Best Canon PowerShot S3 IS SD Memory Cards
The Canon S3 IS uses SD memory cards. The maximum capacity SD card that is compatible with the S3 IS is 32GB.
MultiMediaCards (MMC) can also be used in the camera. However, they are not made anymore. If you have one, you can use it. If you don’t have one, do not buy one, they will cost more than an SD card.
SD memory cards labeled as SDXC or SDUC will not function properly in the S3 IS. These cards will be 64GB or larger, so they are easy to avoid.
The SDHC format was announced in 2006. All 32GB cards that are currently being produced will have almost identical performance. You cannot go wrong buying the cheapest class 10 name brand card. At the time of writing this, the PNY Elite 32GB SD memory card has the best price.Recommended S3 IS SD Cards
Here are a few possibilities to choose between that can be used with the S3 IS. With all of the cards listed below, you will not have to be worried about SD card problems or poor overall performance.
PNY Elite 32GB SD Card
- Sequential read speed of up to 100MB/s
- Class 10, U1 rating delivers speed and performance for full HD photography and HD videography.
- V10 video speed rating to capture uninterrupted HD video at 1920x1080 format
- Compatible with point & shoot cameras, DSLR cameras, standard & advanced HD-enabled video cameras, and more
- Reliable & Durable: Magnet Proof, Shock Proof, Temperature Proof, Waterproof
SanDisk Ultra 32GB SD Card
- Quick transfer read speeds up to 90MB/s.
- Write speeds are not capable of recording 4k video.
- Class 10 rating for Full HD video (1080p).
- Waterproof, temperature proof, X-ray Proof, magnet-Proof, and shockproof.
Samsung EVO Plus 32GB SD Card
- UHS Speed Class 1 (U1) supports Full HD video and burst shots. 130MB/s transfer speeds1 let you upload footage to your PC in an instant.
- Built to survive tough conditions and heavy usage, whether you’re at home, outside, or on the go. Backed by 10-year limited warranty.
- Highly durable with comprehensive 7-proof protection.
- Backed by a 10 year warranty.
Best SD Cards
Premium quality memory cards are made by both Lexar and SanDisk. Cut-rate house brand names ought to be avoided.
Bargain-priced cards are more likely to encounter file corruption, meaning that you’ll lose all of your photos saved on the card. The reduction in the level of quality is not worth the negligible savings.
Just buy a smaller capacity card if you happen to want to save a bit of money. They are often a little cheaper and you will not have to worry about the SD card failing.
Understand that, SD card failures are infrequent. Only a couple cards have become unusable out of the various I have acquired over time. Age could have played a role, as the SD cards were included with used DSLRs.
Canon S3 IS SD Card Compatibility
The Canon S3 IS uses SD memory cards. There are currently four different technical specs of Secure Digital (SD) cards. Each new memory card technical spec advances the maximum storage capacity and transfer rates when compared with the former spec.
Secure Digital memory card readers are backward compatible. A card reader built into a digital camera that can use SDXC cards will also be able to use SDHC and SD memory cards.
The card reader in the Canon S3 IS is only compatible with the first and second SD card specifications. SDXC or SDUC SD cards won’t be compatible.
- Secure Digital (SD) - These memory cards have a maximum capacity of 2GB and are compatible with the S3 IS.
- Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 4GB to 32GB and are also compatible with the S3 IS.
- Secure Digital eXtended Capacity (SDXC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 64GB to 2TiB.
- Secure Digital Ultra Capacity (SDUC) - The capacity of these memory cards range from 4TiB to 128TiB.
Canon S3 IS Memory Card Full Error
Attempting to use a card that has a capacity of 64GB or larger in size in the S3 IS will cause the digital camera to show an error message.
Use a card with a storage capacity of 32GB or less to fix the error.
If you are using a memory card that has a capacity less than 32GB, and the card is not working correctly, format the SD memory card while it is in the camera.
Speed, Class, & Capacity
SD Card Image Capacity
Here is an estimate of the number of large JPEGs you will be able to store on an SD card.
- 4GB - 1920 images
- 8GB - 3840 images
- 16GB - 7680 images
- 32GB - 15360 images
Memory Card Speed
Speed ratings for SD memory cards are established by the sequential read and write speeds. The speed of the card is important for when many pictures need to be written or read from the SD memory card.
SD Card Speed Class Rating
The Class speed rating of an SD memory card is determined by the sustained write speed of the card. A Class speed rating of 2 means that the memory card can maintain a write speed of at least 2MB per second.
- Class 2 - 2MB/s
- Class 4 - 4MB/s
- Class 6 - 6MB/s
- Class 8 - 8MB/s
- Class 10 - 10MB/s
The best rating an SD memory card can obtain is Class 10. There are cards that are a good deal faster than 10MB/s. Those cards use other technology, such as UHS (Ultra Highspeed Bus), which have a separate rating standards.
Sustained write speeds of 2MB, 4MB, 6MB, or 8MB per second means the card has a speed class of 2, 4, 6, or 8. Cards that have write speeds of 10MB/s or faster are rated as Class 10.
MultiMediaCard Compatibility
SanDisk and Siemens AG released the MultiMediaCard standard in 1997. MMC cards resemble a thinner SD memory card.
The 1st 2 versions of MMC cards will be able to function correctly in the Canon S3 IS. That comprises of the first cards labled as MMC and the 2nd gen MMCplus memory cards. Later versions won’t function with the Canon S3 IS
Steer clear of purchasing an MMC memory card. There is no one that is at present producing MMC cards that will function with the S3 IS. Due to this fact, they are costly and quite challenging to obtain used.