The Canon S5 IS is an eight megapixel camera with a powerful 12x optical zoom and optical image stabilization. The S5 has both an electronic viewfinder and a flip out variable-angle LCD screen that can be used for autofocus. The camera has a variety of scene shooting modes, as well as manual modes. It runs on four AA batteries and records photos and movies to SD memory cards. Using the manual and scene modes can ensure you take excellent photos.
Instructions
1. Insert fully charged AA batteries in the camera and turn it on. Use nickel-metal hydride rechargeables for maximum life and efficiency.
2. Customize the viewfinder by pressing the "Disp" button and placing checkmarks in the gridlines and histogram fields using the left, right, up and down arrows. The gridlines can be used for composition according to the rule of thirds, which states that placing subjects at the intersection of gridlines makes for more aesthetic images, while the histogram can be used to check exposure; if the readout is too far left, it is underexposed, and too far right, it is overexposed.
3. Press the "Menu" button and use the left right arrow to go to the Function menu. Then use the up/down arrows to navigate to compression. Press the right arrow, then select "Superfine" for compression and "Large" for image size. Press "OK."
4. Press "Menu" and use the down arrow to go to the IS field, then the right arrow to select "Continuous." This will leave the image stabilization on all the time, making it easier to compose images. Press "OK."
5. Use the Scene modes for quick photography, but take more control by using the Program, Aperture, Shutter, and Manual modes to set the camera values yourself and check the exposure with the histogram. Use shutter speed to stop motion, and aperture to control depth of field in the image, setting low aperture values of f/2.7 to f/3.5 to create dramatic shots with just the subject in focus. Use high apertures of f/11 or f/22 to create shots with the background in focus. When shooting in these modes, you will also need to set the ISO speed; higher ISOs should be used in low light, and lower ISOs in daylight settings.
Tags: right arrow, check exposure, down arrows, image stabilization, left right
