S2/S3 Advice

My S2 is dead. It will turn on, but then turn off saying I need to change the batteries. Putting in a new set of batteries doesn't help (yes, I tried that).

Now my dilemma. Canon wants $127 to fix it. But it has several hot pixels and is quite scuffed and the LCD is scratched. I have taken almost 12,000 picturers with it in the last year and a half. If Canon fixes it, I still have a well-used camera.

Now my dilemma. The local Best Buy has the S3 on sale and with some Christmas gift certs and money I was given, I can get a brand new S3 for about $225 out of my pocket.

Would you junk the S2 and get the S3, or save the money and fix the S2?

Thanks for your advice.

- Edd S.

IMHO. Gosh you're hard on a camera, I think your old S2 has served you well. A brand new S3 sounds like a good plan if you add in BB's 3yr extended guarantee. If you had bought your S2 that way you would probably have a brand new S2 or S3 already.

For what it's worth, if I was in your shoes I would get the S3.

Wow Edd, sorry to hear about your S2. Have enjoyed your photos with it. What happened to it? That is a dilemma for sure. I think I'd have to agree. Pick yourself up an S3.

I'd have to say go for the S3 as well.

Edd another way to look at it is you can have a beat up S2 that has just been repaired or a brand new S3 for $98 more.
To me it is no contest and think of how short your learning curve will be.

Thanks for your thoughts, all.

I'm thinking the same as your advice. The only thing that might hold me back would be if the S4 was on the horzon and I might be better waiting for that. But the cost will be high at first, and to scrape that together would be difficult. I'll probably take the S3 plunge.

In this house there is an S2 and a S3. There are a few 'small' things that make the S3 a better camera. If *I* could get one for the money you said, I'd do it.

It is possible that PMA 2007 will see an S4 IS. I wouldn't hold my breath, as the S3 IS is still relatively new and may be too new to be replaced yet.

Whatever you do, there'll always be a new camera around the corner, particularly in the compact market. The technology has got to the point where the upgrades between models are relatively small, but the marketplace (or, more likely, the dealers and marketers) are always demanding new models.

Even if an S4 IS does emerge at PMA 2007, it's not likely to have huge improvements over the S3 IS. SD HC support can, I think, be seen as certain - but this will only affect you if you take long movie clips. Anything else would only be a guess.


The way that I'd look upon it is that you don't have a working camera at the moment, which means you can't take pictures. The S3 IS does have some improvements over the S2 IS, and it seems worth the relatively modest extra cost over repairing your broken camera just to have a new unit and a year's warranty, especially as, for a compact camera, you use your unit heavily.

You could always eBay the broken S2 with the word "broken" clearly in the title of the auction and a clear description of the fault and the overall condition. Someone may give you a little bit for it, especially if they can take parts from your broken camera to fix their broken camera. Even if it's only a few dollars, that narrows the price gap to a new unit a little more. Just don't get sucked into any kind of scam to send the camera by insured carrier then participate in a scheme to claim that the camera was broken in transit.

David

Edd

I have seen many of your great pictures in the past year. It seems to me that an slr may be a good choice for you. I do not haphazardly recommend slr's to people, but it seems you are really into photography and have a good eye for composition and lighting. An slr would really open up a lot of creative opportunities for you.

I used my S2 less than you, but I have a respect for that camera and I am certainly not bashing it. I recommend it (the S3 at this point)to anybody that asks. I know you can get some great shots with the S2 or S3, but there are definitely limitations. Of course there are pros and cons for either. But I really think that if you have the money, that would be the best way for you to go.

EDIT - I just read in one of your posts above that money may be an issue. I am not going to lie and say that getting even the cheapest slr will not be too expensive. It is - especially once you get the lens bug. So if an slr is not an option, I say get the S3 and do not wait for an S4.

Stefan

If jumping into a DSLR isn't possible for you right now (As is my porblem, unless i get a seond hand one and a great deal), than I say run on down to your Best Buy, pick up the S3 with your gift cards, and be on your way..

FWIW, the Best Buy service plan on this is 2 or 4 years, and may be a good idea.. Recently, there is available an accidental damage and handling service plan, meaning if in your every day something happens to it, Best Buy will cover it for you.. Even if you're "a little rough" with it! I'd upgrade the plan on my SD450, but alas, they won't allow me to do so (I bought my 450 in July, way before this plan became available)..

..Good luck in your choice.. THe S2 is a great camera, and the S3 is just as awesome.. Yes, a jump to 6MP may help in resale (Cause MegaPixels are where it's at right? ) plus the S3 is in a sleek black body.. Enjoy your decision!

AND... [especially helpful if your eye-balls have been 'looking' for 'some time'].... The LCD on the S3 is a 4 mm larger [on the diagonal] that on the S2. Doesn't sound like much but it makes quite a difference..... for me.

wow, only 12k shots on the S2? I have over 300k on my S1 IS and it still works great!

I have the S3 as well, and for $225 it would be a steal