Canon PowerShot S3 IS Digital Camera Review
By Emily Raymond
Reviewed.com Editorial Staff
August 24, 2007
The 6.1-megapixel Canon PowerShot S3 IS has a 12x optical zoom lens with optical image stabilization. Pictures come out nice and clear, and the S3 takes great video, too. It arrived on the scene in spring 2006 and has since been outdone by the Canon S5. The S3 still has a lot to offer, however, and can be found online for less than $300.
The camera is shaped like an SLR, with a chunky hand grip and large lens barrel. Its shape makes it comfortable to handle, but also prevents it from fitting into a pocket. The 4.46 x 3.07 x 2.97-inch body weighs about a pound and requires four hefty AA batteries. The Canon PowerShot S3 IS accepts conversion lenses, which screw onto the end of the lens to magnify or widen the view.
It originally retailed for $499 and was hailed as one of the best hybrid digital camera-camcorders of the year. There was reason for the hype. The Canon PowerShot S3 IS delivers beautifully accurate colors in pictures and keeps the focus where it should be. It can snap pictures in low light while keeping everything illuminated, which is pretty incredible for a camera that now costs less than $300.
The S3 isn’t a replacement for a fancy camcorder, but records excellent video for a digital camera. Movies can be recorded by pushing a designated movie button separate from the still image shutter release button. Because of this, you can take 6.1-megapixel pictures while recording video. This is a unique but imperfect feature - taking a picture during recording causes a slight hiccup in the video. Its 640 x 480-pixel movies look great on televisions and sound great because of the stereo audio. Add in adjustable microphone levels and selectable audio sampling rates and the Canon S3 is one of the most camcorder-like cameras out there. The Sony H5 provides a decent Movie mode with the same resolution and functional 12x optical zoom and stabilization, but has monaural audio that doesn't sound nearly as clear. Another similar ultra-zoom camera, the Panasonic FZ7, has a 12x lens but locks it so it can't zoom while recording videos.
Portions of the camera body are reminiscent of a camcorder. Take the LCD screen, for example. The actual screen measures an unimpressive 2 inches with 115,000 pixels. The screen, however, is mounted on a monitor that flips out and rotates so you can view the screen from just about any angle. This setup is similar to the more recent Sony H9, which has a 3-inch LCD monitor that folds out and tilts. The Canon S3 also has a shaded electronic viewfinder that is easy to see in bright sunny light. It doesn’t have very good resolution, so the view isn’t very smooth. However, it is still preferable outdoors and is even surrounded by a big, comfy rubber cushion.
The Canon PowerShot S3 IS may look intimidating because of its SLR shape and unique folding LCD, but it’s really quite easy to use. The mode dial on top of the camera makes it easy to locate and alter the exposure mode: from the fully Manual and Priority modes to the Automatic, Movie, and 12 Scene modes. The camera has a shutter speed range of 15-1/3200 of a second and aperture range of f/2.7-f/8. Other manual controls are available too, including an ISO range of 80-800 that isn’t impressive compared to today’s models but is still sufficient for snapping great pictures in low light.
The Canon PowerShot S3 IS sounds just about perfect, but it has its problems. Its Movie mode can only record up to 1 GB at a time, which at the top resolution is about 8 minutes. The S3 requires four AA batteries and eats through them if they’re the alkaline kind you buy at the convenience store. Canon sells special NiMH AA batteries and a charger for $45. These batteries last 550 shots before they need a recharge – much better than the 110-shot projection for alkaline batteries. If you’re going to use the camera a lot, the extra batteries are worth the money.
If you want to buy a camera that will record great pictures and videos, this hybrid digital camera is one of the best options. The Canon PowerShot S3 IS will continue to be a favorite among consumers - and rightfully so.
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