Canon PowerShot S20Canon packs 3 megapixels and a 2x optical zoom into their "smallest digicam" body!<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 4/4/2000 |
User Interface
The S20 features a well laid-out, uncomplicated user interface, although some LCD menu navigation was slightly confusing (arrow buttons navigate between menu options but you have to remember to hit the Set button to select an option). This was only an occasional issue, as most of the settings just assume whatever state you left them in as you leave the menu option. We are glad to report that one-handed operation is indeed possible, thanks to the small size of the camera body. We're also glad to see the use of the mode dial and rocker toggle button, which make accessing camera settings so much simpler.
Shutter Button: Located on the top right of the camera and silvery smooth, a half press sets the exposure and focus while a full press fires the shutter. Holding down the shutter button after an exposure displays the just-captured picture on the LCD screen.
Mode Dial: Also located on the top right of the camera, the dial is silver and ribbed for easy turning. This dial controls the mode of the camera with the following choices:
Stitch Assist: helps you take multi-frame panoramic shots to be assembled on a computer.
Image: offers several preset exposure settings for various shooting conditions (Landscape, Fast Shutter, Slow Shutter, Night Scene and Black & White).
Manual: gives you control over minor exposure settings like white balance and exposure compensation, as well as options such as image size & quality, sharpness & contrast, gain (light sensitivity), etc.
Automatic: puts the camera in control of all exposure settings.
Off: powers off the camera.
Playback: allows you to review captured images.
PC: allows the camera to download images into a computer.
Rocker Toggle Button: Located on the top right hand side of the back panel of the camera, marked with arrows in four directions and telephoto and wide angle indicators. In Playback and all capture modes, this button navigates through each of the settings menus. In all capture modes, this button activates the optical zoom function via the up and down arrows. In Automatic, Manual and Image capture modes, this button controls the digital zoom function (up and down arrows) once the end of the optical telephoto range is reached. In Playback mode, the right and left arrows scroll through recorded images while all four arrows move around an enlarged image when playback zoom is activated.
Macro / Jump Button: Located in the top middle of the back panel, this button turns the macro function on and off in all capture modes. In Playback mode, it turns on the jump function which allows you to jump ahead nine images (i.e., from the first to the tenth and so on).
Continuous / Self-Timer / Magnification Button: Located to the left of the optical viewfinder on the back panel, this button cycles through the Self-Timer and Continuous Shooting options in all capture modes. In Playback mode, it allows you to zoom into a recorded image to check fine details and framing.
Flash / Multi Button: Located to the left of the Continuous / Self-Timer / Magnification Button, this button cycles through the available flash modes while in any capture mode. In Playback mode, it turns the nine-image index display on and off.
+/- / WB Button: Located beneath the Macro/Jump button, to the right of the LCD monitor, this button cycles between the exposure compensation (EV) settings bar and the white balance settings bar in Manual, Image and Stitch Assist capture modes.
Menu Rocker Button: Located beneath the +/- / WB button, this button accesses and dismisses the settings menus in Playback and all four capture modes.
Set Rocker Button: Located on the bottom of the Menu button, this button confirms menu selections in all settings menus. In Manual capture mode, this button allows you to select between spot and center-weighted metering options.
Display: Located beneath the Menu/Set Rocker Button, this button controls the LCD monitor and information display in all capture modes. One press turns on the image, another turns on the information display, and a third turns off both. In Playback mode, it shows the exposure information about the selected image.
CF Open Slide Switch: Located beneath the rocker toggle button, this switch opens the hatch covering the CompactFlash slot.
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