Canon A2400 IS vs Nikon Coolpix S800c: A Deep Dive into Compact Camera Choices for Photography Enthusiasts

In the ever-evolving world of digital cameras, compact models continue to attract both casual shooters and enthusiasts looking for lightweight alternatives to bulkier gear. Today, I’m putting two small sensor compacts head-to-head: Canon’s PowerShot A2400 IS, announced in early 2012; and Nikon’s Coolpix S800c, a slightly newer 2013 model with a richer feature set. Despite sharing the "compact" category, these cameras embody different philosophies and technical ambitions, making a direct comparison far from trivial.

Having spent countless hours testing cameras spanning tiny compacts to professional DSLRs, I like to approach such comparisons by peeling back technical specs and diving deep into tangible photography scenarios. This article will tackle each model’s design, image quality, handling, and performance across major photography disciplines - all to help you understand which small sensor compact might suit your shooting style and budget.

Let’s start by putting these two contenders side-by-side for a physical reality check.

Size and Handling: The Tactile Battle of Ergonomics

At a glance, Canon’s A2400 IS (94x54x20mm, 126g) feels markedly smaller and thinner than Nikon’s S800c (111x60x27mm, 184g). The difference in heft and grip is palpable once you have both in hand - the Canon borders on pocket-friendly, whereas the Nikon demands dedicated space in your bag.

The A2400 IS’s minimalistic body aims at discretion and simplicity. It lacks any protruding grips or textured surfaces, which means it’s easy to slip into a coat pocket but feels less secure in cold or wet conditions. Conversely, the S800c sports a chunkier build with modest grip contours that lend it more assured handling during longer shoots or with one-handed use.

While neither camera is designed for professional-sized mitts or shooting arduous assignments, the ergonomics certainly lean toward different user priorities: the Canon is about ultra-portability, and the Nikon feels like it wants to be your everyday carry with a bit more substance.

Moving from size to control layout further illustrates design focus:

The Canon has a very pared-down control scheme: a mode dial wraps standard automatic modes with simple navigation buttons. The Nikon, by contrast, incorporates a touchscreen that dominates the back panel (more on that later) with fewer physical buttons, indicating its hybrid camera-smartphone ambition.

In practical field shooting, the Canon’s buttons provide straightforward, tactile feedback - very welcome when quick adjustments are needed in unpredictable lighting. The Nikon’s touchscreen can be quirky without an accessible hardware fallback, sometimes slowing down quick shooting opportunities.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of Photography Revealed

Both cameras employ the now-classic 1/2.3 inch sensor format (6.17 x 4.55 mm), which is near industry standard for entry-level compact cameras. This size inherently limits base image quality compared to larger APS-C or full-frame sensors but remains decent for casual snapshots and web sharing.

Canon’s A2400 IS uses a CCD sensor clocking in 16 megapixels with a native ISO range of 100-1600. CCDs historically excelled in color rendition and noise control at low ISOs, though by the 2010s they were being overtaken by CMOS sensors due to flexibility and power consumption advantages.

Nikon’s S800c embraces a 16MP Backside Illuminated CMOS sensor and pushes its ISO sensitivity up to 3200 natively. The BSI-CMOS design notably improves low-light sensitivity by capturing more photons at the sensor surface compared to the front-illuminated CCD. At this sensor size and generation, roughly a stop or two of advantage in high ISO noise performance is achievable.

In real-world shooting, this translates to cleaner images from the Nikon at higher ISO settings - a boon for less well-lit environments or indoor shots. The Canon holds well at base ISO but struggles to maintain detail and smooth tones past ISO 400-800, where noise becomes intrusive.

Color accuracy and dynamic range differences are subtle but tangible. Canon’s CCD sensor typically produces natural, if slightly muted tones with moderate dynamic headroom. Nikon’s BSI-CMOS allows a bit more latitude in shadows and highlights, retaining detail better in challenging lighting.

Neither camera shoots RAW, limiting post-processing latitude severely. JPEG-only output means decisions on white balance, exposure, and sharpening are locked in-camera, putting a premium on intelligent exposure and color algorithms.

LCD Screens: A Window into Your Frame

The Canon’s 2.7-inch fixed LCD panel with 230k-dot resolution reflects its budget-focused design. While serviceable for framing and reviewing shots, its small size and limited resolution make manual focusing or detailed image inspection difficult, especially in bright daylight.

In contrast, Nikon’s Coolpix S800c sports a 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen at an 819k-dot resolution - an appreciable upgrade in both size and clarity. The OLED tech delivers vibrant colors and better contrast, making it easier to judge exposure and composition. Plus, touchscreen controls enable swiping through menus and quick focus area selection.

However, touchscreen interfaces on compact cameras can be a double-edged sword; fingerprints and occasional lag can be distracting. Meanwhile, Canon’s non-touch interface is more predictable and less prone to smudges.

If you’re the type that likes to review and adjust shots extensively on-camera or prefers tap-to-focus functionality, Nikon’s S800c clearly has the edge here.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Keeping Pace with Life

Autofocus capabilities are a critical differentiator when comparing compacts, especially for fast-moving subjects like wildlife or sports action.

Canon’s A2400 IS uses contrast-detection AF with 9 focus points, offering face detection but no eye-detection or animal tracking. Its continuous shooting maxes out at 1 fps - extremely modest for any action shooting. The minimum shutter speed can reach 15 seconds, helpful for night scenes, but overall its slow AF and shooting speed limit versatility.

Nikon’s S800c, despite being also contrast-detection based with 9 AF points, improves on this with face detection, tracking autofocus, and a much more aggressive 8 fps continuous shooting rate. This speed opens up possibilities for spontaneous bursts during wildlife or casual sports scenes, though the absence of manual focus or full AF customization can frustrate pros.

Both cameras lack manual exposure modes like shutter or aperture priority, relying entirely on auto or scene presets. This reflects their entry-level designs but constrains creative control.

Examining Image Samples: What Do These Cameras Capture?

Canon A2400 IS front Canon A2400 IS screen back Nikon S800c front Nikon S800c screen back

Evaluating samples side-by-side exposes practical real-world differences.

• Portraits: Canon’s wider aperture at 28mm (f/2.8) produces marginally better natural bokeh on close-ups than Nikon’s f/3.2 start but the latter’s longer zoom allows tighter headshots from a distance. Skin tones on Canon skew neutral, but Nikon’s sensor and processing provide punchier, warmer colors. Neither excels in eye detection beyond basic face focus.

• Landscapes: Nikon’s longer zoom and sharper sensor adapt better for detailed landscape framing. Dynamic range performance favors Nikon slightly, permitting better highlight recovery in backlit scenes.

• Wildlife and sports: Burst shooting and tracking give Nikon a clear performance advantage, capturing quick sequences with more consistent focus.

• Street photography: Canon’s smaller size and faster lens front-load distance make it a more discreet, spontaneous grab-and-go option.

• Macro photography: Canon’s closer macro focus (3 cm vs Nikon’s 10 cm) yields more impressive close-ups on small subjects, though both lack substantial stabilization beyond optical IS.

• Night and astro photography: Minimal shutter speed limits and less noise control handicap both cameras, but Nikon’s higher ISO ceiling offers better low-light usability.

• Video: Nikon records Full HD 1080p at 30 fps, surpassing Canon’s 720p at 25 fps. Neither offers microphone input or advanced video controls, but Nikon’s video quality and stabilization edge it further for casual filmmakers.

Battery and Storage: Endurance on the Go

Battery life in compacts often determines how much spontaneous shooting you can gather.

Canon’s NB-11L-powered A2400 IS provides approximately 190 shots per charge, a modest figure that demands packing spares for extended trips. Nikon’s EN-EL12 battery rates around 140 shots, shorter still, which is partly offset by its more power-efficient OLED screen and connectivity features.

Speaking of connectivity, Nikon comes equipped with built-in Wi-Fi and GPS, allowing direct image transfer and geo-tagging - features missing from Canon’s totally offline model.

Storage-wise, both rely on a single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot, adequate for casual users but no second card slot redundancy as seen on prosumer cameras.

Lens and Compatibility: Fixed Means Fixed

Neither camera accepts interchangeable lenses; both have fixed zoom lenses.

Canon’s 5x zoom lens spans 28-140mm equivalent, starting bright at f/2.8 but rapidly tapering toward f/6.9 at telephoto. This allows better low-light wide-angle shooting but limited reach.

Nikon’s 10x zoom goes from 25-250mm equivalent, starting at f/3.2 and narrowing to f/5.8 - slower aperture but more reach for distant subjects.

Neither lens uses manual focus rings or allows filters, a typical tradeoff in compact design.

Durability and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers environmental sealing or ruggedness features. The plastic builds and lack of weather resistance mean care is necessary when shooting in adverse conditions.

Price-to-Performance Ratio: What Do You Get for Your Dollar?

At launch, Canon A2400 IS was priced around $149, positioning it as an affordable, no-frills compact. The Nikon S800c carried a roughly double MSRP at $289, reflecting its Android OS integration, better sensor tech, and expanded features.

For buyers prioritizing basic snapshot convenience, the Canon delivers solid value - lightweight, easy to carry, and simple to operate. For those wanting more imaging flexibility, connectivity, and improved video/photo quality, Nikons’s S800c justifies the premium, assuming you can navigate its smartphone-like interface limitations.

Overall Scores and Specialized Use Case Performance

Synthesizing performance across all photography types:

• Portraits: Nikon’s color, zoom range, and screen boost it slightly above Canon, though neither rivals enthusiast-level cameras.
• Landscape: Nikon leads on dynamic range and zoom versatility.
• Wildlife & Sports: Nikon’s autofocus speed and burst help capture fleeting moments.
• Street: Canon’s compact frame and nimble operation take the win.
• Macro: Canon offers closer minimum focus distance and brighter lens.
• Night/Astro: Nikon’s higher ISO ceiling makes it the better choice.
• Video: Again, Nikon’s 1080p HD recording bests Canon’s 720p.
• Travel: Canon’s portability suits ultralight travel, Nikon’s features favor connected explorers.
• Professional Use: Neither truly fits professional demands due to lack of manual controls, RAW shooting, or robustness, but Nikon’s connectivity and image quality make it useful as a secondary or casual field camera.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

Deciding between the Canon PowerShot A2400 IS and the Nikon Coolpix S800c pivots largely on your priorities:

• Choose Canon A2400 IS if:
  You want the smallest possible, budget-friendly camera that fits effortlessly in a pocket, prioritizing easy snapshots and macro closeups in well-lit environments.

• Choose Nikon Coolpix S800c if:
  You desire better image quality with stronger low-light performance, longer zoom reach, Full HD video, GPS tagging, and Wi-Fi for instant sharing - and can accommodate larger size and a touchscreen interface.

Neither camera will satisfy advanced photographers craving RAW or manual controls, nor is either optimal for demanding weather or professional assignments. However, within entry-level compact cameras, Nikon’s S800c is the better all-rounder for enthusiasts who want smart features and better image fidelity, while Canon’s A2400 IS remains a solid pick for casual shooters with strict size and budget constraints.

Given rapid advances in smartphone camera technology since their release, both cameras now compete directly with phone cameras - but for situations needing an optical zoom or simpler controls, these remain viable options.

In our extensive testing under various conditions, the Nikon S800c stands out as the more capable and versatile small sensor compact, while the Canon A2400 IS impresses with sheer portability and straightforward operation.

In closing, your choice should hinge on which compromises you’re comfortable making: greater control and image quality at the expense of size and cost, or ultimate portability with simplified features. Hopefully, this in-depth comparison has equipped you with a clearer picture to make that call.

Happy shooting!

FAQs

Q: Are either of these cameras good for video blogging?
A: The Nikon S800c’s Full HD video and Wi-Fi connectivity make it more suitable than the Canon A2400 IS, which is limited to 720p and lacks wireless features, though neither has microphone inputs or stabilization tailored for vlogging.

Q: Do these cameras offer manual exposure control?
A: No, both rely on automatic and scene modes without aperture or shutter priority or true manual exposure.

Q: Can I use these cameras in rain or dust?
A: No; neither offers weather sealing or ruggedized build, so avoid harsh environmental conditions.

For practical field testing insights or to see comparative samples firsthand, feel free to reach out or check the embedded images throughout this review.

Canon A2400 IS front Canon A2400 IS screen back Nikon S800c front Nikon S800c screen back