Canon PowerShot N100 vs Nikon Coolpix S100: A Detailed Comparison for Enthusiasts and Pros

When compact cameras get billed as “pocketable workhorses,” it’s essential to dig beyond the marketing copy. I’ve spent weeks shooting with both the Canon PowerShot N100 and Nikon Coolpix S100 - two small sensor compacts aimed at casual photographers who crave some creative latitude without lugging around heavier gear. Though their announcements are separated by nearly three years (the N100 in 2014, the S100 in 2011), their specifications place them in a similar league, making them ripe candidates for head-to-head comparison.

In this article, I’ll peel back the layers of these cameras across all key photography disciplines and use cases - from portraits to landscapes, wildlife to night shots - while diving deep into technical performance, handling, and value for different user types. Along the way, I’ll share anecdotes and hard data from my test sessions to help you know which compact deserves a spot in your camera bag.

Let’s dive in.

Sizing Up Ergonomics: The First Impression Matters

One of the first things I evaluate with any camera is how it feels in the hands. Size, weight, and control placement directly affect where and how often you’ll reach for it.

Canon N100 - Solid Grip, Noticeable Bulk

At 105x68x36 mm and 289 grams, the N100 is heftier and chunkier than the S100. This translates to a more substantial grip and a reassuring feel - something I appreciate during longer shooting sessions. The 36mm depth adds to the impression of a more "serious" compact, reducing accidental slips.

Nikon S100 - Slim and Featherweight

The Nikon’s body measures a sleeker 99x65x18 mm and weighs just 175 grams. It’s more pocket-friendly and appeals to those who prioritize portability, but the thinness comes with trade-offs. In the field, I found the body a little too slim for secure handling, especially in brisk or wet conditions.

I value balance - and here, the Canon’s design clearly prioritizes ergonomics over mere portability. For anyone shooting outdoors or holding the camera for a while, this difference feels significant.

Up Close: Control Layout and Usability

Ergonomics also extend to button placement and interface logic. Let’s compare the decks.

Canon N100 - Touch-Friendly with Key Physical Controls

The N100 integrates a 3.0-inch tilting touchscreen with 922K-dot resolution, which is sharp and responsive. It balances on-screen touch controls with a handful of physical buttons and a directional pad, enabling quick access to familiar functions.

Its tilting screen is useful in awkward positions - like waist-level shooting or above-the-head grabs - and the touchscreen supports autofocus point selection and menu navigation seamlessly.

Nikon S100 - Larger OLED but No Tilt, Fewer Buttons

I appreciate the S100’s 3.5-inch organic LED display - it’s larger and rich in contrast, lending better visibility in bright sun. Unfortunately, it’s fixed and lacks tilt mechanics, making lower or higher angle shots less convenient.

Touchscreen is present but the smaller number of physical controls encourages reliance on on-screen menus. For some, this might slow operation, particularly in dynamic shooting environments.

While both use touchscreens, Canon edges out in flexibility and control versatility, especially when composing shots beyond eye-level.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Small sensor compacts often face skepticism regarding image quality, so I carefully examined sensor specifications, noise handling, and resolution output.

Canon N100 - Larger, Lower Resolution Sensor

The N100 hosts a 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor measuring 7.44x5.58 mm, resulting in an area of 41.52 mm². It delivers 12MP resolution with 4000x3000 pixels, balancing pixel pitch with light gathering capability. This sensor size is on the larger side for compacts, promising better low-light performance.

ISO range spans from 80 native up to 6400 boosted, offering extended sensitivity for dim conditions.

Nikon S100 - Smaller, Higher Resolution Sensor

The S100 uses a 1/2.3-inch CMOS sensor of 6.17x4.55 mm (28.07 mm² sensor area) but pushes resolution to 16MP (4608x3456 pixels). The higher pixel density gives potentially sharper details in well-lit scenes but tends to compromise noise control.

ISO ceilings out at 3200 and starts at ISO 125, indicating a narrower sensitivity scope.

Despite higher megapixels, the smaller sensor and ISO limitations mean the S100 can struggle in shadow retention and fine detail preservation compared to the Canon.

In practical shooting tests, the Canon’s sensor produced cleaner images above ISO 800, while the Nikon’s advantage appeared in daylight prints where resolution was king. Both sensors apply an anti-aliasing filter to reduce moiré but this softens the fine textures notably.

LCD and Interface: Viewing and Navigating Your Shots

User experience hinges on the rear screen quality and responsiveness.

Canon’s 3.0” Tilting TFT Screen - Responsive Though Slightly Dim

The N100’s PureColor II G touchscreen performs admirably in menus and live view, reacting instantly to touch AF. Tilting functionality enhances compositional creativity, though the overall brightness falls short under harsh sunlight.

Nikon’s 3.5” OLED Screen - Vibrant but Fixed

The S100’s OLED monitor dazzles with deep blacks and vivid colors, making image review pleasant. However, the fixed panel restricts versatility in shooting angles.

Both have intuitive graphical interfaces, but I found Canon’s touchscreen responsiveness slightly better for framing and focusing swiftly in live view mode.

Image Samples: Real-World Output

Pictures often speak louder than specs. I captured identical sequences with both cameras across genres.

Canon N100 screen back Nikon S100 front Nikon S100 screen back

Observations

• Portraits: Canon rendered skin tones more naturally with subtle warmth; Nikon images looked a touch cooler and less forgiving with highlights on complexions. The Canon’s f/1.8 aperture on the wide end offered smoother bokeh in shallow depth of field compositions.
• Landscapes: Nikon’s higher MP sensor allows for more crops or large prints, but Canon maintained better detail retention in shadow areas and handled dynamic range with less clipping.
• Low-light and Indoor: Noise was more apparent on the Nikon, softening details severely above ISO 800.

Overall, the Canon’s sensor handled mixed lighting scenarios more gracefully, while Nikon’s resolution shines in bright, controlled settings.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Capturing the Moment

From fast-moving sports to low-light candid shots, AF speed and accuracy matter.

The cameras differ notably here:

On the Field

The Canon relies on contrast AF with touch AF, locking focus well in daylight but sluggish in low contrast or low light. No continuous AF or burst mode limits action photography.

The Nikon’s 6 fps drive and subject tracking are stark advantages for capturing movement - a feature that puts it ahead for casual sports and street shooters looking for rapid capture.

That said, neither camera supports advanced phase-detection AF or eye/animal AF tracking, limiting consistent performance on fast-moving subjects.

Build Quality and Durability: Weathering the Elements

Neither model offers weather sealing, dustproofing, or shock resistance. Both are designed as indoor or fair-weather shooters.

The thicker Canon body, however, feels more solid and likely fares better against occasional bumps.

Their compact form factors mean these are snapshot cameras - not rugged field tools.

Lens Range and Aperture: Versatility Under the Hood

Fixed lenses mean you’re stuck with what you get, so let’s examine optical specs:

Canon’s Bright Wide Aperture Advantage

The N100’s f/1.8 aperture at the wide end is surprisingly bright, aiding low-light and shallow depth of field. The telephoto end slows to f/5.7, which isn’t exceptional but reasonable for a compact zoom.

Nikon’s Slightly Longer Reach and Super Macro

The S100’s lens goes up to 140mm, giving a longer reach, good for modest telephoto needs. However, the narrower aperture between f/3.9–4.8 reduces light intake and bokeh potential.

The Nikon’s 1cm macro focusing is impressive, enabling close-up shots with a natural perspective.

Battery Life and Storage: Sustainability for a Day’s Shoot

Battery endurance severely favors the Canon, easily doubling the Nikon’s rated shots per charge. I confirmed this through field testing, where the Canon lasted all morning on a single charge, while the Nikon needed mid-day top-ups.

For travel photographers who seldom have the chance to recharge frequently, this endurance difference is a game changer.

Connectivity and Video: Modern Needs or Missed Opportunities?

Video Capabilities

The Canon’s video maxes out at 720p, which is surprisingly dated for a 2014 camera; still, it supports external microphones for improved sound. The Nikon shoots Full HD 1080p but lacks any audio input.

For casual video, both will suffice, but neither is designed for serious filmmaking.

Wireless Workflow

Canon significantly leads with built-in Wi-Fi and NFC for easier image transfer and remote control - a major convenience missing from the Nikon.

This matters especially when shooting travel or event photos, where quick sharing is desired.

Putting It All Together: Who Should Buy Which?

The scorecard above synthesizes my assessments across the board. Don’t just take numbers - consider your needs against the detailed pros and cons below.

Choose the Canon PowerShot N100 if you:

• Prioritize image quality over megapixels - especially in mixed or low light
• Value a larger, more ergonomic body for extended shooting comfort
• Need better battery life for travel or day-long excursions
• Want wireless connectivity (Wi-Fi/NFC) for easier photo sharing
• Prefer a brighter lens aperture for portraits and creative focus effects
• Appreciate an articulated touchscreen for creative framing angles

Choose the Nikon Coolpix S100 if you:

• Want the slimmest, lightest camera to slip into tight pockets
• Appreciate sharper details in bright, well-lit environments due to higher resolution
• Shoot casual street or travel scenes, using burst mode to capture fleeting moments
• Have a particular interest in super-close macro shooting (down to 1cm)
• Desire a vibrant OLED screen for image review clarity under varied lighting
• Need full HD 1080p video for casual movies and are less concerned with audio inputs

Genre-Specific Strengths and Weaknesses

Breaking things down by photographic discipline clarifies practical usability differences:

• Portraits: Canon’s wider aperture and color science produce more flattering skin tones and delightful background blur.
• Landscapes: Nikon’s higher res and longer zoom help crop composition, but Canon’s sensor wins in tonal range and shadow detail.
• Wildlife: Nikon’s burst and tracking AF “edge” beat Canon’s slower, less versatile system.
• Sports: Nikon again has upper hand with 6 fps shooting; Canon unsuitable for fast action.
• Street Photography: Nikon’s compactness and silent operation appeal, though Canon’s AF accuracy adds trust.
• Macro: Nikon’s 1cm macro focus outshines Canon’s limited macro features.
• Night/Astro: Canon’s larger sensor and wider lens aperture deliver cleaner high ISO performance.
• Video: Nikon offers better resolution; Canon’s audio input is a plus for non-professional videographers.
• Travel: Canon’s wireless features, battery life, and ergonomics make it the best travel companion despite added heft.
• Professional Use: Neither fits professional standards for RAW capture or weather sealing, but Canon’s ergonomics and better image control offer slight advantages.

Final Thoughts: Compact Camera Decisions in 2024

Both the Canon PowerShot N100 and Nikon Coolpix S100 serve as capable, budget-friendly compacts suited for enthusiasts seeking ultraportable backups or casual shooters upgrading from smartphones.

The Canon N100 prioritizes image quality, usability, and connectivity - earning a recommendation for users valuing creative control, outdoor shooting, and lightweight travel. Its sensor and lens aperture, coupled with Wi-Fi/NFC, hold up surprisingly well even by today’s casual standards.

The Nikon S100, though older and with fewer features, remains an excellent choice for photographers emphasizing size, resolution, quick action shooting, or macro photography, provided they can work within shorter battery life and the absence of wireless transfer.

For me, the Canon PowerShot N100’s balance of sensor performance, intuitive controls, and longevity wins out as the more versatile compact camera. That said, both cameras highlight the compromises small-sensor compacts demand. Today’s mirrorless or smartphone offerings have encroached significantly on this space - but if you want a dedicated compact with some oomph and an optical zoom, either choice could fit the bill depending on your priorities.

Thank you for joining me on this thorough comparison. Hopefully, it empowers your next step toward owning a compact camera tailored to how you capture the world. If you want to explore specific shooting tests or side-by-side images, I’m happy to share additional resources.

Happy shooting!

Canon N100 screen back Nikon S100 front Nikon S100 screen back