Canon Powershot S110
In an age when cellphone cameras offer as much capability as your standard compact digital camera, one has to question the motive behind purchasing the latter in the first place.
There are exceptions, of course, with complex DSLR options offering a different level of control, but often all you’re getting is heavy, bulky equipment that ends up being a lot of effort.
For photographers who are looking for something small, but with the advanced functionality of a DSLR, Canon’s new Powershot S110 is a great option.
Light enough to carry in a handbag or pants pocket, this advanced point-and-shoot offers reasonable flexibility (full manual control set-up) and excellent image quality. The S110 is a minor update of the S100. Added features include the smartphone-like touchscreen and integrated Wifi connectivity.
Unfortunately the camera’s f/2 aperture (controlled by a ring surrounding the lens) leaves it at the bottom of the list when considering the maximum range of its Samsung and Panasonic rivals. The lens itself offers a 5x zoom with a focal range of 24-140mm, as well as a 12.1 megapixel sensor that pushes the ISO to 12 800. It
can also shoot in both RAW and JPEG format, which is useful for manipulation before processing images.
The S110 is slim and light (weighing 198g), and it comes in black and white. It lacks the small grip-strip offered on its predecessor, which is missed.
The S110 is a handy alternative to both an SLR and a phone, but whether its features are enough to justify the price tag (between R3 500 and R4 500, depending on where you shop) is debatable.
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