S2 v S3

[naenae]

Hello,

I received some advice from these forums and ended up purchasing an S3. We haven't had it long and I haven't really had much time to play around with it but so far I love it. My sister is hankering after a new camera and really likes ours, I owe her a present and thought I would buy her a new camera. Only the S3 is slightly more money than I really want to spend.

So, I was wondering what the difference between the S2 and S3 is. I can get the S2 for about £130 cheaper than the S3. I'm no camera expert by any stretch of the word but from reading online there isn't *that* much difference. She'll use it for family snap shots and sports photography mostly, but definitely wants the zoom.

Also, another question - which SD cards are the best to go with? I'm slightly confused by all the different speeds and things.

Thanks.

[Radio63]

The primary differences are more megapixels in the S3 (6.0 vs. 5.0) and a slightly larger LCD screen in the S3 (2.0 vs 1.8 inches). There are also a few minor differences in the movie mode, and the S3 has a higher maximum ISO (though the photo quality isn't so great at the higher end). I recently purchased an S2, because I couldn't see that the S3 was worth the extra money, given the ways I use a camera.

If you go to the following web page, you can easily compare the two cameras.
http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/controller?act=ProductCatIndexAct&fcategoryid=113

[BowerR64]

I would think a girl would want somthing small and thin. They like to carry them in a purse and a small thin one like the powershot Somthing like the SD550 i would think would be a better camera for her.

Family stuff is fine with the small one i guess for sports the higher zoom she would want but they arnt as portable.

[truflip]

S3 has faster shutters speeds, 16:9 aspect ratio, decreased shutter lag and also a live histogram which i find very useful. it helps reduce post processing as much as possible.

on top of that, I believe both red eye and purple fringing are much reduced on the S3.. Ive taken many people in the dark shots that require flash and I havent gotten a single red eyed person.... yet

[Radio63]

S3 has faster shutters speeds

Not according to Canon USA's website; both are listed with the same shutter speeds.

[truflip]

o ok my bad :)

[XaiLo]

Well I'm going to politely disagree the S3 has enough going for it that make it a worthwhile upgrade. I've posted on this a couple of times won't rehash here nonetheless the S2 is ample camera for the money and a great deal now.:cool:

Her are my reasons for choosing the S3 over the S2.
http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showpost.php?p=136385&postcount=14

[Radio63]

XaiLo,
I totally agree. The S3 is definitely an upgrade over the S2; I never said it wasn't. What I said was this: Given the ways that I use a camera, the relatively few upgrades in the S3 were not worth the additional cost to me (about $100 US, but the original poster, Naenae, cited a much greater difference in UK). I was not debating the features of the two cameras; I was merely placing a personal value on those features.

I think many people have the tendency to buy what they do not need and cannot use. Take mpx, for example. Few people need more than 3 or 4, but most people I know start their camera search by looking at the mpx and buying the highest number they can afford.

So if the S3 features are valuable to you, then they are definitely worth the price to you. I was merely saying that to me, the price difference did not justify the feature differences. It would seem that Naenae agrees with you, that the differences were worth the price; but the question being asked was were the differences worth the price to Naenae's friend, who is a novice camera user. I say "probably not," given the price difference and the potential users level of expertise.

Radio

[XaiLo]

My reply was not meant to be defensive but rather offensive. And was a response to the original poster:


"I'm no camera expert by any stretch of the word but from reading online there isn't *that* much difference.

Unfortunately I've read quite a few posts and reviews where it is off handedly mentioned that the S3 is not a legitimate or worthy upgrade. Someone might actually begin to believe it if they see it enough times and they do not know any better. Understanding the context in which naenae wrote I actually supported the S2 decision. Sorry if I wasn't clear on that point.:) I just wanted to reiterate that S3 is capable of standing on it's own merits. It would be a shame if someone would be dissuaded from purchasing it because of misinformation.

[cat]

I would think a girl would want somthing small and thin. They like to carry them in a purse and a small thin one like the powershot Somthing like the SD550 i would think would be a better camera for her.

Family stuff is fine with the small one i guess for sports the higher zoom she would want but they arnt as portable.

bah humbug - I'm a girl :D I don't carry a purse, I drink pints, I love football... bigger the better for me :p OP said she really likes his cam - good for her, a woman of taste, don't for heavens sake go buying her some shiny 'ickle thing just because she's a girl!!!! We don't all like pink you know ;)

[swgod98]

This one's for the women: http://focuscamera.com/camera-store/minox-dc-4211-gold-60625.html

:D

[cdnphotographer]

bah humbug - I'm a girl :D I don't carry a purse, I drink pints, I love football... bigger the better for me :p OP said she really likes his cam - good for her, a woman of taste, don't for heavens sake go buying her some shiny 'ickle thing just because she's a girl!!!! We don't all like pink you know ;)


here here :D


ETA
thanks for this thread and the links b/c I wa sjust asking one of the members this exact question (re: S2 & S3)

[BowerR64]

bah humbug - I'm a girl :D I don't carry a purse, I drink pints, I love football... bigger the better for me :p OP said she really likes his cam - good for her, a woman of taste, don't for heavens sake go buying her some shiny 'ickle thing just because she's a girl!!!! We don't all like pink you know ;)

Well i didnt know there were girls into the S2 like cameras. To bad you dont like pink, i ordered in some pink girlie pro lenses for the S2 and S3.

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/BowerR64/Camera/th_Girliepro.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/BowerR64/Camera/Girliepro.jpg)

[cdnphotographer]

ok really dumb question here but doe sthe camera come with a manual:o b/c it states on the website these items in box:

PowerShot S3 IS Body
AA-size Alkaline Battery (x4)
SD Memory Card SDC-16MB
Lens Cap
Neck Strap NS-DC4
Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM
USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU
Stereo Video Cable STV-250N


there's a a cdrom but what about a book manual??

[cdnphotographer]

Well i didnt know there were girls into the S2 like cameras. To bad you dont like pink, i ordered in some pink girlie pro lenses for the S2 and S3.


This girl is buying an S3 :D

[JTL]

ok really dumb question here but doe sthe camera come with a manual:o b/c it states on the website these items in box:

PowerShot S3 IS Body
AA-size Alkaline Battery (x4)
SD Memory Card SDC-16MB
Lens Cap
Neck Strap NS-DC4
Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM
USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU
Stereo Video Cable STV-250N


there's a a cdrom but what about a book manual??There's a manual in the box...mine came with two...English and Spanish...and a Canon has PDF version online that you can download...which makes searching for specific topics very easy.

Now, one thing's for sure, you actually need to read the manual...several times. Then you need to spend a day or so reading the manual with the camera in your lap just testing stuff and familiarizing yourself with all of the features and controls. Then you need a day or so to set the custom settings the way you want them and test the results. After that, you can have tons of fun shooting for real with this phenomenal camera. If you don't do all that stuff, you'll be back here in a few days like some of the lazy and sad cases asking questions like "How do I set the aperture?" and "Why are my pictures dark?" :D :D :D

[cdnphotographer]

LMAO but wait why are my pictures so dark :p



I don't have it yet so that was sarcasm there LMAO

[XaiLo]

Take the lens cap off LOL... have fun when you get it cdnphotographer;)

[BowerR64]

This girl is buying an S3 :D


Me too. but they fit both.

http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/BowerR64/Camera/th_Girliepro.jpg (http://s5.photobucket.com/albums/y191/BowerR64/Camera/Girliepro.jpg)


Take the lens cap off LOL... have fun when you get it cdnphotographer;)

LOL!