canon s3 vs canon s5

[andyjl]

Hi,
What is the main differences between the two cameras? The canon s5 is newer and more expensive. But is it really worth it to spend the extra money to get the s5? I am asking because my sister is going to Switzerland for the upcoming school year and she wants to get a new camera. Thanks

[downtrodden]

Here check out this thread, several posts in the same thread should answer all your questions, if not do a quick search to reveal more threads about the same topic:

http://www.dcresource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32468

There are sample pictures there too for easy referance. Or you could read the reviews on this very website, for both cameras to get an idea of all the differences.

Hope that gets you pointed in the right direction.

~Cory

[donato]

Hi,
What is the main differences between the two cameras? The canon s5 is newer and more expensive. But is it really worth it to spend the extra money to get the s5? I am asking because my sister is going to Switzerland for the upcoming school year and she wants to get a new camera. Thanks

I did the upgrade from S3 to S5, very happy about it. This review here was most helpful for me:

http://www.mycanong7.com/301.html

[dhcalva]

I have, so far, found only 2 things that I can really gripe about with the S5. Neither of which affect the photos it takes however.

The first, is the much bemoaned arrangement of the memory card and batteries. It's annoying, but I can live with it and just transfer images using USB.

The second is the cheep quality of the included neck strap. One of my first purchases was the leather neck strap for it. The included one rubs against the neck fairly abrasively and actually hurts after a short time.

[donato]

neck strap. One of my first purchases was the leather neck strap for it. The included one rubs against the neck fairly abrasively and actually hurts after a short time.

I bought the Canon WS-20 wriststrap - it is just fantastic! Looks cool too ... :cool:

[GravyTrain]

I bought the Canon WS-20 wriststrap - it is just fantastic! Looks cool too ... :cool:

i'm thinking a wrist strap may be the solution for me too. the neck strap is not very comfortable....plus when i go to yellowstone, i can have my binoculars around my neck and my camera around my wrist. :)

[andyjl]

do you guys think that it is worth spending the extra money to get the s5? because it is a significant amount more.

Also, how is the picture quality difference? It appears to be the same for both cameras.

[David Metsky]

If you want the Hot Shoe, then yes it is worth it. If you don't plan on using an external flash, then IMO no, it's not worth it.

[TenD]

Your thread is still active over in the DSLR forum although it's kind of been hijacked and has degraded into an argument over lenses. Here is a comparison chart (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_s3is%2Ccanon_s5is&show=all) from DPreview of the two cameras.
Highlights:
-The S5 has more pixels 8 vs 6mil, the difference is minor, and you are cramming more pixels on a small sensor and that results in noise, although the S5 looks to do a great job at reducing that noise.
-The S5 adds ISO 1600, with the added pixels I don't really know if this is going to be usable at all, my S2 is pretty grainy above ISO 200, I couldn't even imagine ISO 1600.
-The S5 adds a hot shoe. This is very useful, at least for me. I don't really know how useful it will be for travel though. I doubt your sister will want to lug along an external flash.
-The S5 uses a more advanced AF system. The AF has been one of my major disappointments with my S2, although it works well enough most of the time.
-The S5 has a slightly larger LCD. For me personally this really means nothing, but for some this is very important.

Overall the reason that I would upgrade to the S5 would be for the hot shoe. But I am perfectly satisfied with my S2 so far and although it's basically been replaced with a Rebel XT, it will still reside in my bag for convenience, and its awesome movie mode.
The S3 which several on this forum endorse heartily(me too, even though I still have an S2)is a great little camera and will perform well in a variety of situations. The S5 edges it in a couple of places, but the S3 is a bargain now and I think it will do everything your sister could want a camera to do. Like I said in the DSLR forum: She could get the S3, a couple of 2 gig SD cards, a couple of sets of rechargeable batteries, and a nice bag, and still have some money left over.

[donato]

do you guys think that it is worth spending the extra money to get the s5?


for me it was - absolutely :)

[andyjl]

Your thread is still active over in the DSLR forum although it's kind of been hijacked and has degraded into an argument over lenses. Here is a comparison chart (http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/compare_post.asp?method=sidebyside&cameras=canon_s3is%2Ccanon_s5is&show=all) from DPreview of the two cameras.
Highlights:
-The S5 has more pixels 8 vs 6mil, the difference is minor, and you are cramming more pixels on a small sensor and that results in noise, although the S5 looks to do a great job at reducing that noise.
-The S5 adds ISO 1600, with the added pixels I don't really know if this is going to be usable at all, my S2 is pretty grainy above ISO 200, I couldn't even imagine ISO 1600.
-The S5 adds a hot shoe. This is very useful, at least for me. I don't really know how useful it will be for travel though. I doubt your sister will want to lug along an external flash.
-The S5 uses a more advanced AF system. The AF has been one of my major disappointments with my S2, although it works well enough most of the time.
-The S5 has a slightly larger LCD. For me personally this really means nothing, but for some this is very important.

Overall the reason that I would upgrade to the S5 would be for the hot shoe. But I am perfectly satisfied with my S2 so far and although it's basically been replaced with a Rebel XT, it will still reside in my bag for convenience, and its awesome movie mode.
The S3 which several on this forum endorse heartily(me too, even though I still have an S2)is a great little camera and will perform well in a variety of situations. The S5 edges it in a couple of places, but the S3 is a bargain now and I think it will do everything your sister could want a camera to do. Like I said in the DSLR forum: She could get the S3, a couple of 2 gig SD cards, a couple of sets of rechargeable batteries, and a nice bag, and still have some money left over.
thanks tenD i'll let my sister know. you've been very helpful

[andyjl]

oh i have one more question about SD cards. I know that fast ones are better to get because you can take multiple pictures more quickly. What is a recommended one to get? I see different kinds like 150x, 160x, sandisk ultra II, sandisk extreme III, etc, and i'm sure theres more. What is the best one to get?

[Eztarget]

oh i have one more question about SD cards. I know that fast ones are better to get because you can take multiple pictures more quickly. What is a recommended one to get? I see different kinds like 150x, 160x, sandisk ultra II, sandisk extreme III, etc, and i'm sure theres more. What is the best one to get?

Again if you read the main review on this site Jeff mentions getting at LEAST a CLASS 4 card. Unless you're a professional photographer or really need that extra speed it's a waste of money, the CLASS 4 is plenty fast.

You can buy 4GB Class 4 cards at Bestbuy now. If you want faster and larger cards just google "8GB Class 6 SDHC" and you'll find tons of hits.

[David Metsky]

For the S3/S5, a 60x card is all that is needed. Nothing faster will do you any good, the camera simply can't write any faster. I'm not sure how that translates into SDHC "classes", I think class 4 but I'm not sure.

In Sandisk naming, Ultra-II is 60x, Extreme-III is 150x. But pretty much any brand will do.

[TenD]

oh i have one more question about SD cards. I know that fast ones are better to get because you can take multiple pictures more quickly. What is a recommended one to get? I see different kinds like 150x, 160x, sandisk ultra II, sandisk extreme III, etc, and i'm sure theres more. What is the best one to get?

You need to have a decently fast card, but definitely don't need to pay the premium for an ultra fast card. I use a Sandisk Ultra II, I think it's overkill, but the price is decent and I know it's fast enough. The movie mode is what eats speed in the S2/3/5, but it's nice to have the speed there for everything.

I would buy 2 smaller cards instead of one big one, if something does happen to one of the cards in the middle of a trip, you still have the other one to use. I would recommend 2 2gig cards to start with.

[David Metsky]

The movie mode is what eats speed in the S2/3/5, but it's nice to have the speed there for everything.
Actually, it's full size burst mode that is the most demanding. The usual movie mode (640x480 @ 30fps) can be handled by a standard card. But you need a 60x for burst mode.

[TenD]

Actually, it's full size burst mode that is the most demanding. The usual movie mode (640x480 @ 30fps) can be handled by a standard card. But you need a 60x for burst mode.

S3 review Jeff Keller:
"For all of these movie modes you'll want to have a high speed memory card. If you don't have one, movie recording may stop unexpectedly."
But I have to agree with you, Large Superfine should be more taxing on the card.

[David Metsky]

S3 review Jeff Keller:
"For all of these movie modes you'll want to have a high speed memory card. If you don't have one, movie recording may stop unexpectedly."
But I have to agree with you, Large Superfine should be more taxing on the card.

I know, but he's wrong. :) My S3 works fine in all movie modes with a standard Sandisk card. In burst mode it hangs up.

[XaiLo]

I use a 2GB Transcend 150x SD well actually four of them they work great.

[andyjl]

http://www.buydig.com/shop/product.aspx?sku=E2CNPSS3

is this sandisk SD card sufficiently fast enough to take quick shots multiple times and for movie mode? there is no description of the sd card

[andyjl]

actually i just saw the sandisk ultra II there somewhere on the page..so i guess the one sold in the kit probably isn't good enough.

[David Metsky]

And you can get them for much cheaper then that. I'm not sure that bundle does you any good. Take a look at newegg.com for much cheaper cards.

All you need for the S3/S5 is 60x, and that is only for burst mode.

[e_dawg]

The big differences for me are:

- S3 can shoot RAW mode with CHDK hack; S5 can't
- S3 has a horrible little LCD screen; S5 has a decent (although not great) screen