Canon S3

[mickeymyfavorite]

First off ... take a couple of deep breaths!

Don't worry, though the S5 has a host of complicated features, it does just fine using any of its Auto modes (including "green box" Auto -- the one which says Auto right on the selector dial).

These are the most important things to have: rechargeable batteries (at least three sets, that is, 12 batteries) and at least an "overnight" charger (quick chargers are OK, and convenient, but they drastically reduce the lifetime of a set of batteries -- but, it's just a convenience vs. cost thing), a couple of 2G or 4G SD cards* and a bag.

Oh, and a mini-tripod can be useful for taking slow-shutter speed pics at night (like the castle or fireworks) -- the DSLR version of the GorillaPod is very popular here on the DIS and with other S3 forum posters....

All of the other accessories can wait until you get back and really decide what type of photography you might be getting into as a hobby. You don't need any extra lenses or filter or anything like that to take GREAT pics.

* I prefer having a larger number of smaller cards so that in the unlikely event of a lost or corrupted card you wont lose ALL of you precious vacation pics in one go. You'll want more and bigger cards if you're planning to take video -- which you should, 'cause the S3/S5 is GREAT at video!

Start out shooting in Auto and Scene modes and drift into the "Creative Modes" P, Av, Tv and M as you gain a better understanding of what a good exposure means and how aperture/shutter speed and ISO all work together in your camera.

Good luck! Have a great vacation!!

Stitch, I can't thank you enough for your quick reply, thank you and I promise to share the pics when I get back...........thank you thank you

One other question, I used to own a sony cyber shot, and now after reading this board I decided to go with the canon, and since I'm not so advanced in photo taking as you are and many others on this thread do you think I should go with the S3 ?

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

One other question, I used to own a sony cyber shot, and now after reading this board I decided to go with the canon, and since I'm not so advanced in photo taking as you are and many others on this thread do you think I should go with the S3 ?

The S3 has a (very) slight edge when it comes to Image Quality (IQ) -- mostly due to having a 6MP sensor. It also has a slightly faster high-speed mode and has a really cool (built-in) feature called an Intervalometer which lets you take time-lapse photos.

The S5 has a bigger LCD, a flash hot-shoe, a higher video limit.

Both cameras can now run the exceedingly cool CHDK firmware extension. But, you don't need to worry about that, now! That the S5 *couldn't* run the CHDK software would have made the difference, for me, but it's not an issue, anymore.

If I were buying *right now*, I'd get the S5 ... I can *barely* see any difference in IQ when people post 100% crops on-line and I'd like the option of having ISO1600, a bigger screen and a higher video limit, too. I'd probably miss my higher speed, a little, but I don't think I'd really notice after a short while.

Oh, yeah, something else you'll need (but, don't worry it's free) is Noiseware. They make a "for sale" version which has more features, but the Community/Free version works just a well (quality-wise).

The Canon S3/S5 are great cameras, but like all small-sensor (especially super-zoom) cameras they tend to bit a little noisy (read:grainy pictures) in low light and at the higher ISOs, and greatly benefit from Noise Reduction software.

On the plus side, Canon tends to take a light touch to in-camera noise reduction which leaves more detail for Post-Production programs (like said Noiseware) to recover.

 

[mickeymyfavorite]

The S3 has a (very) slight edge when it comes to Image Quality (IQ) -- mostly due to having a 6MP sensor. It also has a slightly faster high-speed mode and has a really cool (built-in) feature called an Intervalometer which lets you take time-lapse photos.

The S5 has a bigger LCD, a flash hot-shoe, a higher video limit.

Both cameras can now run the exceedingly cool CHDK firmware extension. But, you don't need to worry about that, now! That the S5 *couldn't* run the CHDK software would have made the difference, for me, but it's not an issue, anymore.

If I were buying *right now*, I'd get the S5 ... I can *barely* see any difference in IQ when people post 100% crops on-line and I'd like the option of having ISO1600, a bigger screen and a higher video limit, too. I'd probably miss my higher speed, a little, but I don't think I'd really notice after a short while.

Oh, yeah, something else you'll need (but, don't worry it's free) is Noiseware. They make a "for sale" version which has more features, but the Community/Free version works just a well (quality-wise).

The Canon S3/S5 are great cameras, but like all small-sensor (especially super-zoom) cameras they tend to bit a little noisy (read:grainy pictures) in low light and at the higher ISOs, and greatly benefit from Noise Reduction software.

On the plus side, Canon tends to take a light touch to in-camera noise reduction which leaves more detail for Post-Production programs (like said Noiseware) to recover.

You are just wonderful with all yor knowledge, thanks again

 

[LPZ_Stitch!]

You are just wonderful with all yor knowledge, thanks again

No problem. Enjoy your camera and your vacation!

If you have any specific questions, feel free to PM me....

 

[awoltoday]

What do you mean by the "file system"?

OOps! Sorry about that. Just like your computer's hard disk, CD, or any other media you can stuff into a computer, the SD cards have a file system, which is just how it stores and organizes images on the SD card.

Any thoughts on the waterproof housing??

I have several. First thought is that I want one! (sorry DW!). Second thought, where are you seeing a $300 case for the S3!? Or is it one of the expensive bag housings? The only hard case for the S3 that I was aware of is the Ikelite, which is $600 or more the last time I checked.

The biggest problem with most of the housings I've seen is that, at times, it is incredibly difficult to frame a shot. I have the canon housing for my A series camera and I can't always clearly see what's on the display. So, I just push the button a few extra times and I hope I've pointed in the right direction. But, it is still a little frustrating. A nice sight on top would help with that. The S3 has a slightly larger display, which would help a little.

Also, make sure you do some post processing of your pictures. I used a photoshop action (underwater.atn) that really cleaned up the pictures nicely.

Hi everyone, hope all is well….I will be leaving for Disney tomorrow and plan on purchasing my camera tonight S5 life got in the way so I wasn’t able to purchase sooner. I was wondering if anyone could help………..because this will be a new camera and I’m not sure how to set it up (I will read the manual on the plane and tonight if I have time need to finish packing) can anyone help in giving me some quick tips to set the camera up. HELP PLEASE!!! I appreciate it. And is there any accessories I should make sure I have with me for the trip, the camera I have now is really not that reliable and I want to make sure I have good pics for this trip, AM I MAKING A MISTAKE?

You might want to look for a bag that can be worn as a fanny pack. I recently read that suggestion and had a "DOH!" moment. I hadn't thought of that and it would be a nice feature for me.

 

[JR6ooo4]

OK - I am worrying about the bird - did it get away?

Tell your daughter that is an awesome shot!

Actualy the bird is on the people side of the moat.

It was the wife who got better pics than me, of the baby tigers...

thanks

Mikeeee

 

[Frantasmic]

http://estore.usa.canon.com/SearchR...lRequest.CollateralRequestID=6783CR1000272334

Sorry for the long link, but if anyone is interested, Canon is offering refurbished S3 for a really good deal.

 

[donaldsgal]

I haven't posted since I uploaded some shots right after I got my camera in February. We took a trip to Disney March 22-28, and I wanted to post some of the shots I'm proudest of. I know they won't compare to some of the fabulous shots I've seen showcased here, but for a first-time digital camera (and woo-wie fancy one at that ), I was very, VERY pleased with myself!

I took 906 pictures, and 335 made the cut to upload onto photobucket. Some of them are the hard-to-get shots (like fireworks) but some of them are of my niece, Hannah. For those of you who try to shoot active toddlers, you'll appreciate why I'm so proud of them!

Here you go. I have lots of favorites, so bear with me. Oh, and I'd love feedback:

 

[donaldsgal]

These are from Festival of the Lion King. I found this to be quite a challenging attraction to shoot. I have seen it before, but I didn't realize how much the performers move until trying to capture them! I also found the lighting and color to be a challenge to shoot as well. It was a fun albeit frustrating experience. For the rest of you, I would strongly advocate for a front row. I didn't have anyone directly in front of me, but I was shooting at an angle, which is the reason for some of the heads of other audience members in some of the shots. I know some of them are blurry, but for some reason, I still find them visually intriguing and decided to keep them.

Really like this one - not sure why

(I like that the spotlight seems to draw attention to the singer doing Nala's part during this song)

 

[donaldsgal]

I did ask for forgiveness ahead of time...

(I like how her image is mirrored in the table - an accidental shot)

(she was having fun spinning her dress)

 

[donaldsgal]

(we were almost at the top of the ampitheater for Fantasmic!, so I'm really impressed with the zoom)

This was interesting because I thought I was focusing on the flower, yet the background is blurry. I know why - I didn't halfway hold down the shutter to focus on the flower - but in the end it produced what I thought was an interesting shot.

 

[donaldsgal]

FIREWORKS SHOTS!

I have to confess - I literally jumped up and down when I reviewed these after the fireworks had finished. After 7 trips of only being able to TELL people about the fireworks (because I was too embarrassed to show the noisy, barely-there dots of light that my 35mm camera took), it's so fun to show people how fabulous the fireworks are!

(I like the squiggles coming up before they explode)

And the princess in her chariot in front of her home sweet home:

Sorry if I overwhelmed you with pictures. I just wanted to share. I hope you enjoyed looking at them as much as I enjoyed taking them.

 

[Amy]

Great shots, donaldsgal! Would you mind sharing what settings you used, esp. for the fireworks and Lion King photos?

 

[donaldsgal]

Great shots, donaldsgal! Would you mind sharing what settings you used, esp. for the fireworks and Lion King photos?

Hi Amy!

I used the sports shot for the fireworks AND for the FotLK. I used portrait as much as possible for shots of Hannah, but given her constant movement, I often switched to sports mode for her as well. The flower shots were portrait or landscape. I never tried the fireworks setting because I'd read from others here before we left that sports mode actually worked better. And I used night mode at times as well, but spent most of the trip in sports mode. Hope that helps!

 

[DocSooner]

I'm new to my Canon S3, any ideas how I can blur the tea cups at day without overexposing the picture? I'm still practicing at home. Thanks!!

 

[Amy]

Hi Amy!

I used the sports shot for the fireworks AND for the FotLK. I used portrait as much as possible for shots of Hannah, but given her constant movement, I often switched to sports mode for her as well. The flower shots were portrait or landscape. I never tried the fireworks setting because I'd read from others here before we left that sports mode actually worked better. And I used night mode at times as well, but spent most of the trip in sports mode. Hope that helps!

I'm so glad to hear that you used Sports mode so much, since *I'm* the one who usually posts that it works best for me. Kind of gives me some validation.....I keep wondering if I'm doing something wrong when Canon gives me 2 diff. night scenes plus fireworks mode, and I can only get decent shots using Sports mode. At least I know I'm not alone!

 

[donaldsgal]

I'm so glad to hear that you used Sports mode so much, since *I'm* the one who usually posts that it works best for me. Kind of gives me some validation.....I keep wondering if I'm doing something wrong when Canon gives me 2 diff. night scenes plus fireworks mode, and I can only get decent shots using Sports mode. At least I know I'm not alone!

LOL - Well, then thank YOU for posting that tip. I never even tried other modes - you have apparently been gifted with the talent of persuasion! Glad to help validate - I'm a counselor; it's what I do best!

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Really great job, donaldsgal!

 

[awoltoday]

Great pictures donaldsgal! What is the third shot of?

 

[donaldsgal]

Great pictures donaldsgal! What is the third shot of?

That's of the barge "blowing up" during IllumiNations (one of my favorite things at Disney). Thanks for the compliments awoltoday and others!