Canon S3

[gabbyrosebud]

Welcome to the "family"!!!!

Feel free to snag the image tag from my sig., if you want it!

And, don't forget to post your first pics over on the S3 thread!!

Congratulations S.C! I just got my S3 from Office Depot yesterday. I can't wait to get out there and start shooting. You all have helped me so much with your advice and photos on this board. Thank you!

 

[Soupermom]

Well, I don't have one yet, but after seeing and using all of the other "tip" threads on the other sections of the DIS, I thought this would be a great thread. I have SO many S3 threads saved now, it's hard to keep track. So, maybe if you all leave a tip or two, we can condense them here. Something like: To take a picture of a water drop, use "this" setting at "this" speed.
Or, to take a great picture of the moon....to film mountains...for great pics of kids playing outside...for indoor "gym" sporting pictures...

After using some ideas from here, I was able to take a great photo of the cresent moon/mars last night. Of course, a full moon would be better...or even 1/2 of one! I just wish I could have all of your tips in one place to print...

So...let me/us have 'em!! Let's try to keep it specific to the S3/S2 family--so as not to confuse the newbies like me, and if possible-be very specific and simple...again, for us newbies!

I can't wait to see what you have...I hope y'all think this is as great an idea as I do!

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Not my "best" ... I don't think I've got a best tip, yet ... but this is certainly my *first* tip!

Tip #1: get out of Auto mode as soon as you feel comfortable ... there are much better photos to be made simply by shifting to P (Program AE) mode and taking control of the white balance, exposure compensation and ISO!

 

[nbodyhome]

I have the S2, I received it for Christmas (after I did a lot of research on cameras). I've never been happier with a digital camera (or maybe any camera) than I have been with it. What is the main difference between mine and the S3?

Thanks!

 

[ukcatfan]

So...let me/us have 'em!! Let's try to keep it specific to the S3/S2 family--so as not to confuse the newbies like me, and if possible-be very specific and simple...again, for us newbies!

So quickly everyone forgets about the poor old neglected S1 IS But seriously, 99% the tips for superzoom "S" series cameras apply to all three models. There used to be a huge S1 tips compilation thread over on the Canon board at DPreview. Try searching over there.

I can give a couple tips.

- Learn to be creative with the use of the flip out LCD. It allows you to go low, high, around corners, etc. I also like to brace the camera against my chest or stomach with the screen facing up to help brace those shots where even the IS needs a little help.

- Set a good hyperfocal length with the custom mode. That way you always have a setting that will be in focus all of the time when it cannot lock the focus in the normal modes. I have mine set to the widest focal length (6mm), focused at 10 feet, ISO 200, and F/2.7 (set custom mode from aperture priority mode so it will pick the shutter speed for me). If I wanted to use it with a flash, I would use a lower ISO, but I can always change those settings without too much of a problem and I still keep the hyperfocal DOF of about 5ft. to infinity. If you want a closer DOF to infinity, you can close the aperture down, but it would then require a longer shutter. That would be a good idea if you plan to use flash for this setting all of the time b/c a smaller aperture would be slightly sharper. To me, the "S" models are sharp enough through the entire aperture range though it does get a little sharper stopped down by about 2-3 stops IMO.

You can use this site to determine the settings you want. http://www.dofmaster.com/dofjs.html. Keep in mind that you want to use the actual focal length in the calculator and not the 35mm equiv. They list them in case you do not know. http://www.dofmaster.com/lengths.html

Kevin

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Here's a great review of the S3 ... there's really not that much different:

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s3-review/

Color, size of the LCD, a couple of MyColors features ... that's about it, IIRC.

 

[AbbysFamily]

Live histogram, updates to the 'interface' (like showing the modes more, etc)...

Just played with a S3.. Nice, but not enough for me to upgrade from my s2.

 

[ukcatfan]

Where the S1 to S2 was a real upgrade, the S2 to S3 was more of a tweak. I have heard the S3 called a S2 v2.0. I would say the extra features of the S3 are not worth the upgrade from the S2. There should be a replacement of the S3 out soon anyway.

Kevin

 

[nbodyhome]

Thanks! I'd seen reviews and such, but I hadn't thought it sounded very different.

I'm delighted with the camera, I'm glad so many are able to get good deals on the S3.

 

[dawn8226]

I am so weak, I just caved and joined your cult by buying the S3. I wasn't even looking for a new camera until I saw this thread and the others about the S3. Then I thought about the trips I am taking this year, how much I love taking pictures, and how I haven't been thrilled with my current digital camera, and that did it, I talked myself into buying something I really don't need. Anyway, thanks for letting me know about this deal. I may have a few questions when I attempt to try use the camera (since it is quite a bit more advanced then my current camera) but I know just where to go to ask. Thanks everyone.

 

[HLAuburn]

I can't believe how many people were "pushed over the S3 egde" by my post! I know for $279, it wasn't hard for me to jump right in and buy one, too. I only messed around with it for a few minutes yesterday, and I already love it! I can't wait to see what all it can do!

 

[maci]

Add me to the ran right out and bought one clan!

Got mine today at office depot as well!

I was in the market for a new camera anyway, but all the hype here about the S3, got me moving.

It was quite a bit less than I thought I would need to spend. So far, I am liking it.

The only thing so far I dont like is, I wish it had a hand strap on it.

Thanks for the tip!

 

[AndrewWG]

Ever have one of those nights/days where you take a ton of photos and you think you are really nailing them with exposure, etc. only to come home and find that they all basically suck? Yep, that was my evening. I took over 100 photos and I got one that is OK. Here it is. I don't even like it due to the fact that the lighting is a bit poor and I had to crop it to look good. If everyone has been reading the photo assignment thread, you know how I feel about photoshop and cropping!

Andy

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Ever have one of those nights/days where you take a ton of photos and you think you are really nailing them with exposure, etc. only to come home and find that they all basically suck?

All the time.

I like the shot. Hey, at least you got one good one!

 

[AndrewWG]

All the time.

I like the shot. Hey, at least you got one good one!

Yeah and it was a GREAT night to be out of the house. No wind and not real cold. Almost made me think that Spring is coming afterall. I did play at work with depth of field photos today too so it wasn't all that bad. Those photos weren't good but they were kind of teaching me a thing or two.

Andy

 

[dawn8226]

I just bought my S3 and LOVE it (so far). I have what may be a silly question. The instruction manual says to use only Canon accessories, including rechargeable batteries (I assume it doesn't really hurt to use other brands, it is just a way to limit the warranty). So what brand of rechargeable batteries seem to be the best, or doesn't there seem to be much of a difference?
Thanks

 

[Sanka]

Tooks these lastnight with the S3

 

[polkadotladybug]

LOL! Count me in as well! I've been wanting to upgrade for a while, but I was looking at the Sony H2 and H5 and the Canon S3's. I have a Sony so I thought I wanted a Sony again (since I was familiar with it plus already had the memory card) - then I started reading this forum.

My very, very sweet husband surprised me yesterday with an H2 for our anniversary! Of course he found out that I was leaning towards the S3 afterwards - so he didn't care WHICH one I got - so I took the H2 back and got the S3.

The best thing is that our Office Depot had them for 279 and Staples carries them too - and they price match (110%) so I got it for $272! It was same price minus 10% of the difference. They even said that it was a "heck of a deal".

So I'm trying to find the tutorials and stuff - and learn all I can before our trip in June.

 

[jenr812]

Wow - beautiful night shots! What settings did you use?

I have been playing with my new camera as much as I can. I took a ton of pics this morning of my boys playing baseball. I haven't installed the software yet but I will try to get to that sometime today.

 

[Sanka]

Hello Jen,

For the fist one, I used 15 sec shutter speed, and f/2.7
For the 2nd one, I used 10 sec shutter speed, and f/2.7

Both had iso 100, and manual focus set to infinite

I did cheat a little bit though, I bumped up the blue color a bit in photoshop, and because of the long shutter speed, the camera didn't really catch the partial moon, looked more like a full moon, so I re-touched it a bit... other then those 2 things though, I didn't do much to the shot!