Canon EOS M100 vs Canon PowerShot S100: An Expert’s Detailed Comparison for Enthusiasts and Professionals

In the world of photography, Canon has long been a trusted companion - from entry-level mirrorless to compact point-and-shoots. Today, I’m diving deep into two distinct models from Canon’s lineup - the Canon EOS M100 mirrorless and the Canon PowerShot S100 compact camera. Both serve different corners of the photography universe but overlap in price and appeal to budget-conscious shooters. I’ve spent considerable time testing both cameras across multiple photography genres to give you a practical, nuanced comparison that can help you decide which one is truly worth your money.

Let’s unravel where each camera shines, where compromises linger, and who will benefit most from either option.

Getting to Know the Contenders: Canon EOS M100 and Canon PowerShot S100

Before jumping into detailed analysis, here’s a quick snapshot:

• Canon EOS M100: Launched in 2017, the M100 is Canon’s rangefinder-style entry-level mirrorless camera with a 24MP APS-C sensor, DIGIC 7 processor, and an EF-M lens mount. It excels in image quality and portability, yet lacks an electronic viewfinder.

• Canon PowerShot S100: A compact camera released in 2011, powered by a smaller 12MP 1/1.7” sensor, with a fixed 24-120mm f/2.0-5.9 lens and a DIGIC 5 processor. It’s built for convenience, with a pocketable form factor but limited versatility.

Clearly, these cameras target different segments: the M100 aims at those wanting better image quality and system expandability, while the S100 targets point-and-shoot users valuing compactness.

As always, let’s start by measuring their physical presence and ergonomics, which influence both portability and handling ease.

Size and Handling – When Ergonomics Shape Creativity

Physically, the Canon EOS M100 is larger but impressively compact for an APS-C mirrorless. Weighing 302g and measuring 108 x 67 x 35 mm, it comfortably fits in a medium jacket pocket but demands a dedicated camera bag or sling for longer excursions.

In contrast, the Canon PowerShot S100 is tiny - 198g and 99 x 60 x 28 mm - truly pocket-sized and easy to carry for casual shooting or travel. Its design is slab-like with fewer physical controls but logical placement for quick access.

Ergonomics-wise, the M100’s larger body affords better grip and handling stability, especially when paired with larger EF-M lenses. The S100’s small size can become tricky in colder weather or longer sessions.

Personally, I find the M100's shape more comfortable during extended shoots, especially for genres requiring steady frames like portrait or landscape photography. But for snap-happy street or travel photographers prioritizing discretion and ease, the S100 remains a formidable option.

The next part to scrutinize: the control layout and top interface.

Top Controls and User Interface – Navigating the Cameras With Fingertips

Canon took different approaches in control philosophy. The M100 employs a minimalist top panel design with a mode dial, shutter release, and zoom lever on the lens (since the body is lens-interchangeable). Notably, it lacks a dedicated exposure compensation dial - often inconvenient for photographers who tweak exposure on the fly.

The S100, being a compact, integrates a simple but effective control ring around the lens and a mode dial on top - allowing quick changes to aperture, shutter speed, or ISO via the ring, which is rather intuitive once you get the hang of it.

A distinct difference is that the M100’s touchscreen interface is comprehensive and supports touch autofocus and menu navigation, making it accessible to users transitioning from smartphones.

The S100 has no touchscreen; navigation is handled by physical buttons and dials which, while accurate, feel somewhat dated compared to modern cameras.

Depending on your preference, the M100’s touch-based UI can speed up workflow, but I’ve seen photographers swear by tactile dials like those on the S100, especially under bright ambient light where screens struggle with visibility.

Sensor Tech and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Now, the real core difference lies in sensor size and image quality potential.

The Canon EOS M100 sports a 24.2MP APS-C CMOS sensor (22.3 x 14.9 mm) with an effective sensor area of 332.27 mm², paired with Canon’s DIGIC 7 processor. This larger sensor size is a huge advantage, translating into improved dynamic range (13.0 EV per DXO), superior color depth (23.5 bits), and better high ISO performance (ISO 1272 low-light score).

Conversely, the Canon PowerShot S100 uses a significantly smaller 1/1.7” sensor (7.44 x 5.58 mm), totaling 41.52 mm² with 12.1MP resolution. The DXO overall score is substantially lower at 50 points. Naturally, this smaller sensor delivers less dynamic range (11.6 EV) and a lower color depth (20.7 bits), with limited ISO sensitivity resulting in noisier images past ISO 400.

From hands-on shooting, you can see this difference clearly in ISO performance and image detail retention in shadows/highlights. The M100 handles underexposed or challenging light scenes far better, making it more versatile for various photography disciplines like portraits and landscapes.

Articulating the View: Screens and Viewfinders

Neither camera offers an electronic viewfinder, a point worth noting when comparing to other models. This limits eye-level shooting, pushing users to rely on the rear LCD for composition and review.

The M100’s 3-inch tilting touchscreen with 1040k dots is bright, responsive, and offers a selfie-friendly flip-up design - excellent for vloggers and those taking self-portraits. It substantially eases manual focus adjustment and menu access.

The S100’s 3-inch fixed LCD has a much lower 461k dot resolution, affecting sharpness and detail in playback. It’s not touch-enabled, and its fixed position limits working angles, making shooting at awkward angles less comfortable.

If you’re used to eye-level viewfinding or want a more immersive framing experience, neither will satisfy fully, but the M100’s larger, higher-res touch screen is the better tool practically in most scenarios.

Autofocus Systems: Accuracy, Speed, and Tracking

The M100 incorporates Canon’s Hybrid CMOS AF system - combining contrast and phase-detection AF, boasting 49 focus points, complete touch and face detection, and continuous AF modes.

Conversely, the S100 uses a contrast-detection AF system with just 9 focus points and slower tracking. Its AF lacks phase detection and continuous autofocus during video recording. Face detection is supported, but animal eye detection and more advanced tracking are absent.

From experience, the M100’s AF is noticeably snappier and stays locked more reliably on moving subjects, making it better for sports, wildlife, and street genres where fast autofocus responsiveness is vital.

The S100 may frustrate in fast-moving situations or low light but does well for static subjects and casual shots.

Burst Shooting and Buffer: Capturing the Decisive Moment

The M100 offers 6.1 fps continuous shooting - which, while not blistering, is robust for its class. The buffer length is sufficient to capture a burst of 10-15 RAW frames without slowing noticeably.

The S100, however, maxes out at only 2 fps burst, limiting action capture potential drastically.

If you’re into sports, wildlife, or any fast-paced photography, the M100’s faster fps and larger buffer vastly improve your chances of nailing the shot.

Image Stabilization: Optical vs None

Surprisingly, the M100 does not include in-body image stabilization (IBIS) or lens stabilization in its basic kit lenses, so you'll often rely on steady hands or tripods.

On the other hand, the S100 has optical image stabilization, built into its fixed lens, providing noticeable blur reduction during handheld shots, especially at longer focal lengths or in low light.

This difference is a crucial consideration if you frequently shoot handheld without tripods and need stabilization for slower shutter speeds.

Video Capabilities: Modern Features for Moving Pictures

Both cameras record Full HD (1080p) video:

• Canon EOS M100 shoots 1920x1080 at 60p, using efficient H.264 encoding with AAC audio. It supports continuous AF during video thanks to its hybrid AF system, delivering smoother focus transitions, useful for casual video creators and vloggers. However, it lacks microphone or headphone jacks, limiting external audio options.

• Canon PowerShot S100 also shoots 1080p but only at 24 fps - more cinematic but less fluid for action. Focus is contrast-only, making focus pulls slower and more prone to hunting. Video codec options include H.264 and Motion JPEG, the latter less efficient. No mic input is available either.

Clearly, if video is important, the M100’s higher frame rate and AF system improve versatility. But for casual clips, the S100 suffices.

Battery Life and Storage: How Long Will You Shoot?

Battery performance often gets overlooked until you find yourself out shooting for hours.

The M100 offers approximately 295 shots per charge using the LP-E12 battery pack - typical for compact mirrorless cameras but slightly underwhelming compared to DSLRs. Thankfully, the LP-E12 batteries are widely available and charger options plentiful.

The S100’s NB-5L battery delivers about 200 shots per charge, reflecting older battery tech and power-hungry features like image stabilization.

If you venture on travel or landscape expeditions, the M100 offers more endurance or the chance to carry fewer spare batteries.

Both cameras use standard SD cards (UHS-I compatible on M100) with single card slots.

Connectivity: Wireless and Tethering

In today’s instant-sharing environment, connectivity matters:

• Canon EOS M100 features built-in Wi-Fi, NFC, and Bluetooth for smart device pairing, remote shooting, and easy file transfer. This integration suits modern photographers who want quick sharing or cloud backup.

• Canon PowerShot S100 is limited to Eye-Fi compatibility, a system now deprecated and cumbersome compared to native Wi-Fi. It lacks Bluetooth or NFC.

Unsurprisingly, the M100 wins hands down for connectivity and workflow integration.

Durability and Weather Sealing

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, dust, or splash-proofing. Both need careful handling in harsh weather or dusty conditions.

The M100’s slightly more substantial build gives more confidence in protection during regular use, but if you need ruggedness, look elsewhere.

Lens Ecosystem: Expandability vs Fixed Optics

A major advantage of the M100 is the Canon EF-M lens mount, with a growing range of 23 native lenses available, including primes, zooms, fast apertures, and specialists like macro or tilt-shift adapters via adapters.

This flexibility lets users build a lens kit suited to portraiture, wildlife, macro, or travel.

The S100’s fixed 24-120mm f/2.0-5.9 zoom lens is versatile for everyday shooting but offers no options for upgrades or changes, limiting creativity.

If you crave system growth, the M100 wins this round without question.

How Do They Fare Across Photography Genres?

To crystallize their relative strengths, I tested both cameras across major photographic fields. Here is a clear genre-specific verdict based on comprehensive shooting trials.

Portrait Photography

The M100’s high-resolution APS-C sensor yields exceptional skin tone rendering, fine details, and beautiful background blur (bokeh) when paired with fast EF-M lenses. Its face detection autofocus is reliable, but no eye-detection or animal eye AF.

The S100 struggles with shallow depth of field due to small sensor size and lens aperture, yielding less subject isolation and softer details.

Winner: Canon EOS M100

Landscape Photography

Greater dynamic range and resolution give the M100 a distinct advantage capturing detailed scenes with subtle tonal gradations. Lack of weather sealing limits fieldwork in rough conditions.

The S100, while portable, falls short on dynamic range and noise control in shadows, limiting post-processing latitude.

Winner: Canon EOS M100

Wildlife Photography

Fast AF, decent burst shooting, and telephoto lens options favor the M100, despite the kit lens's limitation (you’ll want a longer zoom).

The S100 is handicapped by slow AF, limited reach, and slow burst rate, making it challenging to capture wildlife crisply.

Winner: Canon EOS M100

Sports Photography

Tracking moving subjects benefits from M100’s continuous AF and 6.1 fps burst rate.

S100’s 2 fps and basic AF diminish chances of sharp action shots.

Winner: Canon EOS M100

Street Photography

S100 excels in portability and discreteness for candid shooting and quick grabs; its small size is an asset.

M100 is larger but still reasonably portable; silent shutter mode absent on M100 is a slight downside for street stealth.

Winner: Tie (Slight edge to S100 for compactness)

Macro Photography

M100 can pair with dedicated macro lenses offering high magnification and focusing precision.

S100 macro at 3 cm works for casual close-ups but lacks professional control or sharpness potential.

Winner: Canon EOS M100

Night / Astrophotography

Big sensor and higher ISO performance of M100 favor low-light and astro shots.

S100's small sensor and limited ISO capabilities introduce noise, clouding night shots.

Winner: Canon EOS M100

Video

M100’s Full HD at 60p and continuous AF beats S100’s 24p video and contrast-only AF.

Audio options for both cameras are minimal.

Winner: Canon EOS M100

Travel Photography

S100’s pocket-sized design is tempting for travel lightweight setups.

But M100’s superior image quality, flexibility, and better battery life win if packing space allows.

Winner: Depends - S100 for ultimate compactness, M100 for quality and adaptability

Professional Work

RAW format support, superior image quality, and system expandability give M100 a better edge in professional workflows.

S100 is more a casual or enthusiast camera.

Winner: Canon EOS M100

Final Scorecard: Which Camera Excels Where?

I’ve distilled overall performances into objective DXO and practical scores based on hands-on testing.

The Canon EOS M100 outperforms the Canon PowerShot S100 clearly in image quality, autofocus, speed, and video. The S100 holds its ground via portability and optical stabilization in a fixed lens.

Sample Images: Viewing Quality Side-by-Side

Here are side-by-side JPG samples from both cameras under identical conditions - you can appreciate the M100’s superior sharpness, color fidelity, and noise control compared to the S100’s softer, noisier renders, especially visible at higher ISO.

Who Should Buy the Canon EOS M100?

• Enthusiasts wanting a compact mirrorless system with superior image quality.
• Portrait, landscape, and wildlife photographers needing better sensor performance.
• Vloggers and casual videographers desiring Full HD 60p video and touchscreen control.
• Photographers planning to build a lens system over time.
• Users who don’t mind carrying a slightly larger body for professional-grade output.

Who Should Consider the Canon PowerShot S100?

• Casual shooters or travelers prioritizing ultimate portability and pocketability.
• Photographers who want an all-in-one compact with decent zoom and optical stabilization.
• Buyers on extremely tight budgets wanting a fixed-lens camera with manual control.
• Users who mostly shoot in good daylight and want simplicity without system expansion.

Closing Thoughts - Personalized Advice

If you asked me which camera I’d pack on a weekend documentary trip, the Canon EOS M100 wins hands down. The image quality, autofocus, and versatility are genuinely worth the slight size increase and higher price.

However, if you want an ultra-portable back-pocket “always-ready” camera, the Canon PowerShot S100 still surprises with usable optics, stabilization, and decent image quality for its sensor size - even if it feels technologically dated by 2024 standards.

Canon designed these cameras for very different users: the M100 for stepping into mirrorless with purpose, the S100 for convenience and instant capture.

I hope this thorough comparison gives you the confidence to align your choice with your photographic passions and practical needs. Feel free to ask any questions - I’ve spent countless hours testing these and similar cameras, and I’m happy to share more insights!

Happy shooting!

• Your expert photography gear reviewer

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