Canon S3 Is Camera - Opinions?

I have an S2 IS, and cannot find fault with it. The S3 is better. The very worst that could happen is you'd end up investing in Canon's 500D Macro lens, and that only if you decide you wish for yet larger pics than the S3 will provide.

Point being, although the S3 will resolve an image that's touching the lens, you'll want relief for optimal lighting, so you'll be backing the camera off somewhat. Both myself and MorganFred, also an S2 owner, have settled on the Macro setting as opposed to Super Macro in order to provide that clearance. That allows for 25cm or so distance from the lens to the coin, room for light.

The tradeoff is smaller coin pics.

As an all-around camera, the S3 may be equaled by the equivalent Panasonic product, but it will not be bettered by anything near its' price range. If your only task for the camera is coin photography, you might be better served spending less money on a used/out-of-date earlier Canon product which the 500D lens also fits, or a similar Nikon setup.

The next thing better reaches $US1k and up.

James Halperin's How to Grade U.S. Coins has similar details, showing wear areas for US coinage, and the relative importance to the grade of marks in certain zones. It covers almost all US coins specifically, including most commemoratives.

A must-have book for any collector of US coins.

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I have opted to purchase a Panasonic FZ7.....Any tips for a beginner?

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Good choice. I'm a Canon fan, but the Panasonic's quality is undeniable. You won't be sorry.

Now, for advice? Look further in this forum. I just offered some basic advice to maryhm in her Nikon Coolpix 5200 thread below this, and there are a couple of excellent discussions still on the first page here.

Post a new thread here with any questions you come up with. There are more than a few excellent coin photographers here, and someone is bound to chime in with a good answer.