The Canon PowerShot S100 vs. Fujifilm X20: A Hands-On Comparison for Photography Enthusiasts

When it comes to compact cameras with serious chops, the Canon PowerShot S100 and the Fujifilm X20 have been favorites in their niche: small-sensor compacts packing powerful features into pocket-friendly bodies. Both were released within a couple of years of each other, targeting keen photographers who want more control and better image quality than a smartphone but don’t want lugging around a giant DSLR.

I’ve spent countless hours shooting with each camera, running them through real-world scenarios that cover almost every photography genre imaginable. In this in-depth comparison, we’ll dig under the hood to see which camera holds up best where it matters most - from portraits to landscapes, wildlife to night shots - so you can make an informed decision.

Let’s get straight to it.

Size and Handling: Compactness Meets Comfort

At first glance, both cameras look fairly portable - after all, they both fall into the "compact" category - but don’t assume they feel the same in your hands. Handling and ergonomics often get overlooked, but anyone who’s spent a dawn-to-dusk shoot trying to cram a camera into their bag or wrestle with fiddly controls knows size and layout make a huge difference.

The Canon S100 reads as the ultra-compact champ: its body measures just 99 x 60 x 28 mm and weighs a feather-light 198 grams (including battery). This makes it a breeze to slip into pockets or small purses. For the cheapskate or minimalist traveller who wants no-hassle carry, this is a big win.

The Fujifilm X20, on the other hand, is noticeably chunkier at 117 x 70 x 57 mm and 353 grams. That extra heft comes with a reassuring grip and clubs-for-thumbs-type cans of control dials you can actually feel and manipulate without fumbling. If you’re someone who prefers chunky cameras that don’t feel like toys, the X20 will feel more substantial and confident in hand.

In summary:

• Canon S100: Highly pocketable; better for ultra-light travel and street photography.
• Fujifilm X20: Bigger but more comfortable, especially for users who value tactile controls.

Build Quality and Control Layout: Designed for Real Shooters

Size isn’t everything - the feel of buttons, dials, and menus can make or break an experience.

Here, the Fuji X20 shows off its heritage as a camera built by photographers for photographers. It features a traditional layout with a mode dial, exposure compensation dial, shutter speed dial, and aperture ring on the lens - a treat for anyone who likes manual control without digging through digital menus. The control-click resistance is just right, and the precision afforded makes it a joy to shoot quickly.

The Canon S100 is more streamlined and minimalist, with fewer physical controls making it arguably easier for beginners or casual shooters to jump in. However, if you’re accustomed to fiddling with settings on the fly, you might find yourself repeatedly diving into menus to adjust exposure or white balance settings. The S100’s reliance on menus can frustrate those used to tactile dials - but it’s a fair tradeoff for its compact size.

Neither packs environmental sealing, so weatherproofing pros will want to look elsewhere or be cautious in adverse conditions.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: Where Standoff Begins

The true heart of any camera is its sensor, and here we see the biggest technical differences.

• Canon S100: Uses a 1/1.7" CMOS sensor measuring 7.44 x 5.58 mm with a sensor area of ~41.5 mm², total resolution 12 MP.
• Fujifilm X20: Employs a larger 2/3" CMOS X-Trans II sensor measuring 8.8 x 6.6 mm, sensor area ~58.1 mm², also 12 MP.

That Fuji sensor is nearly 40% larger in surface area than the Canon, offering it a natural advantage in light-gathering capability and image quality. The X-Trans sensor design also eschews a traditional optical low-pass filter (antialiasing filter), which helps capture slightly sharper images with better fine detail.

Color depth and dynamic range (even if exact DxOmark scores for Fuji’s sensor haven’t been published, experience and tests confirm) tend to favor Fuji in nuanced tones and highlights - important for portrait and landscape shooters craving fidelity.

Canon’s sensor benefits from the efficient DIGIC 5 processor, offering respectable color depth (20.7 bits) and dynamic range (~11.6 EV at base ISO), but it can’t quite match the Fuji’s low noise and higher ISO usability.

For practical use:

• Canon S100: Great for daylight shooting and casual use; image quality tops out at ISO 6400 but noisy beyond ISO 400–800.
• Fujifilm X20: Handles ISO ranges up to 12800 with cleaner results; better suited to low-light, night, and astro-photography gigs.

Autofocus Systems: Speed and Accuracy in the Field

Having tested both cameras extensively, autofocus behavior reveals clear differences that impact usability, especially in fast-paced situations like wildlife or sports.

The Canon S100 uses a contrast-detection AF system with 9 focus points and face detection capabilities, but no phase detection. It tends to hunt in low light, and its continuous AF mode is nonexistent - so tracking moving subjects can frustrate.

The Fuji X20 ups the game with a hybrid autofocus system combining contrast detection with phasedetection AF, delivering faster and more reliable focusing, especially for moving subjects. It supports continuous AF and face detection (though Fuji’s face detection lags slightly behind Canon’s in accuracy). While it doesn't feature animal eye AF, it can track human faces decently.

For photography disciplines demanding focus speed like wildlife or sports:

• Canon S100: Adequate for casual street and landscape shots, but not a natural fit for action.
• Fuji X20: Better bet, able to nail focus and keep up with moderate subject movement.

Viewfinders and LCD Screens: Composition and Review Experience

If you’re used to shooting with an EVF or optical finder, the choice here matters.

The Canon S100 eschews any viewfinder, relying solely on the 3” fixed LCD screen with 461k dots resolution. It’s sharp and bright enough for outdoors but without touchscreen or articulated movement.

The Fuji X20 features a rare-for-compacts optical tunnel viewfinder with roughly 85% coverage, giving you a direct viewing experience and compensation for situations where LCD use is impractical - say, bright sun.

The Fuji’s screen is 2.8” with nearly identical resolution (~460k dots). Both screens are fixed and do not support touch input or articulation.

Preference:

• Canon S100: Larger rear screen; ideal if you’re accustomed to composing via LCD.
• Fujifilm X20: Optical viewfinder adds compositional flexibility; smaller screen but still effective.

Lens Characteristics: Reach and Aperture Versatility

Both cameras have fixed lenses with moderate zoom ranges:

• Canon S100: 24-120mm (5x zoom equivalent), aperture f/2.0-5.9.
• Fuji X20: 28-112mm (4x zoom equivalent), aperture f/2.0-2.8.

While the Canon’s wider wider-angle 24mm start is advantageous for landscapes and interiors, its maximum aperture drops sharply after the wide end, making low-light telephoto shots challenging.

Fuji’s lens offers consistently brighter aperture across the range (f/2.0 wide, f/2.8 telephoto), letting in more light especially at the long end. Combined with the better sensor, this translates to better performance in dim conditions (indoor, night, or wildlife with zoom).

Both offer decent macro ranges, but:

• Canon has a minimum focus distance of 3cm.
• Fuji edges it with just 1cm minimum – better for macro photographers seeking fine detail.

Shooting Performance: Burst Rates and Shutter Speeds

Details in shooting speed are where Fuji shines.

• Canon S100: Max shutter speed up to 1/2000s, continuous shooting at 2 fps.
• Fuji X20: Max shutter speed up to 1/4000s, continuous shooting up to a blazing 12 fps.

If you’re into sports or wildlife photography, the Fuji’s ability to capture fast-moving subjects through a high burst rate and faster shutter is invaluable, whereas the Canon might leave you frustrated.

Video Recording Capabilities: Not Just Still Cameras

Both cameras offer Full HD video recording:

• Canon: 1080p at 24fps (H.264, Motion JPEG).
• Fuji: 1080p at 60fps (H.264).

The higher frame rate on the Fuji offers smoother motion - better for slow-motion or capturing fast action. However, neither has external mic or headphone ports, limiting professional audio capture options.

Neither supports 4K or advanced video features like log profiles; thus, their video use is best suited for casual clips or content creators needing decent yet simple video.

Battery Life and Connectivity: Staying Powered and Connected

Battery life:

• Canon S100: 200 shots per charge.
• Fuji X20: 270 shots per charge.

Neither sets the world on fire, but Fuji has a clear advantage in endurance - useful for longer shoots or travel days without frequent recharging.

Wireless connectivity:

• S100: Supports Eye-Fi card for wireless image transfer.
• Fuji X20: No connectivity features.

Neither has Bluetooth or Wi-Fi (naturally for their eras), so modern instant sharing isn’t their strong suit.

Real-World Performance: Sample Images and Use Cases

Seeing is believing, so here’s an actual comparison of images shot in similar conditions with both cameras:

Canon S100 front Canon S100 screen back Fujifilm X20 front Fujifilm X20 screen back

You’ll notice:

• The Fuji X20 offers crisper details, better color rendition, and superior dynamic range.
• Canon’s photos are clean and sharp under good light but soften at high ISO and underexposed conditions.

Strengths and Weaknesses: Summing It Up

Matching Cameras to Photography Types: Where Do They Shine?

To help you decide, let’s consider each camera’s strength across photography genres:

Portraits

• Fuji X20 takes this with better skin tone rendition (thanks to X-Trans sensor) and fast aperture telephoto. Lacks face detection but manual dials allow full creative control.
• Canon S100 offers face detection but limited by smaller sensor and slower tele AF.

Landscape

• Fuji’s larger sensor and slightly better dynamic range deliver richer landscapes.
• Canon’s wider 24mm lens is handy but limited dynamic range.

Wildlife

• Fuji’s fast autofocus and higher burst rates outmatch Canon’s slower AF and 2fps.

Sports

• Fuji clearly leads with 12fps burst and phase-detect AF.

Street Photography

• Canon’s compactness and stealth make it easy to carry unnoticed.
• Fuji’s bulkier body a bit more conspicuous but offers better handling.

Macro

• Fuji enables close 1cm macro shooting with dependable focus.
• Canon’s 3cm minimum distance and slower AF less ideal.

Night/Astro

• Fuji’s higher ISO range and cleaner noise performance put it ahead.

Video

• Fuji shoots at 1080p/60fps, better than Canon’s 24fps.

Travel

• Canon’s light weight and size make it a travel champ despite shorter battery life.

Professional Use

• Both bulk up respectable RAW support.
• Fuji’s manual controls and superior image quality make it more workflow-friendly.

Overall Scores and Value Assessment

When judging cameras from the perspective of price-to-performance ratio, consider the following:

Despite a higher initial price, the Fujifilm X20 punches above its weight in speed, image quality, and control, offering the kind of performance that serious enthusiasts will appreciate for a long time.

The Canon S100 is better for budget-conscious users or those who prioritize portability over ultimate image quality or speed.

Final Verdict: Which One is Right for You?

After extensive hands-on testing of both cameras under diverse conditions, here’s my bottom line:

• Go for the Canon PowerShot S100 if you want:

  • The lightest, smallest compact camera possible.
  • Easy-to-use, straightforward operation.
  • Decent image quality in daylight for travel and street photography.
  • Budget-friendly option for casual snapshots with some manual controls.

• Choose the Fujifilm X20 if you want:

  • Superior image quality aided by larger sensor and faster lens.
  • Quick and reliable autofocus, ideal for action, wildlife, and sports photography.
  • Manual controls that put you in charge, mimicking a classic shooter.
  • Better video specs and longer battery life.
  • A compact camera that handles like an enthusiast-level tool.

Both cameras stand as strong contenders in the small sensor compact segment, but their strengths cater to different photographic priorities and lifestyles.

If you’re a travel or street shooter obsessed with size and simplicity, the Canon S100 makes excellent sense. However, if image quality and responsive handling are paramount, particularly if you intend to shoot a wide range of subjects and lighting conditions, the Fujifilm X20 is worth the premium.

In the end, these aren’t just two similarly specced point-and-shoots - they represent two photographic philosophies distilled into glass and metal. Pick the one that fits your style, and you’ll have a reliable companion for years to come.

Happy shooting!