Canon S110 vs Canon S120 Comparison

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Canon S110

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Canon S120

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

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Canon S110 vs Canon S120 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing S110 and S120, two Small Sensor Compact cameras by Canon. Both Canon S110 and Canon S120 cameras have 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch sensors. Canon S110 was introduced to market in September 2012 and Canon S120 was launched in November 2013. There is 14 months difference between S110 and S120 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger S120, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Canon S110 and Canon S120 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon S110 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2012-09-17

12MP - 1/1.7-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 12800

24-120 mm F2.0-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

10 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

198g. 99 x 59 x 27 mm

Replaced Canon PowerShot S100 Compare

Canon S120 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-11-26

12MP - 1/1.7-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 12800

24-120 mm F1.8-5.7 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

12 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

240fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

217g. 100 x 59 x 29 mm

Replaced Canon PowerShot S110 Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Canon S110 and Canon S120 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot S110 over Canon PowerShot S120

Weight	198 g vs 217 g	19 g lighter

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot S120 over Canon PowerShot S110

LCD Screen Resolution	922k dots vs 461k dots	100% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting	12.0fps vs 10.0fps	2 fps faster
Battery Life	230 shots vs 200 shots	30 more frames with a single charge
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
Max Aperture - Wide	1.80 vs 2.00	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	5.70 vs 5.90	faster lens at tele
Color Depth	21.3 vs 20.6	higher color depth
Dynamic Range	11.9 vs 11.2	higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO	246 vs 168	better High ISO performance

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot S110 and Canon PowerShot S120

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Image Stabilization	Optical vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Touch Screen	Yes vs Yes	Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 12.0fps	Fast shooting speeds
Manual Focusing	Yes vs Yes	both have manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure	Yes vs Yes	better exposure control
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 24mm	Very good wide angle coverage
AE Bracketing	Yes vs Yes	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot S110 and Canon PowerShot S120

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	5.90 vs 5.70	Slow lenses at tele

Canon S110 vs Canon S120: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Canon S110 and Canon S120 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon S110 has external dimensions of 99 x 59 x 27 mm (3.9 x 2.32 x 1.06″) and weighs 198 g (0.44 lb / 6.98 oz) (including batteries). Canon S120 has external dimensions of 100 x 59 x 29 mm (3.94 x 2.32 x 1.14″) and weighs 217 g (0.48 lb / 7.65 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Canon S110 and Canon S120. Canon S110 is 1mm narrower and 2mm thinner than Canon S110 but they have the same height of 59mm.

Comparison image of Canon S110 and Canon S120 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Canon S110 and Canon S120.

Comparison image of Canon S110 and Canon S120 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Canon S110 and Canon S120.

Top View Comparison image of Canon S110 and Canon S120 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon S110 is 19g lighter than the Canon S120 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

S110

S120

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

S110

S120

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Canon PowerShot S110 nor Canon PowerShot S120 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon S110 and Canon S120's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Canon S110 vs Canon S120: Sensor Comparison

Both Canon S110 and Canon S120 have 1/1.7-inch sized 12.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the S110 and S120 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon S110 and Canon S120 Cameras

Canon S110 and Canon S120 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. It scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Canon S110 and Canon S120 sensors have been tested by DxO and the results show that S120 has a better overall score of 56, 8 points higher compared to S110's score of 48.

Model	Overall	Color Depth	Dynamic Range	Low-light ISO
Canon S110	48	20.6 bits	11.2 Evs	168 ISO
Canon S120	56	21.3 bits	11.9 Evs	246 ISO

Canon S110 vs Canon S120 Lens Specs Comparison

Canon S110 features a 24-120 mm F2.0-5.9 5× zoom lens whereas Canon S120 features a 24-120 mm F1.8-5.7 5× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 24mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f1.80, Canon S120 is faster than Canon S110 at this focal length. Both cameras have a tele angle reach of 120mm. However, with a max aperture of f5.70, Canon S120 is faster than Canon S110 at this focal length.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S110

S120

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S110

S120

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S110

S120

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S110

S120

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Canon S110 and Canon S120 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Canon S110 and Canon S120 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon S110 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Canon S120 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon S110 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon S120 for Street Photography

GOOD

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.00
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Canon S110 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon S120 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
120 mm Tele Lens
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 12.0fps
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
120 mm Tele Lens
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 230 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
Read the details

Canon S110 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Canon S120 for Daily Photography

GOOD

RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
198g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
217g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Canon S110 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon S120 for Landscape Photography

POOR

RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Canon S110 vs Canon S120: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Canon S110 and Canon S120, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon S110 and Canon S120 scores compare:

Canon S110

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #27 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #390 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon S120

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #14 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #315 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon S120 has a higher Overall Score than the Canon S110 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Canon S120 vs Canon S110 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Canon PowerShot S110	Canon PowerShot S120
Brand	Canon	Canon
Announced	2012-09-17	2013-11-26
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CMOS	BSI-CMOS
Size	1/1.7-inch	1/1.7-inch
Dimensions	7.44 x 5.58 mm	7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area	41.52mm²	41.52mm²
Megapixels	12 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	4000 x 3000	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	12,800 ISO	12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	80 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points	9	9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	24-120 mm (5×)	24-120 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F2.0-5.9	F1.8-5.7
Macro Focus Range	3cm	3cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	461k dots	922k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/2000s	1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Optical	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	7.00 m	7.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	10.0 fps	12.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	H.264	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	198g	217g
Dimensions	99 x 59 x 27mm	100 x 59 x 29mm
Battery Life	200 shots	230 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	Optional	Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	48	56
DxO Color Depth	20.6	21.3
DxO Dynamic Range	11.2	11.9
DxO Low Light ISO	168	246
	Report a correction	Report a correction