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 ($50 less expensive than the S2 IS). Read on for all the details!... [read more]