Canon PowerShot S300Canon makes a major update to their original S100 "Digital ELPH": More zoom, more controls, and better photos. Hard to beat!<<Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests :(Previous) | (Next): Camera Modes & Menus>> Page 8:Operation & User InterfaceReview First Posted: 4/5/2001 |
Operation and User Interface
As we mentioned earlier, we found the S300's user interface very straightforward and relatively uncomplicated. Most of the camera's functions are controlled by the control buttons on the top and the back panel, while settings such as image size and quality are controlled through the LCD based Record menu. Canon provides more efficient LCD menu system than the S100 offered, as you scroll through menu items on-screen instead of through a series of pages. Control over exposure mode was brought to an external Mode dial, which makes changing the camera mode a snap. Even if the LCD monitor is switched off, pressing one of the control buttons on the back panel (such as the Exposure Compensation or Flash buttons) activates the display temporarily, so you can save battery power by switching off the LCD monitor. Following is an overview of the S300's controls and menus.
Shutter Button: Located on the top panel, this button sets focus and exposure when halfway pressed and fires the shutter when fully pressed. If the self-timer is activated, a full press of the Shutter button triggers the 10-second countdown.
Mode Dial: Encircling the Power button on the camera's top panel, this dial controls the camera's exposure mode, offering the following selections:
Playback: Allows the user to scroll through captured images and play back movie files. Files can be enlarged for closer inspection, displayed in an index format, write protected, rotated, or set up for printing on a DPOF compatible device.
Automatic Exposure Mode: Places the camera in charge of all exposure decisions, with the exception of flash mode, macro/infinity focusing, continuous shooting, and the self-timer.
Manual Exposure Mode: Allows more exposure control by the user, such as exposure compensation and white balance settings. The camera still determines the shutter speed and aperture settings however.
Stitch Assist Mode: Sets up the camera for capturing a series of still images, to be "stitched" together into a panoramic image on a computer.
Movie Mode: Captures moving images with sound, with a maximum recording time of 30 seconds.
Power Button: Resting snugly in the center of the Mode dial, the Power button turns the camera on or off. Turning on requires holding the button down for a second or so, to avoid problems with the camera accidentally being turned on while in a pocket or purse.When the camera is powered on, the lens extends outward into its operating position. Likewise, the lens retracts back into the camera body when the camera is switched off.
Zoom Rocker Button (Index Display and Playback Zoom Control): Positioned in the top right corner of the camera's back panel, this rocker button controls the optical and digital telephoto when the camera is in Record mode. In Playback mode, the button brings up a nine image index display (when pushed to the wide angle end) and zooms into captured images (when pushed to the telephoto end).
CF Open Latch: Situated on the right side of the back panel, this sliding latch opens the CompactFlash card slot.
Display Button: Directly to the left of the optical viewfinder eyepiece on the back panel, this button turns the LCD display on and off.
Menu Button: Located beneath the lower right corner of the LCD monitor, this button accesses the LCD menu system in Record and Playback modes.
Exposure Compensation / White Balance Button: To the left of the Menu button, this control activates the exposure compensation and white balance displays in Manual, Stitch Assist, and Movie modes. Pressed once, the button displays the exposure compensation scale, adjustable from -2 to +2 in 1/3 EV steps. A second press displays the white balance options, which include Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Incandescent, Fluorescent, and Black & White.
Macro/Infinity Button (Right Arrow Key): Just to the left of the Exposure Compensation / White Balance button, this control cycles between Macro, Infinity Focus, and normal focusing modes while in Record mode. In both Playback and Record menus, it acts as the right arrow key to navigate through menu items. In Playback mode, this button scrolls forward through captured images.
Continuous/Self-Timer Button (Left Arrow Key): Continuing left from the Macro/Infinity Focus control, this button cycles through Single, Continuous, and Self-Timer shooting modes while the camera is in Record mode. In both Playback and Record menus, this button serves as the left arrow key to navigate through menu items. In Playback mode, it scrolls backward through recorded images.
Flash Button (Set Button): The last in the series of controls below the LCD monitor, this button cycles through the following five flash modes (options may change depending on the exposure mode selected):
- Automatic: The camera determines when to fire the flash based on existing light levels.
- Red-eye Reduction: The camera fires a small pre-flash before the full flash to reduce the occurrence of Red-eye in pictures of people.
- Forced On: The flash always fires, regardless of lighting conditions.
- Forced Off: The flash never fires, regardless of lighting conditions.
- Slow-synchro: The flash is used with a slow shutter speed to allow more ambient light into the exposure.
In both Playback and Record menus, this button serves as the "OK" signal to select menu options and return to the main display.
Follow Imaging Resource: