Need help

[akd]

Want to buy canon super zoom cam. Shorlisted canon's S3 IS and S5 IS.Can't choose
which one.Any one help me?

[donato]

I recommend the S5. I went from S3 to S5 myself, never looked back.:cool:

[griptape]

Answer the following questions...

1. Will you ever use a hot shoe?
2. Will you make prints bigger than 8x10?
3. How important is LCD size to you?
4. Will you be taking a lot of low light no-flash pictures?
5. How much of an issue is budget?

[saturndude]

I like the S3, and I'm happy with it. Standard AA batteries, standard memory (not proprietary Sony, for example), and great zoom that makes for great excitement.

I've seen reviews for the S5. More MP from the same size sensor gives more noise at high ISO. If you add a flash (more money, not always allowed in buildings), low-light performance can be improved. Will the pictures be too noisy to be useful? Only you can answer that.

The S5 is more versatile with color effects (apply sepia at the time or after the photo was shot?). I've never used the color effects on my S3, but it's a nice feature.

From the factory, I think they're about equal. Canon has gone about as far as they can go with the 1/2.5" sensor. I don't need the extra flash ability (I shoot outdoor sports mostly), so I favor the S3 (plus I have it already). There are plenty of megapixels for any size I will ever want to print (and I can go even larger with noise-reduction software). The unofficial DIGIC-2 based camera hack that unlocks the battery meter and other features is a nice bonus, and it is instantly and completely reversible. It won't work on DIGIC-3, as of this posting. And you'll save money -- to put towards a tripod, maybe a polarizer, camera bag, more memory, extra batteries or a charger or something.

[akd]

Many many thanks to donato,griptape and saturndude,
Replying to griptape quiries, I occasionally use external flash if that improve situation substantially.I hardly take prints beyond 8X10.Yes screen size does matter to me. A 2.5'' is always preferable to 2'' one(but not at the cost of overall IQ of camera).Situation may arise to take shot in low lights no flash.
Budget is not a problem.I couldn't get what saturndude meant by comparing DIGIC-II with DIGIC-III. Kindly explain.Lastlly does face detection tech in DIGIC-III improve lot in overall IQ?

Thanks

[David Metsky]

There is a software hack (created by users, not by Canon) that you can load into your camera that allows you to shoot RAW and do several other things that weren't turned on by Canon at the factory. A lot of people are using it to make the S3 do far more then it could originally do; no one has reported any ill effects yet. This hack has not yet been created for the DIGIC-III chip so it's not available for the S5.

The big thing in my mind is are you going to be shooting in low light often. The S3/S5 by themselves aren't good low light cameras. With the addition of the hot shoe you can do a lot more with the S5 and take indoors shots that you really couldn't get with the S3. If that is important to you then you should consider it.

[saturndude]

I believe the firmware hack can only be done with DIGIC-2 cameras (the S5 has a DIGIC-3 chip, so you cannot have a battery meter and so forth).

I forgot that the S5 (with the DIGIC-3 chip) had face recognition (I am pretty sure my S3 does not have it). This could be a great feature, but I didn't think about it when I compared them.

Please let us know what you decide. Enjoy taking pictures!

[ooverdrive]

Budget is not a problem.

Yet another reason for you to buy the S5:)

[akd]

Yet another reason for you to buy the S5:)

Many many thanks to u OOVERDRIVE. Your's Kerala State gallery shots are
simply amazing! Hope u shot all with S3? Actually I am convinced with S3's
IQ.Only deter by its 2" LCD screen and 1GB video limit.By the way do u find
any problem with 2'' LCD?. Kindly let me know.

Thanks
AKD

[SpecialK]

Only deter by its 2" LCD screen and 1GB video limit.By the way do u find any problem with 2'' LCD?. Kindly let me know.

Thanks
AKD


Plenty of free software to join AVI files. The LCD is fine.

[ooverdrive]

Many many thanks to u OOVERDRIVE. Your's Kerala State gallery shots are
simply amazing! Hope u shot all with S3? Actually I am convinced with S3's
IQ.Only deter by its 2" LCD screen and 1GB video limit.By the way do u find
any problem with 2'' LCD?. Kindly let me know.

Thanks
AKD

Thanks,those pictures were actually shot with a mixture of konica,kodak and cell phone cameras also.As with 2" LCD there is no big problem so far to
mention,we S3 owners are used to it....sometimes it is hard to use it while on strong sun and there is the option of the viewfinder.I think SpecialK told us about the 1GB video limit and most of us don't shoot upto the 1Gb/8 mnts limit unless demanded:confused:

[ooverdrive]

Shorlisted canon's S3 IS and S5 IS.Can't choose
which one.Any one help me?

Dear akd it seems you decided on aS5,but if you want more creative and serious photography,I would recommend a Dslr even in this forum many S3 owners have since upgraded to dslrs.Check out some D40 pics thread of xailo,in the nikon section.A dslr gives the choice to change lenses accordingly,it may be pricey when compared with a regular p&s shoot camera,but atm slr prices have came to our grip at least for the nikon D40 and my point is if you have got the budget for a canon s5 ,you might seriously consider a D40/D50and no regret on image quality,take a look at the link,

http://emart.manoramaonline.com/electronics/ls.aspx?c=4127

it is now sold at Rs 22990 with 1 Year Replacement Warranty

[ecs4gl]

AKD,

If you have not already I would definitely check the LCDs in person at the store and see how you like them. To me the smaller 2 inch LCD on the S3 eliminated it from my list of choices when I saw it in person. The S5 is bigger, and also has 207K resolution versus 115K on the S3. It's always personal preference, but on the LCD topic I give the edge to the S5. That plus the hot shoe...