Canon S3

[labattblue]

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

Thanks. I am okay with tinkering with the settings for the "unusual" shot, but DW won't get beyond turning it off/on and pressing the shutter button.

 

[LMarge]

Thanks. I am okay with tinkering with the settings for the "unusual" shot, but DW won't get beyond turning it off/on and pressing the shutter button.

That is so my husband!!! Personally, I leave it in Program mode for all regular shooting - in the event he picks it up (which is seldom!) and when I'm playing around I have fun with the different modes! I just think Program gives better results than Auto.

 

[twoeeyy]

Well I just order the S3 for our 15 year old daughter I guess my next step is to start reading this thread to figure out any tips that may be usefull.

Looking forward to hopefully getting the hang of it before our Disney trip in just over a month

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

I just have to share ... today is my birthday, and my DW bought me a Raynox DCR-1540PRO teleconverter and a Raynox DCR-250 macro lens for my S3, as well as an Aquapac waterproof bag so you can take pictures underwater!!

I haven't even had much time to play with the new lenses, but the DCR-250 is going to be lots of fun! I love macro photography and this thing REALLY zooms in! It's got a teeny-tiny DOF (only about .5mm!), which is going to take some getting used to!

The DCR-1540PRO boosts the zoom to 665mm!! However, it makes my S3 almost as big as a DSLR! I don't think I'm going to be taking it to any of the Disney Parks, when we go next month (9/17 - 9/22!!!!) , except for Animal Kingdom.

I hope to have some pictures with my new equipment to share, soon!!

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

OK ... I couldn't wait any longer and took my new gear out at lunch time where I work.

There's a neat little swampy area that is basically parking lot run-off that's become somewhat of a nature sanctuary: lots of cat-tails and other water-loving plants, frogs, butterflies, birds, and dragonflies.

Here's a shot of the cat-tails at full wide angle (36mm):

Here's a shot fully zoomed in (432mm):

And, here's full zoom with the new Raynox DCR-1540PRO (665mm!):

I am liking this TC!!

 

[fonsy]

Hi everyone! I just got my S3. I just hope to learn a few things before our Disney trip. I'm kind of scared at all the functions .

 

[LMarge]

OK ... I couldn't wait any longer and took my new gear out at lunch time where I work.

There's a neat little swampy area that is basically parking lot run-off that's become somewhat of a nature sanctuary: lots of cat-tails and other water-loving plants, frogs, butterflies, birds, and dragonflies.

Here's a shot of the cat-tails at full wide angle (36mm):

Here's a shot fully zoomed in (432mm):

And, here's full zoom with the new Raynox DCR-1540PRO (665mm!):

I am liking this TC!!

cool new toys!! I like the zoom - have you played with the wide angle converter yet? Would love to see what those look like! TFS!! -- also, looks like we'll be overlapping you at WDW!! We'll be down for the second part of your week!!!

 

[SrisonS]

Hi everyone! I just got my S3. I just hope to learn a few things before our Disney trip. I'm kind of scared at all the functions .

All I have to say is....Go Out And Use It!!!! Just take pic after pic, and don't worry about taking the best pictures ever. Once you find some settings you like....then you'll be able to take the best pictures EVER!!!! Have fun with your new S3.....I've sure been having fun with mine!!!!

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

cool new toys!! I like the zoom - have you played with the wide angle converter yet? Would love to see what those look like! TFS!! -- also, looks like we'll be overlapping you at WDW!! We'll be down for the second part of your week!!!

I don't think I'm going to get a wide-angle lens ... for the kind of photography I do, the 36mm is wide enough. However, wdwmom2 has a WA for her S3 and she posted some WA non-Disney parade pics here.

Cool! Are you going to MNSSHP?

 

[LMarge]

I don't think I'm going to get a wide-angle lens ... for the kind of photography I do, the 36mm is wide enough. However, wdwmom2 has a WA for her S3 and she posted some WA non-Disney parade pics here.

Cool! Are you going to MNSSHP?

Stitch,
We're going to pass on the MNSSHP! We went two years ago and the kids had a blast, but it rained and was really, really hot that night! I asked if they wanted to go again this time and the older two said "no, not really, we'd rather hit another park!" So that's the plan for this trip! I'm sure you'll enjoy the party - they had so much fun with all the characters and walking on to most every ride! I think I was hoping they'd say "yes'!!

 

[twoeeyy]

Our , I mean my daughters S3 just came today. WOW that came fast we only ordered it on Monday.

Now the fun ( hopefully ) begins as we / she learns it, hopefully we will be pretty good at it by our trip to WDW.

 

[1rockinmamato2]

Hi, everyone! It's me, 1rockinmamato2, the one who just purchased the new lens for her Rebel XT (and for quite a chunk of change) and is not happy with the weight and size of that monstrosity.

First of all, I'm so glad I was pointed to this board. Everyone is so nice, helpful and knowledgable. I'm hoping you can all help me once again.

Here's the deal. I love taking photos of my children. I take them regularly to have professional portaits done, but I love having my own candids. However, I am a complete amateur photographer. I do not have the time or patience right now to learn how to use a camera's manual features. I'm totally a point and shoot kind of gal (and with two children under two, it's a necessity).

Before our son was born, we purchased a Sony Cybershot. After 6 months of being totally disgusted with the quality of pictures we were getting, I decided to take the plunge and purchase a DSLR. I love my Rebel XT. I've been using the kit lenses and getting fairly decent photos (well, better than the Cybershot's anyway).

So, I decided I needed to upgrade my lens and I feel like I've invested a lot of money into a piece of photography equipment that I do not know how to use properly. I'm discouraged, to say the least.

I've been reading about the S3 and I'm wondering if I'd be better suited for such a camera. I need a camera that is portable and relatively light. I have seen the S3 thread and I love the photos taken with auto. But, I have several questions:

1. I develop all my pictures for albums. Is the S3 going to give me the same 4x6 quality as my XT does?

2. What's the difference between zooming and cropping? I love the S3's 12x zoom. Can I get the same effect from my 28-135 cropped?

3. How does the S3 do in low light situations? Many of my photos are taken indoors, with flash.

4. I love how the XT rarely causes red eye. How's the S3 on this issue?

5. Is there much difference in the S3 and S5, quality-wise?

6. We're preparing for our first WDW trip. Would the S3 be more suited for travel?

Thanks for letting me ask these silly questions. I just want to make sure the memories I'm capturing will be done so on a decent camera. Maybe someday, in 18 years or so, I can take a photography class and learn how to take stunning photos using a camera's "advanced" features.

 

[Groucho]

Warning: slightly snide responses below. Proceed at your own risk.

1. I develop all my pictures for albums. Is the S3 going to give me the same 4x6 quality as my XT does?

Nope.

2. What's the difference between zooming and cropping? I love the S3's 12x zoom. Can I get the same effect from my 28-135 cropped?

Yes. In fact, your 135mm lens is already cropped on your DSLR, giving the equivalent of 216mm. The S3 is somewhere about 430mm on a 35mm. Cropping a 135mm shot that far is pretty extreme, but a 200mm lens (equivalent to 320mm) will be pretty close and probably provide better quality even when cropped.

3. How does the S3 do in low light situations? Many of my photos are taken indoors, with flash.

It does lousy, like nearly all PnS digicams. But the flash isn't really low light. You will get more red-eye due to the flash being closer to the lens, and the flash is almost certainly less powerful on the S3.

4. I love how the XT rarely causes red eye. How's the S3 on this issue?

See above. But really, red-eye isn't that big of a deal as it's so easily correctable in post-processing... but it is nice to not worry about it. It is comes down to how close the flash is to the lens - the closer, the more reflection you'll get from the eye.

5. Is there much difference in the S3 and S5, quality-wise?

Image quality or build quality? I would guess build quality is about the same, and the S3 is better in low light than the S5 due to fewer megapixels in the same-sized sensor.

6. We're preparing for our first WDW trip. Would the S3 be more suited for travel?

That's really a personal decision. Neither are pocket cameras, so you'll probably carry either one around your neck or in a bag. Obviously the DSLR will be somewhat larger and heavier but much more capable.

Look at it this way - most of the time, people go from PnSs to DSLRs, not the other way around. And just leaving the DSLR in Auto mode (or preferable, Program mode) is not a reason to get rid of it to buy a simpler camera.

 

[schaery]

I have the Canon S3IS, and really do like it. Of course I've never had a DSLR so I imagine it would be a step down. And, yes, taking pictures in low light is a bit challenging. When moving the camera from one subject to another in low light, it's like the camera is moving in slow motion and takes a bit of time to focus on a new subject. However, for a PnS it does take great pics, and I've had alot of fun using it

 

[schaery]

Alright, I'm gonna show everyone how ignorant I am..... please tell me how to put pics from my S3 on here

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Alright, I'm gonna show everyone how ignorant I am..... please tell me how to put pics from my S3 on here

First, you need someplace to host your pictures on-line. I use Photobucket but there are others.

Second, you upload your pictures to the hosting service (following their directions). You should resize your picture to about 800x600 for posting to the DIS ... bigger pictures are a pain for users with slower connections.

Third, most of the hosting services provide you with a link that you can cut-and-paste into your post. For the DIS, it's the IMG tag.

Like this, here's my latest moon picture:

The actual URL looks like this, but with square brackets instead of curly ones:
{IMG}http://i159.photobucket.com/albums/t122/DirePenguin2007/Night%20and%20Astro/MoonAug28th.jpg{/IMG}

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

As another happy S3 owner, I'll give you my take on your questions (perhaps not as snide as Groucho :

1. I develop all my pictures for albums. Is the S3 going to give me the same 4x6 quality as my XT does?

It depends. I doubt you'd be able to see much of a difference in 4"x6" prints of many sorts of pictures; especially those taken in sunny/bright light conditions.

2. What's the difference between zooming and cropping? I love the S3's 12x zoom. Can I get the same effect from my 28-135 cropped?

With a P&S, using the zoom is better because you're optically getting closer instead of relying on the information from the larger sensor. Regardless of the MP, the smaller sensor is always going to have more noise/less information and the closer you get to a 100% crop, the more you will notice it.

Having 432mm of optical zoom gives you great flexibility with an S3/S5.

3. How does the S3 do in low light situations? Many of my photos are taken indoors, with flash.

Not too good, but IMO better than any other superzoom except for the Fuji S6000fd ... to get the best results, you really have to learn to use the Manual settings. There's quite a bit of noise at the higher ISOs; 800 is pretty much unusable for anything but a "got-to-have-it" snap-shot that you'd print small. ISO 400 is not too bad for normal prints, but it's nowhere near DSLR-quality.

With flash, it's pretty good (even though red eye is a problem that's easily corrected). With the S5, you have good red-eye reduction right in the camera AND it's got a hot shoe so can use any Canon Speedlite and eliminate the problem completely.

4. I love how the XT rarely causes red eye. How's the S3 on this issue?

See above. Red eye is a problem with all of the S-series cameras (like most P&S), but it's easily removable and the S5 can use an external flash.

5. Is there much difference in the S3 and S5, quality-wise?

The S5, build-wise, is slightly refined over the S3 (bigger LCD and slightly re-arranged buttons).

IQ-wise the S5 is slightly noisier, but on Auto mode (thanks to the DIGIC III) it takes better exposures. It's kinda 50/50 on which is better. Again, the differences are only things you'd notice if you were pixel-peeping at 100% crops ... in 4x6 prints you probably wouldn't notice.

6. We're preparing for our first WDW trip. Would the S3 be more suited for travel?

I think it's an excellent "vacation camera." The nice thing about the S3/S5 is the versatility. You've got a range of 36mm to 432mm, plus Macro/Supermacro, plus excellent video (with stereo sound!) all in one camera that will fit in a purse or a large coat pocket (or hangs easily around your neck). If you don't get any accessories for it, it fits nicely in a bag that can hang from a belt....

Does it take the best pictures on the planet? No.

Is it equal to a $1000 DSLR with a bag full of expensive glass? Of course, not.

However, all you have to do is check out our DIS S3 thread or this one on the DCRP to see that it is a very capable camera.

 

[jann1033]

i remember your other thread but wondering why you are considering going to the s3/5? is it the weight? you can use the auto side of the dial( the green box and the icon side rather than the av,tv etc side.) on your rebel and basically have the same simplicity but a better photo. what is it about the photo quality you are having a problem with? is it just you feel like you "have to" learn to use the manual side? i know some people have a P&S and a dslr but i guess i'm just not sure why you are considering basically getting a camera that will do what you already can do( except for the far range of the zoom)

there is another canon lens coming out in the fall that is 50-200mm IS maybe you would like that better. i think it's supposed to be smaller and lighter..if you really hate your new lens though, if you can't send it back, i'd sell it now before that other one comes out. even if you have to take a slight "loss.

as far as red eye, you should have a place on your zoombrowser( i think if not, it's in the arcsoft software) that automatically fixes red eye..i think both cameras have those same software programs. it takes longer to download since it checks each photo( which is why i have it unchecked) but if you have a lot of red eye that would be an easy fix for either one...not sure how perfectly it works since i don't use it.

when you use optical zoom or a zoom lens on a dslr on something you are getting more detail as well as making it larger. a crop just takes the photo and cuts part out, making the remainder larger but no more detailed than the original...the better the lens and probably the larger the sensor( P$s vs dslr) the more sharp detail you will have to start with so the more detail you will have after cropping. ie with my 70-200 lens i can crop 1/2 or more of the photo and have good detail and sharpness, with my 28-135 i can only crop about 1/3 or so and maintain the sharp appearance. digital zoom basically works like a crop btw.

imo a dslr isn't for everyone. i think most average snapshot photographers who want photos of the kids and vacation will be fine with a good quality P&s...however, i know having used a slr, i'd have a hard time not being annoyed with a P&S even though lag times are much better than they used to be...but that's me( plus i love photography so for me the money etc is more sensible)...you have to sacrifice with either one, weight/price vs pic quality/speed...you are imo really the only one that can decide which is more important to you...if you mainly make 4x6 you can get a "decent" as in usable, shot with most newer cameras, it's the lag, size, price etc that is different

 

[schaery]

cool new toys!! I like the zoom - have you played with the wide angle converter yet? Would love to see what those look like! TFS!! -- also, looks like we'll be overlapping you at WDW!! We'll be down for the second part of your week!!!

I know this is a little off topic, and you can PM me if you'd rather, but did you purchase the Canon adapter ring or the Raynox, and what made you choose Raynox telephoto over Canon lens? My DH is getting me one for my S3 for my bday, and I don't know anything about the Raynox.

 

[LMarge]

I know this is a little off topic, and you can PM me if you'd rather, but did you purchase the Canon adapter ring or the Raynox, and what made you choose Raynox telephoto over Canon lens? My DH is getting me one for my S3 for my bday, and I don't know anything about the Raynox.

Stitch,
I'd like to know this as well! May help my decision a little easier! TIA!