Canon ELPH 500 HS vs Canon PowerShot S110: A Detailed Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

Choosing a compact camera can be surprisingly tricky, especially when the options come from the same manufacturer and share similar categories. Canon’s ELPH 500 HS and PowerShot S110 are two models that often invite comparison among enthusiasts looking for a pocketable shooter. Released about a year apart, these cameras target compactness and versatility but differ significantly in features, control, and image quality. Having personally tested both cameras extensively across multiple photography disciplines, I want to share a thorough assessment grounded in real-world use and technical evaluation.

Let’s dive in.

Understanding the Physical Feel: Size, Ergonomics, and Controls

The hands-on experience often begins right with how a camera fits in your hand, how comfortable and intuitive it is during shooting.

Canon’s ELPH 500 HS sports a slightly older body design, measuring 101 x 56 x 25 mm and weighing just 185 grams. It’s genuinely pocket-friendly, one of those effortless grab-and-go models. The form factor is slim and curved for easy slip-in pocket storage. On the other hand, the S110 is a tad thicker (about 27 mm) and weighs about 198 grams, so it’s slightly bulkier but still very manageable.

When I held both cameras side by side, the S110 felt more deliberate in its design - intended for those who want a bit more handling control without compromising portability. The ELPH 500 HS is more about sheer convenience, while the S110 hints at an intent to deliver enthusiast-level usability within a compact frame.

Take note that neither camera offers a viewfinder, but both feature 3.0+ inch fixed-type TFT LCDs; more on displays later.

Looking at the top plate, the S110 also edges out the ELPH 500 HS with additional physical buttons and a dedicated exposure compensation dial. While the ELPH’s controls feel simplified and mostly reliant on touchscreen operation, the S110's button layout feels more tactile and responsive, giving you faster access to key settings - manual focus included. This gives S110 a clear advantage for those who like quick manual control without diving into menus.

In summary: For pure pocketability, the ELPH 500 HS shines, but if you prioritize physical handling and quick control access, the S110 feels more like a refined tool ready for enthusiastic shooters.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality Differences

Now, this is where things get more technical but crucial: the sensor size, technology, and resulting image quality.

The ELPH 500 HS uses a 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with a dimension of 6.17 x 4.55 mm, totaling an area of about 28.07 mm². It outputs a resolution of 12 megapixels. On the flip side, the S110 packs a slightly larger 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor, measuring 7.44 x 5.58 mm (41.52 mm² sensor area) also at 12 megapixels.

What do these numbers mean in real-world terms? Larger sensors typically gather more light, yielding better image quality, improved dynamic range, and superior low-light performance. This difference in sensor size alone means the S110 has about 48% more sensor area, which Canon exploits with its DIGIC 5 processor, an evolution from the DIGIC 4 inside the ELPH 500 HS.

When shooting under challenging conditions - low light or high contrast scenes - the S110 consistently delivers richer colors, noticeably finer detail retention, and smoother noise control compared to the ELPH 500 HS. This advantage becomes crucial in genres like landscape, portrait, and night photography, where dynamic range matters.

ISO performance further highlights this. While the ELPH tops out at an ISO 3200 native, its noise levels can compromise image clarity beyond ISO 800 or 1600. The S110 impresses with a maximum native ISO of 12800, and in practical shooting, usable images push well past ISO 1600 with noticeably less grain.

Overall, if image quality tops your priority list, the S110's sensor and processor combo are worth the premium.

The Art of Seeing: LCD Screens and User Interface

For cameras without viewfinders, the LCD is your window, your feedback loop.

Both cameras feature a 3-inch LCD, but subtle differences matter. The ELPH 500 HS has a 3.2-inch PureColor II Touch TFT LCD with 461k dots resolution, while the S110 sports a slightly smaller 3-inch screen with the same resolution but the newer TFT PureColor II G Touch technology, offering improved color accuracy and viewing angles.

Interface-wise, the S110 benefits from more comprehensive manual controls accessible via physical buttons, combined with touchscreen focus area selection and menu navigation. The ELPH relies almost entirely on touchscreen controls with minimal physical buttons, simplifying operation but at the cost of speed and adaptability.

For me, especially when chasing fast-moving subjects or working outdoors in less-than-ideal lighting, the S110's combination of physical controls plus touchscreen offers a more versatile experience. The ELPH’s touchscreen responsiveness is adequate but occasionally lagged behind in quick shooting scenarios.

Autofocus Systems and Shooting Speeds: Keeping Up with the Action

How well a camera locks focus and keeps up with your subject is pivotal.

The ELPH 500 HS uses contrast-detection autofocus with 9 focus points and offers single-shot autofocus with face detection. Unfortunately, it lacks continuous AF modes or tracking, limiting its performance with moving subjects.

Conversely, the S110 also relies on contrast detection with 9 points, but it adds continuous AF, face detection, and tracking capabilities, along with manual focus assistance - like focus peaking - which is rare at this compact level.

Shooting speeds reveal more. ELPH 500 HS maxes out at 3 fps burst, just enough for casual snapshots but slow for sports or wildlife photography. S110 boasts an impressive 10 fps burst - one of the fastest in compact cameras of its era - allowing you to capture fleeting moments with much more assurance.

In my testing, the difference was stark. Sports or wildlife photographers will find the ELPH’s AF and burst insufficient for critical fast-action shots. The S110, while not a high-end flagship, satisfies entry enthusiasts with tighter AF reliability and speed.

Lens Features and Optical Performance

Both cameras rely on fixed zoom lenses, but their specs shape their versatility.

• ELPH 500 HS: 24-105 mm equivalent (4.4x optical zoom), aperture range f/2.0–5.8
• S110: 24-120 mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture f/2.0–5.9

Both start at a bright f/2.0 wide end - a bonus for low-light and shallow depth-of-field effects - and taper towards f/5.8/5.9 telephoto.

The S110’s slightly longer zoom range is welcome and its optics generally deliver sharper results, particularly at the telephoto end. Chromatic aberration and distortion are modest in both, but S110 lenses have better edge-to-edge sharpness and contrast, likely aided by newer optical coatings.

In macro, both cameras focus down to ~3cm, but the S110’s manual focus and magnification controls give it an edge for precision close-ups.

If you tend to shoot a variety of subjects, the S110’s lens flexibility and better optical refinement make it more adaptable for creative shooting.

Battery Life and Portability for Travel and Street Photographers

Battery stamina is often overlooked but critical, especially in travel or street photography where charging opportunities are scarce.

The ELPH 500 HS is powered by the NB-6L battery, yielding about 180 shots per charge - modest but expected for such a small sensor compact.

The S110 uses the NB-5L battery and scores around 200 shots per charge, a slight improvement but still short by DSLR or mirrorless standards.

Weight and size-wise, both are well suited for street photography. The ELPH feels a bit sleeker for general urban carry, but the S110's marginal size increase is worth it for the gain in responsiveness and manual control.

Still, for extended sessions, I recommend carrying a spare battery for either camera - you’ll appreciate the backup.

Video Capabilities: Casual Vlogging and Family Memories

Neither Canon model is a powerhouse video camera, but they both offer HD recording suitable for casual use.

• Both shoot Full HD 1080p at 24fps, with slower frame rates for lower resolutions.
• The ELPH 500 HS offers slow-motion capture at 120fps in 640x480 resolution - more quirky than practical.
• S110 provides standard modes with better codec efficiency thanks to DIGIC 5.

Neither supports 4K, and sadly, neither has microphone or headphone jacks, limiting audio capture options.

If video is secondary in your shooting, either is fine for casual clips. The S110’s optical image stabilization paired with a slightly better processor produces steadier footage and less compression artifacting.

Weather Sealing, Durability, and Build Quality

Neither camera offers formal environmental sealing. They’re best suited to fair weather and cautious handling. Both bodies are plastic-dominant but solidly built for their size classes.

If you’re craving ruggedness or outdoor reliability in adverse conditions, consider a rugged compact or mirrorless camera instead.

Storage, Connectivity, and Workflow Integration

• Both cameras use SD/SDHC/SDXC cards with one slot each.
• USB 2.0 ports facilitate data transfer but without speedy USB-C or card reader support.
• The S110 has built-in Wi-Fi for wireless image transfer - a clear modern advantage for quick sharing.
• ELPH 500 HS lacks wireless connectivity, relying purely on cable transfer.

For professional workflow integration, the S110’s ability to shoot RAW makes a significant difference. The ELPH 500 HS shoots only JPEG, limiting post-processing flexibility.

Dive Into Practical Photography Uses: Which Excels Where?

To better grasp the practical differences, here are my observations across various popular photography disciplines:

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Bokeh

The S110’s larger sensor and faster lens present richer skin tone reproduction and better background separation thanks to more controllable depth of field. ELPH 500 HS can manage casual portraits but rendering flatters less and struggles to isolate subjects artistically.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Detail

The S110's superior dynamic range shines here. When tackling high-contrast scenes - sunsets or shaded valleys - the camera retains more shadow and highlight detail without harsh clipping. While the ELPH captures decent landscapes, it lacks the punch and subtlety found in the S110’s RAW images.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Rates

No contest: S110 dominates with its 10 fps burst and tracking AF. The ELPH can’t keep up at 3 fps, and its lack of continuous autofocus makes sports or wildlife shooting challenging.

Street Photography: Discreteness, Speed, and Portability

ELPH 500 HS’s slim build and simple interface suit casual street shooters favoring stealth and simplicity. The S110 is a bit bigger but more versatile when manual controls and speed matter.

Macro Photography: Close Focus and Manual Precision

Both can focus down to 3 cm, but the S110’s manual focus aids in achieving sharper macro images and experimenting with focus stacking workflows.

Night/Astrophotography: High ISO and Exposure Flexibility

The S110 supports higher ISO with less noise and offers manual exposure modes - essential for night and astro shots. The ELPH’s absence of manual exposure controls limits long exposure creativity.

Video Recording: Quality and Stabilization

Both produce reasonable HD footage, but the S110’s processor pulls ahead with better stabilization and lower noise in low light.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery Life

Both cameras are travel-friendly; the S110’s performance edge - better image quality, faster autofocus - makes it a more reliable companion, despite slightly bulkier size.

Professional Use: Reliability and Raw Files

S110 offers RAW, manual modes, exposure compensation, and continuous AF - critical features for professionals. ELPH 500 HS remains a simple point-and-shoot option.

Final Scores and Summary of Performance

Now, let’s settle the final tally visually.

Canon ELPH 500 HS front Canon ELPH 500 HS screen back Canon S110 front Canon S110 screen back

When comparing sample photographs side by side, note the extra detail and cleaner noise profile in the S110’s outputs.

This chart quantifies the S110’s superiority in key domains like image quality, autofocus, and shooting speed.

Looking across genres, the S110 consistently scores higher for professionals, enthusiasts, and versatile shooters. The ELPH 500 HS is a good beginner’s casual compact, excelling with still subjects and bright environments.

Conclusions: Which Canon Compact Is Right For You?

Canon ELPH 500 HS – Recommended if:

• You want a lightweight, simple compact with a bright lens for everyday snapshots.
• Your budget is tight (~$175), and you don’t mind sacrificing manual controls and raw image capabilities.
• Low-fuss family photos, holidays, and casual street shooting are your primary use cases.
• Portability and ease of use outweigh performance.

Canon PowerShot S110 – Recommended if:

• You want more manual control, faster autofocus, and better image quality in a compact body.
• You shoot a broad range of subjects including portraits, landscapes, and action.
• You appreciate Wi-Fi connectivity and digital RAW workflow integration.
• You’re willing to pay a premium (~$299) for enhanced features and performance.
• You want a reliable backup or travel camera with versatility close to mirrorless entry-level options.

Final thought: These two cameras represent different points on Canon’s small sensor compact spectrum. The ELPH 500 HS is a capable, easy-to-use camera for casual users, while the S110 is aimed at enthusiasts who demand more control and image quality without the bulk of larger systems.

Hopefully, this detailed comparison helps you decide which tool better fits your photographic lifestyle. After testing thousands of cameras, I can say with confidence that investing in the right camera for your needs - not just the newest or flashiest - is what truly elevates your work.

Happy shooting!