Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

The zoom is so powerful you need a tripod at 60% zoom and up my estimate is 50+ yards
Taking pics @ sons football game and I was 2 stories up in bleachers and I could read the words on the football in the center of the field
If you know a lot about cameras the s5 is for you if you know nothing to a lot this camera will make you look like a professional with the push of a button (set it on auto and click)
A professionals high end camera for everyday people @ an affordable price
Full year warranty

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

After nearly 40 years of 35mm SLR experience, I was hoping the Canon S3 would provide me a bridge into the digital world.

Not exactly.

This camera is too sophisticated for the point and shoot crowd but does not cut the mustard for the rest of us. If this is digital, I want my Kodachrome back! I should have spent the extra money for the true digital SLR.

The #1 problem is the dim viewfinder display. At best, outdoor shots are like having sunglasses on. In less than ideal lighting conditions, the viewfinder shows a lot less than can be viewed by the naked eye. I often feel as if I am shooting blind. This is not "photography."

This camera packs an overwhelming amount of features into an incredible price, but these do not compensate for the basic inability to compose a picture.

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

For such a low price, this is a great camera. The buttons are well laid-out and they prevent having to scroll through menus. The zoom is good but image quality suffers at the tele end. Noise is pronounced even at the lower ISOs, but it is still better than other cameras in its class. The pictures are almost unusable at ISO 400 and 800. Chromatic aberration is a problem at all zoom levels. The AF is slow and inaccurate, and manual focusing is inaccurate as well, since you have to focus on an LCD. However, you can't ask for much more out of a point-and-shoot. I would much prefer manual zoom and focus rings as well. The aperture range is small, starting with a wide-open f/2.7 but the smallest aperture is only f/8. The macro mode is very good, allowing focusing right up to the glass for what I would guess to be a 1:4 magnification ratio. I also like that the continuous drive mode allows for unlimited shooting, but there is no continuous focus mode, and it is impossible to follow a moving subject with an EVF.

You can't ask for much more in such a small, inexpensive package. A great starter cam, but if you can afford a DSLR, it would be a better investment in my opinion.

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

This is my first Digital Camera , and I am enjoying it very much. I like the layout of the controls and the feel of the camera. Having moved from a 35 m/m reflex camera I still tend to favor the optical viewfinder .The only negative feature is sensing the double position of the focus button .

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

I own 10d and 30d and find this a very nice alternative to carrying around lots of equipment. Has a lot of features that point and shooters don't have. I plan on using this camera in my classes.

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

Good camera, good quality shots and a great price. No significant complaints, but pics turn out to be great, when the preview was barely average. Met all expectations and no regrets with purchase. [...]

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

This is my first digital camera. So far I love it. It is compatible with IPhoto5 directly, though not on the list in the software. I really like having speed or aperture priority as that is how I learned photography. For the other (digital) beginners, Fireworks is not a good setting for birthday candles.

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

I have owned 2 Nikon and 2 Canon digitals, but this is the first "new breed" higher-end camera. WOW. ZOOM is killer (12x), speed of shooting is lightning FAST (using 150x SD cards), resolution is huge (unnecessary for much candid shooting), color is Nikon-good, buttons are in the right place (and I have long hands), batteries last pretty long, LCD pivot is more useful than I expected if not to just protect the screen... I shot 500 pix at a wedding and three were black, the rest were WAY better than they should have been for the speed they were taken. This does a GREAT job of adjusting the exposure even in backlight. Adorama had a great price, prompt shipping, and a great add-on warranty.

Be sure to buy at least two sets of rechargeable batteries if you plan to be active, and three if you will be on vacation. Get the optional polarizing filter to protect the lens and improve outdoor pix. Find the SD cards that are 150X high speed, as they DO make a difference in the storage time between shots. I use 4G to allow for movies from the convenient movie button.

Love this thing.

Improvements: I can't see well up close so I need glasses to read the itsy bitsy icons on the dial... Wish they displayed BIG in the screen somehow...

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

My previous camera was an older Canon point and shoot model that was getting long in the tooth. After much web research and talking to numerous camera shop experts, I decided on the Canon S3iS (over the Panasonic and Sony competition). I have been using the camera for approximately 2 months and love the feel and picture quality. Great overall camera for my amateur needs. If you don't require a professional grade DSLR you won't be dissapointed.

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

Fellow Digital camera researchers,

I recently got a Powershot S3 and quite happy with it overall, but as an astronomer who desires astrophotography with it - it falls a bit short. More on that later.

I researched the digital world extensively, desiring to upgrade from my trusty Kodak DX 3215, as it was quite limited and I needed something more robust. I looked into obtaining a strict DSLR, but the prices are in the high hundreds and low thousands...out of my price range. And I wanted the capability of shooting video. The S3 had everytning I desired...and more. The movie feature is quite nice, even at it's lowest settings.

[...]

It has plenty of zoom (12x), takes very good images, and the sharpness of the images are quite good. I have plenty of experience with my old 35mm Nikon film camera, and the S3 exceeds it in many areas. I do not miss at all lugging around various lenses and accessories, and this camera has plenty of features to satisfy the photographer.

The 4 AA batteries it takes instead of an odd shaped and expensive battery was a big plus. The batteries last quite awhile, and using rechargables, it costs practically nothing to run. Fits well in the hand and feels like a real camera - not a pocket point and shoot.

It could use a better rubber eyecup for the viewfinder and the camera tripod mount threads are plastic. And it could really use a hotshoe. The add on flash set up Canon offers is quite palty. But these are minor observations.

I have experimented with the manual controls and find them exceptional, with real time results. And as an additional benefit, everybody who has seen it, has complimented me on the purchase...even die hard strict DSLR users. I will look into aftermarket Lens hoods and tele-converters to enhance the performance.

ASTROPHOGRAPHY -

I needed a camera for astrophotography, and I hope this one will serve well, but one nagging observation...

It's remarkable that I have been able to record stars, constellations and nebulae with just the camera lens, but I find it bothersome that I cannot focus stars down to pin points, it just stops short. I don't know if this is inherent to all digital cameras, but maybe it's just mine.

[...]

Other than the difficulties of obtaining pin point stars, I highly recommend this camera.

Respectfully,

Chicago Astronomer Joe
Administrator
[...]

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

Great Camera!! I already had the Canon PowerShot S2 IS and decided to check out the S3. Boy am I glad I did! This camera is just as good as the S2, with some GREAT additions. The controls are great to use, very easy to push and not to close. I have large hands and this is normally an issue. I would have to say great camera, to bad it is going away soon.

Comments about Canon Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera, 6.0 Megapixel, 12x Optical Zoom, 4x Digital Zoom, 2.0" LCD Screen:

The controls buttons are to close and get in the way when you try to take picture. There is no place to rest your thumb when you push shutter button. Manual is not user friendly. I give a 3 rating because it is taking me longer then expected to learn the camera. And the buttons are not user friendly.