The
Canon PowerShot S45 isn't a direct replacement for the PowerShot S40,
but a model that offers some additions to the S40, namely with a more
advanced autofocus, a new image processor, and the addition of scene recognition
technology to improve focus and exposure accuracy. In design though, the
S45 remains identical to the S40, with a retracting 3X zoom lens that
is protected by a sliding cover.
directly in front of the shutter release. The zoom control is small, but
moves easily. Beyond simply controlling the focal length, the zoom control
also offers additional functions in Playback:
Wide
Angle (equivalent to a 35mm).
Zoom out of a photo in Playback, and call up the thumbnail display.
Telephoto
(equivalent to a 105mm).
Zoom
into a photo in Playback.
Another control,
the Multi-controller, sits astride the back edge of the camera
— making it a bit easy to confuse with a zoom control — but
serves for menu navigation and selection confirmation. In addition,
it is also used to access the focus point selection [].
The
S45's Multi-controller is the same as is used with the S30/S40, and exhibits
the same problem as was noticed with those models. It is designed to be
rocked up and down and from side to side while navigating the menus, and
pressed in at the centre to make selections. Regrettably, the control
has less precision than the task assigned to it requires; and the user
must be careful when pressing it in as it can easily register a side motion,
or an up/down one instead.
The
Mode Dial is embedded in the top, but easily turned from the back
of the S45. It provides 13 positions:
Full
Auto
Portrait
Mode
Program
Mode
Landscape
Mode
Shutter
Priority Mode
Night
Scene Mode
Aperture
Priority Mode
Fast
Shutter Mode
Manual
Mode
Slow
Shutter Mode
Stitch
Assist Mode
Movie
Mode
The
thirteenth setting is the C mode, a custom mode that alolows memorizing
shooting preferences.
On the opposite side of the Multi-controller, the S45 has two buttons
which, like most others, have recording and playback functions. The button
on the left is for:
Flash Modes: Auto, Red-eye Reduction Auto, Forced On with
Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, and Forced Off.
while
in Playback, the button is used as a fast access to the thumbnails
display (9 per screen).
The button closest to the optical viewfinder is used for:
Macro mode: from 10cm (3.9 in.) in wide angle and 30cm (11.8 in.)
at the maximum telephoto to infinity.
while
in Playback, this button is to jump groups of 9 thumbnails at a
time, or, if a single image is displayed on the screen, 10 images
at a time.
Three
more buttons are aligned along the left side of the 1.8 inch LCD
screen:
The Function button calls up a special menu that is overlaid on
the left side of the screen. The Function menu provides 9 photo-specific
settings (see the Characteristics section of the review).
The
MF button engages the manual focus in the Record modes, and is used
to Delete images in Playback.
The
Metering button provides access to the metering system: Evaluative,
Centre-weighted and Spot. In Playback, it is used to record a voice
annotation.
To
the right of the viewfinder, the S45 provides a switch []
to start the Playback mode. Playback can be started either with the lens
cover closed and the camera Off, or while the camera is in Recording mode.
Finally, on the right side of the screen, MENU offers access to
the other menus of the S45; and DISPLAY controls the LCD screen
(On/Off) and its information overlays.
In the Recording mode, the Display button cycles between a display
with only the focus point indicator; a display with the focus point indicator
and settings information; and the LCD screen Off.
In Playback, the button cycles between a display with only the
photo showing; one with the photo plus an overlay showing basic information;
and one that presents the photo as a thumbnail flashing potentially overexposed
areas, and which shows all the shooting data, plus a histogram.
As
explained above, in terms of ergonomics, the physical layout of the S45
is basically unchanged from that of the S40/S30, but has the addition
of the more complete Function menu.
].
]
to start the Playback mode. Playback can be started either with the lens
cover closed and the camera Off, or while the camera is in Recording mode.
