Canon ELPH 100 HS vs Canon EOS R5: A Tale of Two Cameras from Different Worlds

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital photography, little matches the contrast between an ultracompact point-and-shoot and a full-frame professional mirrorless beast. The Canon ELPH 100 HS and the Canon EOS R5, both from the same brand but literally worlds apart, speak to vastly different users, use cases, and aspirations. Having spent weeks hands-on with both cameras, shooting across genres from macro to wildlife, I’m excited to take you through a thorough, honest, and technically grounded comparison.

We’ll dive deeply into sensor tech, ergonomics, autofocus systems, real-world performance, and value. Whether you’re a beginner, a casual snapshooter, an advanced enthusiast, or a pro considering an upgrade, by the end you’ll understand which of these Canon icons deserves a spot in your kit - and why.

Let’s start by sizing up the two contenders.

When Size Matters: Handling and Ergonomics in Perspective

Physically, these two could not be more different. The Canon ELPH 100 HS is a quintessential ultracompact point-and-shoot camera whose main attraction lies in its pocket-friendly dimensions: measuring just 93 x 56 x 20 mm and weighing a featherlight 140 grams. The EOS R5, on the other hand, is the flagship Canon pro mirrorless camera, a substantial 138 x 98 x 88 mm in size and tipping the scales at 738 grams.

What this means in practice is obvious: the ELPH 100 HS fits comfortably in literally any pocket or purse, ready for effortless street snaps or holiday candids. The R5 demands - nay, earns - a place on your shoulder strap or tripod, boasting a deep grip and robust buttons conducive to serious handheld shooting for hours.

The ergonomics also reflect this divide: the R5 offers a rich top-plate control layout with customizable dials and an intelligent multi-controller, enabling rapid exposure adjustments on the fly. The ELPH, with its slim profile, only provides the bare minimum, relying on menu navigation for most settings tweaks.

To those accustomed to advanced cameras, the ELPH’s minimalist layout may feel constraining, whereas the R5’s extensive controls impress with their intuitive arrangement and satisfying tactile feedback. It’s a classic trade-off between portability and command.

The Heart of the Matter: Sensor Size, Resolution, and Image Quality

If you peek under the hood, the chasm grows wider. The ELPH 100 HS packs a modest 1/2.3" BSI CMOS sensor - popular in compact cameras - with a resolution of 12 megapixels (4000 x 3000 pixels). The sensor measures a mere 6.17 x 4.55 mm, an area of just 28.07 mm². This small sensor size limits its performance, especially in low light and dynamic range.

In stark contrast, the EOS R5 is armed with a full-frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS sensor, packing 45 megapixels (8192 x 5464 pixels) and turning the sensor area up to a whopping 864 mm². This sensor is at the pinnacle of Canon’s imaging technology, yielding outstanding detail, depth, and tonal richness.

From my experience shooting RAW on the R5, you unlock stunning dynamic range that captures highlight and shadow nuance missed by smaller sensors. Skin tones are beautifully rendered with excellent color accuracy - even under mixed lighting - making it a dream for portrait and wedding photographers.

The ELPH delivers decent JPEGs straight out of the camera, with adequate sharpness for web sharing and prints up to 8x10 inches. However, noise rises sharply above ISO 400, and the small sensor struggles to maintain detail under challenging lighting.

LCD Screens and Viewfinders: How You See Your Shot

Given the ELPH’s size constraints, it features a fixed 3-inch low-res (230k-dot) PureColor II G TFT LCD that’s serviceable for composing but frustrating under bright sun or for checking detail critically. It’s a basic live view solution that won’t inspire confidence for precise focusing.

The EOS R5 sports a large 3.2-inch vari-angle touchscreen with an ultra-high 2.1 million dot resolution, delivering crisp, vivid previews - even under direct sunlight. Touch controls are responsive, and the articulating mechanism makes working from awkward angles enjoyable.

Another differentiator is the R5’s superb 5.76 million-dot OLED electronic viewfinder with 100% coverage and 0.76x magnification. For those shooting quickly or in bright environments, this viewfinder is a game-changer. The ELPH has no finder at all, relying entirely on the LCD, which limits its appeal in direct sun or for traditionalists.

Autofocus Systems: Hunting the Perfect Focus

Few aspects define real-world shooting more than autofocus (AF) performance. The ELPH 100 HS relies on contrast detection AF with a 9-point system anchored on the center and few peripheral areas. It offers face detection which works fairly well for general subjects, but the autofocus hunts visibly in low light or when subjects move quickly.

The EOS R5 features Canon’s advanced Dual Pixel CMOS AF II system, boasting an incredible 1053 selectable AF points covering nearly the entire frame. It incorporates deep learning-based subject recognition, including eye, face, head, and even animal eye AF tracking that works flawlessly for dogs, cats, birds, and more.

In field tests, the R5’s AF nailed focus with blazing speed and precision on fast-moving children, soaring birds, and erratic wildlife behavior. The auto-tracking stayed locked even at 12 fps burst shooting with full AF/AE tracking.

The ELPH manages basic focus in steady, well-lit conditions but pales compared to the R5’s razor-sharp accuracy, especially for dynamic photography such as sports or wildlife.

Burst Shooting, Shutter Speeds, and Continuous Performance

If capturing the decisive moment is your priority, the R5 shines brightly. It offers a 12 fps mechanical shutter burst rate - and up to 20 fps with the electronic shutter - allowing capture of rapid action sequences with zero blackout in the viewfinder. Its shutter speed range (30s to 1/8000s) is rock solid for everything from long exposures to freezing ultrafast motion.

The ELPH 100 HS, conversely, tops out at a modest 3 fps continuous shooting with a shutter speed ceiling of 1/2000s. This is adequate for casual shooting but insufficient for most sports or wildlife pursuits where timing matters.

Given the EOS R5’s superior buffer depth, fast memory card interfaces, and dual slots (CFexpress and UHS-II SD), it’s built for demanding shooting sessions, while the ELPH’s single SD slot and slower transfer rates make it better suited to casual use.

Lens Ecosystem and Versatility

The Canon ELPH 100 HS comes equipped with a fixed 28-112 mm (equivalent) f/2.8-5.9 zoom lens. This four-times optical zoom lens covers moderate wide-angle to short telephoto ranges. The lens is compact and optically decent for its class but limited by aperture and lack of interchangeability.

The EOS R5’s RF mount unlocks a rich and rapidly growing lens lineup, currently numbering 17 native RF lenses from Canon alone, with extensive third-party options as well. From ultra-wide 15mm fisheyes to ultra-telephoto 800mm primes, along with macros, fast primes, and innovative zooms, the R5’s lens system is staggering in scope.

If versatility and growth are priorities, there’s no comparison: the R5 frees you to build a lens arsenal tailored precisely for any genre - portrait, landscape, macro, sports, wildlife - you name it.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

The ELPH, targeting casual users, features a plastic body without weather sealing. It’s delicate - dropping it or exposure to moisture is risky.

In contrast, the R5 features a magnesium alloy chassis with extensive weather sealing against dust and moisture, making it reliable even in challenging environments - rain forests, deserts, winter hikes.

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

The compact ELPH 100 HS offers a fair 230-shot battery life rating, sufficient for casual day trips but not extended sessions. It uses the NB-4L battery pack and standard USB 2.0 for data transfer.

The R5 delivers a strong battery life rated around 320 shots per charge (CIPA), supplemented by USB-C charging and fast transfers via dual card slots supporting both CFexpress and UHS-II SD cards. It also sports built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for seamless wireless control and image transfer - a practical boon for professionals on tight deadlines.

Video Capabilities: From Casual to Cinematic

Video separates casual shooters from pros, and here Canon’s invested heavily in the R5. It supports up to 8K 30p RAW and 4K 120p with virtually no crop, along with professional codecs like H.265. Sensor-based 5-axis image stabilization smooths hand-held footage expertly, and microphone/headphone jacks open workflow possibilities.

The ELPH’s video repertoire is far slighter: 1080p (Full HD) at 24 fps tops, with H.264 compression, no manual video controls, and no external audio input. It’s fine for home videos but a nonstarter for any serious cinematic aspirations.

Genre-by-Genre Real-World Performance Analysis

Over weeks of testing both cameras in scenario-specific shoots, here are my observations synthesized across major photography genres.

Canon ELPH 100 HS front Canon ELPH 100 HS screen back Canon R5 front Canon R5 screen back

Portrait Photography:
The R5’s eye-detection AF and depth-rich files give stunning skin tones and creamy bokeh unmatched by the ELPH’s flatter, noisier images with limited shallow depth-of-field. The ELPH is fine for casual snaps but won’t satisfy portrait pros or enthusiasts.

Landscape Photography:
With superior dynamic range and 45 MP resolution, the R5 captures stunning twilight and detail-rich vistas with minimal noise. The ELPH’s small sensor and lens fall short in sharpness, often delivering muddy results in challenging light. Weather sealing adds peace-of-mind outdoor.

Wildlife Photography:
The R5’s AF tracking and rapid burst capture birds and animals in flight crisply. The ELPH struggles to lock focus or follow subjects beyond slow-moving pets.

Sports Photography:
Fast autofocus and high burst rates make the R5 a clear winner here. The ELPH simply can’t keep up with fast-paced action.

Street Photography:
The ELPH’s compact size and quiet operation offer discreet shooting. The R5 is more conspicuous but its flip touchscreen facilitates candid low-profile shooting. The R5’s low-light prowess also shines in dark streets.

Macro Photography:
The R5’s compatibility with specialized macro lenses, high resolution, and excellent AF precision wins hands-down. The ELPH’s 3 cm macro range is okay for casual close-ups but lacks finesse.

Night and Astro Photography:
The R5’s high ISO handling and long exposures deliver star-studded skies with minimal noise; the ELPH is handicapped by sensor noise and restricted shutter steps.

Video:
The R5’s feature-set is a filmmaker’s playground; the ELPH is a simple point-and-shoot camcorder.

Travel Photography:
The ELPH is handy for quick snaps and light travel, while the R5 covers broad versatility but at a weight and bulk premium.

Professional Applications:
Only the R5 offers pro features like dual card slots, RAW shooting, fast workflow compatibility, and industry-grade durability.

The Verdict: Who Should Buy Which Canon?

Putting all factors into a comprehensive workflow and value matrix lets us draw some definitive conclusions.

The Canon ELPH 100 HS is ideal if:

• You want a lightweight, easy-to-use pocket camera for casual shooting
• Budget is tight - sub $200 new or cheaper used
• You prioritize convenience over image quality or manual control
• Travel light with snapshots and video is your dominant use case

The Canon EOS R5 suits you if:

• You are a professional or serious enthusiast demanding top image quality and flexibility
• You shoot a wide range of genres including action, wildlife, portrait, landscape, and video
• Robust build and weather sealing are important for challenging environments
• You seek investment in a mirrorless system with lenses and accessories for the future
• Your budget and willingness to carry the size/weight are in line with a high-end camera

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

It’s tempting to compare camera specs head-to-head and call it a day. But what I love about testing these cameras is how starkly they underscore that “best camera” is always contextual. The Canon ELPH 100 HS is a triumph of convenience and simplicity for casual users and travelers who want a step above smartphone photography with zero fuss. Meanwhile, the EOS R5 is a technological tour de force designed for photographers who demand ultimate image quality, speed, and creative control.

Choosing between these two is not about which is objectively better but which matches your needs, budget, and commitment to photography.

If you decide to step into pro mirrorless territory, prepare for a rewarding but different journey: investments in lenses, accessories, and learning. For carefree, easy shooting on the go, the ELPH 100 HS remains a trusty pocket companion that gets the job done.

In the end, I’m reminded that photography is, at its core, about capturing moments - whether with a pocket-sized helper or a professional workhorse. I hope this deep dive helps you find the camera that inspires you most.

Happy shooting!