Canon S3

[Amy]

SFLTIGGER - I really like your shots using "vivid color", esp. the close-up of the tree topper. I haven't tried that yet with my S3. Darn this board! There's always something new that I have to try!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I've done it. I asked for the Canon S5 for Christmas and it arrived yesterday. I grabbed it out of DH's hands and opened it before he could wrap it and put it under the tree. (hey, I needed to see if was in good shape)

It is totally overwhelming! There are too many manuals for it!!! LOL. I guess I'll take a deep breath and dig in and hope that it will all click at some point. (pun intended)

But first I have to give it back so he can wrap it and I can pretend I'm surprised on Christmas morning.

I just opened mine up about 10 minutes ago. It took me about twice that long to figure out which way the batteries went in.

I have several deadlines I have to meet by the morning, so I don't even have time to play with it.

 

[suwoogie]

I, too, had a hard time with the batteries. It felt like if I closed that lid that it would break. So I was being very careful about how much pressure I used. But it worked out fine after I figured it out.

Too bad it's under the tree now. I'd love to at least read the manuals.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I'd love to at least read the manuals

suwoogie, if you want to get started you can download some information here and I think sites like dpreview have a ton of information if you pull down the menus for each function of the camera. I printed those up and had them bound at my local office supply store for $4 or so. Then you can begin reading!

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

I, too, had a hard time with the batteries. It felt like if I closed that lid that it would break. So I was being very careful about how much pressure I used. But it worked out fine after I figured it out.

Too bad it's under the tree now. I'd love to at least read the manuals.

I got it out around midnight last night, and took a bunch of pictures of Chloe, just using the different settings.

Then, it took me another ten minutes to figure out how to find them and delete them. THEN I took out the manual. That's the way I roll.

I'm going to have to break down and read it tonight though. This isn't your everyday digital camera, and I have to take pictures for work using it tomorrow. This should be interesting!

 

[suwoogie]

Pea-n-me, thanks for the link!!! I'll get started on that today. Then at least the camera won't be so daunting.

Am_I_There_Yet, good luck! Let me know how it worked out at work.

 

[Amy]

I, too, had a hard time with the batteries. It felt like if I closed that lid that it would break. So I was being very careful about how much pressure I used. But it worked out fine after I figured it out.

You know, that's the one thing I really don't like about my S3 - I have such a hard time getting the battery door closed! No prob. when there are no batteries, but once I put batteries in, I really have to play around with it until I push it "just so" and it'll close. At first I thought it might be the batteries, and maybe my rechargeables were just a tad too large, but I've tried other batteries and it's still hard to close. I've learned to live with it, but it's really a pain when I have to change batteries in a hurry and I end up missing a shot because I can't get the dang battery door closed!

Anyone else have this problem?

 

[kors]

This is my first post on this board...I am really getting into digital photography. I have had a Canon PowerShot SD600 3x zoom and 6 MP. The camera is O.K. for most things, but I really want to upgrade. I went to Best Buy this morning and looked at the S5 for $379, and there was a Sony, don't recall the model for $429. They had very similar specs, but the difference is the battery. My Canon has the rechargeable battery, and I love it. How long do the batteries last with the S5? I just don't want to be changing batteries all the time...TIA!!

 

[S. C.]

I have the Canon S3. Batteries last a long time between charges, I have energizer 2500 mah rechargables.

 

[Sanka]

I have taken around 500 shots on a set of 2700 mah energizer rechargables. This was on the S3, though I suspect the S5 wouldn't be much harder on the batteries.

 

[jpeka65844]

As I look through my pics from our trip 2 1/2 weeks ago, I'm noticing that a lot of my shots tend to list to the right. I must have one leg longer than the other!

Is there a feature somewhere (don't have my manual handy) that can tell you if a shot is level?

 

[Amy]

As I look through my pics from our trip 2 1/2 weeks ago, I'm noticing that a lot of my shots tend to list to the right. I must have one leg longer than the other!

Is there a feature somewhere (don't have my manual handy) that can tell you if a shot is level?

Nope, just your eyes. If you have Photoshop Elements, there's a straightening tool you can use to fix not-so-straight photos.

 

[AndrewWG]

I, too, had a hard time with the batteries. It felt like if I closed that lid that it would break. So I was being very careful about how much pressure I used. But it worked out fine after I figured it out.

Too bad it's under the tree now. I'd love to at least read the manuals.

Suwoogie,

Go here:

http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/c...ategoryid=144&modelid=15207#DownloadDetailAct

In the downloads, it has the manual that you can read.

 

[suwoogie]

Andy, that's a coincidence, my boss just showed me where to download the manual this morning! Thanks so much. I have downloaded it and am reading it now.

There is a little button on the front of the camera to the lower left under the lens (if you are behind the camera) that I don't know what it's for. Any clue?

 

[AndrewWG]

Andy, that's a coincidence, my boss just showed me where to download the manual this morning! Thanks so much. I have downloaded it and am reading it now.

There is a little button on the front of the camera to the lower left under the lens (if you are behind the camera) that I don't know what it's for. Any clue?

I assume that if you push that button in and hold it in while twisting somewhere on the lens, that it will pop off a ring so that you can attach things like a lensmate adapter or other accessories to the camera. I could be WAY off base here though. Others here would know better. I just stop by here once in awhile to say hi. I now have a Canon 30D, but once used the S2 IS exclusively!

 

[tiff13]

I assume that if you push that button in and hold it in while twisting somewhere on the lens, that it will pop off a ring so that you can attach things like a lensmate adapter or other accessories to the camera. I could be WAY off base here though. Others here would know better. I just stop by here once in awhile to say hi. I now have a Canon 30D, but once used the S2 IS exclusively!

yup he is correct, if you twist the silver ring it will come off.

 

[S. C.]

As I look through my pics from our trip 2 1/2 weeks ago, I'm noticing that a lot of my shots tend to list to the right. I must have one leg longer than the other!

Is there a feature somewhere (don't have my manual handy) that can tell you if a shot is level?

I leave the Grid on at all times. Took a little getting use to at first but the lines really help.

I straighened alot of my pics before i used the Grid with picasa, it's a free download.

 

[ghost1000]

I ended up taking oh about 2,000 pics on the trip

Haven't had time to sort through them all but from a quick glance here are some of my initial favorites....

 

[jpeka65844]

Of course S.C.! Why didn't I think of putting the grid on before? I know how to do that! I also thought that there was a way level in PSE. I'll have to play around w/it.

Also, one of my pet peeves the whole trip was the LCD viewfinder. I know....Understanding Exposure says "get it right w/out it" but I use it! I hated the way it stuck out there when I opened it and wished it was on the back of the camera instead.

I come home and am at a Christmas program and shooting w/another parent's Canon AS something and their's folds back to fit flush w/the back of their camera. I try it at home and what to my wondering eyes should appear??? Yay! Now my S5 is perfect!!!

Does anyone else find themselves trying to spot other S3/S5 users while in the park??? Or am I just a nerd?

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Also, one of my pet peeves the whole trip was the LCD viewfinder. I know....Understanding Exposure says "get it right w/out it" but I use it! I hated the way it stuck out there when I opened it and wished it was on the back of the camera instead.

You can flip it all the way around and then close it up on the back of the camera (facing out) just like those other cameras that can't adjust their LCDs, if that's what you want.

I like being able to adjust it however I want; it can be really useful when you're taking pics of yourself or trying to take pics over people's heads.

However, I rarely use it (except for video), so I prefer being able to flip it around so it's facing in where it can't get scratched/damaged.