Customer reviews from usa.canon.com
Canon - PowerShot 10.0-Megapixel Digital Camera
Average customer rating
4.7
(300 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 300 reviews
5 Stars
229
4 Stars
54
3 Stars
12
2 Stars
1
1 Star
4
93%of customers recommend this product.
(
279 out of
299)
Customer Reviews for Canon - PowerShot 10.0-Megapixel Digital Camera
Customer Rating
5
Excellent Product
on November 28, 2008
Posted by: TNSnapshooter
from East Tennessee
Canon listened to those of us who wanted improvements over the S5IS. Controls are well-placed and easy to use. Noise level in deep shadows and large areas of same color is drastically reduced, although this is an area that could use continuous improvement, and the lens focal lengths and maximum apitures are very good for a camera of this type. I use this camera for nature photography (scenic) and as a backup to my EOS system. Ruggedness remains an open issue, but this has never been a problem in my 30 years of experience with Canon cameras.
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, Lightweight/Portable, good battery life
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
How to eliminate the CONS from this camera!
on January 12, 2009
Posted by: Sureshot
from Boynton Beach, FL
SHORT BATTERY LIFE: Buy 3000 mah Lithium batteries. They have long life, will greatly increase the number of pictures you take before running out of power and have no memory loss problems, due to recharging.
LOST LENSE CAPS: Buy a 52mm UV filter for lense protection; in addition, buy a snap-on/off lense cap. Just snap off and place in your pocket!
HEAVY AND BULKY: Not really. Try a DSLR with a 28-200mm lense attached and u will run back to this camera!
BULK OF OTHER COMPLAINTS: These revolve around lack of useage of camera, understanding of basic utilization of LIGHT-different types of light occuring and what to expect from each part of the daylight; also, how to utilize the characteristics of the light you are shooting in. This is as simply presented as is possible in this aloted space. Just keep reading, learn and relearn the basics and like magic, these problems will be far behind you! HOPE THIS IS OF VALUE TO YOU!
HEAVY AND BULKY: Not really. Try a DSLR with a 28-200mm lense attached and u will run back to this camera!
BULK OF OTHER COMPLAINTS: These revolve around lack of useage of camera, understanding of basic utilization of LIGHT-different types of light occuring and what to expect from each part of the daylight; also, how to utilize the characteristics of the light you are shooting in. This is as simply presented as is possible in this aloted space. Just keep reading, learn and relearn the basics and like magic, these problems will be far behind you! HOPE THIS IS OF VALUE TO YOU!
Pros: easy to use, Simple controls/menu, Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, Lightweight/Portable, good battery life, durable
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Awesome Upgrade from S2
on November 24, 2008
Posted by: kmac
from Quad Cities, Iowa
My husband bought this for me after I finally surpassed 10,000 images on my S2 (which I love). I also have an S3, S5, and Rebel XSi at work. I've only had this one out of the box but I am already impressed with the changes from the previous models. The icontrast is great, low level shots are MUCH better than previous models, and the added zoom is HUGE. I'm pleased with the test photos and cannot wait to get out into the field.
I debated getting a Rebel for personal use, but the thought of dragging around lenses makes me cringe. Also, the AA battery power is much better for me since I take most images on overseas trips. You can buy AAs anywhere in the world. But I have been in plenty of places where I haven't had power for days. That would render a Rebel useless. I still recommend rechargable batteries because this camera will eat alkaline batteries quickly.
I'm disappointed with the lens cap. It is better than previous versions but it needs a string. I am very worried the lends cap will get lost on the first day in the field. Likewise, it would have been nice to have a thread for a lens filter (how hard is adding this, really?).
The menu buttons are different, as is the power button. It will take me awhile to get used to the new camera, but if you have used a Rebel, you will pick up the function keys quickly.
The hand grip is a bit slippery and the matte black finish picks up skin oils very quickly. One final gripe, the digital connector door is very flimsy!
Overall, I am pleased but I won't be giving up my S2 until I know just how this camera performs in the field.
Pros: excellent image quality, aa battery power, zoom
Cons: Missing features/settings, no filter thread, lens cap, slippery hand grip, matte finish easily picks up skin oils
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Excellent camera for the price
on September 18, 2009
Posted by: MDG
from NM
If you are looking for a camera that is all-around good for daily snapshots, this is the one for you.
I replaced a worn-out SLR-style Digital Camera from 1997 with this Canon SX10/is because the features were nearly identical between the cameras: The good lens zoom with the added digital zoom, the control system, the camera size and weight, and the manual control options. This one has 10MP, while the old one had 2.1MP.
Pictures are clear and sharp when taken within the limits of the lens and camera, excellent for general day-to-day use, beach-parties, or social gatherings. Indoors, the images are good, providing you have read the sizable manual and understand how to set the camera for the darker conditions. I have taken pictures in near total darkness with this camera, and had the images show things I could not even see.
Despite what many have said, there are lens filters that can fit the front of this camera. 52mm screw-on filters will work, and I currently use a haze filter and a circular polarizer filter. I could not do this with my older camera.
The LCD is sharp and bright. The swivel feature lets you use the camera from angles you normally wouldn't try. The viewfinder has a much grainier image, but does give you the advantage of saving battery power and allowing you to see even if the light would wash out the LCD.
The flash works good for the size, and the curtain controls allow some special photographs to be easily made without having taken photography classes. It is easy to overshoot the range of the built-in flash, though there is a hotshoe on top to allow use of external flashes with more power and features.
The optical lens is very good, with very little aberration effect at maximum non-digital zoom. The Super-Macro lets you take pictures with the lens physically against the subject, which is good for blowing up images of bugs to please the children.
Cons, as there inevitably are some:
The lens cap and hood. It barely clips on at two points, and the mechanism can jam and not actually clip on to the lens, so it may fall off and get lost quite easily. The hood can be easily over-tightened (it is a 1/4-turn mount) and miss the grip points and fall off without warning.
The neck strap can get in the way of complicated shots, as the attaching rings are fixed and do not swivel, and the strap itself is threaded through them instead of using quick-clips. This makes it difficult to remove the strap when needed, or replace it quickly to carry the camera.
The autofocus assist beam is right where you would normally put your thumb or fingers when holding an SLR-style camera, so you have to get used to holding onto it with your left hand under the camera body instead of on the side of the lens. It takes getting used to, and feels unsteady, even though the images do not seem to not suffer any quality issues.
The menu system can be very complicated to navigate through in order to set things for shots that are not already included in the large amount of presets. You do get to add your own custom settings, though.
Some control combinations can be tricky to use while holding the camera, and nearly require both hands to operate, but those are for odd images that normally wouldn't be encountered on a daily basis.
The digital zoom feature is typically bad image quality, but does allow some decent zoom imagery if you don't mind the graininess and lack of detail.
I recommend purchasing the compact power adapter, especially when transferring videos, as the transfer rate can take several minutes. I actually ran out of battery power twice while downloading video from the camera. Rechargeable batteries are always the better choice over alkalines for any camera use.
Overall, I am very happy with this camera. It has all the features I need, with excellent image quality for the size, and accepts enough filters to keep me satisfied. Keep in mind it is one step above a pocket-size camera, so it will not have the image quality or features of a true DSLR, which would cost a lot more than this one.
Pros: Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance, Lightweight/Portable, good battery life, durable, uses 52mm filters!
Cons: Complicated controls/menu, no lens cover strap, digital zoom lowers image quality, fixed neck strap in the way
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Great Addition to my Photography Tool Set
on March 6, 2009
Posted by: SteveS
from Houston, TX
I'm a serious advanced amateur photographer who typically uses a Canon EOS 50D and many different lenses. When traveling, however, I sometimes wanted a more lightweight photography solution.
The PowerShot SX10 IS is indeed an exceptional solution with far better image quality and resolution than the preceding PowerShot S3 IS and S5 IS models. This camera offers nearly all of the settings that I'm accustomed to using with my 50D, in a package that weighs far less than the majority of my DSLR lenses. While I'm able to "tweak" the camera settings as much as I would want, I often find the automatic capabilities of this camera to be top-notch.
The SX10 IS provides excellent results when used in settings that were not possible with earlier models - extreme close-ups in low light, very long distance photos, and difficult back-lit subjects.
What I like best is that I can have a very high quality and portable image stabilized camera/lens combination that offers the equivalent of a very close focusing and fast 500 mm (SLR equivalent) lens that weighs a small fraction of an equivalent D-SLR kit. Also, I don't need to carry a separate video camera, as the video capabilities of the SX 10 IS are superb.
Pros: Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Lightweight/Portable, exceptional zoom range, excellent construction, very good video capabilities
Cons: not well suited for low-light sports or action
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
PowerShot SX10 IS
on January 27, 2009
Posted by: Photobuff
from Florida
I'm a loyal Canon follower and decided to try the PowerShot SX10 IS. A great camera for the price with all the bells and whistles. The only disappointment is lack of designing a lens that accepts filters. Glare seems to be a constant problem and not having the benefit of using any filters restricts the use of the camera. The camera's macro feature is wonderful and shows great detail. I do recommend this camera and hope Canon will design an aftermarket attachment for the lens that would allow the use a filter ...this would indeed enhance this camera.
Pros: Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, Good Low-Light Performance
Cons: lens missing rings for filter
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
5
Outstanding Camera
on September 7, 2010
Posted by: CollegeStudent
from Evansville, IN
In short, this is the best camera I've ever used.
Let's start with the cons (there are much fewer of them!)
CONS:
1. Every once in a while (1/100 uses) I will turn on the camera and find that the display is inverted. Hard to fix if you don't know how, but the simplest method is to take the batteries out while it is on (hard reset).
1. Every once in a while (1/100 uses) I will turn on the camera and find that the display is inverted. Hard to fix if you don't know how, but the simplest method is to take the batteries out while it is on (hard reset).
2. The lens is not interchangeable. (Does it really NEED to be?... it has macro and 20x zoom!) This inevitably means you cannot add filters, telephoto lenses, etc. Big whoop. If you can afford a ton of lenses, then go look at a Canon EOS.
3. There is not a "string" for the lens cap. But it has a clip. I usually stick it in my pocket, or clip in onto the strap.
4. There is not a battery meter. (But you can use CHDK's battery meter!)
PROS:
1. Lens: Most obviously is the lens. I've always wanted to get "a little closer" in photos and this lens does just that. You don't have to worry about a ton of blur at max zoom, because it works in conjunction with optical image stabilization (OIS, from here on out)
1. Lens: Most obviously is the lens. I've always wanted to get "a little closer" in photos and this lens does just that. You don't have to worry about a ton of blur at max zoom, because it works in conjunction with optical image stabilization (OIS, from here on out)
2. OIS: The OIS is great. Tired of motion blur? The IOS does an excellent job of reducing blur in photos. Yes, you will still want a tripod for 20X zoom photos, but it is possible to do without it.
3. Manual settings: my favorite feature lately is the manual mode for taking pictures. You can set the shutter speed (1/1600s to 15s) Fully customizable. The way photography should be. (Manual focus is a done electronically, though. This is not as efficient as I would like)
4. Screen: It pivots! That is itself is a great feature. You can use either the screen or the viewfinder and quickly switch between the two. The LCD is excellent and useful even in sunlight. No complaints there!
5. Speed: Quick start-up and response. This camera is very fast. If you have weak batteries, it may take a minute to charge the flash, but it's ready to take photos within a few seconds of pressing the ON/OFF button.
6. Ergonomics: Button positions are great. Granted, you should learn where the buttons are before you go taking photos in the dark. The buttons are in easy to use places (the thumb can reach all of the buttons on the back. You don't have to worry about pushing buttons accidentally.
7. Image Quality: Well, the 10MP may be an overkill, but it does an excellent job of getting quality images. With all those manual settings you have no excuse for bad lighting, contrast, or blur.
8. Useful "tools": Color swap, color accent, are fun to try.
ISO 3200 lets you get around 2-3 photos per second in good lighting. In poor lighting, well, it does its purpose of brightening stuff up to par. (remember, higher ISO = grainier photos!) Other useful tools are Av and Tv priority.
ISO 3200 lets you get around 2-3 photos per second in good lighting. In poor lighting, well, it does its purpose of brightening stuff up to par. (remember, higher ISO = grainier photos!) Other useful tools are Av and Tv priority.
9. Menus: seems that the menus are rather intuitive. Check your manual, though to see what features are available in different modes.
I could go on, but I get the feeling you've made up your mind already...
I could go on, but I get the feeling you've made up your mind already...
10. SD! No more proprietary MemoryStick or XD cards!
OTHER THOUGHTS:
1. Face detection hasn't been very useful. I think its more of a marketing gimmick. It works, but what's the point? Same goes for most "preset" modes. I do like to the continuous focus in sport mode.
1. Face detection hasn't been very useful. I think its more of a marketing gimmick. It works, but what's the point? Same goes for most "preset" modes. I do like to the continuous focus in sport mode.
2. There is a "glare shield" thing included. It can be stored on your camera (screws onto lens backwards and forwards). This hasn't proved to be very useful yet, but its always there if I need it.
3. If you get this camera (or most any Powershot) then Google "CHDK." It opens up a whole smorgasbord of possibilities for your camera (scripting, RAW, motion detection, longer (infinite) shutter speeds, etc.)
4. This camera is better than some DSLRs that I've used.
5. There is a mount/port for adding a flash, if you want.
Pros: 20x zoom, optical image stabilization, chdk compatible, fast startup, fast reponse, good video quality, excellent photo quality, intuitive menu, ergonomic, pivot screen
Cons: Heavy/Bulky, no interchangeable lens, fixed lens, occasional bugs, no strap for lens cap
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com
Customer Rating
4
Very nice buy
on November 10, 2008
Posted by: GC
from Orlando, FL
This is a very nice camera, just somewhat let down by the manual. It has a lot of incredible features, but it's taken nearly a week of trying to deal with the manual.
For instance, I stumbled across setting the exposure time, and it took 20 minutes of flipping through the manual to find that. I have the feeling the camera can do a lot more than I know how to tell it to do.
So far, I've used it for an airshow, some museum visits, and a motorcycle road trip, and it's an excellent camera. It's very much worth the price.
Pros: Nice features/settings, Bright LCD, excellent image quality, well-done control layout, nice "feel" & grip
Cons: badly organized manual, could use a thread for filters
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting usa.canon.com