Canon S3 IS

[M&N]

I have just started to get really into taking photos and seem to have a natural flair. My first camera was a Canon Ixus 300 which has always given me fantastic quality in all situations. I have also recently bought an Olympus 725SW (the underwater camera) and have been very disappointed with night shots.

I am wondering how the quality of both day and night shots will compare to both of the above if I buy the canon S3 IS?

I don't seem to be able to find anything as good as my 6 year old canon Ixus that is in my price range...... why?

Mandy

[avi777]

I would say wait and take a look at the H9

[M&N]

Why? What is the H9 and how does it differ?

[avi777]

Check out that link. Lots of information there.

http://www.sony.co.th/cybershot/dsc-H9_H7/index.html

[M&N]

looks great! when is it available in Oz? Do you know?

[avi777]

looks great! when is it available in Oz? Do you know?

No idea, supposed to be out by May. Lotsa people waiting for it. Some dealers even claim that it might be out in 2 weeks.

[gerrydee]

Keep in mind that the above link is a press release, not a review. When reviewed, the camera may not be performing as hoped for. An example is the Olympus UZ550. It boasted a lot of advanced features but it turned out to be a different story when reviewed. A lot of the advanced features were really existing features on other cameras but using a different name for the process and in order to get some of the advanced features, you have to use ridiculously low resolution etc... It's been rumored that the Sony H9 will not deliver as promised for some of the same reasons.
For example, face detection technology exists on almost all the better brand digital cameras, but under different terminology and settings. When cosiderinf ZOOM power, digital zoom is not to even be considered, it's only interpolation of the image (cropping).
If I were you, I'd wait for DPR, DCR or Steve's to review it fully before spending a chunk of change for a camera which may not outperform the H5, even less the S3.

IMO, the Canon S3 is as close to a dslr in a digicam as you can get and that's what the reviews say also. Plus you get the most advanced stereo video on the digicam market, as good as my entry level videocam, no less. It is the most versatile camera on the market today, bar none, if that's what you're looking for. Plus it's about $200. less than what the H9 will cost.
If you just want to shoot pictures, may I suggest the Canon G7 or the Kodak P880 which is a LOT cheaper and takes fabulous pictures.
Good luck in your odyssey.

[M&N]

Thanks for the above.................I was just going to ask if anyone knew how much the H9 would be in comparison to the canon?

Yes I do just want to take photos but I want them to be that bit better than a standard snap. The optical zoom is of great interest as I always find I am too far from my subject (concerts etc). I really need a camera that is a bit special but not one that takes ages to set up and a university qualification to figure out...... any advances??????????????

Mandy

[rizwan1983]

You could maybe consider Fuji's S6500FD as well? On the pro side, its cheaper than the S3, better at night shots with high ISO and less noise, RAW support available, and unlimited movie mode till card fills up. But no IS, heavier cam (though some say this make it more stable), less battery life.


Check it out....
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/fuji/finepix_s6000fd-review/

[John_Reed]

If you're looking for something "DSLR-like," it comes closer to filling the bill than the Canon S3. For one thing, it uses a manual zoom ring, and a manual focus ring. It has a faster Leica lens that doesn't extend while zooming, making it easier to amount extra elements like teleconverters on its 55mm filter threads. I use its predecessor, the FZ30, and have been quite happy with it, having snapped now over 43,000 shots with the camera in 1.5 years. See if you can drum up any S3 shots like this one?

http://john-reed.smugmug.com/photos/137144126-L.jpg

[M&N]

Beautiful shot! The plot thickens.................... does anyone rate the Canon???

[Kenen]

Ok, the S3 does not have a manual zoom or focus ring, but it is still a good camera. It should be cheaper than the Pana... I have an S2, there is some debate about how much better the S3 is, and I don't know how much difference there is between the two, whatever difference there is, the S3 is better... Anyway, just for fun, here is a picture taken w/ my S2.

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/163/424007325_abcbc12091.jpg

In the end, don't get a camera that hasn't been reviewed, and try to get to a store and get a feel for the camera, even if you are going to buy online. The end choice is up to you.

[John_Reed]

Here's a side by side comparison (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_s3is%2Cpanasonic_dmcfz50&show=all) from the dpreview site. Features I didn't bring up before will become evident, like RAW shooting & TTL hotshoe for the FZ50, for example, not to mention manual control thumbwheels for aperture and shutterspeed, 10MP vs. 6MP sensor.

My Black-Crowned Night Heron "Bird in Flight" shot was taken with my FZ30 with a Nikon 1.7X TC-E17ED telephoto extender (along with a 55-60mm stepup ring) screwed onto my filter threads. Here's an actual FZ50 shot, taken by my friend Aftab from New Zealand, of a Shag on a rock. Aftab was also using the same Nikon TC as mine:

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/115/366332548_43f2bcb688_b.jpg

Aftab took this shot in RAW; you can see that he had very good control of dynamic range there, as details in both the black feathers and the white feathers indicate.

As the previous poster's S3 Swan shot shows, it's easy to over-expose birds' white feathers. I find that especially true of snow-white Egrets, who usually demand about -1EV exposure bias, like this one did:

http://john-reed.smugmug.com/photos/137144512-L.jpg

[reppans]

http://john-reed.smugmug.com/photos/137144512-L.jpg

Great shot... talk about a "bad hair" day :eek:

[Visual Reality]

Don't get a camera that hasn't been reviewed, and try to get to a store and get a feel for the camera, even if you are going to buy online. The end choice is up to you.
Smart words...I recommend the same. I knew I wanted the S3 IS after reading reviews. I almost went for the Sony H5 but the S3 just had a few things about it that gave it the edge (options, superb movie mode w/stereo sound, movie button, snap pictures while recording, other things). Its the same way I choose keyboards and mice...review online, and go try it out in a store. Once I got my hands on the real deal, I knew my choice was made.

[M&N]

How good are any of these cameras without lots of additional add-ons though? Also has anyone got any night shots I can look at from the S3 and the fz50 please?

[rizwan1983]

I'm no expert, but I sort of categorized the various combinations of ISO and IS according to the following 3 scenarios before I made my decision.

1. With high ISO you can use a fast shutter speed in low light. You have more "capture the moment"‘ness and IS is not needed.

2. With low ISO you must use a slow shutter speed in low light. You have less "capture the moment"‘ness and IS would be very useful.

3. With a medium ISO (of around 400 to 800), you will use a medium shutter speed. Have an average "capture the moment"‘ness and IS would be useful.

The Panasonic falls under category 2. Its ISO is noisy above 200. So in low light, you will rely on your IS for good stability. Fortunately Pan's IS is considered to be the best in the market. However, because of your low ISO and low shutter speed, if your subject moves it will appear blurred.

The Canon S3 falls under category 3. Its ISO can go higher than the Panasonic with less noise. In low light, your IS will keep your camera stable while you take your shot. Since you can notch your ISO a bit higher, your subject will appear less blurred if it moves.

The Fuji S6500FD falls under category 1. Its ISO can go higher than most while still maintaining less image noise. It does not have IS, but since you can use a high ISO, you probably won't need it, and you probably won't see much image blur either.

However Fuji's lack of IS means that using a low ISO would be a problem (low ISO means a cleaner image with less noise). So daylight photos might end up blurred due to camera shake. But if you've got steady hands, this might not be an issue. However taking photographs at the telephoto end of the lens magnifies camera shake so be aware that a tripod would come in handy.

All three cameras are popular and have an edge over each other. The FZ50 will do better in daylight than the S3 and S6500FD because of its better IS system. The S6500FD will do better in low light shots, but may not fair so well in daylight because of its lack of IS, especially at the telephoto end of the lens, unless you have steady hands or use a tripod. The Canon S3 has a good balance of both worlds, and its smaller and lighter. Plus its a very popular camera and troubleshooting would not be a problem as there'll be plenty of advice for it found in these forums.

I chose the Fuji cam, as it was going at a promotional cheaper rate when I was making my choice, and I value low light images more. Price was a big factor for me. I like the fact that it has RAW image capability, so I could always post process after an image is taken to try to reduce noise. I figured that in daylight I could always take a photo with a high ISO (to counter cam shake) and post process to reduce noise (The Canon does not have RAW btw). But the Fuji is big and its size was an agonizing decision. I decided to take the plunge eventually.

Read the reviews:
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/panasonic/dmc_fz50-review/
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/canon/powershot_s3-review/
http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/fu...6000fd-review/

I haven't used the FZ50, and I've only tinkered around with the S3 for too short a while. So just check user reviews before making a decision.

[Kenen]

For picts from the S3 go to the S3 Picture thread in the Canon Forum. There are tons of pictures there, from better photographers than I am. ;)

[M&N]

Thanks for everyones input on this thread. I took all cameras into consideration but ended up buying a Canon G7...................