“The S3 is feature-packed. If you’re a beginner then you’ll appreciate the automatic and scene modes on the camera, and when you’re ready, the S3 has manual controls too. The manual controls include exposure, white balance, and focus, and bracket for the first and third options. I also like the custom spot on the mode dial and the handy shortcut button on the back of the camera. If you like taking close-up pictures then you’ll like the S3, as it lets you basically put the subject up against the lens in its super macro mode. For telemacro snapping you will need to pony up for the optional close-up lens, though. The S3 also has a great continuous snapping mode that can fill your memory card with photos taken as fast as 2.1 frames/second.

And then there’s the movie mode, which is one of the S3’s trademark features. You can record video at 640 x 480 (30 frames/second) with stereo sound until you hit the 1GB file size limit. Unfortunately, that takes about eight or nine minutes (earth to Canon: time to switch codecs). You can, however, take several clips and combine them later on your Mac or PC (and Canon includes software to do so) to make a longer movie. You can use the zoom lens during filming, and you won’t have to listen to the zoom motor either, as it’s ultrasonic. You can also take full resolution still photos while simultaneously filming.”

Sounds like a good prosumer digicam. That’s according to the Canon PowerShot S3 IS Review at DCRP.

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