Canon S3

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Thanks for the replies.

What is the signifcance of at 52mm and 58mm lens? How does is differ from the lens that is on the S3?

It's not really a different lens. You don't replace the S3's lens, you just put other lenses or filters in front of it. Teleconverters (TC) to increase the zoom or Wide Angles to increase the size of the "visual field".

The S3 is designed for a TC at about 1.5x ... if you go more powerful than this, you'll find the camera has a hard (if not impossible) time focusing. But, I've read that it works well with up to a 1.7x or 1.8x (and there are quite an number of them available out there).

The Canon options are all 58mm, which is why their adapter is 58mm. However there are other companies (Hoya, Raynox, etc) that make filters and converter lenses that use 52mm (other other sizes as well).

You have a lot of options; you could by both adapters, you could buy one or the other and only get filters/lenses that fit and you could buy one or the other and use step rings to fit different sized filters/lenses. Using too many step rings can cause vignetting, which makes your pics look like they've been taken in a tunnel, or through a sewer pipe if it's extreme (dark around the edges).

 

[woodlandsparty]

I leave the adapter and UV filter on my S3 all the time. The camera is with me 24/7, so it takes a beating.....and the filter helps with protecting the actual lens. I also hated the lens cap that came with the camera....it never would stay on. So...having the adapter and filter on the camera allows me to put a *real* lens cap on it.

 

[Dan Murphy]

For me, not having the ability to thread a filter on the lens itself is one of the biggest shortcomings of the S/2/3/5. I like the camera to be portable, carrying often in my large front pants pocket. With the adapter that would obviously not work. I do not use one, just trying to be careful, but I hate it, LOL.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

A good reason to have an adapter and use filters is to be able to get the "silky" effect of a waterfall. In full sunlight, using just my CPL, I was able to lower the shutter speed to 1/25 for the waterfall in this picture. It's just starting to look smooth. If the day was cloudy or if I'd been able to take the picture earlier or later it would have been even better.

An ND8 filter would allow for slower speeds than this by at least one or two stops.

And, of course, you can always stack an ND and a CPL ... but, the more glass in front of your lens the more likely you'll lose picture clarity or pick up lens flare from all the reflected light or see some vignetting from the length of the tube....

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Some more about filters, here's a waterfall pic using my polarizer filter to get the shutter speed down to 1/25 in full sun. The water is just starting to show that cool "silky" effect:

 

[Papa Deuce]

I'm probably more excited than my wife - and it really is hers, - it should get here tomorrow. I'm giving it to her Saturday as a combination mother's day / anniversary present. She is doing a walk for breast cancer Sunday morning. Maybe she can take some photos there.

 

[nbodyhome]

I love my S2. I wish it had a place to put a cable release, and the cap is a pain. But it's my very favorite camera, ever!

Here are some recent pics, all hand-held:

I am very happy with the camera! All of my mousesteps pics use the S2.

 

[HarambeGuy]

Hi all! Just got my S3 and looking forward to reading the thread for tips & tricks. Here's a couple shots from before I even read the manual thoroughly

First is an american goldfinch at the neighbor's feeder (taken from the deck at our house), the second is a female eastern bluebird. We have a bluebird pair nesting in a box on our fence. The male is much more striking but much less cooperative

 

[denise5374]

What setting do you have the camera on the get the fireworks pictures??

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

What setting do you have the camera on the get the fireworks pictures??

For the last one, they used:
Camera Make: Canon
Camera Model: Canon PowerShot S2 IS
Image Date: 2007:02:15 21:51:17
Flash Used: No
Focal Length: 6.0mm
Exposure Time: 0.125 s (1/8)
Aperture: f/2.7
Metering Mode: Matrix

If you've got FireFox, you can get an EXIF data viewer add-on (FxIF or Exif Viewer) and the data will be available unless the image owner has removed it (intentionally or un-intentionally)....

 

[S. C.]

S.C.,

Thanks! I got a Samsonite case from Wal Mart. It fits the camera kind of snug but it has pockets that can hold extra batteries, SD cards etc. I have to wonder since I had the thing so packed with stuff, if that didn't add to the padding significantly. They no longer show it on the WalMart website, but here is a pic.

Andy

for the pic of your case. This is the first i've been on here in awhile i've been putting in alot of hours at work.

 

[AndrewWG]

for the pic of your case. This is the first i've been on here in awhile i've been putting in alot of hours at work.

No problem! Hey if the camera survived a fall off the car at 20mph or so, then I have to at least suggest this case and I figured a picture would help. The case is a bit small and cramped, but you can get most everything you need into it and I like the smaller case when traveling anyways.

Andy

ps. Get out of work and get some photography time for yourself!

 

[Papa Deuce]

So, it came today... can't wait for "my wife" to start enjoying it. I'm giving it to her tomorrow morning for Mother's Day - a day early, as she is doing a walk for breast cancer on Sunday, and I won't see her in the morning, or maybe even at all that day.

Seriously, she really did want a camera, but I think I'll be more excited than her!

 

[Amy]

Papa - be sure to post "your wife's" first pictures with "her" S3! We can't wait to see them!

 

[bethbuchall]

How exciting! I can't wait to see the first photos!

 

[nbodyhome]

What setting do you have the camera on the get the fireworks pictures??

My fireworks pics were on auto.

 

[Papa Deuce]

Papa - be sure to post "your wife's" first pictures with "her" S3! We can't wait to see them!

LOL... will do.

 

[AndrewWG]

I thought this was cool, although it didn't come out the way I really wanted it to. The fog last night was very thick at the beach and the sunset was odd as the sun looked HUGE on the horizon for some reason. Probably had to do with the fog, but unfortunately the fog also made it hard to focus on anything.

Andy

 

[Papa Deuce]

My laptop has no card reader. I have Elements 5. I would really rather not install any other photo software.

Can I get by without it?

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

If your PC recognizes the camera without needing to install (just treats it as a USB storage device) you're good to go.

However, you might want to install the software to get the CameraWindow transfer program; it's pretty nice, and also allows you to remote operate your camera from your PC as well as upload more settings/configurations.

I don't know if CameraWindow runs independently of the ZoomBrowser ... I don't think so....