Canon PowerShot S110 Review (best bet for enthusiast photographers)

Canon PowerShot S110 core specs:

• 12.1MP Resolution 1/1.7″ CMOS Sensor
• 24-120mm UA Lens (35mm Equivalent)
• 5x Optical Zoom, f/2.0-5.9 Aperture
• 3.0″ PureColor Touch Screen LCD Display
• HS SYSTEM Technology, High Speed AF
• DIGIC 5 Image Processor, Intelligent IS
• Full HD 1080p Video with Stereo Sound
• High-Speed Burst HQ, Manual Control Ring
• ISO 12800, Multi-Aspect Ratio RAW
• Smart AUTO, Movie Digest & Wi-Fi

Cameralab’s review of the PowerShot S110 (price & specs), successor of the highly popular PowerShot S100 (price & specs). Foremost: while the S100 had built-in GPS, the S110 comes with built-in WiFi connectivity, and no more GPS. I can’t say if Canon did this for commercial reasons or because of engineering issues. It is not a big issue since you can always geo-tag your pics by connecting to your smart-phone. The other big difference to its successor is the introduction of a touch-screen 3″ display, a welcome addition for all those who are used to smart-phones and similar devices. If the touch interface is as smart and well workingas on the Canon EOS M (price & specs) then Canon did it right. In the same way as on the EOS M, the touch-screen can be used for focusing and subsequent shutter release.

In the conclusion they write:

[…] the PowerShot S110 remains the smallest camera with advanced features like a bright lens, RAW files and manual controls, and the only one with a built-in motorised lens cap. The competition from Panasonic and Olympus meanwhile continues to travel in a different direction, offering brighter lenses, hotshoes and accessory ports, but in a less compact form factor with lens caps. Sony’s RX100 comes closest physically and packs in a bigger sensor too, but again lacks the motorised lens cover and some of the S110’s other features. While you may think having a manual lens cap isn’t a big deal, it does make a camera larger and delays the time to first shot; certanly when shooting with the S110 alongside any of the aforementioned rivals, it’s been noticeably quicker to action and that can mean the difference between capturing or missing a brief opportunity, and that’s worth taking into consideration.

[…] the PowerShot S110 remains the best bet for enthusiast photographers seeking the rare combination of advanced control in a truly compact connected camera. Had Canon made a better job of the connectivity features it would have been Highly Recommended, as it is the PowerShot S110 comes Recommended; if you value genuine take-anywhere portability over the bright lens, hot shoe and accessory optons of larger models it’s hard to beat.

Comprehensive review with sample pictures, noise comparison, and image quality tests.

Canon PowerShot S110 price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA Canon PowerShot S100 price check: B&H Photo, Adorama, Amazon USA, Amazon Canada, Canon Canada, Canon USA [via cameralabs]