Canon PowerShot S3 IS

47

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Placeholder

42

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S1 IS

Size
Really small
Standard size 111x78x66 mm
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies

differences

Advantages of the Canon S1 IS

Size Smaller 111x78x66 mm vs 113x78x76 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Thickness Thinner 2.6" vs 3"
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More than 10% thinner
Weight Lighter 469 g vs 510 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Placeholder Learn more about
the Canon S1 IS

Advantages of the Canon S3 IS

Screen size Much larger screen 2.0" vs 1.5"
Help
More than 30% larger screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution 5.9 MP vs 3.1 MP
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Capture around 90% more detail in your photos
Wide angle Better wide angle 36 mm vs 38 mm
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Around 10% better wide angle
Sensor size Larger sensor 1/2.5" 5.8x4.3mm vs 1/3.6" 5.3x4.0mm
Help
Around 20% larger sensor
Aperture Slightly wider aperture f/2.7 vs f/2.8
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At its widest zoom, the S3 IS's lens captures marginally more light (0.1 f-stops)
Zoom Slightly more zoom 12x vs 10x
Help
More than 40% more zoom
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 800 ISO vs 400 ISO
Help
The S3 IS's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/3200s vs 1/2000s
Help
Around 40% faster max shutter speed
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Learn more about
the Canon S3 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Placeholder Canon PowerShot S1 IS
42 vs 47
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Canon PowerShot S3 IS.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonPowerShot S1 IS
Placeholder vs Canon PowerShot S3 IS
CanonPowerShot S3 IS
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
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0
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Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
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0
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Features Low light image quality Low light image quality
Lack of noise, sharp details
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0
Vote Vote
Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
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0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
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0
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Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
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0
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Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
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0
Vote Vote
Performance Image stabilization
Ability to reduce blur from hand shake
0
0
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

similarities

Compared to recent digicams

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Screen flips out Flip-out screens Help
Great for movies
Aperture Wide aperture Help
S1 IS:f/2.8
S3 IS:f/2.7
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
S1 IS:3.1 MP
S3 IS:5.9 MP
Weight Heavy Help
S1 IS:469 g
S3 IS:510 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
S1 IS:2.6"
S3 IS:3"
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
Screen size Very small screens Help
S1 IS:1.5"
S3 IS:2.0"
Macro focus Poor macro capabilities Help
10 cm
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
S1 IS:38 mm
S3 IS:36 mm
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
S1 IS:1/3.6" 5.3x4.0mm
S3 IS:1/2.5" 5.8x4.3mm
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
S1 IS:400 ISO
S3 IS:800 ISO
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
Movie format Movie support Help
480p @ 30fps
Size Large Help
S1 IS:111x78x66 mm
S3 IS:113x78x76 mm
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
S1 IS:1.7 fps
S3 IS:1.5 fps
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
S1 IS:114k dots
S3 IS:115k dots

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
S1 IS:111x78x66 mm
S3 IS:113x78x76 mm
Thickness Thin Help
S1 IS:2.6"
S3 IS:3"
External flash No external flash support Help
Less expandable
Supports RAW No RAW support Help
Less editing fidelity
Zoom Poor zoom Help
S1 IS:10x
S3 IS:12x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Canon PowerShot SX130 IS

Travel zoom

$127 - $245

Movie format Records lower quality movies
Wide angle Has a much wider wide angle lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799

Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide angle Has a much wider wide angle lens
Macro focus Much worse macro focusing
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$334 - $595 body only

$449 - $460 with 18-55mm lens

Screen size Has a much larger screen
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Screen flips out Doesn't have a screen which flips out
Image stabilization Doesn't have image stabilization
Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Super zoom

$245

Screen size Has a much larger screen
True resolution Takes much higher resolution photos
Weight Is slightly heavier
Size Is slightly larger
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Fujifilm FinePix S2950

Fujifilm FinePix S2950

Super zoom

$139 - $200

Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Nikon Coolpix P500

Nikon Coolpix P500

Super zoom

$339 - $350

Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Canon PowerShot S1 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Super zoom

Screen size Much larger screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Size Significantly larger
Weight Heavier
Canon PowerShot A720 IS

Canon PowerShot A720 IS

Digicam

Screen size Much larger screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Zoom Slightly less zoom
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$599 - $600 body only

$698 - $699 with 18-55mm lens

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$389 - $500

Screen size Much larger screen
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Zoom Slightly less zoom
Nikon Coolpix P310

Nikon Coolpix P310

Pro digicam

$368

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

Canon PowerShot S3 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$379

Zoom Much more zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Significantly larger
Thickness Significantly thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Super zoom

Wide angle Much better wide angle
Screen size Much larger screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Size Larger
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$499 - $949 body only

$579 - $867 with 18-55mm lens

Sensor size Much larger sensor
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out

appearance

Placeholder Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Find similar cameras

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