Canon PowerShot S100 vs Casio Exilim EX-ZR100: A Hands-On Comparison for Discerning Photographers

When it comes to compact cameras, the choices can be bewildering - especially in the early 2010s, when both Canon and Casio were pushing the envelope on small sensor compacts packing surprising capabilities. Today, I’ll walk you through the real-world performance and technical chops of two such contenders, the Canon PowerShot S100 and the Casio Exilim EX-ZR100.

You might be tempted to pick solely on price or brand loyalty, but as someone who has tested thousands of cameras over 15 years, I can tell you: the devil (and the delight) is in the details. So I’ve broken down their strengths and weaknesses not only by specs but by actual shooting scenarios. Whether you’re an enthusiast eyeing a pocketable backup, a budding pro wanting a travel-friendly snapshot tool, or a careful cheapskate hunting the best bang for your buck, this guide is for you.

Size, Feel & Ergonomics: What Fits in Your Hand and Your Pocket?

For travel and street shooters, pocketability can be decisive. The Canon S100 measures a neat 99 x 60 x 28 mm, while the Casio EX-ZR100 is slightly chunkier at 105 x 59 x 29 mm. The weight difference is negligible - Canon comes in at 198g, Casio at 204g.

While their footprints are similar, handling nuances matter. The Canon S100 has a subtly contoured body that feels refined in hand. Its control layout favors shooters who appreciate quick access to manual modes, including dedicated dials for aperture and shutter priority. The Casio, meanwhile, adopts a broader zoom lens and a more basic control set geared towards ease rather than speed. Its grip is less pronounced, making it feel somewhat less “club-worthy” for thumbs.

Looking from above, the Canon’s top plate exhibits a classic, minimalist aesthetic with logical button clustering, whereas the Casio shows a little more casual approach with fewer external controls.

Bottom line: If you value subtle ergonomics and quick manual adjustments for serious shooting, the Canon edges out here. For travel and casual snaps, the Casio’s size won’t be a hindrance, but it won’t thrill the manual shooter.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Both cameras pack roughly 12-megapixel CMOS sensors, but the Canon uses a 1/1.7" sized sensor (7.44 x 5.58 mm), while Casio opts for a slightly smaller 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor (6.17 x 4.55 mm). That difference in size - about 41.5 mm² for Canon vs 28 mm² for Casio - is significant in the physics of photography.

The bigger sensor on the Canon generally means better light-gathering capability, improved dynamic range, and lower noise at higher ISO settings. Canon’s DIGIC 5 processor breathes life into raw files, handles noise reduction smartly, and delivers an excellent overall DxO Mark score of 50, a solid figure for compacts of this era. Color depth clocks in at 20.7 bits, and dynamic range a healthy 11.6 EV.

Casio’s sensor and processing aren’t DxO tested, but anecdotal evidence and hands-on trials show its 12MP BSI-CMOS performs competently in daylight, though it struggles more as ISO climbs beyond 400–800. Casio capped ISO at 3200 compared to Canon’s 6400, signaling more conservative noise handling.

Lens and Zoom: Versatility vs Brightness

Here lies the biggest design tradeoff. The Canon S100 sports a 24-120mm (5x zoom equivalent) f/2.0-5.9 lens. That bright f/2.0 on the wide end is a boon for low-light portraits and shallow depth-of-field effects.

The Casio EX-ZR100 relentlessly pushes zoom reach, offering a 24-300mm (12.5x zoom) f/3.0-5.9 lens. This ultra-telephoto range delivers reach that appeals to casual wildlife and sports amateurs on a tight budget.

But here’s the kicker: The Casio’s lens is significantly slower at the wide end and longer focal lengths often lead to softer images on small sensors if the lens optics can’t keep up. Canon’s faster aperture allows better control over depth of field and smoother backgrounds - a boon for portraits and creative shots.

Practical take: Choose Canon if you prize image quality, bright lenses for low light, and control over bokeh. Pick Casio if telephoto reach for casual shooting dominates your checklist.

Autofocus and Shooting Speed: Catching the Decisive Moment

Neither camera offers cutting-edge AF systems by today’s standards, but performance differences still matter. The Canon S100 uses contrast detection autofocus with 9 AF points including face detection, which works reliably for stills though it’s not ideal for fast-moving subjects.

The Casio EX-ZR100 lacks face detection but boasts an astonishing continuous shooting speed of up to 40 fps at reduced resolution - notable for action or high-speed capture despite limited AF sophistication. It also tracks moving subjects adequately, thanks to some AF tracking capability, but again with no phase-detection AF.

In terms of buffer depth and burst stability, the Casio arguably has the edge for fast action hunters on a budget.

LCD and Viewfinder: Composing Your Shots

Both cameras lack electronic viewfinders, which can be a drawback in bright daylight. However, their rear LCDs offer usability that might mitigate this.

The Canon features a 3” fixed LCD with 461k dots. The color and viewing angle are acceptable but somewhat muted in direct sunlight.

Casio’s 3” “Super Clear TFT” LCD, also 461k dots, impresses with brighter output and better contrast, making outdoor composition a bit easier. Neither screen supports touch, but both offer live view.

Video Capabilities: Content Creation Beyond Stills

Video performance often gets overlooked in compact cameras but can be a game changer for multimedia content creators.

Canon’s S100 shoots full HD 1080p at 24 fps, plus 720p at 30 fps. Its compression uses H.264 and Motion JPEG codecs. The video quality is serviceable with decent detail but somewhat limited dynamic range and noise performance due to sensor size. Unfortunately, no external microphone input limits serious videographers.

Casio EX-ZR100 matches the Canon with 1080p at 30 fps and 720p at 30 fps. It lacks some codec versatility (H.264 only) but brings a quirky highlight with super-slow motion recording options: up to 1000 fps at very low resolutions, a creative tool perhaps for enthusiasts experimenting with action shots and playback effects.

Neither camera offers 4K recording or sophisticated video stabilization, but Casio’s sensor-shift stabilization may marginally benefit handheld footage.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Power on the Go

Canon’s S100 uses a rechargeable NB-5L battery rated for ~200 shots per charge. Casio’s battery life specs are not officially listed, but real-world usage suggests roughly similar endurance.

Both accept SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards in a single slot. Canon offers Eye-Fi card wireless support - a bonus if you want to offload images on the fly without cords. Casio offers no wireless connectivity.

Real-World Shooting Review: How Do They Perform Across Genres?

Let’s break down performance by photographic genres to match your needs with practical strengths.

Portrait Photography: Skin Tones and Eye Detection

Canon’s faster f/2.0 lens and dedicated face/eye detection autofocus deliver more flattering skin tones and pleasant bokeh. Its ability to focus as close as 3cm for macro portraits enhances creative flexibility.

Casio’s lack of face detection and slower f/3.0 lens require more manual skill for flattering portraits and yield less background separation. However, casual shooters won’t be disappointed if lighting is good.

Landscape Photography: Dynamic Range and Detail

Canon’s sensor size advantage translates to richer dynamic range (11.6 EV) and deeper color reproduction - valuable for dynamic natural scenes. The 24mm wide angle captures broad vistas nicely.

Casio’s longer zoom isn’t critical here but the smaller sensor leads to a narrower dynamic range and softer fine detail, limiting post-processing latitude.

Wildlife and Sports: Autofocus and Burst Rates

Here, the Casio EX-ZR100 truly shines with its jaw-dropping 40 fps burst, delivering many frames to pick from. Its 300mm equivalent zoom covers distant subjects, though image sharpness at full telephoto can soften.

Canon’s more modest burst of 2 fps and shorter zoom is less suited to fast-moving subjects but delivers better image quality for portraits or static wildlife shots.

Street Photography: Discretion and Speed

Canon’s compact size, quick autofocus, and better low-light capability make it the slightly better street shooter. The quieter operation and subtle control layout favor spontaneous moments.

Casio is bulkier and slower for focus but offers quirky slow-motion modes that could appeal to experimental street shooters.

Macro Photography: Close-Up Creativity

Canon’s 3 cm minimum focus distance and f/2.0 aperture allow sharp, well-exposed macro shots with delightful background blur.

Casio lacks official macro specs and focuses more conservatively at close range, making it less adept here.

Night and Astrophotography: High ISO and Exposure

Canon’s broader ISO range up to 6400 and superior noise control lend themselves to better night shots. Its manual exposure controls and shutter priority options enable long exposures needed for star photography.

Casio’s max ISO of 3200 is serviceable but noisier; the sensor-shift stabilization helps handheld shots but long exposures for stars are limited by noise.

Video Capabilities in Practice

Both cameras produce usable full HD video but lack advanced features like microphone input or in-body image stabilization for video. Casio’s slow-motion footage is a creative plus. Canon’s dual codec offering provides some flexibility in post-production.

Travel Photography: Versatility and Battery

Canon’s compactness, GPS tagging, and better low-light capabilities make it my pick for dedicated travel users.

Casio’s long zoom is helpful on the road to capture various scenes without switching lenses (which you can’t anyway with fixed lens compacts).

Professional Use: Reliability and Workflow

Canon S100 supports RAW shooting - a big plus for serious photographers post-processing work. Its DIGIC 5 processor ensures consistent file quality and noise control.

Casio doesn’t support RAW, locking you into JPEGs, limiting editing freedom.

Connectivity and Extras: Modern Conveniences

Canon’s support for Eye-Fi cards and built-in GPS stands out. Casio disappointingly offers no wireless or GPS features.

Build Quality and Weather Sealing

Neither camera is weather-sealed or ruggedized, so both require care outdoors.

Price-to-Performance Ratio

The Canon S100 is generally priced around $430 (new-old stock or used today), while Casio EX-ZR100 hovers near $300.

Considering the extra zoom reach, faster burst, and unique slow-motion in Casio, the price difference reflects features not image quality.

Summary of Strengths & Weaknesses

Canon PowerShot S100

Pros:

• Larger sensor for superior image quality and dynamic range
• Fast f/2.0 lens supports better low-light and shallow depth of field
• RAW shooting and GPS tagging
• Reliable contrast-detection AF with face detection
• Compact ergonomics and refined control layout

Cons:

• Limited zoom range (5x)
• Slow burst rate (2 fps)
• No touchscreen or EVF
• Modest battery life (~200 shots)

Casio Exilim EX-ZR100

Pros:

• Impressive 12.5x zoom range (24-300mm equivalent)
• Ultra-fast continuous shooting up to 40 fps (at reduced resolution)
• Super-clear bright rear LCD
• Sensor-shift stabilization helps handheld shots
• Creative slow-motion video modes

Cons:

• Smaller sensor and smaller max ISO, lower image quality in low light
• No RAW support
• No face detection autofocus
• No wireless connectivity or GPS
• Chunkier ergonomics and fewer manual controls

Canon S100 front Canon S100 screen back Casio EX ZR100 screen back

Looking at sample images, Canon’s pictures show better color fidelity and less noise at higher ISO, especially noticeable in dim conditions. Casio’s shots look sharper at telephoto lengths but more susceptible to noise and softer fine detail.

How They Score Across Different Photography Types

Canon scores higher in portraits, landscape, and night shooting; Casio stands out for sports burst and telephoto reach.

The overall scores reflect Canon’s image quality and usability strengths balanced against Casio’s exciting shooting speed and zoom reach.

Final Verdict: Who Should Buy Which?

If image quality, manual control, and versatility across genres rank highest on your priority list - and you want a compact companion that shoots great portraits, landscapes, and nighttime scenes - go for the Canon PowerShot S100. It’s a mature, well-rounded camera whose sensor and lens deliver results punching well above its class.

On the other hand, if you’re a budget-conscious buyer craving super-zoom capability and blazing burst speeds for casual wildlife or sports shots - potentially for fun slow-motion videos too - the Casio EX-ZR100 is an excellent value. Just temper expectations on low-light image quality and advanced controls.

A Photographer’s Parting Thoughts

Choosing between these two is a perfect example of the classic camera enthusiast’s dilemma: quality vs quantity, control vs convenience. The Canon S100 is a refined pocketable powerhouse that rewards those with a practiced eye and steady hands. The Casio EX-ZR100 gives you speed and zoom in spades, ideal for experimenting or travel where you want one camera to cover all bases.

For professionals or serious enthusiasts needing RAW files, finer image quality, and that elusive “club for the thumb” feel in a compact, Canon remains the clear winner. However, if the thought of a high-reaching zoom and staccato burst shots excite you more than perfectly rendered skin tones, Casio warrants a close look.

If you have further questions on usage scenarios or want to dive deeper into specific tests - low light shots, video detail, or zoom edge performance - drop a line below. I’m here to help you pick the perfect pocket shooter to unleash your creative vision.

Happy shooting!