Is 12x zoom even useful on a canon s3?

[mikeyj]

Hi guys. I've seen some beautiful pics with your canons, tons of stuff from S3s. Se very popular digicam overall. I've just tested the cam, and haven't used it extensively, but I'm wondering if its even possible to get a nice photo from this cam at 12x or even 10x for that matter. It seems more nifty than practical to have that large of a zoom on a point and shoot digital camera, unless you can use the full range to snap pretty printable pictures. Reason I'm wondering, is I'm considering buying an S3, but Im choosing between this, or an A710, because I'd like some extra zoom to get closer to far off subjects or scenery. I've to this point leaned to the A-710 because from what reviews are available, along with reviews of the A-700, the reviewers seem to lean towards the A7""s pointing to it as having little or no purple fringing, & minimal telephoto distortion, along with a cleaner low light shot at higher ISO levels. Is this a fact that the A710 performs better at higher ISO, or just a myth? I'm wondering if I should trust the reviews or the owners of the S3. Guess its always tricky. I might in the end get myself a DSLR, but they are so much larger, and never compact which can be a hassle when you plan to do something besides taking nice photos. Any thoughts would be helpful.

[nism]

o yea
you can get top shots at 12x
even with a teleconverter

[XaiLo]

Check out the "Some S3 Pics" thread 85% of my pics are at full tele and or my photo gallery 98%+ of the flower pics are at full teleI practically live there. Oh and the insects in my photo gallery are also shot at full tele.

[XaiLo]

o yea
you can get top shots at 12x
even with a teleconverter

even better under some conditions which is great considering they're very good to begin with, a lot of my shots that you would think are macro or super macro are not.

[todo boggy]

the 12x zoom is one of the reason i bought the S3..it is extremely useful and in fact i sometimes feel the 12x zoom is not enought thus the need of a telephoto lens converter

[downtrodden]

Indeed, the 12x is VERY useful, especially for portraits and candid shots. And the IS makes it useful even without a tripod. If there were no IS and you had jittery hands, THEN and ONLY THEN- would i say 12x may not be useful. But IS makes a world of difference at the long end of the zoom. Just so you don't have to go find a 12x shot- here's a pic from my gallery that's shot at 12x and the exif data for the picture:

My girlfriend:
http://static.flickr.com/97/233369522_b2a368db1a.jpg
Camera: Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 72 mm

72mm is full 12x zoom

Just to clear one thing up though.. Image Stabilization ONLY works on the movement of YOUR hand affecting the camera. and only to a certain degree of movement. If you have really jittery hands, your shots may be hit or miss. It's also NOT a miracle worker. IS will not affect motion blur from a subject you're photographing moving while you take the picture.

But Awesome cam and i suspect you'll be very happy with your purchase!

~Cory

[Wombat]

even better under some conditions which is great considering there very good to begin with, a lot of my shots that you would think are macro or super macro are not.

Xailo

I am with you 100%. The x12 zoom is wonderful. Like you I use it for "macro" shots and simply think of it as taking macros from a long way away.

regards
Wombat

[XaiLo]

12x Rulez...:D

[todo boggy]

12x Rulez...:D

Yeah....12X RULEZ!!!!!:cool: ;)

[rocketball]

i gotta say i am also pretty dang happy with my S3 at 12X zoom.:)

[XaiLo]

Either the OP got the message or got lost.:confused: ah well... 12x + Canon TC = 18x :eek:

[tim11]

Guys! Stop gloating and answering OP's question. :rolleyes:
If your camera don't have effective IS then any zoom over 4x will be blurry. Of course 12x zoom with IS on S3 is useful.

Downtrodden. The girl had green lips? Nice shot.

[XaiLo]

Guys! Stop gloating and answering OP's question. :rolleyes:
If your camera don't have effective IS then any zoom over 4x will be blurry.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh... OP specifically asked about S3 duhhhh... all respondents except for one :rolleyes: own S3s :confused: lmao

Can not comment on the A-710 don't own one never used one, there's a thread here with a few hundred S2/S3 pics covering a broad range of lightning condtions and subject matter.


Of course 12x zoom with IS on S3 is useful.

As an S3 owner and user, my take is slightly different. dang it works great!!!

[tim11]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh... OP specifically asked about S3 duhhhh... all respondents except for one :rolleyes: own S3s :confused: lmao
duh? There is something called general knowledge. ;)

[XaiLo]

general knowledge vs hands on applicable experience... hmmm do the math :)

[tim11]

...and there is something called sense of humour.
What's the problem XaiLo? You can't take a vote of confidence from a non-S3 owner?
Okay let me rephrase... LoLz... "12x zoom with IS on S3 is GREAT."

[tim11]

But OP's question is 'Is 12x zoom even useful on a canon s3?' and originally my answer, as the only sole non-S3 owner, is straight to the point.
"yes it is useful".
Still I can't see the what's the excitement was all about.:rolleyes:

[XaiLo]

Got one...
yep, no problem...
Ah the world is in sync again. lol ;)

[XaiLo]

o yea
you can get top shots at 12x
even with a teleconverter

This was the first post in response to the OP, my post was an affirmation of this post. and it seems straight enough to the point.

[tim11]

Alright XaiLo. All I meant to say was 12x with IS on S3 is great thing to have.
I couldn't resist stirring you up a little. :D
Great shots you have there. I have seen most of them; of course.
Have a nice day. This wil be my last post in this thread.

[TEMPA]

Wouldn't have bought my S3 if not for the great reviews I had read, the great pictures I had seen taken with it and the 12 X Optical Zoom.

Yes the 12x zoom is extremely useful, to answer the OP. I wouldn't be without it now that I have it...

TEMPA

[Alnath]

Hi guys. I've seen some beautiful pics with your canons, tons of stuff from S3s. Se very popular digicam overall. I've just tested the cam, and haven't used it extensively, but I'm wondering if its even possible to get a nice photo from this cam at 12x or even 10x for that matter. It seems more nifty than practical to have that large of a zoom on a point and shoot digital camera, unless you can use the full range to snap pretty printable pictures. Reason I'm wondering, is I'm considering buying an S3, but Im choosing between this, or an A710, because I'd like some extra zoom to get closer to far off subjects or scenery. I've to this point leaned to the A-710 because from what reviews are available, along with reviews of the A-700, the reviewers seem to lean towards the A7""s pointing to it as having little or no purple fringing, & minimal telephoto distortion, along with a cleaner low light shot at higher ISO levels. Is this a fact that the A710 performs better at higher ISO, or just a myth? I'm wondering if I should trust the reviews or the owners of the S3. Guess its always tricky. I might in the end get myself a DSLR, but they are so much larger, and never compact which can be a hassle when you plan to do something besides taking nice photos. Any thoughts would be helpful.


I sold my G6 to get the 12x zoom of the S3, because i normaly use a 20D carrying a camera with a 4x zoom was very limiting, i find the 12x zoom of the S3 makes it very flexible indeed and shots like this
http://alnath.fotopic.net/p34352949.html wouldnt be possible without it

[BowerR64]

I sold my G6 to get the 12x zoom of the S3, because i normaly use a 20D carrying a camera with a 4x zoom was very limiting, i find the 12x zoom of the S3 makes it very flexible indeed and shots like this
http://alnath.fotopic.net/p34352949.html wouldnt be possible without it

Ddang i would of traded my S3 for the G6