Even in fully automatic mode, the S3 IS delivers cracking image quality with a massive zoom thrown in. The viewfinder is a little small but its a fairly small gripe for a great camera. The real strength is the ease with which you can use the semi-automatic and manual features, taking your photography to another level.
Also consider: Sony DSC-H1

FEATURES
PERFORMANCE
BUILD QUALITY
EASE OF USE
VALUE FOR MONEY
FINAL SCORE

Great camera

Reviewer: kavithask, London, UK

Great camera. It has a lot of features and more than you would expect. Its easy to handle, easy to understand and set the features. Its perfect for someone who is bored with a simple point and shoot, but don't want a full-fledged SLR. Only issue is with night shots. But it could more be my ignorance, than the camera's capability.

Noisy

Reviewer: Sapna, New Delhi, India

I have been using S3IS since a year now. It has an amazing zoom but with a little compromise on quality as you full zoom in. But its very minimal. My main problem faced with this camera was the noise factor. I have been using a noise reduction software for most of my pictures.

Even with lowest ISO range I have to battle with noise sometimes.

But yes overall a good camera. If you cant buy a DSLR and you want more than just a normal P&S then S3IS n S5IS are the best choices to get the DSLR feel.

So go for it.

Regards
Sapna

The best one could buy

Reviewer: whightsight, Mashhad, Iran

To whoever searching to buy a Semi-proffesional I suggest this one.
Be sure, this is the best digicam you can buy.
I bought this camera 8 month ago, and by now I have taken lots of great photos. The 12x zoom is interesting, Manual settings are facinating.
The movie recording quality is very good.
if someone askes me for a digital camera which take good quality videos, I will suggest him this one.
good battery life, high flash range, and also great design.
I gave this camera full 5 star, because it really worth it.

Canon3SI

Reviewer: Michel Munier, Near Sydney , Australia

Hi all, I've just bought this camera and do love it I wanted it to replace my Canon EOS 500 with it's 28/210 zoom, and improve on my 2002 30% dearer AU$1400 Ricoh i500
What I've lost on the wide angle I gained on zoom, and I can use the "stiching function) for wider angle.
I've bought a 4 gb Sd cards for movie addition ( * such large SD cards can be incompatible with older card readers and similar facility on dvd players and monitors)
The big improvement is the shutter speed. My Ricoh could not get a descent shot of anything "alive"!
I do miss my Canon SLR electronic cable release or my i500 remote control that I have to replace with the less happy use of a self-timer
The smaller screen does not bother me too much and I value more its ability to rotate - try to take a picture of something crawling on the ground at its level with a fixed monitor...Oh you don't do that, OK!
Conclusion: I need more than 1000 Characters to tell you how good it is!