Отзывы о Фотоаппарат Canon PowerShot S3 IS
691 отзывов пользователей o Canon PowerShot S3 IS
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Скроменый эксперт
08.01.2007
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
I bought this camera a few days ago, and used it extensively for a wedding rehearsal/ceremony/reception, as well as a birthday party. It did a great job. I'm coming from a point-and-shoot with no optical zoom, so obviously I had some pretty under-whelming experiences before, but I've used the Rebel series before, and while this certainly isn't a d-SLR, it really does a fantastic job. It is pretty much the perfect balance between a d-SLR and a point-and-shoot.
The image quality this puts out is really nice. Low-light shots don't give it much trouble, and coupled with the high-power flash, this was generally not an issue at all. The optical zoom does a fantastic job (I noticed some slight artifacting when zoomed at 12x in low-light, but other than that, no problems).
Surprisingly, the video recording capabilities of this camera are startling. I do video production for a living, and work with an HDV camera most of the time, but use normal DV cameras as well. The quality of the video the Canon S3 can put out is at least equivalent to a decent DV-cam. Taking into account the low cost of SD flash memory nowadays (I acquired a 2GB card for $35 from a retail store), you can easily use the camera to store 20-30 minutes of video. Once 4-8GB cards become economical, I would certainly consider recommending others to look at this camera if they have neither a camera or a camcorder. The quality of the still shots you will get on this will be much higher than the stills you can get on most camcorders, and the video you get on the S3 is pretty close to what you would see on most consumer-level DV-camcorders.
In summary, this is a great camera, at a very reasonable price. I would highly recommend it for those that want something more than a point-and-shoot, but don't quite need all the bells and whistles of a d-SLR.
The image quality this puts out is really nice. Low-light shots don't give it much trouble, and coupled with the high-power flash, this was generally not an issue at all. The optical zoom does a fantastic job (I noticed some slight artifacting when zoomed at 12x in low-light, but other than that, no problems).
Surprisingly, the video recording capabilities of this camera are startling. I do video production for a living, and work with an HDV camera most of the time, but use normal DV cameras as well. The quality of the video the Canon S3 can put out is at least equivalent to a decent DV-cam. Taking into account the low cost of SD flash memory nowadays (I acquired a 2GB card for $35 from a retail store), you can easily use the camera to store 20-30 minutes of video. Once 4-8GB cards become economical, I would certainly consider recommending others to look at this camera if they have neither a camera or a camcorder. The quality of the still shots you will get on this will be much higher than the stills you can get on most camcorders, and the video you get on the S3 is pretty close to what you would see on most consumer-level DV-camcorders.
In summary, this is a great camera, at a very reasonable price. I would highly recommend it for those that want something more than a point-and-shoot, but don't quite need all the bells and whistles of a d-SLR.
Скроменый эксперт
25.02.2007
2/10
Оценка пользователя
Ужасно
I bought this camera last week, just prior to a long trip around Asia.
I used it for 3 days at my first stop, and enjoyed taking photos with it.
Once or twice, when I turned it on, the viewfinder just showed dark gray static, but turning it off and back on cured it. I didn't think much of it at the time.
As of today (day 5 of the trip), that's all it does, both in the viewfinder and LCD. I can vaguely see the difference between pointing it at a bright light vs a dark area (the screen goes between gray and black), but that's it.
All the icons display properly and I can review previously taken photos with no problem.
It was never abused in any way - for travel I packed it in the original box with original packing materials, in my carry-on bag, which was with me at all times and never banged or dropped.
I must assume the thing was just defective.
Now I discover that Canon's warranty only covers it in the US, so they will not fix it here unless I pay for the repair, estimated at half what I paid for it a week ago. The only alternative seems to be to send it back to the US at my expense (the return trip by FedEx will cost 75% what I paid for the camera). I had really looked forward to taking lots of photographs on this trip and now that's ruined unless I outlay a huge amount of extra cash. I am inclined to buy a different camera to replace it rather than take another chance with the S3 IS.
Obviously I can't speak to the general reliability of this model, but if you do buy one, make sure you do it well in advance of any overseas trip so you can make sure it's not a dud.
I used it for 3 days at my first stop, and enjoyed taking photos with it.
Once or twice, when I turned it on, the viewfinder just showed dark gray static, but turning it off and back on cured it. I didn't think much of it at the time.
As of today (day 5 of the trip), that's all it does, both in the viewfinder and LCD. I can vaguely see the difference between pointing it at a bright light vs a dark area (the screen goes between gray and black), but that's it.
All the icons display properly and I can review previously taken photos with no problem.
It was never abused in any way - for travel I packed it in the original box with original packing materials, in my carry-on bag, which was with me at all times and never banged or dropped.
I must assume the thing was just defective.
Now I discover that Canon's warranty only covers it in the US, so they will not fix it here unless I pay for the repair, estimated at half what I paid for it a week ago. The only alternative seems to be to send it back to the US at my expense (the return trip by FedEx will cost 75% what I paid for the camera). I had really looked forward to taking lots of photographs on this trip and now that's ruined unless I outlay a huge amount of extra cash. I am inclined to buy a different camera to replace it rather than take another chance with the S3 IS.
Obviously I can't speak to the general reliability of this model, but if you do buy one, make sure you do it well in advance of any overseas trip so you can make sure it's not a dud.
Скроменый эксперт
28.12.2007
8/10
Оценка пользователя
Хорошо
I have had this camera since September, 2007. Overall an good product and relatively easy to use. I do have one question to the other users. When I take a vertical image, it is cropped on both the right and left sides. In other words, the inage appears in the middle and black lines on either side. I contacted Canon and they said this is normal. I have a hard time believing this. I have had other brands of SLR's and an Olympus digital and this never happened. Can someone tell me how to override this and if I take the memory card to the store for prints, will this image have the same lines on either side?
Скроменый эксперт
27.08.2007
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
I spent much time over the past year thinking about and researching the best digital camera for my needs. I take nature and landscape photographs as a hobby, so I'm by no means an expert. But I wanted to move up from an older 3-MP camera (Olympus) to a 6-MP or larger with a long (10x) zoom. I looked at a variety of cameras, including the Sony Cyber-Shot DSC-H5, FujiFilm FinePix S6000 FD digital camera, Olympus SP-550 UZ as well as the "new" Canon PowerShot S5 IS. After reading all the reviews online, and getting my hands on each model, I chose the older Canon PowerShot S3 IS. I'm not sorry I did either. The S3 is a CNET editor's choice for best MegaZoom digital camera receiving a rating of 7.7 (out of 10.0), even higher than the new S5. I wanted an SD card capabilitiy, image stabilization, options for lenses and excellent image quality. I got all of these and am sure I made the right choice. I'd recommend this camera to anyone who wants these features, plus the ability to capture digital video, which I don't use[...]
Скроменый эксперт
09.12.2007
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
I decided to step up from a point and shoot camera. I'm a novice when it comes to photography. I was looking for a camera that took decent pictures and video this fit the bill, I've had this for about 4 months now. I initially purchased the Panasonic DMC-FZ7S, which is very similar to the Canon. There were two big differences for me, and the reason why I sold the Panasonic and went with the Canon. When shooting video with the Panasonic the zoom would lock, the Canon's zoom is still adjustable. The other thing was when shooting video with the Canon you can take pictures at the same time, which is a terrific feature. I highly recommend this camera.
Скроменый эксперт
11.02.2008
6/10
Оценка пользователя
Плохо
there are some web sites that compare photos taken with different cameras in detail. compare a photo taken by this camera at ISO80, with a photo taken by Fujifilm Finepix s6500fd at ISO400. Supposedly, an ISO400 photo should have much more noise. Then compare an IS100 photo taken by Fujifilm. The results are embarassing for Canon. s6500fd is much cheaper than this camera yet produces photos of much better quality.
Скроменый эксперт
02.12.2006
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
This camera is truly amazing. This is my first digital camera however I have been a photography aficionado. I am trying to learn the tricks of the trade. Coming back to the point - the camera has truly brilliant colors, the 12X optical zoom is very powerful (look at some of the images I have posted).
It can be a point-n-shoot for one who does not want to play with a bunch of settings, yet has enough challenge for the person who wants to learn more about it. However if you are looking for an ultracompact point n'shoot this is not for you.
I have not shot any movies with it yet, so would not review movie mode yet. The specs. though say that the maximum size of a movie is limited to 1GB (even if you have a 2GB or 4GB memory card). If you want movies to be bigger than 1GB (15-20 mins. best quality video can fill-up 1 GB) - you will have to break your movies into multiples of 1 GB.
Pros: Brilliant colors, feature rich (stitch mode - used to stitch several photos together like a panoramic landscape, color-swap), powerful 12X optical zoom, solidly built, pro-look, zoom browsing s/w is simple, powerful yet easy to use, eletronic view-finder is a good alternative some times, Made in Japan, Image Stabilizer really works !
Cons: Battery compartment - a little clumsy to close the battery compartment after loading it, fear I could break it. I think there is a trick to it that I have not picked up yet. The only other thing I can think of is - no display for remaining battery life, it will give you a warning that you are on low battery, and a final warning before dying on you, in other words there is no progressive display for battery life. The 4 AA's that come with the camera only last a couple of days - 50 pictures, aprox. Also may be a slightly bigger LCD display would help (it is 2.5", 3" is desirable)
Overall it is a stellar camera, go for it !
It can be a point-n-shoot for one who does not want to play with a bunch of settings, yet has enough challenge for the person who wants to learn more about it. However if you are looking for an ultracompact point n'shoot this is not for you.
I have not shot any movies with it yet, so would not review movie mode yet. The specs. though say that the maximum size of a movie is limited to 1GB (even if you have a 2GB or 4GB memory card). If you want movies to be bigger than 1GB (15-20 mins. best quality video can fill-up 1 GB) - you will have to break your movies into multiples of 1 GB.
Pros: Brilliant colors, feature rich (stitch mode - used to stitch several photos together like a panoramic landscape, color-swap), powerful 12X optical zoom, solidly built, pro-look, zoom browsing s/w is simple, powerful yet easy to use, eletronic view-finder is a good alternative some times, Made in Japan, Image Stabilizer really works !
Cons: Battery compartment - a little clumsy to close the battery compartment after loading it, fear I could break it. I think there is a trick to it that I have not picked up yet. The only other thing I can think of is - no display for remaining battery life, it will give you a warning that you are on low battery, and a final warning before dying on you, in other words there is no progressive display for battery life. The 4 AA's that come with the camera only last a couple of days - 50 pictures, aprox. Also may be a slightly bigger LCD display would help (it is 2.5", 3" is desirable)
Overall it is a stellar camera, go for it !
Скроменый эксперт
22.06.2007
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
I was looking for a camera that would take pictures of our kid's school programs and dance recitals where they are up on a stage. I wanted a camera with a large zoom without buying a DSLR. I did a lot of research and ended up buying the Canon Powershot S3 IS. I am not disappointed. This is a great camera. The pictures of the dance recital turned out great. I love the single button movie feature. It takes a lot of memory to take movies but they turn out very clear. I also like that you can take a snapshot during a movie, and it pauses just long enough to take the snapshot and then continues taking the movie. This is a very versitle camera with a lot of different setting to allow you to be creative. It also has an auto setting if you just want to aim and shoot. Our previous Canon camera had shutter lag. This camera does not. It turns on quick and takes the picture quick. Since we owned a Canon digital camera before, the control buttons were easy to get used to. The zoom lens is very quiet. You can zoom while taking a movie and you will not hear it. I bought rechargeable NiMH batteries with it and the battery life is great. I am very pleased with this camera and would highly recommend it.
Скроменый эксперт
30.09.2007
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
I am very pleased with this camera. I bought it to replace my broken canon S50. It is just as easy to use, and that is why I wanted another canon.
This camera takes great pictures. Colors are vibrant.
I was concerned that it would not have good battery life because of the AA instead of a lithium pack. So far I am impressed with how many pictures it takes with my old 1600mah (over 100). I use the viewfinder except when my kids want to see every picture.
Zoom is awesome. I took a picture from over 200ft away and could see detail in the blades of grass.
The camera is big and heavy compared to the pocket ones but it is worth it for the added zoom and quality.
Video mode is fun to use. I don't think I will ever get out my camcorder again.
I am very pleased with this camera and have already recommended to some family members.
This camera takes great pictures. Colors are vibrant.
I was concerned that it would not have good battery life because of the AA instead of a lithium pack. So far I am impressed with how many pictures it takes with my old 1600mah (over 100). I use the viewfinder except when my kids want to see every picture.
Zoom is awesome. I took a picture from over 200ft away and could see detail in the blades of grass.
The camera is big and heavy compared to the pocket ones but it is worth it for the added zoom and quality.
Video mode is fun to use. I don't think I will ever get out my camcorder again.
I am very pleased with this camera and have already recommended to some family members.
Скроменый эксперт
14.07.2006
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
I just recieved this camera, and I am in love. About a year ago I bought the A95, and loved all the shooting options. But as I have gotten better(a little) at photography, I realized a supper zoom(Among other things) would be "heaven sent".
This camera has it! The zoom is great! We are not talking a telescope here, but to catch birds, far off views, etc is wonderful.
And talk about shooting options! There are more possibilities for custom colors and lighitng conditions than I ever could have dreamed of!
...ok, after gushing, here are some real pluses;
Live Histograme.
Grid for Straight Horizons.
Intensity control over the flash.
Control over when the flash fires, before OR after the shutter opens.
Ablity to skip 1, 9, 10 or 100 images at a time. OR by shooting date, OR by folder. (Helpful when you have a almost full 1,2 or 3 Gig card)
Auto Exposure Bracketing.
White Blance control.
Color choice. (Vivd, vivd red, green or blue, B&W, Sepia, Custom, Positive film, etc.)
World time set. (You're traveling, and can have time set for where you are, and where you came from.)
High Zoom.
Macro and Super Macro. (Shooting ablity from 0cm!)
Preset(Portrait, Landscape, Sport, etc.) shooting modes, up to full control shooting.
The most advanced movie mode out there at the moment.
At about 6.0 mega pixles, there is enough info to print a 11 by 16 print!
...and in defense for a previous review;
Date stamp. (You have to set the option on the menu, then when printing, the date will be added.)
Hand pop up flash.(So no more accidental flash during a concert, or ruining a close up with a forgotten setting!)
And finely;
I never use the view finder, it is not optical, so you see the same thing on the much bigger flip screen. And it has seemed plenty bright. A step up over the A95.
The menu is almost the same as the A95 has, just with more options.
All in all this is an amazing tool, especially for those of us who are hesitant about investing in a DSLR or an SLR. I'm still learning where the "sweet spot", for shooting with this camera is, but I know it is a "sweet time" learning where it is : )
This camera has it! The zoom is great! We are not talking a telescope here, but to catch birds, far off views, etc is wonderful.
And talk about shooting options! There are more possibilities for custom colors and lighitng conditions than I ever could have dreamed of!
...ok, after gushing, here are some real pluses;
Live Histograme.
Grid for Straight Horizons.
Intensity control over the flash.
Control over when the flash fires, before OR after the shutter opens.
Ablity to skip 1, 9, 10 or 100 images at a time. OR by shooting date, OR by folder. (Helpful when you have a almost full 1,2 or 3 Gig card)
Auto Exposure Bracketing.
White Blance control.
Color choice. (Vivd, vivd red, green or blue, B&W, Sepia, Custom, Positive film, etc.)
World time set. (You're traveling, and can have time set for where you are, and where you came from.)
High Zoom.
Macro and Super Macro. (Shooting ablity from 0cm!)
Preset(Portrait, Landscape, Sport, etc.) shooting modes, up to full control shooting.
The most advanced movie mode out there at the moment.
At about 6.0 mega pixles, there is enough info to print a 11 by 16 print!
...and in defense for a previous review;
Date stamp. (You have to set the option on the menu, then when printing, the date will be added.)
Hand pop up flash.(So no more accidental flash during a concert, or ruining a close up with a forgotten setting!)
And finely;
I never use the view finder, it is not optical, so you see the same thing on the much bigger flip screen. And it has seemed plenty bright. A step up over the A95.
The menu is almost the same as the A95 has, just with more options.
All in all this is an amazing tool, especially for those of us who are hesitant about investing in a DSLR or an SLR. I'm still learning where the "sweet spot", for shooting with this camera is, but I know it is a "sweet time" learning where it is : )
Скроменый эксперт
06.04.2007
4/10
Оценка пользователя
Ужасно
Despite the rave reviews this camera has been getting, I'm disappointed in it.
I've lost count of the number of photos I've taken in Auto mode where everything looked sharp in the viewfinder, only to find out later that the Autofocus function was locked onto something in the background rather than the principle subject in the foreground. This happens even though the principle subject was dead-center in the rectangular area where the camera is SUPPOSED to be autofocusing.
The zoom function apparently isn't calibrated to the auto-focus function; as you increase the zoom, what the camera actually autofocuses on moves further and further away from the rectangular area in the viewfinder that marks where it SHOULD be autofocusing.
It's all too easy to 'overzoom' beyond what the camera's autofocus can handle, but there's no way to know when that has happened. You can see the most extreme examples in the viewfinder, but there's no way to tell when you've zoomed just a little too much - you have to find out the hard way.
I've learned the hard way that I need to take several pictures at various zoom levels and to NEVER try completely filling the frame using the zoom - no matter how great the temptation. The maximum zoom (12X) is good only for extremely distant objects (like hundreds of feet away), as I've had objects 20 feet away turn out fuzzy.
The auto-focus mode on this camera is NOT to be trusted.
I've lost count of the number of photos I've taken in Auto mode where everything looked sharp in the viewfinder, only to find out later that the Autofocus function was locked onto something in the background rather than the principle subject in the foreground. This happens even though the principle subject was dead-center in the rectangular area where the camera is SUPPOSED to be autofocusing.
The zoom function apparently isn't calibrated to the auto-focus function; as you increase the zoom, what the camera actually autofocuses on moves further and further away from the rectangular area in the viewfinder that marks where it SHOULD be autofocusing.
It's all too easy to 'overzoom' beyond what the camera's autofocus can handle, but there's no way to know when that has happened. You can see the most extreme examples in the viewfinder, but there's no way to tell when you've zoomed just a little too much - you have to find out the hard way.
I've learned the hard way that I need to take several pictures at various zoom levels and to NEVER try completely filling the frame using the zoom - no matter how great the temptation. The maximum zoom (12X) is good only for extremely distant objects (like hundreds of feet away), as I've had objects 20 feet away turn out fuzzy.
The auto-focus mode on this camera is NOT to be trusted.
Скроменый эксперт
30.09.2006
6/10
Оценка пользователя
Плохо
I've been using this camera for a few weeks now, and I've taken at least a thousand photographs with it. It is easily the most versatile piece of photographic equipment I have ever owned, and I grew up using film SLRs. This camera has almost all of the features I love in SLR cameras, including fairly intuitive control over exposure settings. I also love the video feature.
My favorite features are:
- The 12x zoom lens which can easily capture close-up subjects from the opposite side of a large room.
- Super-macro mode shoots clear pictures less than an inch from the lens.
- Excellent TV quality video with good stereo sound (no HD).
- A variety of shooting modes let you capture a detailed close up in vivid color one moment, and a fast action shot seconds later with the turn of a dial.
- Adjustable flash output.
That said, there are a few things that really irritate me about this camera. For instance, the manual focus is a pain to use. Instead of twisting the lens, you are forced to hold down one button while you press up and down keys. Autofocus is essentially worthless when you combine low light and fast action (such as a lively concert, like the one I shot pictures at tonight). A usable manual focus is essential for any serious photographer!
Another thing that bothers me is the lack of an external flash hook-up. It makes it difficult to avoid red-eye when photographing people in low light.
I don't understand how such basic features were overlooked when this camera has everything else but the kitchen sink. While this is certainly the most versatile camera I've ever owned, and I love it for what it is, I would not buy it again. I would look for a similar camera that includes a twist-lens manual focus and a flash hot-shoe.
One more critique - photographs are often unusably grainy with ISO settings at 400+. You'll want to stick to the 80 - 200 range, if you can. The lowest ISO setting possible for the situation will deliver the best image the camera is capable of.
My favorite features are:
- The 12x zoom lens which can easily capture close-up subjects from the opposite side of a large room.
- Super-macro mode shoots clear pictures less than an inch from the lens.
- Excellent TV quality video with good stereo sound (no HD).
- A variety of shooting modes let you capture a detailed close up in vivid color one moment, and a fast action shot seconds later with the turn of a dial.
- Adjustable flash output.
That said, there are a few things that really irritate me about this camera. For instance, the manual focus is a pain to use. Instead of twisting the lens, you are forced to hold down one button while you press up and down keys. Autofocus is essentially worthless when you combine low light and fast action (such as a lively concert, like the one I shot pictures at tonight). A usable manual focus is essential for any serious photographer!
Another thing that bothers me is the lack of an external flash hook-up. It makes it difficult to avoid red-eye when photographing people in low light.
I don't understand how such basic features were overlooked when this camera has everything else but the kitchen sink. While this is certainly the most versatile camera I've ever owned, and I love it for what it is, I would not buy it again. I would look for a similar camera that includes a twist-lens manual focus and a flash hot-shoe.
One more critique - photographs are often unusably grainy with ISO settings at 400+. You'll want to stick to the 80 - 200 range, if you can. The lowest ISO setting possible for the situation will deliver the best image the camera is capable of.
Скроменый эксперт
21.01.2008
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
great for the amatuer who is looking to move up from the point and shoot. it is perfect -- it cost the same as my old camera did 4 years ago --
i love the movie setting, it has a button that you can start recording at any time, even while taking pictures. set it on large file size and set on "portrait" -- and even the novice comes out great. i took my brother's engagement pics and they look amazing. i can't wait to use even more of the features.
i love the movie setting, it has a button that you can start recording at any time, even while taking pictures. set it on large file size and set on "portrait" -- and even the novice comes out great. i took my brother's engagement pics and they look amazing. i can't wait to use even more of the features.
Скроменый эксперт
08.02.2008
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
This was my second Canon digital camera as my first one took an unexpected dive in the lake. From the wide zoom range to the video capabilities, this camera has more than enough features to keep me happy. I primarily use the camera for action shots and video and couldn't be more pleased with the camera's performance. I would higly recommend the PowerShot Pro S3 to potential camera buyers.
Скроменый эксперт
05.11.2006
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
I cannot express in words exactly how much I love this camera, especially the amazing zoom. When shopping for camera, I wasn't specifically looking for a camera with a zoom this long-- I thought, foolishly, that it wouldn't matter to me that much. I ended up buying this camera because it was a good price, the zoom seemed nice, and the picture quality I'd seen was good.
Then I actually recieved the camera, and realized exactly how much I'd been missing without a good zoom. I can finally get good, closeup shots! My last camera had 3x optical, so the difference was really startling. And even better, the photo quality is really nice. I'm taking a photojournalism class, and when I showed my teacher some of the shots I'd taken, he said "those shots were taken by that little thing?!" Also, the image stabilizer is really quite good; if I ever tried to take shots at full zoom on my little Canon Powershot A80, they'd be completely blurry, but with this camera I can shoot at full zoom with barely any blur, even in low light. I was taking pictures at a concert last night, and got some really nice pictures even though it was pretty dark.
The only problem I have with it is that it is rather large. I can't cart it around quite as easily as I could my last one. Also, there's tons of tiny buttons all over it, and it took a while before I could find a place to fit my (rather large) hands without pressing them accidentally. However, these aren't huge detractors for me-- I'd rather get good quality pictures and have to deal with the size and the buttons than get cruddy pictures in a tiny camera. Oh, and I really wish they'd provided a wrist strap along with it, but oh well.
I've only had this camera for about 3 weeks now (still running on my first set of batteries), so I haven't been able to go through all the neat features on this thing, but I do know that I wouldn't trade this camera for anything else in its price range.
Then I actually recieved the camera, and realized exactly how much I'd been missing without a good zoom. I can finally get good, closeup shots! My last camera had 3x optical, so the difference was really startling. And even better, the photo quality is really nice. I'm taking a photojournalism class, and when I showed my teacher some of the shots I'd taken, he said "those shots were taken by that little thing?!" Also, the image stabilizer is really quite good; if I ever tried to take shots at full zoom on my little Canon Powershot A80, they'd be completely blurry, but with this camera I can shoot at full zoom with barely any blur, even in low light. I was taking pictures at a concert last night, and got some really nice pictures even though it was pretty dark.
The only problem I have with it is that it is rather large. I can't cart it around quite as easily as I could my last one. Also, there's tons of tiny buttons all over it, and it took a while before I could find a place to fit my (rather large) hands without pressing them accidentally. However, these aren't huge detractors for me-- I'd rather get good quality pictures and have to deal with the size and the buttons than get cruddy pictures in a tiny camera. Oh, and I really wish they'd provided a wrist strap along with it, but oh well.
I've only had this camera for about 3 weeks now (still running on my first set of batteries), so I haven't been able to go through all the neat features on this thing, but I do know that I wouldn't trade this camera for anything else in its price range.
Скроменый эксперт
09.01.2007
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
I was in the market for a camera with a capable zoom and the ability to use some manual features, and the S3 IS fit the bill.
When I was shopping for the right camera, I narrowed the search to either the S3 or the Lumix FZ7. Because the Lumix was a little less expensive, I went to the store hoping to love that one. But despite the good reviews for it, the Lumix felt cheap next to the Canon, and the shots just weren't as sharp.
I like that the Canon uses standard AA batteries; I picked up some rechargables that last for ages...and if I'm out an in a pinch, I can pick up spares at any store.
I've taken a wide variety of shots, and I'm consistently impressed with how the camera performs. I didn't want to drop the money on a dSLR, but I wanted to have control over the camera-- and this one does the trick.
The S3 IS has enough heft to feel like a serious piece of equipment; but is compact enough to fit in my coat pocket. And from a features to cost perspective, I really don't think one could do any better. The video features really limits my need to use my video camera that cost three times as much as the S3, actually.
In general, the combination of the powerful zoom and the continuous shooting mode has been great to get just the right shot both for my two-year-old, and to get quality action martial arts shots. The camera peformss fairly well in lower light situations, and I've been able to get some really nice night shots without a tripod because of the IS feature.
I highly recommend the S3 IS. I ended up buying it for about $220, and I've seen people spend much more on far lesser cameras. There is a lot of bang for the buck to be had here.
When I was shopping for the right camera, I narrowed the search to either the S3 or the Lumix FZ7. Because the Lumix was a little less expensive, I went to the store hoping to love that one. But despite the good reviews for it, the Lumix felt cheap next to the Canon, and the shots just weren't as sharp.
I like that the Canon uses standard AA batteries; I picked up some rechargables that last for ages...and if I'm out an in a pinch, I can pick up spares at any store.
I've taken a wide variety of shots, and I'm consistently impressed with how the camera performs. I didn't want to drop the money on a dSLR, but I wanted to have control over the camera-- and this one does the trick.
The S3 IS has enough heft to feel like a serious piece of equipment; but is compact enough to fit in my coat pocket. And from a features to cost perspective, I really don't think one could do any better. The video features really limits my need to use my video camera that cost three times as much as the S3, actually.
In general, the combination of the powerful zoom and the continuous shooting mode has been great to get just the right shot both for my two-year-old, and to get quality action martial arts shots. The camera peformss fairly well in lower light situations, and I've been able to get some really nice night shots without a tripod because of the IS feature.
I highly recommend the S3 IS. I ended up buying it for about $220, and I've seen people spend much more on far lesser cameras. There is a lot of bang for the buck to be had here.
Скроменый эксперт
23.08.2007
8/10
Оценка пользователя
Хорошо
Pros:
-VERY EASY to record stills or video. Each has its own button. You can take stills while recording video; you can record video with the touch of a button
-PC Software
-Simple interface for off-loading: usb or simply remove SD card and use a reader
-battery life is good using standard alkaline batteries
-SD card media. 2 GB goes a long way, and is fairly cheap
-Relatively easy to use for point and shoot
-Decent zoom
-Good image and video quality
CONS:
-taking a still while in the middle of recording video causes the video to momentarily 'skip'
-Flash has to be manually raised
-Viewfinder can be hard to use, not very good quality
-a bit large compared to some other cameras.
-for 'image concscious' people, this camera has an old-school look
Summary:
I like this camera for the price, ease of use, and versatility. The ability to grab video at any time is great.
-VERY EASY to record stills or video. Each has its own button. You can take stills while recording video; you can record video with the touch of a button
-PC Software
-Simple interface for off-loading: usb or simply remove SD card and use a reader
-battery life is good using standard alkaline batteries
-SD card media. 2 GB goes a long way, and is fairly cheap
-Relatively easy to use for point and shoot
-Decent zoom
-Good image and video quality
CONS:
-taking a still while in the middle of recording video causes the video to momentarily 'skip'
-Flash has to be manually raised
-Viewfinder can be hard to use, not very good quality
-a bit large compared to some other cameras.
-for 'image concscious' people, this camera has an old-school look
Summary:
I like this camera for the price, ease of use, and versatility. The ability to grab video at any time is great.
Скроменый эксперт
22.09.2007
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
Canon PowerShot Pro Series S3 IS 6MP with 12x Image Stabilized ZoomO'd put off buying a digital camera until we saw what my brother's Canon PowerShot Pro Series S3 IS could do. We needed one for everyday and and special occasion photos and my daughter (the aspiring artist) wanted one with more creative capabilities. We bought this camera just before a cross-country trip. It takes beautiful pictures and is simple enough for me to use. With extra memory cards and a car battery charger my daughter took over 700 pictures a day. Needless to say she used all of the different settings, all the pictures came out well and using the high-speed, action setting she was able to take clear pictures out a car window driving at freeway speeds!!! We are so glad we bought this camera. It's the perfect camera for both of us.
Скроменый эксперт
12.10.2007
8/10
Оценка пользователя
Хорошо
I purchased this camera at the recommendation of my brother who had one for 4 months and it got stolen. He loved it so much he bought the exact same one again. He handed it to me at a family function and made me be in charge of taking pictures and I immediately fell in love with it. It really is user friendly. But, if you want to use advanced features, the camera has them to use. The size is right and it feels good holding it in your hands. I love that you can use the flip out screen for pictures if you'd like. I think for the money this camera is an excellent purchase for people who started taking digital pictures with "starter digital cameras". This camera is a great next step up after the starter digital cameras.
Скроменый эксперт
27.09.2006
6/10
Оценка пользователя
Плохо
I decided to get an ultra-zoom digital camera this summer. After many weeks of reading online reviews and visiting electronics and camera shops, I finally decided to order the Canon S3 when the price finally fell to under 400 dollars. I have had the camera for two weeks now, and I must admit that I do not understand what all the glowing reviews are about. The camera is not terrible, but it is cluttered with tiny, flimsy buttons marked with icons or abbreviations that are not at all intuitive. It is virtually impossible to hold the camera without hitting one of them by accident. The manual is incredibly frustrating. This is not a minor problem. Nearly every entry has a parenthetical reference or footnote telling you to jump to another page. When you do find what you are looking for, it is usually written in the defective, non-native English that has become all too common in product manuals these days. I suppose the camera has all the wonderful options, settings, and features that I've read about hidden somehwere behind all those buttons or in all those menus and sub-menus, but I'll never figure out where they are or how to use them from this horrible manual. The LCD screen is OK, but smaller in reality than it seemed in the store. The viewfinder is perhaps the most disappointing feature of the camera. The resolution is very poor. The image is so heavily pixelated and fuzzy that I have no idea if the subject is in focus or not. As others have pointed out, the lens cap is cheap and falls off for no apparent reason. I didn't realize how annoying this would be. Even at the reduced price, this just should not happen. Most of the pictures that I have taken using the factory settings are OK, but not that much better than my old 3-megapixel Pentax Optio point-and-shoot model. Overall, I am not completely disgusted by the camera, but, so far, I feel no great enthusiasm for picking it up and using it. I can't help but wonder if I would have been happier with the Panasonic FZ7 or the Sony H5.
Скроменый эксперт
06.12.2007
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
Well, to cut short the review I will say my final words its a great camera. Don't think much just buy it.
Amazon service is also amazing. Shipped in 2 days. The camera is made in Japan.
It is packed with features. If you think you have confusion between S3 and S5, just don't think about S5's small features, go for S3. Its cheap and everything is same as of S5.
You can see some of the pics I shared in customer's galary. Enjoy buying.. and have fun photographing.!
Amazon service is also amazing. Shipped in 2 days. The camera is made in Japan.
It is packed with features. If you think you have confusion between S3 and S5, just don't think about S5's small features, go for S3. Its cheap and everything is same as of S5.
You can see some of the pics I shared in customer's galary. Enjoy buying.. and have fun photographing.!
Скроменый эксперт
16.05.2007
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
There are several very good comprehensive reviews here, and I'm not going to try to replicate them. There are, however, a few points worth noting.
First, I would definitely recommend the Lensmate lens adapter with a UV filter for everyone. Some forums have reported issues with the lens sticking while extending and retracting, and this will prevent anything like sand or grit getting into the mechanism.
Second, I have been using a Transcend 4 gig memory card with no trouble at all. Nice to be able to get almost 24 minutes of movies on the card. Please note that each clip cannot exceed 8 minutes.
Finally, button clutter is real. In looking at photographs of the camera, I thought some reviewers were exaggerating this issue, but they were not. I'm getting accustomed to the placement, but it is still very easy to hit a button that does something you had no intention of doing. This is the only flaw I have found with this camera, and it is certainly not a deal breaker.
This is a great camera at a great price and I would buy one again in a heartbeat. Just think about where you are putting your fingers, and you should be fine.
First, I would definitely recommend the Lensmate lens adapter with a UV filter for everyone. Some forums have reported issues with the lens sticking while extending and retracting, and this will prevent anything like sand or grit getting into the mechanism.
Second, I have been using a Transcend 4 gig memory card with no trouble at all. Nice to be able to get almost 24 minutes of movies on the card. Please note that each clip cannot exceed 8 minutes.
Finally, button clutter is real. In looking at photographs of the camera, I thought some reviewers were exaggerating this issue, but they were not. I'm getting accustomed to the placement, but it is still very easy to hit a button that does something you had no intention of doing. This is the only flaw I have found with this camera, and it is certainly not a deal breaker.
This is a great camera at a great price and I would buy one again in a heartbeat. Just think about where you are putting your fingers, and you should be fine.
Скроменый эксперт
31.12.2006
8/10
Оценка пользователя
Хорошо
I was first introduced to this camera on a vacation with another couple about six months ago. I was amazed at the fantastic picture quality. The husband of the other couple has a Canon EOS SLR digital camera and bought this camera for his wife. He feels that this camera takes somewhat better pictures even than his Canon EOS and is much easier to use. That is why I asked for this for Christmas. I have an older pocket digital camera that takes OK pictures. I was looking to upgrade to something that would take much better quality pictures but was not sure I wanted to go all the way up to an SLR camera. This camera takes fantastic pictures. You can leave it on fully auto or your can adjust all of the settings manually or even combinations where the camera will automatically adjust the shutter speed but allow you to manually adjust the aperture or vice versa. I am particulary amazed at the quality of close pictures and low light pictures something that digital cameras in general do poorly. You can also shoot video with this camera; something you cannot do with an SLR camera. I have had Canon cameras in the past. I purchased this camera partly because of the brand name. I also like the Canon is a big supporter of Public Television. My only complaint with the camera is it is hard to hold onto. While this camera is not as large as an SLR camera is it much larger than a pocket camera and relatively heavy. It is hard to hold onto without touching one of the buttons. There is a finger grip on the front and a pad for your thumb on the back but it is too small. I end up holding it by the edges which is awkward.
Скроменый эксперт
15.01.2008
10/10
Оценка пользователя
Великолепно
I purchased this item as a Chrismas present for one of my sons, who was going to spend some weeks working in Peru, as per his request. He wanted this specific camera. I just received a dozen pictures he sent me and they are outstading. I am really impressed. I should add that he's also elated with this camera.
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