Canon PowerShot S95 vs Ricoh WG-70: A Decade Apart in Compact Camera Evolution

In the crowded realm of compact cameras, two models stand out for distinct reasons: the Canon PowerShot S95, a trailblazer from 2010 celebrated for bringing advanced control to compact photography; and the Ricoh WG-70, a rugged contender released a decade later, designed to survive and shoot in harsh environments. Comparing these two isn’t just about specs - it’s a fascinating look at how compact cameras have evolved to meet vastly different user needs.

Having tested thousands of cameras, I find these two represent opposite ends of the compact camera spectrum. The S95 is a classic “enthusiast” pocketable from Canon’s rich heritage, while the WG-70 caters to adventurers and those who prioritize durability with decent imaging. Let’s dive deep into how they shape up side by side.

First Impressions and Handling - Size, Build, and Ergonomics

Right off the bat, the physical design tells a story. The Canon S95 is compact and elegantly simple, measuring 100 x 58 x 30 mm, and weighing 195 grams. It exudes that classic Canon compact feel: solid but lightweight, with a comfortable grip considering its modest size. Controls are thoughtfully placed, even if minimalist by today’s standards.

The Ricoh WG-70 is slightly bulkier at 123 x 62 x 30 mm but nearly the same weight at 193 grams. This is no accident - the WG-70’s ruggedized body is built to withstand drops, dust, water immersion, and extreme cold. That level of environmental sealing adds heft and thickness, and you can feel it the moment you pick it up.

Unlike the S95’s refined buttons and dials designed for photographers who appreciate manual control, the WG-70 favors durability over finesse. Buttons are larger, tactile, and spaced out for underwater or gloved use. The handling reflects its purpose: rugged reliability, not pocket DSLR replacement.

Design Language Under the Hood - Control Layout and User Interface

Canon’s S95 sports a clean top-plate layout with a mode dial, shutter button with zoom rocker, and dedicated exposure compensation dial - a rare sight on compacts, signaling photographic seriousness. This usability feature alone sets it apart even ten years later.

Conversely, the WG-70’s top is straightforward - a shutter button surrounded by zoom controls and a mode dial devoid of manual exposure modes. This camera is about point-and-shoot simplicity, compounded by its lack of aperture or shutter priority modes.

Both lack viewfinders, employing LCD-only framing, but the S95's controls hint at a more traditional photographic workflow, while WG-70 aims for rugged ease-of-use. For photographers who like to tweak exposure on the fly, the S95 still feels more rewarding.

Sensor and Image Quality - The Core of Photographic Potential

Looking at sensor tech reveals the gulf between 2010 and 2020 compact cameras meant for different tasks:

• Canon PowerShot S95: Equipped with a 1/1.7" CCD sensor measuring 7.44x5.58mm (~41.5 mm²), it offers 10 MP resolution. Canon’s Digic 4 processor supports RAW capture and a native ISO range of 80–3200. The sensor’s larger physical area and classic CCD technology deliver respectable dynamic range (~11.3 EV) and color depth (20.4 bits), with low light performance capping around ISO 153 according to DxO Analyzer benchmarks. The fixed lens spans 28-105mm equivalent at a bright f/2.0 maximum aperture on the wide end.

• Ricoh WG-70: The WG-70 packs a smaller 1/2.3" BSI-CMOS sensor (~28 mm²) with 16 MP resolution. Its ISO tops out at 6400 (native ISO 125+), delivering sharper images in daylight, but as with many small-sensor BSI CMOS chips, dynamic range and color fidelity trade-offs emerge. Optical stabilization is not present; digital IS tries to compensate but can soften images. The lens is a 28-140mm f/3.5-5.5 equivalent, narrower aperture and longer telephoto reach but less light-gathering power.

From image quality testing, the S95’s larger sensor and faster lens retain advantages in low-light and depth of field control despite lower resolution. However, WG-70’s newer CMOS sensor boosts resolution and image processing for sharper daylight images but struggles more in noise control at higher ISO.

Display and Interface Usability

The S95 opts for a 3.0-inch 461k-pixel fixed LCD, whereas the WG-70 comes with a smaller 2.7-inch 230k-pixel screen. The higher resolution, larger Canon screen provides clearer previews, critical when manual focusing or evaluating exposures.

Neither camera has a touchscreen or articulating display - common for their classes and age. The WG-70's screen, designed for rugged environments, reduces resolution to minimize glare underwater but isn’t as crisp for compositional precision.

In practice, I found the S95’s display superior for framing and reviewing images. The WG-70’s screen feels “serviceable,” especially when diving or hiking, but definitely more utilitarian.

Autofocus and Shooting Performance

Both cameras use contrast-detection autofocus with 9 focus points but differ significantly in sophistication and speed.

• The S95’s AF system is relatively slow by today's standards with no continuous autofocus or tracking, but adequate for still subjects in well-lit conditions. It does not feature face detection or animal eye AF. The lack of burst shooting (1 fps max) limits its usefulness in action photography.

• The WG-70 improves with continuous and tracking AF modes alongside face detection, reflecting a sensor-driven autofocus evolution during the decade. It achieves faster focus lock and can sustain autofocus in burst modes. The camera can shoot Full HD video at 30fps and offers 720p at up to 120fps for slow motion.

For wildlife or sports use, neither camera is truly optimized, but the WG-70’s AF speed and video features deliver a distinct advantage if you value rugged recording and quicker focus.

Lens and Macro Performance

The S95 features a 28–105 mm equivalent zoom with a brilliant f/2.0 maximum aperture at 28mm, tapering to f/4.9 at telephoto. This allows tight control over depth of field and decent low-light shooting wide open. Minimum macro focus is about 5 cm.

The WG-70 offers a longer zoom (28–140 mm equivalent), but with a slower f/3.5–5.5 aperture and only digital stabilization. Where the WG-70 shines is in macro - its focusing can get down to an impressive 1 cm, ideal for close-up exploration of nature subjects underwater or outdoors. Combined with ruggedness, it is a tool tailored to macro enthusiasts who want durability over optical finesse.

Video Capabilities - From Basic Clips to Adventure Footage

The S95 captures 720p video at 24 fps with H.264 compression. It lacks a microphone port and cannot record in Full HD or higher frame rates. Video quality is good for its vintage but limited by sensor noise and codec constraints.

By contrast, the WG-70 offers Full HD recording at 30p and multiple 720p slow-motion modes (60p and 120p), as well as slightly more advanced audio via Linear PCM. Although there is no microphone/headphone jack, video shooters will appreciate the WG-70’s versatility for everyday and adventure filmmaking - boosted further by its waterproof and shockproof construction.

Durability and Weather Sealing - Taking the Cameras Into the Field

This is where the WG-70 stands apart spectacularly:

• Waterproof to 14 meters (46 feet)
• Shockproof from drops up to 1.6 meters
• Crushproof up to 100 kgf pressure
• Freezeproof down to -10°C
• Dustproof sealing

The Canon S95, by contrast, has no environmental sealing or rugged protection. It’s designed for everyday urban or travel photography but deserves careful handling in inclement weather.

For photographers who need a camera that won’t flinch underwater, on the ski slope, or in sandy deserts, the WG-70 is a winner. The S95 demands more gentle treatment - not surprising for a subcompact tuned for image quality instead of toughness.

Battery Life and Storage - Reliability on The Go

The WG-70 scores with a rated battery life of 300 shots per charge (specific battery model details are not listed but it uses a removable battery pack). It includes both internal storage and an SD card slot.

The S95 uses Canon’s NB-6L battery, no official CIPA rating available in our specs. Historically, the S95 delivers moderate usage duration, an acceptable tradeoff given its size and power consumption. It supports SD, SDHC, SDXC, MMC, and HC MMC+ cards, showing solid storage flexibility.

Overall, the WG-70 is more travel- and adventure-friendly out of the box, with longer run time and redundancy via internal memory.

Connectivity, Extras, and Usability Features

The S95 “Eye-Fi Connected” wireless compatibility was innovative in its time, enabling card-based WiFi photo transfer, though no Bluetooth or NFC. It has a USB 2.0 port and HDMI output for viewing images on HDTVs. No GPS.

The WG-70 adds wireless connectivity via WiFi for remote control and image transfer, though no Bluetooth or NFC either. It supports USB 2.0 and HDMI. The WG-70 includes time-lapse recording, slow-motion video modes, and a remote self-timer - handy for creative shooting on hikes or dives.

The S95 lacks such modern features but retains valuable manual modes like aperture and shutter priority, exposure compensation, custom white balance, and RAW support - features not present on the WG-70.

Sample Image Quality Showdown

Canon S95 front Canon S95 screen back Ricoh WG 70 front Ricoh WG 70 screen back

Subjectively testing real-world images across typical scenarios showcases clear trends:

• Portraits: S95’s wider aperture delivers better subject isolation and pleasing bokeh, despite lower resolution, with natural skin tones and less digital sharpening artifacts.

• Landscapes: WG-70’s higher-resolution sensor captures sharper details in good light, but dynamic range is more limited, leading to clipped highlights and shadows compared to S95’s more forgiving CCD.

• Macro: WG-70’s 1 cm focusing and ruggedness make it ideal for extreme close-ups outdoors without fearing damage. S95’s macro is decent but limited by minimum focusing distance and less rugged build.

• Low Light/Night: S95 demonstrates superior noise control and cleaner image production below ISO 800. WG-70’s higher ISO ceiling is tempting but results in pronounced noise and loss of detail.

Performance Benchmarks and Master Ratings

Using combined evaluations of sensor quality, AF, ergonomics, video, and durability, performance ratings rank the S95 higher in image quality and user control, while the WG-70 scores better for toughness and video versatility.

Genre-Specific Strengths and Weaknesses

Who Should Buy Which Camera?

The Canon PowerShot S95 is for:

• Photographers who crave manual exposure control and RAW shooting in a compact form.
• Those who value image quality over ruggedness.
• Portrait, street, and low-light shooters focusing on older but capable tech.
• Users who enjoy a classic photographic workflow - dial and button lovers.

The Ricoh WG-70 suits:

• Adventure enthusiasts needing a rugged, waterproof camera for active use.
• Macro shooters who require close focusing and durability.
• Videographers wanting Full HD and slow-motion options in a tough shell.
• Casual users who prioritize convenience and reliability in challenging conditions.

Final Verdict - A Study in Compact Camera Specialization

The Canon PowerShot S95 remains a compact camera legend thanks to its blend of excellent image quality, manual control, and classic design. It’s an enthusiast’s tool from the dawn of the 2010s that still punches above its weight in imaging.

The Ricoh WG-70 takes an entirely different path - durability and versatility in harsh conditions, with respectable modern sensor tech but sacrifices image control and optical quality. It’s built to be carried everywhere, including places you’d never risk your precious S95.

Neither is perfect. The S95 demands careful handling and lacks modern video or rugged features; the WG-70 can’t match the S95 for image quality or manual control. However, they each excel brilliantly in their intended niches.

For photographers dabbling in compact cameras who want classic image quality and control, the Canon PowerShot S95 is still a worthy pick if you find one. If you need a “take anywhere” camera immune to weather and bumps for macro, travel, or adventure video, the Ricoh WG-70 is a thoughtful, affordable option.

I hope this detailed analysis gives you clarity on which model matches your photographic ambitions or lifestyle - after all, the best camera is the one that gets used enthusiastically where and how you need it most.