Canon Powershot S200 Review

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By: Steve's Digicams

Review posted 4/19/02

Click to take a QTVR tour of the S200

Canon's PowerShot S200 "Digital ELPH" is the year 2002 upgrade to the PowerShot S110 camera. It retains and improves upon the stylish and elegant design that made the S110 one of the most popular digital cameras of 2001. Packed inside of the highly compact and durable stainless steel case is a 2x optical 35-70mm f/2.8-4.0 zoom lens and a 2.0 megapixel CCD sensor. The menu interface and camera controls have been improved to make it easier to use. It features direct print capability with Canon's new CP-100 and CP-10 Card Photo Printers.

The S200 captures high-resolution still images up to 1600 x 1200 pixels for printing or you can select 1024 x 768 or 640 x 480 size for screen or web use. For creative control it has a Photo Effects mode; a shutter speed range of 15 seconds to 1/1500 second; spot metering; selectable ISO settings from 50 to 400; built-in red-eye reduction light-guide flash; and zoom playback up to 10x for convenient image review.

A new Intelligent Orientation sensor has been added to both models to detect whether an image has been recorded horizontally or vertically. During image playback, the sensor detects the proper orientation of each image, and previews them accordingly without the need to rotate the camera for image viewing. It is also adjusts AF, AE and white balance accordingly. Similarly, when using the ZoomBrowser EX and ImageBrowser software included with the cameras, vertical and horizontal picture orientation is automatically detected and appropriately displayed.

When powered down, the lens is safely tucked away inside of the highly durable stainless steel body that measures just 3.4 x 2.2 x 1.1 inches. This is truly a "pocket size" camera that weighs a scant 6.4 ounces. As with all the Canon compacts, the S200 has a light-assisted autofocus that even works in the dark. An advanced TTL AiAF three-point autofocus system permits the camera to automatically select the primary subject even when off-center.

The PowerShot S200 can also record movies with sound in VGA (640 x 480 pixels), QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) and Q2VGA (160 x 120 pixels) at 20 frames per second. Up to 4 seconds of continuous recording is possible in VGA, 10 seconds in QVGA, and up to 30 seconds in the Q2VGA format.

The S200 comes with a comprehensive suite of programs enabling image management, editing, compositing and printing. It's compatible with both Mac and PC computers, including Windows XP and Mac OS X. Included is Apple QuickTime 5.0, Canon RemoteCapture 2.4, and PhotoStitch 3.1 for both Macintosh and Windows, as well as Canon ZoomBrowser EX 3.3, PhotoRecord 1.4 and WIA and TWAIN drivers for Windows, plus ImageBrowser 2.3 and a Photoshop-compatible plug-in for the Mac.

PowerShot S200 Features

2.0 Megapixel CCD imager for up to 1600x1200 pixel images
2x optical 35-70mm f/2.8-4.0 zoom, 2.5x digital zoom
1.5" color LCD with up to 10x playback zoom
Highly compact and durable stainless steel body
Advanced TTL AiAF three-point autofocus system
Program AE automatic and Manual exposure modes
Movie mode w/sound, 20fps 640x480 / 320x240 / 160x120
2.5fps Continuous exposure mode
Evaluative metering on focus point or Spot
Stitch Assist mode for perfect panoramas
Exposure compensation: +/-2EV in 1/3-step increments
White Balance: Auto, 5 presets or Custom
Photo Effects: Low Sharpening, Vivid Color, Neutral, Sepia and B&W
Low-light focus assist illuminator
Shutter speeds of 15 seconds to 1/1500 second
Selectable ISO settings from 50 to 400
Intelligent Orientation sensor
Builtin microphone
Lithium rechargable battery and charger included
Direct print to CP-100 and CP-10 printers
USB connectivity for PC and Mac

The PowerShot S200 Digital ELPH has a suggested retail price of $399.

The S200 connects directly to the Canon Card Photo Printer CP-100, a very compact 4 x 6-inch dye sublimation printer made exclusively for use with compatible PowerShot digital cameras.

The optional WP-DC600 Waterproof Case for the S200 is rated for underwater use to a depth of 100 feet (30 meters.) It's also perfect for use when snow skiing or using the camera out in the rain or other inclement weather.

Download the PowerShot S200 brochure

Physical Views

The S200 compared to a normal CD disc.

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Page Two

PowerShot S200 DIGITAL ELPH

Camera effective pixels :

Approx. 2 million

Image sensor :

1/2.7 in. CCD (Total number of pixels: approx. 2.1 million)

Lens :

5.4 (W) - 10.8 (T) mm
(35 mm film equivalent: 35-70 mm)

F 2.8 (W) - 4 (T)

Digital Zoom :

Maximum 2.5x (Maximum 5x with optical zoom)

Optical Viewfinder :

Primary imaging real-image optical zoom viewfinder

LCD monitor :

1.5-inch low-temperature polycrystalline silicon TFT color LCD, approx. 120,000 pixels

Autofocus :

TTL 3 point AiAF/ TTL 1 point center AF
Focus lock possible

Focusing Range :
(from tip of the lens barrel)

Normal:	57 cm (1.9 ft.) - infinity
Macro AF:	10 - 57 cm (3.9 in. - 1.9 ft.) (W) 27 - 57 cm (10.6 in. - 1.9 ft.) (T)

Shutter :

Mechanical + electronic

Shutter Speed :

15 - 1/1500 sec.

*	1- 1/ 6 sec. possible at flash-off or slow-synchro in manual mode.
*	15 - 1 sec. possible in long shutter mode.
*	Noise reduction processing on speeds between 15 - 1.3 sec.

Light Metering Method :

Evaluative metering (linked to focusing point)/ Spot metering

Exposure Control :

Program AE

Exposure Compensation :

+-2 EV (in 1/3-stop increments)

Sensitivity :

ISO 50/ 100/ 200/ 400 equivalent and Auto*

*	Camera automatically adjusts sensitivity in the range of ISO 50 to ISO 150 equivalent.

White Balance :

TTL auto/ preset (daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H) or custom white balance

Flash :

Red-eye reduction auto/ auto/ on/ off / slow-synchro

Flash Range :

Normal :	57 cm- 3.0 m (1.9- 9.8 ft.) (W), 57 cm- 2.0 m (1.9- 6.6 ft.) (T)
Macro :	27 - 57 cm (10.6 in.- 1.9 ft.) (W/T)

Shooting Modes :

Auto/ manual/ stitch assist/ movie

Continuous Shooting :

Approx. 2.5 images/sec. (Large/ Fine mode, LCD monitor off)

Self-Timer :

Shoots after approx. 10 sec. or approx. 2 sec.

PC Connected Shooting :

Available (USB connection only. Exclusive software program RemoteCapture is included in the camera kit.)

Recording Media :

CompactFlash^TM card (Type I)

File Format :

Design rule for Camera File system, DPOF compliant

Image Recording Format :

Still Images :	JPEG (Exif 2.2)*
Movies :	AVI (Image data : Motion JPEG, Audio data : WAVE [monaural])

Compression :

Superfine/ fine/ normal

Number of Recording Pixels :

Still Images :

Large : 1600 x 1200 pixels

Medium : 1024 x 768 pixels

Small : 640 x 480 pixels

Movies :

640 x 480 pixels (Approx. 4 sec.)**
320 x 240 pixels (Approx. 10 sec.)**
160 x 120 pixels (Approx. 30 sec.)**
Approx 20 frames/ sec.
	** The data in parentheses refer to the maximum movie length per shooting

Replay Modes :

Single image view/ index view (9 thumbnails)/ zoomed view (LCD monitor zooms images up to 10 x ) / slide show / printing with Card Photo Printer CP-100, CP-10 or Bubble Jet Printer (Direct Print Function)

Interface :

Universal Serial Bus (USB)

Audio/ Video Output (NTSC or PAL selectable, monaural audio)

Power Source :

Rechargeable Lithium-ion battery (type: NB-1LH/ NB-1L)

Compact Power Adapter CA-PS500

Car Battery Charger CBC-NB1

Operating Temperatures :

0 - 40 °C (32 - 104 °F)

Operating Humidity :

10 - 90 %

Dimensions
(w x h x d) :

87.0 x 57.0 x 26.7 mm (3.4 x 2.2 x 1.1 in.)
(excluding protrusions)

Weight :

Approx. 180 g (6.4 oz.)
(camera body only)

(W): wide angle (T): telephoto

* This digital camera supports Exif 2.2 (also called "Exif Print"). Exif Print is a standard for enhancing the communication between digital cameras and printers. By connecting to an Exif Print-compliant printer, the camera's image data at the time of shooting is used and optimized, yielding extremely high quality prints.

These Specifications are as supplied by Canon.
All data is based on Canon's standard testing methods.
Subject to change without notice.

Battery Pack NB-1LH
Type :	Rechargeable Lithium Ion Cell
Nominal Voltage :	3.7 V
Typical Capacity :	840 mAh
Charge Life :	Approx. 300 times
Operating Temperature :	0 - 40 °C (32 - 104 °F)
Dimensions :	32.3 x 49.8 x 10.6 mm (1.3 x 1.9 x 0.4 in.)
Weight :	Approx. 29 g (1.0 oz.)
Battery Charger CB-2LS
Rated Input :	100 - 240 V AC (50/60 Hz) 0.075 A (100 V) - 0.045 A (240 V)
Rated Output :	4.2 V DC / 0.5 A
Charging Time :	Approx. 130 minutes *
Operating Temperature :	0 - 40 °C (32 - 104 °F)
Dimensions :	90.4 x 56.0 x 28.0 mm (3.6 x 2.2 x 1.1 in.)
Weight :	Approx. 78 g (2.8 oz.)
* When charging Battery Pack NB-1LH
Compact Power Adapter CA-PS500
Included with the optional AC Adapter Kit ACK500
Rated Input :	AC 100 - 240 V (50/60 Hz) 0.17 A
Rated Output :	4.3 V DC / 1.5 A
Operating Temperature :	0 - 40 °C (32 - 104 °F)
Dimensions :	42.6 x 104.4 x 31.4 mm (1.7 x 4.1 x 1.3 in.)
Weight :	Approx. 180 g (6.3 oz.)
Car Battery Charger CBC-NB1
Optional
Rated Input :	DC 12 - 24 V, 4.3 W
Rated Output :	4.2 V DC, 0.55 A (average)
Charging Time :	Approx. 130 minutes *
Operating Temperature :	0 - 40 °C (32 - 104 °F)
Dimensions :	90.4 x 56.0 x 28.0 mm (3.6 x 2.2 x 1.1 in.)
Weight (body) :	Approx. 106 g (3.7 oz.)
* When charging Battery Pack NB-1LH

Package Contents (U.S./N. America)

Digital Camera

Wrist Strap WS-110

Battery Charger CB-2LS

Battery Pack NB-1LH

Case for Battery Pack

CompactFlash^TM Card FC-8M

Case for CompactFlash^TM Card

AV Cable AVC-DC100

USB Interface Cable IFC-300PCU

Digital Camera Solution Disk

ArcSoft Camera Suite Disk

Camera User Guide

Software Starter Guide

System Map

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