I have just bought a canon powershot S3IS CAMERA IS THIS A GOOD DIGITAL CAMERA OR HAVE I JUST GOT A BRAND NAME

i paid 300dollors in new york for it which is about 220euro when i came home i priced it in ireland it was over 600euro

Actually, it's both: a good digital camera, and a brand name. Whether it's the best possible camera you could have bought or not, depends on what did you need. If you needed a decent, 12x zoom camera with somewhat decent photographic control and image quality, then the S3 IS is indeed a good choice.

It is quite a good camera... you could've done an awful lot worse.

I have the previous model, the S2 IS, and it's a great camera! It has a 12x zoom and image stabilization, which is very helpful with a long zoom lens It goes almost forever on a set of batteries. It doesn't take 20 seconds to turn on, like my previous camera did, so you can get a picture right away. Also it has a great video-clip capability, you can use the zoom during filming (which you can't in some cameras), it has stereo sound, and you can take up to an hour of video on a 1 gig. card. (I didn't think I'd use the video, but I find I do a lot).

And my S2 is only 5 megapixels but I can do beautiful 8x10 enlargements, the S3 has even more resolution. Also I think the black S3 is prettier than the sliver/chrome S2.

I think you made a good choice!

you have done ok

Canon do not make a bad camera, their name is sinomomus which quality optics

Canon is more than just a brand name, they actually live up to their reputation.

I own a Canon compact digital camera, pretty basic by todays standards, but it has never failed me yet, producing decent quality pictures.

The Canon S3IS is a very good camera. As you know in the future it's best to ask Before you buy..haha.

I have the S3 IS and I think it's a FANTASTIC camera. For the average person it has an amazing zoom and if set properly, the picture quality is great - even if you're shooting a moving target.

It's a good camera. However- Canon has recently released the S5IS, the follow-on camera, but it is a bit more expensive.

Basically- it's a very good camera if that is the kind of camera that you want.

canon is best in compact cameras, but when it comes to big zoom it still ok but it is not the best choice. because with big zoom you need your lens to deliver for all the zoom range whitch is not the case here compared to panasonic FZ50 for example ... .However it is not a bad choice ... .

Excellent camera, I assume that it was new Therefore

Read the Manual, it will tell you all you want to know and more.