Canon Powershot
S100
 vs
Olympus
PEN E-P2

Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Canon Powershot S100 vs Olympus PEN E-P3

Canon Powershot S100

80

Reasons to buy the Canon Powershot S100

Aperture
 Wide aperture
f/2.0
Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 24fps
Wide angle
 Wide angle lens
24 mm
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
10 fps
Olympus PEN E-P2

35
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P2

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P2

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
56.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
21.5 bits
Sensor size
 Large sensor
Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm
Supports RAW
 Shoots RAW
Better editing
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light

differences

Advantages of the Canon S100
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 24fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video but at a lower frame rate
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
 Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 461k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 More than 2x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.6 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 10 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 Around 3.5x faster continuous shooting
Image stabilization Better image stabilization Lens vs Sensor shift
Help
 Less risk of blur
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Size Smaller 99x60x28 mm vs 121x70x36 mm
Help
 Around 50% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The S100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Lighter 198 g vs 355 g
Help
 More than 40% lighter
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO 12,800 ISO vs None
Help
 Allows taking photos in darker situations, often at the cost of additional noise in the image
Thickness Thinner 1.1" vs 1.4"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Canon Powershot S100 Learn more about
the Canon S100

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P2
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm vs 1/1.8" 7.5x5.5mm
Help
 Around 6x larger sensor
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
 Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Overall image quality Better image quality 56.0 vs 50.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 20.7 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.8 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 505 ISO vs 153 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-P2 has excellent image quality 1.7 f-stops higher ISO than the S100
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 15s
Help
 4x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Significantly faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 2x faster max shutter speed
Olympus PEN E-P2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon Powershot S100 Canon Powershot S100
80 vs 35
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-P2
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon Powershot S100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a pro digicam with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

advice

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similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Supports RAW RAW support Help
Better editing
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
S100:CMOS
PEN E-P2:NMOS
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus XZ-1

Olympus XZ-1

Pro digicam

$499 - $500
Screen resolution Has a slightly higher resolution screen
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor type Has a CCD-family sensor
Compare the XZ-1 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the XZ-1 vs the PEN E-P2
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$599
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Focus points Has significantly more focus points
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the PEN E-P2
Nikon 1 J1

Nikon 1 J1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
High-speed framerate Records even higher-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
True resolution Takes slightly lower resolution photos
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the 1 J1 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the 1 J1 vs the PEN E-P2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$469 body only
Touch screen Has a touch screen
3D Captures 3D images
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-P2
Fujifilm FinePix X100

Fujifilm FinePix X100

Boutique

$1,199
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Color depth Has slightly more color depth
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the Powershot S100
Compare the FinePix X100 vs the PEN E-P2

Canon Powershot S100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Wide angle Significantly worse wide angle
Compare the PowerShot S95 vs the Powershot S100
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$300 - $315
Focus points Many more focus points
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Supports 24p No 24p support
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the Coolpix P310 vs the Powershot S100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX5

Pro digicam

$325
Battery life Longer battery life
Macro focus Better macro capability
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Supports 24p No 24p support
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX5 vs the Powershot S100
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Canon PowerShot SX260 HS

Travel zoom

$299
Zoom Significantly more zoom
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Aperture Much narrower aperture
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the PowerShot SX260 HS vs the Powershot S100

Olympus PEN E-P2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
Built-in flash Built-in flash
Size Slightly larger
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-P2
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Lens availability Fewer lenses available
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$185 body only

$375 with 17mm lens
Lowest price Slightly cheaper
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
3D Takes 3D photos
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-P2

appearance

Canon Powershot S100 Olympus PEN E-P2
Canon Powershot S100 Olympus PEN E-P2
Canon Powershot S100 Olympus PEN E-P2

discussion

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