Digital Compact Cameras

Digital Camera

PowerShot S2 IS

PowerShot S2 IS

PowerShot S2 IS

  • Japan
  • Americas
  • Europe, Asia, Oceania
  • Outline
  • Specifications
Marketed June 2005

The Canon PowerShot S2 IS, which succeeds the 10x-optical-zoom PowerShot S1 IS launched in March 2004, is equipped with a 12x-optical zoom lens which, incorporating an ultrasonic motor (USM), delivers high-speed and exceptionally quiet performance. The lens comes equipped with a shift-type Image Stabilizer (IS), reducing the effects of camera shake when shooting in the telephoto range. An ultra-low dispersion (UD) lens element reduces chromatic aberrations for outstanding imaging performance throughout the entire zoom range.

Equipped with a 5.0-megapixel CCD, the PowerShot S2 IS realizes a level of image resolution surpassing that of its predecessor, which offered 3.2 million effective pixels. Canon’s proprietary DIGIC II imaging engine supports faster camera startup, autofocus, and playback performance.

In addition, the model features dramatic enhancements to video functions, making possible the recording of movies that rival those from dedicated video camcorders. A first for Canon digital cameras, the PowerShot S2 IS offers stereo sound recording capability. Sound quality has also been improved by increasing the maximum sampling rate from 22kHz to 44kHz. The camera ably doubles as a video camcorder in full-motion movie mode, boasting high-definition 640 x 480-pixel VGA resolution at 30 frames per second (fps). A convenient Photo in Movie function allows users to capture high-resolution still images during movie recording simply by pressing the shutter button during recording. Additionally, a Movie Button allows movie recording at any time, regardless of the mode dial setting.

The PowerShot’s vari-angle 1.8″ LCD monitor enables users to easily check framing and image appearance. Novice and experienced users alike can also enjoy experimenting with such other functions as Super Macro shooting, which offers extreme close-up shooting up to 0 centimeters, and My Colors, which allows users to freely customize image colors, including the ability to change colors on the LCD monitor in real-time while shooting.

Camera Effective Pixels Approx. 5.0 million
Image Sensor 1/2.5″ CCD (Total number of pixels: Approx 5.3 million)
Lens 6.0 (W) – 72.0 (T) mm (35 mm film equivalent: 36 – 432 mm)
f/2.7 (W) – f/3.5 (T)
Digital Zoom Approx. 4.0x (Up to approx. 48x in combination with the optical zoom)
Viewfinder Color LCD viewfinder Picture coverage rate 100%
Dioptric Adjustment -5.5 – +1.5 m-1(dpt)
LCD Monitor 1.8″, TFT color LCD (115,000 dots, picture coverage 100%)
AF System TTL autofocus (continuous or single)
Focus lock and Manual focus are available
Focusing frame: 1-point AF (any position is available)
Shooting Distance
(from tip of lens)
Normal AF 50 cm (1.6 ft.) – infinity (W)/90 cm (3.0 ft.) – infinity (T)
Macro 10 – 50 cm (3.9 in. – 1.6 ft. (W))
Super Macro 0 – 10 cm (0 – 3.9 in.) (W)
Shutter Mechanical shutter + electronic shutter
Shutter Speed 15 – 1/3200 sec.

* The shutter speed varies according to the shooting mode.
* 1.3 sec. or slower shutter speeds are available in Shutter-priority mode or Manual mode.
* Slow shutter speeds of 15 to 1.3 sec. or slower operate with noise reduction.

Light Metering System Evaluative, Center-weighted average or Spot (Center or AF-point)
Exposure Control System Program AE/Shutter Speed-priority AE/Aperture-priority
AE /Manual exposure control
AE lock (AEB) and Safety Shift is available.
Exposure Compensation ±2.0 stops in 1/3-stop increments Auto exposure bracketing (AEB) and Safety Shift is available.
ISO Speed Auto*, ISO 50/100/200/400 equivalent

* Camera automatically sets the optimal speed.

White Balance TTL auto, pre-set (available settings: Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H or Flash) or custom
Built-in Flash Auto*, on*, off

* Red-eye reduction is available.

Flash Range 0.5 – 5.2 m (1.6 – 17.1 ft.) (W), 0.9 – 4.0 m (3.0 – 13.1 ft.) (T)
(When ISO speed is set to Auto.)

* Macro: 0.3 – 0.5 m (1.0 – 1.6 ft.) (W/T) (Auto ISO speed)

Flash Exposure Compensation ± 2.0 stops in 1/3-stop increments, FE lock, Slow synchro and 1st-curtain/2nd-curtain flash are available.
Flash Output* 3 stops

* Can be set when flash exposure setting is Off

Shooting Modes Auto
Creative zone Program, Shutter-speed priority, Aperture priority, Manual, Custom
Image zone Portrait, Landscape, Night scene, Special Scene*, My Colors, Stitch Assist, Movie

* Foliage, Snow, Beach, Fireworks, Indoor, Night Snapshot

Continuous Shooting Approx. 1.5 shots/sec. (Large/Fine mode)
Approx. 2.4 shots/sec. (High-speed continuous shooting, Large/Fine mode)
Intervalometer Shooting interval: approx. 1 – 60 min. (1-min. increments)
Number of shots: 2 – 100 shots (Maximum number of shots varies according to memory card capacity.)
Self-timer Activates shutter after an approx. 10-sec./approx. 2-sec. delay, Custom Timer
PC-controlled Shooting Available (USB connection only. Exclusive software program is included in the camera kit.)
Recording Media SD Memory Card
File Format Design rule for camera file system and DPOF compliant
Data Type Still images Exif 2.2*(JPEG)
Movies AVI (Image data: Motion JPEG; Audio data: WAVE (stereo))

* This digital camera supports Exif 2.2 (also called “Exif Print”). Exif Print is a standard for enhancing the communication between digital cameras and printers. By connecting to an Exif Print-compliant printer, the camera’s image data at the time of shooting is used and optimized, yielding extremely high quality prints.

Compression Superfine, Fine, Normal
Number of Recording Pixels (Stills) 2592 x 1944 pixels (Large)
2048 x 1536 pixels (Medium 1)
1600 x 1200 pixels (Medium 2)
640 x 480 pixels (Small)
Number of recording pixels/Frame Rate (Movies) 640 x 480 pixels (30 frames/sec.)
640 x 480 pixels (15 frames/sec.)
320 x 240 pixels (30 frames/sec.)
320 x 240 pixels (15 frames/sec.)
Continuous until memory card is full
(Maximum Size: 1 GB/movie)
Audio Sampling frequency: 44.100/22.050/11.025 kHz
Quantization bit: 16 bit
Playback Modes Single (histogram displayable),
Index (9 thumbnail images)
Magnified (approx. 10x max. in LCD monitor/viewfinder, forward or reverse selection through magnified images possible), Image search (Jumps over 10 or 100 images, to a movie, or to the next shooting date, or nine images at a time during Index playback)
Slide Show
Sound memos (recording/playback up to 60 sec.)
Movie (slow-motion playback possible)
Sound Recorder (up to two hours sound-only recording/playback possible)
Direct Print PictBridge compliant, and Canon Direct Print and Bubble Jet Direct compatible
My Camera Settings The start-up image, start-up sound, shutter sound, operation sound and self-timer sound can be customized using the following methods:
  1. Using the images and sounds recorded on the camera.
  2. Using downloaded data from your computer using the supplied software.
Interface Hi-Speed USB 2.0 (mini-B), PTP (Picture Transfer Protocol)Audio/Video output (NTSC or PAL selectable, stereo audio)
Power Source
  1. Four AA-size alkaline batteries (included in the camera kit)
  2. Four AA-size rechargeable NiMH batteries (NB4-200) (sold separately)
  3. Compact Power Adapter (CA-PS700) (sold separately)
Operating Temperature 0 – 40°C (32 – 104°F)
Operating Humidity 10 – 90%
Dimensions (w x h x d) 113 x 78.0 x 75.5 mm (4.4 x 3.1 x 3.0 in.) (excluding protrusions)
Weight Approx. 405 g (14.3 oz.) (camera body only)