Model Design / Appearance (7.5)
Canon expended significant effort in redesigning the S1 to create a formidable representation in the popular ultra zoom segment of compact cameras. The resulting S2 is a bit larger and heavier than its precursor. In the world of digital cameras, this is a retrograde maneuver; the general technological trend typically calls for size reduction and increased ergonomics, though there is some justification for the updated design. The modified exterior is aesthetically similar to its precursor but offers a more balanced frame, stereo mic inputs placed above the lens barrel and out of the way of the user’s fingers, and a larger LCD display.
The S2 is cased is a silver plastic body with rounded edges that provides a sense of continuity to the overall form. The general shape is not overtly boxy, due to the rounded corners. The camera is not as sleek as the FZ5 and in terms of dimensions is somewhat cube-like. Visible lines on the camera’s exterior are clean and fairly sparse, becoming more apparent around the handgrip and less pronounced near the top of the camera body. Unfortunately, the use of plastic is abundant on the S2 and extends even to the tripod mount. While we recognize that the camera is meant to remain portable and includes the optical image stabilization to aid handheld shots, the plastic tripod mount is a step in the wrong direction.
The camera features a long zoom range and thick lens barrel that has been well integrated visually with the compressed camera body. The exterior is coated in a slightly speckled satiny silver finish that appears as a digital image would with an abundance of sharpening.
A few design idiosyncrasies to note: the camera’s speaker is placed off on the left side of the body, where the user’s left hand will likely be, so users will have to remain aware of it when replaying video and audio clips if they do not wish to obscure it. Also, the camera’s back face contains some odd curves and varying planes that seem like the plastic casing might have melted during construction.
Size / Portability (5.5)
The PowerShot S2 is a bit larger than its precursor, spanning 4.5 x 3.1 x 3.0 inches and weighing 14.3 oz. (without battery), but retains a similar overall aesthetic. This is up from the original S1’s 4.4 x 3.1 x 2.6-inch, 13 oz. frame. The S2 IS, like most other compact ultra zoom models, falls into an odd size range that’s far too large for even the baggiest of pockets but seems a bit small to bother carrying around in a camera bag. With the camera’s plastic frame and relatively meager weight, the S2 could be handled with a shoulder or wrist strap, but for longer shoots, this may become taxing.
The camera’s rounded corners and general contours will help it ease into a smaller bag or even a backpack, but beware: the primarily plastic composite doesn’t seem like it will sustain much of a pounding. This camera is designed for handling and portability, not durability. This is an unfortunate drawback to this camera styling in general – many of the current compact ultra zooms have made significant strides in increasing telephoto range, optical stability, and image clarity (reduced noise), but none are too rugged. One of the tradeoffs for this year’s high performance compact cameras, to remain below the falling ceiling of lower-end digital SLRs and continue to be an affordable alternative, is the sub-$600 price tag. This means plastic will be in abundance. The body of the S2 is comparable in size to the Konica Minolta DiMAGE Z5 or the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ5. It does manage to be somewhat smaller than the Fuji S5100, but in the end, none of these cameras will be pocket sized. Although it’s great to have a lighter and smaller camera for portability, it would make more sense to choose a camera with better materials and construction if the camera will be in a state of constant transit.
Handling Ability (7.5)
While the added bulk of the S2 IS is not necessarily conducive to its portability, the camera is far easier to handle and control than pocket-friendly point-and-shoot models. The S2 is fitted with a large, padded handgrip that extends out further than most, helping to stabilize the camera. The inner half of the handgrip is covered with rubber and enables users to attain a secure grip even in compromised conditions or when shooting with moist palms. The grip is also very comfortable due to its long and thin design and should provide enough surface space for holding and controlling the camera without pinning fingers against the lens barrel. The S2 IS’s lens barrel is placed opposite the grip on the right side of the camera body and acts as a complementary grip for the user’s left hand. The weight of the camera is evenly distributed and lends itself to the two-handed shooting position. Canon placed buttons for macro and manual focus on the left side of the lens barrel, enabling users to quickly alter focus without leaving the shooting position.
One particular aspect to keep in mind when handling the S2 is the manually-engaged pop-up flash. Perhaps “pop-up” is the wrong term to use in this instance, since users will have to physically flip up the mechanism each time the flash is activated. For those users accustomed to shooting with an SLR of any sort, this will not present a problem, as those users are already comfortable with making manual alterations and changes to settings prior to releasing the shutter; however, those graduating from a point-and-shoot model to the S2 may find this plaguing, as even in full auto mode in a pitch black room, the flash will not be activated without user input.
Control Button / Dial Positioning / Size (7.5)
The control layout of the Canon PowerShot S2 IS was easy to handle and adapt to. The buttons were logically dispersed and conducive to shooting both still and video images. The multi-record button design is obviously targeting those users who frequently capture video; for these users, the current design is optimized for both mediums – users can switch between still and video capture as well as they could on any current digital camera on the market; however, expect for this to change soon as both digital camera and camcorder manufacturers continue to view this area as an untapped resource. This “hybrid functionality” is heavily emphasized on the S2 IS and may allude to transformations to come.
The zoom toggle for the camera surrounds the shutter button in a ring, rather than a rocker or slider on the camera’s back. Positioning a zoom toggle on the back of the camera body allows the user to engage the zoom toggle with the thumb while leaving the index finger free to activate the shutter. On the S2 the user will first have to adjust the zoom level with the index finger and then capture the image with the same finger. It’s not a difficult maneuver, but it is annoying and may delay capture. In a strong design move, Canon enabled the S2’s mode dial to rotate a full 360 degrees, eliminating the need to constantly shift back and forth from one end of the dial to the other. Also, the four-way directional control is raised from the surface of the camera body, allowing for faster access and more accurate deployment of this feature. In another intelligent move on the S2, Canon has provided separate recording controls for video and still modes. This decision mirrors the recording controls on hybrid camcorders and should increase the efficiency and speed at which users can navigate shooting modes.
Menu (7.0)
In regular shooting mode, the PowerShot S2 IS offers two menus (FUNC. and Menu) which appear when their respective buttons are pressed.
The FUNC. Menu will be displayed on the left and bottom edges of the LCD screen and offers a live feed image in the background while users manipulate settings. This is an extremely helpful feature for both users who are becoming acclimated to the effects of manual control and for more experienced users who need a visual reference to check against.
The FUNC. Menu provides access to exposure compensation in the typical +/-2 EV range, white balance settings, ISO settings, Picture Effects, BKT settings, Flash output, movie frame parameters, and Image Size/Compression. These choices are listed on the left side of the LCD screen while the actual settings for each choice are listed along the bottom edge—an unusual but handy layout. Each of these menus and setting options are navigated by the four-way controller on the back of the camera body.
The other place that users can access camera controls is through the MENU button. This menu appears on a solid gray backdrop and lists three submenus with more options in each. The cursor’s movement is markedly slower than those on DSLRs with comparable menu interfaces. Each of the three regular shooting mode submenus is fairly long, but the cursor handily cycles back to the top of the menu so the user doesn’t have to scroll backwards for an eternity.
In the first submenu the user will be able to access the Reverse Display, IS mode, Convertor, Intervalometer, Set Shortcut Button, Save Settings, Flash Sync., Slow Synchro, Red-Eye, Continuous Shooting, Self Timer, Spot AE Point, MF Point Zoom, AF Mode, AF Assist Beam, Tally Lamp, Digital Zoom, and Review. The second submenu, called the setup menu and accessed in both regular shooting mode and playback mode, allows access to Mute, Audio, Volume, LCD Brightness, Power Saving, Date/Time, Format, File No. Reset, Auto Rotate, Distance Units, Language, and Video System. The third submenu is the My Camera mode, which controls the start-up images and audio samples heard when the camera is being activated and used. The My Camera submenu has settings for Theme, Start-up Image, Start-up Sound, Operation Sound, Selftimer Sound, and Shutter Sound. This submenu is also accessible when in shooting mode or playback mode. The Playback menu features standard control settings for images which have already been captured to card. This menu has settings for Protect, Rotate, Sound Recorder, Erase All, Slide Show, Print Order, and Transfer Order.
These menus are all easy to navigate, asides from the lag experienced in the MENU settings. The FUNC. Menu settings are also easy to navigate, and it uses a mixture of symbols which are supplemented with full text descriptions once a submenu heading has been highlighted.
Ease of Use (7.0)
Although many users may find multiple record buttons confusing, this camera is actually pretty straightforward and intuitive, and with a little bit of use, the dual button setup will become both familiar and advantageous. Because there are two separate record buttons, the user is immediately able to enter into movie recording mode without the hassle of entering a menu structure or manipulating a sticky mode dial. This will also be handy if the user wants to capture a still image while recording video.
The menus are standard setups with long vertical lists of options, but they continuously loop from last option to first option so users don’t need to re-navigate through the enter menu again. The navigation speed is somewhat sluggish and may frustrate when quick adjustments are necessary, but otherwise the menu structures are fine.
The S2 IS is successful in its structuring of options; with a host of manual functions included, the S2 conceals extraneous features to simplify the interface to point-and-shooters, while making advanced manual controls accessible to inclined users. The dual-record button at first seems more gimmicky than practical, but for some users, it will lend a substantial advantage. All around, the S2 fits well into the ultra zoom compact digital camera segment – offering a bit more in the way of performance and options without sacrificing its potential for point-and-shoot functionality.
