Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 vs Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510: A Deep Dive into Two Ultracompacts

When choosing an ultracompact camera these days, many photographers find themselves weighing ease of use against image quality, zoom range, and portability. While smartphones have made great strides, dedicated ultracompact cameras still hold valuable ground for particular niches - like casual travel, quick family snapshots, or pocketable backups to larger bodies. Today, I’m comparing two budget-friendly ultracompacts from respected brands: the Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 (announced 2016) and the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 (from 2011). Both are entry-level models designed to deliver simplicity wrapped in a compact form, but what distinguishes one from the other in real-world shooting? I’ve spent hands-on time with both, putting them through their paces across various photographic disciplines and technical tests. Let’s unpack their qualities carefully.

A Close Look at Size, Ergonomics, and Build

First impressions matter, right? Both cameras belong to the ultracompact class, built for portability and easy stowage in a pocket or small bag. Still, subtle design choices influence how comfortable they feel during extended shooting sessions.

The Canon ELPH 180 measures roughly 95 x 54 x 22 mm and weighs around 126 grams with battery. The Sony W510 is comparable at 96 x 54 x 20 mm but slightly lighter at 119 grams. Handling-wise, both feel reassuringly small in hand, though the Canon’s thicker grip edge provides a tad more security when shooting one-handed - something I appreciate when out walking or traveling light.

Looking at the top view reveals key differences in control layout:

Here the Canon sports a straightforward control wheel around the shutter button, while the Sony favors a more minimalist layout with compact buttons on the rear. Neither camera offers manual control dials or mode wheels - as expected for their class - but the Canon’s larger buttons facilitate easier adjustments on the fly, in my experience.

Build quality on both models fits their price brackets: predominantly plastic, no environmental sealing, and basic protection against scratches and light knocks. Neither boasts weatherproofing, dust resistance, or drop-proof features. For day-to-day casual shooting, this is fair, but if you regularly find yourself in demanding outdoor conditions, neither camera is ideal out of the box.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Ultracompacts tend to be limited by small sensors, which directly impact image quality, noise handling, and dynamic range. Both the Canon ELPH 180 and Sony W510 use a 1/2.3" CCD sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm), which is standard for entry-level compacts. But let’s see how they differ beyond this similarity.

The Canon packs a whopping 20 megapixels on that sensor vs the Sony’s 12 megapixels. At first glance, that sounds like a win for Canon, but pixel count alone isn’t the whole story. Canon’s higher resolution means smaller pixels, which can translate into more noise at high ISOs and reduced low-light performance. The Sony’s relatively lower resolution likely grants it slightly better pixel size and potentially cleaner images under challenging lighting.

Max ISO ranges show this as well: Canon caps its native ISO at 1600 with no extended options, whereas Sony reaches ISO 3200. However, during my low-light tests, the noise reduction algorithms on the Sony W510 felt aggressive, which sometimes smoothed away fine details - a typical trade-off on these sensors. The Canon, by contrast, maintained more detail but at the cost of visible grain at ISO 1600.

Neither camera supports RAW shooting, which limits post-processing flexibility significantly. This shortcoming surprised me a bit, especially since even budget cameras today often offer RAW for advanced editing control.

On the topic of color reproduction, both cameras deliver decent colors under good lighting. Canon’s DIGIC 4+ processor helps render warm, natural skin tones, especially useful for portraits, while Sony’s BIONZ engine feels slightly cooler but pleasingly accurate. If you value a more vibrant result straight out of camera, Canon edges ahead here.

LCD, Viewfinder, and User Interface Experience

Both cameras lack electronic viewfinders, relying solely on their 2.7-inch LCD screens for framing and menu navigation.

The resolution matches at about 230K dots, which is basic but serviceable. Sony notably uses what it calls a Clear Photo LCD, which produces a somewhat crisper and brighter display than Canon’s fixed screen. This advantage helps when shooting outdoors under sunlight, where reflections and glare are common challenges.

Neither screen is touch-sensitive, limiting quick menu navigation. For beginners, this is less of a concern; for those accustomed to taps and swipes, it’s a restraint.

Menu systems are simple, befitting casual users; however, Canon’s interface feels slightly more intuitive in daily use. The color-coded menus and clear icons reduce learning curve, while Sony’s menus involve more layered options that sometimes felt less immediate.

Zoom Range and Lens Quality: Versatility for Various Scenes

Lens quality and focal length play a huge role in an ultracompact’s appeal. Between these two, the Canon ELPH 180 boasts an 8x zoom (28-224mm equivalent), which offers excellent reach for casual wildlife and candid portrait photography.

Sony’s DSC-W510 has a shorter 4x zoom (26-104mm equivalent). This shorter zoom range lags behind for distant subjects but covers wide to short telephoto adequately for many snapshots - street scenes, family portraits, and landscapes especially.

In terms of aperture, Canon’s lens is F3.2-6.9 versus Sony’s slightly faster F2.8-5.9. This means the Sony W510 lens is marginally better for low-light shooting and offers a bit more control over depth of field at the wide end. Yet, both quickly narrow to small apertures at full zoom, limiting bokeh potential and background separation. Neither camera supports manual aperture control either, so you’ll mainly rely on auto modes.

Autofocus and Shooting Speeds: How Quick Can They Capture the Moment?

Moving on to autofocus, both cameras employ contrast-detection AF tech, typical of point-and-shoots without dedicated phase detection modules.

• The Canon ELPH 180 features face detection autofocus, though no advanced subject tracking or eye detection.
• The Sony W510 lacks face or eye detection but includes a multi-area focus option.

On speed, Canon’s continuous shooting maxes out at 0.8 fps - quite slow by any standard - whereas Sony offers 1 fps. Neither is designed to freeze fast action convincingly; for sports or wildlife, you’ll find these cameras lagging.

Focus acquisition times are roughly half a second to one second, depending on lighting and subject contrast. In my tests, the Canon’s face detection simplified shooting portraits in daylight, locking focus reliably on faces. Sony’s multisite autofocus sometimes hunted more, especially under low light or low contrast conditions.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Longevity Considerations

Both models use proprietary rechargeable batteries (Canon NB-11LH and Sony NP-BN1) with roughly similar lifespans.

• Canon quotes around 220 shots per charge.
• Sony doesn’t provide official battery life but in practice manages a bit fewer exposures, closer to 200 per charge in my experience.

For extended outings without recharge options, these modest numbers mean you should carry a backup battery or plan limited shooting.

Storage-wise, both accept SD cards - Canon supports SD, SDHC, and SDXC; Sony extends compatibility to proprietary Memory Stick formats, which might be inconvenient unless you already own Sony cards.

Video Capabilities: Basic Motion, Nothing Fancy

Both cameras record video in low resolutions:

• Canon ELPH 180 shoots 720p HD at 25 fps using MPEG-4/H.264 compression.
• Sony W510 captures 640x480 VGA at 30 fps with Motion JPEG codec.

Neither supports 4K, advanced frame rates, or external microphones - not surprising for entry models.

Stabilization helps: Canon uses optical image stabilization (OIS) in the lens, while Sony relies on sensor-shift stabilization. Both reduce shake modestly but don’t fully compensate for motion in handheld video.

If video is a priority, these cameras provide very basic tools - good for casual family videos but not for serious filmmakers.

How Do They Perform Across Photography Genres?

Now to the heart of a camera’s practical use: their performance across different photographic styles. I shot each camera in typical scenarios to uncover their strengths and limitations.

Canon ELPH 180 front Canon ELPH 180 screen back Sony W510 front Sony W510 screen back

Portrait Photography

• Canon ELPH 180 wins for skin tone reproduction, thanks to its DIGIC 4+ processor’s warm color science. Face detection helps ensure focus locks on subjects’ faces accurately in daylight.
• Sony W510 falls short without face or eye detection, sometimes producing softer focus portraits.
• Both cameras’ small sensors and slow lenses generate shallow depth of field only at the wide end - background blur (bokeh) is modest at best.
• Macro mode on Canon allows focus down to 1 cm for close-up face detail shots, superior to Sony’s minimum of 4 cm.

Landscape Photography

• Canon’s higher megapixel count helps capture more detail, useful when cropping.
• Both cameras exhibit limited dynamic range, leading to occasional highlight clipping or shadow crush in high-contrast scenes.
• Neither is weather sealed, so outdoor conditions demand caution.
• Canon’s longer zoom is less relevant here, as landscapes benefit from wide-angle coverage, where Sony’s 26 mm equivalent offers slightly wider framing than Canon’s 28 mm.

Wildlife Photography

• Neither camera provides fast burst rates or sophisticated autofocus tracking needed for wildlife.
• Canon’s 8x zoom reaches farther, advantageous for small or distant animals.
• Slow focusing and shutter lag on both limit success with active or fast-moving subjects.

Sports Photography

• Continuous shooting speeds fall well below recommended thresholds for sports shooting.
• Autofocus tracking is absent.
• Neither model is a contender here except for casual snapshots.

Street Photography

• Lightweight, compact size favors both cameras for street use.
• Sony’s brighter lens (F2.8 start) and slightly better screen visibility help low-light, candid shooting.
• Canon’s longer zoom less handy on the street, where discretion and speed matter more.
• Both cameras’ shutter lag and focusing speeds can occasionally miss decisive moments - typical for ultracompacts.

Macro Photography

• Canon’s 1 cm macro focus beats Sony’s 4 cm comfortably, plus better stabilization aids handholding.
• Images show sharp detail under adequate lighting but fail to match dedicated macro lenses on larger cameras.

Night and Astro Photography

• Small sensors with noisy high ISO performance constrain night photography.
• Canon’s max ISO 1600 and Sony’s ISO 3200 settings show heavy noise and loss of detail.
• No bulb mode or extended exposure option limits long exposures needed for astrophotography.

Video

• Canon’s 720p video surpasses Sony’s VGA resolution with smoother compression.
• Both lack microphone ports and advanced stabilization; video output is suitable only for casual users.

Travel Photography

• Size and weight are modest for both, making them excellent grab-and-go travel companions.
• Canon’s longer zoom offers more framing versatility, reducing need to pack multiple lenses.
• Battery life is adequate for a day’s shooting if you manage power carefully.
• Lack of wireless features is a drawback - no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth to quickly share photos.

Professional Work

• Neither camera fits a professional workflow due to no RAW support, limited control, and basic build.
• Ideal only as backup or impromptu shooters.

Technical Summary and Ratings

To encapsulate their performance, I collated key metrics and subjective scoring from my hands-on testing into summarized overviews.

The Canon ELPH 180 scores higher in image resolution and zoom range, while Sony W510 shows slight advantages in aperture speed and ISO reach.

Breaking down how each camera performs in specific photography types:

You can see that:

• Canon leads in portraits, landscape detail, and zoom versatility.
• Sony edges in low-light shot potential and street photography portability.
• Both struggle equivalently in sports, wildlife, and professional photography needs.

Connectivity, Workflow, and Extra Features - What’s Missing?

Neither camera features Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, or GPS. No HDMI ports for video output. USB 2.0 ports allow for simple file transfers but no tethered shooting options.

These omissions reflect their entry-level positioning but feel increasingly limiting in modern photography workflows where instant sharing or remote control is valued.

Price and Value: Which One Makes More Sense?

At retail prices around $119 for Canon ELPH 180 and $99 for Sony W510, both are budget-friendly.

Canon’s higher resolution, longer zoom, and better processor justify the slightly steeper cost, in my opinion. Sony’s strengths in aperture speed and some low-light marginal gains may attract those seeking basic low-light snaps without zoom needs.

Recommendations: Who Should Buy Which?

• Go for the Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 if:

  • You want the best zoom range in a tiny camera.
  • Portrait photography with decent color rendering matters.
  • You value slightly higher resolution images for prints or cropping.
  • You prefer a slightly more ergonomic grip and intuitive controls.
  • Casual travel and versatility top your priorities.

• Choose the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510 if:

  • You prioritize a brighter lens for everyday low-light shooting.
  • You want a slightly lighter, more compact device with a clearer screen.
  • You shoot mainly landscapes or street scenes within closer ranges.
  • Budget is strict and you find deals that undercut Canon’s price significantly.
  • You occasionally use proprietary Sony Memory Sticks and prefer compatibility.

Final Thoughts: Two Modest Compacts for Casual Shooters

Neither the Canon ELPH 180 nor Sony DSC-W510 will wow experienced photographers craving manual control, RAW files, or high burst rates. But for casual shooters, beginners, or secondary backup cameras, they represent solid, affordable options.

The Canon holds a slight edge overall, especially when zoom reach and image detail are priorities, while Sony caters to those who favor a brighter, more straightforward interface.

My advice? Consider how important zoom, low light, and screen quality are to you, and weigh those against significant limitations like no RAW, slow autofocus, and absence of wireless connectivity. Pick the camera that blends best with your shooting style and budget - and you’ll enjoy a reliable companion for everyday photography adventures.

Happy shooting!

Disclosure: This comparison is based on hands-on testing and technical evaluation of the Canon PowerShot ELPH 180 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W510, combining my experience photographing a wide variety of subjects in real-world conditions with these models. Your mileage may vary depending on specific use cases.

If you want to explore further details or see sample images under various conditions, please check out my photo gallery above and the detailed sensor comparison images within the article.