Canon Powershot S3 IS Digital Camera First Thoughts

The new Canon Powershot S3 IS is the direct successor to Canon's best selling Powershot S1 IS and S2 IS digital cameras. The S2 IS was last year's most popular mega-zoom digital camera because its 12X image-stabilized USM zoom, excellent movie mode, compact SLR style body, and full manual controls nicely met the needs and expectations of the savvy prosumers who make up the rapidly expanding prosumer digital camera market niche.

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Like its siblings, the Canon Powershot S3 IS was designed to provide most of the flexibility and control of a dSLR without sacrificing any of the convenience and ease of use of a Point and Shoot digital camera. The S3 IS may be the ultimate realization of that concept; an almost perfect general use imaging tool that provides much of the creative potential of the Canon Digital Rebel XT or Nikon D50 in a unit that's smaller, lighter, easier to use, and cheaper.

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The best in class S3 IS offers serious photographers a balanced mix of creative capability, technical versatility, and ease of use. Sports, action, and nature photographers will benefit most from the extra reach of the S3's long zoom and Image Stabilization system, but serious shooters looking for a digital imaging tool that handles like a dSLR and provides all the convenience of a P&S digital camera are also going to love the S3 IS.

Stay tuned for our full review!

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