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Canon 1200D vs 1300D

The Canon EOS 1200D (called Canon T5 in some regions) and the Canon EOS 1300D (labelled Canon T6 in some countries) are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in February 2014 and March 2016. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. Both cameras offer a resolution of 17.9 megapixels.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications
Canon 1200D
versus
Canon 1300D
Canon 1200D   Canon 1300D
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
17.9 MP – APS-C sensor 17.9 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/30p Video 1080/30p Video
ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800) ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800)
Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 460k dots 3.0" LCD – 920k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive) Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3 shutter flaps per second 3 shutter flaps per second
500 shots per battery charge500 shots per battery charge
130 x 100 x 78 mm, 480 g 129 x 101 x 78 mm, 485 g
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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS 1200D and the Canon EOS 1300D? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

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Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 1200D and the Canon 1300D. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All width, height and depth dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon 1200D vs Canon 1300D
Compare 1200D versus 1300D top
Comparison 1200D or 1300D rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon 1200D and the Canon 1300D are of equal size. However, the 1300D is slightly heavier (1 percent) than the 1200D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 1200D nor the 1300D are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. In this particular case, both cameras feature the same lens mount, so that they can use the same lenses. You can compare the optics available in the Canon EF Lens Catalog.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 1200D 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 480 g 500 n Feb 2014 US$ 449ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 1300D 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 485 g 500 n Mar 2016 US$ 449ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 100D 117 mm 91 mm 69 mm 407 g 380 n Mar 2013 US$ 549ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 650D 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 US$ 849ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 700D 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 580 g 440 n Mar 2013 US$ 649ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 750D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 US$ 749ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 760D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 1100D 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 495 g 700 n Feb 2011 US$ 449ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 2000D 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 475 g 500 n Feb 2018 US$ 449 amazon.com
10.
 
Canon 4000D 129 mm 102 mm 77 mm 436 g 500 n Feb 2018 US$ 399 amazon.com
11.
 
Canon G9 X 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 209 g 220 n Oct 2015 US$ 529ebay.com
12.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 US$ 499ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will naturally be influenced heavily by the price. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an APS-C sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 1.6. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the 1300D uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 4+) than the 1200D (DIGIC 4), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Canon 1200D and Canon 1300D sensor measures

The two cameras under review do not only share the same sensor size, but also offer an identical resolution of 17.9 megapixels. This similarity in sensor specs implies that both the 1200D and the 1300D have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the 1300D is much more recent (by 2 years) than the 1200D, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time.

The Canon EOS 1200D has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-12800. The Canon EOS 1300D offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

1200D versus 1300D MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Canon 1200D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.372463
2.
 
Canon 1300D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.778166
3.
 
Canon 100D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.811.384363
4.
 
Canon 650D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
5.
 
Canon 700D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.268161
6.
 
Canon 750D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
7.
 
Canon 760D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.612.091570
8.
 
Canon 1100D APS-C 12.2 4272 2848720/30p21.911.075562
9.
 
Canon 2000D APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.611.9100971
10.
 
Canon 4000D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.469563
11.
 
Canon G9 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.512.349563
12.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/30p).

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 1200D and the 1300D are similar in the sense that both have an optical viewfinder. The latter is useful for getting a clear image for framing even in brightly lit environments. The viewfinders of both cameras offer the same field of view (95%), as well as the same magnification (0.50x). The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Canon 1200D and Canon 1300D along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Canon 1200Doptical n3.0 / 460 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
2.
 
Canon 1300Doptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
3.
 
Canon 100Doptical n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.9/s Y n
4.
 
Canon 650Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon 700Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
6.
 
Canon 750Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
7.
 
Canon 760Doptical Y3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
8.
 
Canon 1100Doptical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
9.
 
Canon 2000Doptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
10.
 
Canon 4000Doptical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon G9 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 6.0/s Y Y
12.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the 1200D and the 1300D write their files to SDXC cards.

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Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS 1200D and Canon EOS 1300D and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Canon 1200DYmono / mono--mini2.0---
2.
 
Canon 1300DYmono / mono--mini2.0YY-
3.
 
Canon 100DYmono / monoY-mini2.0---
4.
 
Canon 650DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
5.
 
Canon 700DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
6.
 
Canon 750DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon 760DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
8.
 
Canon 1100DYstereo / mono--mini2.0---
9.
 
Canon 2000DYmono / mono--mini2.0YY-
10.
 
Canon 4000DYmono / mono--mini2.0YY-
11.
 
Canon G9 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
12.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-

It is notable that the 1300D offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the 1200D does not provide wifi capability.

Both the 1200D and the 1300D have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The 1200D was replaced by the Canon 1300D, while the 1300D was followed by the Canon 2000D. Further information on the features and operation of the 1200D and 1300D can be found, respectively, in the Canon 1200D Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon 1300D Manual.

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Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Canon 1200D better than the Canon 1300D or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.


Arguments in favor of the Canon EOS 1200D:

  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in February 2014).


Advantages of the Canon EOS 1300D:

  • Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (DIGIC 4+ vs DIGIC 4).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (920k vs 460k dots).
  • Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years of technical progress since the 1200D launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the 1300D is the clear winner of the contest (5 : 1 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

1200D 01:05 1300D

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1200D and the Canon 1300D place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it remains incomplete and does no justice, for example, to the way the 1200D or the 1300D perform in practice. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 1200D3/5+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2014 US$ 449ebay.com
2.
 
Canon 1300D4/5o4/573/1004/54/5 Mar 2016 US$ 449ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 100D4/5+..78/1004/54/5 Mar 2013 US$ 549ebay.com
4.
 
Canon 650D4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 US$ 849ebay.com
5.
 
Canon 700D......76/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2013 US$ 649ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 750D5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 US$ 749ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 760D5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 US$ 649ebay.com
8.
 
Canon 1100D..80/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2011 US$ 449ebay.com
9.
 
Canon 2000D3/5o3.5/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 US$ 449 amazon.com
10.
 
Canon 4000D2.5/5o3/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 US$ 399 amazon.com
11.
 
Canon G9 X3.5/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 US$ 529ebay.com
12.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 US$ 499ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. A score, therefore, has to be seen in close connection to the price and market introduction time of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you are interested in seeing how other cameras pair up, just make your choice using the following search menu. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Canon 1200D vs Canon 1300D

    Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Canon 1200D Canon 1300D
    Camera Type Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
    Launch Date February 2014 March 2016
    Launch Price USD 449 USD 449
    Sensor Specs Canon 1200D Canon 1300D
    Sensor Technology CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format APS-C Sensor APS-C Sensor
    Sensor Size 22.3 x 14.9 mm 22.3 x 14.9 mm
    Sensor Area 332.27 mm2 332.27 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 26.8 mm 26.8 mm
    Crop Factor 1.6x 1.6x
    Sensor Resolution 17.9 Megapixels 17.9 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5184 x 3456 pixels 5184 x 3456 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.31 μm 4.31 μm
    Pixel Density 5.39 MP/cm2 5.39 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 1080/30p Video
    ISO Setting 100 - 6,400 ISO 100 - 6,400 ISO
    ISO Boost 100 - 12,800 ISO 100 - 12,800 ISO
    Image Processor DIGIC 4 DIGIC 4+
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 63 66
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.9 22
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.3 11.7
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 724 781
    Screen Specs Canon 1200D Canon 1300D
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.50x 0.50x
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.0inch
    LCD Resolution 460k dots 920k dots
    LCD Attachment Fixed screen Fixed screen
    Shooting Specs Canon 1200D Canon 1300D
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 3 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Canon 1200D Canon 1300D
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication no NFC NFC built-in
    Body Specs Canon 1200D Canon 1300D
    Battery Type Canon LP-E10 Canon LP-E10
    Battery Life (CIPA)500 shots per charge500 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 130 x 100 x 78 mm
    (5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1 in)
    129 x 101 x 78 mm
    (5.1 x 4.0 x 3.1 in)
    Camera Weight 480 g (16.9 oz) 485 g (17.1 oz)
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