Canon S3

[Graeme]

Try the shortcourse guide.

That's the one I've seen mentioned before. Thanks Andrew

 

[AndrewWG]

That's the one I've seen mentioned before. Thanks Andrew

No problem!

S.C.,

The shortcourse books are real easy to understand. They explain things well and in some sections, they have some online video to help back up what they are saying.

Andy

 

[hjd0411]

Here's another vote for the shortcourse! I am an absolute beginner, and I have found this very helpful. Along with this board, of course!! Thanks, guys!!

Heather

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Anyone have any opinions on whether I should get the S5 over the S3... I'm just replacing an old Olympus and I'm not doing anything overly special but I definately don't want a point and shoot...

Difference is about $60 but that's not too much of a considderation for me... any ideas?

For $60, I'd get the S5 just for the bigger LCD and the 4G video limit.

When the difference was $150+, it was a tougher decision but now that they're almost the same price and S3's are becoming harder and harder to find it's not really anything to agonize over ... just get the S5.

 

[Shasta]

First off, thank you LPZ Stitch for pointing me to this thread.

I plan to read all the tips and tricks in order to help me learn my new Canon S5 that will be here in a few days. I'l be shooting off a bunch of question this weekend most likely.

 

[FletchFab5]

I'm so excited to have found this thread! I got my S5 IS about a month ago and have been playing with it a little bit. The reviews I read with pictures people had posted using this camera on the internet were of architecture and flowers--not anything I was going to use it for-- I needed it for Marching Band competitions, soccer, and of course trips to Disney so this thread has been great! I've loved seeing everyone's pictures! Amy--I was so excited to see your marching band pictures!! I am anxious to learn all the things the camera has and make my pictures better. I've downloaded the Noiseware and already used it, it's amazing!! Thanks so much to everyone that's posted! I'll keep reading, so keep posting!

 

[hjd0411]

Thank you madge and Amy for the tip re the fireworks! That is great and I will give it a try next week when I'm there! (I can't believe I just said I'll be there NEXT WEEK!!! ) Anyway, your photos look great!
I also have a gorillapod - are there plenty of spots to be able to use it for fireworks etc? I guess I'll have to stake out a spot early.
Thanks everyone for all your help and tips with the camera. I'm hoping to get some good shots, and even if they're not "good", they will be priceless to me!!

Heather

 

[Amy]

I'm so excited to have found this thread! I got my S5 IS about a month ago and have been playing with it a little bit. The reviews I read with pictures people had posted using this camera on the internet were of architecture and flowers--not anything I was going to use it for-- I needed it for Marching Band competitions, soccer, and of course trips to Disney so this thread has been great! I've loved seeing everyone's pictures! Amy--I was so excited to see your marching band pictures!! I am anxious to learn all the things the camera has and make my pictures better. I've downloaded the Noiseware and already used it, it's amazing!! Thanks so much to everyone that's posted! I'll keep reading, so keep posting!

Welcome to the S3/S5 family Carla! Be sure to post your photos; as you can tell, we all love to see everyone's shots, even the not-so-good ones. Yes, Noiseware has become my friend with all my marching band shots. It seems like Sports mode is the only way I can get semi-decent shots of the band.

Thank you madge and Amy for the tip re the fireworks! That is great and I will give it a try next week when I'm there! (I can't believe I just said I'll be there NEXT WEEK!!! ) Anyway, your photos look great!
I also have a gorillapod - are there plenty of spots to be able to use it for fireworks etc? I guess I'll have to stake out a spot early.
Thanks everyone for all your help and tips with the camera. I'm hoping to get some good shots, and even if they're not "good", they will be priceless to me!!

Heather

Have a wonderful trip, Heather! Be sure to post some pix when you get back!! Good luck with the gorilla pod; I took mine on our trip in June and only used it once. I thought we had a great spot for Illuminations (near Canada), and I had the gorilla pod wrapped around the fence, all ready to go. And it would have worked great. Unfortunately, once the show started, I realized that it wasn't such a good spot after all - there were trees in the way. So I moved, but by then there was no way I could get to a good spot to use the gorilla pod, so I just used my DS17's shoulder.

 

[S. C.]

Welcome to the S3/S5 family Carla! Be sure to post your photos; as you can tell, we all love to see everyone's shots, even the not-so-good ones. Yes, Noiseware has become my friend with all my marching band shots. It seems like Sports mode is the only way I can get semi-decent shots of the band.



Have a wonderful trip, Heather! Be sure to post some pix when you get back!! Good luck with the gorilla pod; I took mine on our trip in June and only used it once. I thought we had a great spot for Illuminations (near Canada), and I had the gorilla pod wrapped around the fence, all ready to go. And it would have worked great. Unfortunately, once the show started, I realized that it wasn't such a good spot after all - there were trees in the way. So I moved, but by then there was no way I could get to a good spot to use the gorilla pod, so I just used my DS17's shoulder.

Hi Amy. Is the gorilla pod easy to carry along with you? I've been thinking of getting one & i don't carry a backpack or anything large. Just a small camera bag.

 

[FletchFab5]

Welcome to the S3/S5 family Carla! Be sure to post your photos; as you can tell, we all love to see everyone's shots, even the not-so-good ones. Yes, Noiseware has become my friend with all my marching band shots. It seems like Sports mode is the only way I can get semi-decent shots of the band.

I will definitely try Sports Mode next time--thanks for the tip! BTW, do you guys go to ACCs (used to be in Scranton, PA, but this year are in Dover, DE) at the end of your season?

 

[FletchFab5]

Here are a couple of my shots so far--sorry I don't know how to make them smaller!! :

zoomed in from the bleachers!

This one I love for the color (and of course their natural smiling faces! this is my DS and 2 of his friends)

and I'm still working on my action shots--my DS in red:

 

[Amy]

Hi Amy. Is the gorilla pod easy to carry along with you? I've been thinking of getting one & i don't carry a backpack or anything large. Just a small camera bag.

The gorilla pod won't fit into a small camera bag - it's about 12-15 inches long and maybe 2" in diameter (just guessing - I'm sure the website will have the actual dimensions for you). I usually carry a tote bag with me and the gorilla pod fits in the bottom perfectly. Of course, when I need to use it, I have to pull all the other junk out to find it! It's still smaller than a regular tripod, though.

I will definitely try Sports Mode next time--thanks for the tip! BTW, do you guys go to ACCs (used to be in Scranton, PA, but this year are in Dover, DE) at the end of your season?

Carla, sorry - I have no idea what ACCs is? I assume a big band competition? We go to at least one BOA (Bands of America) competition, usually in Youngstown, OH. We're on the western end of PA, so Scranton and Dover are quite a drive for us.

Great shots of your band! Our final competition is tomorrow night, my DS17's VERY LAST band competition EVER! But we'll still have 2 more years of band with DS15.

 

[FletchFab5]

Amy--Yes ACCs is our big regional band competition, I just had to ask--I thought maybe I'd see you there! My DS15 told me a few bands come from Ohio so I thought maybe there was a chance yours would.

Wow! The last Band competition for your DS17--how sad for both of you! I'm dreading that day! We are KIND OF going through the same thing--my husband is in the Air Force and we are moving next summer so this year has been (and will be) filled with lots of "this is the last time we'll...." It's tough on my DS, but he'll get through it

 

[S. C.]

The gorilla pod won't fit into a small camera bag - it's about 12-15 inches long and maybe 2" in diameter (just guessing - I'm sure the website will have the actual dimensions for you). I usually carry a tote bag with me and the gorilla pod fits in the bottom perfectly. Of course, when I need to use it, I have to pull all the other junk out to find it! It's still smaller than a regular tripod, though.

Thank You Amy. I was thinking i might be able to put a strap around it with velcro and hook it to my bag.

 

[Shasta]

Ok, I recieved my camera last night (S5) and read as much as I could at work today. I took this tonight. (full moon if anyone want to take a shot)

I used the manual setting, tripod and infinity focus and 1/80. I have Adobe Photoshop CS2 but have never used it. I did adjust sharpness but may have harmed the image more than helped it. I can tell now that Photoshop requires much, much more time to understand.

One odd thing I noticed was that it looked like I may have caught a meteor at the right or 9:00 on the hour hand position. I'd have to take another shot and see if it is there to find out.

 

[wdwmom2]

Glade Creek grist mill in West Virginia

Blackwater Falls state park in West Virginia

 

[Amy]

Shasta - EXCELLENT moon shot! And one of your first with the S5? Wow! Some of us have been trying to get decent moon shots for quite some time and aren't having much luck. Can't wait to see more photos from you!

Sharon - those fall pictures from WV are beautiful, like they should be on a calendar! Did you post them over on the "Autumn" assignment thread?

 

[wdwmom2]

Sharon - those fall pictures from WV are beautiful, like they should be on a calendar! Did you post them over on the "Autumn" assignment thread?

No, I quess I will have to check that out!

And "thank you" for the kind comments!

 

[figment52]

Glade Creek grist mill in West Virginia

Blackwater Falls state park in West Virginia

That first one is absolutely stunning!!!!!!

 

[FletchFab5]

Wow! I agree, beautiful pictures!!!

The moon AND the fall pictures! Amazing! The picture of the mill looks like a professional photographer took it! Our fall colors aren't very bright this year, nothing like those!