is S3 worth buying?

KoiBoy wrote in post #2579209
i too belive that this is base on your personal ease of mind on how much you willing to spend and how you will be using your camera. there is NO Comparison between a Canon DSLR, XTI, etc., and the Canon Powershot S1/2/3.

the Canon powershot S3 IS is the best rated Point & Shot camera with the options and features that makes it very closed to its BIG Brother, but with less of the cost.

if you want a little more bang to your S3, all you have to do is add about $150-$250 more in accessories (flash, lens, etc.,) and it can perform close to its BIG Brother.

example::

Canon Powershot S3 IS (Ben's Bargains, Dell special promo) = $303-$365
Telephoto Lens (Sony, Raynox, Olympic, etc... eBay) = $25-$80
Wide Angle Lens (Sony, Raynox, Olympic, etc... eBay) = $25-$80
External Flash, Flash Bracket (Canon, Sunpak, etc.,) = $25-$50
=============== TOTAL = $500-$550 ===============

EOS Digital Rebel XTi SLR Camera with 18-55 mm Lens = $771.95
Canon 580EX Speedlite E-TTL II Shoe Mount Flash with Quantum Turbo Battery, Charger & Connecting Cable = $809
Canon Telephoto EF 135mm f/2.0L USM Lens = $899
Canon Super Wide Angle EF 14mm f/2.8L USM Lens = $1,749

so then you need a Telephoto, etc., then you need a Wide angle etc., so your total will be $800 + $900-3,000 for additional lens, etc.,..

if you have the money, go for it..
===============

but the Canon Powershot S3 IS standard can do so much already and with the extra add-ons.. it can do even more for under $550.

but i know that within the next 7-8 yrs later, i will jump into the dSLR scene. (after i sell my house, car.. just kidding)

You're not comparing apples to apples.

A dSLR excels in response time, AF speed, ability to pair fast lenses (for low DOF and better low-light performances), wider-angle lenses, ability to change lenses, potentially better IQ and the naturally lower DOF. You can't just say 'buy all this and it'll become close to it's big brother'. You can't compensate critical advantages of a dSLR by piling on plenty of S3 accessories. None of the accessories you just mentioned addressed any of the primary benefits I listed above, except the wide-angle converter.

Secondly, you made a pretty bad illustration of your point with that dSLR purchase list. A 580EX with a power-bundle pack for $800? No thanks. I also don't get why you chucked in the 135mm f/2L and the 14mm f/2.8L. Seems like you just decided to throw in a few random expensive lenses just to bump up the price, even though those lenses don't help to illustrate a comparison to the S3 at all. The S3's 12x optical zoom equates to roughly 420mm FF-equivalent FL. Why not chuck in a 100-400L? It's expensive too, but atleast it holds much more relevance to the point than throwing in something random like the 135L & 14L primes.

I know you don't have much experience with dSLRs and I'm not trying to be unfairly critical, but my point is your limited knowledge on them will have a tendency to translate to inaccurate & erratic advice for these types of forumite issues - unfortunately this really showed in your last post.

Regards,
Collin

hey collin,

the power package came from B&H, yes i'm not that super dSLR, i'm just a novice, but did find that average price on a good dSLR lens was about that much and going any higher in lens would cost much more, i just pick the lens in the middle price range from B&H, of course you can get a lower price canon lens.

i'm NOT really comparing the S3 with the dSLR, just in terms of if its worth spending the $300 compared to the Thousands. don't hate the point and shooter, just showing the average cost for a great set of lens for a dSLR and it's overall cost compare to the S3 cost.. NOT the comparison of the S3 vs. dSLR.. no.. no.. no... that is obviously not the point, S3 is a Point n Shoot, while dSLR are for the serious ones who are into pro. photography.

good morning,

My wife has a Canon S3. It is a great camera that offers a lot for its size, weight, and price.

Lars Leber wrote in post #2580872
It is a great camera that offers a lot for its size, weight, and price.

Amen, Brother, Amen!

Idk why it sounds to me like P&S'ers are trying to make themselves feel better for not having a DSLR. While I own an SD700 and I'm very happy with it, I'm not going to fool myself and say it comes anywhere near the quality of a DSLR. Thats in terms of both IQ and versatility. I'm not a pro photographer, but I do like high IQ, and DSLRS are completely unsurpassed in this field. Bring and S3IS and an XTi to a beach at night with only a lighthouse for a source of light and let me know which one is going to catch the moment. Once again, I'm not hating on P&S, I HAVE only P&S cameras, but you cant try and fool yourself by saying it compares to a DSLR, no matter how many converters and accessories you buy for it.

KoiBoy wrote in post #2579209
i too belive that this is base on your personal ease of mind on how much you willing to spend and how you will be using your camera. there is NO Comparison between a Canon DSLR, XTI, etc., and the Canon Powershot S1/2/3.

the Canon powershot S3 IS is the best rated Point & Shot camera with the options and features that makes it very closed to its BIG Brother, but with less of the cost.

if you want a little more bang to your S3, all you have to do is add about $150-$250 more in accessories (flash, lens, etc.,) and it can perform close to its BIG Brother.

example::

Canon Powershot S3 IS (Ben's Bargains, Dell special promo) = $303-$365
Telephoto Lens (Sony, Raynox, Olympic, etc... eBay) = $25-$80
Wide Angle Lens (Sony, Raynox, Olympic, etc... eBay) = $25-$80
External Flash, Flash Bracket (Canon, Sunpak, etc.,) = $25-$50
=============== TOTAL = $500-$550 ===============

EOS Digital Rebel XTi SLR Camera with 18-55 mm Lens = $771.95
Canon 580EX Speedlite E-TTL II Shoe Mount Flash with Quantum Turbo Battery, Charger & Connecting Cable = $809
Canon Telephoto EF 135mm f/2.0L USM Lens = $899
Canon Super Wide Angle EF 14mm f/2.8L USM Lens = $1,749


so then you need a Telephoto, etc., then you need a Wide angle etc., so your total will be $800 + $900-3,000 for additional lens, etc.,..

if you have the money, go for it..
===============

but the Canon Powershot S3 IS standard can do so much already and with the extra add-ons.. it can do even more for under $550.


but i know that within the next 7-8 yrs later, i will jump into the dSLR scene. (after i sell my house, car.. just kidding)

Well, you know, the pop-up flash on the 350D is about the same strength as the S3's flash; you don't need to buy a $1700 14 mm L to get wide; you can buy a Sigma 15-30 zoom for around $500 (and get much better quality that you ever will with any add-on wide adapter, BTW); your 135 f/2 will overwhelm whatever you get from the S3IS, a 75-300 at $160 would be a fairer comparison. If you need an external flash, the 220EX runs about 1/3 what the 580EX does. It doesn't have all the capabilities, but neither dose the slave you mentioned. You're welcome to "defend" your choice - just don't distort the comparisons when you do so.

mishnogram wrote in post #2569380
It really depends on what you want to use the camera for. I've thought of making the jump to a DSLR many times over but hey, I take pictures of my kids, they can be out of focus, not composed properly and overblown and I'll still like them.

At the end of the day, i convince myself that I don't need a DSLR because 1) I don't have the money to buy a body and lenses to get the 400mm reach of my S2, 2) my current camera keeps me satisfied with manual controls , 3) our camera is part of our lifestyle so we normally take it with us everywhere so portability and not worrying about it breaking or getting stolen is important and 4) with 3 kids, I always have other things that needs buying first.

This is a great post IMO. Everyone has different needs and wants and noone can say what is best for someone else. . . Except to say buy a Canon

johnthebaptist wrote in post #2582587
This is a great post IMO. Everyone has different needs and wants and noone can say what is best for someone else.

So true, and IMO, this thread has gotten way too close to personal attacks for comfort!

mishnogram wrote in post #2569380
It really depends on what you want to use the camera for. I've thought of making the jump to a DSLR many times over but hey, I take pictures of my kids, they can be out of focus, not composed properly and overblown and I'll still like them.

At the end of the day, i convince myself that I don't need a DSLR because 1) I don't have the money to buy a body and lenses to get the 400mm reach of my S2, 2) my current camera keeps me satisfied with manual controls , 3) our camera is part of our lifestyle so we normally take it with us everywhere so portability and not worrying about it breaking or getting stolen is important and 4) with 3 kids, I always have other things that needs buying first.

Personally, I do agree very much. No doubt that I like to have a DSLR along with but just as you said, " at the end ......".

I just got an S3, and I love it. Yes, I do feel a bit limited...I really wanted an XTi, but my budget isn't there. It's a good stepping stone for me coming off a strctly P&S camera to a camera where I have control over aperture, shutter, iso, and flash. To me, the S3 is a learning camera, and when I've "hit the mark" with all of the variables, I'm VERY happy with the result.

Maybe it's because I'm just coming of a little P&S camera, and because I don't have a dSLR, but I have a hard time calling the S3 a P&S.....I rarely use "auto", so I'm not just pointing and shooting with it. Just me, maybe.

The real problem with all compact cameras is the sensor size. The S3 is no exception to this, and when cramming more and more pixels into a 1/2" sensor you get diminishing returns, with noise overtaking the potentially higher pixel count. For this reason, a 6MP Rebel DSLR, with something like 4x the sensor size, will outperform the 6MP S3 by a significant margin, especially in low light. Having said that, I have an S3, and with a 500D close-up attachment have taken quality pictures of dragonflies and butterflies, happily wandering around nature reserves for hours, without having to lug around heavy gear. Many of my pictures have been published in nature magazines.
Unfortunately, many manufacturers are doing the megapixel chase, each trying to cram more and more into the same tiny sensor size, and it just doesn't work. With such sensors, once you get above around 6mp there is little net gain in resolution but you get added noise which is suppressed with ever more aggressive in-camera noise reduction circuits. This takes away some of the noise but takes away detail as well.
The law of diminishing returns is already evident with the S3 when compared to the S2, so we shall see whether Canon fall into this trap with its next supercompact, but be very wary of it if they do.
To sum up, if you want to take nice pictures up to A3 full frame, mostly in good light, then you will be delighted with an S3. If you want to take fast pictures in low light bigger than A3 size and still crop some, and you can cope with the extra gear (and cost!) then get a s/h Rebel.
As for waiting for an S4, well, there will always be another camera around the corner, but the pictures are out there now.

DSLR's are over rated, they are not the great god send that so many people seem to think they are.

I would be willing to bet my house that 80% of the photos shown on this forum could have been taken with a high end compact instead of an SLR, and you would never be able to tell the difference if printed at even A3.
Unfortunatly I doubt that 80% of the photographers who took those photos know enough about they are doing to be able to work with a more limited compact.

edited on page 1.

sorry all, i made a bad post, i should of been saying, that the S3 is a very good camera and has great reviews, i have my S3 and for about 2 weeks and i love it, its nothing compared to a SLR, but cost wise, its very affordable for what it can do compare to standard P&S (point and shoot) cameras.

peace out..

KoiBoy wrote in post #2594744
edited on page 1.
its nothing compared to an SLR

KioBoy
I don't think you should sell yourself short by saying that your S3 is "nothing" compared to an SLR. While it's true that they are two different kinds of cameras, that still doesn't make your camera "nothing"! In fact, the S3 is a very good camera that takes great pictures.

I've known many people to run out and buy an SLR, set it on auto and use it as an aim and shoot, never really learning to use it. In other words, I have seen many SLR users that just took pictures, while I have seen many non SLR users that were good photographers. Try telling some of them die hard rangefinder users that the only good camers are SLRs, and then rare back an listen to the laughter!

maddening game to keep parking boxes of computer chips next to each other on a shelf each one only slightly better than the next. I am a happy owner of the S2. The improved S3 didn't do it for me 1MP and an 800 ISO isn't enough. I'm eager to see the S4. My guess is the same 12x lens and digicII chip and ISO 1000 My hope is 8-10MP and a digicIII chip all at the $400 price. The Canon Co seems to like April to trot out new little cams.
Sam