The S2 has the ability to apply a curve based remap to optimize the appearance of the capture. This is the same function as Tone Correct on the T2, if you have a notion of how the function works on T2 you’re probably good to go.
Tone Correct is the feature used to remap densities and contrast in a captured image. Find Tone Correct at the right side of the interface, in the Function window. Note that Tone Correct is not enabled until you develop a MEGA file, the function is grayed while the camera is in the shooting mode. Develop a MEGA file and notice the features in the Function window become active.
Choose Tone and note the display of the Multifunction window. You’ll see the standard Tone Correct window display, allowing remapping, saving, and loading of remaps. Note that the remap can be applied to the RGB data or the individual channels of Red, Green, and Blue.
Remapping can be accomplished by clicking on the arrowed handles below the curve box. Also note that the actual transition line can be modified by clicking on the line and dragging up or down. Start adjusting the transition line with the arrow handles, note that ten of the small arrow clicks equals one of the large arrow clicks. Also notice that if you click within the scene in the image window, a small box will denote the area of interest. View Before and After information at the bottom of the Tone Correct dialog box. If you apply the current modification of the transition line, the After value will be remapped to the displayed value.
What remaps should be applied? That of course depends on what the image needs. Try to minimize the remapping of values. In general you may find yourself making more of a gamma correction most of the time. If you know you’re going to need a strengthening of low values you might want to plan for the gamma style remap. That gamma style application of a curve will allow you to drop the aperture and use the remap to open up the mid to high values, leaving the low values aggressively contrasted but forced strongly with aperture. This is just like dropping the exposure index and pushing the film in low contrast light. For first time shooters this is a reasonable approach (it’s also not a bad approach for more advanced shooters). If possible try to shoot in a manner that avoids remapping more than 5% (1/2 a Zone).
For large remaps, the curve application should be implemented in a specialized way, where you map highlights only up and shadows only down. As much as possible, do as much as you can with lighting. If you need to make a big remap, do it in Photoshop. Take the file to Lab space and remap the luminance only (Command+1), which will avoid changing the color balance of big remaps.