The Canon PowerShot S3 IS: Getting Better ?

The new Canon PowerShot s3 IS offers some noted improvements over its predecessor. Equipped with a new CCD, designed to suppress noise, it offers a range of ISO sensitivities reaching up to 800. This is a fair amount of noise for pictures taken just after sunset, or macro mode daylight close-ups. Adding the zoom feature during a shoot does not add any more noise.

Created for comfortable use, the LCD screen flips out and turns. The screen size was increased from 1.8 to 2 inches. Auto focus is mostly quick, although you may have the odd occasion when it does not lock before capturing starts. A very interesting feature is the “movie snap”. While shooting a movie, you have the ability to trigger the shutter, capturing a single shot.

As an additional improvement, the Canon PowerShot s3 IS now allows you a 16:9 aspect mode, instead of just cropping the normal 4:3 shot like its predecessor. Another feature which should be popular is the 320 x 240 60 fps mode, allowing the making of slick little movies.

Boasting some great features, it has a 12x optical zoom lens, and image stabilization. Resolution is 6.1 megapixels, 1/2.5 inch CCD, and Digic II image processing. The digital zoom can be employed while recording, without any side effects. The maximum movie length capability is sixty minutes, or alternatively 1 Gig of footage storage.

Although the s3 uses the same body as its predecessor, the different color combination makes for an interesting look. Instead of the straight silver color of its predecessor, it is now a combination of silver and dark grey.

There are cameras that will give better performance at a slightly lower price, but without all the offered features. The combination of features, compact design, and capability makes for a strong argument over the alternatives, though. The s-series ultra-zoom cameras from Canon are usually classified as hybrids, thanks to the superior movie mode. All in all, the Canon PowersShot s3 IS is a good ultra-zoom camera, offering good image quality, and many features. Just like its predecessor, the s2, it will keep you happily occupied for quite a while.