Canon PowerShot S1 IS Digital Camera Review

Auto Mode (6.5)
In Auto Mode, all of the following parameters can be established by the camera during operation: Exposure, all light metering options except Evaluative, AE/AF lock, Bracket, Photo Effect, Contrast/Sharpness/Saturation, and ISO speed. Resolution, Image Size, Compressing, some Flash modes, and other functions are still alterable when the camera is placed within Auto Mode. However, all the settings in the first list are only controllable by the camera; other Mode settings will have to be chosen to engage those parameters.

Movie Mode (8.5)
When the camera is placed in Movie Mode by turning the mode dial to the film camera symbol, the user has two format choices available to them, either 640 x 480 or 320 x 240 pixel rate. When using Movie Mode, the user must depress the convex Movie button located on the back of the camera body. This button allows the user to engage and disengage recording, which sets it apart from many models of digital cameras that depend on the still shutter button to engage the movie capture feature. This makes the camera’s control set-up more analogous to a camcorder, rather than a digital camera with video capabilities.

Drive / Burst Mode (6.5)
On the Canon PowerShot S1, this mode is referred to as "continuous mode," and can be engaged by pressing the Continuous Mode button on the left top section of the camera to the left of the flash, and behind the flash button. This mode allows for 17 shots to be taken in ten seconds, and is engaged fully once the camera’s shutter is depressed partially for focus. Once the camera is focused and the shutter depressed completely, the camera will shoot at this rate until the shutter is released.

Playback Mode (7.5)
When turning the camera on, or once in regular shooting mode, it is possible to enter playback mode by turning the switch portion of the On/Off dial to the right, to playback mode. Once in Playback mode, it is possible to scan through the images using the right and left arrows on the four-way controller, as well as manipulate them through the menu. A user can rotate the images, alter their size, create a slide show, determine their print order, erase them all, and so forth. If the user chooses to press the display feature, three different settings (no information, standard, and detailed display) will occur.

Custom Image Presets (6.5)
With the Canon PowerShot S1, the following presets are available through the Mode Dial: Portrait, Landscape, Night Scene, Fast Shutter, Slow Shutter, Stitch Assist, and Movie modes.