Canon 1200D vs T6

The Canon EOS 1200D (called Canon T5 in some regions) and the Canon EOS Rebel T6 (labelled Canon 1300D 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		Canon T6
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 charge		500 shots per battery charge
130 x 100 x 78 mm, 480 g		129 x 101 x 78 mm, 485 g

Canon 1200D:
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Canon T6:
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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 T6? 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.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon 1200D and the Canon T6. 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.

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 T6 are of equal size. However, the T6 is slightly heavier (1 percent) than the 1200D. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the 1200D nor the T6 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.

Body Specifications

		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	449
2.		Canon T6	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	485 g	500	n	Mar 2016	449
3.		Canon 4000D	129 mm	102 mm	77 mm	436 g	500	n	Feb 2018	399
4.		Canon T7	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	475 g	500	n	Feb 2018	449
5.		Canon T100	129 mm	102 mm	77 mm	436 g	500	n	Feb 2018	399
6.		Canon 1300D	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	485 g	500	n	Mar 2016	449
7.		Canon 750D	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	555 g	440	n	Feb 2015	749
8.		Canon 760D	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	565 g	440	n	Feb 2015	649
9.		Canon G9 X	98 mm	58 mm	31 mm	209 g	220	n	Oct 2015	529
10.		Canon M10	108 mm	67 mm	35 mm	301 g	255	n	Oct 2015	499
11.		Canon T5	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	480 g	500	n	Feb 2014	449
12.		Canon 100D	117 mm	91 mm	69 mm	407 g	380	n	Mar 2013	549
13.		Canon 700D	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	580 g	440	n	Mar 2013	649
14.		Canon SL1	117 mm	91 mm	69 mm	407 g	380	n	Mar 2013	549
15.		Canon T5i	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	580 g	440	n	Mar 2013	649
16.		Canon 650D	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	575 g	440	n	Jun 2012	849
17.		Canon 1100D	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	495 g	700	n	Feb 2011	449
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

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 T6 uses a more advanced image processing engine (DIGIC 4+) than the 1200D (DIGIC 4), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

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 T6 have the same pixel density, as well as the same pixel size. It should, however, be noted that the T6 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 Rebel T6 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

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 table below summarizes the physical sensor characteristics and sensor quality findings and compares them across a set of similar cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		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	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
2.		Canon T6	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	23.6	12.9	1497	79
3.		Canon 4000D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.4	695	63
4.		Canon T7	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	23.8	13.3	1684	81
5.		Canon T100	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.4	695	63
6.		Canon 1300D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	23.6	12.9	1497	79
7.		Canon 750D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.7	12.0	919	71
8.		Canon 760D	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.6	12.0	915	70
9.		Canon G9 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.5	12.3	495	63
10.		Canon M10	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.2	11.4	753	65
11.		Canon T5	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
12.		Canon 100D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.8	11.3	843	63
13.		Canon 700D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	681	61
14.		Canon SL1	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.8	11.3	843	63
15.		Canon T5i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	681	61
16.		Canon 650D	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
17.		Canon 1100D	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	720/30p	21.9	11.0	755	62
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

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).

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a variety of features. The 1200D and the T6 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 T6 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

		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 1200D	optical	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
2.		Canon T6	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon 4000D	optical	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
4.		Canon T7	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
5.		Canon T100	optical	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon 1300D	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
7.		Canon 750D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
8.		Canon 760D	optical	Y	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
9.		Canon G9 X	none	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	6.0/s	Y	Y
10.		Canon M10	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.6/s	Y	n
11.		Canon T5	optical	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
12.		Canon 100D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.9/s	Y	n
13.		Canon 700D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
14.		Canon SL1	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.9/s	Y	n
15.		Canon T5i	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
16.		Canon 650D	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
17.		Canon 1100D	optical	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
Notes: *) 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 T6 write their files to SDXC cards.

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 T6 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon 1200D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Canon T6	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
3.		Canon 4000D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
4.		Canon T7	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Canon T100	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
6.		Canon 1300D	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
7.		Canon 750D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Canon 760D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Canon G9 X	-	stereo / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Canon M10	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
11.		Canon T5	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon 100D	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Canon 700D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Canon SL1	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
15.		Canon T5i	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Canon 650D	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Canon 1100D	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the T6 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 T6 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The 1200D was replaced by the Canon 1300D, while the T6 was followed by the Canon T7. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Canon website.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Is the Canon 1200D better than the Canon T6 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 Rebel T6:

• 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 T6 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.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon 1200D and the Canon T6 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 T6 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.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon 1200D	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	449
2.		Canon T6	4/5	o	4/5	73/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2016	449
3.		Canon 4000D	..	o	3/5	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	399
4.		Canon T7	..	o	..	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	449
5.		Canon T100	..	o	3/5	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	399
6.		Canon 1300D	4/5	o	4/5	73/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2016	449
7.		Canon 750D	5/5	..	..	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	749
8.		Canon 760D	5/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	649
9.		Canon G9 X	3.5/5	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	529
10.		Canon M10	..	..	..	..	..	4/5	Oct 2015	499
11.		Canon T5	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	449
12.		Canon 100D	4/5	+	..	78/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549
13.		Canon 700D	..	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2013	649
14.		Canon SL1	4/5	+	..	78/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2013	549
15.		Canon T5i	..	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2013	649
16.		Canon 650D	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	849
17.		Canon 1100D	..	80/100	..	69/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	449
Notes: (+ +) 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.

Canon 1200D:
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Canon T6:
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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 T6

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.

Canon 1200D:
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Canon T6:
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