Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Review

Main Features

10MP - 1/2.3" CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 1600

35-105 mm F2.8-4.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.5″ Fixed Type Screen

Optical (tunnel) viewfinder

1 fps continuous shooting

640 x 480 video resolution

160g. 86 x 55 x 22 mm

Also known as Digital IXUS 95 IS

$179.00

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Canon SD1200 IS Overview

First introduced in February 2009 , Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS is a 10.0MP Small Sensor Compact camera with a 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor. SD1200 IS is also sold as Digital IXUS 95 IS in some of the countries.

Canon SD1200 IS has an Overall Score of 36/100 and ranked #407 out of 622 in Compact cameras (Top 10 Compact), and ranked #920 out of 1157 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Canon SD1200 IS Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

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Canon SD1200 IS Compared to other Compact Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of our Canon SD1200 IS review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Image Stabilization

Optical Built-in Viewfinder

Face Detection Focusing

160g Light Body

Fast 2.80 Lens at Wide

Buy Canon SD1200 IS from or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Full HD Video

No Touch Screen

No RAW Shooting

Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP

Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.600

Only 9 Focus Points

Small LCD Screen ( 2.5″)

Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )

1/1500s Low Max Shutter Speed

Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps

Low Battery Life: 260 shots

No Manual Focusing

No Manual Exposure

No Environmental Sealing

35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage

Optical Zoom only 3X

Slow Lens at Tele: f4.90

Canon SD1200 IS Sensor and Photography Features

Canon SD1200 IS has a 10.0MP 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 3648 x 2736 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. SD1200 IS has a native ISO range of 80 - 1600 but unfortunately, Canon SD1200 IS doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

Canon SD1200 IS is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Canon SD1200 IS vs Kodak Astro Zoom AZ651 or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

Let's look at how the size of the Canon SD1200 IS's 1/2.3" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Canon SD1200 IS Physical Specs

Canon SD1200 IS weighs 160 g (0.35 lb / 5.64 oz) and has external dimensions of 86 x 55 x 22 mm (3.39 x 2.17 x 0.87″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, its weight is about average in its class. On the other hand, with a thickness of only 22mm, it is quite small, 6mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

Canon SD1200 IS

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Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

Canon SD1200 IS

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Average

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Here is the front and top view image of Canon SD1200 IS with the dimensions:

In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Canon SD1200 IS, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Canon SD1200 IS with its main competitors:

Canon SD1200 IS Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Sensor	Weight	vs SD1200 IS	Thickness	vs SD1200 IS
Canon ELPH 135	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	127g	33g lighter	22mm	equal thickness
Canon S120	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	217g	57g heavier	29mm	7mm thicker
Canon G16	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	356g	196g heavier	40mm	18mm thicker
Canon S110	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	198g	38g heavier	27mm	5mm thicker
Canon ELPH 190 IS	20.0MP - 1/2.3"	138g	22g lighter	24mm	2mm thicker
Fujifilm X20	12.0MP - 2/3"	353g	193g heavier	57mm	35mm thicker
Olympus TG-3	16.0MP - 1/2.3"	247g	87g heavier	31mm	9mm thicker
Panasonic LF1	12.0MP - 1/1.7"	192g	32g heavier	28mm	6mm thicker

Canon SD1200 IS doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

Canon SD1200 IS Lens

Canon SD1200 IS features a 35-105 mm F2.8-4.9 3× zoom lens. With a focal length of only 35mm on the wide end, it offers very limited wide angle capability . However, 105mm on the tele end means that the medium telephoto angle is well covered, only lacking the reach for wildlife and sports.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

SD1200 IS

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

SD1200 IS

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

With a max aperture of f2.80, this lens is fast on wide end, but only moderately fast at the tele end with max aperture of f4.90.

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

SD1200 IS

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

SD1200 IS

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

SD1200 IS is also equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

Canon SD1200 IS Other Features

LCD and Viewfinder

Canon SD1200 IS has a Fixed Type 2.5″ LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. At only 2.5″, the screen is on the smaller side and 230kdot resolution is lower than most of the recent models in this class.

SD1200 IS has a built-in Optical (tunnel) viewfinder.

Max Shutter speed
Canon SD1200 IS can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/1500 sec.

Flash
Unfortunately SD1200 IS doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing
Canon SD1200 IS features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

Canon SD1200 IS also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

Video Features
With Canon SD1200 IS, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 640 x 480 at 30 fps and save in and Motion JPEG formats. 640 x 480 is a low video resolution by todays standards. If video quality is important for you, we recommend you to look at cameras with Full HD, even better 4K / Ultra-HD resolution .

SD1200 IS has a built-in Mono microphone but no speaker.
Canon SD1200 IS doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Compact camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Samsung PL120 or Samsung SH100 in a similar price range.

Connectivity and Storage

Canon SD1200 IS has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

Battery Canon SD1200 IS is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 260 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Compact type cameras is 254 shots, its battery life is about average in its class but it would still be wise to invest in some spare batteries for long photo trips.

Battery Life Comparison in Small Sensor Compact Cameras

Canon SD1200 IS

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Average

Max

Fujifilm X30 with its 470shots is the model with longest battery life among Small Sensor Compact cameras. Check the comparison of Canon SD1200 IS vs Fujifilm X30 or take a look at Longest Battery Life Compact cameras list.

Canon SD1200 IS Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Canon ELPH 135 >>Compare to SD1200 IS	1280 x 720	230shots	No	No	No
Canon S120 >>Compare to SD1200 IS	1920 x 1080	230shots	Yes	No	No
Canon G16 >>Compare to SD1200 IS	1920 x 1080	360shots	Yes	No	No
Canon S110 >>Compare to SD1200 IS	1920 x 1080	200shots	Yes	No	No
Canon ELPH 190 IS >>Compare to SD1200 IS	1280 x 720	190shots	Yes	No	Yes
Fujifilm X20 >>Compare to SD1200 IS	1920 x 1080	270shots	No	No	No
Olympus TG-3 >>Compare to SD1200 IS	1920 x 1080	330shots	Yes	No	No
Panasonic LF1 >>Compare to SD1200 IS	1920 x 1080	250shots	Yes	No	Yes

Lowest Price
Current Lowest price for Canon SD1200 IS is $179.00

What type of Photography is Canon SD1200 IS Good for?

In this section, we review and score Canon SD1200 IS in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the SD1200 IS compares with the average Compact camera.
Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

Canon SD1200 IS for Portrait Photography

Canon SD1200 IS has a score of 33 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theSD1200 IS.

Image Stabilization
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability

No External Flash Shoe
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

Read the details of how we scored Canon SD1200 IS for Portrait Photography

Canon SD1200 IS for Street Photography

Canon SD1200 IS has a score of 62 for Street Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Street Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Image Stabilization
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80

Small Body
No Manual Focus Mode
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
No RAW shooting capability
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

Read the details of how we scored Canon SD1200 IS for Street Photography

Canon SD1200 IS for Sports Photography

Canon SD1200 IS has a score of 20 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theSD1200 IS.

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1500s
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 260 shots

Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode
No External Flash Shoe
105 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Canon SD1200 IS for Sports Photography

Canon SD1200 IS for Daily Photography

Canon SD1200 IS has a score of 55 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Compact Body
160g
Body Thickness 22mm

3X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability

Read the details of how we scored Canon SD1200 IS for Daily Photography

Canon SD1200 IS for Landscape Photography

Canon SD1200 IS has a score of 24 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theSD1200 IS.

No Manual Exposure Mode
No Manual Focus Mode
35 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
No RAW shooting capability

Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings

Read the details of how we scored Canon SD1200 IS for Landscape Photography

Canon SD1200 IS Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Canon SD1200 IS compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of SD1200 IS and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Canon SD1200 IS alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Canon SD1200 IS

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Canon SD1200 IS amongst Camera Decision readers.

Canon ELPH 135

Compare

Canon S120

Compare

Canon G16

Compare

Canon S110

Compare

Canon ELPH 190 IS

Compare

Fujifilm X20

Compare

Olympus TG-3

Compare

Panasonic LF1

Compare

Canon SD1200 IS Alternatives in Mirrorless Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Canon SD1200 IS with Mirrorless Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked Mirrorless cameras in Canon SD1200 IS's price range.

Olympus E-P3

Compare

Pentax Q-S1

Compare

Olympus E-PL2

Compare

Kodak S-1

Compare

Olympus E-PL1

Compare

Olympus E-P1

Compare

Nikon 1 J3

Compare

Sony NEX-3

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Canon SD1200 IS

Does the Canon SD1200 IS have Image Stabilization?
Does the Canon SD1200 IS have RAW support?
Does the Canon SD1200 IS have Weather Sealing?
Does the Canon SD1200 IS have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Canon SD1200 IS?
What is the Sensor Size of Canon SD1200 IS?
is the Canon SD1200 IS a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Canon SD1200 IS have Touch Screen?
Does the Canon SD1200 IS have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Canon SD1200 IS?

Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Canon
Model	Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS
Also known as	Digital IXUS 95 IS
Announced	2009-02-18
Body Type	Compact
Price	$179.00
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	35-105 mm (3×)
Max Aperture	F2.8-4.9
Macro Focus Range	3cm
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Size	2.5″
Screen Resolution	230k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (tunnel)
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	15s
Max Shutter Speed	1/1500s
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	n/a
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	3.50 m
Flash Modes	Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	not tested
DxO Color Depth	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	not tested
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CCD
Sensor Size	1/2.3"
Sensor Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Sensor Area	28.07mm²
Sensor Resolution	10 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	3648 x 2736
Max Native ISO	1,600
Min Native ISO	80
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	9
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max Video Resolution	640 x 480
Video Formats	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	160g
Physical Dimensions	86 x 55 x 22mm
Battery Life	260 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	NB-6L
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus
Storage Slots	1