Canon S3

[Amy]

Congrats on the S3! I love mine!

Here's another vote for the Short Courses book. I got my S3 back in Sept. and only recently got the Short Courses book. I have learned so much about my camera from this book; make sure you get one as soon as you get back from Disney!

To answer some of your questions: yes, Auto will be good for most of your pictures. As for the nighttime shots, you'll have to play around to find the best. Night Scene and Night Snapshot are both good for still subjects. You might want to use Night Snapshot mode (under the SCN on the mode dial) since the Short Courses book says that it uses a faster shutter speed than Night Scene. BUT.....I don't know if the shutter speed will be fast enough to stop the movement in the night parade. You'll have to try. I've only used it for still subjects.

 

[ImaginEars]

shellyfive, how do you like it? that is the camera that i want to get.

 

[jacksonsmom]

Well I finally broke down and brought a Canon S3. So far I am loving it. I haven't really got past the Auto mode though.

Can anyone share any tips? What works and what doesn't?
Also what about a card reader? I didn't pick one of those up but I am thinking maybe I should. What are the pros and cons about a card reader?

This is my very 1st digital camera so I am excited!

Here are two of my 1st shots. Of course the cats make wonderful practice.

 

[ImaginEars]

How do you like it? I am glad that you posted this and cant wait to see some of your pictures. I am choosing between the cannon S3 and the Sony H5. Were there any other cameras that you had to choose from?

 

[DueyDooDah]

Also what about a card reader? I didn't pick one of those up but I am thinking maybe I should. What are the pros and cons about a card reader?

Great shots. Looks like you'll have fun for years to come.

As for the card reader:

Pros:

• Probably the only valid reason to have a card reader would be if you have multiple devices that can transfer data to your computer. Especially if they have different media (SD, CF, etc). Then you only have to hook up one device.
• A second, although feable reason, might be if you have multiple SD cards. It "may be" easier to plop them in and out of the card reader than the camera. But you can do the same thing with the camera, although you have to power down the camera each time you change cards.

Cons:

• Included cable is "free"
• Extra stuff to carry around and set up
• Extra costs
• Yet another vendor to deal with when something does not work

I think the only reason to have a card reader is if your device (camera or whatever) does not supply an easy way to transfer data. Not so with the S3. Plug in cable, and do it.

 

[Amy]

Welcome to the S3 family! I got mine a while back and I love it!

Here's a link to a thread here on the DIS where a bunch of us S3 owners post some of our pictures, including what works and what doesn't work. http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1235546 I have a post toward the end of that thread where I tried the "snow" mode (it's under SCN on the mode dial) and didn't like it. Feel free to add your photos to the thread and get it back on page 1!!

As for a card reader, I read somewhere that always connecting your camera to your computer to download the photos really drains your camera battery. So I bought a card reader. They're really not that expensive. My old Canon camera (which my DS16 now uses) and my DH's camera both use Compact Flash cards, and my S3 uses the SD card. So I bought a SanDisk multi-card reader that accepts 4 diff. types of memory cards, and it wasn't that expensive at all. (I can't remember the cost off-hand, but I know it wasn't more than $25-$30.)

 

[Dan Murphy]

S3, a great camera. I have the S2 and love it.

Get the reader, you'll be a happy camper, makes it so easy to transfer files. No downsides I know of.

Get this book, a great help......

http://www.shortcourses.com/bookstore/canon/book_canons3is.htm

 

[jann1033]

i was looking at card readers yesterday and maybe it is just new ones but they are faster than my camera as well.. also you run the risk of a battery running low with the camera which must cause some problem as when i was using my camera till i got another reader, the downloader would warn me if the battery was not fully charged

 

[DisneyGirlie]

hi all!
after this thread and such, I'm considering getting the S3.
looks like a great camera!

 

[laura001]

Well.............that explains it all, here I was trying to load the pics that everyone was saying were so great........lol!

Sorry that happened to you, how awful.

Please let us know when the pics are available, I would like to see them.

 

[DebºoºS]

First off Congratulations!!! You may want to consider a cheat sheet.I got one for my D200. Bert Sirkin makes them. Handy, laminated and pocket size. Beats carrying your manual around. Here's a link to the S3 cheat sheet http://www.photocheatsheets.com/cs.aspx?n=67

 

[ImaginEars]

This is for anyone that has a canon S3. I just want to know how you like the camera. Please post any favorite pictures if possible.

 

[wdwmom2]

I absolutely love my S3!!!!

Here is a link to my first pics with it.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1251752&referrerid=&highlight=national+zoo

 

[LilyLake]

Okay, now look what you've done. I've been lurking here for awhile, reading all about P&S, DSLR, pros and cons, which are best... Like many others, I had my choices narrowed down to a Canon S3 and a Sony H5. I read the threads comparing them. I went to Steve's Digicams and read about them. And last night when I finally made my purchase, I was still on the fence. I like the versatility of the S3's rotatable display, but I was still leaning heavily toward the H5. With my Reward Zone coupon in hand, I went to Best Buy. The S3 was out of stock, so that made my decision all the easier. Batteries charged overnight, and this afternoon I started playing. And I just created a Photobucket account, so I'm really ready to go! Now the big challenge - actually getting a picture to appear! Here goes nothin'!

If that worked, you're seeing a picture of my dog. If not, I need help.

 

[YEKCIM]

Looks like you are off to a GREAT start; keep 'em coming. We'll be looking for some pix of Mickey and the gang soon, too!

~YEKCIM

 

[LilyLake]

The picture was pretty big, so I resized it in Photobucket, but it still appears large to me (have to scroll over to see the whole message.) Is it that big for everybody?

I have 6 weeks to learn to use the camera before our trip to Orlando, but since it's a spring break trip, over Easter (stupid school district), we're not doing WDW. We're staying onsite at Universal, so there should be some good pics still. My husband and son will be spending part of the time bass fishing. I'm not sure I'll be willing to part with my camera, for them to take it with them and take pictures of their trophies, though!

 

[wdwmom2]

Nice pic of your dog!!!! Is it an English Springer Spaniel?

 

[Amy]

I LOVE my S3! Here are some shots:

Pittsburgh skyline at night:

 

[LilyLake]

Thanks. He's a Welsh Springer Spaniel. They're a little smaller than English Springers and always this red/copper color and white.

 

[jann1033]

great job so far!
keep us posted as to how you like this camera..i totally forgot about a ton of reward points i have with sony ( unless they expire)