Face-Off: Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 IS vs Samsung ST80 – Which Ultracompact Camera Fits Your Creative Journey?

Choosing an ultracompact camera often means balancing portability with image quality and usability. Today, we dive into two contenders from established brands – the Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 IS, announced in early 2016, and the older but still relevant Samsung ST80 from 2010. Both are designed for casual shooters and enthusiasts keen on casual travel, street, and family photography without the bulk of larger cameras.

Having tested thousands of cameras under diverse conditions, we’ll unpack how each model performs technically and practically. Whether you’re after effortless snapshots, versatile zoom, or simple creative control, we break down which model suits your style and shooting needs best. Let’s get started!

A Quick Look at the Cameras: Ultracompact Designs for Everyday Use

Before diving into specs and performance, here’s a quick snapshot:

Size and ergonomics: Canon ELPH 190 IS slightly thicker but offers more zoom reach.

First Impressions: Ergonomics and Handling

Ultracompact cameras are prized for pocketability and ease of use. The Canon ELPH 190 IS measures 95 x 57 x 24 mm and weighs 138 grams, while the Samsung ST80 is slightly smaller and lighter at 92 x 55 x 19 mm and 118 grams. Both comfortably fit in your hand or a small bag pocket.

Ergonomically, the Canon’s body feels a bit chunkier but provides a better grip, especially useful when shooting with the longer zoom extended. The Samsung’s slimmer profile makes it more discrete for street and travel photography but sacrifices some control comfort.

Looking at the control layout from above:

Both cameras have straightforward control layouts designed for point-and-shoot simplicity. Samsung includes touchscreen control on its rear LCD, Canon sticks to physical buttons.

If you appreciate tactile buttons and quick access controls without relying on a touchscreen, Canon’s physical button approach is a plus. The Samsung’s touchscreen, though basic, offers direct interaction for menu navigation and focus point selection. However, its smaller body means some controls feel cramped.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of Your Photos

A camera’s sensor defines image quality more than anything else in this class. Both cameras use 1/2.3" CCD sensors – a common choice in ultracompacts for decent noise performance and color rendering but limited compared to larger CMOS sensors found in advanced compacts and mirrorless cameras.

Sensor specs are close, but Canon offers higher megapixels. Samsung’s sensor allows higher ISO at the expense of more noise.

Real-World Image Performance

• Canon ELPH 190 IS: Thanks to its 20MP resolution, it produces sharper images with good detail retention, especially when shooting outdoors in ample light. However, the max ISO 1600 limit means low-light performance declines quickly beyond ISO 800. Canon’s DIGIC 4+ processor provides decent color rendering with slightly warmer skin tones, which many portrait shooters will appreciate.

• Samsung ST80: While the lower 14MP resolution means fewer details in large prints or heavy cropping, Samsung allows ISO up to 4800 and boosted ISO 6400 which grants more flexibility in low light. Unfortunately, noise is substantially higher at these settings. Color is a little cooler and less accurate, and lack of raw support limits post-processing recovery.

Autofocus and Usability: Focusing on What Matters

Both cameras rely exclusively on contrast-detection autofocus on their CCD sensors. No phase-detection or hybrid AF here means autofocus speed and accuracy are modest - typical for compact cameras.

Canon’s built-in face detection gives it a leg up for portraits and casual snapping, improving focus on faces and eyes. Samsung relies on touch autofocus via its small touchscreen, useful but less convenient in fast-paced shooting.

In practical shooting, Canon’s AF feels more reliable for portrait and street photography because of face detection, while Samsung can be slower and less forgiving with moving subjects. Neither camera is ideal for demanding wildlife or sports action.

Lens Range and Versatility: Zoom Power in Your Pocket

A big difference is the lens zoom. Canon offers a 10x zoom from 24-240mm equivalent, which gives incredible versatility from wide-angle landscapes to moderate telephoto close-ups. The Samsung ST80 has a more modest 3x zoom from 35-105mm equivalent.

This means:

• Canon is well suited to capture sweeping landscapes, architecture, and distant details without changing lenses.
• Samsung focuses more on typical snapshots, portraits, and street scenes but can feel limited for telephoto subjects.

Optical image stabilization (OIS) is present in both, critical for steady handheld shots at telephoto lengths and slower shutter speeds.

LCD Screen and User Interface

Ultracompacts rely on rear screen usability since neither model has a viewfinder.

While Samsung’s touchscreen adds an intuitive control layer such as touch focus and menu navigation, the size and resolution remain modest. Canon’s non-touchscreen LCD is smaller but offers a straightforward physical button interface.

Note the touchscreen on the Samsung ST80 for direct interaction versus Canon’s physical controls.

For beginners, the tactile buttons on the Canon feel easy to learn without fumbling. Advanced users used to touch focus might appreciate Samsung’s screen, though.

Continuous Shooting and Video Features

Neither camera targets video enthusiasts. The Canon promises slightly higher compression efficiency via H.264, while Samsung sticks to Motion JPEG, resulting in larger files but easier editing compatibility.

Continuous shooting is slow and generally irrelevant for sports or wildlife. These compact cameras excel primarily at casual photography.

Connectivity, Storage, and Battery Life

Wireless connectivity on the Canon is a valuable addition, letting you transfer images easily to your phone or remotely trigger the camera. Samsung lacks wireless features but can output HD video through HDMI.

The Canon’s choice of standard SD cards offers easier compatibility with most devices compared to Samsung’s MicroSD and internal memory combo.

Weather Sealing and Build Quality

Neither camera offers weatherproofing, dustproofing, or freezeproofing. Both are standard ultracompacts with plastic bodies suitable for gentle daily use but not harsh environments.

How Do They Perform Across Photography Genres?

We evaluated each camera’s suitability across popular photography types for a full-picture understanding:

Portraits

• Canon ELPH 190 IS scores higher thanks to face detection and higher resolution, preserving skin tones warmly.
• Samsung’s 3x zoom and lack of face detection limit framing flexibility and autofocus assurance.

Landscapes

• Canon’s 24mm wide-angle and 20MP sensor offer sharper, more detailed landscapes.
• Samsung’s narrower 35mm start limits scene capture.

Wildlife and Sports

• Neither camera performs strongly here.
• Canon’s longer zoom helps slightly, but slow AF and buffer rates restrict tracking fast action.

Street Photography

• Samsung’s lighter body and discreet touchscreen make it appealing.
• Canon’s faster AF and longer zoom offer more versatility but at a marginal size increase.

Macro

• Canon’s ability to focus as close as 1cm gives better macro potential than Samsung’s 5cm.

Night and Astro Photography

• Samsung’s higher ISO range up to 4800/6400 offers some low-light advantage but with increased noise.
• Canon limited to ISO 1600 but cleaner images overall.

Video

• Both limited to 720p; Canon’s H.264 format is more efficient for archiving and editing.

Travel

• Canon’s versatility with zoom, Wi-Fi sharing, and reasonable battery life make it more travel-friendly despite being slightly larger.
• Samsung’s compactness and touchscreen ease appeal for lightweight packing.

Professional Use

• Neither camera supports RAW files or advanced controls, thus less suited for professional work requiring extensive post-processing.

Technical Ratings and Overall Performance

From our comprehensive testing involving resolution charts, autofocus speed trials, and low-light shooting:

Sample Shots Showcase: See Them in Action

Comparing real-world JPEG samples from both cameras at native resolution:

Canon ELPH 190 IS front Canon ELPH 190 IS screen back Samsung ST80 front Samsung ST80 screen back

Who Should Pick Which Camera?

Both cameras cater to casual shooters wanting ultracompact convenience but with different priorities.

Final Thoughts: Ultracompact Cameras for Different Creative Paths

The Canon PowerShot ELPH 190 IS stands out for reliable zoom reach, better autofocus with face detection, and Wi-Fi connectivity - offering a well-rounded package for beginners and casual enthusiasts seeking a versatile point-and-shoot companion for family, travel, and street photography.

The Samsung ST80 offers a compact, touchscreen-centric experience and greater ISO flexibility, which may appeal to users wanting an ultra-slim form factor and a different user interface approach, although at a sacrifice of zoom range and image sharpness.

Both cameras reflect their era’s fundamental compromises in sensor size and manual control. Neither replaces higher-end compact or mirrorless systems but can be excellent affordable backups, gift cameras, or stepping stones into digital photography.

If you’re exploring ultracompacts, consider what matters most: zoom and face detection (Canon) or compact size and touchscreen handling (Samsung). Wherever your creative journey takes you, a camera that feels intuitive and enjoyable to use will always be a trusted partner.

Ready to Explore?

If possible, get hands-on with these cameras to see which interface and ergonomics suit you best. Don’t forget to check compatible accessories like memory cards and spare batteries - an often overlooked key to satisfying shooting experiences.

If you want capable zoom versatility and connected features at an affordable price, the Canon ELPH 190 IS remains a solid pick. For something more pocket-sized with touchscreen convenience, the Samsung ST80 may still surprise you.

Start shooting, experimenting, and capturing your world confidently with either of these approachable ultracompacts!

This comparison is based on exhaustive hands-on testing and analysis drawing on practical shooting scenarios and technical benchmarks to serve your photographic decision-making process.