New S3is user

I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and decided to go with an S3. I'm just learning how ot use all of it's functions and having fun doing so. One question that I noticed immediately though is with the flash. I bought this camera based on really enjoying using my friends S2 quite often but if I remember correctly the flash on her S2 popped up automatically if needed when half depressing the shutter. Has this changed on the S3? If so, it's not a huge deal but seems strange to downgrade a newer model. Thanks for any help.

I have an S2, and the flash raises manually, and that's the way I like it. I want it to be my choice when to use flash, not the camera's.

The S3 has a flash that needs to be manually raised. If you have low light - half depressing the shutter will result in a message on the screen/ viewfinder to raise the flash - you will then have to wait a few seconds for the flash to charge up !

X-werks wrote in post #3045969
The S3 has a flash that needs to be manually raised. If you have low light - half depressing the shutter will result in a message on the screen/ viewfinder to raise the flash - you will then have to wait a few seconds for the flash to charge up !

True, but Antz_Marchin was asking if the flash on the S2 raised automaticly, and it doesn't. At least mine doesn't.

Ok, thanks guys, I may have remembered her S2 incorrectly and was maybe thinking of the DSLR that she just got and I used most recently. Just wanted to be sure mine wasn't messed up : ) Thanks very much. I'll have plenty more questions soon to come I'm sure.

I know the older S series (S1IS I believe) had an auto flash. When I was talking with a Canon rep, a lot of people tried to raise it manually, which couldn't be done. This caused the units to break, and the flash not go up any more. This was her explanation to going to the manual lift flash. Th S2IS was the start of this.

I personally agree, that I like the control of it.

I believe if you set the mode dial to auto then the flash is automatic in darker areas, maybe in a couple of the other modes too. That's how my FZ-5 and 350D are. Have fun learning your new camera.

The S1 IS flash raises automatically. The S2 and S3 IS have to be raised manually. I have the S1 and the S2 and didn't like the flash not automatically raising on the S2 at first. Now I absolutely love the better control I have and having to conciously decide if I need flash in my shot or not. The S1 works great for my non photography minded wife who would just as soon point the camera and take a picture which suits her purposes just fine.

The manual flash is great for museums.. no mistakes there.....