Canon S3

[WickedWench]

I got my S5! I LOVE the zoom. I bought it Saturday morning and took it to a hockey game that night. I took these photos using the indoor scene mode, which seemed to work the best with my SD500. I'm very happy with it already. I got alot of nice shots that wouldn't have been possible with my old camera. Here are a few:

I still need to experiment more, but it's not bad for right out of the box! With my old camera, any of the shots with movement would have been a total blur. With this camera, there's some noise, but that's it! I also love that the flash isn't automatically on. With my SD500, everytime I turned it on and didn't want to use the flash (which was often) I'd have to take a few seconds to turn it off, which was a real pain.

Thanks for all the advice!

 

[Tatterry]

Hello everyone,

I am a S3 Owner for the past year, and just now getting off of AUTO, thanks to Stitch's EXPERT advise.

I have read all 88 pages of posts, to include all 1300 posts.

I googled the S3, on the low light pictures, and thought it was the camera that was doing it, nope, it was me.

So many things to try and to learn with.

Stitch, I would say you are a professional with a semi-pro camera.

i have been looking for some faster memory card for my camera, due to the fact that the 1 gig SD card now is not fast enough. (from reading the forums)


Keep up the good advise, I have downloaded the (Free) Noiseware software wish i had found this site sooner(so many pictures deleted because of noise), and will be trying the Crack soon.

I have 5 pages of notes for trying different things and hope to keep learning.


Thanks everyone, and i do enjoy the many pictures.


Stitch, I am going to taking pictures of my son and daughter during Track this season, and this will be my practice pictures for Cross Country running.

I going to work on the manual focus, and get a area in focus and set it. when they run past this point, take as many pictures as i can and hope to get a few good ones. During Cross Country this season, they came out blurry on alot of them, the auto focus just didn't keep up, the sports mode seemed to be to grainy.

I will be using manual mode I hope, reduce the ISO, because for one it will be sunny, a meduim aperture setting, fast shutter speed, set the manual focus for a area, and have Continuous shooting on.

Is there something wrong in my thinking here?


Just something that i thought i would mention, I use the LCD for everything, I hold the camera about waist level or set it on my knee when knealing. I take pictures of my two year old alot, and this way i don't seem to take pictures of her from the top of her head near as much as i did before.


thanks all
Tim

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Stitch, I would say you are a professional with a semi-pro camera.

Nah ... I'm nowhere near as good as any pro. I just really dedicated myself to learning all of the ins and outs of my camera even before I actually bought it! There are *many* photographers, on this site alone, who are far better than I.

Stitch, I am going to taking pictures of my son and daughter during Track this season, and this will be my practice pictures for Cross Country running.

I going to work on the manual focus, and get a area in focus and set it. when they run past this point, take as many pictures as i can and hope to get a few good ones. During Cross Country this season, they came out blurry on alot of them, the auto focus just didn't keep up, the sports mode seemed to be to grainy.

I will be using manual mode I hope, reduce the ISO, because for one it will be sunny, a meduim aperture setting, fast shutter speed, set the manual focus for a area, and have Continuous shooting on.

Is there something wrong in my thinking here?

I would probably work, but I'm thinking you're making it too hard on yourself. Personally, I wouldn't use full Manual mode for outdoor sports shots because changes in the light (like clouds, etc.) can have a dramatic impact on settings and you don't want to be fiddling with settings as your kids run past!

I'd go either Av or Tv mode with the ISO at 80 or 100 and setting a sharp Av (4.5) or a fast shutter speed (1/500 is probably fast enough to freeze runners, if not, then 1/1000) and let the camera handle the other settings.

Rather then trying to "guess" what settings are going to work, I usually take a couple of shots in P mode to see what the camera "thinks" of the lighting and what exposure settings it's picking, and then choose manual settings for my own purposes from there.

Manual focus can be a pain; you can also 'pre-focus'. Half-press the shutter on the area where the kids will be running through (like on a tree or a fence that's close to the route) and then full-press the shutter when they show up.

Another advantage of pre-focusing is the speed; when pre-focused the S-series cameras are just as fast as (or faster than) most DSLRs! The S3's shutter lag when prefocused is 0.088 sec and the new Canon 40D is 0.061 sec ... only two 100ths of a second faster! It's actually faster than a Nikon D40x, which is 0.095 sec!

Using High-Speed Continuous is probably the best way to get the kind of shots you're looking for.

This is the sort of thing I'd practice before an important meet ... try taking some pictures at practices or just ask your kids to run around the house. This way, you'll be able to determine if Av or Tv gives you an edge or, if going Manual will work out the best for you.

Just something that i thought i would mention, I use the LCD for everything, I hold the camera about waist level or set it on my knee when knealing. I take pictures of my two year old alot, and this way i don't seem to take pictures of her from the top of her head near as much as i did before.

I find that using the EVF is more stable, however. I only use the LCD for "unusual" pics like really low to the ground or above my head (or the heads of other people) at a parade.

However, I use the LCD almost exclusively when I'm shooting video because I like to watch the actual show (or whatever) and just glance at the camera every now and then to be sure I'm still on the action.

 

[Twingle]

Received my S5 yesterday - and the learning curve from my Kodak EasyShare to this is going to be HUGE. It seems very complicated as compared to what I know, and I'm a bit intimidated. I think somewhere on this thread there was mention of a book that could help, in addition to the manuals?

I know that alot of learning will be trial and error, and I haven't had the time yet to really sit and play, but WHOA. Big difference.

 

[madbrad76]

Received my S5 yesterday - and the learning curve from my Kodak EasyShare to this is going to be HUGE. It seems very complicated as compared to what I know, and I'm a bit intimidated. I think somewhere on this thread there was mention of a book that could help, in addition to the manuals?

I know that alot of learning will be trial and error, and I haven't had the time yet to really sit and play, but WHOA. Big difference.

Here is a link to a site that might be helpful. http://www.shortcourses.com/store/canon-s5is.html

It seems to have a lot of good info on the S5. I've been wanting to get the one for my S3, but I haven't had the time. Maybe someone else that has tried this site can give you some more info.

 

[Amy]

Here is a link to a site that might be helpful. http://www.shortcourses.com/store/canon-s5is.html

It seems to have a lot of good info on the S5. I've been wanting to get the one for my S3, but I haven't had the time. Maybe someone else that has tried this site can give you some more info.

Hi! I bought the Short Courses book for my S3, and it's indispensable! So much more in-depth than that dinky little manual that comes with the camera. I imagine the S5 Short Courses book will be just as helpful. I'd recommend ordering it. If I recall, it didn't take very long for the book to arrive after I placed my order - maybe only 3 or 4 days.

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

Wow, I am so happy I found this thread. What wonderful helpful info.

I currently use a Sony cybershot 7.2 ( I know ) and I am looking for a updated more advanced after reading this thread I think I just don’t know had to really use mine. In any case I still want a new Camera.

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the S3 or the S5, is there really much of a difference?

I love to shot pictures people objects flowers, I’m the person at the party that always has the camera in hand…….I don’t even tell you what I’m like when I go to Disney, I go picture happy/nutz whatever you want to call it.

Stitch, I see the link you supplied about shortcourses

Help please !

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

Can someone tell me what the difference is between the S3 or the S5, is there really much of a difference?

There isn't really much of a difference, no.

The S5 has some nice advances over the S3; bigger/sharper LCD, face detection, longer video, external flash hotshoe. Having an external flash means you can bounce the flash off the ceiling and get excellent indoor pictures with no red eye and no shadows behind your subjects....

But, it's also got more MegaPixels which means (slightly) more noise at high ISOs (and, it goes to ISO1600!), it's a little slower in High-Speed Continuous mode and it has no Intervalometer (which allows you to take stop-motion photos!).

For some people; the bigger LCD and 4G video limit alone is enough to shift them to the S5. Others like the flexibility of having an external flash, or already own one for D/SLRs....

Both cameras are great and (still) the Top of the Heap as far as the Superzoom offerings from various manufacturers go (IMO and in the opinion of several reviewers).

Stitch, I see the link you supplied about shortcourses

That wasn't me, that was madbrad76....

 

[Twingle]

Thanks for the link to shortcourses - off to check that out!

 

[meliahz]

I had to post this pic I took at Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party. This is the first time I used noiseware and I love it!

 

[margtvl]

I know there is a lot of information out here on the S3. I was wondering if anyone has come up witht a cheat sheet for different settings for different places in the parks? Best setting for Fireworks, Castle at night, etc.. I know a lot of people have personal preferences but there is probably a bsic guide for the S3.

 

[donaldsgal]

I got my S5 on Tuesday. I haven't had much time to play with it. I have taken a couple of shots but keep getting a message to change the batteries. I'm using a generic brand of the rechargeable batteries. I didn't charge them before I put them in. They're charging now, but is it normal to have to charge them before using them?

Also, has anyone ordered the short courses book in pdf format or did everyone actually buy the book? Since we only have 36 days until we leave, I'm wondering if it would be more practical to buy the pdf book. My only concern is, then, that if my computer were to crash (it's 4 years old and not under warranty anymore), I'd be without the book and that'd be a waste of money. Could you back the pdf book up onto a flash card?

 

[Holic]

I picked up a Canon PowerShot S5 this morning at Circuit City. After I got them to price match Wal-Mart's price of $349.99, and used a $30 coupon I found online. Final price was $319, and I didn't have to wait for it to be shipped to me.

I look forward to sharing pictures with all of you, and learning how to use this beast. I upgraded from a small Kodak digital camera thats roughly 4 years old. So quite a leap for me.

 

[AndrewWG]

I got my S5 on Tuesday. I haven't had much time to play with it. I have taken a couple of shots but keep getting a message to change the batteries. I'm using a generic brand of the rechargeable batteries. I didn't charge them before I put them in. They're charging now, but is it normal to have to charge them before using them?

Also, has anyone ordered the short courses book in pdf format or did everyone actually buy the book? Since we only have 36 days until we leave, I'm wondering if it would be more practical to buy the pdf book. My only concern is, then, that if my computer were to crash (it's 4 years old and not under warranty anymore), I'd be without the book and that'd be a waste of money. Could you back the pdf book up onto a flash card?

Yes, you have to charge the batteries first. Most (if not all) will come uncharged.

The shortcourse book on pdf will be fine for you. You can always print it OR view it on your computer. Also, you can back it up however you want, on a disc or on a thumb drive. An actual flash memory card? Like the one in your camera? I don't really see why you couldn't do that as well, but it will take up space that your pictures need to be on.

 

[donaldsgal]

Yes, you have to charge the batteries first. Most (if not all) will come uncharged.

The shortcourse book on pdf will be fine for you. You can always print it OR view it on your computer. Also, you can back it up however you want, on a disc or on a thumb drive. An actual flash memory card? Like the one in your camera? I don't really see why you couldn't do that as well, but it will take up space that your pictures need to be on.

Thanks Andy. I have a USB flash drive for my computer, separate from my memory cards for the camera. Glad to know I can do it this way - that'll get me started on learning much more quickly than if I had to wait for the book to be shipped.

 

[maux]

Would love to know also. Will be my first time at WDW with my less than year old camera! Thanks!



maux

 

[Holic]

Couple of questions for you all. What case are you all using for your S3/S5? And what rechargeables are you using? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[tiff13]

Couple of questions for you all. What case are you all using for your S3/S5? And what rechargeables are you using? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I have a Samsonite "sort of hardcase." I found it at Walmart for about $15. It has 3 sections and enough room for the camera, an extra set of batteries, and two memory cards, plus some room.
I have 8 Energizer Rechargeable 2500 mAh. And they seem to last quite a while before I have to charge them. For example when I went home over Christmas (for a month) I only took one set and never had to recharge them. Actually I just recharged them the other day (over 2 months since last charge) and I just did it for the heck of it, they still had plenty of "juice" in them.

Welcome to the "family"!

 

[AndrewWG]

I have a Samsonite "sort of hardcase." I found it at Walmart for about $15. It has 3 sections and enough room for the camera, an extra set of batteries, and two memory cards, plus some room.

You must have a similar one to mine. I use this for my S2IS although it has been staying home more and more often snice I got the dslr. I still love the S2 though. This is the bag I always used for it. Worked great and it is quite small by camera bag standards. Real easy to carry around. It is a Samsonite and I got it at Wal Mart for under $20.

 

[margtvl]

Anyone willing to share some tips?