Canon PowerShot S20 (2000)
The camera weighs 240 grams and fits in a coat pocket.
Overview
The Canon PowerShot S20 came out in 2000 as Canon's next step in premium compact digital cameras, directly replacing the S10 with modest refinements. It is a 3.34-megapixel compact for photographers who wanted more control than a point-and-shoot gives, without the bulk of a DSLR. It stops well short of manual exposure modes, though. Owners report sharp, natural-looking images straight out of the camera, with a desaturated, almost filmic tonality that some modern shooters chase with filters.
The sensor is a 1/1.8-inch CCD, paired with Canon's proprietary digital signal-processing. Maximum resolution is 2048 x 1536 pixels in a 4:3 aspect ratio. 3.34 million effective pixels seems quaint now, but it was competitive for consumer compacts at the turn of the millennium. The camera records JPEG using Design rule for Camera File system (DCF) and supports DPOF for direct printing, which was practical when photo kiosks were becoming commonplace. Compression settings include Fine, which corresponds to a medium JPEG level and balances quality against storage on CompactFlash Type I cards.
The lens is a 5.4-16.2 mm f/2.9-4.0 zoom, equivalent to 32-96 mm in 35 mm terms. That makes it a modest 3x optical zoom, though some sources describe it as 2x, so the record is ambiguous. Digital zoom extends the reach to approximately 7.5x or 15x depending on resolution, and image quality degrades predictably at those extremes. Autofocus is a single-point contrast-detection system, which owners note can be deliberate, even in good light. There is no manual focus, and enthusiasts who wanted finer control criticized that. Exposure modes are fully automatic, with no aperture or shutter priority, which keeps it an advanced compact rather than a prosumer tool.
Shutter speeds run from 1 to 1/1000 second. Slow Shutter mode activates automatically for exposures longer than 1 second, though one source specifies a minimum of 2 seconds, which suggests the automatic extension may cap at that point. Metering options are evaluative, center-weighted average, and spot (center). Exposure compensation is ±2 stops in 1/3-stop increments. ISO is fixed at 100, 200, or 400 equivalents, and no auto-ISO mode is mentioned. White balance is TTL auto, with presets for daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, and fluorescent H, plus a custom option for precise color correction.
The rear has a 2.0-inch P-Si TFT LCD monitor with approximately 120,000 pixels. That is modest by today's standards, but it was serviceable for framing and playback in 2000. There is also a real-image zoom viewfinder, a rarity in digital compacts of the era, handy in bright sunlight or when saving battery. The built-in flash offers Auto, Auto with Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, and Flash Off. At ISO 100, it reaches 3.5 meters at wide-angle and 2.0 meters at telephoto, which limits it in larger spaces. Dimensions are 99.6 x 61.6 x 31.0 mm, and the body weighs approximately 240 grams. The design has been described as boxy, with minimal ergonomic shaping.
Power comes from the NB-5H rechargeable battery pack or the ACK-500 AC adapter kit. Data transfer is by USB, and video output is NTSC or PAL, so it connects directly to computers or televisions. Continuous shooting is reportedly around 1.2 frames per second at the Large/Fine setting. No authoritative source shows any video recording capability. A single Facebook post claims 720p HD video, but it is considered an outlier and likely erroneous, since all technical documentation and reviews cover still photography only.
Specifications
| Manufacturer | Canon |
| Product Type | Digital camera |
| Effective Pixels | Approx. 3.34 million |
| Image Sensor | 1/1.8-inch CCD (Total pixels: Approx. 3.43 million) |
| Max Resolution | 2048 x 1536 |
| Lens | 5.4–16.2 mm f/2.9–4.0 (35 mm film equivalent: 32–96 mm) |
| Optical Zoom | Reportedly 2x |
| Digital Zoom | Approx. 2.5x/5.0x (Combined with optical zoom: Approx. 7.5x/15.0x) |
| Focusing Range | Normal: 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) |
| Shutter Speed | 1–1/1000 sec. (Slow Shutter operates automatically for speeds slower than 1 sec.) |
| Metering System | Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot (Center) |
| Exposure Compensation | ±2 stops in 1/3-stop increments |
| ISO Speed | Equivalent to 100/200/400 |
| White Balance | TTL auto, Preset (daylight, cloudy, tungsten, fluorescent, fluorescent H), Custom |
| Built-in Flash | Auto, Auto with Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash Off |
| Flash Range | 50 cm–3.5 m (1.6–11 ft.) (W), 90 cm–2.0 m (3.0–6.6 ft.) (T) (when sensitivity is set to ISO 100 equivalent) |
| Viewfinder | Real-image zoom viewfinder |
| LCD Monitor | 2.0-inch P-Si TFT (approx. 120,000 pixels) |
| File Format | Design rule for Camera File system, DPOF compliant |
| JPEG Compression | Fine (medium setting) |
| Recording Media | CompactFlash™ Card (Type I) (3.3 V and 5 V) |
| Interface | USB, Video Out (NTSC or PAL) |
| Power Source | Rechargeable Battery Pack NB-5H, AC Adapter Kit ACK-500 |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 99.6 x 61.6 x 31.0 mm (3.9 x 2.4 x 1.2 in.) (excluding protrusions) |
| Weight | Approx. 240 g (8.5 oz.) (camera body only) |
| Continuous Shooting Speed | Approx. 1.2 images/sec. (at Large/ Fine) |
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