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Canon 1200D vs T1i

The Canon EOS 1200D (called Canon T5 in some regions) and the Canon EOS Rebel T1i (labelled Canon 500D in some countries) are two digital cameras that were officially introduced, respectively, in February 2014 and March 2009. Both are DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) cameras that are equipped with an APS-C sensor. The 1200D has a resolution of 17.9 megapixels, whereas the T1i provides 15.1 MP.

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 T1i
Canon 1200D   Canon T1i
Digital single lens reflex Digital single lens reflex
Canon EF mount lenses Canon EF mount lenses
17.9 MP – APS-C sensor 15.1 MP – APS-C sensor
1080/30p Video 1080/20p 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 3.4 shutter flaps per second
500 shots per battery charge400 shots per battery charge
130 x 100 x 78 mm, 480 g 129 x 98 x 62 mm, 520 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 Rebel T1i? 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

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Canon 1200D and the Canon T1i is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

Size Canon 1200D vs Canon T1i
Compare 1200D versus T1i top
Comparison 1200D or T1i rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Canon T1i is somewhat smaller (3 percent) than the Canon 1200D. However, the T1i is markedly heavier (8 percent) than the 1200D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 1200D nor the T1i 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.

Concerning battery life, the 1200D gets 500 shots out of its Canon LP-E10 battery, while the T1i can take 400 images on a single charge of its Canon LP-E5 power pack.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you want to switch the focus of the display and review another camera pair, you can move across to the CAM-parator tool and choose from the broad selection of possible camera comparisons there.

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Body Specifications
# image Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 1200D 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 480 g 500 n Feb 2014 449ebay.com
2.
 
Canon T1i 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 520 g 400 n Mar 2009 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 4000D 129 mm 102 mm 77 mm 436 g 500 n Feb 2018 399 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 1300D 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 485 g 500 n Mar 2016 449ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T6 129 mm 101 mm 78 mm 485 g 500 n Mar 2016 449ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 750D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 760D 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 565 g 440 n Feb 2015 649ebay.com
8.
 
Canon G9 X 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 209 g 220 n Oct 2015 529ebay.com
9.
 
Canon M10 108 mm 67 mm 35 mm 301 g 255 n Oct 2015 499ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T6i 132 mm 101 mm 78 mm 555 g 440 n Feb 2015 749ebay.com
11.
 
Canon 100D 117 mm 91 mm 69 mm 407 g 380 n Mar 2013 549ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 700D 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 580 g 440 n Mar 2013 649ebay.com
13.
 
Canon 650D 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 849ebay.com
14.
 
Canon T4i 133 mm 100 mm 79 mm 575 g 440 n Jun 2012 849ebay.com
15.
 
Canon 1100D 130 mm 100 mm 78 mm 495 g 700 n Feb 2011 449ebay.com
16.
 
Canon T2i 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 530 g 440 n Feb 2010 699ebay.com
17.
 
Canon XSi 129 mm 98 mm 62 mm 524 g 500 n Jan 2008 799ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
padding

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. 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 1200D was launched at a markedly lower price (by 44 percent) than the T1i, which puts it into a different 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.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better 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.

Canon 1200D and Canon T1i sensor measures

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the 1200D offers a higher resolution of 17.9 megapixels, compared with 15.1 MP of the T1i. This megapixels advantage translates into a 9 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the 1200D has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 4.31μm versus 4.69μm for the T1i). In this context, it should be noted, however, that the 1200D is much more recent (by 4 years and 10 months) than the T1i, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that compensate for the smaller pixel size.

The resolution advantage of the Canon 1200D implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the 1200D for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 25.9 x 17.3 inches or 65.8 x 43.9 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.7 x 13.8 inches or 52.7 x 35.1 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.3 x 11.5 inches or 43.9 x 29.3 cm. The corresponding values for the Canon T1i are 23.8 x 15.8 inches or 60.4 x 40.2 cm for good quality, 19 x 12.7 inches or 48.3 x 32.2 cm for very good quality, and 15.8 x 10.6 inches or 40.2 x 26.8 cm for excellent quality prints.

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 Rebel T1i 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 T1i MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
# image 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 T1i APS-C 15.1 4752 31681080/20p21.711.566363
3.
 
Canon 4000D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.911.469563
4.
 
Canon 1300D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.778166
5.
 
Canon T6 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.011.778166
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 G9 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.512.349563
9.
 
Canon M10 APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.211.475365
10.
 
Canon T6i APS-C 24.0 6000 40001080/30p22.712.091971
11.
 
Canon 100D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.811.384363
12.
 
Canon 700D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.268161
13.
 
Canon 650D APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
14.
 
Canon T4i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p21.711.272262
15.
 
Canon 1100D APS-C 12.2 4272 2848720/30p21.911.075562
16.
 
Canon T2i APS-C 17.9 5184 34561080/30p22.111.578466
17.
 
Canon XSi APS-C 12.2 4272 2848none21.910.869261
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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, but the 1200D provides a higher frame rate than the T1i. It can shoot video footage at 1080/30p, while the T1i is limited to 1080/20p.

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Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. The 1200D and the T1i 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%), but the viewfinder of the T1i has a higher magnification than the one of the 1200D (0.54x vs 0.50x), so that the size of the image transmitted appears closer to the size seen with the naked human eye. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon 1200D and Canon T1i in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
# image 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 T1ioptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.4/s Y n
3.
 
Canon 4000Doptical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
4.
 
Canon 1300Doptical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
5.
 
Canon T6optical n3.0 / 920 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/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 G9 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 6.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Canon M10none n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/4000s 4.6/s Y n
10.
 
Canon T6ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
11.
 
Canon 100Doptical n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/4000s 4.9/s Y n
12.
 
Canon 700Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
13.
 
Canon 650Doptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
14.
 
Canon T4ioptical n3.0 / 1040 swivel Y 1/4000s 5.0/s Y n
15.
 
Canon 1100Doptical n2.7 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.0/s Y n
16.
 
Canon T2ioptical n3.0 / 1040 fixed n 1/4000s 3.7/s Y n
17.
 
Canon XSioptical n3.0 / 230 fixed n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.
padding

The 1200D writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the T1i uses SDHC 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 Rebel T1i and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
# image 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 T1iYmono / mono--mini2.0---
3.
 
Canon 4000DYmono / mono--mini2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon 1300DYmono / mono--mini2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon T6Ymono / mono--mini2.0YY-
6.
 
Canon 750DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
7.
 
Canon 760DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
8.
 
Canon G9 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Canon M10-stereo / mono--mini2.0YY-
10.
 
Canon T6iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0YY-
11.
 
Canon 100DYmono / monoY-mini2.0---
12.
 
Canon 700DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
13.
 
Canon 650DYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
14.
 
Canon T4iYstereo / monoY-mini2.0---
15.
 
Canon 1100DYstereo / mono--mini2.0---
16.
 
Canon T2iYstereo / -Y-mini2.0---
17.
 
Canon XSiY- / ---mini2.0---
padding

Both the 1200D and the T1i have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The T1i was replaced by the Canon T2i, while the 1200D was followed by the Canon 1300D. Further information on the features and operation of the 1200D and T1i can be found, respectively, in the Canon 1200D Manual (free pdf) or the online Canon T1i Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Canon 1200D better than the Canon T1i or vice versa? The listing below highlights the relative strengths of the two models.


Advantages of the Canon EOS 1200D:

  • More detail: Offers more megapixels (17.9 vs 15.1MP) with a 9% higher linear resolution.
  • Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/30p versus 1080/20p).
  • Longer lasting: Can take more shots (500 versus 400) on a single battery charge.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (44 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More modern: Reflects 4 years and 10 months of technical progress since the T1i launch.


Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS Rebel T1i:

  • Larger viewfinder image: Features a viewfinder with a higher magnification (0.54x vs 0.50x).
  • More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (920k vs 460k dots).
  • Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (3.4 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in March 2009).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the 1200D comes out slightly ahead of the T1i (5 : 4 points). However, the relevance of individual strengths will vary across photographers, so that you might want to apply your own weighing scheme to the summary points when reflecting and deciding on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

1200D 05:04 T1i

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1200D and the Canon T1i 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 T1i perform in practice. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is why hands-on reviews by experts are important. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major 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
# image  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Canon 1200D3/5+....4/54.5/5 Feb 2014 449ebay.com
2.
 
Canon T1i..+ +..74/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2009 799ebay.com
3.
 
Canon 4000D2.5/5o3/5..3.5/53.5/5 Feb 2018 399 amazon.com
4.
 
Canon 1300D4/5o4/573/1004/54/5 Mar 2016 449ebay.com
5.
 
Canon T64/5o4/573/1004/54/5 Mar 2016 449ebay.com
6.
 
Canon 750D5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
7.
 
Canon 760D5/5+..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 649ebay.com
8.
 
Canon G9 X3.5/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 529ebay.com
9.
 
Canon M10..........4/5 Oct 2015 499ebay.com
10.
 
Canon T6i5/5....75/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2015 749ebay.com
11.
 
Canon 100D4/5+..78/1004/54/5 Mar 2013 549ebay.com
12.
 
Canon 700D......76/1004.5/54.5/5 Mar 2013 649ebay.com
13.
 
Canon 650D4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 849ebay.com
14.
 
Canon T4i4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2012 849ebay.com
15.
 
Canon 1100D..80/100..69/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2011 449ebay.com
16.
 
Canon T2i..+ +..77/1004/54.5/5 Feb 2010 699ebay.com
17.
 
Canon XSi..+ +..+ +4/54.5/5 Jan 2008 799ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.
padding

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The ratings are only valid when referring to cameras in the same category and of the same age. 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. It should also be noted that some of the review sites have over time altered the way they render their verdicts.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? If you would like to see a different side-by-side camera review, just use the search menu below. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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    Specifications: Canon 1200D vs Canon T1i

    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 T1i
    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 2009
    Launch Price USD 449 USD 799
    Sensor Specs Canon 1200D Canon T1i
    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 15.1 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5184 x 3456 pixels 4752 x 3168 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 4.31 μm 4.69 μm
    Pixel Density 5.39 MP/cm2 4.53 MP/cm2
    Moiré control Anti-Alias filter Anti-Alias filter
    Movie Capability 1080/30p Video 1080/20p 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 63
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.9 21.7
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 11.3 11.5
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 724 663
    Screen Specs Canon 1200D Canon T1i
    Viewfinder Type Optical viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 95% 95%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.50x 0.54x
    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 T1i
    Focus System Phase-detect AF Phase-detect AF
    Continuous Shooting 3 shutter flaps/s 3.4 shutter flaps/s
    Shutter Life Expectancy100 000 actuations100 000 actuations
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash Built-in Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDHC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Single card slot
    UHS card support no no
    Connectivity Specs Canon 1200D Canon T1i
    External Flash Hotshoe Hotshoe
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port mini HDMI mini HDMI
    Wifi Support no Wifi no Wifi
    Body Specs Canon 1200D Canon T1i
    Battery Type Canon LP-E10 Canon LP-E5
    Battery Life (CIPA)500 shots per charge400 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 130 x 100 x 78 mm
    (5.1 x 3.9 x 3.1 in)
    129 x 98 x 62 mm
    (5.1 x 3.9 x 2.4 in)
    Camera Weight 480 g (16.9 oz) 520 g (18.3 oz)
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