Canon S3 picture quality for 4x6 prints

[RobotDoctor]

I have read comments regarding the picture quality for the S3. Some people have raved of the quality and some have been less than enthusiastic. I have also read that picture quality appears to be grainy for large images (8x11 or so). How is the quality of pictures when images are 4x6? Thanks in advance.

[JustShootin']

I think anyone who don't get super high quality 4X6 prints with the S3 don't know how to use the camera, or have a bad processing service.

Gary

[raimisch]

Not just only 4x6, I have gone up above 8x6's with good quality. For me until I go up to poster size around 24x36, then I start having issues, but even then with some pictures that size still works fine.

[RobotDoctor]

Most of the pictures my wife and I take are in the 4x6 range for photo albums. I have never printed a picture larger than 8x11 so I should not experience problems. I do know that I will have quite a lot to learn but that is another story for another thread. :)

[JustShootin']

I have some lots of 8X10s, and also a few 11X14s that were taken with my S2. They are very good. Havent tried for anything bigger.

Gary

[eccles]

I can crop an image from my S3 by around 30% and still have enough for a pretty good 8"x10".

[LotsToLearn]

You've been able to get decent 4x6s since 3/4mp cameras... I wouldn't worry about those from the S3. I rarely do larger and haven't yet from the S3 so I can only comment on the 4x6.

[rad2689]

No problem at all printing 4x6 or 5x7 or 8x10. You get grain/noise in the photos when the picture is underexposed or its dark.

[JeffreyG]

4x6 = Just about any camera you care to use. S3 should be absolutely fine.

The only limitation is that at any print size all small format digital cameras will have nearly infinite DOF at all apertures. I find this tends to make the images look flat.

[weasle543]

The only limitation is that at any print size all small format digital cameras will have nearly infinite DOF at all apertures. I find this tends to make the images look flat.

I have to disagree with that statement. Just curious...does this picture look flat and have a nearly infinite DOF?

picture (http://home.earthlink.net/%7Eweasle543/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/img_1427_copy.jpg)

The S3 will make great 4x6 prints.

[JeffreyG]

I have to disagree with that statement. Just curious...does this picture look flat and have a nearly infinite DOF?

Nope, but to get a shallow DOF like that you need to be at the longer end of the zoom range (like 30mm to 72mm) and you need to be close to the subject. The result is what you got....a face portrait.

That is fine, but now shoot me a portrait of an entire, standing person and get me that DOF effect.

[weasle543]

Nope, but to get a shallow DOF like that you need to be at the longer end of the zoom range (like 30mm to 72mm) and you need to be close to the subject. The result is what you got....a face portrait.

True I took that picutre from about 3-5 feet away at 51.8mm f3.5 in Av. Just pointing out that it is possible to obtain a shallow DOF even with the S3. I replied due the generalization of your statement... The only limitation is that at any print size all small format digital cameras will have nearly infinite DOF at all apertures.That is fine, but now shoot me a portrait of an entire, standing person and get me that DOF effect.Now you're asking for specifics and I agree 100% with you that the S3 will not give you a very precipitable shallow DOF with a distant subject and a short focal lenth even with the aperture wide open. The little bugger is a great little camera, but sometimes size does matter. :lol:

If I want that DOF effect, I'll pull out the XTI with the nifty fifty and pop the aperture open to 1.8. :lol:

[PeacePlanet]

Need to have your quality up to SuperFine and Large for a fine print up to A4 size. Otherwise, issues with the grain and all would occur.

I havent printed any of my pictures outside, with the pro. Just use my old printer, which has a few issues. But it still looks reasonable quality in A4 unless you move your eyes next to it.

Cheers
Al

[JeffreyG]

Now you're asking for specifics and I agree 100% with you that the S3 will not give you a very precipitable shallow DOF with a distant subject and a short focal lenth even with the aperture wide open. The little bugger is a great little camera, but sometimes size does matter.

For most people, the S3 is a great camera and I shouldn't knock it.

I just wish someone would build a pocket camera for me. On 35mm film they used to make P&S cameras with 35-80mm f/6.3-11 lenses. Now they make digital cameras with 6-24mm f/2.8-4.5 lenses. At least the new cameras cover a bigger focal length range, but there is no improvement in low light work or subject isolation.

I want a compact camera with the sensor / processor of the Canon Rebel XT married to a fixed 30mm f/2.8 lens. That should be feasible in a small package with good optics.

[weasle543]

I want a compact camera with the sensor / processor of the Canon Rebel XT married to a fixed 30mm f/2.8 lens. That should be feasible in a small package with good optics.

Don't we all? ROFL!!!

[DavidW]

There has only been one compact with an APS-C sized sensor, which was a Sony prior to them taking over Konica Minolta's camera business, and which I believe has now been discontinued. Whilst the enthusiastic photographer may have a place for such a tool, the marketplace is, sadly, largely about how small a camera you can make and how many megapixels it has.

Your best option is probably to put a EF 28mm f/2.8 or EF 35mm f/2 on your XT and use that - with a small case, it's not quite a pocket camera, but it's still a small, light setup. The two primes I mentioned are not the most modern lenses (no USM, no full time manual), but I understand that they're decent enough. You do have the advantage of a good optical viewfinder, though the penalty is the size and weight of the reflex mirror and related mechanism.

The other way around is a digital rangefinder - but as the options are the stupendously expensive Leica M8 or the still very expensive Epson R-1Ds (though that has just been discontinued - apparently Epson have decided to leave the market to Leica). You're talking nearly US$5000 for an M8 body - and you still need a lens.



David

[mishnogram]

I have read comments regarding the picture quality for the S3. Some people have raved of the quality and some have been less than enthusiastic. I have also read that picture quality appears to be grainy for large images (8x11 or so). How is the quality of pictures when images are 4x6? Thanks in advance.

640X480 is the minimum you need for a 4X6, I know someone will probably come up with a very technical reason for it but I print stills from a microscope for quality assurance record purposes and they come out just great at that resolution. I've printed plenty of 8X10's from my A40 (2MP) and have been very happy with the results as well.