No manual f-stop control on my Canon PowerShot camera?
July 13, 2010 5:34 PM Subscribe
Why does my Canon PowerShot SD890IS camera not have a way to manually change the depth-of-field/f-stop?
It has a manual mode where you can change everything from ISO to White Balance to Auto-Focus settings, so why not f-stop? It displays the aperture value when you half-press the button, and it seems to be correlated to exposure time/available light but I can't find it in the manual index or change it manually anywhere.
It has a manual mode where you can change everything from ISO to White Balance to Auto-Focus settings, so why not f-stop? It displays the aperture value when you half-press the button, and it seems to be correlated to exposure time/available light but I can't find it in the manual index or change it manually anywhere.
One popular workaround for this kind of limitation, btw, is the third-party CHDK software, and it seems to support the SD890. I've heard it's easy to install and use, but I don't have a PowerShot so I've never tried it.
posted by Tomorrowful at 5:40 PM on July 13, 2010
posted by Tomorrowful at 5:40 PM on July 13, 2010
This has always been the case with Canon's mini point and shoot line. I think this type of simplicity is considered a feature of the line. You can get more options including aperture control in the S90 if you're looking for a more full-featured camera.
posted by mullingitover at 5:42 PM on July 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by mullingitover at 5:42 PM on July 13, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Digital ELPH line is basically for people who don't want to do things manually. As mullingitover says, the "next level up" in the Canon non-SLR series has manual settings for more things. Of course as you noticed there are _some_ manual settings in the Elphs, but if you read the Canon literature they're pretty clear that the Elph is meant to be used in automatic most of the time.
If you look here the top section has the more "full featured" cameras and the Elph line is in the middle section.
[not sure how helpful this is since you already have the camera, but if you ever want another Canon this is good stuff to know]
posted by wildcrdj at 7:01 PM on July 13, 2010
If you look here the top section has the more "full featured" cameras and the Elph line is in the middle section.
[not sure how helpful this is since you already have the camera, but if you ever want another Canon this is good stuff to know]
posted by wildcrdj at 7:01 PM on July 13, 2010
Because there is no aperture to change. It can only adjust shutter speed.
(Well, not quite true. There is one other smaller aperture it can use when it is a very bright scene. If you point it at a lightbulb and then away, you can here the click as it moves into place and then back.)
posted by smackfu at 7:08 PM on July 13, 2010
(Well, not quite true. There is one other smaller aperture it can use when it is a very bright scene. If you point it at a lightbulb and then away, you can here the click as it moves into place and then back.)
posted by smackfu at 7:08 PM on July 13, 2010
If the 890 is anything like the 790, it just has a drop-in (internal, automatic) ND filter to simulate a smaller f-stop.
posted by scruss at 7:09 PM on July 13, 2010
posted by scruss at 7:09 PM on July 13, 2010
Manual controls on point and shoot cameras are useless. The technical reason is that because the sensor size is so small, the lenses are extremely short, compared to a 35mm camera. This makes everything in focus, all the time (the same as if you used a ultrawide lens on a 35mm camera).
So if you buy a point and shoot with some sort of manual controls, you are wasting your money. They are not going to make the background any blurrier. The camera has extremely good light sensing capabilities, so you are not going to make a better exposure than it will.
These little Canon cameras are extremely good at what they do. Colors are amazing, video is good. Just ignore all the technical stuff and have fun.
(opinions of a former semi-professional photographer)
posted by sully75 at 6:04 AM on July 14, 2010
So if you buy a point and shoot with some sort of manual controls, you are wasting your money. They are not going to make the background any blurrier. The camera has extremely good light sensing capabilities, so you are not going to make a better exposure than it will.
These little Canon cameras are extremely good at what they do. Colors are amazing, video is good. Just ignore all the technical stuff and have fun.
(opinions of a former semi-professional photographer)
posted by sully75 at 6:04 AM on July 14, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks everybody! Time for me to upgrade to a "real" camera - though this little thing does take some great shots now and again.
posted by lukievan at 11:20 AM on July 15, 2010
posted by lukievan at 11:20 AM on July 15, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Tomorrowful at 5:37 PM on July 13, 2010