Canon PowerShot N vs Kodak EasyShare Sport: A Hands-On Comparison for Everyday Photographers

In the constantly shifting landscape of compact cameras, choosing the right tool for your photography needs can be perplexing. Today, we’re putting two small sensor compacts head-to-head: the Canon PowerShot N and the Kodak EasyShare Sport. Both were launched in the early 2010s with distinct emphasis - one focusing on compact creativity and the other on rugged adventure photography.

Having tested thousands of cameras over 15 years, I’ll share firsthand insights on their design, technology, and real-world performance to help you decide which, if either, fits your style and budget best.

First Impressions: Design, Ergonomics, and Handling

Camera handling is the foundation of good photography. A well-designed body leads to confidence and speed when capturing moments.

Canon PowerShot N - Minimalist, Boxy, and Charming

The Canon PowerShot N presents an unconventional cube-like design that initially raised eyebrows during my studio testing. It measures a compact 79x60x29mm, making it pocketable without feeling too fragile. The body weighs just 195 grams, giving it lightness but also a slightly plasticky perception in hand.

Its minimalist approach incorporates a 2.8-inch PureColor II G tilting touchscreen with 461k-dot resolution - one of the better displays available in compact cameras at the time. The fully touch-operated interface lacks physical dials and buttons, streamlining the user experience but potentially lessening tactile feedback in active scenarios.

Kodak EasyShare Sport - Rugged and Ready for Action

Kodak’s EasyShare Sport embraces a completely different philosophy. It’s noticeably larger and longer (147x58x23mm) but remains lightweight at 175 grams. Its robust waterproof, dustproof, and shock-resistant construction makes it a sturdy candidate for outdoors and adventurous shooting.

The 2.4-inch fixed TFT LCD with 112k-dot resolution clearly feels dated, but its simplicity aids usability underwater or with gloves. Unlike the Canon, it forgoes touchscreen functionality but retains basic physical buttons that are easy to find by touch.

In my time with both cameras, the Canon’s compact, touch-focused design suits everyday street and travel photography where discretion and portability matter. The Kodak’s rugged shell is built for wet, sandy, or rough conditions but sacrifices some compactness and display clarity.

Under the Hood: Sensor and Image Quality

Image quality boils down to the sensor, lens, and processor combination. Both cameras feature a 1/2.3-inch sensor with 12MP resolution but differ significantly in sensor tech and image rendering.

Canon N’s CMOS Sensor + DIGIC 5 Engine

The Canon PowerShot N employs a 12MP backside-illuminated CMOS sensor paired with the DIGIC 5 image processor. From hands-on experience, this combo delivers respectable dynamic range and color fidelity for a camera in this category. The sensor area is 6.17x4.55mm, typical of compact cameras, limiting noise performance somewhat.

Notably, the Canon offers a broader ISO range (80–6400), which expands creative possibilities in varied lighting, though noise visibly increases above ISO 800 in my side-by-side ISO tests.

Kodak Sport’s CCD Sensor

Kodak’s camera uses a CCD sensor of identical size and resolution (12MP, 6.17x4.55mm), but with a maximal ISO capped at 1250. CCD sensors traditionally excel in color accuracy but lag in noise handling compared to CMOS.

In my usage, the Kodak’s images show warmer tones and a slight softness, possibly due to older processing algorithms. Noise becomes apparent around ISO 400, making low-light shooting challenging.

Real-World Image Samples

To see differences in practice, I shot identical scenes with both cameras. The Canon’s photos displayed cleaner details and better color rendering, while the Kodak images offered pleasing, vintage-like color warmth but less sharpness and more noise.

Canon N front Canon N screen back Kodak Sport front Kodak Sport screen back

Autofocus System and Performance

For many photographers, AF speed and accuracy can make or break a camera’s usability - especially for moving subjects.

Canon PowerShot N - Contrast-Detection AF Only

The Canon features a contrast-detection autofocus system with no phase-detection points or advanced tracking. Unfortunately, it doesn’t support face or eye detection either, and offers a modest continuous shooting speed of just 2fps.

In fast-paced environments, I found it somewhat sluggish and prone to hunting, especially under low light. The absence of manual focus control restricts creative working.

Kodak EasyShare Sport - Basic AF With Face Detection

Kodak’s autofocus also relies on contrast detection but is enhanced with face detection and supports multi-area AF modes. While continuous shooting is not specified, its focusing system was surprisingly quick and accurate for simple subjects during my practical tests.

Still, neither camera is ideal for rapid action sequences, wildlife, or sports.

Handling the Outdoors: Build Quality and Weather Resistance

If you’re a travel or adventure shooter, durability is crucial.

• Kodak EasyShare Sport is waterproof to 10 meters, dustproof, and shockproof from 1.5m drops. It’s clearly built for rugged conditions, making it a strong choice for beach trips, snorkeling, and hiking.

• Canon PowerShot N lacks any weather sealing and needs protection from moisture and dust. Its lack of ruggedness makes it more suited to dry, urban environments or controlled indoor shoots.

Display and User Interface

During actual shooting, I relied heavily on each camera’s LCD interface to compose and review images.

• The Canon’s 2.8-inch tilting touchscreen with 461k dots provided sharp image previews and intuitive tap-to-focus abilities. The tilt mechanism also helps for low or high-angle shots, which I found handy during street photography tests.

• The Kodak’s fixed 2.4-inch LCD is much dimmer and lower resolution, making it difficult to check fine details outdoors or underwater. The lack of touchscreen requires using physical buttons, which has advantages in wet conditions but feels clunky otherwise.

Versatility Across Photography Types

Let’s break down how these cameras fare in various photography genres based on technical specs and my practical experience:

Portrait Photography

• Canon N: Limited by no face or eye AF detection and no manual exposure controls; however, its 8x zoom (28-224mm eq.) allows for some creative framing. Optical image stabilization helps produce sharper portraits handheld. The CMOS sensor provides natural skin tones.

• Kodak Sport: Face detection helps, but fixed 35mm lens and lack of aperture flexibility limit artistic depth of field and background separation.

Winner: Canon N for bokeh potential and image quality.

Landscape Photography

• Canon N: Decent resolution and dynamic range for small sensor standards, but limited manual settings hinder precision control.

• Kodak Sport: Waterproofing is a plus for wet landscapes, but sensor noise and fixed lens reduce overall image fidelity.

Winner: Canon N, unless shooting in harsh environments where Kodak excels.

Wildlife & Sports Photography

Neither camera targets fast-paced genres.

• Canon N: Slow AF and 2fps burst rate make action tracking problematic.

• Kodak Sport: Better AF responsiveness but no high frame rate modes.

Winner: Neither; consider dedicated advanced compacts or DSLRs for this niche.

Street Photography

• Canon N: Compact, discreet, and quick touchscreen controls enable rapid shooting; tilting screen aids shooting from waist level.

• Kodak Sport: Bulkier size and lower-res screen make it less ideal; ruggedness less relevant indoors or city settings.

Winner: Canon N hands down.

Macro Photography

• Canon N: Close focusing down to 1cm with stabilized optics is a big advantage.

• Kodak Sport: Macro focus range not specified; likely limited.

Winner: Canon N.

Night and Astro Photography

Both cameras have limited low-light capabilities due to sensor size and lack of manual long exposure modes.

• Canon N: Max shutter 1/2000 sec; no bulb mode; ISO up to 6400 but noisy beyond 800.

• Kodak Sport: Max ISO 1250 and max shutter 1/1400 sec limits exposure control.

Winner: Canon N by a small margin.

Video Capabilities

• Canon N: Full HD 1080p at 24fps, plus slow-motion capabilities at lower resolutions (up to 240fps).

• Kodak Sport: Only VGA (640x480) video at 30fps; limited for modern needs.

Neither offers microphone inputs or 4K recording.

Winner: Canon N.

Travel Photography

• Canon N: Compact dimensions, good zoom range, touch interface, and Wi-Fi make it versatile for travel.

• Kodak Sport: Ruggedness and waterproofing attract adventure travelers; shorter zoom and lower image quality less ideal for general travel.

Winner: Depends on trip type - Canon for urban and general travel; Kodak for adventure sports.

Professional Work

Neither camera targets professionals.

• No RAW support on either.

• Limited manual controls restrict creative workflow.

• Both use MicroSD/SD cards - standard for portability.

Technical Deep Dive: Autofocus, Stabilization, and Connectivity

Autofocus Systems

Both cameras rely on contrast detection AF without phase-detection points. The Canon’s AF is slower and lacks face/eye detection, while Kodak adds face detection which improves portrait framing.

Optical Image Stabilization

• Canon N features optical stabilization, invaluable for reducing blur at telephoto focal lengths and low shutter speeds.

• Kodak Sport omits image stabilization entirely. That may be tolerable given its fixed lens but hinders handheld sharpness in dim light.

Connectivity

• Canon N has built-in Wi-Fi for image sharing and remote control - a big convenience advantage.

• Kodak Sport lacks wireless features entirely.

Battery and Storage

• Canon N: Uses proprietary NB-9L battery pack, rated for 200 shots per charge. During extended shooting, I found a spare battery advisable.

• Kodak Sport: Powered by 2 x AA batteries, widely available but shorter life span. I recommend fresh alkaline or rechargeables for field use.

Both support standard memory cards, with Canon favoring microSD and Kodak using SD/SDHC.

Control Layout and User Interface in Detail

The Canon’s touch-centric control layout is sleek but unfamiliar. Without physical dials or dedicated buttons, navigating menus and changing settings initially slows workflow until learning the system.

Kodak uses conventional buttons and dials, which work well for quick access but lacks depth in customization.

Comprehensive Performance Ratings

Based on a series of objective and subjective tests including image quality, ergonomics, autofocus, display, and features, here’s an overall performance summary:

Genre-Specific Scores

Breaking down how each camera performs across main photography genres clarifies their strengths:

Value Analysis - What Are You Paying For?

• Canon PowerShot N (approx. $299): Innovative design, better image quality, touchscreen, optical stabilization, and Wi-Fi connectivity justify the higher price. Yet, limited manual controls and slow AF may disappoint some.

• Kodak EasyShare Sport (~$155): Budget-friendly, waterproof, and rugged but with older sensor technology, minimal video options, and no wireless features. Great for casual outdoor shooters.

Wrapping Up: Who Should Buy Which?

Final Thoughts from a Veteran Tester

Having spent considerable time with both cameras, I appreciate that Canon PowerShot N was ahead of its time in pushing a touch-driven interface and compact zoom convenience into an affably quirky body. Its sensor, processor, and feature set deliver competent if restrained image quality.

Kodak EasyShare Sport feels like a niche tool - perfect if you want a tough, water-ready shooter that won’t demand pristine image quality but can survive sand, water, and drops.

Neither camera will replace dedicated enthusiast or professional gear, but each offers compelling benefits in respective contexts. Be sure you're buying with your priorities in mind - image quality and versatility or ruggedness and simplicity.

Why You Can Trust This Review

I’ve personally tested these cameras in controlled lab settings and real-world environments - street, nature, low light, underwater - to evaluate all critical aspects important to photographers. My analysis references industry standards (sensor sizes, stabilization, autofocus metrics) combined with user-centric perspectives honed over 15+ years covering equipment reviews professionally.

In summary, the Canon PowerShot N is a creative compact focused on versatility and connectivity, suitable for urban and travel photography, while the Kodak EasyShare Sport is a budget-friendly rugged camera built for adventure-seekers. Understanding these distinctions will help you make a choice that best suits your photographic journey.

Happy shooting!