Canon Powershot S40 Review

A typical AUTO record screen display. Icons indicate "AUTO" record mode, red-eye flash mode, single frame drive mode, matrix metering, Superfine Large image, 1/60 shutter speed, F2.0 aperture and 139 pictures remaining at current image quality setting.

The green square (focus point) in the center indicates an autofocus lock, if the AF fails to lock it turns yellow.

Now in "P"rogram AE mode, flash is on automatic, sequential drive mode, spot metering, white balance to fluorescent, exposure compensation is +1-2/3EV, flash compensation is enabled, Superfine Large image mode, manual focus is enabled with distance indicator now visible.   Note the "[  ]" in the focus square, this indicates that spot metering is currently selected.

And here the camera is in "M"anual mode, flash is auto red-eye, single frame drive mode, matrix metering, Superfine Large image, 1/50 sec shutter speed and F8.0 aperture has been manually selected.

When the manual focus is enabled and you are actively changing the focus with the Up or Down control, the focus point is enlarged to aid in critical focusing.

An animated look at the S40's screen displays when in the various recording modes.

When in PAMS modes you can press the SET button and then use the 4-way selector to choose the desired focus point, by default it uses the center point.

Exposure compensation is useful when you want to override the auto exposure system. There is a +/- 2EV adjustment in 1/3EV steps.

You can set the white balance Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent 2, Flash or Custom.

Set a custom white balance to obtain the optimal setting for the lighting conditions by using a white piece of paper as a target.

Auto Exposure Bracketing - In this mode, the camera automatically changes the exposure within a set range to take three shots after you press the shutter button once. You can adjust AEB settings in 1/3EV steps within the range of -2EV to +2EV of the standard exposure setting. AEB setting can be combined with exposure compensation settings.

Using the flash exposure compensation you can vary the output of the flash +/-2 in 1/3 steps to get exactly the amount of light on the subject that's desired.

This is the menu of recording options available in PAMS recording mode:

• Resolution - Large (2272x1704), Medium1 (1600x1200), Medium2 (1024x768), Small (640x480)
• Compression - Superfine, Fine or Normal
• File Format - JPEG or Canon RAW (uncompressed)
• Drive Mode - Single, Continuous, High Speed Continuous, 10- or 2-sec selftimer
• ISO Speed - 50, 100, 200, 400, 800 or Auto
• Digital Zoom - On or Off
• Spot AE Point - Center or AF Point
• Review - 2s, 10s or Off
• File No. Reset - Off or On (sequential numbering)
• Contrast - Weak, Normal or Strong
• Sharpness - Weak, Normal or Strong
• Saturation - Weak, Normal or Strong

When in AUTO mode only the Resolution, Compression, Drive Mode, Digital Zoom, Review and File No. Reset options are available.

The S40 can record motion video at 15fps with audio at 320 x 240 resolution for up to 30 seconds or at 160 x 120 for up to 120 seconds.