S1 Hints and Tips

[Jeff Peterman]

If you do that in-camera, you're stuck with the image. If you take the photo normally and then play with it in a photo editor, you can do anything "filter" you want and then change it back if you want to.

--
Jeff Peterman

Any insults, implied anger, bad grammar and bad spelling, are entirely unintentionalal. Sorry.

 

[Yorky]

Bump!

This thread is so useful I thought we should keep it in mind.

Doug

 

[jdrake001]

I find it very useful too, lots of (definitely undocumented) tips : )

Bump!

This thread is so useful I thought we should keep it in mind.

Doug

 

[pianoplayer88key]

focusing or taking a long-shutter pic?

 

[Hariette]

then you can let go and decide to trash or even to add sound....

If you dont release your finger after you shoot the pic, the photo
stays on the LCD/EVF forever.

This allows you to set the photo preview to 0 secs. This makes it
a lot easier to take actions shots.

If you ever want to preview a pic, just keep your finger pressed

--
'Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well,
including this, I suppose.' Douglas Adams

--
'Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well,
including this, I suppose.' Douglas Adams

 

[John McCormack]

I don't know whether this tip has been mentioned, but the S1 P Mode (Program) allows program shift for exposure. Here's how:

In P mode, when you half press the shutter and a combination of Aperture and Speed are diplayed, press the Exposure Lock button (* is displayed on LCD or EVF). Toggle the four way controller left or right to change the combination of aperture/speed without changing the exposure. Note: this will not work with the flash ON.

--
John McCormack - pbase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/jpmccormac/s1

 

[bdbx18]

Hey that's a good tip. Now I can increase DOF without going to AV?
After > 3000 pics with the S1...
Serves me right for not reading the manual.

I don't know whether this tip has been mentioned, but the S1 P Mode
(Program) allows program shift for exposure. Here's how:

In P mode, when you half press the shutter and a combination of
Aperture and Speed are diplayed, press the Exposure Lock button (*
is displayed on LCD or EVF). Toggle the four way controller left or
right to change the combination of aperture/speed without changing
the exposure. Note: this will not work with the flash ON.

--
John McCormack - pbase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/jpmccormac/s1

 

[lion1308]

Great tips on this thread! Keep them coming and i'll keep reading while i wait for my S1 IS (hopefully to arrive end August) ))))

 

[Hariette]

Preview off. (remember you can hold to view your last picture) After your shot don't release your finger completely, you'll still have the green bracket ready for the next shot so you can shoot away as many pictures as you want and time it without loss of pre-focus or freeze. Practice it works.

You can do it with the flash ON too, you just have to wait until the flash fires (from 2s to 5s)

Guys n gals, looks like the S1 is getting some recognition in CTF.
It won't be long before we see a cult-like following with the S1
just like the UZI, Pro90, G series e.g. Before long, there'll be
dedicated S1 sites ...

Let's keep the ball moving by pooling our lessons together on
optimizing our experiences with the S1. I've certainly picked up a
few from forums such as this. So, I'll start with three but other
S1 users please jump in:

Unexplainable blurred pics?

Perhaps you have a bad S1 copy.
See
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=8792960

Low light focus problems?
Use hyperfocal. Use Av, set to f2.8, set manual focus to 10', zoom
out all the way and everything from 4.5' to infinity will be in
focus. No focusing needed so it'll be fast. Try in a completely
dark room. Save as Custom setting and you're all set for
Halloween-type pics. If the subject is closer than 4.5', you
should be able to focus on it the 'regular' way.

Need fill-flash for daytime pics?

Set slow-synchro to yes in menu, use Tv, set to 1/250 sec, set
flash on.

My S1 Samples Only Gallery
http://ritchie.smugmug.com/gallery/96167

--
'Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well,
including this, I suppose.' Douglas Adams

 

[José Pablo Martínez]

I don't know if this is common in other Canon cameras, but it is new for me that I'm upgrading from a S400, so I guess it will be helpful to others.

While reviewing your photos, press twice the Display button (or the necessary to see the Histogram with the picture at a reduced size). Besides checking the histogram to verify if a picture is overexposed, the little picture will tell you by blinking the "too white" areas.

Keep the tips coming!!
--
JPM.

 

[José Pablo Martínez]

I don't know if this is common in other Canon cameras, but it is
new for me that I'm upgrading from a S400, so I guess it will be
helpful to others.

I just checked in the reviews and the G5 already did this.

I'm sorry for posting a not so new tip.

--
JPM.

 

[iron9]

I don't know whether this tip has been mentioned, but the S1 P Mode
(Program) allows program shift for exposure. Here's how:

In P mode, when you half press the shutter and a combination of
Aperture and Speed are diplayed, press the Exposure Lock button (*
is displayed on LCD or EVF). Toggle the four way controller left or
right to change the combination of aperture/speed without changing
the exposure. Note: this will not work with the flash ON.

--
John McCormack - pbase supporter
http://www.pbase.com/jpmccormac/s1

Very good tips, as well as many others in this thread. I bought my camera on the internet from Germany, so the manual is very german. But I have managed quite well with this Canon site: http://web.canon.jp/Imaging/pss1is/index-e.html

See You!
Johnny Nilsson

 

[Yorky]

Bump for new S1 users

I'm sure there are more tips out there!

Doug

 

[emory]

Thanks, Hariette. Your tip makes this great little camera eminently more useable!

And if I may elaborate on your tip just a bit:

I just discovered that if you lock the exposure (using the "jump" button set to AEL) and don't release your finger completely from the shutter relsease after taking a picture, the AEL will remain in effect for any number of shots -- until you release your finger completely.

See my earilier posting:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=9138652

It didn't work for me then, but it sure works now!

Let's keep these tips and tricks coming!

emory

Guys n gals, looks like the S1 is getting some recognition in CTF.
It won't be long before we see a cult-like following with the S1
just like the UZI, Pro90, G series e.g. Before long, there'll be
dedicated S1 sites ...

Let's keep the ball moving by pooling our lessons together on
optimizing our experiences with the S1. I've certainly picked up a
few from forums such as this. So, I'll start with three but other
S1 users please jump in:

Unexplainable blurred pics?

Perhaps you have a bad S1 copy.
See
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=8792960

Low light focus problems?
Use hyperfocal. Use Av, set to f2.8, set manual focus to 10', zoom
out all the way and everything from 4.5' to infinity will be in
focus. No focusing needed so it'll be fast. Try in a completely
dark room. Save as Custom setting and you're all set for
Halloween-type pics. If the subject is closer than 4.5', you
should be able to focus on it the 'regular' way.

Need fill-flash for daytime pics?

Set slow-synchro to yes in menu, use Tv, set to 1/250 sec, set
flash on.

My S1 Samples Only Gallery
http://ritchie.smugmug.com/gallery/96167

--
'Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well,
including this, I suppose.' Douglas Adams

 

[Hector]

This really is an EXCELLENT tip. I didn't quite 'get it' until I tried it. Really handy once you get the hang of not letting off the button.

peace . . .

Guys n gals, looks like the S1 is getting some recognition in CTF.
It won't be long before we see a cult-like following with the S1
just like the UZI, Pro90, G series e.g. Before long, there'll be
dedicated S1 sites ...

Let's keep the ball moving by pooling our lessons together on
optimizing our experiences with the S1. I've certainly picked up a
few from forums such as this. So, I'll start with three but other
S1 users please jump in:

Unexplainable blurred pics?

Perhaps you have a bad S1 copy.
See
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=8792960

Low light focus problems?
Use hyperfocal. Use Av, set to f2.8, set manual focus to 10', zoom
out all the way and everything from 4.5' to infinity will be in
focus. No focusing needed so it'll be fast. Try in a completely
dark room. Save as Custom setting and you're all set for
Halloween-type pics. If the subject is closer than 4.5', you
should be able to focus on it the 'regular' way.

Need fill-flash for daytime pics?

Set slow-synchro to yes in menu, use Tv, set to 1/250 sec, set
flash on.

My S1 Samples Only Gallery
http://ritchie.smugmug.com/gallery/96167

--
'Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well,
including this, I suppose.' Douglas Adams

--

The secret to being known as a great photographer is simple - NEVER EVER show anyone the bad pictures.

 

[Hariette]

I haven't tried the AEL yet. Good idea. I like to use FE lock (flash exposure lock) it seems the flash recycles faster but then again maybe I just want it to be faster and it is all in my head

And if I may elaborate on your tip just a bit:

I just discovered that if you lock the exposure (using the "jump"
button set to AEL) and don't release your finger completely from
the shutter relsease after taking a picture, the AEL will remain in
effect for any number of shots -- until you release your finger
completely.

See my earilier posting:

http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=9138652

It didn't work for me then, but it sure works now!

Let's keep these tips and tricks coming!

emory

Guys n gals, looks like the S1 is getting some recognition in CTF.
It won't be long before we see a cult-like following with the S1
just like the UZI, Pro90, G series e.g. Before long, there'll be
dedicated S1 sites ...

Let's keep the ball moving by pooling our lessons together on
optimizing our experiences with the S1. I've certainly picked up a
few from forums such as this. So, I'll start with three but other
S1 users please jump in:

Unexplainable blurred pics?

Perhaps you have a bad S1 copy.
See
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=8792960

Low light focus problems?
Use hyperfocal. Use Av, set to f2.8, set manual focus to 10', zoom
out all the way and everything from 4.5' to infinity will be in
focus. No focusing needed so it'll be fast. Try in a completely
dark room. Save as Custom setting and you're all set for
Halloween-type pics. If the subject is closer than 4.5', you
should be able to focus on it the 'regular' way.

Need fill-flash for daytime pics?

Set slow-synchro to yes in menu, use Tv, set to 1/250 sec, set
flash on.

My S1 Samples Only Gallery
http://ritchie.smugmug.com/gallery/96167

--
'Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well,
including this, I suppose.' Douglas Adams

--
'Don't believe anything you read on the net. Except this. Well,
including this, I suppose.' Douglas Adams

 

[peterm1]

Guys n gals, looks like the S1 is getting some recognition in CTF.
It won't be long before we see a cult-like following with the S1
just like the UZI, Pro90, G series e.g. Before long, there'll be
dedicated S1 sites ...

Let's keep the ball moving by pooling our lessons together on
optimizing our experiences with the S1. I've certainly picked up a
few from forums such as this. So, I'll start with three but other
S1 users please jump in:

Unexplainable blurred pics?

Perhaps you have a bad S1 copy.
See
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=8792960

Low light focus problems?
Use hyperfocal. Use Av, set to f2.8, set manual focus to 10', zoom
out all the way and everything from 4.5' to infinity will be in
focus. No focusing needed so it'll be fast. Try in a completely
dark room. Save as Custom setting and you're all set for
Halloween-type pics. If the subject is closer than 4.5', you
should be able to focus on it the 'regular' way.

Need fill-flash for daytime pics?

Set slow-synchro to yes in menu, use Tv, set to 1/250 sec, set
flash on.

My S1 Samples Only Gallery
http://ritchie.smugmug.com/gallery/96167

 

[Yorky]

This thread is so useful it ought to be a "sticky"

Doug

Guys n gals, looks like the S1 is getting some recognition in CTF.
It won't be long before we see a cult-like following with the S1
just like the UZI, Pro90, G series e.g. Before long, there'll be
dedicated S1 sites ...

Let's keep the ball moving by pooling our lessons together on
optimizing our experiences with the S1. I've certainly picked up a
few from forums such as this. So, I'll start with three but other
S1 users please jump in:

Unexplainable blurred pics?

Perhaps you have a bad S1 copy.
See
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=8792960

Low light focus problems?
Use hyperfocal. Use Av, set to f2.8, set manual focus to 10', zoom
out all the way and everything from 4.5' to infinity will be in
focus. No focusing needed so it'll be fast. Try in a completely
dark room. Save as Custom setting and you're all set for
Halloween-type pics. If the subject is closer than 4.5', you
should be able to focus on it the 'regular' way.

Need fill-flash for daytime pics?

Set slow-synchro to yes in menu, use Tv, set to 1/250 sec, set
flash on.

My S1 Samples Only Gallery
http://ritchie.smugmug.com/gallery/96167

 

[gaschu]

I am less than impressed with my S1. Seems most of my shots are overexposes when shutter and apature are automatic. My flash is way too harsh and telephoto pics have totally obscured objects if there is any hint of glare:



I am hoping for a firmware update or possibly repairing the camera for better performance.

Guys n gals, looks like the S1 is getting some recognition in CTF.
It won't be long before we see a cult-like following with the S1
just like the UZI, Pro90, G series e.g. Before long, there'll be
dedicated S1 sites ...

Let's keep the ball moving by pooling our lessons together on
optimizing our experiences with the S1. I've certainly picked up a
few from forums such as this. So, I'll start with three but other
S1 users please jump in:

Unexplainable blurred pics?

Perhaps you have a bad S1 copy.
See
http://forums.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1010&message=8792960

Low light focus problems?
Use hyperfocal. Use Av, set to f2.8, set manual focus to 10', zoom
out all the way and everything from 4.5' to infinity will be in
focus. No focusing needed so it'll be fast. Try in a completely
dark room. Save as Custom setting and you're all set for
Halloween-type pics. If the subject is closer than 4.5', you
should be able to focus on it the 'regular' way.

Need fill-flash for daytime pics?

Set slow-synchro to yes in menu, use Tv, set to 1/250 sec, set
flash on.

My S1 Samples Only Gallery
http://ritchie.smugmug.com/gallery/96167

 

[MennoB]

I am less than impressed with my S1. Seems most of my shots are
overexposes when shutter and apature are automatic. My flash is way
too harsh and telephoto pics have totally obscured objects if there
is any hint of glare

You shot this one in automatic mode at full optical zoom + full digital zoom plus a tele converter not designed for the S1. Also you used multi segment metering instead of spot metering, and set the cam to apply a sub optimal jpg compression setting. Finally EXIF says the exposure was 1/160th, which of course is far to slow for that kind of crazy setup.

I think you're expecting miracles.