Top of camera controls
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As you can see all of the top of camera controls are concentrated on the right side, the single recessed record mode dial and multi-controller (4 cursor directions and SET button combined) are in reach of your thumb, the zoom controller and shutter release located for your forefinger.
Because of the combined sliding lens cover / power switch the S40 doesn't have a dedicated power dial, instead the lens cover is used to power the camera on and off to record mode and the sliding PLAY lever on the back of the camera is used to enter play mode. This new play mode is 'shooting priority', that essentially means that (assuming the lens cover is open) a half-press of the shutter release at any point in play mode returns to shooting mode.
Zoom Controller (Record mode)
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Zoom telephoto![]() Zooms the camera's lens towards the telephoto focal length, maximum optical zoom of 105 mm (35mm equiv.). A full zoom from wide to tele takes 2.0 seconds. If the camera is already at maximum optical zoom and digital zoom is enabled the camera will apply increasing levels of digital zoom. |
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Zoom wide angle![]() Zooms the camera's lens towards the wide angle focal length of 35 mm (35mm equiv.). A full zoom from tele to wide takes 2.0 seconds. |
Zoom Controller (Play mode)
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Image magnify (zoom
in) ![]() Magnifies the displayed image, the first press goes to 3x, the second to 6x. |
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Image magnify (zoom
out) ![]() If the displayed image is magnified pressing the zoom lever towards wide zooms out of the magnification. |
Exposure Modes
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Automatic Exposure![]() Camera has complete control over exposure, point-and-shoot operation, the majority of manual features are disabled, you can't alter exposure compensation, ISO or use RAW mode. You can set flash mode, macro and image size. |
P |
Program Auto Exposure |
Tv |
Shutter Priority Auto Exposure |
Av |
Aperture Priority Auto Exposure |
M |
Full Manual Exposure |
* Aperture / Shutter speed rule
Just like the G2 the S40 is limited by the fact that it uses a single iris mechanism for both aperture and shutter. The iris opens at the beginning of the exposure to a certain size for the selected (or metered) aperture and then closes again at the end of the exposure. The speed at which the iris can go from a wide aperture to completely closed creates a limitation as to the maximum shutter speed available at different apertures.
The limitations are a little more complicated with the S40 as it also depends on the zoom position.
Zoom position | Aperture | Max. Shutter Speed |
Wide angle | F2.8 - F3.5 | 1/1000 sec |
F4.0 - F8.0 | 1/1250 - 1/1500 sec | |
Telephoto | F4.9 | 1/1000 sec |
F5.6 - F8.0 | 1/1250 - 1/1500 sec |
Scene Exposure Modes
The exposure modes described below are designed to be easy to use camera presets. Macro focus, image adjustments (ISO, contrast, sharpening, saturation), AEB, AE Lock, FE Lock, metering and RAW file format can not be selected in these modes.
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Portrait![]() In this mode apertures are kept as large as possible (small F number) to produce a blurred background to help define the subject in a portrait shot. Note: Macro focus IS available in Portrait mode. |
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Landscape![]() In this mode the flash is by default disabled (although you can enable it) and focus is locked at infinity. Apertures are kept as small as possible (large F numbers) to produce the largest possible depth of field. Macro focus is also disabled. Designed to be used for taking landscape shots. |
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Night Scene![]() Known on other cameras as "Slow Sync Flash". Put simply in this mode slow shutter speeds are used to capture a dimly lit background (buildings at night for example) and the flash fires briefly to illuminate a foreground subject. |
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Fast Shutter![]() Instructs the camera to uses the fastest possible shutter speed for a particular exposure, this often means the largest aperture (F2.8 at Wide, F4.9 at Tele) in combination with ISO 100. Useful for capturing sports events. |
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Slow Shutter![]() Instructs the camera to uses the slowest possible shutter speed for a particular exposure, this often means the smallest aperture F8.0. Useful for blurring moving water. |
Other Exposure Modes
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Colour Effect![]() This new exposure mode replaces the B&W setting on the G1. It allows you to select between four different colour settings. Each of these settings has a slightly different effect on colour output: ![]() Vivid - colours are enhanced (saturation increased) Neutral - colours are toned down (saturation decreased) Sepia - image takes on a slightly brown cast B&W B&W - image is shot in black and white |
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Stitch Assist![]() Designed to make shooting of panorama / stitch shots easier. You have a choice of five different stitch modes: left-right, right-left, down-up, up-down or 4-frames in a square. The display changes to show previously shot frames in the sequence to help alignment of each frame. Exposure and White Balance are locked to the first frame. |
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Movie Mode![]() Record short movie clips: ![]() 320 x 240, 15 fps, max 30 secs (including audio) 160 x 120, 15 fps, max 120 ses (including audio) |
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