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Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon PowerShot S3 ISCanon PowerShot S3 IS Review,Simon Joinson, May 2006

Review based on a production Canon PowerShot S3 IS, Firmware version 1.00Like the S2 IS before it (and for that matter the original S1 IS), the latest version of Canons flagship Image stabilized Ultra zoom PowerShot has been one of the most popular cameras on dpreview (measured by clicks) since the day it was announced. Unlike the S2, the PowerShot S3 IS is a relatively minor upgrade to its predecessor, much more of an evolutionary change than a wholesale reinvention. The basic spec (aside from the sensor) is pretty familiar; 12x optical zoom, flip n twist LCD, tons of photographic control and advanced movie mode with stereo sound. The S2 IS was one of the best big zoom cameras of last year, but this is a highly competitive sector of the market, so does the S3 IS still have what it takes to keep Canon near the top? Lets find out. Headline features12x optical zoom lens with USM and UD lens elementOptical Image Stabilizer6.0 Megapixel CCD2.0” Vari-angle LCD30fps VGA movies with stereo sound and Photo in Movie featureDIGIC II, iSAPS and Flexizone AF/AE for fast, precise results and 2.3 fps continuous shooting20 shooting modes and My Colors photo effectsHigh ISO Auto and ISO 800 for low light flexibilityWidescreen (16:9) recordingPowershot S3 IS vs S2 IS; whats changed? Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Aside from the move to the new 1/2.5" 6 megapixel sensor and a larger screen the S3 IS is, as mentioned above, a pretty minor upgrade. The most immediately obvious difference is the color; very dark gunmetal as opposed to shiny silver. Sat next to the S2 IS the new camera looks a lot more serious, and is a lot more inconspicuous when youre out shooting. Externally the cameras are otherwise almost identical (the S3 IS is fractionally heavier, not that youd notice).New sensor (6MP versus 5MP)Higher maximum sensitivity (ISO 800)Bigger LCD screen (2.0-inch versus 1.8-inch)New Sports modeRecord HistogramWidescreen shooting mode (stills)Fractionally larger and heavier

Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Canon PowerShot S2 ISBody colorSensorEffective ResolutionMaximum Image SizeWidescreen modeHistogramScene modesContinuous ShootingLCD screenWeight (no batteries)



6.0 million pixels	5.0 million pixels
2816 x 2112	2592 x 1944
Yes	No
Record & playback	Playback only
• Custom• Portrait• Landscape• Night Scene• Sports • Stitch Assist• Foliage • Snow • Beach• Fireworks• Indoor• Night Snapshot• Color Accent• Color Swap	• Custom • Portrait• Landscape• Night Scene• My Colors• Stitch Assist• Foliage• Snow• Beach• Fireworks• Indoor• Night Snapshot
2.3 fps, unlimited	2.4 fps, unlimited
• 2.0-inch TFT (flip out and twist) • 115,000 pixels	• 1.8-inch TFT (flip out and twist)• 115,000 pixels
410g	405g

Key specifications Street priceBody MaterialSensorImage sizesMovie clipsLensFocusMeteringShutterApertureShooting modeSensitivityWhite BalanceImage parametersContinuousFlashStorageViewfinderLCD monitorConnectivityPowerOther featuresOptional accessoriesWeight (no batt)Dimensions

• US: $480• UK: £330

Plastic

• 1/2.5 " Type CCD• 6.0 million effective pixels

• 2816 x 2112• 2816 x 1584 (16:9 widescreen mode)• 2272 x 1704• 1600 x 1200• 640 x 480

• 640 x 480 @ 30 / 15fps• 320 x 240 @ 60 / 30 / 15fps• Photo in Movie feature• WAVE (stereo)• Length limited only by storage (maximum single movie file 1GB)• AVI (Motion JPEG compression)

• TTL autofocus• Single / Continuous AF• Manual focus• Focus lock • 1-point AF (center or flexizone) • 10 cm minimum focus range (macro)

• Evaluative• Center-weighted average• Spot (center or linked to focusing frame)

• F2.7-F8.0 (wide)• F3.5-F8.0 (tele)

• Auto• Program AE• Shutter Priority AE• Aperture Priority AE• Manual• Custom• Portrait• Landscape• Night Scene• Sports• Stitch Assist• Foliage• Snow• Beach• Fireworks• Indoor• Night Snapshot• Color Accent• Color Swap

• Auto• High ISO Auto• ISO 80• ISO 100• ISO 200• ISO 400• ISO 800

• Auto• Daylight• Cloudy• Tungsten• Fluorescent• Fluorescent H• Flash• Custom

• High Speed approx. 2.3fps• Normal approx. 1.5fps

• Auto• Manual Flash On / Off• Slow Synch• Red eye reduction• Flash exposure lock• Flash Exposure Compensation +/- 2EV in 1/3 stop increments• Manual Power adjustment• Second Curtain Synch• Range (wide): 50cm - 5.2m (1.6-17ft) •Range (tele): 90cm - 4.0m (3.0-13 ft)•Range (macro): 30 - 50m (1.0-1.6 ft)

• SD / MMC compatible• 16MB card supplied

• EVF (0.33" type)• 115,000 pixels• 100% coverage • Dioptre adjustment (-5.5 to 1.5 dpt)

• Vari-angle 2.0-inch Low Temp P-Si TFT• 115,000 pixels• Adjustable Brightness• 100% coverage

• USB 2.0 High speed • A/V out

• 4 x AA batteries (NiMH recommended)• (Optional AC adapter)

• Tele-converter 1.5x lens (TC-DC58B)• Wide-converter 0.75x lens (WC-DC58A)• Lens Adapter/Hood Set (LAH-DC20)• Close-Up Lens 500D (58mm)• High Power Flash HF-DC1• Soft Case (DCC-90)• Compact AC Power Adapter (CA-PS700)• Battery and Charger Kit (CBK4-300)

410 g

113.4 x 78 x 75.5 mm

* Supplied accessories may differ in each country or area

Conclusion / Recommendation / Ratings are based on the opinion of the reviewer, you should read the ENTIRE review before coming to your own conclusions.Images which can be viewed at a larger size have a small magnifying glass icon in the bottom right corner of the image, clicking on the image will display a larger (typically VGA) image in a new window.To navigate the review simply use the next / previous page buttons, to jump to a particular section either pick the section from the drop down or select it from the navigation bar at the top.DPReview calibrate their monitors using Color Vision OptiCal at the (fairly well accepted) PC normal gamma 2.2, this means that on our monitors we can make out the difference between all of the (computer generated) grayscale blocks below. We recommend to make the most of this review you should be able to see the difference (at least) between X,Y and Z and ideally A,B and C.