Canon S3

[LPZ_Stitch!]

1. the flash - you just need to remember to lift it up, it doesn't come up and on automatically?

Correct ... it won't fire unless it's up (manually). Personally, I like that feature as it prevents me from getting yelled at for using a flash in places where flash isn't allowed. If it's down, it can't fire no matter what settings you use!

2. I tried just using it on auto, and sometimes the flast doesn't work. It obviously thinks that its bright enough, but then the picture seems to be a bit grainy

Instead of using the flash, Auto mode sometimes just bumps up the ISO which makes the pictures noisier.

3. when I look at the lcd display screen, for example, at night in a dark room, it looks grainy. If I take a picture with the flash, its clear, but doesn't look that way when just viewing on the screen.

The resolution of the LCD is FAR, FAR lower than the resolution of your pictures; it always looks much worse and much noisier than the actual picture will be.

Just use the LCD for assessing the settings, determining the brightness of the scene, and for composition. I rely more on the displayed values (look for the white and red numbers that appear for aperture and shutter speed, or at the histogram) than on what it looks like.

4. what option on the wheel is easiest to take regular pictures w/out a lot of features? I've tried some of the special settings like indoor, outdoor, etc, as well as the auto, but trying to figure out the easiest.

IMO, P mode is the easiest "all around" setting ... it handles aperture and shutter speed for you and you can set the ISO appropriate to the lighting; 80 or 100 in bright daylight or keep it at 200 as it gets darker -- avoid the ISO400 or ISO800 unless there's no other choice and you really want the shot, it will be noisy and you'll need Noise Reduction software and you'll be limited to the size of print you can get).

Also, in P mode, you've got access to the Exposure Compensation and other functions (White Balance/Metering/My Colors/etc...). Changing the metering can make a big difference in getting a well-exposed picture in dim light.

5. again on the flash....what setting should I use if I want to turn the flash on to be set to be on?

You don't need to change any settings, the S3 knows when the flash is up and automatically compensates for it.

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Welcome to "the family"!

Be sure to post your first pics on the S3 thread!

 

[Amy]

Minnie824, welcome to the S3 family!

Yes, the flash takes a little getting used to. On my old camera (Canon A70), I had to remember to turn the flash OFF if I didn't want it to fire when the camera thought it should, and now with the S3 I have to remember to pull up the flash!

As for the "easiest" setting to take pictures, I started out using Auto, but didn't like some of the results. When you use Auto, the camera picks ALL the settings, you have no control. Now I mostly use the P (Program Mode). This is basically Auto, but you can adjust things. You can set a specific ISO speed so you don't have to worry about grainy pictures. You can over- or under-expose a shot by up to 2 stops. If you're using the flash and you're really close to the subject, you can tone down the flash; alternatively, you can also "boost" the flash (I've never tried this one).

Again, you'll need to play with the camera for a while until you get comfortable with it. I've had my S3 since Sept., and I still can't get a decent shot using Macro, I always have to use Super Macro.

Try some of the modes under the SCN dial - use the foliage setting for sunsets (brings out the oranges and reds). Experiment with both Night Scene and Night Snapshot to find out which one works better for you. When you use Sports mode, keep in mind that you can't set a specific ISO speed; the camera will adjust the settings to what it thinks is best for stopping action, which usually means a high ISO and graininess. You might want to download some noise reduction software and run some pictures through that.

Good luck and have fun playing with your new camera!

 

[Amy]

Welcome to the S3 family, rileysmommy! You're going to love the camera!

 

[shep]

Okay..I have to ask..where does everyone get there Canon S3 pic in their siggie? I don't wanna steal anyone & use it in mine

 

[shep]

Instead of using the flash, Auto mode sometimes just bumps up the ISO which makes the pictures noisier.

Okay...I have to ask...what does this mean? I have seen this a few times..it obviously isn't referring to video...is it?

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Okay..I have to ask..where does everyone get there Canon S3 pic in their siggie? I don't wanna steal anyone & use it in mine

Go ahead and steal it ... I created it so it could be "stolen"!

Easiest way to get it in your sig.:
1. Right-click on the pic in anyone's signature, and Save Image As... to somewhere on your HD.
2. Go into the User CP and click the Edit Signature link.
3. Scroll down to the Signature Picture box, and "Browse" to find it on your HD and upload it to the DIS.
4. Click the Insert Signature Picture link and you'll see {SIGPIC}{/SIGPIC}* appear somewhere in your signature. Move the "{SIGPIC}{/SIGPIC}" to where you want it and save your signature and welcome to "The Family"!

*Note, it will actually have square brackets '[' not curly brackets '{', but I can't get it to display with the square brackets.

 

[ukcatfan]

Okay...I have to ask...what does this mean? I have seen this a few times..it obviously isn't referring to video...is it?

Image noise is talking about the grainy apperarance and not a noise that is heard. With film, you can buy different speed film (ISO speed) and the higher the value, the faster the shutter speed can be for the aperture you want to use. The downside is that you get more grain in your image with higher numbers. Digital cameras try to mimick that with the ISO setting. It is much more of a pronounced effect on high ISO digital p&s images compared to film. It is less so on a DSLR, but film is still a little better than all but the best DSLRs.

Kevin

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Okay...I have to ask...what does this mean? I have seen this a few times..it obviously isn't referring to video...is it?

To further expand what ukatfan is explaining; ISO is one of the three parts of taking photographic exposures; it used to be set by the film you used, in digital, it's set by the sensor.

The three parts are: aperture (how wide the opening gets), shutter speed (fast for less light or slow for more light) and ISO (sensitivity).

By adjusting the settings of these three, you control your exposures.

It's fairly complicated and takes a while to gain a complete understanding. There's some very good books ("Understanding Exposure") and web sites (www.GoingManual.com) to help.

If you don't adjust ISO to a higher value, the only way you can take a good picture in low-light is to use a wide aperture (2.8 on the S3) and/or a slow shutter speed (1-15 seconds on the S3). If you're taking a picture of something static (like the castle) a slow shutter speed is no problem (just put your camera on a (mini-)tripod).

However, if you're trying to take a picture of something that is moving (like Spectromagic) a slow shutter speed will cause your pic to come out blurry because the subject keeps moving while the shutter is open.

To fix this, you need a faster shutter speed, but because of the low-light, if you speed the shutter up too much your pictures will all be dark (underexposed).

That's where ISO comes in. Using a higher ISO will allow you to use a faster shutter speed -- this reduces motion blur at the cost of increased sensor noise.

At ISO 80, 100 and 200 on the S3, it's not bad and would go unnoticed on anything but the biggest print. At ISO 400, it's much more noticeable. At ISO 800, it's pretty bad; and I'd only use it if I were desperate for the shot!

Hope this helps!

 

[shep]

Thanks sooo much!!!!

 

[rileysmommy]

LPZStitch, thanks for the instructions and for the picture. I feel like one of the family now.

 

[DisGirl819]

Yay! I'm getting one too. Hopefully I get mine by the beginning of next week. Can't wait to join the S3 family on the Dis and get lots of tips for great shots!

 

[S. C.]

LPZStitch, thanks for the instructions and for the picture. I feel like one of the family now.

Yay! I'm getting one too. Hopefully I get mine by the beginning of next week. Can't wait to join the S3 family on the Dis and get lots of tips for great shots!

to the family!

 

[S. C.]

Having fun with the zoom feature.

This one was down the road from us. Zoomed all the way in.

It was rainy & chilly all day We had to wear jackets in the middle of august
Of course 2 days after we left it was hot & humid again.

 

[figment52]

Having fun with the zoom feature.

This one was down the road from us. Zoomed all the way in.

I can taste the chicken dinner - lol.

Great shots - I love Frankenmuth

 

[wdwmom2]

DH and I went to a Kenny Chesney concert last night at the Nisson Pavillon. We had lawn seats which are beyond the nosebleed section. We were probably at least 150 yards away. The pics are not great, heck they are not even really good, OK, they are bad !!! But it was the best I could do under the conditions. All are shot in the P mode at 800 ISO. Couldn't go any lower with the ISO, Kenny moves too much!!! Also had to use digital zoom. I then ran them through a noise filter to at least make them halfway presentable.

 

[Taqwus]

Just curious, is there any bag for a S3 IS + tripod that is recomended for going to DW

 

[LMarge]

Just curious, is there any bag for a S3 IS + tripod that is recomended for going to DW

BUMP! me too - still looking for "the bag"! TIA!

 

[labattblue]

I didn't go through this entire thread, but I am so impressed with the pics here that I want an S3(I have been looking for a new camera). My only question is, how much point and shoot can I do with this camera for when my wife is using it?

Thanks!

 

[Taqwus]

I didn't go through this entire thread, but I am so impressed with the pics here that I want an S3(I have been looking for a new camera). My only question is, how much point and shoot can I do with this camera for when my wife is using it?

Thanks!

If it is in Auto it pretty much acts just like a normal Point and Shoot