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Canon PowerShot S20 Canon packs 3 megapixels and a 2x optical zoom into their "smallest digicam" body! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet PowerShot S20 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on PowerShot S20 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Image Storage & Interface :(Previous) | (Next): Test Results & Conclusion>> Page 11:Video, Power, Software Review First Posted: 4/4/2000

Video Out
An NTSC video cable comes packaged with the S20, allowing you to connect the camera to your television set for image playback or composition. All modes except Stitch Assist are available and the LCD monitor remains blank while the camera is connected to the TV. We assume that European models come with the appropriate cables for the PAL system.
Power
The S20 utilizes either a 2CR5 lithium battery or a nickel-hydride NB-5H battery pack plus a CR2016 lithium battery for the internal date and time backup. The camera comes with one 2CR5 battery, but we highly, highly recommend buying the optional DK-110 NiMH battery/charger kit: Don't even *think* about buying this camera without the rechargeable battery, you'll go broke buying lithium batteries! (Although a lithium battery in your camera bag is a great backup power source, since they don't lose capacity when not used, even after years of shelf time.) The power supply accessory kit also serves as the AC adapter for the camera. Canon estimates that the NB-5H, under normal shooting conditions, should provide approximately 55 shots with the LCD monitor on, around 230 with it off or about 50 minutes of image playback time. These numbers roughly agree with our own power-consumption testing, based on a nominal power capacity of 650 mAh for the NB-5H pack. Overall, the S20 is a somewhat toward the power-hungry end of the digicam spectrum, but not unreasonably so. As always, we recommend buying not just the rechargeable battery set, but a second battery if at all possible. (This recommendation is one we make to all digicam purchasers, not just S20 owners.)
Here's how the S20 measured up in our power tests:

Operating Mode	Power Drain
Capture Mode, w/LCD	840 mA
Capture Mode, no LCD	120 mA
Half-pressed shutter w/LCD	1080 mA
Half-pressed w/o LCD	780 mA
Memory Write (transient)	1090 mA
Flash Recharge (transient)	1020 mA
Image Playback	500 mA

Included Software

Learn what the manual left out - How to *use* your camera. Camera manuals are (sometimes) fine for knowing which button does what, but where do you go to learn how and when to use the various features? Dennis Curtin's "Shortcourses" books and CDs are the answer. (Cheap for what you get, too.) Order the Shortcourses manual for the camera reviewed in this article.

When you're ready to download captured images to your computer, the S20 can accommodate both PC and Mac users with the accompanying serial and USB cables. The included software CDs feature Canon's PowerShot software, PhotoStitch, and a copy of Adobe PhotoDeluxe, compatible with Windows 95, 98 or NT 4.0 and Macintosh OS 7.5 or higher. The PowerShot application simply allows you to download and organize captured images. PhotoStitch supports any panorama shots taken with the S20 and automatically ‘stitches' them together into one shot. Once you've downloaded your images, you can perform any minor corrections with Adobe PhotoDeluxe. PhotoDeluxe also provides a nice variety of creative filters for digitally enhancing images, such as applying a painterly effect or reversing the image to negative values. There are also a number of templates for things like greeting cards and calendars.