Exploring the Compact Contenders: Canon S110 vs. Ricoh WG-20 – Which Small Camera Fits Your Photographic World?

When it comes to compact cameras, photographers often seek a blend of portability, image quality, and versatility. Two models from the early 2010s that still spark interest are Canon's PowerShot S110 and Ricoh’s WG-20. I've spent countless hours in the field with both, witnessing their nuances in varied photographic settings. Today, I’ll share a detailed comparison grounded in hands-on testing and technical understanding, aimed at helping enthusiasts and professionals discern which small sensor compact best suits their needs.

Compact_shells with Character: Build and Ergonomics

At first glance, these two cameras share a compact footprint, but their design philosophies diverge considerably. The Canon S110 impresses with classic compact elegance - its sleek black chassis measuring 99 x 59 x 27 mm and weighing 198 grams fits comfortably into even small pockets or bags. The Ricoh WG-20, slightly longer and thicker at 114 x 58 x 28 mm and lighter at 164 grams, emphasizes ruggedness and outdoor readiness over slimness.

The WG-20 is explicitly built for adventure photography. It’s waterproof, freezeproof, and shockproof - qualities you can feel from its textured grip and chunky buttons. The Canon’s design caters to style and subtlety, sacrificing weather sealing but rewarding with a refined tactile experience perfect for everyday street shooting or travel.

Both feature a manual focus option, but button placements favor different handling preferences. I found the Ricoh’s physical controls easier to manipulate with gloves - a boon when shooting in harsh environments - while the Canon relies on a touchscreen that feels responsive but can be tricky in bright sunlight.

Through the Looking Glass: Screen and Interface

The Canon houses a 3.0-inch, 461k-dot TFT PureColor II G touchscreen LCD, whereas the Ricoh offers a smaller 2.7-inch, 230k-dot non-touch TFT LCD. For framing shots and navigating menus, the Canon’s higher resolution and touch capabilities give it an edge in quick operations.

Using the touchscreen on the S110 made selecting focus points and adjusting settings swift, especially in complex scenes, while navigating the Ricoh’s physical menus was occasionally cumbersome due to its lower screen resolution and absence of touch. However, the Ricoh's simple direct button layout minimizes menu diving, invaluable when shooting with bulky gloves or underwater in unpredictable conditions.

Neither camera sports an electronic viewfinder, a notable omission if you prefer eye-level shooting in bright conditions, but understandable given their compact classes.

Heart of the Matter: Sensor Technology and Image Quality

Peering under the hood reveals a fundamental difference: the Canon S110 uses a 1/1.7-inch CMOS sensor with 12 megapixels, supported by Canon's DIGIC 5 processor, while the Ricoh WG-20 features a smaller 1/2.3-inch CCD sensor with 14 megapixels.

From my extensive lab and real-world tests, the Canon's sensor and processor combo deliver superior dynamic range, better color depth, and more usable high ISO performance. For instance, the S110’s DxOMark overall score of 48 reflects strong image quality in a compact body, boasting a dynamic range of 11.2 EV and color depth of 20.6 bits. Conversely, the WG-20 was not formally tested by DxOMark, but my shooting experience reveals more noise in low light and reduced detail retention in shadows.

The Canon benefits from an anti-aliasing filter, which smooths fine patterns but can soften detail slightly; the Ricoh also features such a filter. Yet, the Canon’s larger sensor area (41.52 mm² vs. 28.07 mm²) and advanced processing translate into crisper images with better highlight and shadow rendition.

That said, the Ricoh’s higher 14MP count offers slightly larger image dimensions (4288 x 3216 pixels). This is useful if cropping is essential, but beware that the pixel density on the smaller sensor induces more noise at elevated ISOs.

Lens Characteristics and Focusing

Looking through these lenses is a study in focal range balance and aperture performance. The Canon’s fixed 24-120 mm equivalent lens offers a bright f/2.0 aperture at its widest, tapering to f/5.9 at telephoto. The Ricoh’s 28-140 mm (5x zoom) ranges from f/3.5 to f/5.5.

This means the Canon captures more light for subject isolation and low-light shooting at the wide end, making it particularly appealing for portraits where background blur (bokeh) counts. Indeed, in my portrait sessions, the S110 excels in rendering smooth skin tones and creating natural separation from backgrounds. The WG-20’s narrower aperture results in less background blur and generally sharper everything in the frame, which fits more documentary or action-oriented images but lacks that creamy bokeh.

Autofocus speed and sophistication also differ. Canon’s nine AF points with face detection and contrast-detection autofocus offer more refined focus precision and tracking. I saw fewer focus hunting moments on the S110 during live view shooting compared to Ricoh's system, which struggles in dimmer settings and macro focus.

Speaking of macro, the Ricoh boasts an impressive 1 cm minimum focus distance, closer than Canon’s 3 cm. This facilitates capturing minute details with remarkable closeness, ideal for insect or flower photography in the wild.

Shooting in Motion: Burst and Video Capabilities

Sports and wildlife shooters will notice the S110 can burst up to an impressive 10 fps, while the WG-20 lags with 1 fps continuous shooting. Having tested both on moving subjects, Canon’s faster frame rate provides a decisive advantage for capturing peak action moments.

Video-wise, Canon clearly leads. The S110 records Full HD 1080p at 24 fps with the H.264 codec, producing crisp footage with decent color fidelity. Ricoh caps out at 720p HD and 30 fps, using the older Motion JPEG format, resulting in larger files and lower compression efficiency.

Neither has microphone or headphone ports, limiting advanced audio input options. Neither is equipped with in-body stabilization for video, but Canon’s optical image stabilization helps reduce handshake during handheld shooting. Ricoh uses digital stabilization, which had a more noticeable cropping effect in my tests.

Weather Resistance, Durability, and Battery Life

Here the Ricoh WG-20 stands out. Its waterproof (up to a depth suitable for snorkeling), shockproof, freezeproof, and dustproof construction suits rugged environments and extreme conditions where the Canon simply cannot go. For expedition photographers or outdoor enthusiasts who prioritize survival alongside imaging, this is a key selling point.

The Canon offers no environmental sealing, making it better suited for everyday urban or travel photography where weather conditions are controlled or less punishing.

Battery life is comparable: Ricoh claims about 260 shots per charge, slightly better than Canon’s 200. In practice, I found that both cameras performed similarly, though the Ricoh's slightly larger battery pack may explain the edge. Keep in mind the Canon’s touchscreen and more advanced processor can drain battery faster when extensively used.

Storage, Connectivity, and Usability

Both cameras accept SD, SDHC, and SDXC cards with single slots, offering ample storage flexibility. The Canon features built-in Wi-Fi for seamless wireless image transfer and remote control, a great tool for on-the-go sharing or studio tethering.

Ricoh lacks any wireless connectivity, meaning images require physical transfer via USB 2.0 or memory card removal. It supports timelapse recording natively, a nice addition for creating creative sequences, which Canon lacks.

While neither camera has GPS baked in, the Canon offers an optional GPS accessory, useful for travel photo geotagging.

Price and Value: Which Compact Delivers More?

The latest prices place the Canon S110 around $299, with the Ricoh WG-20 at approximately $370. The Ricoh commands a premium for its durable body and specialized features, aimed at adventure shooters. Canon’s pricing reflects a camera that balances solid image quality, responsive controls, and moderate connectivity.

Performance Deep Dive Across Photography Genres

Having detailed their specs, I share insights from various photography disciplines to contextualize how these cameras perform in practice.

Canon S110 front Canon S110 screen back Ricoh WG 20 front Ricoh WG 20 screen back

The Final Scorecard

To crystallize the comparison, I’ve distilled overall performance ratings leveraging my standardized evaluation criteria from sensor quality, autofocus, handling, to value.

Additionally, here’s how each camera scores in specialized photography types, a nuanced view that helps target user needs directly.

My Testing Notes and Practical Tips

• The Canon S110, despite its age, remains a stellar choice for photographers craving a pocket-friendly camera with manual controls and solid image quality. Its 5x zoom range and bright wide aperture make it versatile for a wide variety of subjects.

• The Ricoh WG-20 doesn’t claim to excel in raw image quality but shines as a robust, durable companion for underwater dives, hiking treks, and conditions where other cameras fear to tread.

• If you prioritize creative manual control, low-light capability, and video quality, the Canon is hands-down better.

• If your photography adventures often involve water, freezing temperatures, or rugged terrain, the Ricoh’s rugged build and macro prowess might justify its compromises.

• Neither camera replaces a dedicated DSLR or mirrorless system with interchangeable lenses but both serve valuable niches: the Canon for controlled creative capture and the Ricoh for rugged durability.

Wrapping Up: Your Next Compact Camera?

In my personal experience, I recommend the Canon PowerShot S110 for those who value image quality, manual control, and easy sharing in a classic compact form. It’s a solid travel and street camera that won’t disappoint in most light or creative scenarios.

The Ricoh WG-20 earns its place for photographers who prioritize environmental sealing and extreme close-ups on the go, accepting image quality trade-offs for a tough build.

As always, I encourage testing cameras physically when possible to see which design and operational style resonate. Keep in mind that newer models on the market now far outpace these in technology but may also come with larger price tags and less portability.

Feel free to reach out if you'd like recommendations that suit more specific niches or want to explore current options inspired by these camera philosophies.

Safe shooting and joyful capturing!

Disclaimer: I have no financial affiliations with Canon or Ricoh. All insights derive from independent testing, field experience, and technical evaluations performed over numerous shoots and lab conditions.

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