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Canon PowerShot S300 Canon makes a major update to their original S100 "Digital ELPH": More zoom, more controls, and better photos. Hard to beat! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PowerShot S300 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 PowerShot S300 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Operation & User Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Image Storage & Interface>> Page 9:Camera Modes & Menus Review First Posted: 4/5/2001

Camera Modes and Menus

Movie Mode: Records short movie clips with sound. The actual amount of recording time varies with the resolution setting and amount of CompactFlash space. The majority of the exposure controls are available in this mode, with the exception of digital telephoto, flash mode, and Continuous Shooting mode.

Stitch Assist Mode: Records a series of up to 26 images to be "stitched" together as a panoramic shot. Two directions are available: Left to Right Stitch Assist and Right to Left Stitch Assist (based on which direction the camera will move to create the panoramic sequence). The majority of the exposure controls are available in this mode, with the exception of digital telephoto, Auto and Red-eye Reduction flash modes, and Continuous Shooting mode.

Manual Exposure Mode: Restricts the camera's control to shutter speed and aperture only, letting you adjust the digital zoom, flash mode, image quality, shooting method (Single, Continuous, or Self-Timer), Macro mode, Infinity Focus mode, exposure compensation, and white balance.

Automatic Exposure Mode: Places the camera in charge of all exposure settings. You can select only the digital zoom option, certain flash modes, the self-timer, and Macro mode.

Playback Mode: This mode allows you to scroll through captured images and movies, write protect images, view a nine-image index display, zoom into to a captured image, delete unwanted images, rotate images, and set up images for printing on DPOF compatible devices.

Record Menu: Accessed by pressing the Menu button in Automatic, Manual, Stitch Assist, and Movie modes.

• Resolution: Sets the image resolution to Large (1,600 x 1,200), Medium (1,024 x 768), or Small (640 x 480) for still images. Movie resolution options are 640 x 480, 320 x 240, and 160 x 120 pixels.
• Compression: Controls the amount of JPEG compression. Options are Superfine, Fine, and Normal. (Still images only.)
• Review: Turns the instant review function on or off, or sets the amount of time that the captured image is displayed on the screen to either two or 10 seconds. (Still images only.)
• File No. Reset: Activates or deactivates the file numbering reset. If activated, resets the file numbers with each new CompactFlash card. If left off, file numbering simply continues from card to card. (Most users will want to leave this off, to avoid overwriting files when downloading to the computer.)
• Beep: Turns the camera's beep sounds on or off.
• Format: Formats the CompactFlash card, erasing all images (even write protected ones). (Is not available in Stitch Assist mode.)
• Setup: Brings up the following sub-menu:
  • Auto Power Down: Turns on the automatic shut down, which turns the camera off after a period of inactivity.
  • Date/Time: Sets the camera's internal date and time settings
  • Video System: Establishes the type of video signal, NTSC or PAL.
  • Language: Changes the menu language to English, French, Japanese, German, or Spanish.
    

Playback Menu: Accessed by pressing the Menu button in Playback mode.

• Single Erase: Allows you to delete the current image displayed.
• Erase All: Deletes all images on the CompactFlash card.
• Protect: Write protects the currently displayed image (except from card reformatting).
• Rotate: Allows you to rotate the image 180 degrees counter clockwise.
• Auto Play: Automatically plays back each image on the CompactFlash card, one by one, for three seconds at a time.
• Print Order: Sets up individual images to print on DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) compatible printers. Through this setting, you can set the number of prints to be made, turn on the date and time stamp and setup the print style.