Canon S3

[ocalla]

What exactly is this? Is it for very advanced "photographers", or newbie's?
My S5 should be here by the end of the week which doesn't give me much time to practice before our trip, so what would you suggest for settings? Should I just leave it on Auto and go with it this time?

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

What exactly is this? Is it for very advanced "photographers", or newbie's?
My S5 should be here by the end of the week which doesn't give me much time to practice before our trip, so what would you suggest for settings? Should I just leave it on Auto and go with it this time?

Noiseware is a brand of noise reduction software which is needed to "clean up" images taken at higher ISOs.

You will definitely want to have some sort of NR software. Noiseware Community by Imagenomics is free and excellent. Other similar software include Noise Ninja and Neat Image. All have try-before-you-buy options and all are fairly easy to use.

95% of Disney vacation pictures (certainly everything outside) can be taken in P mode, with the ISO set to 80 or 100. I used the Positive Film (in the MyColors menu) for everything; it's got a little more punch than standard, but it's not so over-the-top as Vivid can be.

For indoor shows you'll want Av mode; Spot Metering (aim at the brightest spot of the show; usually the spot-lit performers) and ISO 400 (or possibly higher, if necessary).

Taking pics on the darker rides is REALLY hard for even an expensive DSLR with a fast lens, you *might* get something at ISO 1600 but it *will* be very noisy if it's isn't blurry.

 

[ocalla]

So once I take my pics, I then plug camera into computer and run pics through this NR, and it then saves the pics on my Memory card with the new improved NR shots? Or does it just save the pics on my computer with the NR shots? leaving the pics the same NON NR original shots?

So does that make sense?

 

[Amy]

So once I take my pics, I then plug camera into computer and run pics through this NR, and it then saves the pics on my Memory card with the new improved NR shots? Or does it just save the pics on my computer with the NR shots? leaving the pics the same NON NR original shots?

So does that make sense?

First you download the pics to the computer. You'll open whatever noise-reducing software you have (I use Noiseware from Imagenomic), and it'll ask you to browse for the photos you want to use the noise-reduction on. The pic will be saved as "img1234_filtered.jpg" or something similar. So you'll have both the regular and the noise-reduced shots on your computer.

Depending on how often you use it, you might want to purchase the full version. At first I had the free version of Noiseware, but I take TONS of photos of my boys in marching band, using Sports Mode of my S3, so I had very noisy pictures. With the free version, you can only do 1 photo at a time, and when you're talking 100+ photos, it takes quite a while. Since I make a disk of photos to give to the band director and also to our webmaster to post on the band website, I need to run Noiseware on ALL of my shots, not just a couple of good ones of my own kids. So I purchased the full version, and it allows you to work on batches. I had 140 photos from our competition on Sat., and the batch took about 20 min to run, but at least I didn't have to sit at the computer and do them all one-by-one. Also, when you purchase the full version, it doesn't strip the exif data from the photos like the free version does. (Again - I'm just speaking about Noiseware from Imagenomic; I don't know about the other noise softwares.)

 

[ocalla]

once they have been run through and you have the good images on your computer, do you print your own pics? or do you copy them onto cd's and take them to photo shop to be printed? I didn't purchase a photo printer, maybe I should?

Where do I get that NR at? Is it just somewhere online?

 

[Amy]

once they have been run through and you have the good images on your computer, do you print your own pics? or do you copy them onto cd's and take them to photo shop to be printed? I didn't purchase a photo printer, maybe I should?

If I only want to print a couple, I'll print my own. If I have a whole lot, I've been uploading them to the Kodak gallery and ordering prints there. A lot of people also take them to Ritz/Wal-Mart/Target to print them. Depends on what you want to do.

Where do I get that NR at? Is it just somewhere online?

Here's the link to the Noiseware that I use: http://www.imagenomic.com/download.aspx. The one at the very bottom of the page, the Noiseware Community Edition, is the one that's free. Give it a try and see if you like it.

 

[psimon]

I used the Sports mode for these:

OK... I'm getting the big picture, so to speak!

What kind of metering did you use when you used the Sports mode to take the fireworks pix?

thanks....


---Paul in Southern NJ

 

[FletchFab5]

So anyone who's wondering if they should get the S3 or the S5--the S5 takes about 30-100 mins of video, depending on which setting you put it on, when using a 4 GB memory card. I recorded our HS marching band's program from start to finish (about 12-15 mins) on the best quality and according to the display still had room for about 1500 more pictures! The quality was amazing and I couldn't believe how well it picked up the sound, it wasn't distorted and sounded just like being there. The picture was clearer than my video camera and you don't have to lug around 2 different cameras!! All in ONE! I love it!

 

[schaery]

I haven't had a chance to try out this service yet but just came across a photoediting site called www.snapmania.com that has a neat feature. Once you sign up for the free version, they have an editing tool called "tourist remover". Could definitely be useful when taking pics at WDW.

 

[madge]

OK... I'm getting the big picture, so to speak!

What kind of metering did you use when you used the Sports mode to take the fireworks pix?

thanks....

I used the default metering.. not sure what that's called, but I didn't change a thing. I turned the dial to the sports setting and started snapping away.

 

[jpeka65844]

I used the default metering.. not sure what that's called, but I didn't change a thing. I turned the dial to the sports setting and started snapping away.

Thanks for tip, madge! But I thought that Sports Mode increases your shutter speed and you're always supposed to shoot fireworks with slow shutter speeds? I don't get this camera stuff....

But hey...if it works! And it obviously did! Those pics are great! Did you use a tripod? What was your location?

 

[AndrewWG]

Thanks for tip, madge! But I thought that Sports Mode increases your shutter speed and you're always supposed to shoot fireworks with slow shutter speeds? I don't get this camera stuff....

But hey...if it works! And it obviously did! Those pics are great! Did you use a tripod? What was your location?

If you notice in the pics of those fireworks, there are no fireworks lines coming up from the ground. That would be slow shutter speed. It would capture the firework as it rises into the sky and then bursts. That would probably be a 2+ second exposure. A fast shutter speed would be probably about 1/30 of a second or faster. The fast shutter speed would only capture the burst, provided you time it properly. These were timed perfectly form what I can tell. Great job Madge!

 

[madge]

wow! I'm flattered!!

I took literally dozens of shots of the Hallowishes fireworks show. I was standing in the middle of Main Street, USA, right in front of the bakery. I did not use a tripod, just stood there with my elbows firmly against my body and pressed the shutter. I'd take a break every few dozen shots to let the buffer catch up with what I was doing. I hope that makes sense!

 

[jpeka65844]

Yes it does make sense, madge! And I'm GLAD to hear it was so easy!!! I had these visions of my husband holding my legs while I stood on a trashcan with my Gorillapod wrapped around a street lamp.....

What's the best way to time your shutter trip? Just before they explode? Should you anticipate the bursts?

 

[madge]

Yes it does make sense, madge! And I'm GLAD to hear it was so easy!!! I had these visions of my husband holding my legs while I stood on a trashcan with my Gorillapod wrapped around a street lamp.....

What's the best way to time your shutter trip? Just before they explode? Should you anticipate the bursts?

the good thing about the sports mode, is that it automatically does contiunous shooting. I took advantage of having a 2G card, and held my finger down for several seconds at a time. I didn't really anticipate any of the bursts - because there are so many fireworks, I guess I just lucked out!

I wish I had more/better technical advice, but I really do believe it was just good luck!

 

[madge]

I just went through some of the other fireworks pictures I took - they are all from the same show, Hallowishes at MNSSHP on October 11

They've been sharpened and run through Noiseware, when needed.

http://www.flickr.com/gp/9639902@N04/6rF0K3

 

[SplshMtn99]

Hi everyone. I'm still around. I haven't had any place fun to use my camera at so I kind of stopped practicing. You all are sooooo far ahead of me! Awesome shots!!!

But I've got some learning to do because looks like we have a 2 week trip planned to CA for next spring. So far, San Fran to Sacramento to Lake Tahoe to Yosemite to Fresno. So I've got some pretty area to do some shooting! I need to get practicing especially on depth of field for Yosemite!!!

I think we also want to pick up a smaller camera for DH's business trips & our hikes. I don't give DH the S3 to take on business & its getting annoying carrying it & our other equipment when we geocache. I also worry about damaging it when climbing over rocks. He wants a pocket camera --so we are looking into that for him.

 

[schaery]

Whew! I've been trying forever to get pics of lightning with my S3. Almost got it.

 

[ColoradoMom!!]

WOW - that is a cool pic of lightning!

OK - selfish question here. I don't have the time to search this board, and the search engine didn't work - so forgive me, but I really need to know a good case for the S3. The one on Amazon recommended is the Canon PSC-75 Deluxe Soft Case and many people say it is too small. I don't want a big bag, just a case for protection.

Thanks!!

 

[schaery]

I know this isn't very techie but I got a great case for my S3 at Walmart by Targus. The inside has a divider that velcros on so you can make it fit the camera as snug as you want plus have some extra storage room. There are several zippered compartments to hold batteries, cards, and a small battery charger or tripod. On the outside is a compartment that has a pull-out netting to hold a drink bottle. I think it was around $15.