Canon PowerShot S2 IS

Reviewed July 2005

Introduction

The Canon PowerShot S2 IS takes the PowerShot S1 concept we examined precisely 1 year ago, and moves it to its next evolutionary level.

The S2 continues the use of an Electronic Viewfinder (EVF), but boosts the image stabilized Ultrasonic zoom lens to a 12X power and increases the CCD resolution from 3 to 5 megapixel.

The LCD monitor is also an improvement over the S1. The PowerShot S2 offers a 1.8 inch, 115,000 pixel monitor — up from 1.5 inch — although its resolution is only slightly higher. Nevertheless, just like the S1's monitor, it too can be swung out and rotated 180° towards the front and then swung back onto the back of the camera; or rotated 90° downwards, making it possible to see the screen when the camera is pointed down, or held overhead.

As noted earlier, the external controls of the PowerShot S2 are similar to those of the S1, and so are their placements.

• the shutter release;
• the zoom control;
• the Self-timer/Continuous mode button ();
• the Power/Mode lever;
• the Off Switch with its indicator LED (orange when the capture mode is selected () and green when playback mode () is active)
• and the Mode Dial.

The shutter release is the usual 2-stage system with auto focus lock (AF-L) and auto exposure lock (AE-L) at the halfway point. Likewise, when the camera is in playback mode, the zoom serves to turn on the Index Playback () which presents 9 thumbnails per screen, or to magnify a portion of a photo up to 10X () so details of the image can be inspected.

The Self timer and Continuous mode button cycles through:

	Single: takes one shot each time the shutter release is pressed.
	Continuous mode: provides 2 modes either of which is set as the default in the menu, and which are only limited by the memory card's capacity: Standard Continuous captures images at approximately 1.5 frames per second (Fine/Large) High-Speed Continuous captures 2.4 frames per second (Fine/Large).
	Self-Timer: can be set for 10, or 2 seconds, or to Custom which allows the user to specify both the time delay before the shutter is released, and the number of shots to capture (0 to 10).

Like so many other Canon cameras, the PowerShot S2's Mode Dial is composed of 2 sections that are separated by the green — Auto — shooting mode. On one side are grouped all the shooting programs that require the intervention, or the participation, of the user: a zone called the Creative Zone. On the other side are programs that are subject or scene-driven and which demand little intervention from the user aside from the correct selection of the subject: they form the Image Zone.

The Auto mode, which acts as the dividing line between the zones is intended to be the simplest of all shooting mode:

turns the PowerShot S2 into a point and shoot camera, and all critical photographic settings are decided by the camera.

Program mode is the first position of the Creative zone:

Program Mode sets both the aperture and the shutter speed; however other camera settings such as sensitivity, compensation, and white balance can be adjusted by the user.

	Shutter Priority makes it possible to set the shutter speed from a range of 1/3200 second — the highest shutter speed depends on the aperture and zoom position — down to 15 seconds, while the camera selects the aperture.
	Aperture Priority makes it possible to choose the aperture from f2.7 to f8 when the zoom is at the wide end and from f3.5 to f8 when the zoom is at the telephoto end, while the camera adjusts the shutter speed accordingly.
	Manual Mode makes it possible to select both aperture and shutter speed, with the same range of apertures and shutter speeds as are available with the Tv and Av modes.
	Custom Mode serves to store a mode (P, Tv, Av, or M), along with a variety of specific settings that can be recalled simply by turning the Mode Dial to the C position.

The Image Zone provides a total of 11 preset modes designed for specific types of subjects:

	Portrait blurs the background behind the subject by using a wide aperture which shortens the depth of field.
	Landscape gives preference to a small aperture to extend the depth of field, which can entail a low shutter speed.
	Night Scene is intended to capture a subject against an evening night scene. Flash is used in slow synchro mode and the shutter speed is low so as to capture both foreground and background.
	Special Scene is an access to 6 additional scene modes which are selected with the right and left arrows of the Omni controller, the 4-direction button on the back of the camera: Foliage enhances colour saturation to capture subjects such as autumn leaves or blossoms. Snow compensates the exposure so that people are correctly exposed against a bright snow backdrop. Beach also compensates the exposure for a highly reflective environment such as water and sand. Fireworks sets the shutter speed to 2 seconds and the focus to infinity to capture a fireworks display (the use of a tripod is necessary). Indoor adjusts the white balance so that images can be shot with accurate colour under either fluorescent or tungsten (incandescent) lighting. Night Snapshot is designed to capture people in front of twilight or night background and reduce the effect of camera shake even without the use of a tripod.
	Stitch Assist serves to capture a series of frames that overlap slightly so that they can be assembled into a larger image later using the software included with the camera. Photos can be captured from left to right, right to left, top to bottom or bottom to top, or even in a clockwise motion.
	My Colours mode is a new addition to the modes Canon has been offering on digital cameras. The mode makes it possible to alter the colours recorded by the camera using any one of a group of options selected in the Function menu (see further for information about the function menu): Positive Film intensifies the reds, greens and blues. Lighter Skin Tone makes skin tones lighter. Darker Skin Tone makes skin tones darker. Vivid Blue emphasizes blues. Vivid Green emphasizes greens. Vivid Red emphasizes reds. Colour Accent makes it possible to select one colour from all those showing on the monitor, and then capture the scene with all other colours except that one converted to black and white. Colour Swap makes it possible to select a colour, chosen from those showing on the monitor, and swap it for another also chosen from those showing on the monitor. Custom Colour makes it possible to adjust the colour balance freely between red, green, blue and skin tones to obtain subtle effects.

The last Mode Dial position is for the Movie Mode. It is the last mode contained in the Image zone and its capabilities are enhanced over those that were available with the S1:

Movies are recorded with stereophonic sound, for up to a maximum recording length of 1 GB and at either 30 or 15 frames per second (fps): 640 x 480 pixels at 30 fps (7 min 52 sec. with a 1GB card). 640 x 480 pixels at 15 fps (14 min 26 sec. with a 1GB card). 320 x 240 pixels at 30 fps (19 min 15 sec. with a 1GB card). 320 x 240 pixels at 15 fps (31 min 31 sec. with a 1GB card). During recording, the optical zoom remains available as the motor is silent. Moreover, the zoom control is gradual, its speed increasing as the zoom control is pushed farther towards T or W. Likewise the quality of the sound recording can be controlled in the menu and set to: 44 kHz, 22 kHz, or 11 kHz all at 16-bit.

The only occupant of the opposite side of the S2's top section is a small button that has a dual role, one in the capture mode when the flash has been manually raised, and another in the playback mode:

Flash modes: Auto or Forced On. In addition red-eye reduction, slow synch and first or second curtain can be enabled in the menu.

While the EVF is equipped with a diopter adjustment, it is only of average resolution and the pixels that make-up its image are clearly visible. So, while the image it provides is useable, its resolution is insufficient to show fine details.

Worth noting, should the monitor be closed while the camera is on, the EVF is automatically activated and vice-versa, when the monitor is opened, the EVF turns off and the monitor turns on.

To the right of the Movie button, a 4-direction control that Canon calls the Omni Controller provides a means to navigate menu options, or photos when the camera is in playback mode.

In addition, the Omni controller also serves to select apertures and shutter speeds in the modes that allow it, and to adjust the position of the focus point in the frame.

Slightly below and to the right of the SET button is the MENU button, which displays the S2's menu (see the Characteristics section of the review for more information).

On the other side, the first button in a stack of four near the monitor is the Function (FUNC.) button. The button calls up the Function Menu which contains options for the most commonly needed photographic settings such as white balance, image size and quality, exposure compensation, etc. And, in a few cases, options which are specific to the shooting mode (for more details about the Function menu, see the Characteristics section of the review). In Playback, the FUNC. button is used to delete () unwanted images.

Moving down, the next button controls Metering. Three metering modes are available with the S2:

	Evaluative: divides the frame into several zones and meters each zone, combining the results into an average that takes all areas into account.
	Centre-weighted: meters the entire frame but gives more importance to the reading obtained at the centre of the frame, the place that is most likely the focus point of the image.
	Spot AE Point: only meters the area within the AF frame. In addition, the metering can be set to follow the focus point to where ever it is positioned in the frame, or can be set to meter the centre of the frame only.

Moreover, with the shutter release pressed halfway and the exposure evaluated, the button also serves to lock the exposure, or lock the flash exposure when the flash is raised and forced on.

In playback the same button serves to JUMP groups of 10 images when a single image is displayed on the monitor, or groups of 9 images when the index view is used

Next comes the Shortcut button:

Shortcut: makes it possible to configure the button to act as a instant access to: • Resolution (default setting) • White Balance • Movie Recording Size/Frame Rate • AF Lock • ISO Speed (still images only) • Image Stabilizer mode • My Colours • Photo Effect • AE Lock • Display Off Once a shortcut is assigned, the button can be used to cycle through each of the function's options using the icons shown on the monitor or EVF.

Print/Share: in Playback the button serves to immediately download all the images that have been selected for Auto Transfer. In addition, the button also serves to connect the camera to a PictBridge compliant photo printer, or a Canon SELPHY CP card photo printer, or a Canon Bubble Jet printer (PIXMA or SELPHY DS series).

The DISP. button is the last button on the back of the S2, and its function is to act as a switch between the EVF and the monitor. In addition, it also controls the amount of camera setting information superimposed on the image.

In the Playback mode (animation at right) the button also provides a histogram view of an image under review, and reveals the shooting data simultaneously. Worth noting, the DISP. button does not switch back and forth between the EVF and the monitor while the camera is in Playback. Instead, the selection of the active display is instead made by either opening or closing the monitor.

The last 2 external controls of the PowerShot S2 are on the left side of the lens barrel:

Indicates the Manual Focus button. Manual focusing is done using the up and down arrows of the Omni controller, and if the MF button is held down while adjusting the focus, the camera magnifies the central portion of the display to help make sure the image is sharp.

If the layout of the controls and the overall shape of the PowerShot S2 is closely related to last year's PowerShot S1, one external improvement on the S2 is welcome: the addition of a small textured area inside the grip section that provides a better hold on the camera.