Canon S3

[Amy]

When you half-press the shutter, you're actually locking *both* focus and exposure ... so, if you meter off the sky and then want to recompose on something near-by you can end up with a very out-of-focus pic.

Pressing the ISO button allows you to completely release the shutter button, recompose on anything you want, and then take the picture (re-focusing as necessary) with the same exposure settings. You can even change the settings (shutter speed or aperture; it's called Program Shift) with the omni-button, without changing the overall exposure.

Here's a link to the on-line manual for it.

Thanks, Stitch! I don't recall seeing that tidbit of info in the S3 manual that came with the camera or the Short Courses book, but it's been a while since I read thru them. Now that I know the camera better, I guess I'd better re-read the Short Courses book and see what else I missed!

It's funny, but I can look at other people's photos and see what they did wrong, but when I'm taking a picture, I tend to forget all the little details. I was taking pics of my DS and his homecoming date this weekend, totally forgetting about focus - the square in the center of the viewfinder was focusing on the bushes they were standing in front of rather than their faces. DUH! As soon as I looked at the photo on the computer, I wanted to scream! Of course, it didn't help that they were getting impatient at me for taking so many shots, so I was trying to rush and just not thinking....

Ah well, one of these days all this will be second nature to me and I won't HAVE to think about it!

 

[madge]

Nice photos, Madge. Was the last one taken from the Dolphin? (I have almost the same shot.)

It is! I can't remember what room we were in, but we were at the Dolphin for one night, and at the Swan for one night. Our view at the Swan wasn't nearly as nice as the one at the Dolphin.

 

[Tigger1221]

Is the Canon S5 IS the newer version of this camera or is it a different camera. I really like this camera and need a new one. Is the S3 too complicated. I want something kind of simple but if I want and have time to experiment with cool settings I can.

 

[Amy]

Is the Canon S5 IS the newer version of this camera or is it a different camera. I really like this camera and need a new one. Is the S3 too complicated. I want something kind of simple but if I want and have time to experiment with cool settings I can.

Hi Tigger! Yep, the S5 is the newer version. It has 8.1mp (the S3 has 6mp), a larger LCD screen on the back of the camera, and a hot shoe for an external flash. I think those are the major differences.

I have the S3, and it CAN be a simple camera - you set it in Auto or Program mode and the camera figures out all the settings. But you DO have the ability to shoot in diff. modes and change the settings, too, when you feel like playing around with it. That was the main reason I chose my S3. Although like everything else, the more I learn about this camera, the more I realize I don't know!

 

[DisneyMom14]

Does this happen *all* the time at full zoom? The camera should be just as sharp at full zoom as full wide-angle (adjusting for atmospheric conditions).

I don't know if it was hazy in the zoo when you took this, so you should do a test on a clear sunny day.

Thanks for all the great tips, LPZ_Stitch! When I took those white tiger pics, it was bright and sunny (not a cloud in the sky). There was no haze or anything and there wasn't any glass. It doesn't happen every time in full zoom, because I've taken pictures at a football game (night) full zoom and they didn't haze up like that. Could I have been catching a glare from the sun? I actually took a few from the same angle and they all looked like that. When the tiger jumped in the water, I was facing a different direction and that pic came out great! ???? I will try the test shots to try to figure something out. Thanks and I'll get back to you.

 

[Tigger1221]

Hi Tigger! Yep, the S5 is the newer version. It has 8.1mp (the S3 has 6mp), a larger LCD screen on the back of the camera, and a hot shoe for an external flash. I think those are the major differences.

I have the S3, and it CAN be a simple camera - you set it in Auto or Program mode and the camera figures out all the settings. But you DO have the ability to shoot in diff. modes and change the settings, too, when you feel like playing around with it. That was the main reason I chose my S3. Although like everything else, the more I learn about this camera, the more I realize I don't know!

Thanks, I think this is the camera I want for christmas.

Has anyone taken this camera to the beach? Did it do ok? We like to go on cruises.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Thanks for all the great tips, LPZ_Stitch! When I took those white tiger pics, it was bright and sunny (not a cloud in the sky). There was no haze or anything and there wasn't any glass. It doesn't happen every time in full zoom, because I've taken pictures at a football game (night) full zoom and they didn't haze up like that. Could I have been catching a glare from the sun?

It could be glare from the sun ... the more shooting into the sun you do, the more you're risking lens flare from light bouncing around inside the lenses.

I actually took a few from the same angle and they all looked like that. When the tiger jumped in the water, I was facing a different direction and that pic came out great! ???? I will try the test shots to try to figure something out. Thanks and I'll get back to you.

Also, was it possible you'd just come out of an air conditioned building? I had a problem with my lenses fogging up a couple of the days we were at Disney and the humidity was 100%. After shopping or riding an attraction, as soon as I took the lens cap off it would fog up for a couple of minutes....

Yeah, I'd still recommend doing the "brick wall" test. Try it a couple of times; with the sun directly overhead, to the left, to the right and behind to help even out any lens flare issues as well. The reason to use a brick wall is that it gives you something even and consistent to check against, and it's easy to see if there's any focus issues as each brick, all the way across the picture, should be sharp and in focus.

I have read on other forums about a few S3's/S5's that had lens issues (factory defects), but getting a replacement camera shouldn't be a problem.

 

[psimon]

I used the Custom feature to save a set of settings specifically for the low-light photo-ops at Disney; Av mode: Av=2.7, ISO 400 and Spot metering and let the camera pick the fastest shutter speed it could. This way, all I'd have to do was switch to C on the dial and I was ready to go!

I understand the concept of the custom mode.... I just don't see how to set it. Can you tell me where to find it in either in the original manual, the Canon website (Or just tell me here! ).

many thanks!

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I understand the concept of the custom mode.... I just don't see how to set it. Can you tell me where to find it in either in the original manual, the Canon website (Or just tell me here! ).

First, you just set up your camera the way you want it; start with what ever mode you want (P, Tv, Av or M) and then make any setting changes you want (including basic settings for the selected mode like aperture/shutter speed/ISO, anything on the FUNC menu, and MF or zoom).

Second, go into the Record menu and down to the Save Settings option. That will save everything to the "C" on the mode dial.

Here's a link.

 

[psimon]

First, you just set up your camera the way you want it; start with what ever mode you want (P, Tv, Av or M) and then make any setting changes you want (including basic settings for the selected mode like aperture/shutter speed/ISO, anything on the FUNC menu, and MF or zoom).

Second, go into the Record menu and down to the Save Settings option. That will save everything to the "C" on the mode dial.

Here's a link.

FANTASTIC!!!!!

Thank you, Thank you!

Something to play with tonight!

--Paul in Southern NJ

 

[psimon]

For the S3, what is the best setting(s) for fireworks? I have tried nightshots, fireworks and something else I don't remember..... none of them were great, though nightshots were the better of the bunch.

Any better setting combinations would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[madge]

For the S3, what is the best setting(s) for fireworks? I have tried nightshots, fireworks and something else I don't remember..... none of them were great, though nightshots were the better of the bunch.

Any better setting combinations would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks

---Paul in Southern NJ

I used the Sports mode for these:

 

[psimon]

I used the Sports mode for these:

Any idea what ISO setting, or was it on AUTO? Was it hand held or on a "pod" of some kind?

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Amy]

For the S3, what is the best setting(s) for fireworks? I have tried nightshots, fireworks and something else I don't remember..... none of them were great, though nightshots were the better of the bunch.

Any better setting combinations would be greatly appreciated....

Thanks

---Paul in Southern NJ

I'm with Madge - I usually use Sports mode for fireworks. You can't set the ISO in Sports mode, so you'll prob. have to run the shots thru Noiseware. For sure you'll get more "decent" shots if you use a tripod, but I've had luck without a tripod, too. This was hand-held, on Sports mode:

Here's another, I used DS17's shoulder as my tripod:

These would be greatly improved using a tripod, but all I had was my gorilla pod and we didn't stake out our spot early enough so I could set the gorilla pod on something.

You might also want to set it for continuous shutter to be sure you get a good shot.

 

[madge]

Any idea what ISO setting, or was it on AUTO? Was it hand held or on a "pod" of some kind?

---Paul in Southern NJ

no idea about the ISO, it was on the Sports setting (which automatically kicks up to a higher ISO) and I ran it through noiseware when I got home.

No tripod. I stood in the middle of Main Street USA and held my finger on the shutter for continuous shooting.

 

[Tink rules]

Anyone have any opinions on whether I should get the S5 over the S3... I'm just replacing an old Olympus and I'm not doing anything overly special but I definately don't want a point and shoot...

Difference is about $60 but that's not too much of a considderation for me... any ideas?

 

[Graeme]

I seem to remember seeing a book mentioned on this board which would tell a point'n'shooter like myself how to best use my S3. I do have basic knowledge but could really use a good guide.
Can anyone tell me what it's called?

 

[AndrewWG]

Try the shortcourse guide. I love the one I got for my Canon 30D. It shows how things are done much better than the user manual.

http://www.shortcourses.com/store/canon-s3is.html

 

[Amy]

Another vote for the Short Courses guide. I've had my S3 for a year now, and I still go back to my Short Courses book for reference. Seems the better you learn the S3, the more stuff you realize you can do with it, and this book is the perfect reference manual. I never played around with metering modes, just left it to the default from the factory. After reading some threads about spot vs. evaluative metering, I'm looking for an opportunity to venture forth and play with yet another setting on this camera!

 

[S. C.]

Another vote for the Short Courses guide. I've had my S3 for a year now, and I still go back to my Short Courses book for reference. Seems the better you learn the S3, the more stuff you realize you can do with it, and this book is the perfect reference manual. I never played around with metering modes, just left it to the default from the factory. After reading some threads about spot vs. evaluative metering, I'm looking for an opportunity to venture forth and play with yet another setting on this camera!

Is it easy to understand the short courses guide? I've been thinking of getting it but need it explaned in plain english. I am easily confused.