PICS inside - S400 vs. S3 comparo - defective S3 ?

[S2kDriver]

Hey folks, I'd ordered the S3 from Newegg last week and the box was in acceptable condition, but there were some dents along the side and corner of the box. Then, I'd noticed that warranty form was torn at the perforation and part of it missing. I was a bit bothered by it but everything else seemed new, all things were in wrap, etc. For all photos, click on "all sizes" to see the large pic.

Canon PowerShot S3 IS box when it arrived .....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s2kdriver/220114422/

Canon PowerShot S3 IS warranty form torn at perforation .....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s2kdriver/220114426/

I was taking a few photos, mostly in Program AE mode with the lowest ISO mode and I've noticed that a part of the photo was always consistently blurry. This is a pic of my closet. I zoomed in a bit to avoid the inherent distortions on either end of the zoom range. I took the same exact shot many times with both my old S400 and the new S3 and the results and comparisons were virtually identical each time - the pics from the S400 always seem cleaner and more even throughout, than the images pumped out of the S3.

Canon PowerShot S400 image (shot in auto mode with flash) .....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s2kdriver/221664083/

Canon PowerShot S3 IS image (shot in Program AE mode, ISO 80 with flash) .....
http://www.flickr.com/photos/s2kdriver/221664082/

It seems, pretty much the entire right edge (especially the bottom) is noticeably blurry. Compare the neck ties and the blue lettering on the cardboard boxes in both pics. Of course the degree of blurriness is subjective, but I think, this level is out of spec and unacceptable. I think it is glaringly bad. The red lettering on the cardboard box on the left of the pic - the S400 wins by an iota I think, but that isn't bad. However, the "Travelpro" on the carry-on bag, the S3 wins by a little. Please click on "all sizes" to see the large res and give me your opinions. I just want to get as much feedback before I may RMA. I don't know if the cam came like this from the factory or if (taking the condition of the box and the warranty form into consideration) someone returned it to Newegg and the same S3 shipped to me.

TIA. :)

[S2kDriver]

Man, I can't get any breaks. I just tried to RMA through Newegg.com and it states the S3 is not covered by their RMA policy and to contact the manufacturer (Canon). This is crazy, part of the warranty form is missing and the cam is producing blurry pics yet I can't get a replacement of the same item from them? Tried calling them, but busy, will try again later. Has anybody tried to RMA the S3 from Newegg? TIA.

[BowerR64]

What if you called canon? tell them you have an S3 and the warranty card was missing and you wondered what you could do. Or see if they can look up the S/N on your camera and see when it was sent in. Maybe its already on record as being sent in then you can tell this to newegg.

When i got my camera the person i got mine from off e-bay told me it was new in the box but he only took the stuff out of the box for the auction pictures. When i got it my first shot started at #115 so this was not the truth, there was a small video on the memory card and if it was new it wouldnt start at shot #115. The camera seems to work ok, but its obvious he used it.

You can reset the image # counter but thats somthing you kinda need to know first.

[XaiLo]

and demand a refund the issue at hand is that you paid for a new camera and that is not what you recieved. (Explain to them why you feel this way it was one thing to overlook the condition of the box, but it is completely a different story for the registration portion of the warranty to be missing. and this item is eligible for warranty rather exchange by them. The following is from the product information on their site.

# FREE 512MB with combo special, limited supplies
# Canon S3-IS Black 6.0MP Digital Camera 12X Optical Zoom - Retail

Digital Zoom: 4X
Dimensions: 4.46" x 3.07" x 2.97" (113.4 x 78.0 x 75.5mm)
Gross Pixels: 6.2MP
Image Sensor: 1/2.5" CCD
Resolution: 2,816 x 2,112
Sensitivity: Auto, High ISO Auto, ISO 80/100/200/400/800 equivalent
Series: PowerShot
Stabilizer: Optical Image Stabilizer
Type: SLR-like
Weight: 14.5 oz. (410g) camera body only
# Model #: 1101B001
# Item #: N82E16830120043
# ** This item may only be returned for a replacement of the same make/model within 30 days only. what's this?#
In Stock
# $7.11 Three Day Shipping

So get yourself a new camera...;)

[S2kDriver]

Yea, the line was busy all day long, so I went the chat route during my lunch break. They gave me an RMA number without too much trouble, don't know why they restrict that on the web form. Will report back when I get the replacement next week. :)