Minolta Dimage S304Minolta packs Dimage technology & optics into a compact 3.3 megapixel prosumer camera!<<Optics :(Previous) | (Next): Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests>> Page 6:Exposure & FlashReview First Posted: 9/13/2001 |
Exposure
The Dimage S304 has incorporated many of the exposure options available in the Dimage 5 and 7, but presents them in a more compact and abbreviated user interface. The Mode dial on top of the camera controls the six basic operating modes: Auto-Record, Multi-Function, Playback, Movie-Record, Setup, and Data Transfer. Auto-Record is the "point-and-shoot" mode, in which the camera makes all of the basic exposure decisions. You have access to external controls, such as Flash, Exposure Compensation, and Mode drive, plus you can choose from a selection of five preset exposure modes: Macro, Portrait, Landscape, Night Portrait, and Text. Within the Multi-Function mode, you have three more exposure options: Program, Aperture Priority, and Manual. Finally, there is a Movie-Record mode, which captures digital video with sound.
Among the Multi-Function Exposure modes, Program is similar to Auto-Record, in that it determines the shutter speed and lens aperture, but you have the added options of choosing White Balance, Sensitivity (ISO), and Metering modes. Aperture Priority allows you to select the lens aperture setting, from f/3 to f/8 depending on zoom, while the camera selects the most appropriate corresponding shutter speed. Switching to Manual mode gives you control over both shutter speed and aperture (1/1,000 to 4 seconds), with a Bulb setting for longer exposures. (Bulb exposure is determined by how long you hold down the shutter button, up to a maximum of 15 seconds.) Light sensitivity can be set to Auto, or ISO equivalents of 100, 200, 400, or 800.
The S304’s default metering system is a Multi-Segment evaluative mode, which takes readings from 256 points throughout the image area and averages them to determine exposure. A Spot Metering mode is available through the Custom 1 section of the Multi-Function recording mode (it is not available in Auto-Record mode). Spot metering is useful for high-contrast subjects, as it bases the exposure reading on a very small area in the center of the viewfinder. When Spot Metering is selected, the LCD monitor automatically turns on (if it is off) and a small circle appears in the center of the image area, indicating where the exposure will be measured. You can determine the area you want to have properly exposed by centering it in the viewfinder, depressing the Shutter button halfway, and then recomposing the image before completing the exposure. If the LCD monitor is turned off, the Spot Metering mode remains active until you change the menu selection or change to another setting on the Mode dial.
Digital Subject Program Modes
The Dimage S304 provides five preset exposure modes, including Macro, Portrait, Landscape, Night Portrait, and Text, accessed by pressing the Digital Subject Program button next to the small status display panel on top of the camera (an indicator highlights each mode as it's selected). Macro mode automatically sets the lens on maximum telephoto and activates the LCD monitor so you can view exact framing -- focusing on objects that are 6 inches to 2 feet (16 to 60 centimeters) from the camera. Portrait mode produces better-looking people shots by enhancing skin tones and decreasing the depth of field (to create a slightly blurred background). Landscape mode uses a small aperture setting to provide maximum depth of field for focusing on near and far subjects. In Night Portrait mode, the camera uses flash to illuminate the subject, and a slow shutter speed to allow more ambient background light into the image. The final preset mode is Text, which optimizes the camera for capturing black text on a white background, keeping the contrast level high so the camera doesn't expose for neutral gray. With the exception of Macro, all Subject Program modes are available only in Auto-Recording mode, and in all but the two Portrait modes, the flash will not fire if set on Autoflash. (You must select Fill-Flash to force the flash exposure.)
Exposure Compensation
Exposure Compensation is available in both Auto-Recording and Multi-Function modes (with the exception of Aperture Priority and Manual Exposure modes) and is adjustable from -2 to +2 exposure values (EV) in one-third-step increments. You activate Exposure Compensation by pressing the far right button under the Data display panel. Once activated, use the Left and Right Arrow keys to adjust the setting, and the amount of compensation will be shown next to the Exposure Compensation icon on the LCD monitor. After you've selected the desired setting, press the Exposure Compensation button a second time to set the exposure. The Aperture and Shutter Speed settings displayed on the monitor will reflect the new exposure. (Note: If the Flash mode is set to Auto, the flash will not fire. It must be set to Fill Flash to operate.)
White Balance & Color Control
White Balance adjustment takes place in the Basic menu of the Multi-Function mode. Options include Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Custom, which is the manual setting. In Auto, the default mode, the camera's exposure system reads the color temperature of the surrounding light and makes the necessary adjustments to balance the color. Custom mode is particularly helpful in mixed lighting conditions, where the camera may have some problem determining the correct color temperature. In this mode, you calibrate the white balance by exposing a white sheet of paper under the existing light. The camera automatically adjusts the color balance to achieve a neutral white.
The S304 also offers Color, Contrast, Sharpness, and Saturation adjustments through the Custom 2 menu in Multi-Function mode. Color mode simply sets the camera to a "Color" or "Black-and-White" option. Sharpness hardens or softens detail in the image, with three levels of adjustment: Hard, Normal, and Soft. Contrast increases or decreases contrast in the scene at one of three levels: High, Normal, and Low. And Color Saturation brightens or subdues color in the scene by setting the option to High, Normal, or Low. (Note: Changes implemented through these menu items are not as visible on the LCD monitor as they will be when viewed on a computer monitor.)
Flash Mode
The S304's built-in flash offers five options, selectable by pressing the far left button under the Data display panel. They include: Autoflash, Fill-Flash, Flash Cancel, Auto Flash w / Red-Eye Reduction, and Fill-Flash w / Red-Eye Reduction. In Fill-Flash mode, the flash fires with every exposure, regardless of lighting conditions. Red-Eye Reduction fires a series of small pre-flashes before firing the flash at full power with the exposure, which reduces the occurrence of red-eye effect. Flash Cancel prevents the flash from firing, even in low light.
The flash status is indicated by a small orange lamp, located to the right of the optical viewfinder window, below the Focus lamp. When the lamp glows steadily, the flash is charged and ready to go. If it blinks quickly, the flash is still charging and the shutter will not release. If it blinks slowly, it is a "camera-shake" warning that means the shutter speed is too slow to handhold without the flash.
The effective flash range varies, depending on the lens position. According to the User Manual, flash range is 1.6 to 11.5 feet (0.5 to 3.5 meters) at the wide-angle position, and 3.0 to 9.8 feet (0.9 to 3.0 meters) at the telephoto position.
Drive Modes
The S304 has four "Drive" settings, selected by pressing the middle button under the Data display panel. The default setting is Single-Frame Advance, which records one image when you press the Shutter button. Continuous Advance captures multiple images in rapid succession. Bracketing mode captures three consecutive images, each at a different exposure, when you depress the Shutter button. One is recorded at normal exposure, one is underexposed, and one is overexposed, allowing you to select the best out of the three exposures. The amount of exposure variation between images is determined by adjusting the Exposure Bracket option in the Multi-Function mode, Custom 1 menu. Options include 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 exposure values (EV).
Self-Timer mode delays the exposure for 10 seconds after you press the Shutter button, giving you time to move into the picture area for a self portrait or group portrait. During the countdown, the Self-Timer lamp on the front of the camera blinks slowly for about 8 seconds, then blinks rapidly for the last 2 seconds, and glows steadily immediately before the exposure. An audio signal accompanying the blinking lamp can be turned off through the Setup menu.
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