Canon ELPH 510 HS vs Canon PowerShot S100: A Hands-On Comparison for the Practical Photographer

When you're hunting for a compact point-and-shoot camera that balances convenience with image quality, the Canon ELPH 510 HS and the Canon PowerShot S100 are two models that often pop up in conversation - even a decade after their release. Both boast respectable specs and Canon’s reliable imaging heritage, but they cater to slightly different crowds and photographic priorities.

Having spent countless hours testing and shooting with cameras across all levels and genres, I’m diving deep into how these two cameras really stack up against each other in everyday use, cutting through marketing fluff to the heart of what matters - image quality, usability, shooting versatility, and ultimately, value for money.

So buckle in as we explore their strengths, limitations, and ideal user scenarios, backed by real-world testing and technical insights.

First Impressions - Size, Handling, and Ergonomics

The Canon ELPH 510 HS and the PowerShot S100 are both compact cameras aimed at photographers who want something pocketable but capable. However, their physical designs speak volumes about their different design philosophies.

The ELPH 510 HS is a slim, svelte model - measuring 99x59x22mm and weighing a mere 206g - making it a great candidate for those who hate lugging gear. The S100, slightly chunkier at 99x60x28mm and 198g, feels more solid in the hand with a thoughtful grip area.

Ergonomically, the S100 shines. It offers manual focus capability and dedicated mode dials - uncommon in this segment - that make it appealing to enthusiasts who want control clubs for their thumbs. The ELPH 510 HS, true to its superzoom compact heritage, leans heavily into automatic operation with limited manual control and touchscreen-only navigation, suiting grab-and-go shooters best.

Looking at their top plates, the S100 features prominent control dials and buttons for quick exposure adjustments, whereas the ELPH 510 HS simplifies to basics, favoring touchscreen menus over physical controls. If you’re a fiddler who likes to tweak settings on the fly, the S100 feels more accommodating.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The real battle starts here. Both cameras sport 12MP CMOS sensors, but their designs and capabilities couldn’t be more different.

• Canon ELPH 510 HS: Uses a 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor sized about 6.17 x 4.55mm, resulting in a 28.07 mm² sensor area.
• Canon PowerShot S100: Steps up to a larger 1/1.7” CMOS sensor, measuring 7.44 x 5.58mm with 41.52 mm² area, notably bigger.

Why does sensor size matter? Mainly because a bigger sensor collects more light, which aids in cleaner images with less noise - especially in low light - and richer dynamic range.

According to independent lab tests (including DXOmark data where available), the S100 delivers a significantly better dynamic range (11.6 EV vs. untested but expected lower for ELPH 510 HS) and better low-light performance (ISO 153 vs. untested).

In practical use, images from the S100 show more detail retention in shadows and highlights, smoother gradations, and cleaner ISO performance beyond 800. The ELPH 510 HS, while decent in daylight, struggles noticeably under dim conditions, producing softer images with more visible noise.

Usability and Interface: How They Feel in Your Hands

Once you’ve framed the shot, how do these cameras handle the interface and user experience?

Both cameras have a 3-inch display with the same 461k-dot resolution, but the ELPH 510 HS’s PureColor II TFT touchscreen offers a more interactive experience - ideal for quickly navigating menus or selecting focus points. The S100 sticks to physical buttons and control dials, foregoing touch sensitivity.

Neither camera has an electronic viewfinder (EVF), which is an important consideration if you’re shooting outdoors in bright conditions. You’ll rely entirely on the LCD, where the S100’s matte screen offers better visibility under sunlight due to less glare.

On the autofocus front, the S100 uses contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points and face detection. The ELPH 510 HS, despite less published detail about AF points, supports face detection and AF tracking with touch-to-focus capabilities. The S100’s manual focus option further appeals to users needing critical focus control in macro or low-contrast scenes.

Optical Zoom and Lens Characteristics: Superzoom vs. Fast Standard Zoom

Lens focal ranges define the cameras’ versatility in different shooting scenarios.

• ELPH 510 HS: 28–336mm equivalent (12x zoom), aperture F3.4–5.9
• S100: 24–120mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture F2.0–5.9

The ELPH 510 HS’s longer zoom reach is a significant advantage for wildlife or travel photographers craving telephoto reach in a compact. Its closest macro focus at 1 cm is impressive for close-up shots but beware of softness near max tele ends due to small sensor diffraction.

In contrast, the S100 features a notably faster lens at the wide end (F2.0) ideal for low-light or shallow depth-of-field shots - critical for portraits, street, or travel moments where bokeh and subject isolation matter.

While the S100’s 5x zoom is more limited, it covers most practical focal lengths between wide-angle and short telephoto, making it more versatile for everyday shooting without the bulk of long zoom extenders.

Performance in Photography Genres: Real-World Use Cases

Let’s dissect these cameras through the lens of popular photography disciplines based on my extensive field testing.

Portrait Photography

For portraits, skin tone rendering, bokeh quality, and especially autofocus are key.

• S100: Thanks to its faster F2 lens, larger sensor, and 9-point AF with face detection, it produces creamy background blur and sharp subjects even in challenging indoor lighting. Its manual exposure options allow fine tuning for skin tone accuracy.
• ELPH 510 HS: Limited by its slower zoom lens and smaller sensor, portraits tend to be flatter with less subject separation. However, its touchscreen AF with face detection can still deliver decent snaps in well-lit environments.

Landscape Photography

Landscape shooters prize dynamic range, detail resolution, and durability.

• S100: Superior dynamic range unlocks capture of sunrise/sunset scenes with more highlight and shadow detail. The sensor’s resolution and color depth contribute to punchier, truer-to-life images.
• ELPH 510 HS: The smaller sensor limits tonal gradation and dynamic range, resulting in more blown highlights under bright skies. Lack of weather sealing means caution in harsh outdoor conditions.

Wildlife Photography

Here, autofocus speed, telephoto reach, and continuous shooting matter.

• ELPH 510 HS: Wins for telephoto reach with its 336 mm equivalent superzoom lens and 3 fps burst rate, allowing you to 'get close' from a distance - critical for skittish subjects.
• S100: The shorter zoom and slower continuous shooting (2 fps) reduces utility in fast-paced wildlife capture.

Sports Photography

Tracking accuracy, low light autofocus, and high frame rates are essential.

Neither camera is a sports photography powerhouse given their low continuous shooting speeds and generally slower autofocus compared to DSLRs or mirrorless.

• ELPH 510 HS edges ahead marginally for its higher burst rate and telephoto reach.

Street Photography

Discretion, portability, and low light capability rule here.

• S100: Compact, fast lens, discrete operation, and better low light sensitivity give it an upper hand for candid street shots.
• ELPH 510 HS: Longer zoom is of limited street utility; touchscreen controls can be slow to navigate on the fly.

Macro Photography

Precision focus and magnification are tested.

• ELPH 510 HS wins with close focusing down to 1cm, letting you get astonishingly close to subjects.
• S100 covers closest focusing at 3 cm, still decent but less extreme.

Night and Astro Photography

High ISO performance and long exposure modes are key.

• S100’s bigger sensor and ISO capability up to 6400 make it a modest astro contender among compacts.
• ELPH 510 HS tops out at ISO 3200 with generally higher noise, limiting night use.

Video Capabilities

Both offer 1080p Full HD recording at 24 fps.

• Neither has microphone or headphone jacks, restricting audio control.
• The ELPH 510 HS includes slow-motion options (up to 240 fps at low resolutions), which might interest creative videographers.
• Neither has advanced in-body stabilization beyond optic IS.

Travel Photography

Versatility, battery life, and size matter.

Canon ELPH 510 HS front Canon ELPH 510 HS screen back Canon S100 front Canon S100 screen back

• ELPH 510 HS: Lightweight and long zoom range make it a good travel partner when carrying minimal gear.
• S100: Slightly bigger but excellent image quality and rugged feel make it better suited for scenic travel documentation.

Battery life is around 200 shots on the S100, and unspecified (but likely similar) on the ELPH 510 HS; be sure to carry spares for long trips.

Professional Work

When it comes to reliability, file formats, and workflow…

• S100 supports RAW file capture, essential for detailed post-processing and professional-grade workflow flexibility.
• ELPH 510 HS shoots only JPEG, limiting editing latitude.

Neither camera is designed for heavy professional workloads where full manual controls, ruggedness, or high frame rates predominate.

Construction Quality and Durability

Both cameras lack weather sealing, dust, or shockproofing - expected in their class - but build quality holds up well for casual use.

Neither model is freezeproof or crushproof, so handle with care in extreme environments.

Connectivity and Storage

Both support SD/SDHC/SDXC cards but only Eye-Fi wireless connectivity for photo transfer (via Wi-Fi SD card). No native Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS on ELPH 510 HS; the S100 includes built-in GPS - a nice bonus for travel photographers keen on geotagging.

Both share USB 2.0 and HDMI out, reflecting their 2011-2012 design eras.

Price and Value Analysis: What Will Your Wallet Say?

• Canon ELPH 510 HS launched at ~$200, easily found on the used market for less.
• Canon PowerShot S100 launched closer to ~$430, and used prices reflect its enthusiast features.

If your budget is tight and you want a basic superzoom pocket camera, the ELPH 510 HS is a solid entry.

If image quality, manual control, RAW support, and low light performance matter more, invest in the S100.

How Do They Perform in Different Genres? A Genre-by-Genre Scorecard

• Portrait: S100 clearly superior with lens speed and manual controls.
• Landscape: S100 advantage for dynamic range, color depth.
• Wildlife: ELPH 510 HS zoom gives it a narrow win.
• Sports: Neither great; ELPH 510 HS slightly better.
• Street: S100 leads thanks to compactness and low light.
• Macro: ELPH 510 HS with closer focus.
• Night/Astro: S100 with higher ISO range.
• Video: Pretty even, slight edge to ELPH 510 HS for slow-mo.
• Travel: Tie, preference based on zoom vs quality.
• Professional: S100 due to RAW & manual exposure.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Canon ELPH 510 HS Pros

• Slim, lightweight body ideal for travel
• 12x optical zoom covers wide to very long telephoto
• Optical image stabilization helps with hand shake
• Touchscreen-enabled autofocus and intuitive menus
• Slow-motion video modes add fun creative options
• Affordable for budget-conscious buyers

Canon ELPH 510 HS Cons

• Small sensor limits image quality and low light performance
• No RAW image capture for advanced editing
• Limited manual controls - mostly auto-focused usage
• No built-in GPS or advanced connectivity features
• Screen non-articulating and no EVF

Canon PowerShot S100 Pros

• Larger 1/1.7” sensor with better dynamic range and ISO performance
• Faster f/2.0 lens at wide end for low light and shallow depth of field
• Full manual exposure modes (P, Av, Tv, M)
• RAW image capture for professional post-processing
• Built-in GPS for geotagging travel shots
• Solid physical controls and dials for quick adjustments

Canon PowerShot S100 Cons

• Limited 5x zoom restricts telephoto reach
• Slightly thicker, less pocket friendly than ELPH 510 HS
• No touchscreen interface - can slow navigation
• No microphone input for enhanced video audio
• Higher initial cost

Final Verdict: Which One Should You Pick?

My experience using these cameras side-by-side reveals that your choice hinges on what you prioritize:

• Choose the Canon ELPH 510 HS if you want lightweight portability combined with an extended zoom range at a budget-friendly price. It’s great for travelers who want simple operation and long reach, casual photographers, and cheapskates who want decent snaps without fuss.

• Go for the Canon PowerShot S100 if you value image quality, manual controls, and the flexibility of RAW files. It suits enthusiasts, street and travel photographers who want fast optics and greater creative control, even with a steeper price tag.

Neither camera is cutting edge anymore - smartphones have caught up significantly - but in their time, they filled important niches. They remain relevant as affordable, punchy compact shooters with distinctive strengths.

I hope this thorough breakdown helps you decide which camera better fits your style, budget, and photographic ambitions. If you want more recent models with updated tech, I’m happy to recommend alternatives, but these classics still hold charm for dedicated shooters.

Happy shooting - may your next photographic adventure be your best yet!

Additional summary images for reference:

Canon ELPH 510 HS front Canon ELPH 510 HS screen back Canon S100 front Canon S100 screen back