The Canon EOS 1200D replaces the EOS 1100D as a new basic model in the Canon system. Like its higher-ranking sister models EOS 100D and EOS 700D, the camera now has an 18-megapixel CMOS, with 12 megapixels still had to be satisfied with the 1100D.
Compact housing
The Canon EOS 1200D, on the other hand, has to do without a hybrid AF at the sensor and a touch screen. WLAN is neither built-in nor retrofitted, and automatic ultrasonic sensor cleaning is not on board.
Contrast AF in Live View
Nevertheless, there is no reason to leave the EOS 1200D to the left: As an entry-level camera for around 400 euros (500 euros with set lens EF-S 18-55mm IS II), it offers more than enough equipment, a sophisticated operating concept and good image quality .
Exposure functions
The plastic housing of the Canon EOS 1200D is class-like, but it does not really matter: The well-processed body is good in the hand in spite of its compact dimensions, as well as grip-resistant - nothing gets snap. In the area of the trigger, the handgrip is chamfered exactly so that the index finger is relaxed.
Operating concept
The Canon EOS 1200D Pentacle Finder offers a field coverage of 95 percent, an effective 0.48x magnification, and a diopter compensation wheel.
In terms of image coverage and search magnification, electronic viewfinders have a number of advantages. For this, the SLR-viewfinder works power-saving and is always ready, while an EVF occasionally needs a small pause to jump. No reason to declare the SLR concept prematurely dead.
A clear improvement compared to the 1100D is the monitor that now measures 3 instead of 2.7 inches and has twice the resolution with 153 333 RGB pixels.
Can not adjust the monitor of the Canon EOS 1200D. The built-in flash syncs with 1/200 s and is flipped with a button close to the shutter. System flashers can be installed over the flash shoe and used in E-TTL-II mode, but can not be controlled wirelessly via the built-in flash.
Also, the practical FE flash memory is possible, but manual flash control is not.
When the SLR viewfinder is used, a phase AF with nine measuring points including a central cross sensor takes over the focus. The triggering delay of the Canon EOS 1200D including the AF time is pleasantly short at 0.31 s, especially as this value is achieved in the laboratory test even in low light (30 lux).
In addition to automatic measurement field selection, single-point AF is also possible, by pressing the (double-populated) magnifier and turning the dial. To select the desired measurement field, continue rotating the wheel or press a directional key. In addition to One-Shot AF, the camera has two additional operating modes: When "AI Servo AF" is preselected, the sharpness of a moving subject is tracked as long as the shutter button is half-pressed. On the other hand, the camera automatically switches from one-shot AF to "sharpen tracking" when the "AI Focus AF" is moving from a position to the first position.
In the Live View mode, which is activated by a button that can be reached easily to the right of the viewfinder, you have the choice between Contrast AF and the rare "Quick mode". Here, the live AF also takes the focus in the live view, whereby the mirror briefly returns to the initial position and a dark pause arises.
The contrast-AF of the Canon EOS 1200D is available in two versions: "FlexiZone AF" with movable measuring point and as "live mode" with face recognition. Too slow the contrast AF is definitely: more than 2 s focussing time are no longer up-to-date.
Picture gallery
The contrast AF also proves to be a weak point when shooting: on the one hand, there is no permanent focus tracking, and when you press the shutter button to focus, the camera finds the new focus point only reluctantly. Apart from that, the video mode with full HD resolution, 30 frames per second and the possibility of manual sound control is quite at the same time.
As a nice extra, the Canon EOS 1200D offers the video snapshot. Here, short video sequences of 2, 4 or 8 s duration can be recorded and combined into a continuous movie in a video snapshot album. When playing the snapshot album, you can even play background music if it was copied to the memory card using PC software (EOS Utibility).
Info: EOS 1200D companion app
For exposure metering, the Canon EOS 1200D provides three measurement methods: matrix measurement with 63 measurement fields, center-weighted integral measurement and selective measurement without a clear definition of the measuring field size. According to the user manual, one can imagine a central measuring circuit with a radius ranging from the top to the lowest of the nine AF points.
The electronically controlled shutter allows exposure times between 1/4000 and 30 s, and continuous shooting is possible with 3 fps. The EOS 1200D provides an extensive repertoire of exposure programs: Auto + (with automatic auto-detection), program, time and aperture, motif programs (portrait, landscape, close-up, sports, night portrait) and video mode - all via the mode dial At the top.
A special feature is the creative automatic (CA) system, which also allows less experienced users to make interventions in the picture. Example: Instead of thinking about the connection between aperture opening and sharpening depth, you can simply vary the background sharpness in five possible steps on a bar scale. The camera allows exposure and white balance series, but lightning strikes only with specific speedlites such as 430EX, 430EX II, 550EX, 580EX, 580EX II and 600EX (-RT)
Picture gallery
Plus for border resolution
Conclusion
At the EOS 1200D, the Q (uick) menu is the point of operation. If activated, the monitor shows function fields, which can be selected by means of the arrow keys, and the selected field is colored in color. Now you can directly change values with the setting wheel or switch to a sub-menu by pressing the Set button. In the comparison of competitors, the Q-Menu of the EOS presents itself in an exemplary and clear manner. In the live view, there is a variant of the quick menu with smaller function fields on the left.
For a camera of this class, the EOS 1200D allows for sufficient direct access, because the buttons of the 4-way switch are double-occupied: the AF modes have as fast access as on the ISO setting, white balance method and mode / self-timer
In the individual functions, the set button can also be individually assigned, for example with the flash exposure correction or depth-of-focus control. In addition, the flash button can be used to convert the ISO menu button, and a function panel on the setting monitor is also available for flipping out the flash.
Canon's menu structure has always been clearly clear: Ten horizontally arranged tabs can be quickly selected using a rotary knob or left-right buttons, with up to seven entries per menu page. Eleven individual functions allow customization of the camera. Under "My Menu" frequently used functions or menus can be combined.
The free app is instruction manual and photo course in one. She helps beginners in the first steps, explains controls and shows the right camera. In the exercise part, functions and tasks are discussed: sharp / blurred background, frozen / blurred motion, white balance, exposure and focus.
Pretty solved: the interactive iris controller, which makes the increase in sharpening depth visible in a picture. Tutorial videos provide practical knowledge, and information about accessories is also provided. The app is available for iPhone and Android smartphones.
With an 18-megapixel sensor and a Digic-4 image processor, the EOS 1200D achieves a clear increase in the marginal resolution between 200 and 300 LP / BH compared to its predecessor (EOS 1100D, 12 MP). Other parameters which are important for the image quality have hardly changed, as does the dead-Leaves values, which are too high for ISO 1600 and ISO 100 to high.
The noise is low to acceptable (ISO 0,6 to 1,2), up to ISO 1600, but rises significantly with ISO 3200 (VN 1,7) and strongly with ISO 6400 (VN 2,5). The dynamics are almost constant 9 f-stops up to ISO 1600, from then on it goes down for each ISO-level by one aperture. Bottom line, the EOS 1200D is around the level of the Nikon D5100 with a more aggressive tuning (higher DL values) and more noise from ISO 3200.
The Canon EOS 1200D is a new Canon basic model, but not so poorly equipped. Not everyone needs WLAN or a touchscreen. Too bad, that the automatic sensor cleaning is missing. For a holiday, the camera is the first choice due to its compact dimensions as well as for the sporty leisure time thanks to a low triggering delay.
Only the contrast AF is too slow, and when shooting, the EOS 100D and 700D have the better cards thanks to hybrid AF, especially in combination with STM lenses. Particularly praiseworthy: the operating concept with Quick-Monitor and direct access to the most important functions.
Also the free companion app is a good help for beginners. Since the picture quality decreases significantly with higher ISO settings, one should be content with ISO 800/1600 if possible.
Canon EOS 1200D
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