Powershot S3 IS

[happyflic]

Hi happy to know about this forum regarding of S3, I just got my S3 last month. Still new to it and thinking to get some extra filters or lens. I've a 58mm of adaptor for my S3 and a UV filter. Top of that wishing to get a macro lens. Anyone have good suggestion which type of macro lens to buy and where should i go in Singapore. Appreciate for advises...
One more thing, I've read the last few post is regarding the dry box. Is this a ncc for me to have one? if i'm thinking to keep my S3 in perfect condition. And if so what wil be the good suggestion of which type of box that i should have? ( I totally not knowing this after i've read the posts..) Anyway thanks for all.

Regards.
Happyflic @ Jurong

 

[choconardo]

Hey... I just got a Canon S3 ... my first prosumer... n btw i am a newbie in photography. Just need to ask around whether are there lenses for the S3 that can also be used on other DSLR? Or are the lenses camera specific?

Cos I intend to ultimately switch to a DSLR and would not want to buy so many equipment which cant fit the DSLR in e end. I am still a student so I dun have so much cash to play around. Ha...

And what are the essential equipment that you all would suggest me to get?

Thanks

 

[sagit_81]

Hey guys, first time posting here. Looking to sell my 4 months old Powershot S3 IS as i am thinking of getting a new camera. Start price fr $600 onwards. those interested pls email me at sagit_81@yahoo.com. thanks.

 

[littlejt]

Hi happy to know about this forum regarding of S3, I just got my S3 last month. Still new to it and thinking to get some extra filters or lens. I've a 58mm of adaptor for my S3 and a UV filter. Top of that wishing to get a macro lens. Anyone have good suggestion which type of macro lens to buy and where should i go in Singapore. Appreciate for advises...
One more thing, I've read the last few post is regarding the dry box. Is this a ncc for me to have one? if i'm thinking to keep my S3 in perfect condition. And if so what wil be the good suggestion of which type of box that i should have? ( I totally not knowing this after i've read the posts..) Anyway thanks for all.

i don't think need dry box lah. cos the lens also not inter-changable. if you want macro lens go get the raynox one.. much cheaper...
http://www.mcgill.com.sg/shop/produc...d09acf62ac3946

Hey... I just got a Canon S3 ... my first prosumer... n btw i am a newbie in photography. Just need to ask around whether are there lenses for the S3 that can also be used on other DSLR? Or are the lenses camera specific?

Cos I intend to ultimately switch to a DSLR and would not want to buy so many equipment which cant fit the DSLR in e end. I am still a student so I dun have so much cash to play around. Ha...

And what are the essential equipment that you all would suggest me to get?

Thanks

a must get is the lensmate / raynox 52mm adapter and some filters =p
you want to get other lenses is up to you lah.. but quite exp.. i am also a student.
dont bother buying the 58mm canon adapter + lens hood waste money one.. i regretted buying that cos most of my filters are 52mm, only got like 2 58mm filters.. its like throwing 50$ away =(

haha but if any body wants to buy the canon 58mm adapter + lens hood (LAH-DC20)
i will gladly sell them at abt 30 -35sgd.. i would grade it 9/10 in terms of quality.. it is still in the original box.. pm me if interetested =D

 

[Creig]

I should also repeat here that IMHO, the bitrates that the Canon S3 IS uses for its videos are really quite insane. Come on, use MPEG4 video and MP3 audio already! What day and age is this, it ain't 1999

I quite agree. I want to purchase an S3 IS, but the combination of the 1gb filesize limit and 2MB+/sec MJPEG/PCM is forcing me to remove the Canon from my list of possible candidates. And I REALLY want to buy the S3 IS because the rest of the camera is PERFECT.

Is there any chance that a firmware update could remove the 1gb filesize limit? Or possibly exchange the mjpg/PCM codecs for MPEG4/MP3? Or dare I even hope, change BOTH? I wouldn't even consider another camera if these these two items could be changed.

 

[lastboltnut]

Erm, who says S3 SD is limited to only 1GB card?? It is capable of 2GB and above, it is running the FAT32 system iirc.

By the way for the video, read here.

I quite agree. I want to purchase an S3 IS, but the combination of the 1gb filesize limit and 2MB+/sec MJPEG/PCM is forcing me to remove the Canon from my list of possible candidates. And I REALLY want to buy the S3 IS because the rest of the camera is PERFECT.

Is there any chance that a firmware update could remove the 1gb filesize limit? Or possibly exchange the mjpg/PCM codecs for MPEG4/MP3? Or dare I even hope, change BOTH? I wouldn't even consider another camera if these these two items could be changed.

 

[littlejt]

yea.. i am using a 2 gb sd card.. and if i am not wrong a 4gb one is on its way out

 

[lastboltnut]

Hi, 4GB card are selling for a long time liao....by the way, 8GB is coming out, but its only for slot with SD Version 2 or SDHC capability....I am not sure about S3 though.

yea.. i am using a 2 gb sd card.. and if i am not wrong a 4gb one is on its way out

 

[boogle]

i don't think need dry box lah. cos the lens also not inter-changable. if you want macro lens go get the raynox one.. much cheaper...

Actually I think just becos it is fixed lens does not necessarily mean you don't need to put it in dry box. If I'm not wrong, the fixed lens normally just means no dust on sensor problem but if you often operate the cam in humid environment (like we all do in sgp) or move regularly between aircon and non aircon place, there may be possibility of condensation which may have risk of promoting fungus growth.

That being said, I had P&S previously which did not have the benefit of sleeping in dry box and they were fine (as far as I could tell). Instruction manual usually gives some advice on how to take care of condensation probs (eg. if moving between places of diff temp, put the cam in sealed bag so that the temp changes more gradually)

If you do decide to get a dry cabinet, I would recommend one of those electric ones which you plug in if you use the cam often. If you get the airtight box with silica gel, you will prob find it too much of a hassle to keep "refreshing" the gel.

Disadvantage of electric version is they are more ex than airtight box with silica gel, take up more space in your house, use electricity, etc.

Hope I did not confuse you too much. FYI, I finally got an electric dry cab earlier this yr cos I got bitten by BBB virus very badly on this forum and ended up with so much eqpt I thot it was a good investment to have a nice dry sleeping place for all of them. That may be another point to consider... how much stuff you have to keep in there.

And by the way, I second the recommendation on Raynox DCR250 macro converter. It's a good toy to have if you're interested in macros.

 

[boogle]

Erm, who says S3 SD is limited to only 1GB card?? It is capable of 2GB and above, it is running the FAT32 system iirc.

By the way for the video, read here.

Lastboltnut. I think Creig was referring to max filesize for video clips taken in the S3IS. Even tho the cam can use SD bigger than 1G, once the video clip filesize hits 1G, you need to start another avi file (not sure if it just starts a second file by itself you you need to restart recording manually - I've not tested this). I think I saw some other discussion on this limitation previously.

 

[lastboltnut]

If this is the case, then it is due to the write speed of the machine....which means that the recording data speed is faster than the writing speed onto the SD card, so over time, the buffer is full, so must stop recording to give time to write to the card. Therefore, auto starting should not be possible. U can do a test and verify....

Lastboltnut. I think Creig was referring to max filesize for video clips taken in the S3IS. Even tho the cam can use SD bigger than 1G, once the video clip filesize hits 1G, you need to start another avi file (not sure if it just starts a second file by itself you you need to restart recording manually - I've not tested this). I think I saw some other discussion on this limitation previously.

 

[boogle]

If this is the case, then it is due to the write speed of the machine....which means that the recording data speed is faster than the writing speed onto the SD card, so over time, the buffer is full, so must stop recording to give time to write to the card. Therefore, auto starting should not be possible. U can do a test and verify....

OK. Test completed. No auto restart after 1G. I did see some forum discussions elsewhere say the limit is due to the avi format. However, not sure if that is true. Bottom line, one G of video, then need to restart recording manually.

 

[Creig]

Yes, I was referring to the 1Gb filesize limit. I could live with the 1Gb limit if it used MPEG4/MP3 codecs. I could also live with the camera if it didn't quit recording at 1Gb. I basically need to be able to record at LEAST 1/2 hour of video. I need a camera that can double as a camcorder if I need it to.

The 1Gb filesize limit sounds suspiciously deliberate to me. I'm sure the camera doesn't have a 1Gb buffer built in. So what possible reason would require it to stop at 1Gb? Either that or the designers were so incredibly shortsighted that the components they chose for the video recording could not address memory above 1Gb. Which I find to be impossible.

 

[lastboltnut]

I am agreeable with you that the buffer is definitely not 1GB, but, the buffer is only possible to store up to 1GB of data writing time. The need to buffer may not necessary be due to writing speed, it may be due to processor processing speed (to process the compression of the video).

For example, lets assume that every 1MB of recording to the card at max resolution, requires 200KB to be store to the buffer due to recording speed, then 1GB of writing will require 2000KB or 2MB of buffer. If the cam has only 2MB of buffer, then sorry, the recording has to stop.....you get the pic? But the figure above for illustration only....but the idea is there.

The 1Gb filesize limit sounds suspiciously deliberate to me. I'm sure the camera doesn't have a 1Gb buffer built in. So what possible reason would require it to stop at 1Gb? Either that or the designers were so incredibly shortsighted that the components they chose for the video recording could not address memory above 1Gb. Which I find to be impossible.

 

[lastboltnut]

I have definitely seen AVI with more than 1GB file size. So, the blame on the AVI format is not true lah...

OK. Test completed. No auto restart after 1G. I did see some forum discussions elsewhere say the limit is due to the avi format. However, not sure if that is true. Bottom line, one G of video, then need to restart recording manually.

 

[Bridgerock]

Hi I am a new user. I am wondering if the focusing of the S3 is as bad as Nikon 5700 in low light situations. (i.e under flourescent light, candle light - birthday cake, and etc situations).

Previously I have the 5700 and really have bad experience esp in low light situations where it can't really get good focus at all. 8/10 shots on same subject will be out of focus. I do hope the S3 doesn't have that kind of problem.

Another thing is that I heard the S3 is made in China. Is that true? :sweat:

 

[happyflic]

Hey, thanks for all the replies on my post regarding the macro lens for my S3 and the dry box. Will consider all these suggestions. Appreciate for that.

S3 made in china? Emm i never know about this. I think should be from Japan right? S3 really not good shooting in low light environment but not as bad as everyone think. Mayb i can show u some pic. I'm not sure whether its help...



http://www.flickr.com/photos/happyflicnicole/

Have a nice day everyone. (sorry I still do not know how to post my pic here. so i choose to build in my link to my pic, sorry for that)

 

[boogle]

It looks plasticky and mebbe thats why pple think its made in China. But I just double checked and mine says made in Japan on the label at the bottom.

If you do plan to buy, just check the buttons, on/off levers and zoom levers to make sure they feel right to you. I saw some complaints on this forum previously about some funny noises or loose parts but I guess with so many S3 owners around, there's bound to be a couple of complaints.

 

[Creig]

I am agreeable with you that the buffer is definitely not 1GB, but, the buffer is only possible to store up to 1GB of data writing time. The need to buffer may not necessary be due to writing speed, it may be due to processor processing speed (to process the compression of the video).

For example, lets assume that every 1MB of recording to the card at max resolution, requires 200KB to be store to the buffer due to recording speed, then 1GB of writing will require 2000KB or 2MB of buffer. If the cam has only 2MB of buffer, then sorry, the recording has to stop.....you get the pic? But the figure above for illustration only....but the idea is there.

I see what you're saying about the processor encoding not keeping up with input and the buffer slowly filling. But does it really make sense that they would accidentally choose an encoding processor that couldn't keep up with the inflow of data?

Also, isn't MJPEG a lossy format? So it seems odd that while encoding video it would stop at 1GB each and every time. In theory, it should stop either above 1GB or below 1GB depending on the subject being filmed if the limitation were truly because of a slow video encoder. Somebody setting the camera on a tripod and filming a blank wall shouldn't run into any sort of filesize limitation if the encoding processor is truly the bottleneck.

 

[Bridgerock]

Hey, thanks for all the replies on my post regarding the macro lens for my S3 and the dry box. Will consider all these suggestions. Appreciate for that.

S3 made in china? Emm i never know about this. I think should be from Japan right? S3 really not good shooting in low light environment but not as bad as everyone think. Mayb i can show u some pic. I'm not sure whether its help...



http://www.flickr.com/photos/happyflicnicole/

Have a nice day everyone. (sorry I still do not know how to post my pic here. so i choose to
build in my link to my pic, sorry for that)

I saw some of your photos taken with minimal light. Did you use a tripod or without one? From the size of the photo, it doesn't look that bad (if compared with the Nikon 5700 which I have =.=!!) . E.g if i were to refer to your photo IMG_0597, when print at 4R size, will it look smudgy? Or it look as per wyswyg?