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Note: This camera was first sold in Feb 2006. It has been replaced by the Canon S5 IS.
Canon PowerShot S3 IS
Canon PowerShot S3 IS
B-
HQ Grade: B-
A is outstanding and exceptional, rated in the top 10% of digital cameras.
B means they are good, with some standout features.
C means they are mediocre, and probably more trouble than they are worth.
D & F mean they are absolutely awful or old. Avoid at all costs.
  • 4 out of 5
"Apart from the noise, great camera"
  • 4 out of 5
"Photographer in Training..S3 filled all needs.."
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Question Answered!
Susan (sv2) 0 pts
September 6, 2008 12:10 PM
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LCD monitor is blank. It lights up, but no text or picture.

Is there a button I have pressed by mistake? This is the second S3 IS in 18 months.
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Answers This question has been answered!
Aditya D (Adhere) 7462 pts
September 11, 2008 11:17 PM
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The only option I see on the camera that may have affected your LCD this way is the adjusting LCD brightness through the setup menu. I'm not sure that pressing a single button on accident would have done this, but what's more likely is that the display for the LCD is broken. Usually the display, what shows the text, pictures, histogram, etc, works independently of the little light bulb that lights up the display so you can see it. So chances are the light bulb still works, but the display does not. I think to fix it you'd have to take it in to a camera repair shop and get the parts replaced, which will end up costing more than the camera... I'd consider getting the S5 instead.
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Susan (sv2) 0 pts
September 16, 2008 9:05 PM
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Thanks for the info. I only bought the camera 15 months ago, spending $450. Not sure if repairing or replacing would be cheaper.
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Aditya D (Adhere) 7462 pts
September 16, 2008 10:45 PM
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15 months ago and $450 probably amounts to about $200 now, maybe more maybe less, but around that. The repair probably will run $50-100, about half of what the camera is now worth. Odds are its more cost effective to replace it, and a good place to start looking would be its update, the s5.
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Bill (Holtzhauser) 0 pts
December 13, 2008 6:51 PM
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Hello Susan,

I may be able to save you some coin ;-)

I had the same issue today, solved it by pressing the display button several times (nice feature but if you hit the button by mistake it can make you nervous).

Bill
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Brian 0 pts
March 25, 2009 12:06 AM
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I had the same problem recently. Repeatedly pushing the display button didn't work for me. However, I was able to reset the camera settings by doing the following: I removed the double A batteries. In the double A battery compartment there is a small lip you can pull up with your fingernail, and pull out the date battery. I pulled it out, waited for a few minutes, reinserted it, and then replaced the double A batteries. Then I powered up the camera and the screen now works. I just had to reset the date and time and everything is good to go.
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