Canon Powershot S3 IS
September 21st, 2006
The digital camera I had been using for the last couple of years has all but forsaken me. The batteries won’t stay in properly, and I have trouble getting the lens to fully close. We decided it was time to relegate that camera to kid friendly status, and go out to buy a new one for the adults.
After reading some good reviews - here, here, and here - I decided that the Canon Powershot S3 IS would do the trick. I picked it up at the local Best Buy for $399 - a hundred dollars cheaper than it was advertised just a couple of months ago. With a $25 rebate, I save a few bucks more.
Thus far, I am pleased with the purchase. If you are using Mac OS X, I would recommend not installing the included software as the install is a bit cumbersome, and sets itself as the default. The whole program makes getting to your iPhoto a PITA. I wound up downloading the software, and promptly placing it in the trash. Save yourself the time.
The shooting speed is very quick - one of the best in a comparison done on the CNET review. It’s a bit too large to fit into clothing, so I may still have to pick up a pocket sized camera for traveling. I broke it in with some new pictures, and plan on experimenting much more in the near future. Look out Ansel Adams.
September 24th, 2006 at 4:29 am
The Powershot S3 IS is a great digital camera for the money. Good choice! Continuous shooting is 1.5 frames per second, which means it’s easier to capture memories of your kids because the camera can keep up with them easier
Our last camera was a Powershot S50 bought in 2003. It also claimed 1.5 frames per second but there seemed to be a 0.5 second delay on the first snap which meant you caught the ankle of the running child but not the whole child 
This summer I ponied up $2,000 for a Nikon D200 w/ the 18-70MM lens. With our horse farm and with competition it’s more critical now that we get the best sales, training and competition photos we can. The D200 can take 5 shots per second at 10 megapixels, but the coolest thing for me is a picture is taken only 50ms after you press the shutter release button. Now I can take a picture of the whole kid! Or the whole horse!
September 25th, 2006 at 10:28 am
I had thought of going for a mac-daddy model, but it’s more than we actually need. Thus far though, I am very pleased with the Powershot S3.
September 25th, 2006 at 12:24 pm
I hear ya. Of course, the real Mac-Daddy models start at $7,995 and have buttons you and I would never need nor would ever truly understand
I have a friend who is an older professional photographer. He pays $6,000 a year for replacement insurance on his camera equipment! *shudder*
September 25th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
My brother-in-law just had his $3500 camera stolen from his car while he was loading luggage. A few days later, he saw it on sale at craigslist. After reaching out to the “seller” about purchasing it, the ad mysteriously disappeared…
November 3rd, 2006 at 11:29 pm
This is indeed a great camera. The image quality is really good and Color Ascent feature is the best from Canon.
The only problem i see is the size. This is bulkier than the small & compact point and shoot cameras in market..
December 16th, 2006 at 11:51 pm
I recently got a Powershot S3 and quite happy with it.
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.
Baseline prices were averaging around $399.00, with small variations. On-line deals were slightly better, but not much, and…I prefer to pick up my electronics in person to examine the product. I saw an ad from OfficeMax offering the S3 for $369.00 - with an instant $30.00 in-store rebate. They threw in a free 512mb SD card and the option to purchase a $100.00 Canon photo printer for $30.00. I took the offer, but declined the extended warrenty of $79.00 for two years. I am happy with the purchase.
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.
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.
There are examples of my practice begining astrophotography efforts with the Powershot S3 here:
http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ps3&thread=1166148281&page=1
and here
http://astronomer.proboards23.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ps3&thread=1166148281&page=1
Other than the difficulties of obtaining pin point stars, I highly recommend this camera.
Respectfully,
Chicago Astronomer Joe
Administrator
www.chicagoastronomer.com
October 27th, 2007 at 12:03 am
I have a powershot which is great for , and another camera I love is my Lumix. It’s a great combination because the Lumix shoots almost anything well except when in darker shots.
The Canon is king when it comes to dealing with all the different lighting shots. Tough too.
The Lumix is REALLy tough as well.