Anything better than the Canon S3 IS?

[radhak]

I might finally need to buy a new digital camera, and since I have been 'considering' the Canon S2 IS for more than a year, it only makes sense that I now consider the S3. (Have had the A70 for 5 years now )

My biggest criterion has been an 'ultra' zoom, so the 12x optical is good; the 6MP is all I'd need for my 'amateur' photography, and it's good reviews help me think it'd be a good thing for some years to come. And that it's available for less than $300 sweetens it more.

The only problem is that it looks bulky, and SWMBO might complain about it (yeah, it'd be shared, can't afford multiple cameras in the house). Mebbe I shd check it out in a store just for the size/weight.

So do you have any other suggestions, at least to compare against it?

Note - I don't think I wanna go DSLR, even if cheap enough for my budget. Don't think I'm up there to handle it.

[maxparot]

You may want to also consider Olympus SP550UZ I'd consider it to be a direct competitor model to the Canon. If a more compact camera is more important I'd go with a Fuji E900 it's got less optical but makes up for it with digital zoom and higher resolution. With the higher resolution you'd be ahead of the game. The Fuji is also less expensive, and it's sensor is faster. I have an earlier model from Fuji the F700. My model had sensor problems that Fuji had to work out. After they replaced the sensors they were a great camera with a bad reputation. Many people scored factory refurbs with the newer sensor at huge discounts. The E900 uses a 5th gen version sensor that really takes great pictures.

[jziegler]

Look at the FujiFilm S6000fd. It's getting hard to find (possibly being discontinued soon) and meets your basic requirements.

Here's a comparison (that minght not work, if not sorry):
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/comp...s6000&show=all

The Fuji (which I own) has a wider angle lens (important to me, I take enough trips to cities on vacation that wide angle is good to get more of the buildings in tight spaces). The zoom is a mechanical zoom, no motor controlling it from some little buttons. It lets you zoom in and out faster and gives you finer control. The sensor in it is considered the best low light sensor in non DSLR cameras. Read the reviews on dpreview for both the Canon and the Fuji before you buy. There is no IS on teh Fuji, but the better low light capabilities make it less important. The Fuji zoom is a little lower in range, but still good at 10.7x. The cameras are more similar than different, but each has its strengths. My other digital camera is a Canon A540, which probably uses the same sensor as the S3IS, which disappointed my in low light conditions (it was poor in the sculpture galleries at teh Louvre at night). Anything over ISO 200 is hard to use. ISO 800 is not bad on the Fuji.

Keep the board informed for what you choose. The Canon looks like a fine camera, the Fuji is more what I wanted. You'd be pretty happy either way, I think.

Feel free to ask if you have any specific questions.

Jim

[HarmsWay]

Note - I don't think I wanna go DSLR, even if cheap enough for my budget. Don't think I'm up there to handle it.

If you mean technically handle it, current DSLRs are only as complicated as you want them to be but let you do much more if you want to.

Bob

[Alex Franke]

Can't comment on these models, but I love Canon -- been with them for decades.

Also check out http://steves-digicams.com/ for some great reviews.

BTW, I totally agree with HarmsWay on the DSLR comment. We use ours quite often as a simple point & click.

[phrog]

Agreed that there are a lot of good cameras out there. I've been using Canon cameras since the early 70's. Never had a problem with any of them. Still have my original Canon FTb from about '72 and it still works like a champion after traveling all over N. America and S. America. Recently I bought a Canon cigarette box-sized Point and Shoot and I love it also. While researching cameras before the purchase I came across an article (in Consumer Reports, I think) about the number of repairs done under warranty. Sony had the fewest with Panasonic second. Canon and Olympus were almost tied for third.

Two things you might want to consider: if you get a long zoom (say larger than 3x) you might want to consider image stabilization to prevent blurred photos that can occur with long telescopic images. Secondly, in bright light, I can't see the screens on these cameras and always use a viewfinder (say at the beach). Just a couple things to think about.
Richard

[MilDoc]

The Canon S3IS is image stabilized. I have theS2IS and the only reason I haven't gone to the S3 is that the S2 has better video capability.

[Tom Slick]

If I were looking for that type of camera the S3IS would be at the top of my list.

[radhak]

Wow, lotsa choices out there. I am still going thru all of that, thanks.

Methinks some of the choices are real good (18x optical zoom!), but seem to come at the price of additional bulk. The fuji s6000fd would have been a good choice but it's already scarce in the market, and it's replacements are bigger cameras too.

Paul, in what way does the S2 have better video?

[gerti]

I do not believe the S2 has better video than the S3. Anyhow I have the S3, it is the best digital camera I have owned so far.

BTW the follow up model (S5IS) is out, has a larger screen, 8 (vs 6) MP, and a hot shoe for an external flash and some other changes. Some people seem to think though the S3 actually has slightly better image quality.

Also the S3 is similarly easy/complex (depending on settings) as a DSLR. But buy the time you have a camera/lens combination as powerfull as the S3 (stabilized 12x zoom) it will be big, heavy and VERY expensive.

Should you buy one, one of your first acts should be to redefine the shortcut button. It is very frustrating to find out you just took a few hundred shots in less than high resolution because you (or your 4 year old nephew) accidentally hit that button. DAMHIKT.