Canon PowerShot S2 IS

July 26th, 2005 | by David Elrich

Performance

The camera starts up very quickly (around two seconds), even when using the supplied alkalines.  Canon claims 130 shots with standard alkalines and 550 with NiMH batteries, another reason to opt for rechargeables (besides the Green factor).  The figures use the Camera and Imaging Products Association (CIPA) standards.  I found the numbers close, but after a lot of zooming with the LCD on, snapping images and videos, the alkalines cried uncle and died before the stated 130.  

We mentioned the steep learning curve, but the initial menu setup is simple when it comes to setting the date/time, resolution, optical image stabilization mode (on is the default), etc.  Like all Canon digicams, the mode dial is separated into a "Creative Zone" and an "Image Zone" with Auto highlighted, the mode photographers will use most of the time.  In the "Image" neighborhood you'll find the usual scene modes such as Portrait and Landscape.  Move to the SCN (meaning "Special Scene") setting and you have six more options like Beach, Fireworks, Night Snapshot and others.  These settings will handle most of your photographic needs and they do the job as advertised.  I was very happy with the results when shooting in JPEG Large; there was little purple fringing.  Contrast and overall color were just right.  Canon offers a nice toy for the adventurous called "My Colors."  With it, you change the overall colorcast of an image such as making it bluer or redder.  You can even lighten skin tones.  It's something fun to play with, but remember to turn it to Auto for your daughter's birthday party or a shot of the Washington Monument.

For frustrated D-SLR wanna-bes, the "Creative Zone" has aperture- and shutter-priority modes as well as straight manual control.  You can tweak this camera to your heart's content, adjusting exposure compensation, ISO, white balance, flash output and lots more.  One of the great things about optical image stabilization is the ability to take shots at slower shutter speeds without a flash.  You'll really love this feature as well as the ability to shoot 2.4 frames per second at top resolution.  ISO ranges from 50 to 400 and we didn't see appreciable noise until hitting 200. 

Speaking of the flash, while you have a number of creative options (such as First- and Second Curtain and the obligatory Red-Eye Reduction) the engineers at Canon decided you should do the work and open the flash rather than it popping up automatically.  This is a bonehead move in my view, especially since the S1 IS had an auto pop-up flash.  Fortunately, the powers that be did include an AF Assist lamp for better flash images in dark situations. 

Another positive note is the top movie mode (VGA, 640 x 480 pixels).  Unlike competing cameras, you can record and playback stereo sound.  Granted, the separation won't rival your local Cineplex,but it does add a nice touch of realism to your videos.  The S2 IS also lets you use the zoom while shooting videos; most other cameras only have one focal length.  Another nice trick is the ability to take stills while shooting video.  Almost every other camera makes you stop what you're doing and move the mode dial from Video to Still.  It's a very nice feature that really lets you grab the memories you want in whatever form you'd like.  Canon none-too-imaginatively calls this "Movie Snap." 

Image Courtesy of Canon