Canon S3

[ndelaware]

I see the SD card is made by PNY for Polaroid and they usually make a good product. So, yes I would say it is a good deal.

If you go to page 151 and 152 in your manual you will see estimated capacities for images and video on different size cards. It looks like you will get about 360 images at the highest quality setting and about 8 minutes of video at the highest quality video setting. Personally I wouldn't bother with the video function since you have a camcorder.

Most of the card readers I have seen run around $20 to $30 so $5 is also a good deal. I take mine on vacation to copy all my pics to my laptop and burn them to a disc every night.

Just get your self a pack of NiMH batteries from a decent company like Sony, Panasonic, GE, or EverReady. You can usually buy then in a set with a charger so you can be sure all your batteries are fully charged every day.

Congratulations and good luck with your new camera.

 

[Pamlur]

I use the usb cable to transfer pictures from camera to computer, I've never used a reader. I do have the Epson P2000 for when I don't have my laptop with me, and that has a slot for the SD card.

As for cards, I ordered a SanDisk ExtremeIII 1 gb card; it's really, really fast.

I love, LOVE my S3!!

And I like Monster batteries; they last a nice long time on the charge. I always take a spare set of freshly charged, but I also tuck some regular AA batteries in, just in case.

 

[Amy]

While we're discussing rechargeable batteries, can I ask a question? When do you recharge the batteries?

I got my first digital (Canon A70) in 2004. We went to Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Disneyland that summer. The camera uses 4 AA's, so I had 2 sets of rechargeables. Every night when we got back to the hotel, I'd switch out the batteries in my camera - the ones I used all day would go in the recharger, and the others (that I had charged the night before) would go in my camera. I figured this way I'd always have fully charged batteries in my camera and wouldn't have to worry about the batties dying.

Well, DH told me that rechargeable batteries (I'm using Eveready NiMH) only last for X number of charges, so if I recharge the batteries when they're only half-used, then I've wasted a charge. Is that so? He said I should wait until the batteries are completely depleted before recharging.

And how long do rechargeables last? Should I be thinking of getting new rechargeables? I've noticed that these batteries seem to need charging faster than they used to. Of course, I've been using my S3 on Sports mode with continuous shutter, and I read that really drains the batteries fast.

Sorry if I hijacked your thread.

 

[psimon]

While we're discussing rechargeable batteries, can I ask a question? When do you recharge the batteries?

I got my first digital (Canon A70) in 2004. We went to Vegas, the Grand Canyon and Disneyland that summer. The camera uses 4 AA's, so I had 2 sets of rechargeables. Every night when we got back to the hotel, I'd switch out the batteries in my camera - the ones I used all day would go in the recharger, and the others (that I had charged the night before) would go in my camera. I figured this way I'd always have fully charged batteries in my camera and wouldn't have to worry about the batties dying.

Well, DH told me that rechargeable batteries (I'm using Eveready NiMH) only last for X number of charges, so if I recharge the batteries when they're only half-used, then I've wasted a charge. Is that so? He said I should wait until the batteries are completely depleted before recharging.

And how long do rechargeables last? Should I be thinking of getting new rechargeables? I've noticed that these batteries seem to need charging faster than they used to. Of course, I've been using my S3 on Sports mode with continuous shutter, and I read that really drains the batteries fast.

Sorry if I hijacked your thread.

Rechargables last in the neighborhhod of 1000 charges if
1. They are slow charged. The faster they are charged, the more they cook and less recharges they will have
2. They are used fully. You serve no useful purpose to only use half a charge. Just keep a charged set of of batteries in your pocket and you are good to go.
3. I am using batteries that are about 2 years old and they still work close to their original way. Of course, like people the older they are and the more they are used, the less flexible they are and the less life there is in them

Start with good batteries and a good charger and you will be all set for a long while.

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[Disney845]

I just opened the box on my new Canon S3 and was taking it out to start looking it over. I noticed this tiny little sound, like something very small is moving around inside when I tilt it around in different directions. SO said it was probably those little metal disks around the positive and negative sections for the battery (sorry don't know technical name), so I opened up the battery door (this is before I inserted the batteries) and sure enough those disks were making the slightest noise when the camera was tilted around...so I though ok, he is right, put in the batteries, and started learning my way around the different functions....but the sound is still there...it is very slight, and SO doesn't seem to think there is a problem at all. The camera appears in perfect working order, am I just imagining something is wrong, when it is just a "normal" noise when tilting the camera around to different angles? Does anyone else with an S3 experience this noise?

 

[wdwmom2]

Mine is quiet as a mouse . If it were me, I would probably take it back to the store for an exchange. My luck, it would probably be fine until the day after the warrenty expires, then it would expire .

 

[allyn]

you may be hearing the rotation sensor. it flips back and forth so the camera knows which way you are holding it and can mark the photo accordingly.

 

[allyn]

personally, i'd rather swap the batteries every night and go out with a full one than have one i know will run out in the middle of the day right as i'm about to take an important photo, even if it shortens the overall life of the batteries. i find having to switch batteries mid-day extremely annoying and always inconvenient.

 

[Amy]

Ok - since I bought a charger that recharges the batteries in 1/2 hour (even if they're totally depleted) - that reduces the number of charges I'll get from that set of batteries? Here I thought I was doing good getting a fast charger! What's a good length of time for recharging? 4 hours? Overnight?

 

[Dan Murphy]

I use the LaCrosse battery charger http://www.nimhbattery.com/la_crosse_bc-900_battery_charger.php

recommended on Steve's site...

http://www.steves-digicams.com/nimh_batteries.html#chargers

It is great. Slow charge, the best, fast charge, if needed, several in between. Each is separate. I have also discovered defective batteries (they were replaced by Thomas for free) by using the information on the display. I find it excellent. it will also recondition (slow discharge and recharge).

Not a cheap charger, but sure is a good one.

 

[Amy]

Just wanted to let you know that I was probably labeled "crazy woman shopper" at Best Buy yesterday. I had to return something anyway, so I was checking out the battery chargers. An employee came over to help me, and I asked for the slowest battery charger they had. He looked at me like I was insane! They had tons of 15-minute battery chargers, but I actually found one that said on the package that it takes 8 hours to charge 4 AA's. I explained to this guy that the faster the charge, the hotter the battery gets and the faster it wears out, but all he said was that most people come in and ask for the fastest charger, not the slowest. Hey, at least I gave him a good story to tell his fellow employees!

 

[cstokell]

If I listen very carefully I think that I can hear the same sound. It does sound as though it should be there though, and probably is the rotation sensor.

 

[ukcatfan]

Hopefully he learned something that he can pass on to customers, but not likely.

Kevin

 

[RALIKA]

how many pictures does 4 batteries take. I am going to disneyworld in 19 days and need to know how many batteries i need to get recharable ones. I am going for 11 days and at disneyworld i can take over 900 pictures a day.

 

[psimon]

how many pictures does 4 batteries take. I am going to disneyworld in 19 days and need to know how many batteries i need to get recharable ones. I am going for 11 days and at disneyworld i can take over 900 pictures a day.

My new Canon S3 took over 450 pictures and Disney and about 30 minutes of videos. Since then, I have downloaded the pictures 4 times, and shown them 3 times on the TV. All of this on the same set of 2500 mAH NiMH batteries! Still haven't changed them!

Does that help?

---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[RALIKA]

yes it does what about on regular batteries not recharable ones.

 

[Dan Murphy]

yes it does what about on regular batteries not recharable ones.

You will need a truckload of regulars, literally.

 

[budbeerlady]

I just got my new Canon S3. I love it! I am very happy with my daytime pictures but last night I tried the night setting on our Christmas lights (no flash). They looked all blurry and if I can I will post them when I get home tonight.
I am not too excited about my night parade pictures possibly not turning out at WDW in two weeks, so what does everyone else do for their nighttime settings? Thanks!

Here are the pics I tried w/ night setting on the dial

Then these I tried with the SCN dial spot, then Auto and lastly the Landscape.

 

[grover]

Did you use a tripod?

I find with the night snapshot--can sometimes get away with a very steady hand or resting the camera on something to take the photo.

But using the night mode on the dial-i pretty much would need a tripod to keep it steady enough.

 

[budbeerlady]

Did you use a tripod?

I find with the night snapshot--can sometimes get away with a very steady hand or resting the camera on something to take the photo.

But using the night mode on the dial-i pretty much would need a tripod to keep it steady enough.

I didnt, I will probley have to hint at Dh that I would like one for Christmas. Would a diff mode have a faster shutter speed?