Canon S3

[S. C.]

I am REALLY impressed with these being hand held shots. I remember shooting Wishes at WDW and some of my shots really looking bad because I was trying to hold it steady for so long.

My compliments to the photographer!

--Paul in Southern NJ

Thank You

 

[SplshMtn99]

I haven't gone thru all 725 shots, but here are 2 that jump out at me.
Distance about 1/2 mile.

1. FIREWORKS MODE: handheld but leaning against a fixed object. Not edited. I wished I had taken more in fireworks mode. This is one of just 3 that I did take. I do have a high speed card, but it still said "busy" as it was writing to the card. Done in continuous shoot mode.

2. NIGHT SNAPSHOT MODE: handheld but leaning against a fixed object. Cropped. All other pictures were taken in this mode. Done in continuous shoot mode.

 

[S. C.]

I haven't gone thru all 725 shots, but here are 2 that jump out at me.

1. FIREWORKS MODE: handheld but leaning against a fixed object. Not edited. I wished I had taken more in fireworks mode. This is one of just 3 that I did take. I do have a high speed card, but it still said "busy" as it was writing to the card.

2. NIGHT SNAPSHOT MODE: handheld but leaning against a fixed object. Cropped. All other pictures were taken in this mode.

Fabulous shots!

 

[SplshMtn99]

Thanks. I rotated that first photo after I posted it. I noticed it was sideways. lol

I'm not really into photography like alot of people are here....so I'm pretty happy with them. Learning the camera is on my list of things to do....that may never get done.

 

[gabbyrosebud]

The firework shots are looking great everyone! I didn't get any this year because it was pouring out that night and I refused to go sit in the rain.
Well, there's always next July 4 because I'm not going back to Disney until Sept. 2008.

 

[AbbysFamily]

1. FIREWORKS MODE: handheld but leaning against a fixed object. Not edited. I wished I had taken more in fireworks mode. This is one of just 3 that I did take. I do have a high speed card, but it still said "busy" as it was writing to the card. Done in continuous shoot mode.

Emphasis above is mine... I just learned WHY this one is recently... If you shoot anything above 1 sec on the S series, it does an equal amount of 'black' time. So a 2 second fireworks mode shot takes 2 seconds of black time after the shot. This is why it is busy, not because of write time to the card. (So I try to shoot fireworks at the 1 second mark!)

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I've had some decent luck getting fireworks pics (hand-held) with shutter speeds between 1/4 and 1/8 of a second. I usually use Manual mode to set the shutter speed as noted, and the aperture to about 4.5 and Manual Focus set to infinity.

Anything over 1 second takes twice as long as the shutter speed you set, as AbbysFamily mentions, so there's no real point in setting shutter speeds that slow and trying to use high-speed continuous shooting mode.

I haven't had much time to review all of the pics I've taken over the 4th of July (lots of free concerts in our area), but if any of the fireworks pics are good enough, I'll post them later.

 

[Lost n' Translation]

Ok, I'm torn between these two camera's. I like features in both of them. I like the IS in the S3 and the low light in the S6000 FD. If the sensor in the S6000 FD has larger sensitivity for low light shooting, wouldn't it take better pics in normal light. Also, I thing the S3 IS is easier to use and has quicker shutter speed at the telephoto range. What does everyone else think? You inputs would greatly help me in making my decision.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

It really depends on what type of pics you like taking ... if you're going to be doing lots of low-light action shots, I'd opt for the Fuji. If not, I believe the Canon takes better pictures; the IS almost guarantees that you'll have clearer pics at lower ISO levels.

Comparing ISO evenly (that is, 400 to 400 or 800 to 800), the Fuji definitely has an advantage. However, if you compare the Canon at ISO 200 and the Fuji at ISO 800 there's a big advantage for the Canon; and, IS is usually considered to be worth two stops (thus the 200 vs 800 comparison).

Your best bet is to go to a camera comparison site like the Digital Camera Resource Page or DPreview and compare pics from the cameras, yourself.

IMO, the Fuji is sharper but the Canon is smoother. Smooth images appeal to me, so I ended up going with the Canon. I also like the flip-out folding LCD, it's very useful. And, the Canon's got a little more reach at the expense of some Wide Angle....

The Canon's also got a faster lens (2.7 wide and 3.5 at full zoom vs 2.8 wide and 4.9 at full zoom) and has a faster high-speed continuous mode (2.3fps for as long as you've got SDCard space).

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

These are the two best pictures I got ... they aren't great, but they're passable for hand-held. It wasn't a very big display, only a few minutes at the end of the 1812 Overture, and there wasn't a lot of variety, either. And, there's a tree in the way....

Fireworks #1

Fireworks #2

 

[Reminiscing_Cody]

If the sensor in the S6000 FD has larger sensitivity for low light shooting, wouldn't it take better pics in normal light.

This part isn't necessarily true, though I can't speak specifically for the S6000fd. I have the Finepix F30, and while it takes better 400-1600 ISO pictures, by far, than any other compact I've seen, its 100 ISO results aren't anything to write home about.

Recently I was stuck between the same 2 cameras before I decided I could afford to jump the bridge and get a DSLR. I was leaning toward the Fuji for the low light advantage (subject movement)-- like my F30, you often don't need the flash under normal indoor lighting conditions for candids of people. I was also more interested in having slightly wide angle than longer zoom. The S3's advantages for me were the flip out LCD, and the fact that IS works in movie mode.

I never could 100% decide before I ended up talking myself into DSLR.. so, umm, good luck

 

[CathrynRose]

This was my favorite:

 

[CathrynRose]

Alright - Im officially joining this family.... Ive had my camera a few months, and finally figuring it out. A LOT to learn....

But, check out somce of my playing Ive done.... I bought this really for AWESOME Disney pics and it's turned into a really fun toy:

Im in Illinois - Cicadaville, USA:

Using the fun color thingee....

I wanted to do this forever - totally 'high school', but.... I had my husband play 'photog' with my BFF and I:

and:

FUN!!! I love this camera!

 

[cfd954]

I had the S3 IS before moving into the Canon DSLR world and getting a 30D. I would definatly recommend this camera, also just an FYI Canon is supposed to be coming out with the S5 IS this month for around $500. If you have the extra and don't mind waiting it should be an even better camera.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I thing the S3 IS is easier to use

It's actually a pretty complicated camera with lots of features and many, including myself, have had anything but an easy time learning to use it (I can't speak for the Fuji). Once you get past the learning curve though, it's a nice camera. The video feature is awesome. Good luck with your decision.

 

[Lost n' Translation]

Thank you all for your input. I think I will wait for the S5 to come out.

 

[S. C.]

Thank you all for your input. I think I will wait for the S5 to come out.

The S5 is already out. Check it out on amazon.com someone said it was $458 there with free S&H. Also Best Buy has it.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

Oh my gosh -- you guys are killing me! I had decided on the Olympus 720sw or 770sw because it is waterproof, etc. but the quality of these pictures are amazing. We are going on another cruise, and I just don't want a camera I am worrying about ruining, but WOW What to do!!!!

 

[SplshMtn99]

I can't comment on those 2 Olympus models, however I owned 2 Olympus cameras (D450 & C750 UltraZoom) before this Canon S3. DH & I feel that both our old Olympus' took sharper photos than Canon S3. Only really noticeable when placed side by side -- compared on computer screen -- or when I start looking at old photos. I've loved both Olympus camera, but each lasted about 3 years before something started acting up on them. I still use our last camera as a backup.

Just like each manufacturer will produce different levels in colors of photos, I think they also produce different sharpness.

Our comparisons were in photos taken in AUTO on both cameras.

So...go with what you like.

 

[MichelleVW]

I just got the S3 after drooling over it for awhile now...I LOVE IT!!! There's still so much I have to figure out...but here's a few pics I took today playing with the color feature...

here's what the girls look like in color!! (I think that was on Auto)