Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Manufacturer: Canon USA Part number: 1101B001
- More product information:
- Editors' review
- User reviews
- Specifications
- Accessories
- Manufacturer info
- Bottom Line:
- A very well-executed megazoom camera, the Canon PowerShot S3 IS reminds you why dSLRs still have competition for photo enthusiasts' hearts.
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Where to buy
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CNET editors' review
Canon PowerShot S3 IS price range: $629.99
- Reviewed by: Lori Grunin
- Reviewed on: 05/03/2006
- Released on: 05/15/2006
The good: Fast and responsive; comfortable design; decent movie capture; flip and twist LCD; fast, high-quality lens with effective optical image stabilization.
The bad: Tiny LCD; lacks raw support; faux wide-screen capture.
The bottom line: A very well-executed megazoom camera, the Canon PowerShot S3 IS reminds you why dSLRs still have competition for photo enthusiasts' hearts.
The Canon PowerShot S3 IS's aesthetic seems to be a cross between those of a classic Volkswagen Beetle and a Busy Box. Granted, it's the same body as its predecessor's, but the silver bits stand out more against the current version's iridescent, dark gray plastic than they did against the previous model's silver coloring. As with the S2, there's certainly enough here to keep you busy for a long time, though, and loving every minute of it. (For more details about the S2/S3's basic design and features, read the PowerShot S2 IS review.)
For the S3, Canon upped the size of the flip-and-twist LCD to 2 inches from 1.8, which is still disappointingly small. The company also added a ludicrous 16:9 aspect mode: not only does it simply crop and letterbox the standard 4:3 image, but the LCD is too small for a functional letterbox display. More useful is the new 320x240 60fps movie-capture mode, which produces slick little movies, as does the VGA, 30fps mode. Unfortunately, the camera still lacks raw format support.
Oddly, despite the different sensors--or perhaps because they use the same f/2.7-to-f/3.5, 36mm-to-432mm lens and Digic II imaging processor--the S3's photos look almost identical to the S2's. They display a broad tonal range, albeit with some clipping in the highlights and shadows, very good color accuracy and saturation, and acceptable edge-to-edge sharpness. Its noise profile follows suit as well: low until about ISO 200, then increasingly bad. Though the camera can now boost ISO sensitivity to as high as ISO 800, either manually or by enabling ISO Boost in a programmed-exposure mode, the noise at that setting is quite obtrusive. In general, the S3's photos look good but can't really shake the digital look, either onscreen or in print.
Performance, while not identical to the S2's, is either the equivalent or better. Start-up to first shot takes only 1.5 seconds, which is quite zippy overall, and extremely good for a camera that has a long lens to extend. Shutter lag in bright light runs about 0.4 second and doubles to 0.8 second when the lights get low. The S3 is also relatively responsive: 1.1 seconds typically from shot to shot, plus another second if the flash needs to recycle. Though it maxes out at 1.5fps in continuous-shooting mode, there's no buffer-constraint on the number of sequential shots at maximum resolution; I find that much more useful than a fast but limited burst mode. It was certainly sufficient to capture active dogs and children playing in the park, including kids spinning in a tire swing.
Autofocus occurs quickly for the most part, although a few of my shots looked as if the focus hadn't locked before capture. I didn't experience any of the problems that the S2's reviewer did with SuperMacro mode; it worked fine for me, even with the lens almost pressed against the subject. The image stabilization bought me about two stops of shutter latitude, but my hands shake like an octogenarian's--a coffee-drinking octogenarian.
I'm not a big fan of electronic viewfinders (EVFs), and the S3's didn't convince me otherwise; though it's fine for framing, I hate that it freezes when the shutter is pressed. The LCD is certainly viewable in most light, but I prefer an eye-level viewfinder to the unsteady arm's-length approach.
True, a cheap dSLR will provide better performance, and a moderately priced one will deliver better photo quality. But the Canon PowerShot S3 IS's combination of features, performance, and relatively compact design certainly gives megazoomers a compelling alternative.
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Typical shot-to-shot time |
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Typical continuous-shooting speed |
User reviews
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Excellent camera with MANY useful features and great software
by Peter Sanders on July 11, 2006
Pros: 12x zoom, excellent features, TWAIN driver for pc control
Cons: manual activation of flash, smallish LCD display
Summary: Let's be realistic here. The opinions and reviews comparing this Canon S3 IS to the Sony H5, are too much of a "mine's better than yours" foray.
As ...Summary: Let's be realistic here. The opinions and reviews comparing this Canon S3 IS to the Sony H5, are too much of a "mine's better than yours" foray.
As a previous owner of the Sony H1, I was about to gravitate, somewhat automatically to its successor the H2. Seeing that the H2's LCD display dropped from 2.5" to 2", that put me off. I handled the H2 as a preview to purchase but found the whole camera as well as the LCD display to be too small. I noticed and rread the review of the H5. This I thought would be the camera for me! The LCD display was 3", the sensor at 7.2mp were both a boost over the H1. I was "sold", or so I thought.
I clicked on a link to a Canon S3 IS review. I read the review, hmmm? sounds impressive this S3. I investigated the S3 a little more.
Now for most people that usually have 6x4 prints, anything with 3mp or more is adequate. So the H5's 7.2mp or the H2's and the S3's 6mp is more than sufficient.
All three of these cameras are magnificent in their capabilities. Each will produce excellent images. Sure there may be a minor advantage of one over the other for high ISO noise levesl, but hey, we should know that in this price bracket and camera level there will always be a compromise.
I must prefix much of the following review with the fact that I am and have been a Sony fanatic for as long as I can remember. It is with some disappointment then that I have to say that I chose the Canon S3 above the other two Sony models. The images I took with the 5mp Sony H1 are excellent. I expect any of these three cameras to do just as good or maybe slightly better (the 7.2mp would be nice).
I, like other reviewers here, looked at other cameras before deciding on the S3. The choice is not the easiest. I contemplated the following (amongst a few others), Sony H2, H5, Sony R1, Canon 350DS, Panasonic FZ7 and the Canon S3 IS.
As I said before each have their own pros and cons. The Sony R1 is a GREAT camera however as a fixed lens camera, for me a 5x zoom was not enough if I'm going to carry its 2 plus pounds weight. The 10mp and BIG APS sensor were very compelling features. The 350DS almost got my money. The optical viewfinder the solid feel, the fast continous capture capability and the interchangeable lenses are superb. However the interchangeable lenses were (foe me) also its downfall. I have for years prior to owning the Sony H1, been an SLR user. I sold my whole Pentax "kit" and moved on to an auto Pentax SLR - oh the convenience of point and shoot after years of lens changing exposure setting etc, etc.
So (for me) the DSLR's are out. They are all good - some better than others, BUT to get the capabities of 12x zoom, the lens cost can easily outweigh the cost of the camera.
So my choice came down to the Sony H5 and the Canon S3 IS. Do I want the extra 1.2mp and that extra 1" on the LCD display (hmmm? I do like that viewfinder)? Do I want better quality movies WITH STEREO SOUND, an intervalometer for picture sequences, a TWAIN driver to allow a computer to capture images a really "macro" macro capability a flexible LCD display and MANY great and useful camera options?
Well, the larger LCD display IS nice but I normally use the EVF for TAKING photo's the LCD display is used for just that, a display, to show images to others of the images taken. The Canons S3 LCD though smaller, is useful and it can be foded away for screen protection. The extra 1.2mp is of marginal benefit for most photo's offering only a slight improvement on enlarged images.
The intevalometer and the TWAIN driver to allow pc control of the S3 is something I find advantageous - though this is not for everybody.
The ability to take excellent movie clips is something very useful. There is of course a limit of 8 minutes at 640x48 at 30fps on a 1gb SD memory but most movie shots are far less than that anyway. A thirty second movie clip of the same scene seems a VERY long scene. So for holiday makers and quick home movie scenes this can be a very useful feature.
So as it turns out, the Canon S3 IS does it for me. This is not so much because "it's better" than the Sony et al, but because it offers the features and 12x zoom convenience that *I* want at a great price bracket.
On a featture by feature basis after lengthy reviews, I think the S3 has the advantage, but that 3" screen would have been nice.
Regards
Petetr57 out of 58 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Recommended with Reservations
by cdr_computers on August 18, 2006
Pros: High Quality Images (Color, Sharpness, Contrast)
Cons: Major Wavy Line Problem at Telephoto End of Lens
Summary: I purchased this unit approximately three months ago to replace the Canon S2 IS which I gave to my daughter. The subtle upgrades (not major by any standards - realistically) ...
Summary: I purchased this unit approximately three months ago to replace the Canon S2 IS which I gave to my daughter. The subtle upgrades (not major by any standards - realistically) are welcomed, but I?m not so sure that the price differential for the new unit is worth the extra cost. (see review at http://www.dpreview.com/) The picture quality is definitely outstanding when outside in well-lit areas, but there are some problems with indoor shots. I have adjusted various settings and read the manual extensively, but still the problem persists with indoor low-lighting shots. The other major issue in my opinion stems from the fact that the straight edges of objects at the telephoto end of the spectrum tend to be wavy in pictures. This is not an issue with the S2 IS based on experimentation with both units. At full zoom, I took shots of a vehicle license plate, and the edges of the plate were very wavy (almost distorted in appearance) on the S3 IS version but perfectly straight on the S2 IS version. Similarly, I took a zoomed shot of a street sign and the same issue was pronounced when considering the S3 IS unit. I contacted Canon regarding this issue. The representative asked me to turn of the IS and take the shots again using a tripod which I did for both the license plate and the street sign. The same wavy-line anomaly manifested in the S3 IS pictures. I called Canon to discuss this issue, and I was told that there would probably be a firmware upgrade to deal with this issue. As of the date of this writing (08-18-2006), no firmware upgrade has been announced. If anyone reading this review doubts the validity of the information shared in this review, I implore you to conduct your own tests to confirm the problem with the S3 IS. Irrespective of this unfortunate glitch with the unit at the telephoto end of the lens, the S3 IS produces excellent pictures in well-lit areas. So, if you?re using the unit outside and in well-lit areas for the most part and not really using the zoom capability, then you?ll love this camera. On the contrary, if you?re going to be taking many zoom or low-light shots, then you?re going to be a bit disappointed. Regardless of these issues (which will hopefully be addressed in a firmware upgrade by Canon), I would have to recommended the camera for purchase based on my own experiences with getting high-quality images. The colors are on the mark, the sharpness of the images are on the mark, and there are no noticeable problems with fringing or softness on the edges of images. In closing, I would like to state that I do not feel this unit is worth the extra cost given that the S2 IS produces equivalent images on all points aforementioned. Best of luck to all in your search for a good camera, and I hope that this review proves beneficial in your decision-making process regarding the Canon S3 IS.
54 out of 55 users found this user opinion helpful.
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decent upgrade
by canon all right on March 17, 2006
Pros: Canon's 9-point AiAF (Artificial Intelligence Auto Focus), 1 megapix improvement, black body, larger LCD
Cons: still no manual focus ring?
Summary: i own the S2 IS...it isn't the perfect camera out there as most seem to believe its the best...it has one glaring defect - poor focus in ...
Summary: i own the S2 IS...it isn't the perfect camera out there as most seem to believe its the best...it has one glaring defect - poor focus in low light conditions (others who are intermediate-advanced users have also pointed this out). when you autofocus, the object must be inside the focus box which encompasses only a small portion of the picture...although you can move the box around a little bit, you can't quite move it to the edge to get some difficult angle shots...the S3 seems to address this problem with their new 9-point AiAF which isn't on the S2 and is supposed to provide excellent focus even when the object isn't in the center. even lower end models have a multifocus option that the S2 lacks.....if you haven't bought the s2 yet and are deciding b/w s2 and s3, spending the extra bucks is worth it if u are more than just a novice photographer
46 out of 56 users found this user opinion helpful.
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face change
by joshUNC04 on March 4, 2006
Pros: 6 megapixels
Cons: no other amazing add'l features
Summary: I currently own the S2 IS which I bought as soon as it came out last summer for taking pics on vacations. The camera is excellent, offers amazing picture quality, ...
Summary: I currently own the S2 IS which I bought as soon as it came out last summer for taking pics on vacations. The camera is excellent, offers amazing picture quality, and I found the stabilizer useful. The new S3 IS adds 1 MP, although this is unnecessary for increased resolution, and the camera is now black instead of silver (possibly to give more resemblance to the higher end Rebel model). Save your money and buy the equally good S2 IS which can now be bought for around $350 vs. the $500 for the S3 IS.
29 out of 43 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Amazing Photo Quality, Definatly recomended!
by anemone246 on June 8, 2006
Pros: Great Photo Quality, Image Stabilizer is amazing, Super fast Shooting
Cons: False View Finder
Summary: I bought this right before a trip to Eastern Europe because I had been eyeing the S2 for over a year. When the S3 came out (at an incredibly decent ...
Summary: I bought this right before a trip to Eastern Europe because I had been eyeing the S2 for over a year. When the S3 came out (at an incredibly decent price), I bought it same day. I think I hesitated to buy the S2 becuase I was unsure whether I should upgrade to a SLR or stay in the Powershot series, but I am a lot more satisfied with myself that I got the S3. It still has all the manual functions for more creative shots, 12x zoom (no additional lenses required...means not missing any good shots when on the go), super macro (once again, no need for additional lens with you can focus at 0 centimeters). I just got back from a month-long trip and had no major issues with the camera. Printed out about 100 pictures the other day at a lab, and had phenomenal image quality.
The only downside of this camera is the viewfinder. I don't know if the other S-models had this, but the viewfinder is just a smaller LCD screen displaying a digital image (you can also review your other photos in the viewfinder). Meaning, when taking a picture and the sun is too bright, you cannot see anything through the LCD becuase it is equivalent to using the larger LCD on the back; everything looks white. The data displays on the "mini LCD" are great, as found in SLRs, but the image itself is also digital as opposed to real. The photo-quality result is the same, of course, but it makes it rather difficult to know if the composure of your shot is good or not becuase of the lighting conditions.
However, the majority of the time, the digital viewfinder is amazing becuase it is exactly 100% to size of what the real photo will be like (as opposed to some real viewfinders that show less area). But for those sunny days, youll wish there was a way to switch it off.17 out of 17 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Basically great, but a few minor things
by dfichtner on May 20, 2006
Pros: Movie mode better than many video cameras. Very quick and responsive.
Cons: Greens are unnatural. Manual flash (I prefer it, though).
Summary: I am in Korea, and this camera is readily available. I picked it up last week, and am enjoying it so far. I almost went for the S2, but wanted ...
Summary: I am in Korea, and this camera is readily available. I picked it up last week, and am enjoying it so far. I almost went for the S2, but wanted the extra 320x240 movie mode at 60fps, which the S2 doesn't have. I like that the movies are recorded as quicktime, but my Adobe Premiere Pro 1.5 software doesn't import them (a big disappointment). I can import them into Windows Media Encoder, though. I also was pleased to find it has a WIDE photo mode, as was mentioned in the review. Yeah, it is just a crop, but that's fine by me. I am disappointed in the rendition of the green objects in the photos, but honestly, that seems to be a Canon thing (my older S30 had the same issues). Grass and bright-green objects glow a bit unnaturally (especially when no flash is used). You can adjust the colors a bit in-camera. I am experimenting with that, but so far it looks like Photoshop is the best route for fixing this issue. I keep buying Canon, though, because they usually offer a lot of bang for the buck. If you are pining over buying this model or the S2, you can save a lot of money and get the S2. The difference in viewfinder size on the S3 really isn't that much, and going to 6 megapixels over 5 isn't a big deal for the average user. Although the viewfinder is adjustable, I'd honestly rather have a big 2.5" viewfinder, like the competition does. Canon needs to rethink this point, IMHO.
18 out of 20 users found this user opinion helpful.
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One of the best point-and-shoot digital cameras.
by springernet on May 10, 2006
Pros: Image Stabilization, Excellent Zoom, Comfortable Design
Cons: LCD display still too small, Poor macro quality.
Summary: I have owned an S1 IS for nearly two years, and was always pleased with it. Naturally I thought that the S3 would be a quantam leap above the S1. ...
Summary: I have owned an S1 IS for nearly two years, and was always pleased with it. Naturally I thought that the S3 would be a quantam leap above the S1. I was going from a 3.1MP 10x optical to a 6MP 12x, not to mention all the other improvements and modifications. The first day I owned the S3 I took over 200 photos. I had run up 6902 pictures total on my old Canon. I had expected a massive increase in picture quality with this new model, but what I got was something far more modest. I developed 30 of the new photos, and saw no visible difference between these and my dinosaur 3.1MP. I thought it was just me, so I asked for a second and third opinion. I took in the new photos, and stacked them alongside the old to show some co-workers. From two different people, I recieved the opinion that there was virtually no difference. They were only able to succesfully pick out the photos from the new camera 8 out of 25 times. I should note that these photos were the same tpye (landscape) and taken under the same conditions as the ancient S1.
Other than the seemingly lack of image quality improvement, the camera is obviously far ahead of the S1. The stabilization seems better, the movie mode is much easier to use, the grip is easier to handle, the media used is better (the old S1 used CF), and obviously the MP have doubled since the dino camera S1. When I look at the S1 now, I am actually wondering if I "Needed" to upgrade my camera. It was a fine camera for it's day, and still is.
If I compare the S3 1S to other cameras in this price range, I would have to say it is better feature for feature. I considered the new Sony H5, but have read there is no continuious shooting mode and only 24x total zoom. Other cameras have similar shortcomings and so the Canon wins in the category of a new Mega-zoom point and shoot.13 out of 15 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Excellent long zoom camera with extremely fast processing speed.
by mourenee on May 14, 2006
Pros: Very fast bootup, good video mode, excellent lens, easy for rookies to improve their digitial photography skills
Cons: Strange grip, small LCD, AF system complains too often when zoomed in
Summary: I do not own a digital SLR, but I wanted a camera with features that are similar to an SLR, without the cost or complexity. Lets face it, unless you ...
Summary: I do not own a digital SLR, but I wanted a camera with features that are similar to an SLR, without the cost or complexity. Lets face it, unless you plan on changing lenses to suit specific applications, a digital SLR can be a bit of a waste, given the capabilities of cameras like the S3. A reasonably trained photographer can produce some really good photos with this camera. If you reach it's limits, then maybe an SLR is in your future, however, you will have a tough time pushing this camera to it's limits.
Another thing I really like about this camera is the video mode, something you will not find in a dSLR. The quality is really good and it allows you to take a full resolution still anytime you want during a video sequence. The audio is actually stereo; another big bonus which get's it rather close to a low end video camera.
Overall, I think my choice was good. I just got the camera last week and I have taken over 300 photos to push it's limits. The only thing that I am not happy with is the faux wide mode. It's simply a croped image on the same sensor. You make it a wide shot by adjusting the zoom of the cropped frame. A bit strange and a tacky way to say it's got a wide shooting mode. Not a show stopper, but definitely false advertising.12 out of 13 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Just the good and not so good
by thewoodsman on September 23, 2006
Pros: Start up, menu layout, swivel screen, super macro
Cons: Viewfinder, diopter, color
Summary: As with many others this was a really tough call against the Sony H5. As a matter of fact, after looking at many pictures on Pbase, I was ready to ...
Summary: As with many others this was a really tough call against the Sony H5. As a matter of fact, after looking at many pictures on Pbase, I was ready to buy the H5 because I felt Sony's color rendition was slightly better. But the Canon has a lot of ways to manage color with an extensive variety of advanced shooting functions. I also like the video feature, something I didn't think would matter much at first. I would have been happy with either camera and anyone who bought the H5 has an excellent camera.
That said I'll just go into what I like and don't like after taking a few hundred images with the Canon.
I was suprised that my favorite feature turned out to be the swivel screen especially in conjunction with the super-macro feature. It's terrific. I can get the camera right on the ground to get fantastic mushroom shots, or just anything that is low to the ground. Also, taking spider shots without getting my face too close to the spider was greatly appreciated. With a hi-speed memory card the images load in a blink of the eye. I also like the layout of the 'Function' menu around the left side and bottom. It lets you quickly make a veriety of lighting/color changes while the image is still in your viewer. The stitch mode is neat, keeping part of the shot just taken to the left 1/3 of screen, while the new shot is to the right side.
What I don't like is the viewfinder, which I prefer to use over the monitor screen because I and hold the camera steadier. Despite a menu setting to brighten it, it's still too dark compared to my old Olympus UZ 2100. And I can't get good focus on it, no matter where I set it. Also, I felt the recorded color tends to make leaves and grass verdent green, too green for me, unnaturally so. However, it is correctable with the many options in the function menu. (I turned the red up full, and the green down full.) Now the trees and grass are truer to their original color as I see it.
I also don't like the lens barrel automatically extending and retracting when the camera is turned on and off. This seems to be common to a lot of cameras, including the Sony. I think this will probably shorten the useable life of the camera by half. It's too bad manufacturers wouldn't make a menu option whereby the lens would stay extended when you turn the camera off. Also the motor noise, though slight, alerts any wildlife you might be shooting.
One last thing. I bought a 2x tele-converter. It's terrible. The image is fuzzy at best. Not to mention you have to make a change in the camera's menu to compensate for this attachment. Even that didn't help. I don't know if Canon's own teleconverter is any better, but I suspect it probably is. Whether it's worth it or not is a personal choice by the user. I'm sorry I bought mine and I'll probably see if I can return it. Just to be aware of the problem with 'after market' converters.
I do recommend purchasing the hood. It's great for holding down sun spots and necessary for adding any filters. I always use a UV when carrying it around in the woods, just to protect the camera lens. And I do like using a polarizer. Look around the web. Hood prices are all over the place.
Overall, I'm very happy with the S3. I probably would have been as happy with the Sony H5. Canon's swivel screen, however, made the difference to me for the type of photography I enjoy.9 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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reviewer coments about RAW are unreal
by IndyEd on May 3, 2006
Pros: great feel, great pictures
Cons: not a true SLR
Summary: I manage a Cord Camera store in the Indianapolis area. Customers who are looking for this type of camera have no idea what RAW is and could care less. They ...
Summary: I manage a Cord Camera store in the Indianapolis area. Customers who are looking for this type of camera have no idea what RAW is and could care less. They chose this type of camera because of the price point, the traditional style, and the zoom capability. RAW is a foreign concept to these buyers. The reviewers comments on this are totally unrealistic.
15 out of 24 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: Canon USA
- Part number: 1101B001
- Description: PowerShot S3 IS is equipped with an approximately 6.0 million camera effective pixel 1/2.5-inch Charge Coupled Device (CCD). Also, with DIGIC II, higher resolution and high-speed processing were achieved and the startup time and response time were shortened. This camera is equipped with a 12x optical zoom lens, which covers a 35mm film equivalent focal length ranging from 36 mm (Wide Angle) to 432 mm (Telephoto), and has an f/2.7 (Wide Angle) - f/3.5 (Telephoto) aperture. By incorporating a UD (Ultra Low Dispersion) lens into the lens element, the chromatic aberration has been reduced. This model incorporates an image stabilizer, which reduces the effects of camera shake while shooting. In addition, the zoom lens's super-smooth, super-fast ultra sonic motor (USM) provides all the zooming speed you need. This camera can take VGA (640 x 480 pixels) movies with exceptional image quality at a full 30 frames per second. Furthermore, it can shoot movies even in the still image shooting modes and vice versa. Also, a new mode to take very smooth QVGA (320 x 240 pixels) movies at 60 frames per second has been newly added. Moreover, digital zoom and manual focus are available as well as adjusting the zoom or exposure, or locking the AF or exposure while shooting a movie. Movies can be taken continuously (depending on the storage capacity of the recording media) until the clip size reaches 1GB or the clip length reaches 1 hour. The recording pixels include a "Widescreen" feature that has the same aspect ratio as 16:9 widescreen TVs for shooting wide images. Adding ISO [800] has resulted in a faster shutter speed even when shooting in dark environments. Also, [High ISO Auto] that has a program diagram with a higher ISO speed setting has been added to the ISO speed position. Featuring "Sports" as a shooting mode has resulted in better focusing of moving subjects, which is especially useful when shooting sporting events. A "My Colors" mode that changes image colors when shooting has been added to the FUNC. Menu of the PowerShot S3 IS. Macro mode is used to record subjects at close range, and Super Macro is used when the distance from the front of the lens to the subject is in the range of 0 to 10 cm (0 to 3.9 in.). This camera is equipped with an upgraded 2.0-inch Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Information display on the LCD monitor and LCD viewfinder when shooting can be customized. The function (shooting mode: P/Tv/Av/M) to display the histogram when shooting was added and Grid lines can be displayed for easier photo composition. Also, this camera shows the possible shooting range within which auto-focusing at the current zoom position. As the recording quality is set up to 16 bit, 44.100 k Hz with the stereo microphone, high quality recording is possible when shooting movies. In addition, "Sound Recorder" can record sound only, without images. Using My Colors, effects can be added to images that have already been shot (still images only). The functions to create a folder to store recorded images by shooting date or shooting month, and to jump to the first image of each shooting date or to a movie and play have been newly added. Transition effects can be applied while transitioning between scenes or on slide shows. A Print/Share button has also been equipped, letting you easily print your images by connecting the camera directly to a direct print compatible printer and then simply pressing this button. When the camera is connected to a computer, pressing the Print/Share button lets you easily download images directly from the camera to the computer.
General
- Product Type Digital camera
- Point-and-shoot highlights Video capture ability adds convenience for the user.
- Width 4.4 in
- Depth 3 in
- Height 3.1 in
- Weight 14.5 oz
Main Features
- Resolution 6 megapixels
- Color Support Color
- Optical Sensor Type CCD
- Total Pixels 6,200,000 pixels
- Effective Sensor Resolution 6,000,000 pixels
- Light Sensitivity ISO 80, ISO 100, ISO 200, ISO 400, ISO 800, ISO auto
- Digital Zoom 4 x
- Shooting Modes Frame movie mode
- Shooting Programs Snow, Beach, Indoor, Foliage, Fireworks, Landscape, Night scene, Sports mode, Portrait mode, Stitch assist, Night snapshot
- Special Effects Sepia, Vivid, Neutral, Positive, Vivid Red, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Black & White, Custom Effect, Low Sharpening, Darker Skin Tone, Lighter Skin Tone, Contrast compensation
- Image Stabilizer Optical
- Max Shutter Speed 1/3200 sec
- Image stabilizer feature Optical stabilization helps prevent blurry pictures, especially for handheld cameras at slow shutter speeds or when using high optical zoom.
- Min Shutter Speed 15 sec
- Exposure Metering Spot, Evaluative, Spot AF area, Center-weighted
- Exposure Modes Manual, Program, Automatic, Shutter-priority, Aperture-priority
- Exposure Compensation ±2 EV range, in 1/3 EV steps
- Auto Exposure Bracketing 3 steps
- AE/AF Control FlexiZone
- White Balance Custom, Presets, Automatic
- White Balance Presets Flash, Cloudy, Daylight, Fluorescent, Tungsten light, Fluorescent light (daylight)
- Digital Video Format AVI
- Still Image Format JPEG
- Continuous Shooting Speed 30 frames per second
- TV Tuner None
- Video Capture AVI - 640 x 480, AVI - 320 x 240, AVI - 640 x 480, AVI - 320 x 240, AVI - 320 x 240
Memory / Storage
- Flash Memory 16 MB Flash - SD Memory Card
- Supported Flash Memory MultiMediaCard, SD Memory Card
- Floppy Drive None
- Image Storage Super-fine / large JPEG 2816 x 2112 : 4 - With 16MB card - 2.72 MB, Fine JPEG 2816 x 2112 : 8 - With 16MB card - 1.62 MB, Normal JPEG 2816 x 2112 : 17 - With 16MB card - 780 KB, Super-fine JPEG 2816 x 1584 : 6 - With 16MB card - 2.03 MB, Fine JPEG 2816 x 1584 : 11 - With 16MB card - 1.2 MB, Normal JPEG 2816 x 1584 : 23 dBi - With 16MB card - 585 KB, Super-fine JPEG 2272 x 1704 : 6 - With 16MB card - 2 MB, Fine JPEG 2272 x 1704 : 12 - With 16MB card - 1.12 MB, Normal JPEG 2272 x 1704 : 24 - With 16MB card - 556 KB, Super-fine JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 13 - With 16MB card - 1 MB, Fine JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 24 - With 16MB card - 558 KB, Normal JPEG 1600 x 1200 : 46 - With 16MB card - 278 KB, Super-fine JPEG 640 x 480 : 52 - With 16MB card - 249 KB, Fine JPEG 640 x 480 : 80 - With 16MB card - 150 KB, Normal JPEG 640 x 480 : 127 - With 16MB card - 84 KB
Camera Flash
- Camera Flash Pop-up flash
- Flash Modes Auto mode, Slow synchro, Flash ON mode, Flash OFF mode, Red-eye reduction, Auto mode with red-eye reduction
- Red Eye Reduction Yes
- Effective Flash Range 1.6 ft - 17 ft
- Features AF illuminator, Flash +/- compensation
Lens System
- Type Zoom lens - 6 mm - 72 mm - F/2.7-3.5
- Focal Length 6 mm - 72 mm
- Focal Length Equivalent to 35mm Camera 36 - 432 mm
- Focus Adjustment Manual, Automatic
- Auto Focus TTL contrast detection
- Min Focus Range 19.7 in
- Macro Focus Range 0-50cm
- Lens Aperture F/2.7-3.5
- Optical Zoom 12 x
- Zoom Adjustment Motorized drive
- Lens Construction 9 group(s) / 11 element(s)
- Lens Manufacturer Canon
- Features UD glass, Aspherical lens, Ultrasonic Motor (USM)
Additional Features
- Self Timer Yes
- Self Timer Delay 2 sec, 10 sec
- Additional Features AE lock, AF lock, FE lock, DPOF support, Direct print, Audio recording, Auto power save, Built-in speaker, Focus bracketing, Histogram display, PictBridge support, USB 2.0 compatibility, Digital image rotation, Digital noise reduction, RGB primary color filter, Display brightness control, Camera orientation detection
Viewfinder
- Viewfinder Type Electronic
- Viewfinder Color Support Color
- Viewfinder Diagonal Size 0.33 in
- Viewfinder Resolution 115,000 pixels
- Field Coverage 100%
- Dioptric Correction Range -5.5 to +1.5
Display
- Type LCD display - TFT active matrix - 2 in - Color
- Display Form Factor Rotating
- Display Format 115,000 pixels
Digital Player (Recorder)
- Type None
Microphone
- Type Microphone - Built-in
- Microphone Operation Mode Stereo
Connections
- Connector Type 1 x USB, 1 x Composite video/audio output
- Expansion Slot(s) 1 x SD Memory Card
Software
- Software Canon PhotoStitch, Canon ImageBrowser, ArcSoft PhotoStudio, Drivers & Utilities, Canon Remote Capture, Canon ZoomBrowser EX
System Requirements for PC Connection
- Operating System Support MS Windows ME, MS Windows XP, MS Windows 98 SE, Apple Mac OS X 10.2 - 10.4, MS Windows 2000 SP4 or later
- Peripheral Devices USB port, CD-ROM drive, SVGA monitor
Miscellaneous
- Carrying Case None
- Included Accessories Lens cap, Neck strap
- Cables Included A/V cable, USB cable
Power
- Power Device None
Battery
- Supported Battery AA
- Supported Battery 4 x AA Alkaline battery ( Included )
Environmental Parameters
- Min Operating Temperature 32 °F
- Max Operating Temperature 104 °F
- Humidity Range Operating 10 - 90%
CNET Labs' Benchmarks
- Labs information All values are expressed in seconds. Please visit our labs information page for information on how digital cameras are tested.
- CNET Labs Flash shot to shot time 2.1
- CNET Labs Shot to shot time typical 1.7
- CNET Labs Shutter lag bright 0.4
- CNET Labs Shutter lag dim 0.8
- CNET Labs Typical burst speed 1.5
- CNET Labs Wake up time 1.5
Accessories
- Canon Power Adapter CA-PS700
- SanDisk Secure Digital card 1GB
- INTERFACE CABLE IFC-400PCU
- SanDisk Ultra II - flash memory card - 2 GB - SD
- 1 GB Ultra II Secure Digital Card
- 512 MB Elite Pro Secure Digital Card
- Kingston Elite Pro Secure Digital card 1GB
- Five Year Total Digital Camera Warranty 'Protect Your Investment'
- Photoshop CS2 Upgrade
- Kingston Elite Pro flash memory card - 2 GB - SD
- HP PhotoSmart A516 - printer - color - ink-jet
- PIXMA IP6310D PHOTO PR-10PPM/12PPM
- Stylus Photo R380 Inkjet Printer
- Canon Power Adapter CA-PS700
- SanDisk Secure Digital card 1GB
- INTERFACE CABLE IFC-400PCU
- SanDisk Ultra II - flash memory card - 2 GB - SD
- 1 GB Ultra II Secure Digital Card
- 512 MB Elite Pro Secure Digital Card
- Kingston Elite Pro Secure Digital card 1GB
- Five Year Total Digital Camera Warranty 'Protect Your Investment'
- Photoshop CS2 Upgrade
- Kingston Elite Pro flash memory card - 2 GB - SD
- HP PhotoSmart A516 - printer - color - ink-jet
- PIXMA IP6310D PHOTO PR-10PPM/12PPM
- Stylus Photo R380 Inkjet Printer
Manufacturer info
- Canon USA
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse Canon USA products on Shopper.com
-
- Website: http://estore.usa.canon.com/
- Address:
One Canon Plaza, Lake Success, NY 11042 - Phone: 516-328-5000
- Email: mediacontact@cusa.canon.com
