Staples: Canon PowerShot S3 IS in Store Clearence $227.97

[rinottawa]

Was at Staples store this morning. The Canon S3 IS is on clearence sale for $227.97.

[IMG]http://www.***********/i-ca/2006/4/84302921_small.jpg[/IMG]

I think it's still a good deal at this price.

http://www.***********/p-18622.html

[ali123]

How is it compared to the sony DSC-H7?

[hightech]

If you are comfortable with a 1.8" LCD, then I would say this is perhaps the best megazoom camera on the market. Don't get too wrapped up on the 6 mega pixel limit, because you can do 8x10 and 8x14 images with ease.

This camera blows the Canon S5, the Sony H7/H9 and Panasonic FZ8 out of the water in terms of image quality and has the least amount of lens related issues (vignetting, barrel distortion, sun flare, etc.)

Have a look at the following reviews as a guide:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-6501_7-...1.html?tag=dir

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is/

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca...hot_s3-review/

I owned this camera about 1 year ago, and it was one of the BEST cameras I have ever owned. Stereo video mode with zoom and image stabilization is incredible. Focusing is top notch, and the level of manual controls makes this a very attractive camera for the price. I was considering the S5 as a replacement, but the amount of noise in the images even at ISO80 killed it for me. The S3 takes cleaner images then the S5. If you can get this camera for this price, I would be all over it. You would be kicking yourself if you didn't take advantage of it.

[Red Queen]

If you are comfortable with a 1.8" LCD, then I would say this is perhaps the best megazoom camera on the market. Don't get too wrapped up on the 6 mega pixel limit, because you can do 8x10 and 8x14 images with ease.

This camera blows the Canon S5, the Sony H7/H9 and Panasonic FZ8 out of the water in terms of image quality and has the least amount of lens related issues (vignetting, barrel distortion, sun flare, etc.)

Have a look at the following reviews as a guide:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-6501_7-...1.html?tag=dir

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is/

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca...hot_s3-review/

I owned this camera about 1 year ago, and it was one of the BEST cameras I have ever owned. Stereo video mode with zoom and image stabilization is incredible. Focusing is top notch, and the level of manual controls makes this a very attractive camera for the price. I was considering the S5 as a replacement, but the amount of noise in the images even at ISO80 killed it for me. The S3 takes cleaner images then the S5. If you can get this camera for this price, I would be all over it. You would be kicking yourself if you didn't take advantage of it.

Have one and love it. Its pretty durable too. Thats canon for you!

I got mine probobly 5 months ago for 275 used. So this is an amazing price.

[jcoltage]

Great Camera ... no problems so far after 4 months of use.

[rinottawa]

How is it compared to the sony DSC-H7?

Here is the ratings from Dpreview:

Sony-H7:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyh7/page14.asp

Canon S3-IS:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is/page14.asp

So, considering the price of $227.97, the Canon S3-IS beats the Sony H7 completely.

[Inno]

Was at Staples store this morning. The Canon S3 IS is on clearence sale for $227.97.

[IMG]http://www.***********/i-ca/2006/4/84302921_small.jpg[/IMG]

I think it's still a good deal at this price.

http://www.***********/p-18622.html

This looks like a steal but I note that the Canon A640 seems to have better image quality (as reviewed by megapixel.net). Of course the S3 has a better zoom.

The A640 is also on clearance at Staples, currently at $199.99

[Jason]

I have had this camera since the Zellers sale back in January 2007 (I actually price matched to Sears). I have almost 1700 pictures and I am still loving this camera. I have been playing with taking videos since the summer and it is great. Overall an excellent camera.

Jason

[Gooser]

If you are comfortable with a 1.8" LCD, then I would say this is perhaps the best megazoom camera on the market. Don't get too wrapped up on the 6 mega pixel limit, because you can do 8x10 and 8x14 images with ease.

This camera blows the Canon S5, the Sony H7/H9 and Panasonic FZ8 out of the water in terms of image quality and has the least amount of lens related issues (vignetting, barrel distortion, sun flare, etc.)

Have a look at the following reviews as a guide:

http://reviews.cnet.com/4370-6501_7-...1.html?tag=dir

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is/

http://www.dcresource.com/reviews/ca...hot_s3-review/

I owned this camera about 1 year ago, and it was one of the BEST cameras I have ever owned. Stereo video mode with zoom and image stabilization is incredible. Focusing is top notch, and the level of manual controls makes this a very attractive camera for the price. I was considering the S5 as a replacement, but the amount of noise in the images even at ISO80 killed it for me. The S3 takes cleaner images then the S5. If you can get this camera for this price, I would be all over it. You would be kicking yourself if you didn't take advantage of it.

Nice review

[chaoslord]

is this nation-wide or YMMV?

[ud666]

Man i paid $369 back in September....

[Xon]

I'm surprised they actually still have S3s in stock...I haven't noticed them on display in a while, but then again I haven't really been looking for them.

[cactus789]

I also have this camera, and LOVE it. For that price you will not find a better camera on the market.

[hdom]

Wow, that is about half of what I paid for my went it came out new. I may buy one as a back up.

On how this compare to other cameras, I read on Digital Photography School, a pro tip site about which P&Ss their reader use, and the results were S3 being #1 with more owners than all #2~#10 "combined". Sony H7/9 weren't even on the list - http://digital-photography-school.co...ites/#more-582

The spec. from Sony/Panny looks close, but if you go and try to handle and use one yourself and there is no comparsion. The ergonomics is night and day, where the S3 feels like a mini-DSLR, the others feel like toys. Same with the performance and picture quaility, too. ie. If you have to zoom for a further shot, by the time you turn on the sony, let he zoom lens moved and camera focus, you would have already taken a few shots with an S3 already.

[Takada]

Here is the ratings from Dpreview:

Sony-H7:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/sonyh7/page14.asp

Canon S3-IS:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/canons3is/page14.asp

So, considering the price of $227.97, the Canon S3-IS beats the Sony H7 completely.

You forgot the Panasonic-FZ8

Detail Rating (out of 10)
Build quality 8.0
Ergonomics & handling 8.5
Features 9.0
Image quality 8.0
Optics 8.0
Performance (speed) 8.5
Value 9.0