography with Canon A1200
For anybody planning to purchase a digital camera for landscape pictures, the most vital factor is going to be image quality. The Canon A1200 at it's really bad grade of 27 for a landscape camera is not really acceptable amongst it's competition.
Canon A1200 Vlogging features
A vlogging camera preferably should have a moving screen, mic port and if possible image stabilization. Taking everything into account, the Canon A1200 is not really acceptable as a vlog camera as it receives a really bad rating of 27.
Canon A1200 Alternatives
If you are in the market for replacements to the A1200, here is a collection of the highest scored cameras which fall into the category of Small Sensor Compact.
The chart underneath gives you an overview of the A1200 vs it's highest scoring competitors suggested above.
There are more cameras you might see as alternative options. To go through a extensive comparison, simply click the "compare" link.