Cameras have always been an interest of mine. When the digital camera became affordable, I was always one to go out and get the latest and greatest. It was a fascination of mine to shoot something, and be able to process it on the computer so quickly thereafter. I thought it was amazing how much I could experiment, learning how to shoot, and at the same time, do it for no more money than just the hardware itself. No longer were processing/development fees keeping my interest at an arms length.

I started out with I’m sure a point and shoot, some more “prosumer” models, and finally graduated to a DSLR. All the while, as they say, the best camera you have is the one you have on you. This brings me “full circle” so to say, back to a very compact device, but one that packs just a huge amount of power, the Canon S100.

I had become more and more reliant in the last 6 months or so on my iPhone 4S. The camera on that phone is like night and day compared to it’s predecessors, and as a result, I found myself carrying a camera less and less. Even on short trips, I would neglect to bring a true digital camera along, due to the inconvenience of the charger, cables, etc. It was just one more thing to carry with me, and I was using a Canon Powershot G10. While it’s no DSLR, it wasn’t exactly the camera that slides into your pocket without notice.

The S100 seems to bring back my fascination with true digital cameras. The form factor is tiny, but it certainly doesn’t skimp in features. While the G10 has a lot of dials conveniently located on the body, the S100 I think will serve my needs just fine. I found myself using the G10 mainly in Aperture (Av) mode. I used the exposure compensation dial, the adjustable aperture setting, and ISO to dial in the shots I wanted. The S100 has the familiar Av mode that I had become so accustomed to, but just served in a slightly different manner. The “control ring” on the front serves as my exposure compensation, while the small dial on the back of the camera serves as my aperture control. ISO is auto selected based on the conditions, and that just about takes care of my needs. Not too shabby for something that is noticeably smaller in my pocket.

The other reasons I chose the S100 were the faster lens, built in GPS, and 1080 video. At f2.0, the lens is definitely faster than that of the G10… Always a welcome addition, especially with my strong desires to shoot in low-light situations. The GPS is convenient to track photo locations, especially when travelling in foreign countries, while the 1080 video is just a welcome upgrade.

While it’s just been a short time that I have used this new toy, I am very excited to further explore its features and benefits. One thing I know for certain is that with every year, Canon seems to be doing wonders with it’s processing chips, allowing for shooting at higher ISOs with less grain… Always welcome in my book as I prefer to shoot without the help of a flash.

Purchase the Canon PowerShot S100