Manual Control Options
Many of the Canon PowerShot A510's manual control options are not placed directly on the camera body, but rather inside a menu. The exceptions are general modes, located on the primary mode dial, along with flash and AF settings which are accessible via the four-way controller when the camera is in regular shooting mode. The bulk of the A510's manual shooting controls are housed within the on-screen Func. Menu. Within the Func. menu, users can access and set most pertinent image parameters. Among these settings are: Manual Focus, ISO, White Balance, Aperture Priority, Shutter Speed Priority, Exposure Compensation, and Metering.
Focus
Auto (7.5)
The auto focus settings for the Canon PowerShot A510 are located within the on-screen menu and offer a slight amount of user control. Relying on a 9-point AiAF autofocus system, the A510 also provides a 1-point AF setting, which reads the frame from the center of the composition. The user is able to choose which one the camera uses by entering the menu and selecting the "on" or "off" options under the focus heading. The menu setting for this option merely says 'on' and 'off', designating the 9-point AiAF setting or a single point focus, linked to the 'off' selection. Turning off this setting does not mean that the user is somehow turning off the auto focus on the camera. An AF lock feature is applied to the shutter release button, as it is on many point-and-shoot models, engaged by partial depression. There is also an AF-assist illuminator that can be turned on or off which is included to help the camera focus in low light situations. Although this is a considerate inclusion by Canon, the feature itself is fairly useless. The beam does fire, but the camera still displays considerable difficulty focusing in low light.
Manual (3.5)
The manual focus setting is controlled by the down arrow on the four-way controller. The PowerShot A510 will allow users to control focus manually by using an indicator bar which will appear at the bottom of the LCD screen. When the camera is in Av, Tv, or M modes the user can press the SET button to switch between the manual focus indicator, the shutter speed for the camera, and the aperture settings. The actual focal length is controlled through the left and right arrows on the four-way controller and adjusting it can get quite cumbersome.
Metering (7.5)
The metering settings for the Canon PowerShot A510 are adjustable when the camera is in P, Tv, Av or M modes and offers three settings: evaluative, center-weighted, and spot metering.
The evaluative setting will meter the entire composition and determine an appropriate overall exposure for the complete frame. Center-weighted metering gives priority to the center of the composition, balancing the exposure with the rest of the frame. Spot metering emphasizes only the centralized potion of the frame. Users can meter for a specific object with the spot metering option by framing the subject in the center of the shot, then partially depressing the shutter until focus and exposure lock are reached. Once locked, users can reframe the shot and fully release the shutter. Metering settings are located within the Func. menu of the Canon PowerShot A510.
Exposure (7.0)
Exposure compensation on the A510 ranges from -2 and +2, moving in 1/3 stop increments. This is a standard range for compact cameras and the A510's accessible layout offers a more user-friendly alternative than the full exposure control, which could be daunting for beginners.
White Balance (7.5)
White Balance, like ISO, is accessed through the Func. menu on the Canon PowerShot A510. The White Balance settings allow the user to select between a fully automatic setting, various presets, and custom mode. The presets available are: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Fluorescent H. The White Balance settings are controllable in all modes but scene and auto modes.
The A510's automatic white balance setting is effective, orienting the camera to an exact white value; however, the resulting warm tones are extremely embellished and appear quite over-saturated, though I'm sure that's how Canon intended it.
ISO (7.5)
The A510 will allow users to manually set the camera's ISO rating. ISO settings are contained within the Func. menu. The active ISO setting will appear on the left side of the LCD screen and may be highlighted by scanning the menu using the four-way controller. Once highlighted, the user will be able to select between 50, 100, 200, and 400. Traditionally, the A-series PowerShot cameras have been known for their crystal-like clarity when using the ISO 50 rating, but they have always performed poorly when the rating is pushed beyond 100, displaying excessive noise and distortion using the ISO 200 and 400 ratings. Fortunately, the A510 goes against the grain and performs admirably at the highest ISO setting (400), so potential consumers rest assured: extraneous noise is within the user's control.
Shutter Speed (7.0)
Surprisingly, the affordable and consumer-friendly PowerShot A510 offers users full control of shutter speed in both full Manual mode as well as in the Shutter Priority setting (signified by the obtuse Tv label). The shutter duration can be set between 15 and 1/2000 seconds. Users can alter the shutter speed settings by pressing the SET button in the center of the four-way controller and moving the highlighted cursor over to the shutter settings. Settings are scrolled through using the directional pad on the back of the camera.
Aperture (7.0)
Users can manually set the aperture opening for the shot using either the full Manual or Aperture Priority shooting modes. Aperture settings for the A510 range between f/2.6 and f/8.0 and are controlled via an on-screen menu, just as shutter speed is adjusted. Aperture levels (F-stops) define how open the iris should be, which in turn determines the amount of light passed through the lens.
