Manual record menu (P, Tv, Av, M modes)

Pressing the MENU button while in one of the manual record modes displays the record menu over the live preview. The menu layout will be easily recognisable to Powershot S series users with the same tabbed layout.

Here we're covering all options in the manual record menu because all other record menus are simply subsets of this (for example you can't select ISO or RAW mode in AUTO record, otherwise the menus are the same).

Resolution

Chooses one of three image resolutions:

• Large (2048 x 1536)
• Medium (1024 x 768)
• Small (640 x 480)

Compression

Chooses one of three JPEG compression ratios:

• Super-fine (5 bpp, 4.8:1)
• Fine (3 bpp, 8:1)
• Normal (2 bpp, 12:1)

Super-fine uses a compression ratio much lower than found on other digital cameras, it allows for high quality JPEG's with virtually no artifacts.

File Format

Selects either JPEG or RAW file format. In RAW format the image is stored as raw data directly from the CCD without any in-camera processing (no sharpening, level correction, colour correction or white balance applied). The files are named .CRW and compressed using a lossless compression (similar to Zip). Each RAW file can be anything between 1.8 MB and 3.1 MB (average at 2.3 MB).

You need to use the supplied TWAIN driver to read RAW files into a TWAIN compliant photo application.

ISO Speed

Chooses one of five ISO settings:

• Auto (50 - 100)
• 50
• 100
• 200
 • 400

Interesting to note that Auto ISO only varies between 50 and 100 ISO. The G1 is unique amongst 3 megapixel cameras for featuring a less noisy ISO 50.

Digital Zoom

Choose digital zoom setting:

• Off
• 2x
• 4x

Not sure how many people will actually use the digital zoom, but as it appears to be a feature of the CCD chipset Canon have chosen to included it.

Auto Focus Mode

Choose single or continuous autofocus. Continuous autofocus causes the cameras focus system to continually recalculate the focus and correct it if necessary, it's useful as it reduces the AF delay at shutter release.

I personally used the G1 in Single AF mode as its AF system is already relatively quick and Single AF will have less of a drain on the battery.

Review

Choose to display a review image for 2 or 10 seconds or not at all. With Review disabled the G1 feels much more responsive as you're not waiting for the review image to disappear. This is really a matter of personal choice and the scene circumstances.

File No. Reset

Controls whether the running number used to name files (either IMG_xxxx or CRW_xxxx) is reset every time the CF card is changed or if a running number is continued until it reaches 9999 and then returned to 0000.

Contrast, Sharpness and Saturation

These three settings allow you to adjust the cameras internal image processing algorithms by one level positive or negative. This allows for more or less image contrast, more or less sharpening and more or less colour saturation. After extensive comparisons I came to the conclusion that the default settings were about the best choice, although less contrast may be to other peoples tastes.

 

Setup Menu

Common to both Record and Play modes is the setup menu (second tab on the menus). You can easily switch between tabs by pressing the * button. The details of each menu option is shown below:

Beep

Enables or disables the sounding of a beep used for menus, selecting options, confirming focus and shutter release.

Save me.. I switched it off ;-)

LCD Brightness

Two brightness levels are available for the LCD. To be honest the standard brightness is much brighter and clearer than the average digital camera LCD, the additional brightness makes hardly any extra difference.

At standard brightness the LCD can be used easily even in bright sunlight.