Canon PowerShot S3 IS

40

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

34

"Typical Canon CMOS noise-free images, remain detailed even at high sensitivities"
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XS's iso-noise
"The Rebel XS is primarily made from three materials; a stainless steel chassis, the mirror box which is made of high-strength 'engineering plastic' and the body made of a special lightweight 'engineering plastic' which also provides some electromagnetic shielding."
dpreview.com | talking about the Rebel XS's build-quality

Reasons to buy the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Live view
Has live view
Preview your photos

differences

Advantages of the Canon Rebel XS

Screen size Much larger screen 2.5" vs 2.0"
Help
Around 30% larger screen
Sensor size Much larger sensor APS-C 22.2x14.8mm vs 1/2.5" 5.8x4.3mm
Help
Around 13.5x larger sensor
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 10.1 MP vs 5.9 MP
Help
Capture around 70% more detail in your photos
Interchangeable lenses Has interchangeable lenses Yes vs No
Help
Can take advantage of a variety of lenses
Supports RAW Shoots RAW Yes vs No
Help
Digitally develop your own photos with precise image control
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 230k dots vs 115k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3 fps vs 1.5 fps
Help
2x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 2.6" vs 3"
Help
More than 10% thinner
Viewfinder Has an optical viewfinder Pentamirror vs Digital
Help
Optical viewfinders save battery life and are more detailed
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 1,600 ISO vs 800 ISO
Help
The Rebel XS's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Longest exposure Longer exposures 30s vs 15s
Help
2x longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/4000s vs 1/3200s
Help
20% faster max shutter speed
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Learn more about
the Canon Rebel XS

Advantages of the Canon S3 IS

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Movie format Shoots movies 480p @ 30fps vs None
Help
Shoots standard resolution video as well as still pictures
Size Smaller 113x78x76 mm vs 126x98x65 mm
Help
Around 20% smaller
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Learn more about
the Canon S3 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS
34 vs 40
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot S3 IS. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a super zoom.

advice

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0
votes
by jamie-antonino this month
Canon Rebel XS vs Nikon D3000

beginner all the way!! let me know :)

1
votes
by Jacqui-Masters-Tessena last month
Canon Rebel XS vs Nikon D3100

Beginner, just learning about dslr and want better quality photos. I want to be able to get the...

1
votes
by Jyl-Smith-Murray last month
Canon Rebel XS vs Canon Rebel XTi

I found both cameras used. The xti is the body and 18-55 lens only for $280. The xs has been used ...

One person recommends the Canon Rebel XS:

"The XS and XTi are nearly identical. If you have found both for the same price but the XS comes wi..."

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Viewfinder Viewfinders Help
Rebel XS:Pentamirror
S3 IS:Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
Rebel XS:1/4000s
S3 IS:1/3200s
Weight Heavy Help
Rebel XS:502 g
S3 IS:510 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
Rebel XS:2.6"
S3 IS:3"
Screen size Very small screens Help
Rebel XS:2.5"
S3 IS:2.0"
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Movie format One shoots movies Help
Rebel XS:None
S3 IS:480p @ 30fps
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
Rebel XS:1,600 ISO
S3 IS:800 ISO
Size Large Help
Rebel XS:126x98x65 mm
S3 IS:113x78x76 mm
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
Rebel XS:230k dots
S3 IS:115k dots

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Screen size Has a much larger screen
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$347 - $380

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496

Movie format Records lower quality movies
Wide angle Has a much wider wide angle lens
Color depth Has significantly less color depth
Low light performance Is slightly more noisy at high ISO

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$330 body only

$489 - $500 with 18-55mm lens

Autofocus Faster autofocus
Movie format Shoots movies
Size Larger
Thickness Thicker
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$487 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Much larger screen
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Live view No live view
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$544 - $949 body only

$649 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Screen resolution Much higher resolution screen
Weight Slightly heavier
Lowest price Slightly more expensive
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Movie format Shoots movies
Screen size Much larger screen
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Size Slightly larger
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XTi

Entry-level DSLR

$749 with 18-55mm lens

Live view No live view
Weight Slightly heavier

Canon PowerShot S3 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Fujifilm FinePix S5200 Zoom

Fujifilm FinePix S5200 Zoom

Super zoom

Macro focus Much better macro capability
Supports RAW Shoots RAW
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Aperture Narrower aperture
Canon PowerShot S95

Canon PowerShot S95

Pro digicam

$340 - $389

Screen size Much larger screen
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Zoom Less zoom

appearance

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS Canon PowerShot S3 IS

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