Canon S3

[bethbuchall]

I'm glad to hear that your camera survived the fall! I still need to buy a case, I think I'll look at the Samsonites. I have to give up my Mickey case that I bought last year. It's perfect for my A85 w/extras but too small for the S3IS.

 

[denise5374]

Stupid question time....

Is the shutter speed the same as Apeture? If not how do I set the shutter speed??

Denise

 

[Pea-n-Me]

denise, see post #115.

Post #118 has links that are helpful, follow to Canon S3IS for instructions.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Stupid question time....

Is the shutter speed the same as Apeture? If not how do I set the shutter speed??

Denise

You should know that there's no such thing as a stupid question ... only the ones you don't ask!

Nope, shutter speed is completely different from aperture.

Aperture is the "size of the hole" that lets the light in. The smaller the number the larger the hole. The smallest the S3 can do (not zoomed) is 2.8 (small number=big opening) ... the largest is 8.0 (large number=small opening).

Changing the aperture has two effects; it alters how much light is getting into the camera to hit the sensor and it affects the Depth of Field, which is how much of the scene is in sharp focus. A larger aperture means a bigger DOF (things will look in focus in front and behind the subject) a small aperture means a narrower DOF (only the subject will be in focus and stuff behind it will be blurred). This blurring effect is sometimes called bokeh.

Shutter speed is how fast the shutter opens and closes ... the longer it's open, the more light gets in. Each step faster makes the picture a little darker, and vice-versa.

You can see this effect by modifying the shutter speed in Tv Mode or Manual Mode. As you speed the shutter up, the picture will get darker.

In bright sunlight, you might need to be as fast as 1/1000 just to get a reasonable pictures. In low-light, like the candle-light pics I took, you might need to leave the shutter open for 3 or 5 sec.

If you put the S3 in Av Mode, you'll be adjusting the aperture and the camera will be picking the shutter speed. In Tv mode, it's the opposite. In Manual, you've got to pick both, yourself!

 

[handicap18]

Stupid question time....

Is the shutter speed the same as Apeture? If not how do I set the shutter speed??

Denise

Some good responses already, but think of the camera as your eye. The shutter is your eyelid and the aperture is the pupil. When your in a dark room the pupils of your eye open wide. When you go outside in the bright light the pupils get much smaller. Same way the aperture of the camera works (its broken down into f/stops, with the numbers representing how wide the opening is).

Only thing with the eyelid example is that the shutter works opposite in that your eye lid is open most of the time and you can close it slower or faster where as the shutter on a camera is closed and you can open it slower or faster.

 

[theblondebee]

I got the Canon lens adapter and I can't figure out how to attach it to the camera. At first I thought they sent the wrong one but I looked a photos of it attached to the camera and it is the same. I already called for return instructions but thought I'd ask here before I send it back and have to wait another week for a different one. Thanx.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I got the Canon lens adapter and I can't figure out how to attach it to the camera. At first I thought they sent the wrong one but I looked a photos of it attached to the camera and it is the same. I already called for return instructions but thought I'd ask here before I send it back and have to wait another week for a different one. Thanx.

Before you can attach any adapter to the S3, you need to remove the existing "retaining/trim ring" around the base of the lens housing to get at the adapter mount (I believe it's called a "bayonet" mount).

To remove the trim ring, push and hold the little button on the lower-left of the front of the case (just under the '6.0 mega pixels' graphic) and then (while still holding the release button) gently rotate the plastic ring counter-clockwise. It turns about a third of a turn and should then come right off.

Once the trim ring is off, you'll be able to slip your adapter onto the bayonet mount and turn it about a third of a turn until it 'clicks' into place. You don't need the button to put the adapter or the trim ring back on.

Don't lose the original trim ring ... you might need it!

Hope this helps.

 

[theblondebee]

I knew I was going to feel like a dunce when I found out how it worked! Thank you so much. They really should come with instructions.

 

[polkadotladybug]

I've been wondering what that button was for - LOL I don't have a lens for my camera - it is new and I'm still on the beginner lens but I find myself accidentally pushing that button.

 

[Granite State Heidi]

Some good responses already, but think of the camera as your eye. The shutter is your eyelid and the aperture is the pupil. When your in a dark room the pupils of your eye open wide. When you go outside in the bright light the pupils get much smaller. Same way the aperture of the camera works (its broken down into f/stops, with the numbers representing how wide the opening is).

Only thing with the eyelid example is that the shutter works opposite in that your eye lid is open most of the time and you can close it slower or faster where as the shutter on a camera is closed and you can open it slower or faster.

GREAT analogy! Thanks!

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I've been wondering what that button was for - LOL I don't have a lens for my camera - it is new and I'm still on the beginner lens but I find myself accidentally pushing that button.

It doesn't do anything to the existing lens ... you can't change the S3's lens like with the DSLRs.

What you CAN do is put "extensions" in front of it, with the adapter; filters (Circular Polarizers, Neutral Density, etc.), lens hoods and converters for telephoto, wide angle or macro.

A teleconverter, like the Canon TC-DC58B , will boost the zoom of the camera at the cost of it ability to get a wide-angle.

A wide angle converter, like the Canon WC-DC58A, is the opposite of a tele.

And, macro lenses, like the Canon 500D, allow you to get greater magnification up-close, or be able to get good magnification from farther way (so you don't spook skittish subjects like insects or lizards).

 

[HLAuburn]

My friend has an S2, and she showed me a feature that isolates a particular color in a photo and make the rest black and white. Does the S3 do this? I couldn't find it on the camera or in the manual, just the feature that allows you to accentuate colors.

Thanks again!

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

My friend has an S2, and she showed me a feature that isolates a particular color in a photo and make the rest black and white. Does the S3 do this? I couldn't find it on the camera or in the manual, just the feature that allows you to accentuate colors.

Yes, the S3 has that same feature: it's called Color Accent Mode (it's only available in SCN mode on the dial) and you can read about it on p53 in the advanced manual.

Short version: use the left-right buttons to pick Color Accent and then click Set button. Aim the camera at the color you want to retail and press the left button. Press the Set button to make the setting and from that point on it will change everything else to B&W.

 

[HLAuburn]

Yes, the S3 has that same feature: it's called Color Accent Mode (it's only available in SCN mode on the dial) and you can read about it on p53 in the advanced manual.

Short version: use the left-right buttons to pick Color Accent and then click Set button. Aim the camera at the color you want to retail and press the left button. Press the Set button to make the setting and from that point on it will change everything else to B&W.

Great! Thanks so much!

 

[Amy]

I got out my camera today since my bleeding hearts are finally starting to bloom. Here's a good example of how aperature affects your photo:

This was taken at f 3.5 on my Canon S3:

And this was taken at f 8:

I actually like the f 8 one better; the f 3.5 looks like I Photoshopped the background to make it blurry! (By the way, these are straight out of the camera, no Photoshopping done.)

 

[wdwmom2]

Can you believe they made us get off the ship Sunday??? We had a blast ! I took many pics and realize I have sooo much to learn about my S3. One being to not use 800 speed for nighttime shots, too much noise!!! But they were handheld pics and thought this would be best......NOT!!!! Should have packed a tripod. Oh well, guess I'll have to book another cruise for my next try.

Hope you enjoy. No editing done except for the one with DH and me on the red couch.

Also wanted to add that Royal Caribbean uses Nikon D200's. The pics here by them don't do the origional pics justice! They look washed out on the computer .

DH and me on Labadee

Kathy (went with us), DH, and me at Georgetowne, Grand Caymen.

Kathy's DH, Ron, balancing a beer can on his head at Margarittaville in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

"Play area" at Margarittaville.

Nighttime pic of the family pool.

Volleyball game between crew members and passengers onboard the ship.

One of the evening shows.

Bad pic, but this lady was AMAZING!!!! Heck, I can't even hula hoop with 1 on solid ground let alone this many on ice!!!!

Stained glass inside the nightclub, The Crypt.

DH and me posing!!!!

DH on the Flowrider!!! He did much better standing up than I did!!!

Me on the Flowrider. Pic taken by RCCL.

Formal night. Pic taken by RCCL.

Formal night. Pic taken by RCCL. (Sorry, but I love dressing up!! Not sure what the streak is on my gown, it is not on the pic or the scanner )

 

[eznunzit]

Amy thanx for the examples. I am hoping with the different descriptions everyone gave I will retain some of it.

Yesterday DD and I took a walk around our yard.

 

[Furgus]

Great pics. Looks like you had a great time. I hope you don't mind, but I took your photo of the ice dancer and ran it though Noise Ninja. It is not the correct profile, as I have it set up for my D50, but you can see it did a pretty good job with it.

Original

Noise NInja'd

 

[Sir Bouncealot]

My new S3 showed up today! Yeah! But it was a cool overcast day today so I did not get out for too many shots, that and my hunny do list was reallly long. My SD card that I ordered for it is being shipped separately so I'll be able to take more large superfine shots soon enough. But I thought I would post this color accent shot.

More to come soon!

 

[wdwmom2]

Great pics. Looks like you had a great time. I hope you don't mind, but I took your photo of the ice dancer and ran it though Noise Ninja. It is not the correct profile, as I have it set up for my D50, but you can see it did a pretty good job with it.

Original

Noise NInja'd

OOhhhhh, pretty please, could you do that to my nighttime pic???? What a great job!! Is Noise Ninja a software program I can purchase?

ETA...just checked it out, which one to purchase???? Home, pro, what??? I am totally confused!!