The PowerShot S60 uses a 5.3 million
pixel, 1/1.8 inch CCD, of which 5 million pixels are effective
to capture a maximum image size of 2592 x 1944 pixels.
The camera provides the option of setting the CCD sensitivity to 50, 100,
200 or 400 ISO with the P, TV, Av and M modes,
or leaving it on auto. However, when the Auto mode or any of the Scene modes
are used, CCD sensitivity falls back to auto, allowing the camera to adjust
it according to the mode, or if appropriate, the level of the ambient light.
The S60 offers an entirely new
zoom lens, a bigger lens than S-series cameras have
had before.
The 3.6X zoom has a focal length of 5.8 to 20.7 mm, the 35mm
equivalent of a 28 to 100mm zoom, offering a maximum aperture
of f2.8 at the widest angle, and f5.3 at the maximum telephoto end.
In all modes the highest shutter speed is of 1/2000 second while the lowest
shutter speed varies according to the mode.
With the Fast Shutter mode, the lowest shutter speed
of the S60 is 1/30 second, while in Auto mode 1.8 second
is the slowest shutter speed. With the Program, Aperture
Priority (Av) and all Scene modes the slowest
shutter speed is 1 second, while with the Shutter Priority (Tv)
and the Manual mode exposures can be as long 15 seconds.
In all cases, noise reduction
is automatically applied to exposures of 1/3 second or longer.
Photos can be captured in any one of 4 image sizes with the S60:
L (Large): 2592 x 1944 pixels,
M1 (Medium 1): 2048 x 1536 pixels,
M2 (Medium 2): 1600 x 1200 pixels,
S (Small): 640 x 480 pixels.
Three levels of JPEG compression are available for all image sizes: Super
fine, Fine or Normal. In addition, when the camera is set to P, Tv, Av
or M, photos can also be saved using Canon's RAW format at the full
resolution of the sensor (2592 x 1944 pixels). RAW format images are unprocessed
but the shot settings for white balance, sharpness, and contrast are recorded
as part of the image's Exif tags. RAW format images must later be converted
to either TIFF (8
or 16 bit), or JPEG using RAW
Converter, software which is supplied with the camera.
As explained in the Ergonomics section of the review, the
S60 is equipped with a Function []
button that instantly displays a menu of the most commonly needed photographic
settings on the left side of the LCD monitor:
Exposure Compensation offers a range of ±2EV
in 1/3EV increments in all shooting modes with the exceptions
of the Auto and Manual modes.
White Balance: (available in all modes except Auto)
Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent (warm white),
Fluorescent H (daylight), Flash, Underwater (for use when the
camera is used in its optional water-tight housing), and Custom,
which allows the white balance to be set to ambient conditions.
Continuous: Single; Standard Continuous Shooting (approximately
1.5 frames per second with the image size and quality set to
Large and Fine); High-Speed Continuous Shooting (approximately
2 frames per second with the image size set to Large and the
quality set to Fine); Self-timer 10 or 2 second; or activation
of the optional infrared remote control.
ISO: Auto, 50, 100, 200 or 400 ISO with P, TV, AV
and M shooting modes.
Effects: Off; Vivid (increases contrast and saturation);
Neutral (lowers saturation and contrast); Low Sharpening;
Sepia; Black and White; Custom Effect (allows setting levels
for contrast, sharpness and colour saturation).
Bracketing: using P, Tv and Av shooting modes,
exposure bracketing can be done over a range of ±2
EV in 1/3EV steps. With P, Tv, Av and M modes focus bracketing
is available when manual focus is used. Three images are
captured, the first with a focus point slightly in front
of the selected focus, one at the focus point, the third
slightly behind the selected focus point.
Flash Compensation/Flash Adjustment: available
in all modes except the Manual mode, the flash exposure
can be compensated over a range of ± 2EV in 1/3
EV increments. With the Manual mode the output of the flash
can be controlled over 3 steps.
Image Size and Compression: image size or the
use of the RAW format is selected directly in this option,
but the compression is selected by pressing the SET button
at the centre of the Omni selector, which replaces the
image size option with one for compression.
Besides the photographic settings offered in the menu,
the Recording menu is displayed when the Menu button
is pressed. The menu is composed of three sections, each identified
by an icon at the top of the screen, and is available in all
recording modes. The first section of the menu is strictly
limited to recording functions, the second provides the Setup
options (see the Interface and Software section of
the review for the options of the Setup menu), and the
third, My Camera, provides options to personalize the
S60 to its user.
The P, Tv, Av and M modes offer the greatest number of options. While the
Scene modes only present those that are appropriate:
Flash Sync: decides whether the flash will fire at the beginning
of the exposure (1st curtain), or just before it ends (2nd curtain).
Slow Sync: On or Off. Sets the flash to operate
in slow sync mode according to the setting in the previous
option.
Flash Adjust: Auto or Manual. Replaces the option
for Flash compensation in the menu
with an option to adjust the flash's output over 3 steps
in most modes with the exception of the Manual modes.
Red-eye:turns ON or OFF the red-eye reduction
function that pre-fires the flash prior to taking the photo
so as to constrict the subject's pupils and reduce the
likelihood of red-eye.
Wireless Delay: to select the delay before the
shutter is released when the remote control is used (2
or 10 seconds).
Spot AE Point: decides whether the spot metering
takes place at the centre of the frame, or follows the
AF point.
Safety Shift: ON or OFF. Automatically adjusts
the settings when an inappropriate selection has been made
for the aperture or the shutter speed in the Av or Tv modes.
MF-Point Zoom: decides whether or not the focus
point is magnified when manual focus is in use.
AF-Assist Beam: ON or OFF. Controls whether or
not the AF assist lamp is used when the ambient light is
too low for the S60 to autofocus reliably without it.
Digital Zoom: ON or OFF. Decides whether or not
the 4.1X digital zoom is active. The digital zoom crops
the central portion of the image and interpolates it to
the selected image size.
Review: sets the length of time a just captured
image is displayed on the monitor (0, or from 2 to 10 seconds).
RAW+JPEG Rec.: selects the size of the JPEG image
that is recorded and stored internally within a RAW format
image (L, M1, M2 or S). The JPEG image is used during playback
and the higher its resolution, the more detail can be seen
when the image is zoomed in playback.
Intervalometer: serves to automatically capture
images at a preset interval and for a preset number of
shots (from 2 to 100 photos with an interval of 1 to 60
minutes between each shot).
Save Settings: this option is accessible in the
P, Tv, Av, or M modes and saves the current camera settings
so they can be recalled by turning the Mode dial to the C position.
As noted above, the second section of the menu is detailed
in the Interface and Software section of this review,
and the third part, My Camera, is designed to let a
user add some personal touches to the way the S60 operates.
The My Camera menu is
composed of 6 options, the first of which allows the selection
of themes that supply matching sounds and an appropriate
Start-up image. Three themes are already pre-loaded in the
camera, and up to 40 are available with the camera's software,
ready to be loaded into the camera three at a time, replacing
those that were there.
The remaining five options can be used to mix and match sounds as desired
and select different start-up images
In Playback mode, the S60's menu
is similar in appearance to the recording menu, but the first
section deals with playback options:
Protect: serves to prevent an image from being
accidentally erased.
Rotate: allows rotating an image by 90° or
270°.
Erase All: erases all images on the memory card
except those marked as protected.
Slide show : makes it possible to create up to
3 different slide shows, based on images that have been
marked for DPOF, or of all images on the card. The on-screen
time can be specified, and the show can be specified to
repeat or not.
Print Order: serves to select images for Printing
with a DPOF compliant service or printer. The number of
prints to make of each image can be specified, and if desired
the date can be imprinted directly on the photos.
Transfer Order: allows selecting which photos
will be transferred automatically to a computer running
Canon's software when the camera is connected via USB.
The S60 is compatible with CompactFlash
Type I and Type II cards, including Microdrives.
The card slot is located underneath the camera, next to the
battery.
The S60 is retailed with a 32MB CompactFlash Type I card, making it possible
to store:
RAW
L
M1
M2
S
5
Super Fine
Fine
Normal
Super Fine
Fine
Normal
Super Fine
Fine
Normal
Super Fine
Fine
Normal
11
21
43
18
33
67
30
54
108
120
196
337
A Lithium-ion battery, held in place by a spring-loaded clip so it will
not fall out when the memory card is removed, powers the S60. A charger
is included with the camera, (CB-2LT) and can recharge the battery in approximately
an hour and a half. An AC-DC adapter (ACK700) is also available as an option.
The external connections of the S60 are on its left side, and are protected
by a flexible plastic cover which is attached at the bottom. The upper
connection is the A/V (Audio/Video) out jack, and the signal it provides
can be set to be either NTSC or PAL in the Setup menu.
The lower connection is the
USB (1.1) port which serves to connect the camera to a computer.
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Characteristics
]
button that instantly displays a menu of the most commonly needed photographic
settings on the left side of the LCD monitor:
