Cameras & Camcorders

[Arlynn]

I am considering buying either a Canon SD1200IS or a Canon A1100 point and shoot camera.  I am having a tough time deciding which one would be a better buy even though I know what the differences are i.e. SD 1200 has optical viewfinder and uses AA batteries.  Any opinions on which one is a better buy.  They are both the same price.

[TheLexMachine]

A1100. I own one. The SD1200 is okay but the tiny rectangular body design and lack of AA batteries makes it unsuitable for my tastes. I can grip the A1100 in one hand easily due to the fact that it has an actual grip designed in the body and I can't say the same for the SD1200 because of it's body design which does not fit well in my hand. You can get the A1100 for $130 in a lot of places so shop around.

[Entropy]

I'd say go for the SD1200 for those exact same reasons.  The best camera is the one you have with you - the slightly protruding lens housing of the A-series Canons makes it far harder to "pocket" and carry around with you.  Li-Ion batteries usually last far longer than AAs and lead to a far more compact camera.  I specifically avoid any camera model that uses AAs these days.

I don't have enough time to look at detailed specs though - the A series might have a larger sensor, leading to improved image quality in low light.  On the other hand, being a "cheapie" model, its sensor size may be the same as the SD1200.  (I'm not talking megapixel count, I am talking about physical sensor area - more pixels in the same area, or same pixels in a smaller area leads to reduced image quality in low light situations.  This is why Canon's latest "flagship" point-and-shoots actually went down in pixel count - from 14 to 10 between the G10 and G11.)

[Arlynn]

 1 to 1 .Any other opinions?  What about Allan the moderator?  Do you have an opinion?  Thanks.

[Entropy]

To some degree it's personal preference.

Do you want a smaller more compact camera that is easier to carry, or a larger one that's harder to have with you at all times but more comfortable in your hands?

[Entropy]

I just checked specifications - the SD1200 and A1100 have the same physical sensor size (1/2.3 inch), and the SD1200 has slightly lower megapixel count.  This will lead to slightly lower resolution but likely improved low-light performance.  (Larger pixels = more light-gathering capability.)  You'll need to go to detailed review sites to see if there is any real image quality difference.  (dcreview.com, Steve's Digicams, etc.)  The SD1200 has slightly less zoom range than the A1100.

It really comes down to whether you want the significantly improved portability of the SD-series over an A-series.

[TheLexMachine]

Just got word that the SD1200 is being replaced in a few weeks which is why it's currently on sale at retailers.

[Allan-BBY Senior Social Media Specialist]

Hi Arlynn,

Thanks for asking my opinion on which one of these cameras I would suggest. Like all product suggestions it is often subjective, but I can point out the differences between these two cameras. There really isn't a substantial difference between these two models, but the obvious difference is that the A1100 has more megapixels. This is not necessarily a good thing. The more pixels that are put into a camera sensor the greater the digital noise there will be in low-light shooting situations.

Another difference is that the A1100 has a slightly larger zoom range, but this is really only a 1x optical zoom difference. An obvious difference is the physical size and shape of the two different cameras. The SD1200IS is going to be a lot more "pocketable", while the A1100 will most likely feel more comfortable in your hands (due to the extended grip).

The last biggest contrast between these two models is the type of battery that they use. The A1100 uses normal AA batteries, while the SD1200IS uses a proprietary rechargeable lithium ion battery. In this respect the SD1200IS has a big advantage for me. Proprietary rechargeable lithium ion batteries last substantially longer than AA batteries, and if you purchase a second battery with the SD1200IS you will almost never run out of power for this camera.

When it comes right down to it I personally like the SD1200IS better than the A1100, but everybody has different needs. I would suggest going to your local Best Buy® store, and trying these two models out (along with all the other models that you could try their too).

I hope this helps!