Manual Control Options
In case you want to be more creative than the semi-automatic shutter priority setting or more advanced than the automated Fireworks scene mode, there are plenty of manual options to toy with. The manual mode lets the user control the flash setting, exposure, shutter and aperture settings, ISO speed, and white balance. The user can also adjust the focus manually, although it’s a bit difficult given its reliance on the scroll bar.

 

Focus
Auto (8.0)
There are two auto focus options available to the user of the Canon PowerShot A85, differing in the area of the frame covered. There is a nine-point AF mode and a center focus setting. When using center focus, the user can select the specific object or subject to focus for. This is often used when shooting portraits where the user wants the subject in sharp focus and all extraneous information to be softer or blurred. The nine-point overall automatic focusing mode will read the scene from nine points throughout the composition, focusing for all objects regardless of placement or depth plane within the shot.

Manual (3.5)
There is a “manual focus” feature included on the Canon PowerShot A85 but it should be clear that this variation of the feature is digitized and will require entering menus and extended scrolling to focus the image. There is no manual focus ring included on the model or analogue control element to the feature. The manual focus for the A85 is engaged by pressing the down arrow on the four-way controller. A scroll bar will then appear in the lower portion of the LCD screen, and the user can choose the appropriate manual focus setting with the left and right arrows. This layout is cumbersome, and does not allow for quick focus changes, which leaves this setting most feasible when the user has lots of time prior to shooting. Additionally, it does not provide an opportunity to focus beyond the automatic focus range. Typically, at least with a focus ring, the user can manipulate focus to minute gradations that the auto focus can not reach. This is not the case on the A85 and appears to have been included more for marketing purposes than actual application.

Metering (7.5)
There are three separate light metering settings available in the Canon PowerShot A85, listed within the Function Menu. They are Evaluative, Center Weighted, and Spot AE. Evaluative metering allows the camera to consider the entire image being captured. The camera will survey the entire composition and deduce an appropriate exposure for the overall scene. Center Weighted metering averages the entire image, but emphasizes the center of the frame. In Center Weighted metering mode, the camera will meter for the center (and presumably) the subject of the shot and then average this segment with the rest of the frame. The final metering mode offered is Spot AE, which meters a selected “spot” or portion of the image within the frame. Spot AE metering is best used when exposing for a specific subject or object and will ensure that this object is properly exposed.

Exposure (7.0)
There is an exposure compensation setting within the Function Menu that allows the user to adjust the exposure levels of the camera from -2 to +2 EV. Pressing the right and left arrow buttons will enable the user to add or detract illumination from the image in 1/3-stop increments. This is the standard range on most digital cameras, regardless of the level or styling of the model. Exposure compensation can be a useful additive and it's always good to know it’s there if it's needed.

 

White Balance (8.0)
The white balance control on the Canon PowerShot A85 is located within the Function Menu, and enables the user to select from the following settings: Auto, Daylight, Fluorescent H, Fluorescent, Tungsten, Cloudy, and Custom. The offering of a customized white balance option provides an immeasurable advantage over many point-and-shoot cameras that force the user into automatic or preset options. With the custom setting, along with preset and auto modes, the user can let the camera do the work or manually set it when added accuracy is needed or the camera’s settings are not handling the light source properly. Automatic white balance in general is probably the weakest element of automatic control on current digital cameras and a manual setting is an absolutely necessary inclusion.

ISO (7.0)
The ISO rating on the Canon PowerShot A85 can be controlled either automatically or manually though the Function Menu under the ISO speed subsection. There are five ISO settings available in total: Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400. This is a fairly standard range for this type of point-and-shot camera; however, given the camera's atrocious handling of noise, an ISO 50 or at the very least, an ISO 80 setting should have been included.

Shutter Speed (7.0)
Shutter speeds can be manually controlled in either full manual mode or in the Shutter Priority setting. The shutter speed range offered on this model ranges from 15 seconds to 1/2000^th of a second. These settings are available at the bottom of the LCD screen beside the aperture settings category, and are engaged by pressing the “set” button. This is a relatively generous range of speeds offered and will allow users to fully freeze motion or leave the shutter open for up to 15 seconds when desired.

Aperture (6.5)
Manual manipulation of Aperture is controllable on the Canon PowerShot A85 and is engaged via the onscreen LCD display at the bottom of the screen. It is accessible in either Aperture Priority Mode or Manual mode, and allows the user to choose among the following settings: f/2.8, f/3.2-4.0 and f/4.5-8.0 for Wide Angle, and f/4.8, f/5.6-7.1, and f/8.0 for Telephoto.

Modes	Page 7 of 12		Image Parameters
Canon PowerShot A85 Digital Camera Review Navigation
Intro	Testing / Performance	Physical Tour	Components
Design / Layout	Modes	Control Options	Image Parameters
Connectivity / Extras	Overall Impressions	Conclusion	Specs