PowerShot SX20IS

Not sure if this belongs here, but I didn't see anywhere else to put it. I have a question about the above camera.

We just bought it at Christmas and it is our first real digital camera. I am just getting into shooting using values I enter versus using the "auto" mode.

Is there a mode (M, P, etc) which will allow me to control all 3...ISO, aperture and shutter speed? I saw that manual will let you do two out of the three (aperture and shutter speed), but not ISO. I see that I can set it to P and control the ISO, but the camera controls the other two.

Manual will let you control the ISO. Tv and Av will both let you control the ISO; Tv lets you directly control the shutter speed and (via Exposure Compensation) indirectly control the aperture; Av lets you directly control aperture and indirectly control the shutter speed (via EC). There's really very little difference between setting both the shutter speed and aperture yourself and setting one and letting the camera set the other. If you set a shutter speed and then "match needle" so the camera's meter says you're right on, you'll get exactly what you would have gotten if you'd used Tv at that shutter speed. If you leave the meter a stop or so off, it's the same as if you'd used Tv and some EC.

Shooting in M will let you control all 3 variables. You can set the ISO, you can select a shutter speed and you can select an aperture. M is great if you are shooting in static conditions or if you are shooting flash. For more dynamic situations, Av or Tv might be a better choice. In Av, you select the ISO and the aperture you desire....the camera picks the appropriate shutter speed for the conditions that exist the instant you press the shutter release. This is very handy if the light is changing. In Tv, you select the ISO and the shutter speed you desire....the camera picks the appropriate aperture for the conditions that exist when the shutter is released. This feature is very handy if you are attempting to capture motion blur....such as a spinning propeller or while panning a moving vehicle to blur the background.

Thank you both. You have been VERY helpful!

I have a question concerning this camera also. This little square deal when trying to focus is not thrilling me. How can I compose the shot when all I have in focus is that little square. Why am I not seeing it all in focus thru the viewer?

It makes trying to capture small fast moving birds almost impossible.

Have I missed something that I can change and get the whole picture?

MORGAN471 wrote in post #9520699
I have a question concerning this camera also. This little square deal when trying to focus is not thrilling me. How can I compose the shot when all I have in focus is that little square. Why am I not seeing it all in focus thru the viewer?

It makes trying to capture small fast moving birds almost impossible.

Have I missed something that I can change and get the whole picture?

Not sure I am following you. The small square is the focus point indicator. You can change the size of that to one of two different sizes.....but the whole image should be visible through the finder or on the rear LCD.

MORGAN471 wrote in post #9520699
I have a question concerning this camera also. This little square deal when trying to focus is not thrilling me. How can I compose the shot when all I have in focus is that little square. Why am I not seeing it all in focus thru the viewer?

It makes trying to capture small fast moving birds almost impossible.

Have I missed something that I can change and get the whole picture?

Either I'm misunderstanding you or you're misunderstanding camera focus. When you focus the camera, it uses what's in "that little square" as its target, but anything else at about the same distance will also be in focus. You can move the square around (press the AF-select button and use the wheel) in FlexiZone mode too.

If you're just referring to what you see on the screen in preview, that's strictly because the preview image isn't processed like the final photo is. If the camera constantly applied full post-processing to the live view, you'd have absolutely abysmal lag in the display. And if you're using AF Point Zoom, turn it off.

Okay I need to figure out how to make it bigger and keep it bigger because I have a little square. I get the whole image but the little square is targeting in on whatever so that small part appears magnified/zoomed in in the view finder. I really like this camera but just want to be sure it will do for me in photographing birds...my main subjects!

Thank you for you responses.

Sounds like you have AF Point Zoom enabled then if you're seeing a magnified area. Either that or you're using Manual Focus.

Jon wrote in post #9524978
Sounds like you have AF Point Zoom enabled then if you're seeing a magnified area. Either that or you're using Manual Focus.

I just spent an hour trying to get my camera to only show the focus indicator square....unless there is some super top secret setting, I was unable to replicate it.....and I wasn't able to find any reference to it in the manual or on Canon USA. I don't know if I am just not understanding the question or what.

Jon wrote in post #9524978
Sounds like you have AF Point Zoom enabled then if you're seeing a magnified area. Either that or you're using Manual Focus.

That's sho-nuf what it sounds like to me!

AF point zoom only is on if the camera is in full auto. If you select another mode it isn't even a menu option any longer....Guess the Morgan471 should try using his camera in P, Tv, Av or one of the other modes and see if that solves the problem.

I use the TV Mode...not AUTO....but I just turned the AF point zoom off and I am not getting the magnified view in the little square anymore! Now to get the little square bigger!

Thank you all!

Woolburr wrote in post #9525322
I just spent an hour trying to get my camera to only show the focus indicator square....unless there is some super top secret setting, I was unable to replicate it.....and I wasn't able to find any reference to it in the manual or on Canon USA. I don't know if I am just not understanding the question or what.

p. 84 shows it in the "Menu" options.

Woolburr wrote in post #9525897
AF point zoom only is on if the camera is in full auto. If you select another mode it isn't even a menu option any longer....Guess the Morgan471 should try using his camera in P, Tv, Av or one of the other modes and see if that solves the problem.

I know you have the SX20 and I don't (and don't even have the SX1 with me ATM - slumming with the 7D and a couple of primes), but according to the manual (pp. 168-169) it's selectable in all modes except Sports, Pano-stitch and Movie.

Jon wrote in post #9525982
p. 84 shows it in the "Menu" options.

I know you have the SX20 and I don't (and don't even have the SX1 with me ATM - slumming with the 7D and a couple of primes), but according to the manual (pp. 168-169) it's selectable in all modes except Sports, Pano-stitch and Movie.

The only mode it works with on mine is auto. If you go to the other modes, it is grayed out on the menu.