Or, one can actually read and understand the manual and practice all the functions again and again until it all becomes second nature. There are lots of modes like portrait and landscape, and even exotic ones for fireworks and such. Each mode has specific automatic settings that optimize the results.

Full automatic is just fine for most subjects, but if you want something special, a shot that could really be something, then it is worth the time to get into the proper mode. That is how I have been using the S3 and the results have been fine.

Some reviewers complain about blurry shots. No modern camera blurs anything that is still and well-lit. Blur results from slow shutter speeds relative to camera shake or subject movement. The S3's little lens requires a slower shutter speed to compensate, to allow all the light that is needed by the sensors to capture an image. Handheld shots with slow shutter speeds are blurry with any camera.

We are used to seeing big serious cameras on tripods and little carefree cameras being used handheld. Actually, it is more likely that the little camera should be the one on the tripod. In addition to their small lenses, their light weight and small size make them harder to hold still. Note, too, that flash freezes movement and eliminates blur. However, tiny cameras have small flashes that do not have much range and so do not work to prevent blur at longer ranges.

My first twilight photos with the S3 were attempted with me holding it against trees, pressed to car roofs, etc. The only good results came when I used a tripod and fired it off using the self timer so that human hands were not at all involved.

The usual daylight shots of people, scenes and things are not a problem

Most of my prints are 4X6 and are really very sharp and well exposed in either the automatic or manual modes. I avoid shots that are not well lit or too far away for flash. The prints are generally much better than what I used to get from 35mm. It is reasonably fast with little lag time or waiting for images to be loaded. The camera itself is metal and very solid and precise.

The S3 comes with a little dock with an ac plug to charge it and a usb cable for downloads to your computer. Some people do not like the idea that you have to take the dock with you to recharge and download on the road. To me this is not a problem in that the dock is very small anyway and it is better to have all those connections on the dock rather than on a tiny camera.

I have had perfect luck so far with Nikon photographic products and tend to trust that brand, so I bought the S3 over some other very compelling models. Nikon also does a very good job with programming exposure, focus, white balance, etc.

I thought about maybe 4 stars because a little light camera can use vibration reduction in all modes, but a really effective and full time VR would likely cost more and I have not missed it anyway.

If you need what this camera lacks, then you have to step up to a bigger and much more expensive DSLR. You can spend more, carry more and get more. It works that way with film and it does with digital as well. I would like a DSLR also, but the S3 is an excellent camera with a lot of options to make great photos and it would get a lot of use, even if I had that elusive digital Hasselblad, just because it would always be with me.
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Beauty is only skin deep, February 6, 2006
Reviewer: B. Smith

I wanted to love this camera, I bought it to take pictures hanging out with friends and the occasional road trip. The outdoor pictures were great! But once you take that camera inside and the light is low forget about image quality. I tried all the scene modes, this camera just can't compare to other compact cams on the market. The pictures come out blurry, colors blend into each other. Interior lighting causes all kinds of interior blur streaks to appear in the images.

I get rave reviews on the looks, but I just can't stand having to tinker endlessly to get a nonblurry inside picture. And for the money, I had a 2 Megapixel Canon that was more capable inside.
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For a point and shoot - near perfect, January 16, 2006
Reviewer: MB SL500
My main camera is a Canon 20D, and the Nikon S3's pictures aren't quite up to that standard. But they are better than any point-and-shoot that I've seen. Far better than the Sony 7.2 MP P150 that I sold to get the Nikon. Focus is always dead on, and resolution is excellent given the small lens. Battery life is very good, the small size is most convenient, and the docking station makes life much, much easier. The only negative that I've noticed is that the black surfaces show fingerprints; but the camera is available in silver, white and red. The professional reviews are indeed correct; Nikon has a winner here.
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Not perfect, January 3, 2006
Reviewer: Dan It serves these purposes but has some flaws. Photos with flash in low light tend to be grainy and dark and the camera is exteremly slow. I have owned and used several digital cameras includng other Nikons and this is by far the slowest especially when the flash is required.
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