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  • BLOG

Canon A2100 IS Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Canon A2100 IS

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    Main Features

    • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
    • ISO 80 - 1600
    • 36-216 mm F3.2-5.9 Zoom Lens
    • Optical Image Stabilization
    • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
    • 1.0fps continuous shooting
    • 185g. 102 x 64 x 32 mm
    CHECK PRICE
    CHECK PRICE

    Canon A2100 IS Overview

    First introduced in February 2009 , Canon PowerShot A2100 IS is a 12.0MP Small Sensor Compact camera with a 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor, built-in Image Stabilization and 6.0x zoom 36-216 mm F3.2-5.9 lens.

    Canon A2100 IS Review - Click for Table of Contents

    1. Overview
    2. Pros and Cons
    3. Sensor and Photography Features
    4. Physical Specs
    5. LCD and Viewfinder
    6. Connectivity, Storage and Battery
    7. Other Features
    8. Lens
    9. Photography Type Scores
    10. Alternatives
    11. Popular Comparisons
    12. Frequently Asked Questions
    13. Detailed Specifications

    Canon A2100 IS is a member of Canon's Small Sensor Compact class cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this class and how their main specs have changed with each new model.

    Canon Small Sensor Compact Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Canon S200
    Compare
    2014 10.0MP - 1/1.7' 2.0 fps 100 x 59 x 26mm 181g
    Canon N100
    Compare
    2014 12.0MP - 1/1.7-inch fps 105 x 68 x 36mm 289g
    Canon S120
    Compare
    2013 12.0MP - 1/1.7-inch 12.0 fps 100 x 59 x 29mm 217g
    Canon G16
    Compare
    2013 12.0MP - 1/1.7-inch 12.0 fps 109 x 76 x 40mm 356g
    Canon N Facebook ready
    Compare
    2013 12.0MP - 1/2.3-inch 2.0 fps 79 x 60 x 29mm 195g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series side by side:
    Canon S200 vs N100 vs S120 vs G16 vs N Facebook ready


    **This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

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    Canon A2100 IS PROs and CONs Review

    Now let's get in to more details of our Canon A2100 IS review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Image Stabilization
    Face Detection Focusing
    185g Light Body
    216mm Good Tele Lens
    Report a correction

    Buy Canon A2100 IS from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Wireless Connection
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Full HD Video
    No Touch Screen
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No RAW Shooting
    Low Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    Max Sensitivity only ISO 1.600
    Only 9 Focus Points
    Low Screen Resolution ( 230kdots )
    1/1600s Low Max Shutter Speed
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
    No Manual Focusing
    No Manual Exposure
    No Environmental Sealing
    36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
    Slow Lens at Wide: f3.20
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90

    Report a correction


    Canon A2100 IS Physical Specs
    Canon A2100 IS weighs 185 g (0.41 lb / 6.53 oz) and has external dimensions of 102 x 64 x 32 mm (4.02 x 2.52 x 1.26″). Considering that the average weight of Compact type cameras is 188g, its weight is about average in its class. With a thickness of 32mm, it also has an average thickness.
    Weight Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Canon A2100 IS
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Compact Cameras

    Canon A2100 IS
    Min
    Average
    Max


    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Canon A2100 IS, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Canon A2100 IS Body Size Compared to a Credit card and a Battery
    Physical size of the Canon A2100 IS Body Compared to a Credit Card and an AA Battery



    Below you can find the comparison of the weight and thickness of Canon A2100 IS with its main competitors:

    Canon A2100 IS Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Weight vs A2100 IS Thickness vs A2100 IS
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Sony A6400
    Compare
    403g 218g heavier 50mm 18mm thicker
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Nikon D3500
    Compare
    365g 180g heavier 70mm 38mm thicker
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Nikon Z7
    Compare
    675g 490g heavier 68mm 36mm thicker
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Panasonic TS6
    Compare
    214g 29g heavier 29mm 3mm thinner
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Canon 5D
    Compare
    895g 710g heavier 75mm 43mm thicker
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Sony a5100
    Compare
    283g 98g heavier 36mm 4mm thicker
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Casio EX-10
    Compare
    384g 199g heavier 49mm 17mm thicker
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Canon S200
    Compare
    181g 4g lighter 26mm 6mm thinner

    Weather Sealing

    Canon A2100 IS doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Canon A2100 IS Lens

    Canon A2100 IS features a 36-216 mm F3.2-5.9 6× zoom lens. With a focal length of only 36mm on the wide end, the camera doesn't have wide angle capability at all. On the plus side, 216mm reach on tele gives a lot of flexibility and satisfy most of your needs.

    Wide Coverage

    Compact Cameras

    A2100 IS
    Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
    Average
    Telezoom

    Compact Cameras

    A2100 IS
    Longest - Canon SX520 HS
    Average

    With a max aperture of f3.20 at 36mm, we can not consider this lens fast on wide end, and it is slow at the tele end with its max aperture of f5.90.

    Max Aperture at Wide

    Compact Cameras

    A2100 IS
    Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
    Average
    Max Aperture at Tele

    Compact Cameras

    A2100 IS
    Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
    Average

    A2100 IS is equipped with Optical image stabilization system which is very handy especially at lower shutter speeds.

    Canon A2100 IS Sensor and Photography Features

    Canon A2100 IS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor . You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4000 x 3000 pixels with aspect ratios of 4:3 and 16:9. A2100 IS has a native ISO range of 80 - 1600 but unfortunately, Canon A2100 IS doesn't have RAW file support. If you need a Compact camera with a RAW support, consider or in the same price range.

    Canon A2100 IS is not the highest resolution Small Sensor camera. GoPro Hero9 Black with its 23.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Canon A2100 IS vs GoPro Hero9 Black or take a look at Highest resolution Compact cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Canon A2100 IS's 1/2.3-inch sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Canon A2100 IS Sensor Size Comparison
    Comparison image of Canon A2100 IS Sensor Size with other standard sensors



    Canon A2100 IS LCD

    Canon A2100 IS has a Fixed Type 3.00-inch LCD screen with a resolution of 230k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.



    Canon A2100 IS back view and LCD

    Unfortunately Canon PowerShot A2100 IS doesn't have a Selfie friendly screen. If this feature is important for your shooting style, check here the list of Best Compact Cameras with Selfie Friendly LCD screen.


    A2100 IS doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Compact camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS100 (Lumix DMC-TZ100) (Compare) or Nikon Coolpix P7800 (Compare).
    Alternatively, check here the list of all Compact cameras with viewfinder..

    Canon A2100 IS Connectivity, Storage and Battery

    Canon A2100 IS has a USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port to connect your camera to other devices.

    Canon A2100 IS Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Sony A6400
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 410shots Yes Yes Yes
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Nikon D3500
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 1550shots No Yes No
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Nikon Z7
    Compare
    3840 x 2160 330shots Yes Yes No
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Panasonic TS6
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 370shots Yes No Yes
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Canon 5D
    Compare
    None 800shots No No No
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Sony a5100
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 400shots Yes No Yes
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Casio EX-10
    Compare
    1920 x 1080 455shots Yes No No
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Camera Canon S200
    Compare
    1280 x 720 200shots Yes No No

    Canon A2100 IS Other Features

    Max Shutter speed

    Canon A2100 IS can shoot continuously at max speed of 1 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/1600 sec.

    Flash

    Unfortunately A2100 IS doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing

    Canon A2100 IS features a Contrast Detection autofocusing system. The AF system has 9 points to choose from.

    Canon A2100 IS also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    What type of Photography is Canon A2100 IS Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Canon A2100 IS in 5 different photography areas.

    Canon A2100 IS for Portrait Photography

    Canon A2100 IS has a score of 22 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over theA2100 IS.
    Image Stabilization
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
    No RAW shooting capability
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling

    Read the details of how we scored Canon A2100 IS for Portrait Photography

    Canon A2100 IS for Street Photography

    Canon A2100 IS has a score of 52 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Image Stabilization
    Small Body
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Manual Focus Mode
    36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Canon A2100 IS for Street Photography

    Canon A2100 IS for Sports Photography

    Canon A2100 IS has a score of 15 for Sports Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Sports We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Sports Photography list and consider these alternatives over theA2100 IS.
    Image Stabilization
    216 mm Tele Lens
    Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
    Environmental Sealings
    Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1600s
    9 Focus Points
    Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Manual Focus Mode
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Flash Shoe
    Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Canon A2100 IS for Sports Photography

    Canon A2100 IS for Daily Photography

    Canon A2100 IS has a score of 49 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    Compact Body
    185g
    6.0X Optical Zoom
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
    No RAW shooting capability

    Read the details of how we scored Canon A2100 IS for Daily Photography

    Canon A2100 IS for Landscape Photography

    Canon A2100 IS has a score of 15 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Compact Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over theA2100 IS.
    Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
    No Manual Exposure Mode
    No Manual Focus Mode
    36 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
    No RAW shooting capability
    Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Canon A2100 IS for Landscape Photography
    Canon A2100 IS Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Canon A2100 IS compares with other Compact cameras within a similar price range.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Canon A2100 IS alternatives.

    Popular Comparisons of Canon A2100 IS

    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Canon A2100 IS amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Sony A6400
    Sony A6400
    Compare
    Nikon D3500
    Nikon D3500
    Compare
    Nikon Z7
    Nikon Z7
    Compare
    Panasonic TS6
    Panasonic TS6
    Compare
    Canon 5D
    Canon 5D
    Compare
    Sony a5100
    Sony a5100
    Compare
    Casio EX-10
    Casio EX-10
    Compare
    Canon S200
    Canon S200
    Compare

    Canon A2100 IS Alternatives in Cameras

    It would also be interesting to compare Canon A2100 IS with Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked cameras in Canon A2100 IS's price range.

    Canon A2100 IS Conclusion and Scores

    Currently, Canon A2100 IS has an Overall Score of 30/100 which is based on our evaluation of 69 different technical parameters. Our scores are dynamically updated whenever a new camera is added to our database or when we change our ranking algorithm and the maximum score is always 100. Canon PowerShot A2100 IS is ranked #459 out of 631 in Compact cameras (Top 20 Compact), and ranked #1073 out of 1240 in all Cameras (Top 20 Overall).

    #1073 out of 1240 in Top Ranking Cameras
    #459 out of 631 in Top Ranking Compact Cameras
    #167 out of 262 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Compact Cameras
    #568 out of 740 in Top Ranking Small Sensor Sensor Cameras
    #332 out of 536 in Lightest Compact Cameras with Small Sensor sensor(185g)
    #754 out of 917 in Top Ranking Cameras with Fixed Type Screen

    Main Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras.

    Frequently Asked Questions about Canon A2100 IS
    Does the Canon A2100 IS have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Canon A2100 IS have RAW support?
    Does the Canon A2100 IS have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Canon A2100 IS have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Canon A2100 IS?
    What is the Sensor Size of Canon A2100 IS?
    is the Canon A2100 IS a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Canon A2100 IS have Touch Screen?
    Does the Canon A2100 IS have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Canon A2100 IS?
    What is the Weight of Canon A2100 IS?
    What are the Dimensions of Canon A2100 IS?
    Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Canon
    Model Canon PowerShot A2100 IS
    Announced 2009-02-18
    Body Type Compact
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount fixed lens
    Lens Focal Range 36-216 mm (6×)
    Max Aperture F3.2-5.9
    Macro Focus Range 1cm
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Size 3.00"
    Screen Resolution 230k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 15s
    Max Mechanical Shutter Speed 1/1600s
    Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation n/a
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 3.50 m
    Flash Modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CCD
    Sensor Size 1/2.3-inch
    Sensor Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm
    Sensor Area 28.07mm2
    Sensor Resolution 12 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 4000 x 3000
    Max Native ISO 1,600
    Min Native ISO 80
    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
    Number of Cross Focus Points Unknown
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
    Max Video Resolution 640 x 480
    Video Formats Motion JPEG
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity None
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 185g
    Physical Dimensions 102 x 64 x 32mm
    Battery Model 2 x AA
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus
    Storage Slots 1


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