Canon power shot S51S Operating and maintenance manual

ENGLISH
The Components Guide
Preparations
Shooting
Playback/Erasing
Menus and Settings
Printing
Basic Downloading Images
to a Computer
CDI-E274-010 © 2007 CANON INC. PRINTED IN JAPAN
Camera User Guide
Please Read This First
This guide explains how to prepare the camera and use its basic features.
Pending
xxxxxxx

The following guides are available. Refer to them as necessary
according to the flowchart below.
In this guide, the Basic Camera User Guide is called the Basic Guide,
and the Advanced Camera User Guide is called the Advanced Guide.
Flowchart and Reference Guides
For information on included items
and items sold separately
The Components Guide
Preparations
• Installing the batteries and memory card
• Opening the LCD monitor
• Setting the date, time and language
Shooting
Playback/Erasing
Menus and Settings
Handling precautions, references
to the various shooting and
playback functions
Printing
• Installing the software
• Downloading images to a
computer
• Using the software
System Map
Basic Camera User
Guide (This Guide)
• Read this first.
Advanced Camera User
Guide
Direct Print User Guide
Basic Camera User
Guide (This Guide)
Software Starter Guide
ZoomBrowser EX/
ImageBrowser
Software User Guide
• PDF manuals available
on the Canon website.
http://web.canon.jp/
Imaging/information-e.html
You may not be able to achieve the
full performance of this camera with
the included memory card.

1
The Components Guide
Front View
aZoom Lever (p. 14, Advanced Guide pp. 104, 105)
Shooting: (Telephoto) / (Wide Angle)
Playback: (Magnify) / (Index)
bShutter Button (p. 9)
c(Continuous) / (Self-Timer) Button
(Advanced Guide p. 46, Basic Guide p. 18)
dNeck Strap Mount
ePower/Mode Indicator (p. 4)
fSelf-Timer Lamp/Red-Eye Reduction Lamp/Tally Lamp
(p. 18, Advanced Guide pp. 42, 51)
gFlash (p. 14)
hMicrophone (Advanced Guide pp. 119, 121)
iAF-assist Beam (Advanced Guide pp. 29, 148)
jSpeaker
kMF (Manual Focus) Button (Advanced Guide p. 75)
l(Macro) Button (p. 16)
mLens
nRing Release Button (Advanced Guide p. 169)
The Components Guide

2
Back View
aLCD Monitor (Advanced Guide p. 13)
bViewfinder (Advanced Guide p. 13)
cDC IN (Power input) Terminal (Advanced Guide p. 166)
dTerminal Cover
eA/V OUT (Audio/Video output) Terminal (Advanced Guide p. 130)
fDIGITAL Terminal (p. 28)
gMemory Card Slot/Battery Cover (p. 5)
hMemory Card Slot/Battery Cover Lock (p. 5)
iTripod Socket
Attaching the Neck Strap
Attach the strap as illustrated.
Check that the strap does not
come loose from the strap mount
when pulled. Perform the same
steps on the other side of the
camera.
In order to avoid dropping the camera, we recommend
attaching the neck strap before using the camera.

3
The Components Guide
Controls
a(Print/Share) / (Shortcut) (p. 23, Advanced Guide p. 98)
b(Flash) / (Microphone) Button
(p. 14, Advanced Guide pp. 119, 121)
cDiopter Adjustment Dial (Advanced Guide p. 14)
dHot Shoe (Advanced Guide p. 172)
eMovie Button (p. 10, Advanced Guide p. 50)
fMode Dial (pp. 9, 11)
gOFF Button
hMode Lever (p. 7)
iOmni Selector
S(Up) / (Exposure) Button (Advanced Guide p. 83)
T(Down) Button
W(Left) Button
X(Right) Button
jSET/ (AF Frame Selector) Button
(p. 21, Advanced Guide pp. 26, 69)
kMENU Button (p. 22, Advanced Guide p. 27)
lIndicator (p. 4)
mDISP. (Display) Button (Advanced Guide p. 13)
nISO/ (Jump) Button (Advanced Guide pp. 80, 107)
oFUNC. (Function) / (Single Image Erase) Button
(p. 21, Advanced Guide p. 26)

4
Indicators
The camera indicators will light or blink under the following conditions.
zPower/Mode Indicator
zIndicator
Attaching/Removing the Lens Cap
Squeeze both sides of the lens cap
(a), and remove (b).
Always replace the lens cap after
use.
• Attach the lens cap cord to the strap.
• Remove the lens cap before turning on the camera’s
power.
Never do the following while the indicator blinks red.
These actions may corrupt image data.
- Shake or jolt the camera
- Shut off the power, or open the memory card slot/battery
cover
Orange: Shooting mode
Green: Playback mode/Printer connection
Yellow: Computer connection
Blinking Red: Image recording/reading/erasing/transferring
(when connected to a computer)

5
Preparations
1. Installing the batteries.
1. Slide the memory card slot/battery cover lock (a) and
open the cover (b).
2. Insert the 4 supplied AA-size alkaline batteries, or
separately sold AA-size NiMH batteries.
2. Inserting the memory card.
1. Insert the memory card until it clicks into place.
2. Close the memory card slot/battery cover (a), pressing
down and sliding it until it clicks into place (b).
Preparations
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Battery Handling (p. 159).
Ensure that the memory card is correctly oriented before
inserting it in the camera. It may damage the camera, or
the camera may not recognize the card, if it is inserted
incorrectly.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Handling the Memory Card (p. 161).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Formatting Memory Cards (p. 37).
Memory card slot/battery
cover lock
Front

6
To Remove the Memory Card
Push the memory card with your finger until the memory card clicks
and then release it.
Opening the LCD Monitor
You can position the LCD monitor in the following ways.
1. Move it right or left 180 degrees.
2. Tilt it forward 180 degrees
toward the lens or backward
90 degrees.
When the LCD monitor is tilted
180 degrees toward the lens,
the displayed image is
automatically flipped and
reversed (the Reverse Display
function).
*The Reverse Display function can be set to off.
You can use SD memory cards, SDHC memory cards and
MultiMediaCards with this camera. These cards are
collectively called memory cards in this guide.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Rec. Menu (p. 29).

7
Preparations
3. Fold the LCD monitor back against the
camera body until it clicks into place.
When the LCD monitor clicks into
place, the image will display normally
(not reversed).
Turning the Power On/Off
1. Turn the mode lever to
(Shooting) or (Playback)
while pressing the release
button.
The power/mode indicator lights
orange or green.
• When switching between
shooting and playback, turn the
mode lever to or * while
pressing the release button.
*The camera switches to Playback mode, but the lens does not retract
(the lens will retract if you turn the mode lever to once more).
• In Playback mode, you can also switch to Shooting mode by
pressing the shutter button halfway or pressing the Movie
button.
2. Press the OFF button to turn
the power off.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Using the LCD Monitor and the
Viewfinder (p. 13).
Always keep the LCD monitor closed with the display facing
the camera body when the camera is not in use. When you
push the LCD monitor until you hear the clicking sound, the
LCD monitor will automatically turn off, and the image will
display in the viewfinder.
Power/Mode
Indicator
Mode Lever
Release
button

8
First Time Settings
Setting the Date/Time
1. Turn the camera on (a) in Shooting mode
( ) or Playback mode ( ).
2. Select the item you wish to set
using the Wor Xbutton and set
its value using the Sor T
button (b).
To set daylight saving time, select
and set it with the Sor T
button.
3. Confirm that the correct time is
displayed and press the SET
button (c).
The date/time can also be set in
the Set up menu (p. 22).
Setting the Display Language
1. Turn the camera on (a) in Playback mode ( ).
2. Hold down the SET button and press the MENU button.
3. Use the S, T, Wor Xbutton to select a language, then press
the SET button.
The display language can also be set in the Set up menu (p. 22).
When you turn on the camera the first time, or when the
lithium date battery charge is low, the [Date/Time] menu
appears.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Replacing the Date Battery (p. 177).

9
Shooting
Shooting (Still Images)
1. Turn the camera on in Shooting mode ( ) (p. 7).
The start-up sound will play and the start-up image will display on
the LCD monitor.
However, when starting with the viewfinder display, the start-up
image is not displayed and there is no start-up sound.
• When you hold down the button while turning on the camera,
the mute setting is [On]. All sounds except for warning sounds
will be disabled.
2. Set the mode dial to .
3. Aim the camera at the subject.
4. Focus and shoot.
1. Press the shutter button lightly
(halfway) to focus.
Two beeps will sound when the camera
has finished focusing, and the AF
frame appears green in the LCD
monitor (or viewfinder).
• If the message “Raise the flash” appears, we recommend
shooting with a flash (p. 14).
Shooting
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Using the LCD Monitor and the Viewfinder (p. 13).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Power Saving Function (p. 22).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Set up Menu (p. 32).
• The Image Stabilizer function is set to [On] by default.
• The beep will sound one time if the subject is difficult to
focus on.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Setting the Image Stabilizer Function (p. 44).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Shooting Hard-to-Focus Subjects (Focus Lock, AF
Lock, Manual Focus) (p. 73).

10
2. Press the shutter button fully (all the
way) to shoot.
The shutter sound will play, and the
image will record. The indicator will
blink red while the image is recorded to
the memory card.
Reviewing an Image Right After Shooting
After a shot is taken, the image appears in the LCD monitor for
approximately 2 seconds.
You can continue to display images regardless of the review duration
setting with the following procedures.
• Keeping the shutter button pressed after a shot.
• Pressing the SET or DISP. button while the image is displayed in
the LCD monitor.
To stop displaying the image, press the shutter button halfway.
Shooting (Movies)
No matter what position the mode dial is
in, you can shoot movies with just a push
of the movie button.
• Max. Clip Size: 4 GB*.
• Sound is recorded in stereo.
• Pressing the Movie button again stops
recording.
* Even before the recording size reaches 4 GB,
recording will stop at the moment the recording
time reaches 1 hour. Depending on memory
card capacity and data write speed, recording may stop before the file size
reaches 4 GB or the recording time reaches 1 hour.
ÎSee Selecting a Shooting Mode (p. 11).
ÎSee Indicators (p. 4).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide to verify the advanced shooting method.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Review (p. 29).
ÎSee Erasing (p. 20).
Movie button

11
Shooting
Selecting a Shooting Mode
1. Set the mode dial to the desired mode (a).
In the modes, use the Wor Xbutton to select a shooting
mode (b).
Shooting Modes
Auto The camera automatically selects settings.
Image
Zone
When a shooting mode appropriate for the shooting conditions is
selected, the camera automatically adjusts settings for optimal
shooting.
Portrait
Produces a soft
effect when
photographing
people.
Landscape
Optimized for
shooting
landscape
scenes which
contain both near and far
subjects.
Night
Snapshot
Allows you to
take snapshots
of people against
twilight or night backgrounds by
reducing the effects of camera
shake even without using a tripod.
Sports
Shoots
continuous
images with
autofocus. Well
suited for shooting moving
subjects (You can change
continuous shooting settings.
(See the Advanced Guide p. 46)).
Creative Zone
Auto
Image Zone

12
Image
Zone
(Special Scene)
You can shoot with the most appropriate settings for the scene.
Snow
Shoots without
a blue tinge
and without
making people
appear dark against a snowy
background.
Foliage
Shoots trees
and leaves -
such as new
growth,
autumn leaves or blossoms - in
vivid colors.
Fireworks
Captures
fireworks in the
sky sharply
and at optimal
exposure.
Beach
Shoots without
making people
appear dark
near water or
sand where reflected sunlight is
strong.
Night Scene
Allows you to capture human subjects against
the backdrop of an evening sky or night scene.
The flash is directed at the person and the
shutter speed is slow, so both the person and
the background can be beautifully shot.
Color
Accent
Use this option
to have only
the color
specified in the LCD monitor
remain and to transform all
others to black and white.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide (p. 59).
Color
Swap
Use this option
to transform a
color specified
in the LCD monitor into another.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide (p. 60).
Indoor
Prevents
camera shake
and maintains
the subject’s
true color when shooting under
fluorescent or tungsten lighting.
Aquarium
Selects the
optimal ISO
speed, white
balance and
color balance to capture fish
and other items in an indoor
aquarium.

13
Shooting
Image
Zone
Stitch Assist
Allows you to shoot overlapping
images that can later be
merged (stitched) to create one
panoramic image on a
computer.
Movie
No matter what position the mode dial is in, you can select from 4
different recording pixels/frame rate settings and shoot movies.
When the mode dial is set to , you can set AE lock and exposure
shift before shooting.
The following movie modes are available: Color Accent (for
shooting in black and white except for specified colors), Color Swap
(for changing a specified color into another) of mode and My
Colors of FUNC. menu.
Creative
Zone
, , ,
You can freely select camera settings such as the exposure and
aperture value to suit your shooting purposes.
• Results may vary depending on the subject.
• The shutter speed is slow in or mode. Always use a
tripod to avoid camera shake.
• In , , , , , or mode, the ISO speed may
increase and cause noise in the image depending on the
scene being shot.
• In mode, shoot with the subject more than 1 m (3.3 ft.) –
infinity (zoom range: maximum wide angle) or 4 m (13.1 ft.)
– infinity (zoom range: maximum telephoto angle) away
from the front of the lens.
• In mode, the camera shake warning icon may
appear on the LCD monitor (or viewfinder) since slower
shutter speeds are frequently used in this mode. If this
happens, affix the camera to a tripod.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide (p. 57).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide (p. 50).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide (pp. 63 - 68).

14
Using the Zoom
1. Press the zoom lever toward or .
The zoom can be adjusted from 36 – 432 mm (focal length) in
35mm film equivalent terms. While adjusting the zoom, a distance
representing the focus range (rough guide) for AF (auto focus)
appears below the zoom bar.
• Zooming speed can be controlled with the zoom lever. Pressing
the zoom lever fully left or right zooms quickly, while pressing
lightly zooms slowly.
Using the Flash
1. Raise the flash manually.
2. Press the button (a) and use the Wor Xbutton to select
the flash settings (b).
Telephoto: Zooms
in on the subject.
Wide Angle:
Zooms out from the
subject (the subjects
will be small).
Focus range
(rough guide)
Zoom Bar
b

15
Shooting
* When red-eye reduction is enabled (Advanced Guide p. 42), the red-eye
reduction lamp lights when the flash fires.
Red-eye reduction: This feature reduces the effect of light reflecting back from
the eyes and making them appear red.
3. When you are not using the flash, lower the flash until it
closes.
*Auto The flash fires automatically.
*Flash on The flash always fires.
Flash off The flash will not fire.
cannot be set in mode.
You are recommended to shoot with the camera attached to
a tripod or other device if the camera shake warning icon
( ) appears.
• The charging time for the flash varies depending on the
conditions of use and remaining battery charge.
• A flashing red in the LCD monitor (or viewfinder)
indicates insufficient light level. In this case, raise the flash
before shooting. However, when shooting with the ,
or mode there is no indication.
appears in the LCD monitor (or viewfinder).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Setting the Red-Eye
Reduction Function (p. 42).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Setting the Slow Synchro
(p. 43).
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 199).
ÎSee Selecting a Shooting Mode (p. 11).

16
Shooting Close-ups (Macro/Super Macro)
Use this mode to shoot close-ups of flowers or small items.
This mode allows even closer shooting of the subject than Macro
mode, magnifying the subject further. In addition, the background can
be shot with different effects than when shooting in macro shooting
mode.
1. Press the button.
• Press and hold this button for more than one second for Super
Macro mode ( appears on the LCD monitor).
• When using the zoom in
Macro mode, a yellow bar
appears below the zoom
bar to indicate the range in
which you cannot use
Macro mode to shoot the
subject.
When the zoom level is in
the yellow area, the
shooting distance becomes
that of normal mode, and
appears gray.
The zoom bar disappears
after approx. 2 seconds.
Zoom range for
Macro shooting
Zoomed 0 cm away from the
flower in Super Macro mode
Focus range
(rough guide)
Out of zoom
range for
Macro shooting
(yellow bar)
*
Max.
tele-
photo
Max.
wide
angle
* The shooting distance becomes that of normal
mode. (As it is no longer macro mode,
turns gray.)
button

17
Shooting
• You cannot use the zoom in Super Macro mode (the zoom level
is fixed at maximum wide angle).
To cancel the macro mode, press button to display .
Focusing distance and image area when
shooting as close to the subject as possible
* You cannot use the zoom.
Zoom level Focusing
distance
When shooting as close to the
subject as possible
Image area
Distance
between front of
lens and subject
Maximum wide
angle
10 – 50 cm
(3.9 in. – 1.6 ft.)
118 × 87 mm
(4.6 × 3.4 in.)
10 cm (3.9 in.)
Maximum wide
angle (fixed)*
0 – 10 cm
(0 – 3.9 in.)
22 × 16 mm
(0.87 × 0.63 in.)
0 cm (0 in.)
• Check the range of the built-in flash when using it in macro
mode (Advanced Guide p. 181).
• Be careful to avoid damaging the lens when shooting in
Super Macro mode.
This setting cannot be set in some shooting modes.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 199).
ÎSee Selecting a Shooting Mode (p. 11).

18
Using the Self-Timer
1. Press the / button (a) and use the Wor Xbutton to
cycle through self-timer settings (b).
• When the shutter button is pressed fully, the self-timer lamp will
blink (when setting the red-eye reduction function, the self-timer
lamp will blink and then stay lit for the last 2 seconds).
To cancel the self-timer, press / button to display .
*1 May differ depending on My Camera settings (Advanced Guide p. 141).
*2 Default setting.
*3 Default setting is 3 shots.
10 sec. delay: The shutter releases 10 seconds after the shutter
button is pressed.
• 2 sec. before the shutter releases, the self-timer sound beeps*1
quickly and the lamp will speed up.
2 sec. delay: The shutter releases 2 seconds after the shutter
button is pressed.
• The self-timer sound beeps*1quickly when the shutter button is
pressed and the shutter will release 2 seconds later.
Custom Timer: You can change the delay time (0 – 10*2, 15, 20,
30 sec.) and number of shots (1 – 10*3) (p. 19).
• When a delay time of over 2 seconds is set for the [Delay] option,
the self-timer sound beeps quickly 2 seconds before the shutter
releases. If multiple shots have been specified for the [Shots]
option, the sound will play for the first shot only.
This setting cannot be set in some shooting modes.
ÎSee the Advanced Guide: Functions Available in Each Shooting Mode (p. 199).
ÎSee Selecting a Shooting Mode (p. 11).