Canon S100 vs Sony NEX-5R: A Hands-On Camera Showdown for Enthusiasts and Pros

Choosing a camera is rarely straightforward - the market brims with models that can meet vastly different needs. Today, I’m diving deep into a fascinating comparison between two notable cameras from the early 2010s: the Canon PowerShot S100, a refined compact, and the Sony Alpha NEX-5R, an entry-level mirrorless camera. Though both are nearly contemporaries, their approaches to imaging differ profoundly. Having tested thousands of cameras over 15+ years, I’m bringing you an honest, exhaustive field report to help you decide which might fit your style, budget, and photographic aspirations best.

Before we dive into individual use cases and tech specs, let’s start at the core: these cameras are almost miles apart in design philosophy. The S100 targets photographers seeking a truly pocketable travel companion with manual control, whereas the NEX-5R aims at users who want interchangeable lenses and mirrorless agility without diving straight into pro-level complexities.

First Impressions and Ergonomics: How They Feel in Your Hands

Handling is where you often establish your long-term relationship with a camera.

Looking side-by-side, the Canon S100 is noticeably smaller and lighter at just 198 grams and 99 x 60 x 28 mm. Its ultra-compact body slips easily into a coat pocket or small bag, making it ideal for travel or street photography where discretion matters.

Contrast that with the Sony NEX-5R, which weighs about 276 grams and measures 111 x 59 x 39 mm - still compact, but you feel the added heft and grip surface immediately. Its rangefinder-style body invites a more deliberate two-handed grip. Ergonomically, I found the NEX-5R’s grip more secure over extended shooting sessions, especially with heavier lenses. The Canon’s smaller frame, while pocket-friendly, sacrifices some comfort and quick access to controls.

Speaking of controls...

The Canon S100 offers a classic point-and-shoot layout with pared-back buttons and dials, relying on its Digic 5 processor's computational magic for most image optimizations. Its manual exposure modes are present but less tactile than you might want for fast-paced shooting.

The Sony NEX-5R, on the other hand, sports a more complex top plate. It introduces a customizable control dial, dedicated movie buttons, and a mode dial common to mirrorless systems, providing a familiar playground for enthusiasts who want fast physical access to settings.

If quick, tactile control layout tops your priority list, especially for dynamic shooting, the NEX-5R’s interface is noticeably more ergonomic despite the S100’s charming compactness.

Sensor Technology and Image Quality: The Heart of the Matter

Let’s take a look at their sensors, as this is critical for image quality.

The Canon S100 features a 12MP 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor measuring 7.44 x 5.58 mm with an area of about 41.52 mm². The sensor’s relatively small size limits the light it captures, which restrains high ISO performance and dynamic range compared to larger sensor types.

Meanwhile, the Sony NEX-5R sports a 16MP APS-C sensor measuring 23.4 x 15.6 mm (365.04 mm² area) - nearly 9 times larger than the S100’s sensor area. This shift yields substantial advantages in low-light capability, dynamic range, and overall image fidelity.

This difference is reinforced by DxOMark scores: the S100 scores an overall 50, whereas the NEX-5R scores 78 - a significant jump.

• Color depth: Canon S100: 20.7 bits, Sony NEX-5R: 23.7 bits
• Dynamic range: S100: 11.6 EV, NEX-5R: 13.1 EV
• Low-light ISO: S100: 153, NEX-5R: 910

Real-world testing echoes these stats. At base ISO 80/100, both deliver sharp, detailed images suitable for large prints. Increase ISO beyond 800, and grain/mottle balloons on the S100, whereas the NEX-5R still produces clean, usable images - crucial for indoor and night photography.

Viewing and Interface: What You See Is What You Get

Having a responsive, bright screen improves framing and reviewing shots.

Both cameras offer a 3-inch LCD, but the Sony NEX-5R beats the Canon with a 920k-dot resolution and a tilt-up 180°, tilt-down 50° articulating touchscreen. This flexibility aids awkward-angle shooting, such as low macro or overhead street snaps, and lets you tap to focus - handy quickly setting focus points in the field.

In contrast, the Canon S100’s fixed 3-inch display comes in at just 461k dots and no touch capability. While still usable, it feels dated and less versatile given competing cameras from its era.

The lack of an electronic viewfinder on both limits compositional precision in outdoor bright light. But the NEX-5R offers the option of an external EVF attachment (albeit sold separately), improving visibility for traditionalists.

Autofocus: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking in Action

For many photographers - wildlife, sports, or street shooters in particular - the autofocus system can make or break the camera’s usability.

The Canon S100 uses contrast-detection AF with nine focus points and face detection. While contrast-detection offers precision, it is inherently slower and less reliable tracking moving subjects, particularly in low light. In everyday snapshots and travel, its AF is accurate but occasionally hunts.

The Sony NEX-5R, however, employs a hybrid AF system combining contrast-detection with phase-detection across 99 focus points. I observed significantly faster lock-on times and smoother continuous autofocus tracking of moving subjects, which makes it better suited for action photography and unpredictable environments.

Continuous burst rates also underscore this difference: the S100 can only manage 2fps, effectively limiting its use for rapid-fire capture, whereas the NEX-5R supports a robust 10fps burst mode at full resolution.

For capturing quick wildlife moments or the decisive sports shot, the NEX-5R's AF system is clearly the superior performer.

Lens Ecosystem and Creative Flexibility

A significant factor that distinguishes these two cameras is lens versatility.

The Canon PowerShot S100 has a 24-120mm equivalent fixed zoom lens with an f/2.0-5.9 aperture range. It’s sharp for a compact zoom but limited in creative scope beyond what its built-in optic offers. The bright f/2.0 at wide angle is excellent for low-light snaps and shallow depth of field, but beyond that, your focal range is locked in.

By contrast, the Sony NEX-5R uses the Sony E-mount with access to over 120 native lenses, plus countless adapted options from manual to modern autofocus optics. This lens mount flexibility lets you choose anything from ultrawide landscapes and macro setups to fast primes ideal for portraits or low-light work.

From my experience, the freedom to customize your glass around the NEX system turns this camera into a highly scalable creative platform - especially rewarding for enthusiasts ready to build a kit over time.

Real-World Photography Disciplines Tested

To give a fully rounded picture, I tested both cameras across multiple genres:

Portrait Photography

• Canon S100: The 24mm wide setting with f/2 aperture produces pleasant bokeh, though the smaller sensor’s depth of field control is inherently limited. Skin tones from the Digic 5 processor showed faithful color but lacked the tonal nuance that larger sensors provide. The nine-point AF with face detection worked decently indoors.
• Sony NEX-5R: With prime lenses available (I used a 50mm f/1.8 OSS), the NEX shines. The APS-C sensor and wide aperture enabled striking subject isolation and rich tonal gradations in skin textures. AF was quick and precise, though face detection was absent.

Landscape Photography

• Canon S100: Sharp optics and a good dynamic range for a small sensor ensure good image quality in daylight. Lens distortion correction is handled well in-camera. However, its limited weather sealing and smaller sensor restrict latitude in post-processing RAW files.
• Sony NEX-5R: The larger sensor captures more shadow and highlight detail (13.1 stops), ideal for HDR or sunrise shots. While no weather-sealing is present, pairing with weather-resistant lenses helps. The lens ecosystem again provides unparalleled versatility.

Wildlife and Sports

• Canon S100: Slow AF and 2fps shooting make it a struggle for fast action. The fixed lens zoom range can reach out moderately but lacks the reach or speed for demanding wildlife scenarios.
• Sony NEX-5R: The 10fps burst and responsive hybrid AF allow you to track running dogs, birds in flight, and sporting events more confidently. Combining with telephoto primes or zooms dramatically increases reach and precision.

Street and Travel Photography

• Canon S100: Pocketability and silent shutter modes tip the scale here. Minimal bulk helped capture candid moments discreetly.
• Sony NEX-5R: Bulky but manageable, tilting touch screen aids creative angles, yet it feels less slight and stealthy. The bigger battery life also supports extensive shooting days without interruption.

Macro and Night Photography

• Canon S100: The macro mode with 3cm minimum focus distance allows decent close-ups, aided by optical image stabilization reducing blur. Struggles in very low light due to sensor size.
• Sony NEX-5R: With specialized macro lenses and better high ISO performance (up to ISO 25600), the NEX produces cleaner night shots and starscapes, extending creative possibilities well beyond typical compact capabilities.

Video Capabilities

• The Canon S100 offers 1080p at 24fps and various slowdown modes but lacks microphone/video input ports or advanced stabilization.
• The Sony NEX-5R records Full HD at 60fps using AVCHD, providing smoother motion and more control - still no mic input but superior electronic stabilization with some lenses compensates during handheld shooting.

Durability, Battery Life, and Practical Features

Neither camera offers weather sealing or ruggedized build, which is expected at these price points and target applications.

Battery life comes down to approximately 200 shots per charge on the S100 and roughly 330 shots on the NEX-5R, reflecting the mirrorless’s larger power draw balanced by a bigger battery.

Connectivity-wise, Canon’s Eye-Fi support allows wireless transfer via compatible cards, while the Sony NEX-5R integrates built-in Wi-Fi with app support for remote control and image sharing - arguably the more seamless solution in the long run.

Storage uses ubiquitous SD/SDHC/SDXC cards on both, with the NEX also accommodating Sony’s proprietary Memory Stick formats.

Value Assessment and Pricing Considerations

At launch, the Canon S100 retailed for around $430, representing a solid value for a high-quality compact with manual controls and GPS. Its strength lies in being an all-in-one pocket camera that doesn’t demand extra investment.

The Sony NEX-5R, initially priced about $750 body-only, asks more but delivers a highly scalable system with interchangeable lens support, superior image quality, and faster, more sophisticated autofocus. The investment leans toward a platform approach that can grow with your skills and ambitions.

Summing It Up: Which Camera Fits Your Photography Life?

Canon S100 front Canon S100 screen back Sony NEX 5R front Sony NEX 5R screen back

To wrap up the comparison:

• Choose the Canon S100 if you prioritize:

  • Ultra-compact size and weight
  • Simplicity in operation with manual controls still available
  • Casual travel, street, and everyday snapshots in good light
  • A neat all-in-one package without the fuss of lenses or accessories

• Choose the Sony NEX-5R if you aim for:

  • Superior image quality through a large APS-C sensor
  • Creative flexibility with interchangeable lenses and advanced controls
  • Fast action shooting, wildlife, and sports photography
  • Videography with better frame rates and format options
  • A system that can grow with you and adapt over time

Whether you’re drawn by the Canon’s delightful pocketability or the Sony’s ambitious mirrorless pedigree, both cameras offer respectable performance in their niches. From my field tests and technical analysis, the Sony NEX-5R stands out as the better tool for enthusiasts ready to embrace a system camera, while the Canon S100 remains a worthy choice for those seeking a capable, compact companion for everyday moments.

Thanks for reading this deep dive. Feel free to ask any follow-up questions, and safe shooting!