Canon S2 Vs S3 & Consumer Reports Ratings

You already stated the main differences between the two cameras.Note that this month the new S5IS was launched.S4 was never launched because 4 is a bad luck figure in Japan (4-"shee" is pronounced like death).

The speed of the S3 is a great advantage but not for studio-like coin-photographing and under no circumstances, shutter lag can affect the image/print quality.It just makes the camera more agile.

The main part of the camera that determines the quality of the pictures is the sensor, a rectangle of photocells which transform light into electrical signals. The fact that S3 has more megapixels than the S2 means that the pictures will be larger for the first one but not necessarely better.

The explanation is the fact that both cameras have sensors of the same size. So on a rectangle with the same area (~23,55 squear mm)there are 6,000,000 pixels rather than 5,000,000 for the S2. This means that the area of a photocell is larger for the S2: 2,2 squear microns over 2 microns for the S3. A professional camera has photocells of 100 microns. Other physical phenomenons influence this process: difraction and difraction limit, but I won't explain them here because it would be pointless.The idea is that the medium frequency for light is 0.55 microns (remember that a photocell is a squear with the side of 1,44 microns) and the distance between photons is even bigger due to the fact that they disperse after squizeing through the diaphragm of the camera. So, each photocell of the S2, is hit by a larger number of photons, because it is larger than the photocell of the S3.

To sum up, even though the images of the S3 are bigger, each pixel comes from a slightly less sensitive cell, so the overall quality is slightly diminished.

That's the explanation. Hope I was coherent and you'll understand.Please ask if something is not clear.

@stratocaster
I have used for 40 years a through the lense total manual Canon FTQL mainly with ASA 400 film and a 1.8 focus 50 mm lense (never on coins though)
I have the money in hand to buy either the latest Canon automatic or a Canon through the lense ( sales period starts 1 st of july )
I understand that my lense would fit the new digital body
The consumer organisation here in Belgium rated all digital through the lense below 1500 $ as very average in image color

What should I buy since I will only take pics of my wife and running dogs and try coin pics later
A mini or a total manual through the lense like the Canon Rebel ?

Thank you for your answer
I saw this body EOS 30 D which allready gets a 100 euro refund just for buying even before sales period starts on july first

http://www.digicamshop.be/product/2...k-actie.html

So 957 euro is the pick up price for the body
I got a real 50 mm canon 1.8 focus reddotted fixed lense
and I got a Vivitar manual zoom reddotted from 70 to 230 mm
They both fit my ancient manual canon and presumably the EOS body

I am really not intrested in autofuntions since after 40 years of manual only I got quiet good at trading depth for time or light
My manual canon has a possibility to check depth before taking the
pic but I prefer f11 at or above 1/60 seconds using asa 400 film

I also got a very heavy duty flash going 10 meters at f 2.8 X synchronised (that is presumably 1/60 and synchronised with the roll curtain shutter )

I got a three piece sliding tripod from 60 cm to 170 cm
Sturdy aluminium magnesium alloy like they used in 1970 and taking
one kilo camera without budging .

Weight is absolutely no concern
Manual is no concern
Automatic on the 50 mm lens would be a bonus ( camera choosing shutter speed and stop f ( and focus ?)
Buying afterwards a 100 mm fixed focus would be no concern

Would a non zoomable new 50 mm lense bring anything extra ?

If ever I go to a full service shop I would ask them to take the picture of a canadian bulk gold coin ( the maple leaf ) which is one of the very few coins my scanner cannot handle since there is no contrast whatsoever

In short I want a camera that will last me the rest of my life and put the dogs on the computer screen to please my wife

My two biggist failures in this life are being honest and trying for perfection .
I think you are right about your assessent
That Vivitar Telelens cost me a monthsalary at the time

Thank you
I was actually very confused about the 50 mm thing
But if I got the equivalent of an 80 mm and that zoom suddenly becomes a cannon I probably have all the fixed lenses I need

For a 100 euro more they sell an autofocus new 50 mm lens with the body of the 30 D
So I will have to find me a brick shop with the 30D in stock

I live in a town of 400 000 people so there are some brick shops to walk into which may take me large part of july
Sales go typically 20-30% discount certainly on electronic stuff that is out of date the moment it enters the shop

You see the attached "20 lei" is really at the edge of my scanners abilities because the coin has not enough contrast
The 2 ducats is ok
The Carolus is superb

Ageka, given your skill with the scanner, I cannot wait to see what you can do with a camera.

Yes that Siebenbürgen coin or three kings coin or whatever since it is a medal "20lei " has been on my list for 5 years
Unfortunately the germans on ebay germany like it too and so I had to wait a very long time to get it at an affordable melt plus 18 %
It really is a lot nicer then the scan suggests but since it has not enough contrast my scanner gets confused .

"Ardealul Nostru" means Our Ardeal. Ardeal is the romanian for Transylvania, the north-western part of the country, separated by the Carpathians Mountains. For a long time, this historycal region was under foreign domination (austrian, hungarian) and the three kings are those who managed to get it back: Mihai Viteazul (Michael the Brave, Lord, in 1600), Ferdinand I Intregitorul (the Uniter, king, in 1918), and Michael I (king, in 1944).