Head-to-Head: Canon PowerShot N100 vs Ricoh G700SE - Which Compact Camera Holds Its Ground?

When compact cameras come into the conversation, the market is a diverse pool ranging from stylish pocket shooters to rugged workhorses meant for harsh environments. Today, I’m evaluating two distinctly different models launched in the mid-2010s but still relevant in their unique niches: the Canon PowerShot N100, a small sensor compact aimed at casual to enthusiast shooters, versus the Ricoh G700SE, a ruggedized waterproof comp meant for industrial or adventure use.

Having tested thousands of cameras over the last 15 years, I can say that surface specs only tell part of the story. Let’s peel back layers on sensor tech, image quality, design, controls, ergonomics, and real-world versatility. We’ll then explore which camera wins in each photography genre and usage scenario. All along, I’ll spotlight strengths and shortcomings that only a seasoned tester can uncover.

First Impressions and Body Design: Compact Elegance Meets Rugged Durability

Physically, these two compacts couldn’t be more different in philosophy and purpose.

The Canon N100 is decidedly a stylish, pocketable device, measuring 105 x 68 x 36 mm and weighing a mere 289 grams. Its compact size, combined with a clean, minimalist exterior and a 3-inch tilting touchscreen, make it feel more like a premium point-and-shoot rather than a rugged tool. It's the kind of camera you’d toss in a handbag and happily click around a cafe or museum.

In contrast, the Ricoh G700SE tips the scales slightly heftier at 307 grams and is chunkier at 117 x 68 x 32 mm. However, those extra millimeters and grams buy you extreme durability - it’s waterproof (up to 2 meters), dustproof, and shock resistant to 1.5 meters drops, targeting professionals who shoot under demanding conditions where cameras risk water, grime, and bumps.

My takeaway here: If you prioritize a sleek camera for everyday life, Canon’s N100 suits you better. For outdoor adventurers or professionals who need reliability in harsh setups, the Ricoh G700SE’s tougher build is the obvious pick.

Control Layout and Handling: Touchscreen Elegance vs. Utilitarian Purpose

Sliding to the top view, Canon’s N100 provides intuitive controls with a minimalist approach. There’s no dedicated mode dial or manual exposure ring as seen on higher-end cameras, but the DIGIC 6 processor enables quick menu access and smooth responsiveness. The touchscreen delivers tap-to-focus and taps for setting toggles - a plus for casual users wanting a simple experience.

Ricoh’s G700SE, lacking touchscreen capability, emphasizes physical buttons designed large and rugged. They are easy to press even with gloves - a thoughtful feature for industrial or field work. The camera’s interface feels more utilitarian, prioritizing durability over sleek UI.

Personally, while I appreciate the tactile assurance of Ricoh’s controls in tough environments, the touchscreen on Canon’s N100 makes composition and settings a breeze in everyday shooting. Neither offers robust manual mode control, but that’s part of their design towards ease rather than full manual creativity.

Sensor Specs and Image Quality: Small Sensor Battle - CMOS vs. CCD Technology

Stepping under the hood, the N100 sports a 1/1.7” CMOS sensor sized 7.44 x 5.58 mm, with an effective area of around 41.5 mm². It outputs 12 megapixels at a max native ISO of 6400, supported by Canon’s DIGIC 6 image processor - a solid configuration for small sensor compacts of its generation.

The Ricoh G700SE opts for an older 1/2.3” CCD sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm), giving about 28 mm² active area but also 12 megapixels. ISO tops out at 3200.

From years of sensor testing, CMOS technology in 1/1.7” configurations generally delivers better dynamic range and low-light performance than CCDs, especially when paired with modern processing engines like DIGIC 6. The sensor area advantage also lends better potential detail capture and noise control to the Canon N100.

Image tests confirm this: The Canon captures sharper, cleaner images with richer color depth and improved shadow retention in real-world scenes, especially in subdued lighting. The Ricoh’s images appear flatter with noticeable noise creeping past ISO 800.

Both cameras employ anti-aliasing filters, slightly softening the absolute sharpness but preventing moiré patterns. Canon’s N100 offers multiple aspect ratios (1:1, 4:3, 3:2, 16:9), adding framing flexibility compared to Ricoh’s 4:3 and 3:2 options only.

Overall, for image quality, the Canon N100 holds a distinct advantage thanks to its sensor tech and processing - crucial for enthusiasts who want images they can print or use professionally.

User Interface and Display: Touchscreen Tilt for Creativity vs. Fixed Rugged Screen

The N100’s 3-inch 922k dot TFT touchscreen tilts, supporting flexibility for shooting at awkward angles or composing selfies (though this model isn't marketed as selfie-friendly). The touchscreen responsiveness is crisp and accurate, enabling quick menu navigation and touch AF.

Meanwhile, the G700SE features a fixed 3-inch screen with slightly lower resolution (920k dots), non-touch. Its screen is optimized to minimize glare and resist scratches, coherent with its outdoor/rugged usage.

For creative photographers, I find the tilting touchscreen on Canon’s N100 to be invaluable for composing landscapes from ground level or portraits with unusual perspectives. Ricoh’s display is functional and resilient but lacks that flexibility or interactivity, seeming more suited for simple framing and image review.

Autofocus, Metering, and Performance: Small Sensor Convenience vs. Field Dependability

Both cameras employ contrast-detection autofocus, with Canon’s N100 offering up to 9 focus points including face detection, beneficial for casual portrait and street shooting. Canon supports touch autofocus, speeding up focus acquisition.

Ricoh’s autofocus system feels slower and less precise in tests, lacking face detection, which handicaps it for quick candid shots or wildlife.

Neither camera offers continuous AF or burst shooting modes, limiting their effectiveness in sports, wildlife, or fast action scenarios.

Exposure metering on the Canon uses center-weighted average and spot modes, giving balanced exposures with occasional room for tweaking on bright scenes. The Ricoh offers no multi-segment metering, often ending in flatter images lacking punch.

Lens Characteristics and Stabilization: Bright Wide to Telephoto vs. Rugged Zoom Simplicity

The Canon N100’s lens equates to a 24-120mm zoom with an impressively bright aperture range of f/1.8-5.7. This bright wide-end aperture is a standout feature, excellent for low-light portraits or indoor scenes, providing pleasing background blur (bokeh) often missing in compact cameras.

The Ricoh G700SE zooms from 28-140mm (5x optical), slightly longer reach but with a slower f/3.5-5.5 aperture, challenging low-light shooting. It also boasts a very close macro focusing distance of 1cm, excellent for close-ups, which I found practical in fieldwork where detail documentation is needed.

Image stabilization is an area where Canon’s N100 shines, offering optical stabilization that noticeably improves handheld shots at slower shutter speeds - a must for travel or low-light handheld photography. Ricoh G700SE lacks any image stabilization, relying on faster shutter speeds or tripods.

Flash, Video, and Connectivity: User-Friendly Video on Canon vs. Rugged Flash Versatility on Ricoh

The Canon integrates a built-in flash with a range of 7 meters and offers flash modes like Auto, Slow Sync, On, and Off. Ricoh’s flash has a superior reach of about 10 meters on auto ISO and supports external flashes - a boon in industrial or documentary settings requiring more powerful illumination.

Video-wise, Canon can shoot 1080p (1920 x 1280) at 30fps with stereo audio input through a microphone port - quite advanced for a compact at its time. Ricoh is limited to VGA resolution (640 x 480) at 30fps and lacks any microphone input.

Connectivity favors Canon heavily: built-in Wi-Fi and NFC allow instant sharing to smartphones and remote shooting via app. Ricoh G700SE has no wireless features, tethering exclusively via USB.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical With Room to Grow

Canon’s N100 uses the NB-12L rechargeable battery offering around 330 shots per charge - respectable but on the lower side for casual all-day shooting. Ricoh’s G700SE battery life isn’t published clearly, but based on field testing it matched similar compact runtimes with Sony’s DB-60 battery.

Both cameras support standard SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, with Ricoh also including built-in internal storage for immediate image safety - a smart feature for fieldwork where card loss is a risk.

How These Cameras Perform in Different Photography Disciplines

Canon N100 screen back Ricoh G700SE front Ricoh G700SE screen back

Portrait Photography

The Canon N100 excels here, thanks to its bright f/1.8 aperture at the wide end, accurate face detection AF, and pleasing color rendering. Portraits exhibit smooth, creamy bokeh and natural skin tones - essential for capturing emotions authentically.

Ricoh’s narrower aperture and lack of face detection make portraits less engaging, with flatter backgrounds and slower focus acquisition detracting from candid shots.

Landscape Photography

Dynamic range and resolution favor the Canon, delivering more tonal gradations in skies and shadows. The Canon's tilting screen aids creative compositions.

However, Ricoh’s weather sealing and waterproof capability make it a reliable companion in challenging landscapes - think rainforest hikes or seashores where splashes abound.

Wildlife Photography

Neither camera is ideal here, with lack of fast burst shooting or continuous AF modes.

Canon’s faster autofocus gives it a slight edge for casual wildlife snaps though, while Ricoh’s rugged build permits shooting in rainy or muddy conditions without worry.

Sports Photography

These cameras are obviously ill-suited for fast-paced sports due to slow AF and low frame rates.

Street Photography

Canon’s compact size and touchscreen favor spontaneous shooting in urban environments, with face detection easing focus on unsuspecting street subjects.

Ricoh is bulkier and less discreet, luxuries for street photographers, but its ruggedness may attract those shooting in extreme or wet urban conditions.

Macro Photography

Ricoh’s macro focus of 1cm is exceptional, far better than the Canon’s unspecified but poorer macro abilities. For imaging small details or documentation work, Ricoh is the winner.

Night and Astro Photography

Canon’s CMOS sensor excels at high ISO with less noise, plus optical IS helps handheld nighttime shots.

Ricoh’s slower lens and CCD sensor limit low-light capacity; viable only with tripods and ample light sources.

Video Capabilities

Canon’s full HD video at 30fps with a mic port puts it leagues ahead - more versatile for casual videographers.

Ricoh’s VGA video barely scratches the surface of modern video expectations.

Travel Photography

The Canon N100’s small size, Wi-Fi connectivity for instant sharing, and bright lens make it versatile and convenient on the go.

Ricoh’s rugged waterproof design suits adventure travel where reliability beats image quality.

Professional Work

Neither camera supports RAW capture, limiting professional post-processing. However, Ricoh’s ruggedness and external flash compatibility make it useful for specialized industrial or inspection professions.

The Scorecard: Objective Ratings of Overall and Genre-Specific Performance

Detailed Genre Breakdown - Who Wins What?

• Portraits: Canon N100 takes it, thanks to aperture and AF.
• Landscape: Canon edges for IQ, Ricoh wins harsh weather durability.
• Wildlife: Tie - Canon better IQ, Ricoh better ruggedness.
• Sports: Neither suitable.
• Street: Canon for discretion and responsiveness.
• Macro: Ricoh’s close focus distance wins decisively.
• Night/Astro: Canon’s superior sensor for low light.
• Video: Canon’s HD with audio input is far ahead.
• Travel: Canon for compact ease, Ricoh for rugged adventures.
• Professional: Rugged Ricoh in niche fields; Canon limited by lack of RAW.

Conclusion: Who Should Buy Which?

The Canon PowerShot N100 is for photographers who value image quality, ease of use, creative flexibility, and connectivity in a smart compact package. It shines in portraits, landscapes, street situations, and casual video projects where quality and convenience matter. It is less suitable if you need durability or macro abilities.

The Ricoh G700SE answers a different call: professionals and adventure seekers needing a camera that withstands water, dust, and shock. Its optics and sensor lag behind, but it rewards with rugged reliability and unique macro close focus. It’s a niche specialty tool rather than a generalist shooter.

If I had to pick one for my own casual travels and social shoots, it’d be the Canon N100 every time. But for worksite documentation, underwater fieldwork, or industrial inspections, the Ricoh G700SE is a dependable partner that won’t quit when things get wet or dirty.

With these insights grounded in hands-on testing and technical analysis, I hope this comparison helps you select the compact camera that best fits your creative ambitions and shoot scenarios.

Happy shooting!