Canon Powershot S300 Review

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, white balance is locked to auto (AWB), the image size is Large and quality is Superfine. Across the bottom is the flash mode which can be set for auto / redeye / off. The drive mode can only be single or selftimer and the focus is normal or macro.

Screen display in Manual record mode. Icons looks similar to Auto mode but here you can now adjust the exposure compensation +/-2EV and change the white balance. On the bottom you have access to all of the flash modes (auto, on, redeye, off, slow-sync) and drive modes (single, continuous, selftimer).

On the back you'll find the few but highly functional user controls. The DISP button up on the top controls the color LCD and the amount of overlay information displayed. Along the bottom is the SET button which is used to "set" selections when a menu is being displayed, otherwise it cycles through the flash modes when in record. The LEFT button is used to move left through menu screens or to move backward through stored pictures in replay or it selects the drive mode (single, continuous, selftimer) when in record mode. The RIGHT button is used to move right through menu screens or to move forward through stored pictures or to select the focus mode (normal, macro, landscape / infinity). The +/-WB button cycles between exposure compensation or white balance adjustment screens (see next two frames) when in Manual record or it is the quick erase button when in Replay. The MENU button calls up or dismisses the menu system.

The exposure compensation screen is only available in Manual record mode. You can vary the EV by +/-2 in 1/3-step increments.

The white balance options are only available when using Manual record mode. Presets for automatic (AWB), sunny, cloudy, incandescent, fluorescent and B&W.

The menu options while in Automatic or Manual let you set the image resolution (1600x1200, 1024x768 or 640x480), image compression (Superfine, Fine, Normal), review time (Off, 2 or 10 secs), file number reset (on, off), beep sounds (on, off), format the CF card or see how much space is remaining, enter Setup sub-menu.

The Setup sub-menu lets you to turn the Auto Power Down option (off, on), set the time and date in the internal clock, set the vide out format (NTSC or PAL), and set the menu language.

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 PowerShot S300 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 (4 secs), 320x240 (10 secs) or 160x120 (30 secs). Movie clips are recorded as QuickTime AVI files, with the image data saved in the Motion JPEG format and the sound in the WAVE format.

The video portion of the PowerShot S300 movies can be replayed on the camera's LCD monitor. Full audio-video playback is possible with a connected TV monitor or a compatible PC after downloading. Due to the new digital signal processing IC, the S300's movie clip processing speed is approximately 2.7 times faster that other models in its class.

Movie resolution: 640x480, 320x240 or 160x120