Compact Showdown: A Hands-On Comparison of the Canon PowerShot S100 and SX720 HS

Photography gear can often give the impression of being a labyrinth - complex, overwhelming, and filled with marketing buzzwords that sometimes obscure real-world usability. As someone who’s tested thousands of cameras over the last 15 years, I find that many enthusiasts and even working pros wrestle with compact cameras’ genuine capabilities versus their spec sheets. Today, we dive deep into two intriguing Canon models from different eras and categories: the Canon PowerShot S100, a 2011 small sensor compact that garnered lots of praise in its day, and the Canon PowerShot SX720 HS, a 2016 small sensor superzoom compact, embracing extreme reach with a 40x lens.

We’ll peel back the specs, test results, and user experience - not just recite numbers - to help you understand which of these cameras truly earns your attention and your wallet. And yes, I’ll pepper this with personal reflections and practical considerations gleaned from long hours in the field.

Let’s start by taking in their physical presence.

Size and Ergonomics: The Feel Factor First

The tactile experience of holding a camera never gets old, and it often decides whether you’ll grab that camera over your phone or another gadget. The PowerShot S100 is compact to the point of near pocketability - streamlined and built for discreet shooting. The SX720 HS, conversely, is noticeably chunkier, reflecting its superzoom ambitions.

The S100’s slim 99 x 60 x 28 mm frame and 198 g weight make it a practical everyday companion. I recall street shoots where its subtle profile let me blend into the background efficiently, an asset in candid photography. By contrast, the SX720 HS measures 110 x 64 x 36 mm and weighs 270 grams - still portable but with that pronounced grip and heft of a travel zoom. Its increased depth accommodates the complex lens assembly needed for the 40x optical reach, which we'll talk more about later.

Notably, neither camera has built-in viewfinders - a trend in many compacts pushing users toward the rear LCD screen, which we'll also dissect. Overall, the S100 edges out slightly in terms of pure portability and ease of purse or pocket carry. But if you desire telephoto reach that defies its compact designation, the SX720 HS’s larger frame feels justified.

Design and Control Layout: Top-Down Perspective on Usability

While size affects portability, the arrangement of buttons, dials, and controls defines how quickly and intuitively you can shoot. Especially for photographers accustomed to DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, control ergonomics can make or break the experience.

The S100 boasts a straightforward design with a traditional mode dial, shutter button with zoom toggle, and a modest collection of rear buttons. This configuration invites manual exposure control with dedicated modes (shutter priority, aperture priority, and full manual). Its fixed lens, while limiting zoom range, integrates swiftly with these controls allowing for rapid adjustments when moments matter - like catching a fleeting expression or shifting light.

The SX720 HS, on the other hand, packs a more contemporary layout, albeit still basic by enthusiast standards. The mode dial blends with the top controls, and the zoom lever is well placed around the shutter button. However, to keep the chassis slim relative to its lens, some controls feel cramped. And without a dedicated aperture or shutter ring, you rely heavily on the mode dial and menus for manual control. If you’re coming from higher-end models, this might cause a slight workflow slowdown.

Both cameras forego touchscreen functionality, increasingly rare now but typical for their release times, so button placement and tactile feedback carry extra weight - where the S100’s controls feel a bit firmer and more deliberate, the SX720 HS’s are optimized for quick sub-one-handed zoom changes.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Pixels, Size, and Real-World Sensibility

Image quality always steals the spotlight in camera evaluations. Here, sensor size, resolution, and processing pipeline converge to determine what your final images look like, especially when pixel peeping or cropping.

The Canon S100 features a 1/1.7-inch BSI CMOS sensor with 12 effective megapixels, while the SX720 HS sports a smaller 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor but with a higher resolution of 20.3 megapixels. At face value, the SX720 HS wins on pixel count, but sensor size tells a different story.

The larger S100 sensor area (41.52 mm² versus 28.07 mm² on SX720 HS) translates to bigger photosites that gather more light. This matters immensely when shooting in low light or when prioritizing dynamic range. From my tests, the S100 yields cleaner images with better color depth, boasting a DXOMark color depth of 20.7 bits and a dynamic range of 11.6 EV stops, compared with average smaller-sensor compacts that show weaker performance - while Canon didn't submit the SX720 HS for testing, its sensor class and pixel density suggest it sacrifices some image quality for resolution and zoom versatility.

Looking at ISO performance under natural lighting (think dusk or museum interiors), the S100 handles noise better up to ISO 800, beyond which grain becomes more visible but still manageable. The SX720 HS tends to show more noise at ISO 400 and above, a direct consequence of tinier pixels struggling to collect light. This is worth noting if you frequently work in challenging illumination.

For landscape and portrait shooters valuing detail and tonal richness, the S100’s sensor is a gem, even by today’s standards. Conversely, for travel and wildlife enthusiasts craving reach over absolute image purity, the SX720 HS’s sensor-resolution combo is compelling.

LCD Screen and Interface: Your Window to the World

The camera’s rear screen is your constant companion - astoundingly, no viewfinder included on either model - so how clearly you see your scene and navigate menus influences shooting outcomes.

Both cameras feature a 3-inch fixed LCD panel, but the SX720 HS ups the ante with a resolution of 922K dots, double the S100’s 461K. This higher pixel density offers crisper previews and easier assessment of focus precision. Such clarity is surprisingly vital when composing telephoto shots where slight misfocus is unforgiving.

The S100 offers some physical button shortcuts that feel a touch vintage but are reliable for quick setting tweaks without menu dives. The SX720 HS sticks to a similar button-only navigation system, slightly modernized but still no touchscreen, which might irk some users craving tap-to-focus or swipe navigation.

In practical terms, I found the SX720 HS screen easier to judge fine details, and its slightly larger body accommodated bigger buttons, easing operation in brisk conditions. The S100’s screen won’t disappoint but feels from a previous generation, an important caveat for those who scout scenes carefully via live view.

Autofocus and Performance: Fast and Focused?

Fast and accurate autofocus is essential across many photography types - whether you’re freezing athletes midair or stealthily capturing street scenes.

The S100 employs 9 contrast-detection autofocus points with face detection but lacks continuous autofocus or phase detection systems (common in DSLRs/mirrorless). This means it relies on contrast contrast to hunt focus, which is slower but, in good light, reasonably reliable. The camera supports single AF, continuous AF for limited tracking, and live view AF modes.

By contrast, the SX720 HS also sports 9 AF points, has face detection, and crucially adds continuous autofocus for better tracking of moving subjects. While still contrast-based, its DIGIC 6 processor (newer generation than S100’s DIGIC 5) improves AF speed and accuracy.

In real-world testing - say, shooting casual sports or wildlife - the SX720 HS snaps autofocus faster and tracks subjects more effectively. The S100 lags behind here, making it better suited for stationary subjects like portraits or landscapes.

Continuous shooting speeds echo this divide: the S100 manages just 2 fps, convenient for modest burst shots but rarely enough for fast action. The SX720 HS captures at almost 6 fps, doubling potential image capture in dynamic scenes.

Optical Versatility: Zoom and Aperture Ranges

Lens specifications often reveal the camera’s intended photographic ambitions. The S100 sports a moderate 5x zoom, ranging from 24-120mm equivalent, opening wide at f/2.0 on the wide end - a definite boon in low light and for shallow depth-of-field effects.

The SX720 HS shifts the paradigm with an eye-popping 40x zoom, stretching from the same 24mm wide but reaching a mammoth 960mm telephoto equivalent. This offers incredible reach for distant wildlife or travel landmarks. However, this immense zoom comes at a cost - the maximum aperture narrows from f/3.3 at wide to f/6.9 at full telephoto, demanding more ambient light or higher ISO and risking noticeable diffraction softening.

In macro focus capabilities, the SX720 HS reaches in closer (1 cm minimum focus compared to 3 cm for the S100), making it better suited for intricate close-ups.

Throughout my field experiments, the S100’s brighter lens and wider maximum aperture at 24mm enabled more creative control over depth of field, especially useful for portraits with creamy bokeh. The SX720’s telephoto reach was a game changer for birdwatching and distant street photography but less adept in dim environments or when attempting subject isolation with background blur.

Image Stabilization and Low-Light Shooting: Keeping Shots Sharp

Optical image stabilization is a critical feature for hand-held photography at telephoto lengths - a shaky hand can ruin an otherwise perfect frame.

Both models feature optical stabilization. However, the SX720 HS’s stabilization is vital for its extreme zoom ranges, significantly reducing motion blur during long-reach shots where even minor movement magnifies image shake.

The S100's stabilization gear complements its bright lens, enabling sharp images down to 1/10 or slower shutter speeds in normal conditions. Yet, at longer shutter speeds or very low light, it isn’t a miracle worker. The SX720 HS’s stabilization isn’t a magic bullet either, but it compensates for weaker apertures and greater zoom by steadying the frame better to maximize sharpness.

For night and astrophotography fans, however, neither camera fits the bill perfectly. The S100’s bigger sensor provides better low light performance, but limited ISO headroom (max native ISO 6400) and noise management restrict usability. The SX720 HS’s smaller sensor and narrower apertures make it even less suitable beyond casual night scenes.

Video Capabilities: Moving Pictures Matter

Video functionality has become a baseline expectation, and these cameras provide options but again reveal their lineage and target audiences.

The S100 records full HD 1080p video at 24 fps with H.264 codec, plus slower frame rate options down to 240 fps at low resolution for limited slow-motion. Its video controls are basic, with no external mic port, making high-end audio capture challenging. Notably, its processor supports decent compression and color processing, yielding acceptable video quality for web and casual use.

Conversely, the SX720 HS shoots 1080p video at 60 fps, smoother for action and panning shots, albeit also without external microphone options. MPEG-4 and H.264 codecs are available, and the higher frame rate enhances natural motion portrayal.

Neither camera offers 4K or advanced video features like log profiles, but for YouTube uploads, travel vlogs, or family videos, the SX720 HS slightly pulls ahead due to its higher frame rate and stabilization.

Battery Life and Connectivity: How Long and How Smart?

Both cameras rely on proprietary battery packs - NB-5L for the S100 and NB-13L for the SX720 HS.

The S100’s rated battery life is around 200 shots per charge, while the SX720 HS extends this to about 250 shots - modest by current standards but respectable for their form factors. I found the SX720’s extra juice beneficial on longer travels with fewer charging stops.

Connectivity-wise, the S100 includes built-in GPS - a feature notably absent from the SX720 HS - but its wireless sharing is limited, reliant on Eye-Fi card compatibility, which is now somewhat outdated technology.

The SX720 HS features built-in Wi-Fi with NFC for quick pairing and image transfer, reflecting newer trends in integrated wireless sharing. Neither support Bluetooth, and HDMI ports on both models allow for direct playback on external displays.

For modern workflows demanding instant social media uploads or cloud backup, the SX720 HS’s wireless capabilities offer a slight edge.

Building Toughness and Weather Resistance

Neither camera offers environmental sealing, waterproofing, dustproofing, or shock resistance, indicating their positioning as casual or enthusiast compacts rather than professional rugged companions.

Keep this in mind if you shoot outdoors frequently or in adverse conditions - consider proper housing or alternative rugged models.

Summing Up the Scores and Genre Performance

Before I wrap up with tailored recommendations, let’s glance at their objective and genre-specific performance.

Canon S100 front Canon S100 screen back Canon SX720 HS front Canon SX720 HS screen back

Sample image galleries reveal the S100’s strength in vibrant colors, balanced contrast, and decent bokeh at wider apertures - ideal for portraits and street shots under daylight.

The SX720 HS’s images capture distant subjects impressively but appear softer and noisier when zoomed beyond 300mm or in low light.

Performance ratings place the S100 solidly for image quality, color depth, and dynamic range, whereas the SX720 HS shines in zoom range and autofocus speed but lags behind in noise and stabilization quality.

Breaking down genre performance:

• Portraits: S100 excels with wider f/2.0 lens and better skin tone rendering.
• Landscape: S100’s higher dynamic range and sensor detail dominate.
• Wildlife: SX720 HS delivers with its long zoom and fast autofocus.
• Sports: SX720 HS’s faster burst rate and AF tracking pull ahead.
• Street: S100’s smaller size and discreet appearance make it favorable.
• Macro: SX720 HS’s closer focusing distance wins.
• Night/Astro: Neither ideal but S100 fares marginally better.
• Video: SX720 HS’s 60p recording is preferable.
• Travel: SX720 HS offers versatility; S100 benefits those favoring compactness.
• Professional Work: S100’s RAW support and better image quality appeal more.

Who Should Buy the Canon PowerShot S100?

If you prioritize image quality over zoom length, want a compact that fits effortlessly into daily carry, and appreciate manual controls for exposures and white balance, the S100 is your camera. Its relatively bright lens (f/2.0), larger sensor, and RAW shooting capability offer flexibility that makes it my pick for:

• Street photographers valuing discreetness and image fidelity
• Portrait enthusiasts craving natural skin tones and bokeh
• Landscape shooters wanting dynamic range in compact form
• Beginners seeking manual mode learning tools in a small package

That said, its modest zoom range and slow burst rate mean it’s less suited for sports or wildlife photography.

Who Should Lean Toward the Canon PowerShot SX720 HS?

If your priority is optical reach and capturing distant subjects without the bulk of DSLRs or mirrorless zoom lenses - travelers, wildlife observers, or casual sports shooters will appreciate the SX720 HS.

Despite its smaller sensor and narrower aperture, the 40x zoom lens combined with faster autofocus and burst speeds make it a versatile “all-rounder” for occasions where you need to be prepared for anything - from scenic vistas to far-off action scenes.

Its improved battery life and built-in Wi-Fi simplify on-the-go sharing too.

However, if ultimate image quality, low-light prowess, or professional-grade controls matter most, look elsewhere - or consider this a reliable secondary camera.

Closing Thoughts: Balancing Practicality and Passion

After extensive hands-on use, it’s clear these two Canons embody different philosophies, reflected in a fascinating intersection of specs and real-world performance. The PowerShot S100 remains a compact classic punching above its weight in quality and creative flexibility. The SX720 HS embraces zoom power and convenience, sacrificing some image quality and manual finesse.

If forced to choose for my personal use, it would depend heavily on my primary photographic goals and shooting scenarios that day.

Above all, neither is perfect - but both are capable tools worthy of consideration for photographers balancing size, budget, and photographic priorities.

And if what you really want is a compact that can do it all? Well, the camera world keeps evolving. But understanding these trade-offs firsthand is the first step toward an informed, satisfying choice.

Happy shooting!