Canon S3

[jann1033]

something i think is nice about the s2/3 models is if you do ever want to move up to an entry level canon dslr, the top dials are very similar so it feels like an old friend( they are also like the old rebel slr) so once you get the hang of the creative ie non auto modes you'll be more than 1/2 way there. i would like to get one for husband to use for work( and i might want to play with it every now and then as well )

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Hello, just got my S3 a couple of days ago and I've been eagerly learning about all of it's features. Here's a couple of the first photos I've taken ... nothing special, but I thought I'd share:

My first S3 Macro photo -- some of my wife's flowers:

And, the tulips coming up in my front yard:

Hopefully, now that the weather here in Central PA is finally getting out of the 30's and 40's I'll be able to get out and start taking more pictures!

I absolutely CAN NOT WAIT to get this camera to DisneyWorld!! Our trip is already set for 9/17-9/22!

And, a note to Amy ... depending on the speed of your SD card, you can get the S3 up to just over 2 pics a second! I LOVE the idea of continuous shooting and the S3 is the first camera I've ever owned that can do it. I know I'm going to be burning up cards left and right getting "action" shot of my DS interacting with characters and performers in the shows!!

For more S3 pictorial inspiration, check out this thread on the Digital Camera Resource Page (Some S3 Pics). Though most of them claim to be amateurs, too, there's some amazing work over there especially XaiLo, danielg and downtrodden (IMO)!

 

[SplshMtn99]

Enjoy your camera. I've updated thread title with today's date. Your plants are way ahead of ours here in MA. We are expecting another nor'easter with snow here on Thursday.

 

[bethbuchall]

I just got my S3 today. Here are some of the first photos that I shot. They are all automatic. I haven't really had a chance to play around with it yet. I was mostly checking out the zoom.

I also took one macro shot of the flowers brave enough to come out in this not-so-Springlike weather that we are having.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Here's one more, just testing the low-light abilities of my new S3.

A faceted wineglass in a dark room lit by one tea-light candle:

 

[SplshMtn99]

Now THAT's cool!!! Was that on Auto or one of the modes or manual settings?

 

[S. C.]

Love seeing everyones S3 pics. I ordered my S3 yesterday & can't wait to get it.

 

[Amy]

Here's one more, just testing the low-light abilities of my new S3.

A faceted wineglass in a dark room lit by one tea-light candle:

Neat shot LPZ Stitch!! Do you remember what settings you used? I'm VERY impressed - you're trying out all the fancy stuff first. Most of us were stuck on Auto for quite a while before we ventured further.

I'm curious about the macro shot you posted above (yours too, Bethbuchall) - I'm really having a hard time figuring out the macro on the S3 for some reason. Right when I think I have it, the flower I've got in the middle of the focus rectangle ends up blurry, while the leaves/ground behind the flower are in focus. The only way I can use macro on my S3 is to use SuperMacro; those pictures turn out great. What am I doing wrong with regular macro?

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Neat shot LPZ Stitch!! Do you remember what settings you used? I'm VERY impressed - you're trying out all the fancy stuff first. Most of us were stuck on Auto for quite a while before we ventured further.

LOL! I started reading as much stuff as I could about the S3 before I finally got one; something all of the experts were saying was to avoid the Auto mode at all costs. Just about everyone who was complaining about the "poor" quality of the S3's pictures, on just about any site/forum I checked, was eventually determined to be using Auto.

Apparently, in Auto mode, the S3 is too quick to bump up the ISO, which quickly results in lots of noise. If you force it to pick better settings for Av and Tv you can keep the ISO down to 200 or less. Above 400 and you need to use noise reduction like NoiseWare or Noise Ninja to get nice printable pics.

Based on the warnings/suggestions of the experts, I haven't even taken an Auto picture, yet!

Here's the settings I used for the candlelit glass:
Mode: Manual
Shutter Speed: 10 sec.
Aperture: 8.0
Focal Length: 25.2
White Balance: Auto

[Edit]It's a good thing the whole room was dark because I actually set the aperture to the opposite of what I was intending! The larger the aperture number f/8, the larger the Depth of Field!! Note to self: go with the smallest aperture for the best bokeh! At least I got it right in my description of the different shooting modes (below)![/edit]

I'm curious about the macro shot you posted above (yours too, Bethbuchall) - I'm really having a hard time figuring out the macro on the S3 for some reason. Right when I think I have it, the flower I've got in the middle of the focus rectangle ends up blurry, while the leaves/ground behind the flower are in focus. The only way I can use macro on my S3 is to use SuperMacro; those pictures turn out great. What am I doing wrong with regular macro?

When shooting Macro, are you holding down the shutter button half-way until the AF "reticle" turns green? That half-press is really important to the autofocus, and you can see what the camera is going to pick for its Auto settings (any of them; from full-Auto to Custom).

For that one, I was in Tv Mode:
Shutter speed: 1/250 (w/flash)
Av: 2.7
Exposure compensation: +1
ISO: Auto
Focal Length: 6.0 mm
White Balance: Auto

I did a quick test, Macro vs. Super Macro and couldn't really tell a difference from the information....

I'm still trying to learn the seemingly complex interaction between Av, Tv and ISO!

 

[HLAuburn]

Hi-
I'm considering an S3, but my concern is with the small LCD. Does this bother anyone who has one? And what are the advantages that it flips out and rotates? As you can tell, I'm a novice, but I know I need a new camera!

 

[AndrewWG]

Hi-
I'm considering an S3, but my concern is with the small LCD. Does this bother anyone who has one? And what are the advantages that it flips out and rotates? As you can tell, I'm a novice, but I know I need a new camera!

HLAuburn,

I usually comment on these things although I only have the S2. They are so similar that I feel they are just about the same camera.

The LCD on the S2 isn't all that small. I'm not sure what you are used to but I find it just about average if not above average for a point and shoot camera. The rotating LCD was actually the final deciding factor in why I bought the S2. The zoom is super, but the overlooked feature in my mind is the rotating LCD. I take alot of shots using what I would call "different" angles. I like to shoot landscapes with the camera low to the ground. Without the rotating feature, I would have had to lay on the ground for every shot. Now I don't even get my knees dirty. I just hold the camera low, rotate the LCD and shoot away. Of course, this is also good in the opposite direction since you can hold the camera above a crowd and still know where you are pointing the camera. A fun way to use it is with self portraits. You know where it is focused at all times. It is great.

Keep in mind that this LCD doesn't just rotate all the time, you can snap it into place to keep it as just a regular LCD and only use it when you want it. Also, you can turn the LCD totally around and snap it into place to protect the LCD while traveling, etc.

The folowing photo was taken with the rotating LCD facing up from about knee height. If I didn't have it, I would have been very muddy for the shot.

Hope this helps.

Andy

 

[hjd0411]

HLAuburn,

I usually comment on these things although I only have the S2. They are so similar that I feel they are just about the same camera.

The LCD on the S2 isn't all that small. I'm not sure what you are used to but I find it just about average if not above average for a point and shoot camera. The rotating LCD was actually the final deciding factor in why I bought the S2. The zoom is super, but the overlooked feature in my mind is the rotating LCD. I take alot of shots using what I would call "different" angles. I like to shoot landscapes with the camera low to the ground. Without the rotating feature, I would have had to lay on the ground for every shot. Now I don't even get my knees dirty. I just hold the camera low, rotate the LCD and shoot away. Of course, this is also good in the opposite direction since you can hold the camera above a crowd and still know where you are pointing the camera. A fun way to use it is with self portraits. You know where it is focused at all times. It is great.

Keep in mind that this LCD doesn't just rotate all the time, you can snap it into place to keep it as just a regular LCD and only use it when you want it. Also, you can turn the LCD totally around and snap it into place to protect the LCD while traveling, etc.

The folowing photo was taken with the rotating LCD facing up from about knee height. If I didn't have it, I would have been very muddy for the shot.

Hope this helps.

Andy

...What he said...

Yes, I liked the idea that the LCD screen was protected and rotatable (is that a word?). It does take a bit of getting used to looking at the LCD at the side of the camera, but you can snap it into the "normal" position on the back of the camera. I haven't tried anything fancy like Andrew mentioned, but give me time!
You won't regret it if you do get the camera, speaking as a very short term owner. The zoom is great.
Good luck with your decision - I know it's a tough one!
Heather

 

[Soupermom]

Can someone give a simple explanation to the AV, TV and ISO stuff. I'm an S3 newbie too. My former Canon had these settings, but I don't think I ever used them. I kind of understand the ISO stuff, but do you have to set it for every picture? I don't have that kind of time. Can I just pick a general everyday setting for most pictures, like 200? Thanks!

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Can someone give a simple explanation to the AV, TV and ISO stuff.

I'll admit I'm still a newbie to this great camera, myself, but I'll post what I know and maybe other posters can fill in the blanks....

The main modes of the S3 are the P, Av, Tv and M.

P is for Program AE; it's very nearly the same as Auto, but it allows you access to the other customizable features like MyColors, Exposure Compensation and lots more (all of the options that come up when you press the Func button). In P mode, the camera automatically picks aperture, shutter speed and ISO (which you can change with the ISO button).

Av is for Aperture Priority. Setting the Aperture allow more or less light into the camera at each exposure; larger numbers mean smaller aperture. The wider the aperture, the faster the shutter speed should be. Setting wider apertures is what gets you the distinctive solidly-in-focus subject with blurred background typical of a good DSLR portrait. That blurred background is usually called bokeh (it's a Japanese word). When you use this mode, you set the aperture and the camera sets the other factors to match what you're focusing on. Controlling the aperture allows you to control the Depth Of Field; or how much of the subject is in perfect focus.

Tv is for Shutter Speed Priority. The faster the shutter speed, the more capable the camera is of freezing motion. Slow it down for darker pics, speed it up for lighter pics. Really, really slow (in the 5-10 second range) is for maximum low-light sensitivity (like my picture of the candle-lit glass, above). When you set the Shutter Speed, the camera will choose the other settings to match.

M is Manual, and you set everything yourself.

Changing ISO is for capturing higher speeds or lower light ... the higher the ISO, the more sensitive but the more grainy (or noisy). On most digital cameras, even one as good as the S3, keeping the ISO as low as possible will result in smoother/cleaner pictures. Most bad photographs people take with the S3 is the result of letting the ISO get too high (in Auto mode) without knowing that it's happening.

You start seeing noise in your pictures at ISO 400 and sometimes ISO 800 is awful. ISO 100 and 200 is fine for daytime pictures. If you're unsure which to use, let the camera choose for you in P mode, rather than Auto. If you find out that you *really* need high ISO settings, you'd be best getting a DSLR ... it's one of the many things they're very good at.

I'm still learning what combinations work best under what conditions and I expect to be learning a lot before our trip later this year....

 

[Pea-n-Me]

LPZ Stitch, I'm wondering if you have a background in photography - ie have you ever taken a class? Have you previously used an SLR?

I've spent months learning these terms and playing around with the various settings on my S3. I understand the terms, but I haven't had a lot of success (yet) in using many of the other settings. It's been frustrating. I think what it boils down to (for me, anyway) is that it isn't "second nature" or "instinctive" yet. I'm planning to take a photography class, maybe it will help that aspect of it for me.

I'm also wondering if you set your aperture, shutter speed and ISO manually after you used the mode dial, or did you let the mode dial pick those settings for you? I was looking at a Canon Rebel DSLR the other day and I noticed on the LCD screen all the settings were much easier to read than on the S3. The other thing I wonder if you can address is what setting do you choose for image quality - M2, M1, S, L, W, etc. I set it wrong accidentally once (in futzing with the back buttons) and the whole session was lost.

Finally, does anyone know where I can buy a copy of the S3 book which was discussed on another thread? I was in the bookstore yesterday and they didn't have anything like it, I presume I have to order it online? I really want to get the most out of using this camera.

 

[Soupermom]

LPZ Stitch...thanks for your info. That helps. I did order some of the "cheat sheets" for the S3 and photography in general from the site that was posted on these threads, but I haven't received them yet. Some of them are on "sale" now, if anyone is interested (not the S3 one though, just the photo tips ones).

Hopefully I'll make it out with the camera soon. It has been cold, windy and rainy in these parts and doesn't look promising for the rest of the week...

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

LPZ Stitch, I'm wondering if you have a background in photography - ie have you ever taken a class? Have you previously used an SLR?

Nope. I've loved photography for most of my life (especially National Geographic), but I've got no formal training and I've never taken a class.

My now-a-week-old S3 is the most complicated camera I've ever owned or used. When we decided to get a new camera I did a lot of Internet research and eventually settled on the S3 as the "best" compromise between Point&Shoot convenience and DSLR quality.

Since the decision to buy the S3 I've just been doing as much research on the features as possible ... mostly on the internet. Wikipedia is my friend! I've also gotten a lot of good information here (mostly from the forums):
-Digital Photography Review
-Steve's Digicams
-Digital Camera Resource Page

And, the Japanese Canon site is a great resource for exploring the features of the S3 ... I actually think it's better than the printed manual: Canon (Japan) S3

I've spent months learning these terms and playing around with the various settings on my S3. I understand the terms, but I haven't had a lot of success (yet) in using many of the other settings. It's been frustrating. I think what it boils down to (for me, anyway) is that it isn't "second nature" or "instinctive" yet. I'm planning to take a photography class, maybe it will help that aspect of it for me.

I expect to be playing a LOT with the camera over the next five months until our Disney trip in Sept. ... I want to be able to take the best pictures the camera is capable of without having to waste valuable "park time" futzing with my S3!

I'm also wondering if you set your aperture, shutter speed and ISO manually after you used the mode dial, or did you let the mode dial pick those settings for you?

For the glass, I switched the dial to M and played with the settings until I got what I wanted. I started out with shutter speed, because that's the most important for a really low-light pic and worked up to the other settings from there.

Oh, I also switched the metering to Spot, because all of the light is centered on the glass. This is effective for taking photos of the moon, too....

I was looking at a Canon Rebel DSLR the other day and I noticed on the LCD screen all the settings were much easier to read than on the S3.

Heh. Most of the DSLRs do *everything* a little better ... that's why they cost $600+!

The other thing I wonder if you can address is what setting do you choose for image quality - M2, M1, S, L, W, etc. I set it wrong accidentally once (in futzing with the back buttons) and the whole session was lost.

So far, I've been doing everything in Large size/Superfine mode ... biggest files, best quality ... SD cards are cheap!

I've also gotten nice results in M/SFine.

 

[Soupermom]

LPZ Stitch...Great info/links! Maybe you can help me again...Yesterday I found a link on one of these threads that was to the Digital Resource site; it was a direct link to an S3 photo gallery. I thought I had subscribed to the thread, but I cannot find that thing at all today! Are you the one that posted it? I tried going to the homepage link you posted, but I cannot find any threads on the S3 gallery. Any ideas?

 

[Amy]

For Pea-n-Me and anybody else who wants it: here's the link where you can buy the Short Courses book for the Canon S3 IS http://www.shortcourses.com/bookstore/canon/book_canons3is.htm. I have the printed book, and it's great! Really explains everything the camera can do. They ship fast; took less than a week to get mine.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

LPZ Stitch...Great info/links! Maybe you can help me again...Yesterday I found a link on one of these threads that was to the Digital Resource site; it was a direct link to an S3 photo gallery. I thought I had subscribed to the thread, but I cannot find that thing at all today! Are you the one that posted it? I tried going to the homepage link you posted, but I cannot find any threads on the S3 gallery. Any ideas?

Yes, it was me ... the link is: Digital Camera Resource Page (Some S3 Pics).

I lot of the things I've learned, I learned from those folks on that thread usually by taking note of the EXIF data they sometimes post about interesting pictures. Many of them are awe-inspiring: especially the work of XaiLo, downtrodden and danielg.