Topic: Bought a new Camera! :woohoo:

[BigMike]

FedEx tracking shows it will be here by 3PM today
It's a Canon PowerShot S3 IS. It's a model from last year, so I got a pretty good deal on it new.
Here is the info on it: http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/S3IS/S3ISA.HTM

Tell me what you guys think? I'm getting a wide angle lense and a 2X lense. I need to buy some filters next

Just for reference, here is THE camera that I have been using for ALL of the photos I've taken for the website:
My BEASTY Canon PowerShot A80

(http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/A80/A80A.HTM)
Marlin won this Camera at I think TDS? like 4 years ago, and it was a hand-me-down for me about 2 years ago, and I've been using it ever since. It's been to Japan (Honshu and Kyushu) Three times and to Alaska once

So obviously I am going to start taking a LOT better pictures and will have more fun at it too!

This summer I wanted to buy a new camera FOR MYSELF, but the Shop really wanted to purchase a SLR for shop use. This I thought was a good idea, but Angelo (our Transmission specialist) already owns a new SLR, and he welcomes it's use at the shop. Also, I really wanted a camera that I can FINALLY call my own, and also I don't want to take a SLR out to the Hammers and get sand inside it. My pile of junk A80 might by a pile of junk, but its taken a SERIOUS beating over the years and still works well. Sometimes it won't power on (a problem as of just recent) so its day has finally come to an end.

So I am happy to say that this new Camera is all mine My very first camera that I alone own

I've :bull crap:'ed with MiniSimp a bit about Camera tech, F-stop and aperture sizes, but I am still learning how to take better shots.

TrackVino (who built our current MCI website) helped me build a little picture studio here at the shop which I use for new products which has helped my pictures a lot, and also has saved me a lot of editing time at the computer.

Can't wait to start shooting some pictures!! I will be in Las Vegas this weekend, so you know I am going to have a blastie with the new camera!

Kanpai
BigMike

[abnormaltoy]

Very nice! I expect awe-inspiring, Ansel Adams quality photos of high steer parts. Imagine photos of the frenched hangers against a blue filtered shot of Yosemite.

[BigMike [OP]]

ohhhh crap I hate expectations

One cool thing about this camera is its ability to record video compared to my old camera:

	Max Resolution	Zoom while recording?	Audio	Can take a picture while recording?
S3 IS (New Camera)	640x480	Yes	Stereo, two mics	Yes
A80 (Old Camera)	320x240	No	Mono, one mic	No

Also it has an image stabilizer which my old camera does not. So pictures without a flash in dark conditions without a tripod should be much easier now. Not to mention the zoom is a 12X mechanical zoom (not digital) compared to the A80 which only has a 3X zoom, which combined with my 2X lense, gets me a 24X mechanical zoom? I think? I'll find out this afternoon! It can also take rapid continuous pictures (whereas my old camera can not) and it can take ISO speeds up to 800.

[BigMike [OP]]

Forgot to add, that since it takes much better video footage, expect more YouTube videos from me in the future

[MiniSimp]

Very nice Mike, good choice.
Now read the book!

[BigMike [OP]]

Very nice Mike, good choice.

Awesome, I'm glad I did something right

Now read the book!

Wait, so you're saying that I have to put out some effort in order to learn something?

[abnormaltoy]

Wait, so you're saying that I have to put out some effort in order to learn something?

You could claim that your life isn't what it should be and that you can't sleep because the camera doesn't respect your right to know...you just might get a "givernment" sponsored tutor!

[MiniSimp]

Here is a sample of what that camera can do:

2706 KB Image

[abnormaltoy]

Here is a sample of what that camera can do:

2706 KB Image

Very nice! Do you have any sunset pics? I have a first gen (2MP) camera...but even it takes nice landscape/sunset pics.

[MiniSimp]

Very nice! Do you have any sunset pics?

No, but here is a pidgeon

[BigMike [OP]]

Mini, have you used the S3 IS before?

[MiniSimp]

Mini, have you used the S3 IS before?

Nope, but I have researched them on DPReview.com though.

[BigMike [OP]]

No, but here is a pidgeon

That's a sweet pigeon, it almost looks [/adam sandler goat voice]super imposed[/adam sandler goat voice]

[BigMike [OP]]

I just read about the S5 IS:


That is pretty sweet too. I like the larger LCD screen

[abnormaltoy]

No, but here is a pidgeon

Sunset, pidgeon...They're all the same!

[weirdtimes_7]

whats anyone think of the Canon EOS 20D??? Thats the camara i want to get in my future

military_stang

[MiniSimp]

whats anyone think of the Canon EOS 20D??? Thats the camara i want to get in my future

military_stang

The EOS20D is a really old camera by digital standards
Check this out for comparisons http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/

[weirdtimes_7]

i see... so what should i get??? I like the look, feel, and the qualitly of the 20D.... how much is BigMike paying for his new camara???

military_stang

[MiniSimp]

Do you have a price limit?
Do you want to be able to change out the lenses?
Do you care about size?
Do you care about MP?
Do you have a Manufacture preference?

[MiniSimp]

how much is BigMike paying for his new camara???

No more that $300 before tax.

[BigMike [OP]]

Dang FedEx!!

Well, maybe Dang company-who-I-ordered-it-from!!

I told them to write "specific instructions" to leave the package at my door if no one is home, but via email and verbally over the phone, and I just got an email from FedEx saying that the package could not be delivered because no one is home

The source of my aggravation comes from the fact that I ordered the camera on the 17th which is 12 days ago. The company said that they, quote, "had a fire in the warehouse" and that they would over night ship it to me with instructions to leave the package at my front door. I am a pretty nice guy, but sometimes I can get pushed a bit over the edge

I am going to call FedEx and see if I can go down to the dist. center and pick it up in person after work today. I really want to start using it!!

[weirdtimes_7]

#1 - yes
#2 - nope
#3 - whats this??? is
#4 - Canon

$300.00 is not that bad at all...

military_stang

[MiniSimp]

i see... so what should i get??? I like the look, feel, and the qualitly of the 20D....

You could get this....

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Digital SLR Camera Body Only
(16.7MP, 4992x3328 - MPN: 9443A002)
Price Range: $6,629.99 - $7,999.99

Or this...

Philips Keychain Digital Camera
(MPN: P44417S)
Price Range: $14.25 - $24.22

[MiniSimp]

Dang FedEx!!

Well, maybe Dang company-who-I-ordered-it-from!!

I told them to write "specific instructions" to leave the package at my door if no one is home, but via email and verbally over the phone, and I just got an email from FedEx saying that the package could not be delivered because no one is home

The source of my aggravation comes from the fact that I ordered the camera on the 17th which is 12 days ago. The company said that they, quote, "had a fire in the warehouse" and that they would over night ship it to me with instructions to leave the package at my front door. I am a pretty nice guy, but sometimes I can get pushed a bit over the edge

I am going to call FedEx and see if I can go down to the dist. center and pick it up in person after work today. I really want to start using it!!

Dude that sucks!
What is even worse that that though is when I was living in an apartment at the top of the stairs that everyone walks by and they drop a package without my permission!

[MiniSimp]

#1 - yes
#2 - nope
#3 - whats this??? is
#4 - Canon

$300.00 is not that bad at all...

military_stang

Canon EOS Digital Rebel Digital SLR Camera Kit w/ 18-55mm Lens - Silver
6.3MP, 3072x2048, 3x Opt, CompactFlash Slot
from $429.95   
 
Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT Digital SLR Camera Body Only - Silver
8.0MP, 3456x2304, CompactFlash Slot
from $449.00   
 
Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT Digital SLR Camera Body Only - Black
8.0MP, 3456x2304, CompactFlash Slot
from $459.00   
 
Canon EOS 350D Digital Rebel XT Digital SLR Camera w/ 18-55mm Lens - Silver
8.0MP, 3456x2304, 3x Opt, CompactFlash Slot
from $480.00   

[BigMike [OP]]

YES! NICE! I just got off the phone, and it will be at my distribution center after 5:15pm this evening !

how much is BigMike paying for his new camara???

Mini is right, they go for around $280 at the cheapest, brand-new in the box, but I paid $389 for mine on eBay (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=130113889255) because it comes with other gewdies that I value to be well over $100, such as a 2 GB memory card and card reader, 2 tripods (1 small, 1 tall), wide angle lense, 2x telephoto lense, some adapter tube thingy, rechargeable batteries and a charger (which I didn't need but is nice to have spares), a cheap-o lense cleaning kit, and a nice leather camera bag.

I'll let you know about the quality of the two lense. I really hope they are good quality. I've seen just 1 wide angle lense go for over $100. I've ALWAYS wanted to have a wide angle lense, so this is extra special for me. And the 2X lense will make Macro shots excellent, since sometimes I can't get close enough to the specimen, so I have to zoom in, but with the zoom, I loose the ability to have a low aperture size.

My A80 camera uses CompactFlash memory (I only have 1 x 256MB), and the nice thing about the S3 IS is that it uses SD memory, of which I already posses 1 x 2GB, 1 x 1GB, and 1 x 512GB that I use for other devices I have, plus I already have two SD card readers. So that means that I will now have 5.5 GB of memory to take with me on trips for picture taking, whereas before I only had 256MB!! I can't tell you how many times while in Japan I had to delete movies or pictures because I was out of memory. Good thing I never opted to buy another CompactFlash card!

BigMike

[BigMike [OP]]

Hey Mini, lets talk about filters.

UV Filter: This Filter Will Absorb Ultra-Violet Rays Without An Increase Of Exposure, Thereby Preventing Haziness And Foggy Effects In Distant Landscape. Constant Use Of This Filter Is Recommended For Clearer Pictures As Well As The Protection Of Your Lens.

PL Filter: This Filter Will Remove Or Reduce Reflections From Non-Metallic Surfaces, Darkens Blue Sky While Increasing Color Saturation Penetrates Haze.

FDL Filter: Allows for using your camera under fluorescent lighting, giving you natural light colors when shooting under fluorescent conditions. Includes Case.

What should I buy? Do I need to have all three, or more? Also, how much do they run $$ ?

[BigMike [OP]]

You could get this....

Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II Digital SLR Camera Body Only
(16.7MP, 4992x3328 - MPN: 9443A002)
Price Range: $6,629.99 - $7,999.99

Or this...

Philips Keychain Digital Camera
(MPN: P44417S)
Price Range: $14.25 - $24.22

baaaaaaaaaaawhAHHAAHHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!

Dude that sucks!
What is even worse that that though is when I was living in an apartment at the top of the stairs that everyone walks by and they drop a package without my permission!

Yeah, that's NOT cool! My front porch has a long walk way that is more narrow than the entrance where the door is. So one could leave like 5 watermelons on either side of this walkway at the area where it expands, and from the front of the house, you would never see them!

[kneedownnate]

Cool   I like my kodak, but it doesn't like trips into the alps very much.  Even if I leave it off and put it in my pocket I hear what sounds like the lens trying to open, but when I check it it's still off   The lens cover also doesn't open on it's own anymore, I hafta lightly touch it to get it to slide open.  I'll be very interested to see how your pics look, maybe I'll hafta look into getting one of these!

[BigMike [OP]]

I know the S3 IS is larger than my A80, which fits nicely in cargo pants, so I know it will not be as convenient to carry around, but the increased ability is of course the trade off to this.

I will take some pictures side-by-side with my older camera in low light settings to see how nice the image stabilizer (IS) works. That will be interesting to see.

I will be picking it up in about 40 mins