S3 IS for travel......?

Hello Everyone!
I currently own a Rebel XTi with the 28-135 IS lens. In March I'll be traveling to Washington DC for a fun trip to see the sights. I'm wondering if I want to drag the XTi around all week, or get a nice small point and shoot to carry around. I have been looking at the Canon S3 IS. What do all of you recommend? Lug around the XTi or get the S3 to carry around.
What about image quality and the S3. Are you owners of the S3 happy with it?
I have compared images with a friend of mine who only uses a small point and shoot (Kodak C875) and the images from my Xti and I gotta tell ya, the images from her Kodak are pretty darned nice! I'd rather carry that little Kodak around all day than the XtTi while on vacation.
I think one of the advantages of bringing the XTi would be indoor shooting with low light. It might have the edge over a smaller point and shoot. How does the S3 do indoors with low light?

Thank you very much for any tips, hints, and advice you can offer!

I have 30d and few L lenses. I cannot take it on my annual 2-week long backpacking trips on the Continental Divide, so, I bought S3 last year.

I took thousands of photos during that trip. I liked it OK. It does not compare with dslr, but, I would agree with you that it may useful when you do not feel like carrying your xti.

Just one more thing. I have not used it once since coming back from the mountains. Just cannot compete with my 30d,

m

Last time I went to Washington D.C. I took my 350XT and a 50mm 1.8 lens. It was pretty much like using a point and shoot, and the low light capability of the lens came in handy in the museums. Just make sure you have a good camera strap (like the POTN strap and you'll be fine.

Fear.No.Art wrote in post #2756420
Last time I went to Washington D.C. I took my 350XT and a 50mm 1.8 lens. It was pretty much like using a point and shoot, and the low light capability of the lens came in handy in the museums. Just make sure you have a good camera strap (like the POTN strap and you'll be fine.

I would say that more people going on vacation don't visit museums than do. But if you do, then the single 50MM lens on your SLR would come in handy (if you have 50 mm lens), as most aim and shoots aren't great in low light. But if you want lots of zoom range in a small package, and don't want to lug a big bag of bodies and lenses with you, then you would have a great appreciation fpr the S3. I think most of us with any photographic expeareance at all know the difference between a compact and an slr camera. I know I do. I also know that the S3 will take outstanding pictures that will blow up to 11 X 14 with no trouble at all.

The S3 is not that good for low light so if that is your aim I would look elsewhere. For portability if you can live with 6x zoom then I would go the A710IS from Canon. It takes some great photos and very portable and only 2 AA batteries instead of 4 for the S3. JMHO

JustShootin wrote in post #2756519
=JustShootin';2756519]​I would say that more people going on vacation don't visit museums than do. But if you do, then the single 50MM lens on your SLR would come in handy (if you have 50 mm lens), as most aim and shoots aren't great in low light. But if you want lots of zoom range in a small package, and don't want to lug a big bag of bodies and lenses with you, then you would have a great appreciation fpr the S3. I think most of us with any photographic expeareance at all know the difference between a compact and an slr camera. I know I do. I also know that the S3 will take outstanding pictures that will blow up to 11 X 14 with no trouble at all.

If you're gong to Washington, unless you're visiting family, museums are the biggest attraction. Even at the zoo, a fast or IS lens is good.

The S3 is lighter than a full fledged DSLR, it has a 12x so no need for additional lenses to lug around, has the Image Stabilizer for sharper pics and is capable of movies in stereo.

I like the S3 and would take it along for my trips.

The S3IS is a super piece of kit. If it went 28mm wide my XTi wouldn't see too much use apart from sports stuff. The IQ is excellent and iso 800 is much better than the pixel peepers would have you believe.

Jon wrote in post #2756701
If you're gong to Washington, unless you're visiting family, museums are the biggest attraction. Even at the zoo, a fast or IS lens is good.

You have a point there, Jon. Think I'll ask the OP. Hey OP, do you plan to visit many museums while in Washington?

I want to take in as much as possible. I already have tours reserved for the State Capital, Archives, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, ect. I also plan on seeing all of the Monuments as well. Of course I won't miss the Smighsonian buildings.
I know my XTi with IS lens would probably be better for indoor shots, but I think the IS with the S3 should help quite a bit too?
I like the idea of carying something lighter and smaller while sightseeing.

I would go with the DSLR especially if shooting in low light situations. Once you get past a pocketable camera, and I don't think the S3IS is, size doesn't matter.

On a vacation last year, for 6 weeks, we visited Colorado & Wyoming, London & nearby counties, Belgium, Germany, Austria & Singapore. Only had a car in the USA. My wife took a Canon A700 P&S while my camera was a Canon 350D (Rebel XT) with (mainly) 17-85 IS lens. Took 5000+ pics (Raw) with my camera and about 200 pics with the A700. After the first week my wife prefered to use the DSLR even though I had to cary it!, which wasn't a real problem.

I would put the money I would have spent on an xtra camera towards a wide angle lens.
Hope this helps.
Richard

Pics can be seen here:
http://www.poseruniver​se.net/Holiday2006/Top​2006.htm

IIRC you can't take cameras in the White House and maybe the Capitol. I know that you can't take pictures in the House or Senate, or Supreme Court, chambers.

Remember - if you get a P&S, you'll also need memory cards for it. The current lot don't use CF.