Now for the details.
Appearance and processing
The PowerShot S100 comes in an unspectacular, compact box. One finds the usual accessories: battery, charger, strap, Kurzanteilung, USB cable, software.
The case of the S100 is pleasantly compact and makes a valued, stable impression. The camera looks a bit nobler than the product photos at Amazon in hand. In contrast to the well most recent competition, the Coolpix P7100 from Nikon (which follows a slightly different approach), it acts externally very tidy, almost like the trimmed on automatic cameras the IXUS line. The difference in size of P7100 is enormous - the latter has more than twice the volume and acts in direct comparison clunky, while the S100 is quite compatible shirt pocket. Since both are at a similar price level, I take the liberty, among others a comparison of image quality. More on that later.
The controls of the S100 bring a few surprises. They are the price range of the instrument properly, that is very well made and work flawlessly. Compared to the predecessor model S95, the position of the elements is largely unchanged (there is a button less), but some design details as well as the assignment have been changed. Very useful, I find that there is now also has its own video trigger to switch to video recordings not only in the Video mode to.
My first digital camera (in 2002) was a Canon IXUS V2. In design, size, feel (and price) reminds me the S100 significantly to the old fellow. Even today it is still the case that take place in the area fine image quality, the progress is slower than in the affordable entry-snapping. After all, the major manufacturers have (re) discovered that there is a market for compact cameras that are trimmed to image quality.
Operation and function
Anyone who has previously had successful contact with PowerShot cameras, will quickly come to grips even with the S100. The operating concept I find quite catchy. Even if in the end is a matter of taste - more obstacles it would not give for inputs and transfer passengers.
The camera is fixed on awakening - after about one second, the Live View image is displayed. After another second, you can shoot the first image (if focusing succeed so quickly).
The operation, as zooming the display of images or navigating through the menus, goes total pleasantly fast.
The dial on the lens I find very handy and also its preset in the Program AE function (ISO setting) is selected carefully. I abwäge the lighting conditions in almost every shot, it suits me very happy to adjust the sensitivity with the rotary wheel with one hand and large directly.
The display is indeed high contrast, bright enough, no glare and sufficient for the assessment of the live image and recordings. Its resolution is but by today's standards (and in terms of price of the device) not outstanding. Here, for example, the P7100 has the nose clear front. Really practical relevance but that is hardly.
The delay between the real scene and Live View image displayed, just like the shutter lag is very low. In (normal) series, the S100 shoots speedy 1.9 JPEG frames per second in RAW + JPEG recording still around one frame per second (here: with SanDisk SDHC Class 10). Although a Tempo mode for continuous shooting allows almost ten images in one second, but this works only for first, JPEG (albeit high quality), secondly a breather for Wegspeichern is after the short series first due.
Very good, I find that Canon consistently used standard mini USB ports, so you do not need proprietary cable. The USB port of my PC the S100 transmits ordinary 18MB per second.
Also the Battery Pack NB-5L is an old acquaintance, for which there is reliable and cheap replacement for third party providers. (Nikon does, in this respect with the P7100, which accepts only original batteries, just unpopular.)
Underwhelming is the battery capacity - a charge was enough for me for about 300 photos and several minutes of video. Slightly irritating I find that when the battery is low (after already got a warning), after power has been off for a few minutes a full battery appears. Here Canon should make improvements by firmware update.
The RAWs (CR2) of the S100 can only be read by the latest software. Canon's Digital Photo Professional comes only from the supplied version Version 3.11 (September 2011) handle it. For Photoshop Camera Raw plug-in is required in version 6.6 which can be installed only with the current program versions (CS5 or Elements 10).
Quality photos
The image quality in the whole is very good for such a compact camera. The S100 delivers clear, detailed images with natural looking colors and a superior for the camera class noise performance.
At ISO 80 the images look even without noise reduction from squeaky clean. Up to ISO 200 the noise is more like a fine granularity and disrupts virtually impossible. It was not until ISO 400, you need a noise reduction for a very clean image impression. For me it was surprising that the image impression to ISO 3200 remains quite get, that also this sensitivity is still usable. Note, however, that the S100 indicating the ISO numbers a bit too generous (I guess too high by about 25%). In contrast to the P7100, the nose, the S100 still noticeably forward.
The produced by lens aberrations such as chromatic aberration (color fringing on high contrast edges), vignetting (dark corners) and distortion (straight lines appear curved) are limited and may for the JPEG output both from the camera as well (from RAW) of the bundled software are eliminated. Most can still somewhat stronger distortion disturb the wide angle end. Noticeable edge blurring I can tell even at maximum aperture in any focal range.
The zoom should be used cautiously, because the intensity of the camera decreases with increasing focal length drastically. For recorded video clips in the not too bright spaces that regularly leads that zoomed scenes are darker because the exposure time between the individual form is no longer sufficient.
Otherwise, the camera exposed safe, even when using the automatic (and very fast) and departing flash. Even with typical problem situations as bright objects against a dark background, it is hardly to incorrect exposures.
The white balance is acting relatively sovereign, so you have rarely make improvements in RAW workflow.
Although the autofocus of the S100 does not trigger enthusiasm, so it is not record-breaking fast or fail, but sufficient for most situations.
JPEGs are oversharpened of the S100 something quite high and compressed - they rarely occupy more than 3MB, more typical 2MB. RAW (CR2) occupy depending on the image content (and noise) is from 10 20MB.
Video recordings
Videos from the S100 act considering their nominal resolution somewhat coarse and especially restless. Under good lighting conditions recorded 720p video from my two year old Canon SX200 see in similar footprint better than those from the S100. Here I was expecting more. Recordings in 1080p act so choppy that despite higher resolution arises no real joy.
The recorded in PCM stereo sound is clear and precise, but accompanied in quiet environments with a low-frequency noise and hum. Zoom sound of the lens can be heard on the recordings (softly).
The PowerShot S100 is thus rather nothing for video enthusiasts.
(Specification Video: AVC 720p at 29.97 fps in typical 20 Mbps or 1080p AVC with 23,976 fps at typical 32 Mbps; Audio: Stereo PCM with 48 KHz, 1536 Kbps.)
Pixel errors
My copy has a defective pixel on the sensor. Even in the low resolution of the live image is always white luminous point, relatively central, visible under most lighting conditions. There seems to be affected more than one pixel. While the failure was rare photos strikes and is also easy to correct in doubt, it interferes on video recordings of dark scenes considerably. (Since I have no way to replace the camera, I'll probably send it even for a repair attempt.)
Compared to the Nikon P7100
If you want to choose between the two current precious compacts from Nikon and Canon, the cards in my view, are mixed as follows:
P7100: More Controls for direct feature access, better display (also foldable), greater light intensity at the telephoto end, slightly larger zoom range, artificial horizon, optical viewfinder, hot shoe, "more professional" appearance.
S100: Very much smaller and lighter, more upbeat reactions, higher image quality (less noise at a somewhat higher resolution, better white balance), greater light intensity in the wide angle, GPS, more elegant appearance.
If compactness is particularly important for good image quality and you can do without a folding screen, one should wait for the availability of the S100.
Conclusion
The PowerShot S100 is a small piece of bundled elegant photography. It is pleasant to use and delivers a present probably unrivaled in the compact range photo quality.
Due to the somewhat disappointing image quality in video and probably not optimal quality control for Canon (gross pixel defect of my copy), however, I have to deduct a star.
For demanding users with low video ambitions, the S100, however, as a complement to a DSLR, very attractive. Therefore I give a corresponding buy recommendation and four stars ****.
