Canon PowerShot N vs Ricoh PX: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Small Sensor Compacts

Choosing between compact cameras can be unexpectedly tricky, especially when both models promise unique perks for casual shooters and enthusiasts alike. Today, I’m diving deep into two small sensor compacts that might pique your interest: the Canon PowerShot N and the Ricoh PX.

Both cameras belong to the modest 1/2.3" sensor class, released within a couple of years of each other - the Ricoh PX in mid-2011, and the Canon PowerShot N in early 2013. While neither is a groundbreaking powerhouse by today’s standards, each carved a niche with its own distinctive design and features. I’ve put both through their paces, evaluating essentials from image quality to ergonomics and usability. This way, you, the reader, get a detailed, practical comparison - not just specs on paper.

Let’s explore what these two compacts bring to the table and which might suit your photographic style best.

First Impressions and Physical Design: Size, Shape, and Ergonomics

Size and feel matter a lot for compact cameras, especially for travel, street shots, or just daily carry.

At first glance, you’ll notice the Ricoh PX sports a more conventional rectangular body with gentle curves, while the Canon PowerShot N boldly embraces a unique square-ish form factor, almost minimalist and playful.

To give you the best visual understanding:

The Canon N measures roughly 79 x 60 x 29 mm and weighs 195 grams, while the Ricoh PX is leaner at 100 x 55 x 21 mm and tiptoes lighter at 156 grams.

Though the Canon N is a bit chunkier and heavier, it manages to remain pocketable, thanks to its compact footprint. Its unusual boxy design can feel alien at first but provides surprisingly intuitive comfort with that central lens placement. On the other hand, the Ricoh PX’s extended width might slip more easily into slimmer pockets but might feel less secure in hand without a grip.

For those who prioritize carry weight and a more traditional shape, Ricoh PX’s slimline is appealing. If you want something quirky with substantial feel and reassurance in hand, Canon N nudges ahead.

Top View: Control Layout and Handling

Beyond size, how the cameras handle in real shooting scenarios depends heavily on control placement and tactile feedback.

Here’s a closer look at each camera’s top controls:

The Canon PowerShot N opts for a singular mode dial and lacks many physical buttons, relying heavily on its touchscreen interface (more on that soon). The shutter release feels well-placed, but the camera’s compactness leaves little space for other traditional dials or external switches, reflecting a design philosophy geared toward casual users valuing simplicity.

Meanwhile, the Ricoh PX boasts a more traditional command dial, dedicated flash control buttons, and a manual focus ring (yes, manual focus!) - a somewhat rare feature for such a small compact. This puts Ricoh ahead for users who prefer hands-on control and manual override rather than touchscreen dependence.

From my time experimenting, the PX’s tactile approach is refreshing for quick exposure tweaks or focusing adjustments, especially in street or macro photography where precision counts. The Canon N, by contrast, feels more like a point-and-shoot that invites touchscreen navigation, easy to use but possibly frustrating for those who like direct button access.

Sensor and Image Quality: What Does the Sensor Tell Us?

Both cameras employ 1/2.3" sensors but differ in sensor type, resolution, and imaging processors, influencing image output substantially.

Let’s unpack and visualize sensor specs:

• Canon PowerShot N: 12 MP CMOS sensor paired with Canon’s Digic 5 processor
• Ricoh PX: 16 MP CCD sensor with the Smooth Imaging Engine IV processor

The Canon’s CMOS sensor provides better power efficiency and generally improved performance in continuous shooting and video capture, while the Ricoh’s CCD sensor offers excellent color reproduction fidelity, often praised for natural tonality, albeit at a cost of increased noise at higher ISOs and slower readout speeds.

Canon’s Digic 5 engine also enables refinement in noise reduction and dynamic range handling. Ricoh’s CCD, being older tech, struggles more as ISO climbs above 800, with visible grain impacting low light usability.

Though the Ricoh PX’s higher megapixel count (16 MP versus 12 MP) may appeal to those chasing resolution, in real-world use, the Canon PowerShot N typically produces crisper, less noisy images, especially in mixed lighting.

Both sensors are protected by an anti-aliasing filter, helping to smooth moiré but potentially sacrificing some resolution sharpness.

Screen and User Interface: Navigating Your Camera in Real-Time

When it comes to composing shots, reviewing images, and changing settings, the rear LCD matters greatly.

Here’s how they compare:

The Canon PowerShot N features a 2.8-inch tilting PureColor II G touch screen with a resolution of 461,000 dots, while the Ricoh PX sticks to a fixed 2.7-inch non-touch display at 230,000 dots.

The Canon’s tilting touchscreen is a big plus for creative angles, empowering easy framing for high or low shots, or even selfies (the N is selfie-friendly!). The touch responsiveness makes menu navigation smooth and intuitive - something I grew fond of over extended use.

The Ricoh PX’s fixed screen, lacking touch, relies on physical buttons, and though its interface is clean, the lower resolution and no tilting function slightly limit compositional flexibility and ease of use.

If you’re someone who values the ability to compose unconventionally, I personally prefer the Canon’s screen. However, some purists appreciate the Ricoh's straightforward button-driven approach, avoiding sometimes-distracting touch interaction.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance: Speed, Accuracy, and Flexibility

Autofocus (AF) performance can make or break your experience, especially in dynamic genres like sports or wildlife.

• Canon N uses a contrast-detection AF system without face or eye detection - limited to single-point focusing.
• Ricoh PX uses contrast-detection as well but adds face detection and selectable AF points with some limited tracking capability.

Neither camera offers phase detection or advanced AF tracking, so autofocus speed and accuracy lean toward casual shooting rather than professional action photography.

The Canon’s AF performance felt slower, roughly 2 frames per second continuous shooting, and it can hunt under low contrast or dim conditions. Ricoh tops out at 1 fps but is slightly snappier focusing overall due to its smaller zoom range and more traditional focusing interface.

Manual focus is only available on the Ricoh PX, a feature that gives enthusiasts more creative control, particularly macro shooters or those experimenting with selective focusing.

Neither camera excels at high-speed scenarios like sports or wildlife; your best bet there would be investing in cameras with dedicated phase-detection AF modules.

Lens and Zoom Capabilities: What’s on Offer?

Both cameras feature fixed zoom lenses with useful focal ranges:

• Canon PowerShot N: 28-224 mm equivalent (8x zoom), aperture f/3.0–5.9
• Ricoh PX: 28-140 mm equivalent (5x zoom), aperture f/3.9–5.4

The Canon’s longer zoom reach offers more flexibility, particularly for telephoto shots - useful when travel or portraiture requires getting closer to your subject without moving physically.

Ricoh’s somewhat faster aperture at the tele end (f/5.4 vs. f/5.9) is incremental but could be noticed slightly better in low-light or depth-of-field control.

Macro capabilities differ noticeably: Canon’s lens can focus as close as 1 cm, allowing for impressive close-ups. The Ricoh PX offers a 3 cm minimum focus range, still respectable but less dramatic in subject size.

Both lenses come with optical image stabilization, Canon via optical IS and Ricoh using sensor-shift stabilization, both effective enough to mitigate minor hand shake at longer focal lengths or slower shutter speeds.

Burst, Shutter Speeds, and Video: Can They Keep Up With Action?

When catching fleeting moments, burst rate and shutter range matter.

• The Canon PowerShot N max continuous shooting is around 2 fps, shutter speed ranges from 15 seconds to 1/2000 sec.
• The Ricoh PX only manages about 1 fps but shares a similar shutter speed range of 8 seconds to 1/2000 sec.

Neither camera targets sports photographers; their frames per second are too low to track fast subjects effectively.

Video-wise, the Canon records better quality full HD (1080p) at 24 fps versus the Ricoh’s maximum 720p recording at 30 fps. Canon supports H.264 compression, while Ricoh uses Motion JPEG - heavier on storage - and neither has external mic or headphone jacks.

If video is part of your workflow, the Canon offers more flexible resolution and frame rate, despite lacking advanced video stabilization or 4K capabilities.

Build Quality, Environmental Resistance, and Battery Life

Let’s talk toughness and longevity in the field.

The Ricoh PX boasts environmental sealing, adding splash resistance, valuable for outdoor and travel photographers who face unpredictable weather. Canon PowerShot N lacks any weather sealing or ruggedness features.

Ricoh’s weatherproofing concerns only water splashes, not submersion or dustproofing, so it’s not an all-weather adventure companion but gives some peace of mind.

Battery life is modest on both, with Canon rated around 200 shots per charge using its NB-9L pack, and Ricoh PX’s official number not specified but generally comparable. Both use rechargeable proprietary lithium-ion batteries. Neither has dual card slots, relying on single microSD (Canon) or SD (Ricoh) storage.

If you prioritize reliability in diverse environments, Ricoh PX ticks a key box.

Connectivity Options and Extras for the Modern Shooter

In today’s connected world, wireless features can be critical.

The Canon PowerShot N integrates built-in Wi-Fi, allowing for wireless transfer and remote control via compatible smartphones - a standout feature in this segment at its launch. That ease of sharing photos right from the camera appeals to social media enthusiasts and casual users.

By contrast, the Ricoh PX offers no wireless connectivity but does have HDMI output, letting you display images and videos directly on TVs.

Neither camera supports GPS natively, though Canon offers an optional GPS accessory.

Image Samples and Real-World Visuals: What Do the Photos Say?

Beyond specs, real images tell the true story. Over extended shooting tests, I compiled sample images which illustrate the strengths and limitations of both cameras:

Canon N front Canon N screen back Ricoh PX front Ricoh PX screen back

• The Canon N delivers vibrant colors, clean mid-ISO images, and notably good sharpness, especially in daylight and moderate shadow conditions. Its bokeh is pleasant for a small sensor camera thanks to a longer zoom reach.

• The Ricoh PX produces richly saturated color and nicely rendered skin tones but noise creeps in earlier at ISO 800+. Its lens shows less reach, impacting framing flexibility.

Both struggle with high contrast scenes due to inherent sensor size limitations, but the Canon’s dynamic range appears marginally better.

Comprehensive Performance Scores: Which Excels Overall?

I rated each camera on key performance metrics to orient your decision:

Canon scores higher in image quality, video capabilities, and touchscreen usability. Ricoh leads slightly on build quality and manual focus control.

Genre-Specific Strengths: Matching Cameras to Photography Styles

Let’s break down how these cameras align with popular photography types:

• Portrait Photography: Canon N excels thanks to longer zoom, pleasing bokeh, and smooth skin tone rendition. Ricoh’s manual focus and face detection support give it some edge for controlled portraits but limited by lens reach.

• Landscape: Both limited by sensor size but Ricoh PX’s weather sealing and wider aperture in midrange lens make it a subtle favorite - especially where shooting in less ideal conditions.

• Wildlife & Sports: Neither are ideal, but Canon’s longer zoom and slightly faster AF offer borderline advantages.

• Street Photography: Ricoh PX feels more discreet and easier to shoot with thanks to physical controls and smaller width; Canon’s touchscreen may slow some shots but helps compose novel angles.

• Macro: Canon’s 1cm close focusing crushes Ricoh’s 3cm limit, great for fine detail work.

• Night/Astro: Both compromised by sensor size and ISO noise, but Canon’s higher max ISO and better noise management help.

• Video: Canon has clear lead with 1080p, better codecs, and higher-quality output.

• Travel: Ricoh PX’s lighter weight, splash resistance, and manual controls make it a good travel companion; Canon’s Wi-Fi and compact form impress for casual travel snaps.

• Professional Workflow: Neither supports RAW capture or advanced customization, limiting use in serious professional contexts.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations: Which Should You Choose?

Both cameras are interesting relics of their era now but retain useful attributes depending on your shooting needs.

• If you want a fun, user-friendly, and Wi-Fi-enabled camera with decent zoom and good video, the Canon PowerShot N is your choice. It’s well suited for casual photographers, travel enthusiasts who value image sharing, and those prioritizing convenience over manual control.

• If you prefer better ergonomics with manual focus, environmental durability, and a more traditional interface, the Ricoh PX edges forward. It appeals to outdoor shooters, macro fans, and those who want deeper control with less dependence on menus.

Dear Canon, I do wish you’d add manual focus next time! And Ricoh, a touchscreen wouldn’t hurt either.

Whichever you choose, keep in mind that both cameras are best as lightweight, snapshot-friendly compacts rather than substitutes for dedicated DSLR or mirrorless systems. Still, for users seeking a pocketable companion for everyday shooting, their quirks can translate into a rewarding creative experience.

Happy shooting!

If you want to see detailed specs side-by-side or sample image galleries from both these models, feel free to reach out - I've got the full rundown ready for you.