Canon S3

[JR6ooo4]

from Canon and Nikon tech rep (don't know any Sony tech rep personally)

NEVER format a memory card on the PC, it gives differenet header code that may corrupt data transfer (I did it anyway to test on my Canon Rebel 300D, surely enough all the data is there but can't be transferred properly without a special recovery software from Canon)

Ok so no more of the PC formating.

Can I stil wave a magnet over it to remove the PC formatting?

Mikeeee

 

[Kelly Grannell]

no need to do that as long as once you put the card into your camera, you format the card (don't do a test shot or anything).

 

[Kelly Grannell]

well, there is no flash can do the range of 12x zoom. Flash is usually designed (for P&S) for the wide-angle shots (in the case of S3, around 36mm to 70mm)

Ho wlong the battery last it really depends on too many factors to tell accurately. the IS eats up battery, zooming in and out eats up battery, LCD preview and review eats up battery, depending on the brightness level of the LCD it will eats more or less battery. However, if the S1 IS, you should be able to get around 250 shots easy with your S3 IS.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I have the S2 and the battery life is stunning, to say the least. I always still do carry 2 extra sets with me for a day in the parks, but have never had to switch even once. That is with the LCD used almost always (makes no difference in power used if using LCD or electronic view finder), a moderate amount of flash use, review of every shot, and an average of several hundred per day. I still would not venture out though without at least one extra set of batteries.

The flash is decent too, if using for its purpose, indoors, probably under 20 feet, or as fill flash.

I'm happy.

 

[momsgonwild]

Thanks guys! I am going to Circuit City to hold this camera, and take a good look at it. I wish there was a place to rent cameras so I could try several of them out to see which one I really want. Dan, your pictures are great!

 

[Anewman]

You are not using regular alkaline batteries I assume...

 

[momsgonwild]

No, I used the batteries that came with the camera. I believe they were the rechargeable nickel metal hydride. I am going on memory that they were 2100, and I also bought an extra set of the 2500. After some research, I am really wondering if something was wrong with the camera. I got 60 pics on a fully charged battery. I tried the 2500 and got approx 80 pics. I even tried recharging the batteries to make sure they were getting fully charged. I know the 3" LCD, fine prints, countinous autofocus is going to use some battery, but I wouldn't think it would use that much. I called sonystyle for their opinion, and they believe nothing is wrong, camera just uses this much battery. They were very nice about me sending it back. The pictures I got were really good.

 

[Anewman]

No, I used the batteries that came with the camera. I believe they were the rechargeable nickel metal hydride. I am going on memory that they were 2100, and I also bought an extra set of the 2500. After some research, I am really wondering if something was wrong with the camera. I got 60 pics on a fully charged battery. I tried the 2500 and got approx 80 pics. I even tried recharging the batteries to make sure they were getting fully charged. I know the 3" LCD, fine prints, countinous autofocus is going to use some battery, but I wouldn't think it would use that much. I called sonystyle for their opinion, and they believe nothing is wrong, camera just uses this much battery. They were very nice about me sending it back. The pictures I got were really good.

That is really poor battery life, sounds like something was wrong with that copy. According to stevesdigicams reviews it should get over 300 shots.

"The Cyber-shot H5 is powered by two AA type batteries. Sony recommends using only NiMH rechargeables and supplies a pair of Stamina 2100mAh cells and a BC-CS2 charger with the camera. A fully charged set can capture up to 340 shots. "

 

[momsgonwild]

That is really poor battery life, sounds like something was wrong with that copy. According to stevesdigicams reviews it should get over 300 shots.

"The Cyber-shot H5 is powered by two AA type batteries. Sony recommends using only NiMH rechargeables and supplies a pair of Stamina 2100mAh cells and a BC-CS2 charger with the camera. A fully charged set can capture up to 340 shots. "

I used the 2100mAH that came with the camera, and I had also ordered the 2500 mAH. I fully charged each set of batteries twice. This took quite a while to charge both sets. I got the same results from each set of batteries.
I called Sony because I really thought something was wrong with the camera.
They assured me that this was normal. If not for this problem, I would have kept the camera. This camera takes really nice pictures.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Aww come on....

You did not know that was a joke about magnetic tape media?

Mikeeee

 

[Kelly Grannell]

LOL! now that I think of it! DOH!

 

[krismast]

Digital Rebel xt Definately

 

[PaulD]

If you want zoom then stick with Kelly's first suggestion (the 18-125). The other two will leave you wanting in this department. There are a couple lenses from Sigma and Tamron that are 18-200 which will give you a little more reach and won't require any lens swapping. I haven't used either so I don't know how good they are optically. Anyone?

 

[Kelly Grannell]

from my photoblog (shameless plug)

Saturday, July 01, 2006
18-200 lens and why I choose not to buy them

superzooms, by nature will create lots of distortion.

The longer the zoom, the more the distortion. Especially when the wide is starting at 18mm.
You go for the length or you go for better quality but sacrifice the length.

I have long-term tested 18-200 from both Sigma and Tamron and I find the following:

1. tendency to misfocus beyond 135mm (this is somewhat easy to rectify, just keep pressing the AF lock button over and over and usually it'll end up with proper focus, but by doing so, sometimes the moment will pass by and you'll end up with no picture)

2. severe purple fringing and colour abberation in the 18-24 range.


Those two items above makes it impossible for me to use either for pro apps whereas the Sigma 18-125 have been used numerous times for my pro apps.

Now I sacrificed length even further. I now use Canon 17-55 f/2.8 IS.

 

[Ellen aka Snow White]

Thanks guys! I am going to Circuit City to hold this camera, and take a good look at it. I wish there was a place to rent cameras so I could try several of them out to see which one I really want. Dan, your pictures are great!

We have a store here, hh Gregg that has a no question asked policy on returns within 10 days. The sales person AND her manager actually encouraged us to take one, try it bring it back and get another to try and keep doing that until we find what we like. Unlike Circuit City there is no restocking fee!

 

[PoohJen]

Since this thread has resurfaced, I'd best update:

Thanks to all the advice on these boards, I went with the following

Rebel XT (purchased off Amazon)

Sigma 18-125 (purchased off eBay)

SanDisk 2gb Ultra II CF (Circuit City - $75)

Tamrac backpack - Adventurer 7 (Circuit City) (the backpack part of the 6 was too small)

Book: Field Guide to the Digital Rebel XT by Charlotte Lowrie (Amazon - $13) - great rebel manual plus basic photography lessons

Loving the XT and the lens is nice too. I took over 500 shots the first weekend at baseball tournament. I would like a longer/stronger zoom eventually. I did borrow a canon 70-300 zoom; my picture quality wasn't so great but (i) it WAS my first day with the new camera (ii) I didn't use a tripod and (iii) I have a lot to learn!

Anyway....LOVING, LOVING, LOVING the XT, I can't even remember what a P&S is anymore! Thanks Y'all!

 

[MickeyCrazed]

through Dell.
I got a decent deal on it based on current prices. I've never seen the camera in person... so I sure hope I made the right decision!
Does anyone have opinions they would like to share?
I wasn't going to buy it so soon, but for the price, I figure this will give me a few months practice with it before my October trip!

 

[Kelly Grannell]

other that it's a great camera? nothing else to share.

 

[Goofyish]

I've had my S3 for a few weeks now and I'm more than pleased with it

Very impressed with the battery life too (2500 mAH NiMH batteries).

 

[disney funseeker]

Is the S3 a step up from the S2 IS?

I'm thinking about purchasing my 1st digital camera and was considering the canon S2 IS, but was wondering about the life span of the 4 AA batteries it took.

Those NiMH batteries on the S3 are rechargeable ones, right?