Best Pocket Camera

Canon PowerShot S100

The predecessor of the Canon PowerShot S100, the Canon S95 was a favorite not only for its size but also the quality of the images that it produced.

With the S100, Canon has upped the megapixel count from 10 to 12 and implemented a new image processor that reduces noise.

Basically, the S100 is an improved version of the S95 and it is already winning over devotees.

And deservedly, the Canon S100 has won the 2 Camera Guys Award for Best Pocket Camera (non-Superzoom).

The Good, the Bad and the So-so

Lifting the S100 out of its box, my first impression was ding-dang this puppy is tiny. Take your smartphone out of your pocket, double it in depth, add a couple of ounces and you have the S100.

Its size and solid construction make the S100 an ideal, take-anywhere, travel companion. True to its designation, you can slip it into your pocket or handbag or simply slip your hand through the wrist strap and have it at your fingertips.

Weighing about seven ounces, you can carry it around for extended periods of time without your hand cramping up.

Of course, portability doesn't mean anything if the image quality is not up to snuff. In well-lit conditions, the Canon S100 performs admirably. But even with the new DIGIC 5 image processor, noise becomes problematic with ISO settings over 1600.

Though judge for yourself with this PhotoScope comparison of the Canon S100 at different ISO's. If you click the link, the image on the left has the ISO at 200, the one on the right is ISO 3200. If you roll the Scope over the blue and purple label on the olive jar, you can clearly see the noise in the right image. Cycle through some of the other ISO settings to judge how the S100 fares.

One of the disadvantages of a tiny camera is that it can be awkward to hold, especially if you have big hands. To assist your grip, the Canon designers have added a two-finger indentation on the front and a very slight -and slightly slippery - thumb indentation on the back, neither are that effective.

As for the rest of the layout, I like the traditional mode wheel at the top of the S100. But please explain to me why Canon had to label the Shutter Speed mode Tv (Time value) instead of S and Aperture mode Av instead of just A. It's unnecessarily confusing.

Pocket cameras should be easy to use and the operation of the S100 is fairly straightforward.

If you don't want to fiddle with controls, you can set the mode to Automatic and the little elves inside the camera will do all the work for you.

Though the one aspect that I don't like about Auto is that the flash will pop up if the camera senses that there is not enough available light. If there is one function that I want to control, it's if and when the flash goes off.

With the S100, Canon has added a GPS feature, which can be a must-have to the inveterate hiker/photographer who likes to keep track of where photos are captured.

Though attaching GPS data onto your image files also raises security and privacy issues, especially when you include that info on photos that you upload to websites like Flickr.

Fifth Avenue Easter Parade

Also, the battery life on this Canon is anemic and the GPS can drain it even faster. Buy an extra battery - even better, make it two - and keep them charged.

Finally, the Canon S100 supplies many other features including 1080p video recording, and a long list of effects and scene modes like HDR (High Dynamic Range). And for a little late night light reading, there's a 235 page Users Guide.

Conclusion

With the PowerShot S100, Canon has improved upon their popular S95 with better still image quality and higher resolution video recording, while retaining a truly pocketable form factor.

This combination of features earns the S100 our 2 Camera Guys Best Pocket Camera Award.

Canon PowerShot S100 Photo Gallery

More about the Canon PowerShot S100

Canon PowerShot S100 spec sheet

Compare the Canon S100 to the Competition