P.87 Shutter Button (Tip #002)

Much of the camera's preparation to shoot a photo or video is done when the shutter button is half-depressed. As stated in the camera manual, it's recommended that the shutter be half-depressed and the camera allowed to obtain focus. Once the image is in focus, then depress the shutter button the whole way.

This has three benefits:

1. Improved camera ability to get the focus correct.
2. Improved image stabilization (Intelligent IS) to remove movement blur.
3. Provides an opportunity to check that the camera is focussing on the main object.

Note that on fully depressing the shutter a shutter sound is played. This sound indicates the duration the shutter is open, and it is important to keep the camera still until the shutter sound ends.

Whilst the shutter is half-depressed, it is also worth checking the camera shake warning (#39 on p.314 of manual) to see if it's warning about camera shake. It's not always necessary to mount the camera on a tripod when this warning shows (as is said on p.99 of manual), but it is worth noting the risk of shake and taking every possible precaution to hold the camera as steady as possible when this warning shows.

And there is a fourth benefit from holding the half-depressed button, and that is, it's always good practice to squeeze rather than jab the shutter button. Use the flat part of your finger rather than the very tip, as this helps produce a soft button squeeze. A gentle shutter release is possibly the single most important action any photographer can take to increase their chance of getting a good photo. I would say, in my book of 'good camera practice', this would be my lesson number one. The provision of image stabilization on modern cameras such as the Powershot S110 helps a lot, but it still pays to hold the camera as steady as possible, and a gentle squeeze of the shutter is very, very important.