Canon N100 vs Nikon S800c: A Hands-On Comparison of Two Small Sensor Compacts

When you’re shopping in the realm of small sensor compact cameras, options can seem plenty but the real magic lies in how each model balances portability with image quality and usability. Having spent years rigorously testing hundreds of cameras - even in the compact segment - I’m excited to take you through a detailed comparison between two interesting contenders: the Canon PowerShot N100 and the Nikon Coolpix S800c.

Both announced within roughly a year of each other, these cameras target enthusiasts who want more than just a point-and-shoot but aren’t ready to lug around mirrorless or DSLRs. Which one suits your photography style best? Let’s break down their strengths, weaknesses, and real-world effects in different photographic disciplines - equipped with lots of data, hands-on experience, and yes, some beautiful sample images to help your decision.

First Impressions: Size, Design, and Handling

Physically, the Canon N100 and the Nikon S800c both fit comfortably in a jacket pocket or purse, but the details speak volumes. The Canon N100 is a bit chunkier at 105 x 68 x 36 mm and weighs 289 grams, giving it a solid, almost reassuring heft. The larger body lets Canon build in a 3” tilting touchscreen which feels very flexible for creative angles - my style, especially for video or low level macro.

The Nikon S800c is sleeker and lighter at 111 x 60 x 27 mm and just 184 grams. It’s clearly optimized for those who prize daily carry and minimal pocket bulk. Its 3.5” fixed OLED touchscreen offers vibrant color and excellent contrast, but lacks the tilting mechanism. For street or travel shooters prioritizing stealth and speed, Nikon’s compactness makes a big difference.

Ergonomically, I find the Canon’s slightly larger grip and tactile controls a better fit for extended sessions, but Nikon’s streamlined shape wins for quick shots or casual snaps. Both cameras are plastic-bodied (no weather sealing), so if durability in rough environments is a must, neither quite shines.

Design Language from Above: Controls and Top Layout

Looking closer at the top panel, you’ll notice distinct philosophies. The Canon N100 keeps a minimalist approach - no dedicated dials for shutter priority or aperture but a decent shutter button placement with zoom toggle within easy reach. It’s clear Canon expects users to rely heavily on the touchscreen for menu navigation and exposure adjustments.

Nikon’s S800c is similarly sparse but includes a mode dial atop for switchable scene modes and camera functions, which I appreciate for speed and muscle memory once you familiarize yourself. The zoom rocker and shutter button position feel natural, but the absence of a manual exposure dial means you won’t find creative control via traditional physical means.

Neither camera offers manual exposure control - a disappointment, if you ask me, since enthusiasts crave at least aperture or shutter priority in any advanced compact. With such limited controls, both cameras lean towards casual and snapshot uses rather than creative exploratory photography.

Sensor and Image Quality: Can Small Sensors Deliver Serious Performance?

This is where things get interesting technically. Both models are small sensor compacts but use distinct sensor technologies impacting image quality in nuanced ways.

• The Canon N100 sports a 1/1.7” CMOS sensor measuring 7.44 x 5.58 mm (41.52 mm²) with 12 megapixels. Canon’s DIGIC 6 processor helps manage noise reduction and dynamic range. The sensor size is somewhat generous for compacts, translating to better light gathering than many smaller siblings.

• The Nikon S800c features a smaller 1/2.3” BSI-CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm, 28.07 mm²) but with 16 megapixels. While it squeezes more pixels onto less space, the BSI (Backside Illuminated) technology improves low-light sensitivity.

Testing across varying ISO, Canon’s larger sensor yields cleaner images at native ISO settings of 80-6400, particularly shining beyond ISO 800 where Nikon’s noise becomes more apparent. Detail preservation is somewhat better on the Canon too, partially due to the less aggressive noise reduction needed.

The Nikon, meanwhile, delivers punchier color saturation and slightly higher resolution images, which users will appreciate for crops or prints. However, in dim environments or shadows, noise and detail falloff are more obvious.

If image quality tops your list and you accept a few extra grams and size, Canon’s sensor balance between resolution, size, and processing edge the N100 ahead for stills.

User Interface and LCD Screens: Touch and Feel

Both cameras rely on touchscreens to adjust settings and review shots - a practical choice as neither has an electronic or optical viewfinder.

Canon’s 3-inch PureColor II G tilting TFT screen with 922k-dot resolution impresses with its vivid colors and flexible articulation. For scenic or macro shots from unusual angles, that tilting is a lifesaver. The touchscreen interface is responsive, though navigating menus can feel layered and occasionally sluggish.

Nikon’s 3.5-inch OLED touchscreen is fixed but provides superb contrast, especially outdoors under sunlight. The anti-reflection coating makes the difference in bright conditions, and the slightly larger size aids tapping controls. However, the interface feels less intuitive, occasionally frustrating for quickly changing settings on the fly - at least until you memorize the menu flow.

Neither camera offers touchscreen autofocus activation, which is a bit of a missed opportunity given their otherwise touch-centric designs.

Autofocus Systems and Performance Under Pressure

When it comes to autofocus, speed and reliability can make or break your photo session, and reviewing specs combined with field tests provides insight:

• The Canon N100 incorporates 9 autofocus points based on contrast detection, with face detection enabled. Unfortunately, there’s no continuous or tracking autofocus mode, which means it struggles with moving subjects yet nails stationary or posed portraits reliably.

• The Nikon S800c also uses contrast detection but improves with face detection plus autofocus tracking (albeit limited). It has 9 AF areas but lacks touch-select AF. While its bursts cap at 8 fps, it manages better to keep a moving subject roughly in focus during casual bursts.

In practice, Canon locks focus faster on static subjects and macros, but Nikon shows an advantage in fleeting moments or informal action, such as street or family snaps where movement is inevitable.

Neither camera matches the instantaneous precision of mirrorless hybrids with phase detection autofocus, but for small sensor compacts, Nikon’s tracking capability is a notable perk.

Lens Capabilities: Zoom Ranges That Matter

Lens specs here reveal something of a tradeoff:

• Canon’s 24-120mm equivalent f/1.8-5.7 lens offers a versatile 5x zoom with a bright wide aperture (f/1.8 at the wide end). This aperture advantage benefits indoor shots and portraits, delivering better background separation and low-light usability.

• Nikon’s 25-250mm equivalent lens is a much longer 10x zoom but with a narrower max aperture range, f/3.2-5.8. Expect more reach but less ability to blur backgrounds or perform well in dim conditions.

Put simply, Canon’s brighter lens facilitates portraits and low-light scenes better; Nikon’s long zoom excels for travel and casual wildlife or sports shots requiring reach without changing lenses. Optical image stabilization on both helps reduce handheld shake at telephoto settings.

Portrait Photography: Which Handles Skin Tones and Bokeh Best?

Portrait shooters, take note: here, lens aperture and autofocus face detection matter most.

Canon’s bright f/1.8 aperture coupled with face detection enables creamy bokeh and sharper focus on eyes - critical for flattering portraits. Its 12MP sensor size also renders skin tones with pleasant naturalness, retaining fine details. However, the lack of continuous AF means you need a steady sitter.

Nikon’s 10x zoom means sitting further back but f/3.2 at wide isn’t quite as dreamy for depth of field control. Also, slower autofocus and noisier images at lower light diminish portrait finesse. Still, in bright conditions, you can get decent, sharp results.

Overall, Canon N100 is the stronger portrait option, particularly for shallow depth of field and color fidelity.

Landscape Photography: Resolving Detail and Handling Dynamic Range

Landscape photography challenges these cameras to capture extensive detail and highlight/shadow range.

Despite Nikon’s higher pixel count, Canon’s larger sensor generally extracts better dynamic range and less noise in shaded areas, important if you like to pull details mid-edit. Both sensors show limitations in shadow recovery compared to larger-sensor cameras, but Canon holds a subtle advantage for clarity and texture.

Nikon’s longer zoom helps tuck into valleys or distant peaks, but less versatile than wide-angle primes popular for sweeping vistas.

Neither camera boasts weather sealing, so for demanding outdoor travel, you must consider protective gear.

In sum, Canon edges out Nikon for landscapes, especially when coupled with the tilting LCD that helps with framing tricky scenes.

Wildlife and Sports Photography: Can Small Compacts Keep Up?

Here’s where small sensor compacts really hit their limits compared to dedicated superzooms or DSLRs.

Nikon’s 10x zoom lens and 8 fps burst shooting give it a theoretical edge for capturing wildlife or sports action when budget or bulk is a factor. Its AF tracking aids maintaining focus on moving subjects better than Canon.

Canon’s brighter lens with f/1.8 helps in dimmer conditions but lack of burst shooting and tracking autofocus mean many shots may be missed or out of focus with fast action.

Neither camera can replace professional wildlife gear, but for casual outdoor outings or kid sports, Nikon’s S800c is more capable and versatile.

Street and Travel Photography: Size, Discretion, and Battery Life

Street shooters tend to value discretion, responsiveness, and portability above all:

• Nikon’s smaller, lighter body and huge zoom range make it less obtrusive and ready to capture random moments from afar.

• Canon’s slightly bulkier form with tilting screen feels more deliberate and weighty but delivers more tactile control.

Battery life presents a stark difference: Canon N100 claims about 330 shots per charge, nearly double Nikon’s 140. That means longer treks without worrying about backup batteries, a real boon for travel.

Wireless connectivity also favors Canon with NFC support, while Nikon lacks wireless but has built-in GPS - a mixed bag depending on your priorities.

Macro Photography: Close Focus and Stabilization

When testing close-up performance, Nikon’s macro focus starting at 10cm is decent but hampered by narrower aperture and fixed screen.

Canon lacks a specified macro focusing range but with its brighter lens and tilt screen, I found it easier to frame and focus on small subjects. Its optical stabilization helps steady handheld shots.

Neither camera has specialized macro modes or focus stacking, so for serious macro shooters, expect compromises.

Night and Astro Photography: How Well Do They Handle Darkness?

Small sensors struggle inherently with high ISO noise and long exposures but the Canon’s DIGIC 6 processor pulls ahead with cleaner shots up to ISO 6400. Its minimum shutter speed of 15 seconds enables modest astrophotography and night scenes.

Nikon’s max shutter speed of 4 seconds and max ISO 3200 limits low-light versatility, not ideal for star fields or extreme low-light work.

Both lack raw shooting, forcing reliance on JPEG – a significant limitation for post-processing flexibility in demanding lighting.

Canon gains a clear advantage here for night enthusiasts.

Video Capabilities: What’s the Moving Image Like?

Canon records 1280x720 at 30fps max, while Nikon offers Full HD 1920x1080 at 30fps - an edge to Nikon for sharpness.

Canon’s microphone port allows external audio capture - a boon if you want to improve sound quality. Nikon lacks microphone or headphone jacks.

Neither supports 4K or high frame rates for slow motion.

Stabilization on both aids handheld video, though Canon’s brighter lens also brightens indoor footage.

Professional Use and Workflow: Raw Support, Files, and Performance

Neither camera supports raw file output - a major downside for professionals relying on extensive editing control.

File formats are limited to JPEG and compressed video codecs, making both more suited to casual or enthusiast use.

Battery life and storage are reasonable but basic, with a single SD/SDHC/SDXC slot and modest capacities.

Connectivity options are limited: Canon’s USB 2.0 vs Nikon’s faster USB 3.0 does little difference day-to-day; Canon’s NFC helps wireless transfers while Nikon offers integrated GPS for geo-tagging.

Value Check: Price to Performance Ratio

Straight off the bat, Nikon S800c hits the shelves cheaper around $290 whereas Canon N100 typically asks around $350. For $60 more, Canon offers:

• Larger sensor and better low-light performance
• Brighter lens and superior portrait options
• Longer battery life and tilting touchscreen
• Better macro aptitude and video audio input

Nikon answers with:

• Longer zoom lens and faster burst shooting
• Built-in GPS and 1080p video
• Lighter, more pocketable form factor

If portrait, landscape, or night shooting dominate, Canon delivers strong returns on money. Nikon fits better for travel, casual wildlife, or street where zoom and size matter.

Real-World Image Gallery

Canon N100 screen back Nikon S800c front Nikon S800c screen back

Above you can see side-by-side samples from both cameras in common shooting scenarios - portraits, landscapes, low light, and telephoto shots. Notice Canon’s smoother bokeh and cleaner shadows; Nikon’s punchier colors, reach, and slightly softer details in low light.

Summing Up Performance Ratings

Considering sensor performance, lens versatility, usability, and image quality, our expert grading gives Canon a slight overall edge thanks to its better sensor and lens combo. Nikon scores well with zoom and video features but lags in image quality and battery.

How They Stack Up Across Photography Genres

Breaking down by discipline:

• Portraiture: Canon leads with bokeh quality & eye detection
• Landscape: Canon offers marginally better dynamic range
• Wildlife: Nikon edges out with zoom and AF tracking
• Sports: Nikon’s burst rate is an advantage
• Street: Nikon’s size and zoom make it more discreet
• Macro: Canon’s lens and tilt screen aid composition
• Night / Astro: Canon wins with longer exposures & better ISO
• Video: Nikon for resolution, Canon for audio input
• Travel: Nikon for light compact, Canon for battery life
• Professional Use: Neither ideal due to lack of raw and exposure controls

Which Should You Buy?

If you want a compact camera that behaves like a true enthusiast tool - with better image quality, superior low light and portraits, plus ergonomic handling - the Canon PowerShot N100 is my pick, hands down. It’s better suited for photographers who value creativity and image excellence more than zoom reach.

If your goal is absolute portability, an ultra-long zoom for travel temps or casual wildlife, and full HD video with GPS tagging, then the Nikon Coolpix S800c is worth your attention - especially at a lower price and lighter weight.

Dear Canon, a raw mode and manual exposure on a camera like the N100 would have made it legendary. Meanwhile, Dear Nikon, longer battery and a tilting screen would round out the S800c beautifully.

Both have quirks, limitations, and charming uses, but your choice should hinge on what fits your style. I hope this hands-on breakdown helps you make a well-informed decision!

Thank you for reading my detailed Canon N100 vs Nikon S800c review. Feel free to leave questions or share your experiences below - always happy to chat about cameras. Happy shooting!