Manual Control Options
The Canon PowerShot S2 IS offers users about as much control as any compact camera could. Users can assume control over exposure, ISO, white balance, focus, and metering as well as custom effects which offer the opportunity to tweak sharpness, contrast, and saturation. Users can also manually adjust audio settings during video capture – a first among traditional digital cameras. There are both priority modes and a full manual mode. Users can also select the IS mode in use and will also have to manually open the flash, though the latter of course is less of a pleasing manual option and more of an inconvenience.

Focus
Auto (6.0)
The Canon PowerShot S2 IS uses a TTL contrast-type AF system to focus from 3 inches to 2.6 feet in macro mode and 2 feet to infinity in the normal shooting modes. When the camera has a difficult time focusing, users can activate the AF illuminator, which is a green LED on the front of the camera. Focusing adjustments are drawn out and will require some time to properly calibrate and set, and if audio is being recorded, the sensitive stereo microphones will pick up the sound. The S2’s AF is faster than the auto focus on some other point-and-shoot models on the market, but it is about average by today’s standards, particularly among the ultra zoom market segment.

In all available modes on the S2, users can switch the camera’s Automatic Focus between single and continuous focusing modes. Continuous focus is the default setting, in which the camera will constantly adjust the focus as the frame is altered. Its constant state of refocusing will prepare the camera for the shot, but it’s a constant drain on the battery. To conserve power, users can switch over to the single auto focus setting. Single focus is what most point-and-shooters are accustomed to and activates upon partial depression of the shutter. When the shutter is pushed halfway, the camera will lock the focus and the shot can be captured.

In addition to the Auto Focus setting, users can manually select the AF point within the frame. This is particularly helpful when subjects are off-center. The AF point selection control is a secondary feature of the “SET” button and is active in all modes except full Auto. In any other mode, once the button is pressed, the white AF box turns greens and becomes movable. Users can use the up, down, left and right directional values of the multi-controller to move the box to the desired region of the frame. Wherever the box is placed, objects within it will be in focus.

The addition of the DIGIC II imaging processor in the S2 is said to expedite the autofocus function by nearly 45% over the previous S1. The PowerShot S2’s AF speed is quite quick and responsive, but its accuracy in both still and video capture modes was sometimes disappointing. In still mode, the camera at times seemed confused when multiple objects crept into the AF box, and occasionally focused on objects along the edge, rather than the one in the center.

Additionally, when recording video with the lens zoomed all the way out, the camera had substantial difficulty focusing. If this is the best still/video hybrid option on the market, video enthusiasts should stick with a camcorder for now. I was not altogether unimpressed with the camera’s movie mode, but the lens would often zoom in and out, displaying that familiar and unflattering “breathing” effect that is sure to drive users up the wall when trying to watch footage of their kid’s first steps… only to find that it blurs in and out….in and out.

Manual (2.5)
An “MF” button has been logically placed on the side of S2’s lens barrel. Users can hold the MF button and alter focus with the up and down options on the navigational selector. A vertically-oriented line graph appears on the LCD screen to guide users through the available focus range. A small square is superimposed over the live feed image in the center of the LCD screen. This is the focus guide and magnifies the center of the composition; this feature will be particularly useful in extreme telephoto shots.

While manual focus rings are still primarily reserved for SLRs, the S2 would certainly benefit from one, particularly since the feature could provide a comfortable resting place for the user’s left hand and increase stabilization and handling during shooting. However, on the S2, a ring could only go so far, as the lack of LCD and viewfinder resolution just can’t provide the sharpness needed to attain accurate focus. While manual focus is a nice inclusion, users will probably be better served relying on the PowerShot S2 IS’s mobile AF box.

Metering (7.5)
The PowerShot S2 offers three selectable light metering settings: Evaluative, Center-Weighted Average, and Spot AE Point. The Evaluative metering option is the default and will read the lighting throughout the composition and determine the optimal settings for an even overall exposure. Evaluative metering will be best for general snapshots. Center-Weighted Average metering reads the light in the entire frame and determines an exposure for the entire scene, but gives strong priority to the center of the composition. There is also a Spot AE Point metering alternative that has two available options. Users can determine whether the metering spot is fixed to the center of the composition or if the spot setting is linked to the AF point and thus, movable. The movable AF point option is a nice inclusion because it enables users to precisely meter off-centered subjects or objects within the shot without having to abandon the viewfinder.

Exposure (8.0)
The Canon PowerShot S2 IS hosts a range of features that have the potential to alter exposure, such as both Aperture and Shutter Priority modes as well as a full Manual mode. Users can also manually alter the exposure compensation from +/-2 in 1/3-stop increments, influencing the exposure in any mode. This is a pretty standard feature, with the 1/3-stop increments offering a reasonable degree of control.

White Balance (8.0)
In terms of color balance, the PowerShot S2 is fairly competent at adapting to various colors of light. Canon included 6 preset options along with a fully automatic and full custom setting. The presets are Flash, Day Light, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, and Fluorescent H. In case the distinction is not abundantly clear from the “H” titling, the strictly Fluorescent setting is for “recording under warm-white, cool-white, or 3-wavelength,” while the Fluorescent H setting is for “recording under daylight fluorescent or daylight fluorescent-type 3-wavelength.” Makes perfect sense, right? Well, if not, users can feel free to play with it to feel out the distinctions. Fortunately, this is easy to do with the S2 as the white balance option (and all other shooting settings available under the FUNC. Menu) offers a live feed backdrop for shooting adjustments. Users can preview potential alterations to color prior to rendering the selection.

The additional inclusion of a manual setting will make accurate color reproduction possible in virtually any type of lighting. The manual or custom setting on the S2 is quick and easy to use and worked effectively when tested. Users must place a “true white” card in front of the lens and hit the “set” button. The camera will then read the white value in relation to the scene’s lighting and adjust the color accordingly.

ISO (7.0)
One area of the PowerShot S1 that Canon unfortunately did not update was the S2’s sensitivity options. A major performance flaw of the S1 was its inability to control noise at even the limited ISO options it offered. Canon added a DIGIC II processor to the S2 package, which should help a bit; however, an increased sensitivity range would ultimately be desired. The S2, like the PowerShot S1, contains a 50-400 ISO range with 100 and 200 options in between. An Auto setting is also available. The ISO 50 setting is helpful for quality, but the range is limited and performance beyond the ISO 100 rating is questionable. Couple this with the flash that must be coaxed out manually and some point-and-shooters might not find the S2 a friendly camera in compromised lighting. The ISO range for the S2 manages to outdo the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5, which stops at ISO 320, and is comparable to the ISO ranges for the Panasonic FZ5 and FZ20, the Kodak Z7590, and the Sony H1. However, the S2 was not a strong competitor in terms of noise suppression at the higher ISO settings.

Shutter Speed (8.0)
Canon increased the maximum shutter speed from 1/2000 to 1/3200 of a second on the PowerShot S2 IS. The S2 offers a shutter range of 15 seconds to 1/3200 of a second. On all exposures exceeding 1.3 seconds, additional noise reduction is activated.

The increased speed from 1/2000 to 1/3200 distinguishes the S2 from the other current ultra zoom models available, which top out at 1/2000. However, both the Sony H1 (30 seconds) and Kodak Z7490 (16 seconds) offer longer exposures than the 15 second max of the S2.

Aperture (8.0)
With the lens zoomed out to its widest angle of view, the PowerShot S2 will open up to f/2.7. In full telephoto, the S2’s lens can be opened to f/3.5. The f/3.5 max aperture in full 12x zoom is only surpassed by the Panasonic FZ5, which can open to f/3.3 in full zoom. Both the Konica Minolta Z5 and Sony Cyber-shot H1 can only open to f/3.7 at full zoom. The S2’s f/2.7 maximum aperture in wide angle is the widest aperture available on any of the current ultra zoom cameras and gives the S2 a slight edge in terms of speed and low light capabilities.

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