I’ve been a fan of the Canon DSLR series for quite some years now and my current weapon of choice is the Canon 600D, this is the one we use for most of our Lazygamer interviews and so far it has been a perfect combination of a great HD video camera and a static photo taker.

Previously we looked at picking up a Canon 1100D but while it looked like a solid camera it just didn’t quite have enough in it to use as a fun camera and a professional camera at the same time. So when Canon approached us to review the new 1200D I was eager to see what it had to offer.

Look and Feel

If you’ve ever handled a Canon DSLR before then you are going to be instantly comfortable with the 1200D. However you are also likely going to be surprised at how light the camera is, weighing in at a mere 480g.The body is nice and solid and all moving parts definitely feel well made and you definitely don’t get the feeling that you’ve decided to cut costs by opting for the entry level DSLR at all.

As expected the lenses are entirely interchangeable with the entire Canon range and even better is that you are also able to purchase from a wide range of 3rd party providers to try and keep those all important costs down.

The Stats

Those all important figures

  • 18 Megapixel
  • ISO 6400
  • 9 Point Auto Focus
  • 3 frames per second continuous shooting
  • 1080p video capability
  • Built in filters

And a ton more stuff that honestly I as a point-and-clicker really don’t understand.

What’s it missing?

Apart from all the technical mumbo jumbo, which may be important to you, the biggest thing I noticed the 1200D was missing over my 600D was the flip out screen on the reverse. That’s something which has actually been a big help to me when making stupid chilli eating videos or unboxings so that I can see that I’m actually in the frame. If you are intending on being the subject of your videos and the camera man then this is a big deal. Else it really doesn’t make any difference.

However the lack of an external mic jack is a crucial issue and while it will make no difference to anyone doing normal videos, if you are looking for a camera that is great for one on one interviews then you are going to need to stump up extra cash to get the 650D at the very least .

Who’s it for?

Buying a DSLR is a big decision, especially if you aren’t much of a photographer at the moment. The Canon 1200D is the entry-level camera into the DSLR range. With prices starting from around R4800 ($400) you really are making quite an investment. However what I found even more difficult when I was buying mine was that for a bit more money you can pick up the better spec’d 650D (R6500). So what’s the difference? And that leads me directly onto the question that I got asked when I took the camera to a serious hobbyist.

This camera is directly targeted at anyone who wants to get into the DSLR market but doesn’t have a ton of experience. You know you want to change lenses, apply physical filters and attach an assortment of lighting to your rig but right now you also want to point and click. If you don’t know the difference between your DIGIC, CMOS and ISO then look no further.

The Canon 1200D is the perfect entry-level camera for you. The camera has more than enough power and features to keep ahead of your learning curve for at least a couple of years and everything you learn to do with this will put you in good steed for when you are ready to upgrade to the big boys.

With top quality stills, 1080p visuals and the ability to attach a ton of accessories you really are likely not to require a new camera for quite some time.

Who isn’t it for?

If you consider yourself a good photographer now and you want minute control over the core settings of each and every image then this isn’t for you. It goes a long way to providing that power but there is a reason this is under R5k and the Canon 1D is R80 000, don’t forget this is an entry-level camera.

Also if you are just looking to point and click and have absolutely no interest in tweaking the raw files or using different lenses in different scenarios then again a standard fixed lens camera is your best bet. Or if as I mentioned if you are looking to use it for interviews or at anytime where you are going to need a superior microphone then that is why Canon have the better ranges.

DSLR’s are tricky, you can mess up images quite easily and while they offer a point-and-click functionality that isn’t what they are designed for.

Would you buy it?

I guess that’s the million dollar question. I’ve owned a DSLR for over 8 years now in one form or another and while I’m by no stretch of the imagination a professional I do demand a lot from the camera. I need it to provide me with crystal clear video and photography, I need to interchange lenses and I need to be able to attach my lighting. Previously this meant I had to go one step up in the range and stick with the 600D and now the 650D however Canon has upgraded the 1200D to a point where it has now become a solid backup device.

That’s why I’ve ordered a brand new one to supplement the video ability of the team and it should be arriving today. The missing microphone jack is a problem but we already have 2 SLR’s with external mic capability so this will add to our multi shot capability perfectly.

If that isn’t a ringing endorsement then I don’t know what it.

Show and Tell

Fine you are still on the fence, so here’s a quick show and tell. I turned around from my desk now and took a quick snap of my shelf of loot. All the images below are optimised for web so don’t zoom in on them and call shenanigans, the original picture was 5.7Mb

Zoom in

and again

Last Updated: October 13, 2014

Canon SLR 1200D
The Canon 1200D SLR is a perfect entry level camera and will keep you snapping happy for years to come. If Canon had just allowed external microphones on this one it would be an industry killer but for now it still sits in that strange level between point-and-click and business level.
Not Bad

19 Comments

  1. RinceThis

    October 13, 2014 at 12:44

    Sweet. I need to get a camera, rely way too much on my phone…

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      October 13, 2014 at 12:50

      I still laugh when people hold up their tablets like Moses in the desert.

      Reply

      • Sageville

        October 13, 2014 at 12:54

        ..or when work security prevents you from taking in a camera, but let you go in with a Smartphone and tablet.

        Reply

      • rollingmol

        October 13, 2014 at 18:48

        hey ! sharp

        Reply

  2. Admiral Chief 0

    October 13, 2014 at 12:47

    Speaking of which, I think it is high time for another chilli eating extravaganza!

    All those in favour say HAI!

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief 0

      October 13, 2014 at 12:47

      HAI

      Reply

      • RinceThis

        October 13, 2014 at 12:56

        0_O HAI!

        Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        October 13, 2014 at 13:10

        Spider-mouth-webs HAI!

        Reply

  3. Sageville

    October 13, 2014 at 12:48

    Yeah, but it has terrible reception….

    Reply

  4. Hammersteyn

    October 13, 2014 at 12:49

    But does it play Doom?

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief 0

      October 13, 2014 at 12:57

      Quite possibly

      Reply

  5. Rags

    October 13, 2014 at 13:00

    Is this a review?
    Common.

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief 0

      October 13, 2014 at 13:00

      ??

      Reply

      • Rags

        October 13, 2014 at 13:45

        I have higher expectations from Lazygamer.
        There is very little information such as the menu, button layout and ease of use. What about features, does it have? Face detection, panoramic assist, hdr, manual exposure adjustment, level shot? How about some shots showing the menu layout and can one edit the menu?

        How does the camera perform; autofocus, how about the lens and viewfinder? What is the experience in different light conditions. How does it compare with his other camera. What is the image quality like, the noise levels, colour accuracy, exposure, how about sharpness?
        How well does compression perform versus raw?

        But my main problem is, that he literally just turned around from typing, took a shot. Uploaded it (after compressing it into oblivion). Not even gone outside to take a few shots and give us a gallery to a sample the image quality under various conditions and to demonstrate features(or lack thereof).
        “Fine you are still on the fence” – That image reminded me of my Motorola v360 phone.

        So why does it get the yellow square and not the green square? Is the lack of mic the only thing that counts for it not to score a green, why does other features/performance not make up for it?

        This and some other hardware reviews have been very ‘bloggy’. 🙁

        Reply

        • Gavin Mannion

          October 13, 2014 at 16:40

          It’s a valid complaint. We are trying to find a nice medium for hardware reviews… will raise it with the team.

          And I did actually take a ton of pictures outide on my fishing trip, made them all artsy and had pictures of water droplets and mist and engine smoke… then realised the entire time I had the brightness set to blind me levels and like an idiot didn’t check the photo’s until I got home.

          Well spotted though 😉

          Reply

          • Rags

            October 13, 2014 at 17:38

            Thanks for the reply Gavin. I understand that you need to find a balance and I don’t expect you guys to be as in depth as say dpreview. Its also LG first camera review?

            I think there are quite a number of camera enthusiasts reading this site too. So perhaps it would be good to have some standard checklist of things to cover/add going forward with your next camera reviews.

            Rock on.

    • Hammersteyn

      October 13, 2014 at 13:11

      Common? Or Come on?

      Reply

      • Rags

        October 13, 2014 at 13:11

        Come on. Said really fast. 😛

        Reply

  6. Ross Woofels Mason

    October 13, 2014 at 14:19

    I own the 1100D and but have worked with the 50D and 5D mark II and honesty for what you pay it’s not bad. Especially once you get some better lenses for it.

    I expect this to be much the same, saying it can’t work as a business camera is a-bit of cheek. It could easily still fill in for an amateur photographer. Especially if it’s got magic lantern installed on it.

    Overall biggest difference I can see here is the 1080p video quality between this and the 1100D.

    But I’ll agree with the other guy, not much of a review more than just quick thoughts about it.

    Reply

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