Canon PowerShot A2100 IS vs Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS: A Thorough Compact Camera Comparison for Your Creative Journey

Choosing a compact camera can be tough, especially when faced with options like the Canon PowerShot A2100 IS and the Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS. Both are designed to be easy-to-carry companions that deliver decent image quality, yet they come from different eras and cater to slightly different user needs. Having personally tested and evaluated thousands of cameras over my 15+ years in photography, I’ll walk you through a detailed comparison of these two models - covering their tech, performance, and practical use cases - so you can find the right fit for your photography style and budget.

Let’s dive in.

A First Look at Size, Handling, and Design

When it comes to compact cameras, portability and ergonomics play big roles in how often you’ll reach for the camera.

• Canon PowerShot A2100 IS: Measures 102 x 64 x 32 mm and weighs 185 g (including batteries).
• Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS: More petite at 100 x 58 x 23 mm and lighter at 147 g.

The ELPH 360 HS’s ultracompact body makes it easier to slip into a pocket or purse - a big plus if you prioritize inconspicuous shooting, such as street photography or travel. The A2100 IS, bulkier and featuring a more pronounced grip, offers better handling for users who prefer a firmer hold during shooting sessions.

Controls are minimal and intuitive on both models, but the ELPH’s sleeker design means fewer physical buttons which might limit quick adjustments for some. The A2100 IS has a slightly more traditional control layout, which could feel familiar to long-time compact users.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Then and Now

The core of any camera is its sensor. Image quality hinges heavily on sensor size, resolution, and processing.

Here the ELPH 360 HS boasts an advantage typical of a camera released seven years after the A2100 IS. Its BSI-CMOS sensor is more advanced, promising improved low-light performance and higher resolution thanks to 20 megapixels.

In practical terms, the A2100 IS delivers sharp images in good light, but once you start pushing ISO above 400, noise becomes apparent. The ELPH 360 HS, with its modern sensor and DIGIC 4+ processor, handles high ISO far better, enabling you to shoot in dim environments or indoors with less grain and smoother tonal transitions.

Interface and Live View Usability

The rear LCD is your primary interface, especially on cameras without viewfinders.

• Canon A2100 IS: 3.0-inch fixed LCD with 230k dots resolution.
• Canon ELPH 360 HS: 3.0-inch fixed LCD but with a sharper 461k dots resolution.

The ELPH's crisper, brighter screen facilitates precise framing and menu navigation, which is especially handy outdoors under bright light. You won’t find touchscreen functionality on either, which is common for compact cameras of this range, but the menus are straightforward to navigate with physical buttons.

Neither camera sports an electronic viewfinder, so relying on the rear screen is mandatory - important to consider if you work primarily in bright daylight or prefer eye-level composition.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance for Capturing the Moment

Autofocus speed and shooting responsiveness can greatly affect your ability to seize fleeting moments - whether at events, sports, or wildlife.

The A2100 IS autofocus relies on contrast detection with a fixed 9-point grid but lacks continuous AF, meaning it will struggle tracking moving subjects. This limitation combined with a low 1fps burst rate restricts its usability for sports or wildlife.

The ELPH 360 HS improves with faster continuous AF and 2.5fps burst shooting, allowing you to capture more frames during action. Though far from professional speeds, this is adequate for casual sports or kids’ candid moments.

Lens Range and Optical Versatility: Zoom Coverage for Your Style

Both cameras feature fixed zoom lenses but differ in reach and speed.

The ELPH 360 HS’s 12x zoom significantly extends your reach compared to the A2100 IS’s 6x - letting you shoot everything from wide street scenes to distant subjects with more flexibility.

However, the trade-off is a smaller maximum aperture at telephoto (f/7.0 vs f/5.9), meaning low-light telephoto shots require steadier hands or higher ISO. Both cameras use optical image stabilization to mitigate shake, essential at longer focal lengths.

For macro enthusiasts, both cameras offer a close focus distance of 1 cm, suitable for flower or small object photography, though neither provides advanced focus stacking or extension tubes.

Flash, Exposure, and Manual Control: How Much Can You Tweak?

When shooting under mixed lighting conditions or needing creative control, exposure settings and flash options come into play.

Neither camera provides shutter/aperture priority or manual exposure modes, limiting creative exposure adjustments. Instead, they rely on automatic settings to adapt to varying situations.

The A2100 IS offers red-eye reduction and slow sync flash modes, whereas the ELPH 360 HS’s flash range is slightly better, reaching 4 meters with auto ISO.

While less suited for photographers who want full manual control, these cameras excel at point-and-shoot ease, with custom white balance options allowing you to fine-tune color in mixed lighting.

Video Capabilities: Recording Quality and Features

If video is a priority, your compact camera’s specs matter.

The A2100 IS’s video maxes out at low-resolution VGA, producing footage suitable only for small screens or web usage.

In contrast, the ELPH 360 HS supports full HD 1080p recording with modern codec H.264 compression, yielding crisper video with smaller file sizes - a clear advantage for casual videographers and vloggers who want decent quality without investing in separate gear.

Neither model has external mic inputs, limiting audio control which is common for cameras at this price and class.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Staying Powered and Sharing Fast

The A2100 IS runs on two AA batteries - convenient if you want quick replacements globally but less efficient than rechargeable packs.

The ELPH 360 HS uses a proprietary battery pack rated for about 180 shots, so carrying a spare is recommended for long outings.

The big difference is connectivity. The ELPH 360 HS includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC, allowing you to quickly transfer images to smartphones and jump online for sharing. It also features an HDMI port for playback on TVs, enhancing versatility absent from the older A2100 IS.

Evaluating Build Quality and Durability

Neither the A2100 IS nor the ELPH 360 HS offers weather sealing or rugged body construction.

Both are typical compact cameras designed for casual, everyday use - not optimized for harsh or extreme environments.

You can expect solid build quality but should take care to protect them from dust, moisture, and impacts.

Real-World Performance: Sample Images and Usage Impressions

We tested both cameras under varied lighting and subjects to illustrate their strengths and weaknesses.

Canon A2100 IS screen back Canon ELPH 360 HS front Canon ELPH 360 HS screen back

• Portraits: The ELPH 360 HS provides more detail and better skin tone rendering due to higher resolution and superior sensor tech. Its face detection autofocus improves sharpness on eyes, critical for good portraiture. The A2100 IS images are softer and noisier in indoor portraits.

• Landscapes: The ELPH's higher megapixels translate to richer detail, while its dynamic range is marginally better, retaining highlights and shadows effectively. The A2100 IS often clips bright skies and loses shadow info.

• Macro: Both cameras allow close focusing, but the ELPH’s quicker, more accurate AF lets you nail focus easier on tiny subjects.

• Low Light: Here the newer CMOS sensor and higher max ISO on the ELPH 360 HS outperform the A2100 IS by a considerable margin, capturing cleaner, less noisy files.

• Action: Neither model excels in sports or wildlife due to slow burst rates, but the ELPH 360 HS’s continuous AF and faster shutter do give you a slight edge.

Comprehensive Scores and Ratings

Specialized Performance: How the Cameras Do Across Different Genres

• Portrait: ELPH 360 HS leads with better autofocus and detail.
• Landscape: ELPH 360 HS offers superior resolution and dynamic range.
• Wildlife: Neither is ideal, but ELPH 360 HS provides fair performance for casual use.
• Sports: Both limited by frame rate, ELPH slightly better.
• Street Photography: ELPH’s small size and discreet look are preferable.
• Macro: Comparable; ELPH’s AF helps.
• Night/Astro: ELPH 360 HS better suited.
• Video: Only ELPH offers HD video, a strong point.
• Travel: ELPH 360 HS is lighter with better connectivity suited to travel.
• Professional Work: Neither is designed for pro workflows - no RAW support, manual controls, or rugged build.

Who Should Pick Which Camera?

Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Is For You If:

• You want a simple, budget-friendly camera with optical zoom and optical image stabilization.
• You prefer AA batteries for easy power swaps in remote areas.
• You don’t need HD video or advanced connectivity.
• You mostly shoot in good light and want a straightforward point-and-shoot experience.
• You favor a more substantial grip in your compact camera.

Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS Is For You If:

• You want a pocketable ultracompact with 12x zoom for diverse shooting situations.
• Better image quality, especially in low light, is important.
• HD video recording is a desired feature.
• You appreciate wireless sharing and HDMI output.
• You want continuous AF and faster burst rates for casual action photography.
• Portability and modern connectivity options are priorities.

Final Thoughts: Which Compact Camera Wins?

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 360 HS clearly edges ahead for most users due to its higher resolution, superior sensor technology, richer zoom range, video capabilities, and modern wireless features. It adapts better to a variety of shooting scenarios with sharper images, better low-light handling, and greater convenience.

That said, the Canon PowerShot A2100 IS still holds its ground as a cost-effective entry-level compact camera with very basic functionality. If you want classic simplicity, use standard AA batteries, and don’t require modern amenities, it remains a practical option.

Explore and Get Started With the Right Camera for You

Compact cameras like these are ideal companions to foster your photography skills or just enjoy casual shooting without the complexity of interchangeable lenses.

Whichever you choose, I recommend:

• Experimenting with different focal lengths, focusing on your favorite genres.
• Trying out self-timer and custom white balance to maximize creativity.
• Taking advantage of the ELPH 360 HS’s Wi-Fi to instantly share your work.
• Investing in quality SD cards and additional batteries for uninterrupted shooting.

Photography is about capturing moments your smartphone might miss - close-ups, distant details, or low light scenes - and these cameras offer affordable windows into that creative process.

Happy shooting!

Additional Reference Materials for Further Reading:

• How Sensor Technology Impacts Image Quality: CCD vs CMOS Explained
• Understanding Autofocus Systems in Compact Cameras
• Compact Camera Ergonomics: Carryability vs Handling

If you have any questions about these models or want advice on accessories to enhance your photography, feel free to reach out. Our goal is to help you find gear that inspires your vision and creative growth.