Here are a few images that accurately reflect the abilities
of any given camera model. The images are altered only in
terms of size and sharpness after reduction and by the JPEG
compression used. Unless otherwise mentioned, assume that
any marbling or artifacts visible in the images are due to
the compression required to display them here. We feel however,
that they still faithfully represent the results we experienced.
STILL LIFE PHOTO
This subject is photographed in a room that has a mix of fluorescent and
incandescent light, but which is not brightly lit. The camera's flash is
used to add fill light. The backdrop is 1.95 m (6.5 ft) from the camera.
Using the Auto white balance, the S3 IS yields a sharp and
detailed image that shows no trace of noise. It does, however,
have a noticeably yellowish cast, more than likely the result
of the mixed lighting, which affects the accuracy of all colours.
Set to the highest image quality, Superfine, the S3's images
show no loss of detail because of the compression.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f2.7
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/13 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
On
Quality:
Super fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.3 MB
Focal Length:
36 mm (35 mm Eq)
ZOOM PHOTO
Now we zoom in on a specific area. The intent is to test the sharpness
of the image at the zoom's maximum setting. The camera remains at the same
distance as with the preceding photo.
As was the case with the wide angle shot, the Auto white
balance produces an image with a slightly yellow cast. The
colours are, however, consistent with those captured at the
wide angle end. Given this result, a more colour accurate
image could be obtained if the white balance was set under
ambient light.
The 12X zoom of the S3 is able to capture a excellent level
of detail, as can be seen below, and yields an image that
is almost macro-like in its detail.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f3.5
Exposure:
Program
Shutter Speed:
1/8 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
On
Quality:
Super fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.6 MB
Focal Length:
432 mm (35 mm
Eq)
(Leaf against the lens) Aperture: f8,
shutter speed: 1/60 sec.
MACRO PHOTO
Set to the standard Macro mode the S3 IS can focus from
10 to 50 cm (3.9 to 19.5 inches), capturing a field of view
(measured horizontally), of approximately 12 cm (4.68 inches)
when the zoom is at the wide end.
Using the Super Macro mode the camera has no minimum focus
distance, and if — somehow — there is enough light,
can focus on a subject that is touching the front element
of the lens, and out to 10 cm (0 to 3.9 inches).
With the subject touching the lens,
a field of view of approximately 2.3 cm (0.9 inch) is captured.
Barrel distortion is clearly noticeable with any subject that
contains straight lines.
BUILDING PHOTO
This image is our outdoor test. The architecture of the building, in particular
the angled girders, immediately show the presence of jaggies. The shadowed
entrance can also often reveal the quality of the exposure.
The metering evaluates the subject correctly and the result
is an image that exhibits a good balance between light and
dark areas, and excellent sharpness across the frame.
As had been the case with the S2 IS, some images shot with
the S3 IS can reveal a slight chromatic aberration that appears
on the edge of contrasting areas; in this case, the faint
purple line that underlines the curving support beam of the
canopy.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Shutter:
1/320 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Super fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
2.9 MB
Focal Lgth:
36 mm (35 mm Eq)
ZOOM PHOTO
Zooming in on the entrance of the building,
the shadowed entrance takes on a greater importance for the
metering and can cause an overexposure of sections that are
directly lit.
Small variations in the quantity of light and dark areas
in the frame has a noticeable impact with the exposure the
S3 IS yields, once again, as was the case with the S2 IS,
the camera this one replaces.
For instance, this type of shot which contains a relatively
large dark area in the middle of the frame can easily cause
the directly lit areas to become a bit overexposed, so care
should be exercised with this type of composition.
Photo
Information
Format:
JPEG
Aperture:
f4
Exposure:
Program
Shutter:
1/320 sec.
Resolution:
2816 x 2112
Flash:
Off
Quality:
Super fine
ISO:
80
File Size:
1.9 MB
Focal Lgth:
432 mm (35 mm
Eq)
The alternative, placing an average
grey subject — such as the grey of the cement ashtray
— at the centre of the frame, metering and then re-framing,
would yield an image that would show little detail in the
shadows.
Finally, as can be seen in the image section below, there
is no chromatic aberration at the telephoto end, nor is there
any distortion. Moreover, noise is also undetectable.
NIGHT PHOTO
Since this camera is capable of long exposures, a photo taken at night
is included here.
Aperture: f7.1, shutter
speed: 15 sec, 80 ISO.
Using the Manual
shooting mode, the S3 IS is capable of recording an exposure
up to 15 seconds long, more than sufficient to capture an
interesting image of our usual night time subject.
For this shot, the camera's white balance is set to tungsten
(incandescent) so that colours look as natural as possible,
and to lessen the influence of sodium vapour lights that generally
cause an orange cast.
Shooting at night, the S3 IS automatically increases
the brightness of the monitor, a function called Night Display.
While this function causes the appearance of noise in the
display, it is useful and the noise is not recorded in the
image.
Noise reduction is automatically applied to all images captured
with an exposure time of 1.3 seconds or longer. The system
is clearly efficient as there is no serious loss of detail
in the image, and noise is undetectable.
Compare Prices for Canon TC-DC58B Tele Converter Lens for S3 IS & S2 IS Digital Camera
Test Photos
