S100 - Manual Mode vs. Auto

[kmiller]

I have a Canon S100 and can't find anyone that will give me a straight/accurate answer to the following question/scenario...


File size doesn't matter to me, but quality of the pictures does. I want to know if I set the camera to manual mode in order to get superfine/large (best resolution--least compression), are the other manual settings optional, and in reality I am in auto mode with more control? Or do I have to know how to do my exposure, etc. on each photo in this manual mode?

What I'd like is to be able to set it to auto mode in the highest resolution/least compression and forget about it.

Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks!

[Rustle]

This page explains the available modes for your camera:

http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S100/S100A9.HTM

The short answer is yes, manual on an S100 appears to be equivalent to Program AE mode on other cameras (Auto with more control). The camera still controls shutter speed and aperature, but leaves everything else to you. If you leave everything at the defaults, you should be alright.

However, it's probable that the S100's Auto mode puts the camera into the best resolution and compression. Since the Auto mode doesn't allow you to change quality/size, I can't imagine them handicapping you at a lower quality. If you want to check this, take a picture in Auto mode, then switch to Manual and take exactly the same picture in Superfine and Fine. Compare the file sizes to see which Manual mode image matches the Auto mode's file size. Make sure your flash setting is the same in both modes so that the images are virtually identical.

I'll be surprised if Auto mode uses only the Fine quality setting.

Russ