Canon PowerShot A510

Auto Mode (7.5)
The auto mode for the Canon PowerShot A510 is entered using the mode dial on the top of the camera body. When in Auto mode, users retain control of focal length (zoom), flash mode, burst mode, AF frame selection, and Macro Mode engagement. Sensitivity rating (ISO), White Balance setting, Focus, Shutter speed, and aperture is assumed by the camera, determining the exposure for the shot.

The A510 performed admirably in Automatic mode. The camera selected a low (and appropriate) ISO setting in ample lighting and helped to ensure that a clean image was recorded. The Auto white balance function was effective, though the reproduced colors were extremely over-saturated. Of course, that embellished almost pastel look is preferred for many digital camera users and was clearly a conscious adjustment by Canon.

Movie Mode (4.5)
The movie mode for the Canon PowerShot A510 is certainly one of the camera's glaring weaknesses. Users can capture full resolution 640 x 480 video clips at a ridiculously slow recording rate of 10 frames per second or can decrease the resolution to 320 x 240 or 160 x 120 and record at 15 frames per second - not much of an improvement. Either way, the video is going to look choppy and jagged. In all of these settings, video clips can only be captured for up to 30 seconds. The AE, AF, white balance and zoom settings are all locked when the camera is capturing footage and may only be accessed prior to shooting.

Drive / Burst Mode (7.5)
There is a burst mode available on the Canon PowerShot A510 which can be set by entering the Func. menu. In regular shooting mode, the lag between shots could take up to five seconds--a sloth-like delay. In burst mode the speed improves to 2.3 shots per second, but burst mode has its own limitations. The flash may be used, but the delay between shots will be increased to compensate for this added feature. This higher speed is also only attainable if the image settings are at Large/Fine setting and the LCD Monitor is off. With the monitor on the user will get a much slower shot to shot speed.

Playback Mode (7.5)
When the Canon PowerShot A510 is switched to Playback mode, the user is able to view previously captured images in either a multi-up nine image format or in a single image screen. Multi-up format viewing is immediately initiated by moving the zoom lever to the multi-up insignia. The user can then use the four-way controller to navigate previously captured images in a thumbnail format and quickly select images to be viewed individually. To view movies, the user can select the clip from the playback selections and navigate the play, rewind, off, and stop settings located in a bar on the bottom of the LCD screen. These are controlled by pressing the left and right arrows of the four-way controller.

Custom Image Presets (8.0)
There are a number of general purpose image presets available to the user of the Canon PowerShot A510. These controls are placed on the mode dial which may be set to Portrait, Night Scene, Slow Shutter, Fast Shutter, Landscape, Special Scene, and Stitch Assist for the construction of multi-image panoramic shoots. The Scene mode setting offers another range of present options such as Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Underwater, Indoor, Kids and Pets, and Night Snapshot. With both options available, automatic users of the A510 who prefer to render a single selection for the exposure and shooting controls will have more than enough options to cover most shooting situations.