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"Basically great, but a few minor things" on by dfichtner
Pros: Movie mode better than many video cameras. Very quick and responsive.
Cons: Greens are unnatural. Manual flash (I prefer it, though).
Summary: I am in Korea, and this camera is readily available. I picked it up last week, and am enjoying it so far. I almost went for the S2, but wanted the extra 320x240 movie mode at 60fps, which the S2 doesn't have. I like that the movies are recorded as quicktime, but my Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 software doesn't import them (a big disappointment). I can import them into Windows Media Encoder, though. I also was pleased to find it has a WIDE photo mode, as was mentioned in the review. Yeah, it is just a crop, but that's fine by me. I am disappointed in the rendition of the green objects in the photos, but honestly, that seems to be a Canon thing (my older S30 had the same issues). Grass and bright-green objects glow a bit unnaturally (especially when no flash is used). You can adjust the colors a bit in-camera. I am experimenting with that, but so far it looks like Photoshop is the best route for fixing this issue. I keep buying Canon, though, because they usually offer a lot of bang for the buck. If you are pining over buying this model or the S2, you can save a lot of money and get the S2. The difference in viewfinder size on the S3 really isn't that much, and going to 6 megapixels over 5 isn't a big deal for the average user. Although the viewfinder is adjustable, I'd honestly rather have a big 2.5" viewfinder, like the competition does. Canon needs to rethink this point, IMHO.
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"One of the best point-and-shoot digital cameras." on by springernet
Pros: Image Stabilization, Excellent Zoom, Comfortable Design
Cons: LCD display still too small, Poor macro quality.
Summary: I have owned an S1 IS for nearly two years, and was always pleased with it. Naturally I thought that the S3 would be a quantam leap above the S1. I was going from a 3.1MP 10x optical to a 6MP 12x, not to mention all the other improvements and modifications. The first day I owned the S3 I took over 200 photos. I had run up 6902 pictures total on my old Canon. I had expected a massive increase in picture quality with this new model, but what I got was something far more modest. I developed 30 of the new photos, and saw no visible difference between these and my dinosaur 3.1MP. I thought it was just me, so I asked for a second and third opinion. I took in the new photos, and stacked them alongside the old to show some co-workers. From two different people, I recieved the opinion that there was virtually no difference. They were only able to succesfully pick out the photos from the new camera 8 out of 25 times. I should note that these photos were the same tpye (landscape) and taken under the same conditions as the ancient S1.
Other than the seemingly lack of image quality improvement, the camera is obviously far ahead of the S1. The stabilization seems better, the movie mode is much easier to use, the grip is easier to handle, the media used is better (the old S1 used CF), and obviously the MP have doubled since the dino camera S1. When I look at the S1 now, I am actually wondering if I "Needed" to upgrade my camera. It was a fine camera for it's day, and still is.
If I compare the S3 1S to other cameras in this price range, I would have to say it is better feature for feature. I considered the new Sony H5, but have read there is no continuious shooting mode and only 24x total zoom. Other cameras have similar shortcomings and so the Canon wins in the category of a new Mega-zoom point and shoot. -
"Excellent long zoom camera with extremely fast processing speed." on by mourenee
Pros: Very fast bootup, good video mode, excellent lens, easy for rookies to improve their digitial photography skills
Cons: Strange grip, small LCD, AF system complains too often when zoomed in
Summary: I do not own a digital SLR, but I wanted a camera with features that are similar to an SLR, without the cost or complexity. Lets face it, unless you plan on changing lenses to suit specific applications, a digital SLR can be a bit of a waste, given the capabilities of cameras like the S3. A reasonably trained photographer can produce some really good photos with this camera. If you reach it's limits, then maybe an SLR is in your future, however, you will have a tough time pushing this camera to it's limits.
Another thing I really like about this camera is the video mode, something you will not find in a dSLR. The quality is really good and it allows you to take a full resolution still anytime you want during a video sequence. The audio is actually stereo; another big bonus which get's it rather close to a low end video camera.
Overall, I think my choice was good. I just got the camera last week and I have taken over 300 photos to push it's limits. The only thing that I am not happy with is the faux wide mode. It's simply a croped image on the same sensor. You make it a wide shot by adjusting the zoom of the cropped frame. A bit strange and a tacky way to say it's got a wide shooting mode. Not a show stopper, but definitely false advertising. -
"Just the good and not so good" on by thewoodsman
Pros: Start up, menu layout, swivel screen, super macro
Cons: Viewfinder, diopter, color
Summary: As with many others this was a really tough call against the Sony H5. As a matter of fact, after looking at many pictures on Pbase, I was ready to buy the H5 because I felt Sony's color rendition was slightly better. But the Canon has a lot of ways to manage color with an extensive variety of advanced shooting functions. I also like the video feature, something I didn't think would matter much at first. I would have been happy with either camera and anyone who bought the H5 has an excellent camera.
That said I'll just go into what I like and don't like after taking a few hundred images with the Canon.
I was suprised that my favorite feature turned out to be the swivel screen especially in conjunction with the super-macro feature. It's terrific. I can get the camera right on the ground to get fantastic mushroom shots, or just anything that is low to the ground. Also, taking spider shots without getting my face too close to the spider was greatly appreciated. With a hi-speed memory card the images load in a blink of the eye. I also like the layout of the 'Function' menu around the left side and bottom. It lets you quickly make a veriety of lighting/color changes while the image is still in your viewer. The stitch mode is neat, keeping part of the shot just taken to the left 1/3 of screen, while the new shot is to the right side.
What I don't like is the viewfinder, which I prefer to use over the monitor screen because I and hold the camera steadier. Despite a menu setting to brighten it, it's still too dark compared to my old Olympus UZ 2100. And I can't get good focus on it, no matter where I set it. Also, I felt the recorded color tends to make leaves and grass verdent green, too green for me, unnaturally so. However, it is correctable with the many options in the function menu. (I turned the red up full, and the green down full.) Now the trees and grass are truer to their original color as I see it.
I also don't like the lens barrel automatically extending and retracting when the camera is turned on and off. This seems to be common to a lot of cameras, including the Sony. I think this will probably shorten the useable life of the camera by half. It's too bad manufacturers wouldn't make a menu option whereby the lens would stay extended when you turn the camera off. Also the motor noise, though slight, alerts any wildlife you might be shooting.
One last thing. I bought a 2x tele-converter. It's terrible. The image is fuzzy at best. Not to mention you have to make a change in the camera's menu to compensate for this attachment. Even that didn't help. I don't know if Canon's own teleconverter is any better, but I suspect it probably is. Whether it's worth it or not is a personal choice by the user. I'm sorry I bought mine and I'll probably see if I can return it. Just to be aware of the problem with 'after market' converters.
I do recommend purchasing the hood. It's great for holding down sun spots and necessary for adding any filters. I always use a UV when carrying it around in the woods, just to protect the camera lens. And I do like using a polarizer. Look around the web. Hood prices are all over the place.
Overall, I'm very happy with the S3. I probably would have been as happy with the Sony H5. Canon's swivel screen, however, made the difference to me for the type of photography I enjoy. -
"reviewer coments about RAW are unreal" on by IndyEd
Pros: great feel, great pictures
Cons: not a true SLR
Summary: I manage a Cord Camera store in the Indianapolis area. Customers who are looking for this type of camera have no idea what RAW is and could care less. They chose this type of camera because of the price point, the traditional style, and the zoom capability. RAW is a foreign concept to these buyers. The reviewers comments on this are totally unrealistic.
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