Choosing travel camera - Canon PowerShot S100

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ISO 200, 1/40 s, f/3.2 (click the photo to see bigger version)

I shot the photo above with my newly bought Canon S100 when shopping for a display shield in Verkkokauppa. I bought S100 in Rajala Pro Shop, not the black version in the photo but a silver one.

Compared to other enthusiast compacts like Canon G12, Olympus XZ-1 and Panasonic LX-5, Canon S95/S100 is significantly smaller, so the choice between them was clear. I wanted to have a camera that fits well in your pocket.

Compared to the older model Canon S95, Canon S100 has something new to offer: GPS, full HD and wider zoom. There is not much difference in photo quality, both cameras were rated very hign in Dpreview .com (S100/S95). S95 zoom is 28-105 mm and S100 zoom 24-120 mm.

S95 would have cost 270 euros, S100 cost 449 euros. The main reason I ended up choosing S100 was a 24 mm lens.

I considered mirrorless system cameras

ISO 80, 1/40 s, f/3.2

I reflected on system cameras because of their better picture quality, but at last decided that I don’t want to carry with me a big and heavy camera. The picture quality of S100 should be good enough in most situations.

If I had bought a system camera, it would have been Sony because Sony has proper focusing when shooting video. The model would have been NEX-5N (above right) or A55 (above left). A55 would have been on offer for 599 euros.

The smallest mirroless system cameras with fixed wide angle lenses – like above in the middle Sony NEX-C3 with 16 mm (24 mm kino) lens – fit in the biggest pockets, but a wide lens is not good as an all around (travel) lens.