It is weird. We spent a decade trying to make phone cameras "perfect," and now everyone is scouring eBay for a plastic rectangle from 2011. The Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS is exactly that rectangle. You might remember it as the "IXUS 115 HS" if you're in Europe, but whatever the name, it’s currently having a massive second life.
Honestly, it makes sense. People are tired of the "iPhone look." You know the one—where the software over-sharpens everything until your face looks like a 3D render. This little Canon doesn't do that. It’s got a 12.1-megapixel sensor that, by modern standards, is technically "worse" than your phone, but that’s the whole point.
Why the Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS keeps popping up on your feed
It's about the "vibe." That sounds like a cop-out, but there’s actual science behind why these photos look better to some people.
Modern phones use computational photography. They take ten frames, smash them together, and use AI to "guess" what the shadows should look like. The Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS just takes a picture. It uses a back-illuminated CMOS sensor and a DIGIC 4 processor. That combination produces colors that feel real. Warm. Skin tones don't look grey or muddy.
Then there’s the flash.
Smartphones use LED flashes, which are basically tiny flashlights. They’re weak and flat. This ELPH has a real xenon flash. It’s that "deer in the headlights" look that looks amazing for late-night party shots or street photography. It freezes motion in a way a phone just can’t replicate.
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It’s smaller than you think
Seriously. You’ve probably forgotten how tiny "ultracompact" cameras actually were. This thing is roughly the size of a deck of cards. It weighs 140 grams. You can drop it in a hoodie pocket and literally forget it’s there until you see something worth shooting.
The specs that actually matter (and the ones that don't)
If you’re looking at a spec sheet, you’re going to see things that look "bad." 4x optical zoom? 1080p video at 24fps? In 2026, those numbers feel like they're from the stone age. But let's look at what actually happens when you press the button.
- The Lens: It starts at 28mm (wide-ish) and goes to 112mm. It’s not going to catch a bird in a tree three blocks away. But for a group of friends at a table? Perfect.
- The Speed: For a budget camera from 15 years ago, it’s surprisingly snappy. It starts up in about 1.4 seconds.
- The Video: It shoots 1080p. The bitrates aren't great, but the colors are. It has a dedicated movie button on the back, so you don't have to menu-dive to start recording.
One thing to watch out for: the battery. The NB-4L battery inside this thing is rated for about 230 shots. If you’re out all day, it will die. And since it’s an old-school camera, you can't just plug a USB-C cable into the side to charge it. You need the external wall charger.
Getting that "Vintage" look without the effort
Most people buying the Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS right now aren't looking for professional clarity. They want nostalgia.
If you want your photos to look like a 2005 diary entry, try these settings. First, turn the flash on—always. Even in daylight. It fills in the shadows and gives that high-contrast "disposable camera" look.
Second, play with the "My Colors" setting. The "Vivid" mode on this specific Canon model is legendary. It punches up the blues and reds in a way that feels like old film stock.
The "Miniature" and "Toy Camera" filters
Canon included a bunch of creative filters that actually hold up. The "Toy Camera" effect adds a heavy vignette and shifts the colors toward a lo-fi look. It’s basically an Instagram filter, but built into the glass and the processor.
What most people get wrong about buying one
Don't overpay.
Because of the TikTok hype, prices for the Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS have been creeping up to $200 or even $300 on some resale sites. Honestly? That’s too much. It was a $180 camera when it launched in 2011. If you can find one for under $100, grab it. If someone is asking for $400, they're leaning on the "vintage" tag a bit too hard.
Also, check the screen. The 3-inch LCD on the back is only 230,000 dots. It’s grainy. It’s hard to see in direct sunlight. Don't freak out if the photo looks "bad" on the back of the camera. Transfer it to your phone or computer first. You’ll be surprised how much better the actual file looks compared to the preview.
Is it better than your phone?
In terms of raw detail? No. Your phone has more dynamic range, better low-light performance (without flash), and way more processing power.
But the Canon PowerShot ELPH 100 HS is better at being a camera. There are no notifications. No one is going to DM you while you’re trying to frame a shot. It makes you intentional. You have to think about the light. You have to wait for the flash to recycle.
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It’s a different experience.
It captures a version of reality that feels a bit more "memory-like" and a bit less "data-perfect."
Actionable Next Steps
If you’ve just found one in a drawer or bought one online, do these three things to get the best results:
- Buy a fast SDHC card: Even though the camera is old, it supports SDXC cards. Get a 32GB or 64GB card so you never have to worry about space, but make sure it’s a reputable brand to avoid "write errors" during 1080p video recording.
- Set White Balance to "Cloudy": Even on sunny days, this adds a warm, golden-hour glow to every photo. It’s the easiest way to make digital photos feel like they were shot on Kodak Portra film.
- Toggle the "Macro" mode: This camera has a surprisingly good macro focus (down to 3cm). Use it for close-ups of flowers, textures, or food to get some natural background blur that doesn't look like a software "Portrait Mode" glitch.
Verify the battery health immediately. Old NB-4L batteries tend to swell. If yours is bulging or hard to slide out of the compartment, recycle it immediately and buy a couple of third-party replacements. It's a cheap fix that keeps the camera safe.