Canon 12.1MP PowerShot S100 Review by CameraLabs With Rating 90/100

Full HD video is supported at 1920 x 1080 resolution at 24fps. The top ISO setting is now 6,400. On the back of the S100 is a 3-inch PureColour II G LCD screen for viewing back stills, video and composing shots. Finally, the S100 adds a built-in GPS receiver, to help you geocode your images as you take them. A map utility software is included with the camera to view the locations where images were captured. There's also an internal GPS logger to track the day's photographic route. The PowerShot S100 Digital camera is listed for retail at $429.99 and currently selling at around $409. Here's the summary of review by CameraLabs, giving the camera a rating of 90 out of 100:

"Canon's PowerShot S100 builds upon its predecessor to become one of the best pocket cameras for demanding enthusiasts. It keeps the full manual control, RAW files, bright f2.0 lens (at wide angle), detailed 3in screen and genuinely pocketable body, but broadens the zoom range to 5x, upgrades the movie mode to 1080p with zooming and continuous AF not to mention slow motion and miniature options, accelerates the continuous shooting and even manages to squeeze in a GPS to tag photos with your location and altitude. Unlike the minor changes between the earlier S90 and S95, the new benefits of the S100 all represent a significant upgrade to what was already one of the most compelling compacts for enthusiasts. Canon's also managed to address pretty much all the complaints I had with the S95, namely lack of 1080p video, slow continuous shooting, the inability to zoom or autofocus while filming, the locked single AF area, and the vertical streaking you'd see on saturated video. All now fixed on the S100. Many people have seen direct comparisons with the S95 and concluded the image quality of the older model is superior, but that's not the case. The S95 certainly delivers punchier-looking images with the default settings, but the resolution is essentially the same and the noise levels are actually slightly better on the S100 at high sensitivities. It's the processing that's more laid-back on the S100, and if you prefer the style of the S95's images, simply dial-up the contrast and sharpening a notch. The only real complaint I have regards the relatively modest battery life compared to the competition, which becomes even worse when you enable the GPS. But then Canon couldn't have realistically improved that without increasing the body size. Likewise the desire for the optically brighter lenses, hotshoes or accessory ports of the LX5 and XZ-1. All very nice, but not possible unless you want to make the camera bigger and heavier. 

And I wouldn't want Canon to make the body any bigger as size is what makes the S-series unique. Despite the improvements of the S100 over its predecessor, its key selling point remains the same: compact size. This is a camera which, unlike the LX5, XZ-1 and any of the ILCs out there, will squeeze into just about any pocket. There really isn't any time when the S100's left at home because it's a bit too big or inconvenient - it goes everywhere with you, regardless of your clothing or bag. This is a critical advantage of the S100 over the competition: it does enough to satisfy most enthusiasts while remaining very small. Indeed in today's market where DSLR sensors can be found in relatively compact ILCs, the PowerShot S100 still feels the most relevant in its peer group. It may not feature the bright lens, hotshoe and accessory options of the LX5 or XZ-1, but with genuinely pocketable dimensions, it offers a more portable proposition. In contrast the LX5 and XZ-1, while no giants, are just physically too close to ILCs for my personal liking. I know both these models pack broader and brighter zooms in a smaller package than any ILC, but the draw of a DSLR sensor in a body that's not much bigger is hard to resist. So like its predecessor, the S100 is all about size. If you want a pocket camera with loads of control and features, but prioritise ultimate portability over focal ratio and accessories, then the S100 is hard to beat. Last year the conclusion was the same for the S95, but with the numerous upgrades, the S100 has decisively leap-frogged the competition in all aspects which didn't involve compromising the dimensions. An easy model to Highly Recommend."

Do NOT buy this camera!!!, B. Hicks - May 13 2013
I purchased this camera in late Feb. I took it on vacation in April and it broke. It is the known issue of the lens jamming open. Even though my serial number is higher than the ones they say were affected, it still happened. I do NOT recommend buying the camera at all. Canon's customer service is terrible as well. I doubt I will ever buy another canon product. Wh...

This camera is poorly manufactured., Jason B. - May 10 2013
I had this camera for less than 6 months and have less than 500 images taken with it, most of which have been on a tripod and I carry it either on my belt in a LowePro bag or sometimes in my pocket. I have never dropped it, banged or knocked it against anything. I'm pretty poor and it was a huge investment for me to spend this much on a camera so I baby the thing. Thi...

GPS inaccurate, bobby redford - May 07 2013
took 29 pictures requiring GPS coordinates, only uploaded 17 when I got home. very disappointing as it was work related. use an iOS app instead, save your money,...

What an awewsome dive camera!!!, Bruce V Gray - May 05 2013
This camera exceeded the quality I was expecting for a camera priced at this amount. The dive was in 38 degree water and I filmed for a constant 23 minutes before the battery told me I needed to take a break. I took another 44 pics after shutting of the video and after the dive, I was able to preview all the video and pics on the same battery!!! I cannot complain about...