Canon S3 IS Questions - Thorn? Regina? Help!

[michelem]

Hubby and I are getting ready for our Ciclismo Classico bike tour of Tuscany - we leave in 5 days! After much research (and feedback from Thorn here on the forum), I chose to purchase the Canon S3 IS to take in place of my OLD (11+ yrs.) Canon Rebel film camera. I've been practicing and am VERY pleased with the photo quality.

HOWEVER, it's the simple things that have me stumped. Such as, how the heck do you attach the lens cap retaining strap/cord to the camera so the lens cap doesn't just fall off? The "advanced" manual says, "Attach the lens cap cord to the strap," but doesn't give an illustration. Can anyone here help me out?

Thanks! :)

P.S. On Thorn's advice and after viewing photos of CaliGurl's (sp?) and some others here on TE, I ended up purchasing the Topeak handlebar bag for the camera. It's so nifty that it converts to a fanny/waist pack (I think I'll use it as a shoulder pack though), so I'll be able to use it as my "purse" for the plane (only allowed one carryon of max 17.5 pounds and one "purse." Not much when we aren't checking any baggage for our trip and I've got to bring pedals, shoes, helmet, etc.).

I love all the advice here on TE. Thanks again! :)

[dingster1]

Well, the lens cap is easy. Just loop it thru whichever side you wish and make it so the loop is tight. It goes thru the same loop as the neck strap.. A good sight cfor more info is digital camera resource(dcresource.com) and photography-on-the. net. (Yes thats a dot)

[Thorn]

Oh, the pressure, the pressure....you're trusting me?!?!?!?!? :eek:

Dingster's got it, but just in case I attached some images (not the best quality, but I guess my camera doesn't like doing a self-portrait :)). One end to the strap; one end to the lens.

I ended up attaching a simple shoulder strap to the Topeak bag. I thought I'd take it off when I stopped playing tourist and became a cyclist, but I found that I could just fold the shoulder strap and store it in the little zipper pockets from the fanny pack straps (without removing it). It was secure so I was never afraid that the strap was going to unwind or unattach and end up in the front wheel.

Have fun on the trip. We've been back for 2 weeks now (and I still don't have the pictures sorted..sigh). The odds are pretty good you should see better weather than we did. It rained every day--ride in the moring; bus in the afternoon when the rain pulled in. So, we had a soggy good time. Besides, rain never gets in the way of the food and the wine.

My best story....it was a day of short sharp hills (15-20%). I was pulling into town and the hill was long. I'd been climing for a while and I could see at least another 500m uphill ahead of me. The grade was 9% and I wasn't moving very fast. n little old lady was out sweeping her balcony off and shouts down at me in Italian....alas, I knew enough Italian to translate the gist of it, "if you're going that slow, you might as well get off and walk". Ah, the encourangement and support of the crowds :D

Enjoy!

[michelem]

Thanks so much to both of you. :)
Dingster, That's one of the sites I used in my camera buying/ decision making process - good site!

Thorn, I appreciate the photos - that helps a lot. Too funny on your comments from the balcony. I won't be too surprised if I get some of the same. I've been practicing the hill climbing (this is the last one I did, with several rest days afterward!: http://www.cyclefolsom.com/webforms/ridePreview.aspx?rideId=AlexandraHillClimb&title=Alexandra+Hill+Climb), but only with rest days in between. I haven't done any consecutive day hill climbing, so we'll see how that goes! I look forward to seeing your photos. Did you get a chance to Ace's photos? She posted a link here to well over 300 shots! I bought an 8GB high speed memory card - think that's enough? Tee hee! :p

[F8th637]

We've got the same camera. Happy shooting!

[michelem]

F8th637, I just perused your galleries - WOW!!! I am duly impressed. :)

[7rider]

Oops. Coming in late to the party, as always.....
Glad you got it all squared away.
Have fun with the camera!

[Thorn]

Don't worry about those hills....you'll do fine. We're flatlanders--we don't see many hills more than 1/4 mile in length. If you're riding hills now, you'll be enjoying that vacation.

I was surprised at how I adapted. On the 3rd day I was finding it amazing that I could recover on a 4% grade. As the grades got steeper and the week progressed, I was saying, "oh blessed 9% I can do this all day" :D

Enjoy--take as many great pictures as Ace (yep, I looked at them). We want to see!

[F8th637]

F8th637, I just perused your galleries - WOW!!! I am duly impressed. :)

Thanks, Michele! Most of those pictures were probably NOT taken with the Canon S3 IS but instead with our Canon 30D and some with my old Canon A60. If you couldn't tell we're Canonites. :P Also, my husband took a lot of those great shots so I can't take all the credit. ;)