Canon PowerShot
S3 IS
 vs
Canon PowerShot
S5 IS

Canon PowerShot S5 IS

48

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Macro focus
 Great macro
0 cm
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Canon PowerShot S3 IS

47

Reasons to buy the Canon PowerShot S3 IS

Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital

differences

Advantages of the Canon S3 IS
Size Slightly smaller 113x78x76 mm vs 117x80x78 mm
Help
 Around 10% smaller
Weight Slightly lighter 510 g vs 550 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Learn more about
the Canon S3 IS

Advantages of the Canon S5 IS
Screen size Much larger screen 2.5" vs 2.0"
Help
 Around 30% larger screen
Macro focus Much better macro capability 0 cm vs 10 cm
Help
 Almost the same
True resolution Much higher true resolution 8 MP vs 5.9 MP
Help
 Capture more than 30% more detail in your photos
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Screen resolution Slightly higher resolution screen 207k dots vs 115k dots
Help
 80% higher resolution screen
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 1,600 ISO vs 800 ISO
Help
 The S5 IS's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Canon PowerShot S5 IS Learn more about
the Canon S5 IS
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent super zooms, and ignoring price

Canon PowerShot S3 IS Canon PowerShot S3 IS
47 vs 48
Explain scores
Canon PowerShot S5 IS Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

CanonPowerShot S3 IS
 Canon PowerShot S3 IS vs Canon PowerShot S5 IS
CanonPowerShot S5 IS
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
0
0
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
0
0
Vote Vote
Features Low light image quality Low light image quality
Lack of noise, sharp details
0
0
Vote Vote
Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
0
0
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
0
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
f/2.7
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Viewfinder Both have digital viewfinders Help
Digital
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
1/3200 of a second
Weight Heavy Help
S3 IS:510 g
S5 IS:550 g
Thickness Quite thick Help
S3 IS:3"
S5 IS:3.1"
Light sensitivity (boost) No boost ISO Help
Lacks boost light sensitivity
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
S3 IS:5.9 MP
S5 IS:8 MP
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
36 mm
Screen size Very small screens Help
S3 IS:2.0"
S5 IS:2.5"
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
1/2.5" 5.8x4.3mm
Sensor type Lower-end sensor types Help
CCD
Size Large Help
S3 IS:113x78x76 mm
S5 IS:117x80x78 mm
Movie format Movie support Help
480p @ 30fps
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
S3 IS:800 ISO
S5 IS:1,600 ISO
Continuous shooting Slow continuous shooting Help
1.5 fps
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
S3 IS:115k dots
S5 IS:207k dots

Compared to recent super zooms

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
S3 IS:113x78x76 mm
S5 IS:117x80x78 mm
Thickness Thin Help
S3 IS:3"
S5 IS:3.1"
Supports RAW No RAW support Help
Less editing fidelity
Zoom Poor zoom Help
12x

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Powershot SX40

Canon Powershot SX40

Super zoom

$379
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot S3 IS
Compare the Powershot SX40 vs the PowerShot S5 IS
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
Compare the PowerShot SX130 IS vs the PowerShot S3 IS
Compare the PowerShot SX130 IS vs the PowerShot S5 IS
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ28

Super zoom
Zoom Has slightly more zoom
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ28 vs the PowerShot S3 IS
Compare the Lumix DMC-FZ28 vs the PowerShot S5 IS
Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Canon PowerShot SX30 IS

Super zoom

$420
Zoom Has way more more zoom
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the PowerShot S3 IS
Compare the PowerShot SX30 IS vs the PowerShot S5 IS
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799
Movie format Records higher quality movies
Wide angle Has a much wider wide angle lens
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Macro focus Much worse macro focusing
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot S3 IS
Compare the PowerShot G1X vs the PowerShot S5 IS
Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Canon PowerShot SX150 IS

Travel zoom

$169 - $199
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
Compare the PowerShot SX150 IS vs the PowerShot S3 IS
Compare the PowerShot SX150 IS vs the PowerShot S5 IS
Nikon Coolpix L120

Nikon Coolpix L120

Super zoom

$227 - $230
Zoom Has significantly more zoom
Movie format Records lower quality movies
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Viewfinder Doesn't have a viewfinder
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the PowerShot S3 IS
Compare the Coolpix L120 vs the PowerShot S5 IS

Canon PowerShot S3 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Canon EOS Digital Rebel XS

Entry-level DSLR

$334 - $595 body only

$449 - $460 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
Compare the EOS Digital Rebel XS vs the PowerShot S3 IS

Canon PowerShot S5 IS Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Canon PowerShot SX20 IS

Super zoom
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Zoom More zoom
Size Larger
Aperture Slightly narrower aperture
Compare the PowerShot SX20 IS vs the PowerShot S5 IS
Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Fujifilm FinePix HS10

Super zoom

$496
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies
Wide angle Much better wide angle
Size Much larger
Thickness Significantly thicker
Compare the FinePix HS10 vs the PowerShot S5 IS

appearance

Canon PowerShot S3 IS Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Canon PowerShot S5 IS
Canon PowerShot S3 IS Canon PowerShot S5 IS

Find similar cameras

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discussion Which do you think is better?

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