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Bought a new-in-box S3-IS last night...funny huh?: Canon Talk Forum: Digital Photography Review
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I say "funny" cause I spent quite a bit of money on it at around about $265.00 after shipping!
:-o I know most people would not want such an older model but the faster shutter speed (less shutter lag) compared to any of the newer S-models since, intrigued me and whether or not I was correct to assume that it was that literal (maybe newer processors compensate somehow), it seemed like a pretty nice camera with pretty darn good reviews and without a ridiculously long zoom lens or higher pixels than needed (?).
I guess I'm hoping to hear from anyone who is or was an S3 owner, how they liked it as well as what I should be warned about.
I doubt I'll re-sell it before I open it, but I don't sense I'd have a hard time turning around and selling it since it's still new, if I were to change my mind at the last minute!
My plan is to use this until I figure out what first entry-level DSLR I'm going to get (can't seem to make up my mind) and I'll also use it as a back-up camera, and to take when I don't want anything too big.
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I picked one up for $263 two weeks ago.
Lower noise than the S5.
I think it's jewel of a camera - responsive, good IQ, great IS.
The macro mode is very nice.
I picked up an aluminum lens adapter and a thin UV protector for the lens, and the camera is now pretty robust too.
Nicholas
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There was plenty of discussion about the benefit of going to an S5 when they came out.
The S3 has a whole lot of supporters who like it's balance of features and IQ.
The S5 added a few things that certain people definitely were looking for, but the IQ dropped a bit in some people's eyes.
I think you made a pretty good purchase.
D.
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Theresse,
I answered your post on DSLR's, but really, you were not ready to spend that much this soon.
I think the S3IS is a really good move for you.
I've owned two S3IS in the past.
My son has one, my daughter, the other.
But then I missed having one and bought an S5IS.
In terms of image quality, I really don't see a lot of difference one way or the other.
I equipped all of mine with Lensmate 52 mm adapters, a clear 52 mm filter and a 52 mm lens cap.
The adapter and filter forms a closed chamber around the lens, so as it moves in and out, it doesn't suck in dustfrom the air, and it provides protection against accidental knocks.
It has no effect on the operation or image quality, provided you get a multi-coated filter.
Do I like the camera?
Obviously, I can't stay away from them.
Images are sharp and contrasty with very good color, and I do advise that you experiment with settings for sharpness, contrast and saturation.
Response of the camera is very good and I've used mine for ice hockey, youth soccer, and baseball, and had little trouble capturing the peak of the action if I prefocused on the area where I expected the action.
If you find you want more reach than the 432 mm (35 mm equivalent) of the S3IS, you can add an auxiliary tele lens to the camera using the LensMate.
The Raynox 1540 Pro (1.54 x for 665 mm) works very well and screws right into the LensMate.
(remove the filter, first) The Sony DH 1758 also works very well and gives 1.7x 432 = 734 mm, equivalent.
For batteries, you have two choices: a couple of sets of NiMH AA cells and a good charger, or use disposable Energizer Lithium cells.
These last very long and have excellent shelf life, so the camera is ready whenever you need it.
Since I have other cameras, and use the S5IS intermittantly, I use the Energizers.
In normal use without much flash use, I get over 600 shots from a set, for $10/set of 4.
If I were using the S5IS reguarly and racking up a lot of shots, I'd go for rechargeables and carry a set of Energizer Lithium for emergencies.
My son uses rechargeables for his S3IS, and my daughter uses the Energizers for hers.
--
Jerry
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It's not a bad camera for the price.
I personally LIKE the fact you can use Ni-MH AAs in it, and overall I liked the handling.
Focusing is sometimes hit and miss even if you have it just set to center focusing (Panasonic FZ models beat it in this regard).
The movie mode is excellent.
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Please do share -- where are you getting S3 IS's for $265 and $263?
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The S3 can take great pictures.
Excellent choice.
That picture was taken at the tele end.
Image control: Zoom out | Zoom 100% | Zoom in | Expand / Contract | New window
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Nicholas Quote: :
>
I picked one up for $263 two weeks ago.
Lower noise than the S5.
I
> think it's jewel of a camera - responsive, good IQ, great IS.
The
> macro mode is very nice.
I picked up an aluminum lens adapter and a
>
Thin UV protector for the lens, and the camera is now pretty robust
>
Too.
>
> Nicholas
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Thanks Nicholas - that makes me feel better!
:-) Sorry for the ignorance but what does the UV protector do (how does it make a difference) and does it change the quality of the pictures at all or add any noticeable weight?
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Quote: :
> Please do share -- where are you getting S3 IS's for $265 and $263?
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I bid on ebay, and I still feel kind of guilty since I was the 32nd bidder so lots of others wanted it (or several anyway - i don't know how many were the same people over and over again).
How it happened is that once I decided I wanted the S3, I looked online for 2 or 3 days, not seeing anything besides used cameras in good condition, which I was willing to get if there was a convincing ad that it had barely been used.
Then out of the blue came a "new in box" S3 and I just knew I had to have it.
I'd seen them on Amazon new (not many) but they were $240 for "like new" and $500 for new...so I waited till the last second (well, till the last 30 seconds about) and then put in my bid which was for $306.25 - don't ask me why.
I knew about $300 would be my limit since I'm also planning on getting my first entry-level dSLR and spending money on the latter was the higher priority.
But I gotta admit I was relieved to see the actual price I was going to pay was about $30.00 less.
This takes the dSLR pressure off me - I was starting to panic since my old camera broke and I need a new camera ASAP only I was dreading the steep learning curve of the dSLR's (I still dread it but at least now I don't have to learn it in a hurry)!
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Quote: :
> There was plenty of discussion about the benefit of going to an S5
>
When they came out.
The S3 has a whole lot of supporters who like
>
It's balance of features and IQ.
The S5 added a few things that
>
Certain people definitely were looking for, but the IQ dropped a bit
>
In some people's eyes.
>
>
I think you made a pretty good purchase.
>
>
D.
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Thank you! The main consideration for me was that the S5 and the new SX10 even appear to be slower than the S3 (?!).
I also read about the IQ dropping w/ the S5.
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Quote: :
> Theresse,
>
>
I answered your post on DSLR's, but really, you were not ready to
>
Spend that much this soon.
I think the S3IS is a really good move
>
For you.
>
>
I've owned two S3IS in the past.
My son has one, my daughter, the
>
Other. But then I missed having one and bought an S5IS.
In terms of
> image quality, I really don't see a lot of difference one way or the
>
Other.
>
> I equipped all of mine with Lensmate 52 mm adapters, a clear 52 mm
>
Filter and a 52 mm lens cap.
The adapter and filter forms a closed
>
Chamber around the lens, so as it moves in and out, it doesn't suck
>
In dustfrom the air, and it provides protection against accidental
>
Knocks. It has no effect on the operation or image quality, provided
>
You get a multi-coated filter.
>
>
Do I like the camera?
Obviously, I can't stay away from them.
>
Images are sharp and contrasty with very good color, and I do advise
>
That you experiment with settings for sharpness, contrast and
>
Saturation. Response of the camera is very good and I've used mine
>
For ice hockey, youth soccer, and baseball, and had little trouble
>
Capturing the peak of the action if I prefocused on the area where I
>
Expected the action.
>
>
If you find you want more reach than the 432 mm (35 mm equivalent) of
>
The S3IS, you can add an auxiliary tele lens to the camera using the
>
LensMate. The Raynox 1540 Pro (1.54 x for 665 mm) works very well
>
And screws right into the LensMate.
(remove the filter, first) The
>
Sony DH 1758 also works very well and gives 1.7x 432 = 734 mm,
>
Equivalent.
>
>
For batteries, you have two choices: a couple of sets of NiMH AA
>
Cells and a good charger, or use disposable Energizer Lithium cells.
>
These last very long and have excellent shelf life, so the camera is
>
Ready whenever you need it.
Since I have other cameras, and use the
>
S5IS intermittantly, I use the Energizers.
In normal use without
>
Much flash use, I get over 600 shots from a set, for $10/set of 4.
>
If I were using the S5IS reguarly and racking up a lot of shots, I'd
>
Go for rechargeables and carry a set of Energizer Lithium for
>
Emergencies. My son uses rechargeables for his S3IS, and my daughter
>
Uses the Energizers for hers.
>
--
> Jerry
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Thanks Jerry - very helpful info!
We use the Powerex/Maha batteries and their big charger that charges AAA's, AA's, C's & D's.
It's great - we've been using them on our old Canon A80 which also took 4 AA's (which I find ideal and was another reason I wanted the S-series) and we also use them for toys, remotes, clocks, radios, flashlights, you name it.
We never cease to be amazed at how long they last.
All that said, I'm curious about the Energizers - thanks for sharing.
I'm still getting a dSLR - and hope to have it before I leave to Maui in a couple of weeks so that I can spend some time learning about it on the plane (in a drunken stupor - I'm a bad flyer)!
;-) But if I don't get it in time, the S3 will be great and I won't have to worry myself to death about it getting hurt or stolen on the trip like I would if I'd spent much more money on it.
Not to imply $265 is cheap - in no way do I mean that.
I just mean I'd rather lose or have stolen a camera that cost that than what I payed even for the A80 which back then -- if memory serves -- was about $400.00!
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Greg Quote: :
>
>
--
> It's not a bad camera for the price.
I personally LIKE the fact you
>
Can use Ni-MH AAs in it, and overall I liked the handling.
Focusing
> is sometimes hit and miss even if you have it just set to center
>
Focusing (Panasonic FZ models beat it in this regard).
The movie
> mode is excellent.
--
That's not good news about the focusing.
:-( But hopefully it'll be more hit than miss!
I agree about the AA's.
And as for the movie mode, just go check out the specs on the Canon A80 to see what we're used to dealing with!
I'm very much looking forward to the move mode!
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Quote: :
> The S3 can take great pictures.
Excellent choice.
That picture was
>
Taken at the tele end.
>
>
Image control: Zoom out | Zoom 100% | Zoom in | Expand / Contract | New window
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Hey can any of you recommend what kind of CF card I should get - what size I mean?
Isn't it true that the bigger it is, the faster the camera responds, or something like that?
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More of a case that the faster it is, the quicker the camera responds.
Something like a SanDisk Ultra II or III should do the job, though there are cheaper ones around at the same speed.
And it's an SD card, not a CF card (just in case you get the wrong one).
I find a 2GB card to be more than enough when only taking photos (600 shots is usually more than enough, as that is about as long as the batteries last without flash).
--
^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^_^
http://photobucket.com/albums/a313/wierd101/
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If anyone is interested in learning/sharing pretty much anything to do with the S** range, then pop along to....
http://www.s3users.com/forum/index.php
altho it's now called S5users, it was originally *just* S3, so a wealth of info there.
Or, newly formed
http://www.phpbbserver.com/canonsseries/index.php?mforum=canonsseries
As far as batteries go, there's a lot to be said for Sanyo Eneloops and Uniross Hybrid cells, they hold arpox 80-90% of their charge for up to a year!
So while your camera is sitting in the draw waiting, it will be still ready to go a few months down the line....
That is of course, if you can leave it alone that long!!
:)
--
http://photobucket.com/albums/v498/AndyVR/
dont worry...
They couldn't possibly hit us at this dist
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Quote: :
> There was plenty of discussion about the benefit of going to an S5
>
When they came out.
The S3 has a whole lot of supporters who like
>
It's balance of features and IQ.
The S5 added a few things that
>
Certain people definitely were looking for, but the IQ dropped a bit
>
In some people's eyes.
>
>
I think you made a pretty good purchase.
I dunno ..
If you compare a sample of the pics http://www.flickr.com/cameras
and on http://www.s5users.com/forum
the S5 pic seem to have a sharper, better image quality
but I guess each to their own choices!
(and some people got an S5 at $200 - $250 discontinued prices)
http://chdk.wikia.com/wiki/CHDK_in_Brief
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http://www.flickr.com/photos/w-photos/
full resolution Canon S5 video http://www.filefactory.com/file/8e57cf
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I always thought the S3IS had the best IQ of the range, better than the S5IS and better from what I've seen so far from the SX10 (the even older S2-IS was pretty horrible with way too much smeary NR) ..
The SX1 will beat it going by the Promo samples but it took a CMOS sensor and fancy processing to pull it off ..
Shame they didn't introduce the hotshoe at the S3 stage - at least the SD card is where it should be, on the SIDE of the camera !!
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** Please ignore the Typos, I'm the world's worst Typist **
Image control: Zoom out | Zoom 100% | Zoom in | Expand / Contract | New window
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Quote: :
> I always thought the S3IS had the best IQ of the range, better than
>
The S5IS and better from what I've seen so far from the SX10 (the
>
Even older S2-IS was pretty horrible with way too much smeary NR) ..
>
The SX1 will beat it going by the Promo samples but it took a CMOS
>
Sensor and fancy processing to pull it off ..
>
Shame they didn't introduce the hotshoe at the S3 stage - at least
>
The SD card is where it should be, on the SIDE of the camera !!
check out side by side comparisons of the S3, the S5 and the newer SX10 at
http://www.s5users.com/forum
the S5 beats the S3 in image quality (at least to a majority of users!
, the SX10 comes out slightly better but not enough to upgrade for that
]
--
http://www.flickr.com/photos/w-photos/
full resolution Canon S5 video http://www.filefactory.com/file/8e57cf
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You made a good choice...I like my S3is,,,,I just bought a new 30D dslr,, i too like the older models...IMHO lot of the newer models just add more unneeded MP not better IQ....but the got to have the newest model people will buy them,,,,Ron
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