Canon PowerShot S3 IS Digital camera

By Mike Pasini
Review posted: 07/06/06
The Canon PowerShot S3 IS is the latest in an extremely popular line of long zoom cameras, following the 5.0-Mp S2 IS, the 3.2-Mp S1 IS, and the 2.6-Mp Pro90 IS.

The Canon S3 IS accommodates a wide range of users with its variable level of exposure control. Experienced shooters will appreciate the Manual, Aperture Priority, and Shutter Priority modes, while novices will find the Auto, Program AE, and Scene modes useful. With a full range of creative effects, the added attraction of 12x zoom Canon optics, and optical image stabilization -- a feature found on only a handful of digital cameras, most of them more expensive, the Canon S3 IS should appear high up on the lists for photographers looking for a long-zoom camera. Like its predecessor, the S3 IS's well-integrated Movie mode can record at 640x480 pixels and 30 fps with zoom -- and it records stereo sound.

The Canon S3 IS bumps resolution up to 6.0 megapixels (for 2,816 x 2,112 pixel images up from 2,592 x 1,944), increases the sensitivity range to ISO 800, features a slightly larger LCD (2.0 inches vs. 1.8), includes a Movie button available in any Record mode, and adds a 16:9 widescreen aspect ratio.

All in all, the Canon PowerShot S3 IS is quite a camera, with an amazing range of capabilities and good picture quality, all at an affordable price. Read on for all the details!

Special Features

* Optical image stabilization
* AF Assist Beam
* Movie and Still shutter buttons with simultaneous operation
* Stereo recording in Movie mode
* Sound caption recording
* Stitch-Assist mode for panoramic shots
* Continuous Shooting, and 2 or 10-second Self-Timer modes
* Unique "My Colors" mode
* Night Display brightens LCD for easier framing of dark subjects
* Ten custom Photo Effects
* White balance (color) adjustment with eight modes
* ISO adjustment with Auto, High Auto and five ISO equivalents
* Automatic Exposure Bracketing and Automatic Focus Bracketing
* Evaluative, Center-Weighted, and Spot metering options
* DPOF (Digital Print Order Format) and PictBridge compatibility
* USB 2.0 High Speed interface
* USB cable for connection to a computer or certain printers (driver software included)
* Video cable for connection to NTSC/PAL televisions, VCRs, etc.