The sleek PowerShot S3 IS digital camera offers you high resolution, an extra-long zoom, advanced yet easy-to-use movie functions plus great new shoot
The sleek PowerShot S3 IS digital camera offers you high resolution, an extra-long zoom, advanced yet easy-to-use movie functions plus great new shooting options. Also, with Image Stabilizer technology, images and movies taken with the S3 IS are sharp and smooth, even when the camera gets jostled. It's everything you need to capture the fun, excitement and beauty of your active life - wherever it takes you!
The Powershot S3 IS continues Canon’s long-standing tradition of high-quality full-featured compact cameras. With excellent usability and a feature set second to none, this is a machine that aspires to do it all, and do it reasonably well. The challenge will be in deciding if it’s the right camera for you given the brief but potentially serious list of shortcomings.
Auto focus is slightly inconsistent (hunts, misses)
Automatic white balance indoors is too warm (manual settings better)
Introduction
There is no question that Canon has assembled a winner in the PowerShot S3 IS. However, with so much going for it, the S3 IS has a couple major drawbacks. For some (I'm guessing a minority), these shortcomings will be a deal-killer. But for the rest, the S3 IS will be one of the great joys of being a digital photographer.
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Features
By now, most people are familiar with the technologies that are making digital photography so compelling - and the Canon S3 IS is loaded with them. Therefore, I'll just comment on the features that make it such an attractive digital camera.
Left: Canon PowerShot S3 IS pop-up flash Right: Canon PowerShot S3 IS 12x optical zoom lens and focus controls
Optical Zoom Range - A 12X zoom range was unheard of - especially in the pre-digital film days. Long zooms are perfect if you mostly compose to keep things out of your frame (e.g., tight portraits, close-ups, etc.) and especially if you want a long telephoto for sports, safaris, etc.
Image-stabilization - Becoming standard on digital cameras, but almost a requirement for super-zooms of this type. You really need it when using long telephoto settings without a tripod.
Image color choices – Canon has provided some nice flexibility (since you can’t shoot RAW format) with their Color-Styles feature, which offers presets as well as customizable color. Tweak color, contrast, tint, etc. to your personal taste and save your settings. Canon’s default color balance is a bit red overall, so this feature is great for those who want a different balance.
Swing-out LCD or electronic viewfinder (EVF) - Canon's swivel-screen is super-handy for unusual angles. No neck-tweaking here!
Movie mode with stereo sound - What can you say but, "Honey, I'm selling the video camera on eBay!" Okay, it's not that good. But for most people these "little" movies are perfect. Future Spielbergs and Kurosawas will be the ones who want the control and resolution offered by a dedicated digital video camera.
Build quality - Typical Canon: Solid. In fact the Powershot S3 IS is quite heavy for its size - about a pound or so.
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Design
Canon has been in the camera business a long time, so I expect a lot from them when it comes to design. In the past I've been frustrated by what appeared to be backward steps on Canon's part. But the S3 IS demonstrates how Canon has built on their design strengths over the years, particularly if you go back to the early G-series PowerShot digital cameras.
Here are the Canon PowerShot S3 IS design highlights:
Physical control layout - Although I have big hands, the S3 IS "just fits." The camera rests comfortably in my grip with the controls neatly, logically, and ergonomically arranged at my fingertips. I especially like how the thumb diagonally rests across the back with all the critical, dedicated controls to one side or the other. Secondary functions like manual focus and self-timer also have dedicated buttons in reasonable, logical places. Outstanding.
On-screen control layout - My only complaint is that there are a couple of unnecessary icons displayed on the LCD all the time - image stabilization and the wind noise filter. An excellent little touch is when you change shooting modes (e.g., Av, Tv, M, or P) all control setting icons light up for a moment, and then disappear. This just helps to remind you of what settings are active, without having to clutter the display constantly. You can make the icons vanish even faster by half-pressing the shutter button. Canon has usually been good at making shooting the number one control priority (as it should be).
Canon PowerShot S3 IS record mode with info, histogram, and composition grid
Canon PowerShot S3 IS record mode with exposure composition adjustment display
Canon PowerShot S3 IS playback mode with all info displayed
Canon PowerShot S3 IS main menu
Rapid control response - From quickly powering-up to acquiring focus, Canon have largely addressed the complaints of photographers who need a camera that responds quickly to changing conditions. The lens zooms quickly (but not too quickly) to where you want it and you can easily make small adjustments via the control lever in front of the shutter release. Control menus have been laid out in a fashion that puts the most important photographic controls "up front" for faster access and modification. Buttons toggle thru various displays and settings, and there is even a user-customizable button that the photographer can assign to key functions. Finally, most controls require only a minimum number of clicks to set the control. Bravo.
Camera Experience
The Canon Powershot S3 IS design and features add up to exceptional handling in the field. Assuming you're comfortable toting around the bulk and heft of the machine (it's not really very big, but it's not a pocket-camera, either), the S3 IS affords one of the most pleasurable photographic experiences available. Controls are quick and sure, and the camera feels right at home in your hands. I really dig how clean and simple the LCD display is with all of the info turned off. The fewer the distractions the better when framing pictures. Even the electronic viewfinder (EVF) is surprisingly usable. After the shot, checking focus is fast and easy (as it should be) with the zoom lever and four-way control pad.
There are a few problems, of course. The S3 IS auto focus doesn't quite live up to what you might expect. If you're playing around in a store it seems fast and accurate. But in the field it occasionally hunts and locks on to something not quite in the plane of focus you desired. This is primarily at the long telephoto end of the zoom and in less than full-on noon sunlight. I emphasize that this is occasional, however. But if you're shooting kid's sports like soccer you're likely to experience auto focus problems more often, particularly in low light situations like indoor gyms. It's also difficult to see the LCD screen in sunlight, an issue with many digital cameras as of this writing.
Again, I think most people will be served well by this camera. Unfortunately, I judge the tool by the final results - the photos. Despite all the excellent attributes described above, in the end, the image quality let me down.
Image Quality
Image quality from the S3 IS isn't bad - far from it. Canon's image processing technology produces some of the cleanest digital picture files of any manufacturer. They were probably the first to really get skin tones right (as long as they're Caucasian skin tones). Most people like Canon's color balance and the final images are usually acceptably sharp and crisp.
For a consumer point-and-shoot, the PowerShot S3 IS performs well at high sensitivity settings like ISO 400 and even ISO 800 if you're willing to accept some noise. High ISO performance is critical in some respects because there are times when you just can't get around the need for a high shutter speed (e.g., sharp sports action photos). And of course, high ISO settings always help in low light situations.
So what's not to like? Very simply: dynamic range (or exposure latitude, if you prefer) and the resulting abrupt highlight roll-off. These two factors contribute to limiting the types of pictures a photographer can successfully make with the PowerShot S3 IS.
For example, a typical wedding scene combines a finely detailed white dress with a dark suit or tuxedo (often with details too). This is an extreme photographic situation where you almost can't win - regardless of your camera. Most photographers choose to retain the wedding dress details and let the groom's suit go a bit dark. However, a photographer shooting the same scene with an S3 IS in less than optimal light will find it almost impossible to make an acceptable exposure with both dress and suit details. This common situation illustrates how the Canon S3's narrow exposure latitude can really work against you.
The S3 IS does not fare so well in simpler circumstances either. This common mountain scene with clouds and snow is captured poorly due to the narrow latitude. While some highlights are properly "blown-out" to pure white (they're clouds, after all), the transition from pure white to white with detail (snow details) is abrupt and unnatural. Because the exposure was made to save the highlights from looking too unnatural, the mountainside in the foreground is too dark and shadowy. This image was even made with the camera's contrast set to low in a vain attempt to compensate for the lighting conditions. Of course the camera does not have the same dynamic range as our eyes do, but the S3's range is too narrow, especially when compared to other digital cameras in its class.
Apparently this same exposure algorithm is also used in another recent Canon digital camera - the new Canon PowerShot G7. While the G7 is not the subject of this review, I believe the issue of dynamic range applies all the same. Michael Reichman, of The Luminous Landscape Web site, reviewed both the G7 and the S3 recently and proclaimed them both to be excellent, with some reservations. None of the images in his S3 IS review contain high contrast subject matter. In his G7 review, he discusses a photo of a woman seen from the side and how her forehead is over-exposed. Reichman, rightly points out that if we had RAW files, there would be more data with which to recover highlight details. But, we don't-not with the S3, or the G7. While I shoot plenty of RAW files, I also use JPEG extensively and I feel that most cameras I've used have a wider exposure latitude than the S3 IS.
A good analogy is having a food processor with all the attachments but only one speed-high speed. Sure, you could do most food-preparation tasks, but you'd have to be very careful lest you over mix/chop/blend something. And there would be some things you really just couldn't do because they require lower speeds. There are some photos you just can't take with the Canon S3 IS because its dynamic range is so narrow.
Conclusion
Earlier this year I actually bought a Canon S3 IS. But after one weekend shooting in the mountains I returned it and bought another camera. Later, I received an S3 IS for this review. I handled it and took it out to the mountains again and began to doubt my earlier decision. Then I downloaded the files and immediately remembered why it didn't work for my style of shooting.
Most people won't have any problem with what I consider the S3's shortcomings. And as always, you should download our Canon S3 IS sample images, look at online galleries, and evaluate the S3 IS based on your own shooting style and subject matter. In my ebook, Take Control of Buying a Digital Camera, I repeatedly stress finding the right photographic tool for your own needs. Particularly in the case of the S3, it pays to know whether your photographic style and vision will be extended, or restricted, by the camera's strengths and weaknesses.
Who Should Buy The Canon PowerShot S3 IS
The Canon PowerShot S3 IS is a great digital camera for super-zoom shooters. People going on safari or shooting kids' sports from a distance (i.e., soccer/football) will enjoy the benefits of the long zoom and the ISO 400 performance. Bird photographers and other wildlife shooters will also appreciate the long lens and may enjoy the pivoting LCD screen, which allows you to shoot from the waist. (Note: sports/wildlife photographers should try the S3 IS before they buy as these subjects are fairly demanding and are typically better handled by DSLR cameras.)
Casual digital camera users will find the Canon S3 IS is a great all-in-one unit. At the wide-angle end the lens is wide enough to capture a group of friends and even some scenic landscapes. And the movie mode will surely be a hit for those with kids or anyone who likes to capture and share short movie clips.
The Canon S3 IS will be inappropriate only for those photographers who like to make high-contrast images or those who shoot into the light (something you’re not supposed to do, but I love the look and do it all the time). Otherwise, the S3 IS is tough to beat as an all-around multi-purpose compact digital camera with super zoom capability.
- end -
Contents of the Canon PowerShot S3 IS.
PowerShot S3 IS Body
AA-size Alkaline Battery (x4)
SD Memory Card SDC-16MB
Lens Cap
Neck Strap NS-DC4
Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM
USB Interface Cable IFC-400PCU
Stereo Video Cable STV-250N
About Laurence Chen Laurence Chen is a freelance editorial, commercial, and wedding photographer based in Seattle, Wash. His clients have included Fortune Magazine, Sunset Magazine, and America 24/7. Visit his portfolio at www.Lchenphoto.com and buy his e-book, "Take Control of Buying a Digital Camera", at http://www.takecontrolbooks.com/buying-digicam.html.
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