Canon S3

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I've been doing the weekly contest for over 2 years, and only once did one of my shots make it to the finals and then it came in 5th or 6th. This is the first time I'm in the top 3!! YIPPEE!

Congrats! It's nice to see the S3 Family "representing"

 

[dreamn_Disney]

I asked on this board a few weeks ago about a camera for my needs and was all set to get the Canon S3. You all were very helpful with and I thank you. Now I have an opportunity to purchase a gently used G5. I know very little about this camera. I have seen the day time shots with it and have taken a few myself and liked them. How does it compare with night shots and fireworks shots? I was also wondering about the differences in zoom range. Any information or comparison photos would be great and thanks again.

 

[ukcatfan]

That is a tough call. The G5 was a very nice camera for its time, but that was four years ago. One big plus is that it offers RAW. I also like the hot shoe if flash pictures are your style. It has no movie mode if that is important to you. You might want to throw the S2 and S5 in to your list. Check some reviews and see what you think.

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_g5-review/

http://www.steves-digicams.com/2003_reviews/g5.html

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canong5/

Kevin

 

[Pea-n-Me]

WTG, Amy!!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

You guys won't believe this, but you'll never guess what we bought the other night...

An S2 IS - primarly to be used by my DH and DS!

We needed a new video camera and decided this would give us so many more options in addition to video.

So now we have both an S2 and an S3, LOL!

An added bonus for me is that DH is feverishly reading his manual - hopefully his newfound knowledge will rub off on me!!

The downside is that our computer systems are about to burst from all the pictures we have!

 

[klmall]

This is really an interesting question! And I speak from experience given that I am one of the few on this board that currently uses both! While I've only had my S3 a couple of weeks it is V-E-R-Y easy to use.

Pros of S3 (vs. G5):
1) Easier to hold in my hand than G5
2) Like having ISO button right on camera body
3) If pre-set options are to your liking, there are tons! I like the super-macro! G5 has very few pre-sets.

Cons of S3 I've found so far:
1) AA batteries vs. lithium of G5. My lithiums lasted weeks of use!
2) Auto setting stinks 90% of the time so far for me! vs. Auto on G5 which produces fantastic pictures 80% of the time!
3) I miss the internal flash; lose time popping up the flash manually.
4) The Movie button is awkardly placed. I hit it accidentally several times in the first day.

G5 in answer to your questions above:
I have not been happy with most of my fireworks shots but I don't work at getting them either (LOL). I do have a few that I like. I have also taken some sunset shots on Auto and used PSE to gently lighten as needed. See below! I love the Zoom on my G5. The bonfire pictures were taken from at least 50 yards away!

I don't have comparison shots to show you and I can tell you that I chose the S3 for it's easy settings etc. and newer features that my G5 doesn't have! Cost was a minor issue since my S3 was basically free using Amazon certificates.

I will keep using my G5 for a while at least! I love snapping pics and later zooming in on something when I'm processing the picture in PSE!

And ukcatfan! - The G5 does have a Movie mode. I have some clips of my niece.

If you think of any not too technical questions, please feel free to ask!

 

[Taqwus]

Does anyone know how to take pictures in dark rides w/o flash? I'm still practicing and learning about my S3, but there's not really a good way to practice for dark rides......is there? TIA!!

You will need to use manual settings and learn "Dragging the Shutter"
Basically you lower your aperture by 1 or 2 and then raising your shutter speed
Unfortunately, Canon does not do ISO at 400 or higher very well, you can use ISO 800, but you will only be able to get 4x7 prints out of them since they get too noisey

 

[ukcatfan]

And ukcatfan! - The G5 does have a Movie mode. I have some clips of my niece.

Just going by a review site that said it didn't.

Kevin

 

[2xcited2slp]

I've been looking at everyone's S3 photos and they are beautiful!!! I am just starting to play around with photography and am very impressed with the S3. My question to all of you who love the S3------I'm sure you are aware of the new S5---- What does everyone here think?? I am wanting to make a purchase but am a bit confused as to which way to go-----S3 or S5. Thanks for your input and suggestions.

 

[juligrl]

Hi Amy!

Congrats! I think yours was one I voted for this week too.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I've been looking at everyone's S3 photos and they are beautiful!!! I am just starting to play around with photography and am very impressed with the S3. My question to all of you who love the S3------I'm sure you are aware of the new S5---- What does everyone here think?? I am wanting to make a purchase but am a bit confused as to which way to go-----S3 or S5. Thanks for your input and suggestions.

Here is a review you can read: http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons5is/

Personally, with the changes being pretty minor and the cost significantly higher, I'd have no problem sticking with the S3 as opposed to the S5 as it seems a better value to me (under $300 vs $450+). However, if the S5 has features you simply can't live without, then you probably need to go that route. I was in a store one night and a man standing next to me simply had to have an S5 for the bigger LCD screen and didn't care about the difference in price. So I guess it depends on your needs and your pocketbook.

 

[dreamn_Disney]

'thanks for the great answers. I have the G5 right now to try out and I find it hard to hold compared to my db S3. I was also looking at the S5 but according to my db the S3 is really all I need at this time for what I know about cameras. He also said the movie quality is while not as good as the S5 is sufficient for the little blurbs I do from time to time. I think I will go with a new S3 because I so like the feel of it in my hand. I took the G5 with me on Sat. to take some photos of the kids on the go carts and didn't take but a few. I just felt awkward. I also like the idea of being able to use a SD card and can get a free reader for it from my brother. Again thanks for all the info. You all are so helpful.

 

[LMarge]

I have been photographing a series of shots of birds in a nest that have been developing over the past two weeks at my work. It is fun and interesting to watch as this nest is basically at ground level. They are song sparrows, I believe. Here are a couple pics I took with the S2 IS. They are all in regular P mode, I believe. Nothing special other than a bit of manual focus to try to get the birds in focus and the pine needles out of focus.

This leads me into a moral debate of sorts that we as photographers have to face from time to time. I would have some FANTASTIC shots if I were to remove the pine needles that surround the nest. It would be a photographers dream. However, in doing so, I would expose the nest to the sun, predators and most surely drive the mother bird from the nest forever. Most likely, this would result in the birds deaths. Something to think about when trying to get that super photo out there in the world. I opted, of course, to deal with the pine needles in the photos and find a way to work around the problem (manual focusing in this case).

Andy

This is amazing!! What great work you do Andrew!! I'm also an S2 user lurking/sometimes posting here on the S3 thread. I really love seeing another S2 users photos!Please keep them coming! Once I load all my latest stuff onto the computer I'll share as well - gotta finish the vacation laundry first!!

 

[Precious1971]

Here are a few more that I did this weekend

Color accent "pink"

Zoom from accross the room

Macro & super macro

This one was taken from inside the house thru the glass door. Trees are from the park behind the house.

 

[meliahz]

Precious1071 ~ Love your shots!!! Very CUTE!!!

Did you use the color accent feature on the camera or did you do that in Photo Shop? I'm only asking cause when I used the color accent feature on my camera my red and pink colors end up making everything else in the picture a tinge of red and pink! Then, when I tried using Photo Shop to do it instead, I couldn't figure it out!!!

Anyway, just wondering

 

[LMarge]

Here are a few that I took with my S2 over the last 3 weeks. We were in upstate NY, in the Adirondacks. These were taken on 4th Lake, in a little hamlet called Eagle Bay. It's a really awesome place to go and just chill! TFL!

wished I had gone out to the end of the dock to try this one

 

[Precious1971]

Precious1071 ~ Love your shots!!! Very CUTE!!!

Did you use the color accent feature on the camera or did you do that in Photo Shop? I'm only asking cause when I used the color accent feature on my camera my red and pink colors end up making everything else in the picture a tinge of red and pink! Then, when I tried using Photo Shop to do it instead, I couldn't figure it out!!!

Anyway, just wondering

I use the feature from the camera. I love how on this picture it even took the pink on the side of the glasses. The color on the feather didn't pick up the right shade of blue, it turned it into a green. I don't know why. I still learning. Need to get good before out vacation in 26 days.

 

[Taqwus]

I am thinking of getting a S3 to learn to use, I would get a S5 but I am not sure if it is worth the extra $100
I been looking at other lens
I got a question about macro lens. I been reading a lot of post and looking at which lenses they had and noticed a lot of people used the Raynox DCR-250 Super Macro Filter instead of the Raynox MSN-202 Macro/Close-up lens. What is the difference between the 2
Also what is a good telephoto lens to get, on my old camera I always liked trying to zoom in all over the place, it seems 1.4 to 1.7 is what people seem to like. From what I have seen a lot of people like the TC-E15ED, but I can not find it anywheres. How is the Raynox DCR-1540
Also what is the difference in a linear to circular polarizer. From what I have seen on a non-dSLR there really is no difference except the price
Is a Hoya UV lens worth it to protect my other lenses
Also I seen Neutral Density lenses, collapsible rubber hoods, and wide angle lenses. What is the benefit of each
Also need a good bag and tripod and some memory cards and I think I should be set

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I am thinking of getting a S3 to learn to use, I would get a S5 but I am not sure if it is worth the extra $100

Heh! Join the crowd ... lots of people are trying to decide if it's worth the extra $$$. I certainly won't be upgrading to it ... right now, if I were going to pay $450 for a camera I'd spring the extra $200 and get a DSLR.

I been looking at other lens
I got a question about macro lens. I been reading a lot of post and looking at which lenses they had and noticed a lot of people used the Raynox DCR-250 Super Macro Filter instead of the Raynox MSN-202 Macro/Close-up lens. What is the difference between the 2

As far as I can tell the different is that the CDR-250 is 8x and the MSN-202 is 9.3x. The difference is slight, but at the higher magnification the 202 is going to have a narrower DOF than the 250 and the 250 is already paper-thin. The DCR-250 is very popular with S3 owners over on the Digital Camera Resource Page canon forums. I've seen some spectacular pics taken with it.

Also what is a good telephoto lens to get, on my old camera I always liked trying to zoom in all over the place, it seems 1.4 to 1.7 is what people seem to like. From what I have seen a lot of people like the TC-E15ED, but I can not find it anywheres. How is the Raynox DCR-1540

The S3 is designed to accept a TC at around 1.5x ... much higher and the camera has a devil of a time focusing (if it can focus at all). The two you've listed are the most popular that I've seen. Everything that I've read leads me to believe that the DCR-1540 is very nice and I'm planning to buy one before our Disney trip in Sept.

Also what is the difference in a linear to circular polarizer. From what I have seen on a non-dSLR there really is no difference except the price

On a P&S, you're right, there's no difference except price. However, a linear polarizer can mess with a DSLR's auto-focus.

Is a Hoya UV lens worth it to protect my other lenses

I use one when I'm not using my PL. I can't tell any difference between pics taken with the UV and without, so I don't think it's having any IQ impact at all ... it just helps to keep dust and other crud off the lens.

Also I seen Neutral Density lenses, collapsible rubber hoods, and wide angle lenses. What is the benefit of each
Also need a good bag and tripod and some memory cards and I think I should be set

ND filters allow you to use slower shutter speeds in bright light ... like taking a "milky" picture of a waterfall in broad daylight.

A lens hood helps reduce lens flare, which can occur when you're shooting in bright sunlight and the angle is "right."

Wide angle lenses increase the "amount" of area, or field of view, the lens takes in. Normally, the S3 is 36mm which many photographers think is a little "tight" (too narrow of a field of view). Most wide angle lenses are 28mm or lower getting a bigger field of view (sometimes at the risk of some distortion).

 

[Minnie824]

Well, I had decided on the Canon S3. I went to Circuit City online to buy it today (was on sale for $306) and its not available in my area. So then I started looking...the S5 is on sale at Circuit City plus I have a 10% off code, so I would be able to get the S5 for $395. Is this a good deal? Should I just go with the S5, or should I get the S3 from another store? Thanks.