The Canon Powershot S3 IS, originally released in early 2006, is part of Canon’s highly successful Powershot brand of cameras. Originally introduced in the mid-1990s, the Powershot label covers a variety of different Canon cameras and most consumers consider it to be synonymous with quality.
Since its launch, the Powershot series has become so popular that different models are now labeled as being part of a series. For example, there’s the Canon Powershot A series, which emphasizes budget-friendly models.
The S3 provides practical features with great benefits
The Powershot S3 IS is part of the S series, which makes it is a notch below the G series. These cameras have many of the same features as G series cameras, but typically lack a feature or two in order to come in at a lower price point.
In the case of the Powershot S3 IS, consumers found very little to complain about, the model was reviewed favourably by both tech websites and users.
Many users praised its zoom as well as the clarity of images. For anyone looking for a professional-grade camera while still wanting to spend a reasonable amount of money, the S3 IS appears to be a sound option.
Lets look a little deeper at the features of the Powershot S3 IS and see how it is.
“A mini-DSLR perfect for photo enthusiasts” By W. Wu (San Francisco, CA USA) “
The 12x optical zoom lens let you take almost any photo from anywhere
One of the biggest advantages of the S3 IS is its 12x optical zoom. Quite simply, this lets the user take almost any photo he or she can dream of. Even though the model is a few years old, 12x is still a very high level of zoom.
Anyone who’s ever taken a nature shot can attest to the fact that more zoom means more natural images, as the scene can be left undisturbed.
Similarly, when attempting to take an up-close photo of something, the zoom allows for every last detail to be captured.
Whether a person wants to take a shot of something from afar or just needs more detail, the 12x zoom allows almost any shot to be taken with as much quality as possible.
Fully adjustable flip-and-twist LCD screen for maximum viewing
Another feature of the Canon Powershot S3 that many users will cherish is the flip-and-twist LCD screen that is integrated into the camera. While virtually all cameras offer a built-in LCD screen, the Canon Powershot S3 lets the user adjust the LCD to his or her preference.
This means that if the camera isn’t right in front of the photographer’s face, they can still see the LCD screen with ease and make adjustments to the shot before snapping a photo.
While the screen isn’t what most would consider large, coming in at just two inches, it is still suitable for most people and is an upgrade over the camera’s predecessor.
Take pictures in widescreen for TV viewing
With nearly everyone owning an HDTV, it’s a shame when pictures can’t be displayed on them at their intended resolution. Either part of the image is lost, or the image has to be stretched out.
Either way, it makes for a less than perfect experience when trying to show off pictures on the big screen. Canon understands this, and that’s why the S3 includes the option to take pictures in widescreen.
Using this setting, photos can be taken at a native 16:9 ratio, so that if a user loads them onto his or her TV, they will display properly.
“This camera dominates this price range” By M. Chang
“Excellent compromise between point-and-shoots & DSLR” By P. Schmidt (Chicago, Illinois USA)
Take crisp and clear VGA-quality video
One final feature that the S3 includes that many consumer users will enjoy is the ability to take VGA-quality video.
The videos are crisp and clear, and they let the user take advantage of the excellent hardware in the S3 without having to buy a separate camcorder.
The pristine video can use a lot of memory, though, so recordings are limited to just a few minutes. The S3 isn’t ideal for shooting full-length films in one sitting, but for capturing small clips, it will work just fine.
Printing and sharing is a breeze with the S3
Lastly, the Canon Powershot S3 IS was built with printing in mind. It has a dedicated button for printing and sharing, so that all the owner needs to do is connect the camera to a compatible printer.
This eliminates the hassle of needing to transfer files to a computer or flash drive and then convert them for home printing.
Using a Canon Direct Print compatible printer helps the user save time, and it’s hard to imagine a simpler way to print than to just press a button.
Is this right for you?
The Canon Powershot S3 continues to be a popular camera for photography enthusiasts, and it’s not hard to see why.
From the twisting LCD to allow photos from all angles to the support for a widescreen ratio, Canon included a lot of features to make sure that users would enjoy using the camera and that the photos they take would work well with the other technology they own.
On top of that, specs such as the 12x zoom and ISO 800 have helped to ensure that the S3 can withstand the test of time.
Even though it’s been on the market for a few years, the Canon Powershot S3 IS is still a solid pick for anyone who wants a camera with professional results while still coming in at a comparatively affordable price point.
There’s also a D series, with cameras that are waterproof or feature other forms of heavy duty impact resistance. One other notable series is the G series, which is the most prominent of the Powershot cameras and features cameras with the latest technology.
“Awsome camera with excellent picture quality, zoom, and battery life” Anthony Pantliano “The Photo Guy”
“Makes me feel like a pro without the SLR hassles, and great Canon details” By BrownyBrownie (San Francisco, CA)