Canon PowerShot S100 vs Samsung ST150F: A Hands-On Comparative Review for Enthusiasts

Choosing the right compact camera in today’s market can feel like navigating a maze - especially when options span different generations and brands with diverse feature sets. In this deep dive, I’ll be comparing two small-sensor compacts that target a similar enthusiast crowd: the Canon PowerShot S100, announced late 2011, and the Samsung ST150F, introduced roughly a year later in early 2013. They both promise portability paired with respectable imaging capabilities, but their approaches and strengths differ significantly.

With over 15 years of testing compact cameras, I’ll share my thorough experience putting these two through their paces across key photography genres, technical performance benchmarks, and practical use cases. I’ll also crack open the specs versus real-world usability to help you find the best fit for your style, budget, and shooting preferences.

Let me start by grounding this in the essentials:

Size and Ergonomics: Holding the Cameras in Your Hands

At a glance, both cameras are pocket-friendly, but the difference in physical dimensions and weight becomes apparent as soon as you hold them. The Canon S100 measures 99 x 60 x 28 mm and weighs 198 grams, while the Samsung ST150F is noticeably smaller and lighter, at 94 x 58 x 18 mm and only 114 grams. The slimmer profile and reduced weight of the Samsung make it more discreet and travel-friendly for ultra-light carry days.

Yet, smaller isn’t always better. The Canon’s slightly larger body translates into a more comfortable and secure grip, especially for users with medium to larger hands. Additionally, the Canon’s well-placed control buttons and dials facilitate quicker manual adjustments without fumbling - a definite advantage when hunting fleeting moments. Samsung’s buttons are somewhat simplified, with a tighter layout that's manageable but less tactile.

Looking at the top panels, the Canon S100 boasts dedicated dials for aperture and shutter priority modes and a physical mode dial. This is a boon for photographers who prioritize control and speed. The Samsung ST150F opts for a pared-down design, lacking dedicated manual exposure controls entirely, which limits creative flexibility out of the box.

My takeaway: If you value direct physical controls and a robust ergonomic feel, the Canon wins hands down. For casual snapshots where minimalism and portability take precedence, Samsung’s design could appeal.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

The Canon S100 sports a 1/1.7-inch 12 MP CMOS sensor measuring 7.44 x 5.58 mm (41.52 mm²), whereas the Samsung ST150F uses a smaller 1/2.3-inch 16 MP CCD sensor at 6.17 x 4.55 mm (28.07 mm²). Despite having fewer megapixels, the Canon’s larger sensor surface area allows for bigger photosites, which generally deliver better light-gathering capability, dynamic range, and noise control.

Here’s a visual aid to illustrate:

From my lab and field tests, the Canon's CMOS sensor, paired with the Digic 5 processor, produces cleaner images starting from ISO 80 up to around ISO 800. You can push it to 1600 or 3200 in a pinch, but that’s about the practical boundary before noise becomes noticeable. The Samsung’s CCD sensor fares reasonably well at base ISO but struggles past ISO 400, showing grain and reduced sharpness. This is expected from smaller sensor compacts, especially with CCDs known for higher noise levels at elevated ISOs.

Color rendering is another key strength for the Canon. Its 20.7 bits of color depth and 11.6 stops of dynamic range (DXOmark data) translate into rich, nuanced skin tones and balanced highlights/shadows. Samsung’s color depth and dynamic range have not been independently tested by DXOmark, but based on experience and image samples, colors look flatter, with less vibrancy and narrower exposure latitude.

Canon S100 front Canon S100 screen back Samsung ST150F front Samsung ST150F screen back

Look closely at the portrait skin tones and shadow details in this gallery. The Canon’s files offer more depth and subtlety.

Autofocus and Shooting Responsiveness: Catching the Moment

Autofocus is often the dividing line between a snapshot and a keeper photo, especially in fast-paced shooting genres. The Canon S100 features 9 contrast-detection AF points with face detection and tracking capabilities. In my tests, it was accurate and fairly quick in good light, though struggled marginally under dim conditions. Also, the S100 supports manual focus - a rarity in compacts of its era - giving you control for macro work or tricky lighting.

The Samsung ST150F uses contrast detection but lacks manual focus assistance. Its face detection works reasonably well in good conditions but misses focus more often in low-light or busy scenes. Unfortunately, Samsung’s continuous AF and burst shooting capabilities are limited or undocumented, reducing utility in action scenarios.

Regarding continuous shooting, the Canon manages around 2 frames per second (fps), modest but usable for casual moving subjects. Samsung’s fps mode isn’t clearly specified or enabled, indicating limited burst capability.

Lens and Zoom Versatility: Reach and Aperture Considerations

Both cameras have fixed zoom lenses with moderate ranges: Canon’s 24-120 mm (5x optical zoom) versus Samsung’s 25-125 mm (also 5x). Canon’s lens maintains a bright f/2.0 maximum aperture wide open, which is excellent for low-light and depth-of-field control on the short end, whereas Samsung starts at f/2.5 and closes to f/6.3 at the long end.

In real-world shooting, Canon’s brighter wide-angle end offers more flexibility for indoor and environmental portraits, allowing faster shutter speeds and smoother bokeh. Samsung’s narrower max aperture limits low-light and background separation capabilities, but the extra 5 mm on the tele end gives a slight edge for reach - though quality and sharpness taper off quickly past 100 mm.

Both lenses include optical stabilization: Canon’s IS is optical and quite effective; Samsung’s lacks any form of IS, imposing tighter shutter speed limits to avoid blur handheld.

Display, Viewing, and User Interface: What You See is What You Get

Neither camera has a viewfinder, so the rear LCD is pivotal for framing and menu navigation. The Canon S100’s fixed 3-inch screen with 461k-dot resolution delivers crisp, bright, and color-accurate viewing, which makes manual focusing and exposure adjustments more manageable. Samsung’s 3-inch screen offers only 230k dots and is a QVGA TFT LCD - noticeably dimmer and less sharp under sunlight.

You’ll appreciate Canon’s superior display when shooting on the street or outdoors, where glare can impact composition accuracy. Samsung’s lower-res LCD saves power but hampers usability in bright conditions.

User interface favors Canon’s thoughtful button layout and tactile feedback, which allows quicker access to manual modes bypassing clunky menus. Samsung’s simpler UI is less intimidating for total beginners but frustrating for advanced users accustomed to shortcuts and tactile controls.

Photography Genres: Which Camera Excels Where?

Understanding how each model handles specific photography disciplines sheds light on practical users scenarios.

Portraits: Canon’s larger sensor, RAW support, brighter aperture, and face-detection AF produce more natural skin tones and pleasant background blur. Samsung’s smaller sensor and slower lens aperture create flatter images with less subject separation.

Landscapes: The larger sensor and better dynamic range on the Canon combined with sharper optics deliver more detailed and vivid landscapes. Samsung can capture decent daylight scenes but lacks the tonal depth critical for professional or fine-art quality landscapes.

Wildlife & Sports: Neither camera targets high-speed action shooters, but Canon’s marginally faster AF and burst mode give it an edge for casual wildlife or sports, particularly in daylight. Samsung’s sluggish focus and limited frame rate impede ability to freeze rapid movement.

Street Photography: Samsung’s compact, lightweight form factor and discrete design fit street photography’s call for stealth and portability. Canon, while still pocketable, is more conspicuous but offers better image quality if you don’t mind the tradeoff.

Macro: Canon’s close focus down to 3 cm and manual focus are big pluses for macro aficionados. Samsung does not specify macro range and lacks manual focus, limiting close-up sharpness and artistic control.

Night/Astro: Canon’s higher ISO ceiling and cleaner noise profile make it more useful in low light or nightscapes. Samsung’s noise quickly degrades image quality past ISO 400–800, restricting practical nighttime use.

Video: Canon shoots full HD 1080p at 24 fps with both H.264 and MJPEG codecs, whereas Samsung maxes out at HD 720p 30 fps. Neither camera has microphone or headphone jacks, and stabilization helps Canon produce smoother handheld video. Canon’s video quality and codec options are clearly superior.

Travel: Samsung’s lighter, smaller body and built-in Wi-Fi suit travelers prioritizing compactness and wireless sharing. Canon’s GPS tagging is a bonus for geolocating shots in travel logs but adds to the bulk and battery drain.

Professional Work: Canon’s RAW file support, manual control, and superior image quality keep it a viable backup compact for pros needing a pocketable second camera. Samsung’s JPEG-only output and limited controls render it unsuitable for professional workflows.

Build Quality and Durability: Handling and Reliability

Neither model is weather sealed, but Canon’s solid body feels more robust, with metal accents reinforcing longevity. Samsung’s mostly plastic construction achieves lightness but at the cost of a less premium feel that could impact durability over time.

Both cameras include built-in flashes, but Canon gives you more flash control modes and a respectable 7-meter range, supporting fill-flash and creative lighting techniques better.

Battery, Storage, and Connectivity: Staying Powered and Connected

Canon uses the NB-5L battery, delivering approximately 200 shots per charge. That’s modest but typical for compacts of its period. Samsung’s battery life and battery model are unspecified, which is concerning, though its lower-res screen may extend endurance.

On memory, Canon supports full-size SD/SDHC/SDXC cards; Samsung requires microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC cards, which can add cost but allow for smaller storage cards.

Connectivity-wise, Samsung includes built-in Wi-Fi for sharing and Samsung’s Smart Camera App compatibility, enabling remote shooting and wireless transfer to smartphones. Canon relies on Eye-Fi card compatibility for wireless features and GPS tagging for location data but lacks native Wi-Fi.

HDMI output is present on Canon for direct display on TVs; Samsung omits this.

Pricing and Value: What Will Your Dollar Buy?

The Canon S100 launched at around $429, positioning it as a premium compact for the serious enthusiast. The Samsung ST150F arrives lower at ~$300, targeting casual users wanting smart features like Wi-Fi and an easy-to-use interface.

The extra investment for the Canon delivers tangible benefits in image quality, manual controls, lens speed, and video capabilities. Samsung compensates with portability and wireless ease but sacrifices the depth and quality photographers often seek.

Summary of Strengths and Weaknesses

More detailed analysis with test scores backs this up in imaging, handling, and connectivity categories.

Best Use Cases and Recommendations

If you’re a photography enthusiast craving a pocket camera that gives you creative freedom: The Canon PowerShot S100 is your reliable workhorse. Its balance of sensor quality, manual controls, and stabilization mean sharper pictures, better low-light drama, and versatility for portraits, macro, and travel. Professionals can trust its RAW files for post-processing workflow.

If portability, casual shooting, and wireless sharing are your priorities: The Samsung ST150F is a lightweight, easy-to-use companion. Its built-in Wi-Fi makes life easier for social media uploaders and those new to photography who want simplicity. Just temper expectations on creative control and image quality.

Final Thoughts: Which Compact Should You Choose?

Compact cameras continue to juggle the paradox of small size versus performance. Here, the Canon S100 leans heavily toward performance and manual control at a slight cost in size and price, while the Samsung ST150F emphasizes portability and connectivity with compromises in imaging and versatility.

If I were packing light for a street photography outing or snapping travel memories where size matters most and you want instant sharing, Samsung is a tempting pick. But for a compact that can double as a serious image-maker in diverse conditions - from portraits to landscapes and low light - I’d bet my money on Canon’s S100 any day.

Both cameras teach us a valuable lesson in compromise: strength in one domain often entails limitation in another. Whether your priority is high-quality images or easy shareability, picking the right tool depends on what matters most to your photographic journey.

Happy shooting - may your next camera be the perfect match for your creative vision and adventures!

If you want to delve deeper into my individual performance tests, I’ve uploaded detailed lab charts, sample galleries, and practical shooting videos comparing these cameras side-by-side. Feel free to reach out with questions or share your own experiences below.