Canon announced the release of the 12x optical zoom PowerShot S3 IS. Successor to the popular PowerShot S2 IS, PowerShot S3 IS incorporates a 6.0 Megapixel CCD sensor, Canon's renowned optical Image Stabilizer technology and video functionality rivaling that of dedicated digital video camcorders. Still the most powerful zoom in a Canon digital compact camera (36 – 432mm f/2.7-f.3.5), the PowerShot S3 IS’s lens incorporates the same leading technologies used in Canon's professional EF lenses. An Ultra-Sonic Motor (USM) drives rapid and near-silent zoom operation; an Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) lens element significantly reduces chromatic aberration in telephoto shots; Canon's optical Image Stabilizer (IS) technology counteracts camera shake to reduce image blur when shooting stills or recording video, essential for handheld shots at longer focal lengths.

The PowerShot S3 IS's 12x optical zoom combines with digital zoom to deliver 48x magnification for recording both stills and video. A Super Macro mode with 0cm shooting distance and optional Close-Up lens 500D (58mm) allow for detailed macro photography. Users can record smooth 30fps VGA quality movies of up to 1GB with stereo sound, or create 60fps QVGA clips for sharp slow motion playback. The Movie mode also allows users to pre-select exposure and white balance zoom throughout the camera's focal range and manually adjust focus while shooting. A Photo in Movie feature enables the capture of full resolution digital stills during video recording. The dedicated movie button means users do not need to switch modes to start recording, so spontaneous moments can be instantly captured in full motion. The PowerShot S3 IS offers 20 shooting modes including full Manual mode, Aperture Priority and Shutter Speed Priority. The camera features a new Widescreen mode (2816 x 1584 recording pixels) for capturing still images in 16:9 format – perfect for viewing images on widescreen television or printing wide (10 x 20cm) photos with a SELPHY Compact Photo Printer. Sporting a striking new finish in gunmetal grey, the compact PowerShot S3 IS weighs 410 g (no batt) with dimensions-113.4 x 78 x 75.5 mm and is powered by 4x AA Alkaline battery (supplied) or NiMH batteries. The camera isSD / MMC compatible (16MB card supplied).

Via - Dpreview