Canon S3

[S. C.]

I posted way back at the beginning of this thread, that I like to browse the PBase.com based upon camera used. I found this set of galleries. Click each to open for more photos. Just WOW!!!!!! http://www.pbase.com/terrythormin/africa_2007

I guess I'm just surprised (pleased) to see he/she used an S3 for an African Safari....when he/she probably has LOTS of cameras to pick from.

WOW....great pics! I wish i could do that.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I am so frustrated with my S3 right now. Not the camera itself but the downloading of pictures. I installed the software in my laptop and it simply will not download my pictures. I get no Camera Window no matter what I do. And I can't download my A95 either. YEEK!

Are you using Windows Vista? If so, you need to download the latest version of ZoomBrowser from Canon's website.

I had the same problem when we bought a new PC that came with Vista ... I could never get the Camera Window to appear. Once I installed the new version, it all started working, again...

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I guess I'm just surprised (pleased) to see he/she used an S3 for an African Safari....when he/she probably has LOTS of cameras to pick from.

I'm not that surprised, the S3 is a great camera for vacation photos. To equal the features of the S3 in a DSLR requires a LOT more cash; the lens you'd need to reach 432mm can be over a $1000 just by itself! And, you'd still not have any movie mode!

Sure the pics would be better from the DSLR , but would they be $1000 or $2000 better? That's something that each person needs to ask themselves.

That's what I love about my S3 ... I can be busily taking macro photos of some flowers and then, in mere seconds, be zoomed into something interesting happening a football field away! And, then, take some video footage, while I'm at it!

 

[gabbyrosebud]

Good Morning! I was so excited to post some pictures of the hummingbirds that comes to our window feeder. These pictures were taken from inside, no flash, through my window. I think they came out pretty good.

Here's a different hummingbird. We love to watch them up so close.

 

[Donaldfan81]

Here is another flower that I took this morning. I love all the little water drops on it.

 

[manning]

A good usb 2.0 card reader would make life easier for you. Simply remove the memory card , insert into card reader, insert card reader into open USB slot. Card will then function as a hard drive, and can be accessed from Windows without any additional software or drivers. This will likely be much faster than downloading from the camera, and saves battery life on the camera as well.

Sorry if this is a bit elementary, but my card readers are considered essential bits of my photo kit.

It will look like a removable drive on the computer. The procedure is copy and paste.

 

[meliahz]

I've joined the S3 club! I just got my camera on Sunday night. I'm still testing it out . . . and have read MOST of the book. Anyway, just wanted to ask . . . what setting are all of you putting your camera's on to take all your pics?!?! My pics aren't coming out as good as the one's I'm seeing on this board. I've been testing out the color accent a lot (very cool) and am having lotsa fun with it, but my regular pics (flowers, etc) aren't as nice as the one's posted on this thread! Do any of you have any "quick tips?" I have just a little bit more to read from my book, but I think I'm better off getting "hands-on" tips from other S3 users (like how you should use sports mode for fireworks . . . instead of the SCN fireworks mode). Anyway, quick tips will be GREATLY appreciated! . . . and soon I'll be posting my pics here too!

Thanks,
Meliahz

 

[gabbyrosebud]

Gabby - I love your fireworks shots! I never thought to use night snapshot; yours turned out really nice!

Hi Amy! Thanks again for your compliment. Just a question about Sports mode. When you took your firework shots, did they come out with a lot of noise? I've noticed that when I use sports mode in a dark lit situation, the noise was unbelievable. I tried using it last week at my kids theatre rehearsal and they came out really bad. I also took some pictures of my cat indoors, sports mode, continuous shooting and the noise was horrible. I think I'll use the sports mode in outdoor situations from now on.
When I took my fireworks with night snapshot, continuous shooting, there was very little noise. Which is a good thing because I don't know anything about running the photos through any kind of software. I'm a real point and shoot kind of gal.

 

[madge]

a few from this morning....

 

[Amy]

I've joined the S3 club! I just got my camera on Sunday night. I'm still testing it out . . . and have read MOST of the book. Anyway, just wanted to ask . . . what setting are all of you putting your camera's on to take all your pics?!?! My pics aren't coming out as good as the one's I'm seeing on this board. I've been testing out the color accent a lot (very cool) and am having lotsa fun with it, but my regular pics (flowers, etc) aren't as nice as the one's posted on this thread! Do any of you have any "quick tips?" I have just a little bit more to read from my book, but I think I'm better off getting "hands-on" tips from other S3 users (like how you should use sports mode for fireworks . . . instead of the SCN fireworks mode). Anyway, quick tips will be GREATLY appreciated! . . . and soon I'll be posting my pics here too!

Thanks,
Meliahz

Welcome to the S3 family, Meliahz! A couple of "my" quick tips (I'm sure you'll get many more from the other S3 users here): Most of my shots are done using P (Program) mode. When you use Auto, the camera sets everything, and you're very limited on what you can change. In P mode, you can set the ISO (I usually keep mine at 200 so I don't have to worry about too many lighting conditions, but 100 is probably better), adjust the amount of flash output, change the exposure up to 2 stops either way, etc. Others on this board take some great shots using Macro, but I've had my camera since Sept. and I STILL can't figure out Macro; I always end up using SuperMacro. Must be operator error on my part, LOL! I keep trying it though, and one day I'll get it right!

As for fireworks shots on Sports mode, that was my solution when I didn't like the way Fireworks mode turned out, but they were very noisy. See Gabby's response below - she used Night Snapshot and eliminated the noise. I didn't think to try Night Snapshot; maybe I'll give it a try on the 4th of July.

Hi Amy! Thanks again for your compliment. Just a question about Sports mode. When you took your firework shots, did they come out with a lot of noise? I've noticed that when I use sports mode in a dark lit situation, the noise was unbelievable. I tried using it last week at my kids theatre rehearsal and they came out really bad. I also took some pictures of my cat indoors, sports mode, continuous shooting and the noise was horrible. I think I'll use the sports mode in outdoor situations from now on.
When I took my fireworks with night snapshot, continuous shooting, there was very little noise. Which is a good thing because I don't know anything about running the photos through any kind of software. I'm a real point and shoot kind of gal.

Hi Gabby! Yes, my fireworks shots on Sports mode were very noisy and I had to run them through Noiseware to get them to look good. I didn't even think to try Night Snapshot - I'll give that a try on the 4th of July and see how they turn out. I like the way yours look!

 

[madge]

Amy said:

Others on this board take some great shots using Macro, but I've had my camera since Sept. and I STILL can't figure out Macro; I always end up using SuperMacro. Must be operator error on my part, LOL! I keep trying it though, and one day I'll get it right!

I'm glad it's not just me! Two of the three pictures I posted this morning, I used macro on (the rose and the chives) but I wasn't terribly close to the flowers, and I cropped the picture down to what I wanted. Is that how macro is supposed to work? I do like the look of the picture - with the blurry background, so for that I feel a level of success I've had my camera a month, and haven't had much time to really sit down and learn about the settings. Everything I know I've read here and I feel like I'm flying by the seat of my pants, LOLOL.

Once my kiddos are back in school, I plan to take some time and learn about the exposure/ISO/aperture settings. Our WDW trip is in October, with the holidays soon after - I want to be ready!!!

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I'm glad it's not just me! Two of the three pictures I posted this morning, I used macro on (the rose and the chives) but I wasn't terribly close to the flowers, and I cropped the picture down to what I wanted. Is that how macro is supposed to work?

I love taking macro pics, and I've usually used Super Macro, too. I just started figuring out that I'm not as good at judging distances as I thought. Most of the time when Macro won't work it's because I'm too close or too far away. There's supposed to be a guide in the EVF that should help, but I've not been taking advantage of it; a little bar to show you how much zoom you can use for a given focal distance. I'll have to take better notice of it!

I did get a couple nice ones, today (no PP other than resize for upload):

I love the color of this red flower:

And here's an interesting little beetle:

These are, I think, the first actual Macro mode pics that have turned out well for me.

I also took a couple of some furry bumblebees, but they were a little blurry; seems like I let the camera focus on the flower and not the bee. Eh, it's good practice to keep snapping away!

 

[DisneyBug1995]

What are the best batteries to get for my S3 IS?

TIA

 

[Goofyish]

I have a couple of sets of NiMH 2500mAh batteries and they last for ages

Although I have seen 2700mAH ones for sale, which would last even longer.

 

[shep]

I got the 8 pack 2500 mah energizer aa, 4 pack aaa & charger from Sam's..
Haven't had them long enough though...Got them 3 weeks ago..prior to our trip to Michigan

Curious to see what everyone puts too...

Found out the S3 needs bigger cards too...512 MB holds around 277 pictures..DW ran out & had to use my card..

 

[meliahz]

These are my first attempts at color accent. Not the greatest, but I had fun!:

My DD's lips are a little pink, but that's ok!

My DS8 and DD18mo.

My DD smelling some plumeria's in our yard.

I just figured out Macro and SuperMacro, so I'll be experimenting tomorrow (it's 11:30 pm here)!!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Ooh - I love that last one, meliahz, I think I would have to frame it.

 

[tiff13]

meliahz- absolutely adorable


I'm on my way to go buy mine!!

 

[madge]

Ooh - I love that last one, meliahz, I think I would have to frame it.

I agree!!

Looking forward to having fun playing with my camera over the holiday weekend/week ....

 

[Amy]

These are my first attempts at color accent. Not the greatest, but I had fun!:

My DD smelling some plumeria's in our yard.

I just figured out Macro and SuperMacro, so I'll be experimenting tomorrow (it's 11:30 pm here)!!!

What a beautiful photo!