 "A bit frustrating" | 2008-09-17 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3KD3PM6IKNY3I |
I got this camera in February of this year so I've been using it for about six months. My other camera is a Canon EOS Rebel 35mm SLR which I've had for years and love. The film processing was getting expensive though, so I decided to try a digital. I did have a Kodak digital camera several years ago but it was past it's usefulness and was taking horrible pictures. I was not able to afford a new digital SLR but wanted more than a point-and-shoot. When I found this camera I thought it would be a great compromise and the price was really reasonable.
Having had an SLR I did not think it would take too long to get used to this camera. I was wrong. Six months into it and simple things like focusing are still frustrating me. I read another review which mentioned this; I have missed so many shots because this camera cannot decide what to focus on.
For example, recently I had a perfect shot of a bee on a flower- I swear he was posing for me- and for almost 5 full minutes (it was a patient bee)I tried every conceievable picture mode and every time the camera would just not be able to focus the way I wanted it to. It would focus for a second and then when I clicked to take the shot it would blur out of focus. Even in Macro mode I was unable to get a decent picture. Every shot is fuzzy or overexposed. The same goes for any indoor pictures I take. I've also noticed that any movies I try making indoors always have a blue hue which I find odd.
My frustration may partially be due to my unwillingness to read through the entire manual (I have skimmed). However, in my defense, I am not completely inexperienced with cameras and one would think that unless this was a hightly specialized professional camera (which it is not!) anyone familiar with SLR cameras should be able to figure it out fairly easily.
If I do eventually realize that my frustration is due to something I'm doing wrong, I will update my review. As it stands I'm increasingly frustrated with this camera and beginning to regret my decision to buy it. |
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| "Like it when it works......" | 2008-07-07 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2BTGSCKW62NXX |
We have owned this camera for about a year now and most of the pictures turn out nicely. Video works much better than our last camera. I love how far it zooms without making image fuzzy. However I went to turn it on last weekend and it flashed at me and went off, so I changed the batteries and had the same problem.. It's now in the shop thank goodness we bought a warranty. The lens cap also keeps coming off.. Hope it gets fixed
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| "Excited and happy at first.... now very disappointed :0(" | 2008-06-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: AWJOMAD85GBZD |
| I did weeks of research looking for a camera with a good zoom, a wide choice of aperture settings and good picture quality! I purchased this camera in April of 2007. It seemed to be working fine and I've taken hundreds of pictures with it. Now a year and 2 months later (2 months after the warranty expired) I went to go on a hike and tried to turn my camera on only to find that it was dead. We tried putting new batteries in with no avail. After returning home from my hike I started doing some research on the internet. I have found quite a few different posts that detail the very same problem as mine. One post mentions that a circuit board in the camera went out and it was almost $200 to fix it. I am a very disappointed customer at this point. I figured a camera that cost $ 350 would last longer than a little over a year. Canon has not issued a recall and hence will not repair it for free. I'm thinking I might need to look elsewhere for my next camera. |
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 "Awesome Zoon" | 2008-06-04 |
| - Reviewed By User: A2POGE0NJF7YSY |
| Nice Pictures, Very amazing zoom, lots of functions and very hadfull screen. You can take professional pictures. |
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| "Canon S3 IS is a great camera" | 2008-05-30 |
| - Reviewed By User: A26M9DUUBLO6E8 |
You need to spend some time with the camera and the owner's manual before taking it on your next safari, but it has great flexibility and produces great shots.
I like the fact that the viewfinder is a small video screen so you can see exactly what is going to be in the picture as well as using it to review pictures.
Battery life was very acceptable using name brand rechargeable batteries that were slow charged. |
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 "Ok" | 2008-05-29 |
| - Reviewed By edgarjimenez1966 |
| Its an ok camera to take to places where i dont want to risk bringing my PRO ones...althogh i already had some problems, it didnt work just after year i have it...cost me about 4150 to have it fixed |
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| "GREAT Features" | 2008-05-27 |
| - Reviewed By User: AI3QQX3RVLUMV |
This is the second version of this camera I've purchased. The main attraction for me was the quality of the photos along with the ease of use coupled with advanced features that allows the user to "grow into" the camera. Start with the simple "auto" settings and then advance into the more "user defined" photographic settings. Great fun..
Being a believer in "simple is better" I appreciate the non-proprietary batteries, the "through the lens" viewing. This feature uses a LCD display in the viewfinder. VERY easy on the batteries and so easy to see and use even in very bight light.
With a very modest investment in time and reading this camera will give you hundreds of "keeper" photos.. Highly recommended..
Amazon is great to do business with.. Fair prices and great service.. |
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| "Good camera, issues focusing" | 2008-05-24 |
| - Reviewed By User: A3JPRLI6012U5B |
This camera is ok, at first I thought it was great, but now I am not that impressed. The camera has an extremely difficult time determining what to focus on (it can't tell if it should focus on an arm or a face). This issue is in its extreme when you are shooting indoors. 1/2 to 3/4 of my pictures are not focused correctly. The camera is bulky, and if you just want to take your camera with you to take pictures it becomes a burden after a couple of hours. I live in Orlando so I go to Disney a lot, I've pretty much stopped taking my camera because of this reason. The battery life on the camera is excellent and outside pictures are great. Flash regeneration time is excellent.
Overall the camera is ok, if you do not take a lot of indoor pictures then you will be fine (that is if you don't mind lugging this thing around). |
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| "I love this camera!!" | 2008-05-19 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1GZGPM5T8ZQHT |
I have been using this camera for a year now and I love it! The pictures are so amazing! Very crisp and clear. The zoom is incredible and the micro-closeup pictures are so beautiful!
I find that when the camera starts acting slow, I replace the batteries and it works quicker. I love the video function too. Its so much fun to be able to take quick little videos of my kids. Its very easy to use. I haven't used all of the features, but the ones I have used I've been very happy with. The flip out screen has come in handy several times. I have had 2 people purchase this same camera after trying mine. I can't say enough great things about this. If you are looking for a small camera though, this is not for you. I would recommend a smaller cannon if you want a little "pocket camera", but if you want to take great family pictures, this is the camera for you!! |
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| "The Best!" | 2008-05-15 |
| - Reviewed By roberto_vicente |
| This is my first experience with Canon and I'm stunned at the quality. The S3 has to be one of the best cameras ever made--mechanically, features, lens and image quality. You think you are you are shooting for National Geographic! There are so many useful features that improve your photography technique. You simply want to take pictures all day long. Can't wait for Powershot S series to reach 10 Mega Pixel. |
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