Canon Powershot S230 Review


Record Mode Screens & Menus
![]()
The screen display in the Automatic record mode. Across the top is the camera icon
that indicates Auto mode. The exposure compensation is fixed at +/-0 (none), white balance
is locked in auto (AWB), the image size is currently Large and quality is Superfine.
Across the bottom is the flash mode, drive mode and metering mode icons and the
"298" is the number of images remaining (yep, there's a 512MB CF card in there!)
![]()
When you half-press the shutter it activates the exposure metering, white balance and
the autofocus system. The S230 features a nine-point AF system and when the focus is
locked-in the active AF points are displayed as green rectangles.
The AiAF will use one to nine of the focus points when focusing.
![]() The menu options while in Auto:
![]()
Pressing the SET button enables the mode menu across the bottom with options for
(left to right) Automatic, Manual, StitchAssist (clockwise), StitchAssist (counter-clockwise)
![]()
In Manual record mode the icons looks similar to Auto mode but here you
can now adjust the exposure compensation +/-2EV, change the white balance
or use a Photo Effect mode. The ISO is settable (Auto, 50, 100, 200, 400).
On the bottom you have access to all flash modes and drive modes (single,
continuous, selftimer). And you can select Spot metering, disable AiAF or select
a slow shutter speed.
![]() The menu options while in Manual:
![]() Pressing the Exposure Compensation / White Balance / Color Effect button cycles between these functions:
White balance: Automatic (AWB), daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H, and Custom. Photo Effect: Off, Vivid (high saturation), Neutral, Low Sharpening (soft focus), Sepia or B&W.
![]()
The StitchAssist mode aids you with on-screen prompts to help you capture the best
possible sequence of photos for later "stitching" with the supplied PhotoStitch
software. You can capture up to 26 images in either left-to-right or right-to-left
orientation.
![]() The S230 can record movie clips with audio at 20 frames per second in any of three resolution modes (maximum recording length shown is regardless of the size of the CF card): 640x480 (30 secs), 320x240 or 160x120 (3 mins). Movie clips are recorded as QuickTime AVI files.
Full audio-video playback is also possible when connected to a TV
monitor or a compatible PC after downloading.
![]() Menu options while in Movie mode are:
|
Continue on to
Page Four
Return To Our
Reviews Menu
Visitors of Steves can visit the stores below for real-time pricing and availability. You can also find hot, soon to expire online offers on a variety of cameras and accessories at our very own Camera Deals page.