Canon PowerShot S2 IS

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Again falling behind competitors like it did for the PowerShot S1 IS, Canon introduces its 5-megapixel PowerShot S2 IS with 12x optical zoom. Its basic specifications with optical image stabilizer capabilities place it between the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ20 and DMC-FZ5 in terms of size, weight and price. What's unique about this camera though, is its dedicated movie button that enables movie recording anytime, even during still image mode.

Design
The PowerShot S2 IS looks strikingly familiar to the S1 with its two-tone silvery-grey exterior complete with graceful curves. The rear of the camera remains jam-packed much like the S1 and is covered by a series of buttons and dials that sometimes hinder the actual functions of these switches. During our tests, the part of our palm near the thumb had a few encounters with the Menu and Set buttons--functions which we did not want to access.

The Menu and Set buttons of the S2 are placed closely together.

The LCD monitor is also 0.3 inches bigger over the S1's 1.5-inch screen, making picture viewing slightly easier. Its flip-and-twist ability allows us to frame pictures at difficult angles, such as when lifting up the camera to capture aerial views.

Just as the S1 took on the design "flaws" of the PowerShot G series, the S2 retains a few shortcomings--among these is the lens cap. The ease of removing the cap shaved off a second or two when we took spontaneous shots. However, it left us questioning if the cover actually fulfils its primary purpose of protection when it comes off so easily.

Features
The 12x optical zoom and optically stabilized lens stand out as being the most attractive among the other features of the S2. Its 0cm Super Macro shooting comes in handy when we really need to get up close and personal. Like the S1, there is plenty of freedom for creativity, with options to manually control both shutter and aperture settings.

The S2 is Canon's first digital camera capable of capturing still images while shooting movies. Such convenience comes as a pleasing advantage in having the best of both worlds, but not without exceptions. We found that the shutter sound could not be disabled while recording a movie. During playback on the computer, the sound of the shutter being depressed was registered and the movie recording function was stopped for that split second the still image was taken.

Amid its abundance of features, the S2 also acts as an independent sound recorder which is a useful feature during lectures or meetings. With such a vast array of functions, we had to actually consult the operations manual in order to find out how each feature works.

The USB wire comes with a red warning on a slip of paper to install the driver software from the enclosed CD-ROM before connecting the camera to the computer. The prominent warning gave us the impression that it would be wise to follow instructions before attempting anything else. Instead, we found we could still access the camera folders simply by plugging the S2 into the computer. These aside, the PhotoStitch software that comes along with the CD-ROM works amazingly fine, producing fantastic panoramic shots.

Performance
During our tests, we found the S2 performing slightly better than the S1. The unit powered up in slightly less than 2 seconds. Its shot-to-shot interval came in at about 2 to 3 seconds with the flash turned on.

We like how the S2 has built on the merits of its predecessor. The Ultra-sonic Motor reduces the noise generated by the zoom mechanism, and the handling of the camera is generally smooth and swift. The additional of the AF assist beam also corrects the camera's ability to frame subjects in low-light conditions.

Image quality
In terms of image quality, the S2 generally produced vibrant colors and sharp images. The LCD screen, though small, was effective in the playback of images. Pictures taken at a higher ISO levels turned out to be slightly blur without the use of the image stabilizer or tripod. The quality, however, improved comparatively when we turned on the image stabilizer. The camera's automatic white balance worked fine under most lighting conditions which otherwise could be corrected manually with ease.