Auto Mode (7.5)
The Canon SX100 IS has an easily identifiable Auto mode, located on the mode dial. The SX100's Auto mode restricts control options to Focus (Normal, Macro), ISO (Auto, High ISO), and Drive mode (Single Shot, 10-second Self-Timer, 2-second Self-Timer, or Custom). Auto mode also limits the flash to simply on and off. Users have to manually pull up the flash to activate it. Users can’t control flash output, which sometimes leads to overexposed photos at close range. Users should consider suppressing the flash in Auto mode for subjects within a few feet of the camera, such as portrait photography or Macro shooting.
White balance defaults to Auto White Balance, which is particularly accurate. Users can change image quality resolution and compression in Auto mode. With an accessible icon and limited number of selectable functions, beginner photographers are likely to frequently use the Auto mode.
Movie Mode (7.5)
Budding videographers can make videos using the SX100's Movie mode, represented by the film camera icon on the mode dial. Users can choose from two Movie modes, Standard and Compact. Movies are recorded in AVI Motion JPEG with WAVE monaural sound.
In Standard, users have a choice of three resolution and compression options: 640 x 480 at 30 frames per second (fps), the new LP compression of 640 x 480 at 30 fps, or 320 x 240 at 30 fps for up to 4 GB or 60 minutes. In Compact mode, file size is restricted to 160 x 120 at 15 fps for up to 3 minutes. Compact Movie mode is a quick-and-easy reference for users who are only interested in uploading to the Web or e-mailing videos.
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Movie Mode
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White Balance
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Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Underwater, Custom
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My Colors
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Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, B/W, Custom Color
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Resolution / Frame Rate
(only in Standard Movie)
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640 x 480 30 fps, 640 x 480 at 30 fps LP, 320 x 240 at 30 fps
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Resolution/Frame Rate
(in Compact Movie)
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160 x 120 at 15 fps
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Control options are about the same in Standard and Compact, with the exception of one important feature: zoom. Users can optically zoom in Standard mode, but not in Compact mode; that limits zooming capabilities if users want to record small videos. Users can do two things if they want small files with zoom: set zoom before hitting the record button in Compact mode, or record in Standard with zoom and then resize post-capture.
In Compact and Standard file sizes, users can change White Balance (Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Custom) and Colors (Off, Vivid, Neutral, Sepia, Black-and-White, Custom).
There are a few post-capture functions, too. Users can resize videos after the fact or play back movies in slow motion or jump frames.
Drive / Burst Mode (5.75)
To photograph fast-moving sports or people, users might consider switching to Drive mode on their Canon SX100 IS to take multiple still photos in succession. Users can access the Burst mode via the rotary control dial, which lumps the single and burst Shooting modes together. In addition to Single Shot, users can switch to Continuous shooting at 1.3 fps or Continuous AF at 0.8 fps. The 1-fps rate doesn’t bode well for this Drive mode.
Users can also select from 10- or 2-second Self-Timer modes, perfect for those infamous Facebook self-portraits. Users might miss the last hidden Custom Timer setting, because the LCD doesn’t automatically display that function. Continue rotating the dial to view the Custom function.
Overall, the Burst modes are slow. Faster burst rates would vastly improve this camera for action photography.
Playback Mode (7.25)
The PowerShot SX100 IS offers a fair amount of Playback options. Like most point-and-shoots, users can view their images as singles or in slide show form with transitional effects. To jump through a series of photos, users can view the photos as a nine-thumbnail index using the zoom lever. Users can also edit photos in the camera by resizing or adding a sound clip.
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Playback Menu
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Auto Play
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Set (Pause Play) Menu
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Red Eye Correction
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Set Menu
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Resize
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Set Menu
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Sound Memo
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Set Menu
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Protect
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Set Menu
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Rotate
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Set Menu
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Erase All
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Cancel, OK
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Transfer Order
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Order, Mark all, Reset, menu
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Transition
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No transition effect, Brightening transition, Side transition (icons)
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Users can connect the camera and print directly with a PictBridge-compatible printer.
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Print Menu
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Print
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Set Menu
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Select Images & Qty.
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Set Menu
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Select All Images
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Set 1 print per image
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Clear All Selections
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Delete all images? (Cancel/OK)
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Print Settings
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Print Type (Standard, Index, Both)
Date (On/Off)
File No. (On/Off)
Clear DPOF data (On/Off)
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Like the Record menu, users can access the Tools set-up functions via Playback mode.
Accessing Playback is simple, with a dedicated Play button located on the back of the camera. The SX100 IS offers enough playback functions to make basic corrections like red-eye fix, but the camera lacks more innovative built-in editing such as panoramic stitch (although users can do so with the post-capture software). Users who seriously dislike editing images on their computer might want to consider competitor cameras like HP or Casio, which offer more in-camera editing. For more advanced photographers, the lack of built-in editing shouldn't pose too much of a bother.
Custom Image Presets (7.0)
The Canon SX100 IS divides the location of its custom image presets. The mode dial on top of the camera only accesses five presets, arguably the most frequently used: Portrait, Landscape, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, and Stitch Assist. There is also a dedicated Special Scene mode area on the mode dial. The Special Scene mode opens up a separate internal menu through the rotary dial for Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Aquarium, Indoor, and Night Scene. It’s helpful having a few of the presets on the mode dial to access easily, but dividing the list of presets is a bit confusing for a new user.
In addition, there is no help text that sometimes accompanies Scene modes. For example, in Night Scene, the camera automatically optimizes shutter speed and flash but does not spell that out for the new user, as some competing models do. Having said that, the camera does display the Scene name. For instance, the mountain icon shows that the function is called “Landscape.”
The SX100 IS’s preset modes cover the bases for most varied shooting situations from indoors to outdoors, portraits to actions. The lack of a unified list of custom image scene modes with spelled out text help guides, however, is its downfall.
