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Canon PowerShot Pro1 New level of sophistication takes over the top spot in the PowerShot line. Select a topic Reference: Datasheet Pro1 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on Pro1 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User Interface Review First Posted: 05/14/2004

Operation and User Interface

Like its predecessors in the G-series, the Canon Pro1's combination of control buttons and dials may seem a little complicated at first glance. However, once I became familiar with the features, I actually found the user interface to be very intuitive. I generally prefer to change as many exposure settings as possible through external controls, without resorting to the LCD menu, and the Pro1 does pretty well in this regard. Better yet, the Pro1's organization of multiple functions under the FUNC button's menus and the multiple functions of the Main dial make for very fluid camera control. The camera controls are far better placed than in the past, so it's easier to operate the camera one-handed and still access the majority of the buttons.

I appreciate the small status display panel on top of the camera, which allows you to check current camera settings without having to activate the LCD monitor. (This would be a nice battery conservation feature, but based on my experience with other cameras, I suspect that the Pro1's EVF doesn't consume much less power than the rear-panel LCD.) I also enjoyed shooting with the rotating LCD screen, which makes composing shots from odd angles a lot easier to manage. The ability to flip the monitor all the way around to face the back panel was great for keeping fingerprints and smudges off of the screen when handling the camera. Also, if you've chosen to use the EVF for outdoor shooting, having the LCD folded over is a good reminder.

Control Enumeration

Shutter Button: Mounted out on the edge of the grip, this button sets focus and exposure when halfway pressed, and fires the shutter when fully pressed.

Zoom Ring: Surrounding the lens, this ring controls the optical and digital zoom in any record mode, bringing a more traditional feel to the motor-driven mechanical lens. In Playback mode, this ring also controls the digital enlargement of recorded images.

Mode Dial: Mounted on the incline between the top and back panels and nestled next to the electronic viewfinder, this notched dial controls the camera's exposure mode. The following options are available:

• Movie: Records short movie clips with sound, with a maximum recording time of three minutes (depending on resolution and the amount of available space on the memory card).
• Stitch-Assist: Captures as many as 26 consecutive images to make up a single panoramic shot. Images are "stitched" together on a computer later, using the software provided by Canon.
• Night Scene: Optimizes the camera for night shots, using a slower shutter speed to allow more ambient light into the image.
• Landscape: This mode is best for wide shots of scenery. Focus is fixed at infinity and the camera uses a smaller lens aperture so more of the scene will be in focus.
• Portrait: Employs a larger aperture setting to decrease the depth of field, leaving the primary subject in sharp focus and the background slightly blurred.
• Auto: Places all exposure variables and choices under automatic control. Only limited controls are available to the user, including file size, compression, flash mode, and zoom.
• Program AE: All exposure options are adjustable by the user, with the exception of shutter speed and aperture.
• Tv (Time Value, or Shutter Priority): Allows the user to select the shutter speed setting, while the camera picks the best lens aperture.
• Av (Aperture Value, or Aperture Priority): The opposite of Shutter Priority mode, the user selects the lens aperture, while the camera chooses the shutter speed.
• Manual: All exposure variables are available to the user, including both shutter speed and aperture.
• C1 and C2: These are Custom modes, with multiple exposure settings designated by the user and remembered by the camera. Once set, you can recall the complete camera setup with a twist of the Mode dial. (Very handy when switching back and forth between very different shooting situations. (For instance, outdoors and indoors at a party or reception.)

Power Switch and Button: This lever and button combination controls both the camera's power and mode. Located to the right of the Mode dial, the lever portion features a small button on the back, which allows it to turn when pressed. Turning the lever to the left activates Record mode and powers on the camera, while turning it to the right enables Playback mode. In the center of the lever is the Off button, which turns the camera off.

Drive Mode Button: In front of the Power Switch and Off button, this button cycles through the camera's available drive settings. Choices are Single, Continuous, High Speed Continuous, and Self-Timer/Remote Control modes.

Main Dial: Directly behind the Shutter button, on the top of the handgrip, this dial controls a variety of camera settings. It adjusts aperture or shutter speed depending on the exposure mode, sets any menu setting in the Function menu, sets White Balance and Exposure Compensation options, and controls the manual focus setting. In Playback mode, this dial scrolls back and forth through captured images.

Lens Ring Release Button: Hidden beneath the lens in the lower right corner of the front panel, this button releases the lens ring so that it can be removed. Removing the ring allows you to connect accessory lens adapters to the Pro1.

Four-Way Arrow Pad (Omni Selector): Just right of the big LCD panel, this silver rocker button features an arrow in each direction. In any settings menu, these arrows navigate through menu options. In most Record modes, the up arrow activates the Exposure Compensation menu, at the bottom of the LCD display. Pressing the down arrow enables the White Balance menu. In Playback mode, the right and left arrow keys scroll through captured images.

Menu Button: Below right of the Four-Way Arrow pad, this button displays the settings menu in any camera mode. It also dismisses the menu display.

Set Button: To the left of the Menu button, this button confirms menu selections. In still-picture Record mode, this button lets you change the AF area. After pressing the button, the AF indicator frame turns green, and can be moved throughout the frame with the arrow keys. Additionally, this button accesses secondary settings in the Resolution, Effects, and Bracketing menus.

MF / Sound Button: On the right side of the camera, where the thumb-hold rises prominently, this button switches the camera between auto and manual focus control. In Playback mode, this button enables sound recording, for short sound clips to accompany images.

AE / FE Lock (*) / Erase Button: Right below the Manual Focus button on the same ridge, this button locks the normal exposure, or the flash exposure (if the flash is enabled) in any Record mode. In Playback mode (and Quick Review mode), this button calls up the single-item erase menu.

Info Button: Below the * button on the thumb ridge, the Info button displays a good deal of information about captured images in Playback mode--including a histogram--and toggles the onscreen settings display on and off in Record mode.

Function Button: Above the Four-way arrow pad, this button displays a set of menus on the LCD monitor. Icons for each submenu line the left side of the display, and item choices appear along the bottom of the LCD display. The following menu options are available:

• ISO: Sets the camera's sensitivity to Auto, 50, 100, 200, or 400 ISO equivalents.
• Effect: Cancels special effects, or enables Vivid Color, Neutral Color, Low Sharpening, Sepia, Black-and-White, or Custom Effect modes. Pressing the Set button with the Custom setting adjusts Contrast, Saturation, and Sharpness.
• Bracketing: Enables Auto Exposure Bracketing or Auto Focus Bracketing. Pressing the Set button here lets you select the exposure or focus variation for the selected series.
• Flash +/-: Adjusts the power of the built-in flash. (The screen shot above right shows the adjustment in manual exposure mode, which sets the absolute power output. In any auto-exposure mode (P, A, S, or any scene modes), the flash power is set as an exposure compensation adjustment, over a range of +/- 2 EV.)
• Quality: Sets the JPEG compression level to Superfine, Fine, and Normal.
• Resolution: Sets image resolution to L (3,264 x 2,448 pixels), M1 (2272 x 1,704 pixels), M2 (1,600 x 1,200 pixels), M3 (1,024 x 768), S (640 x 480 pixels), or RAW.

In addition to its other functions, pressing the FUNC button during the review interval after a shot has been taken offers you the option of saving the just-captured image in the RAW file format, rather than the usual JPEG.

In Playback mode this button also functions as the Jump button, allowing users to jump by nine images at a time in either single frame playback or index playback views.

Display Button: To the left of the electronic viewfinder, this button switches between the EVF and LCD panel.

Macro / Index Button: The first button in a series on the left side of the viewfinder, this button accesses the Macro function when the camera is in Record mode. In Playback mode, this button displays up to nine images at a time, in a thumbnail index format, on the LCD screen.

Flash / Zoom Button: Positioned in the very top left corner of the back panel, this button cycles through the three primary flash modes of off, on (forced or fill-flash) and automatic. (The sub-options for the flash of red-eye reduction and sync are controlled via the Record menu.) In Replay mode, zooms in by 2.5x, 5x, and 10x.

Metering Button: Right of the LCD status button, this control selects between Evaluative, Center-Weighted Averaging, or Spot metering modes when the camera is in Record mode.

Diopter Adjustment Dial: On the left side of the EVF, this notched wheel adjusts the electronic viewfinder's focus to accommodate eyeglass wearers.