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Expert Recommendation
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Overview
If you’ve outgrown that old auto, do-everything-for-you point-n-shoot with its not-really-sharp, noisy images, and are desiring more control over how your pictures are taken and what they look like, but really aren’t ready for the bulkiness, weight and cost of a DSLR, then the feature-rich, prosumer Canon PowerShot G10 might just be the camera for you.
My Best In Class Pick
Canon PowerShot G10
The Canon PowerShot G10 is the third incarnation of the now famous G-series that was revived when Canon debuted the completely redesigned G7 in 2006. The G’s comfortably filled the gap between the ubiquitous auto-everything point-n-shoots and the entry-level DSLR kits by combining the best features of both. The G10 continues that legacy.
An incremental upgrade to the very popular G9, the G10 sports a new 14.7 megapixel CCD image sensor, a 28-140mm (equiv) f/2.8-4.5 5X zoom lens, and along with the DIGIC IV image processor delivers sharp, finely detailed images that are surprising for a small sensor type camera. Noise is very well controlled being virtually absent at ISOs 80 and 100, and only lightly present at 200 and 400. Even at 800, though noise is readily apparent, images are still usable being sharp with only a slight loss of fine detail. At 1600, the highest ISO, noise is objectionable, sharpness and fine detail significantly reduced, but quite surprisingly images are still usable for small prints or the web.
Besides the improved hardware, the G10 is not lacking in features with ten Shooting modes, twelve Scene modes, six White Balance presets plus Custom, Face Detection autofocus, selectable on/off lens-shift Image Stabilization, three movie clip formats as well as full manual or auto capabilities. Additionally, it has shutter speeds from 15 to 1/4000 second, macro focusing to 1 cm, a built-in flash as well as a hotshoe, an optical viewfinder, a three inch, hi-res 461,000 pixel TFT LCD, and a durable magnesium metal body.
Of course, the G10 is not without its flaws. The primary one being battery life. In average use, the camera barely makes 300 images on a full charge. Well less than the advertised 400. The second is that even though durable and well built, the camera is bulky and heavy for a compact. Lastly, there’s the price. For less than a $100 more, you can buy an entry-level DSLR kit that is vastly superior, but of course bigger and heavier.
Overall, the Canon Powershot G10 is the without peer, all-in-one camera for those who want more camera and are willing to pay a little extra to get it.
Pros
- +Full Manual or Auto
- +Finely detailed, low noise images
- +Lens
- +Image stabilization (lens-shift)
- +RAW image format
- +3" Hi-res TFT LCD
- +Build quality
Cons
- -Price
- -Size and weight
- -Average Battery life
Where to buy
Canon PowerShot G10
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Best Price:
$699
See It »
- $699 - $964 Compare Prices »
Specifications
- Zoom: 5.0x
- Wide-Angle Lens: 28mm (25% wider)
- Resolution: 14.7MP
- Aperture Priority Mode Available: Yes
- Easy to Use: Yes
- Recommended at DPReview.com
- Dave's Pick at Imaging-Resource.com
- Rated Very Good by CNET.com
Comparing My Best In Class Pick with Other Good Choices
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| Customer Rating |
 
(from 229 reviews)
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| Price | $699 - $964 |
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Effective Sensor Resolution
The Effective Sensor Resolution tells you the total number of pixels that are recorded when you take a picture. The units are MP, which stands for megapixels or millions of pixels. For outstanding fine compression prints, 3MP is required for 5x7's, 7.1MP for 8x10's, and 10.9MP for 11x14's. The effective sensor resolution is only one of many important factors that will determine the quality of the photograph when displayed or printed at different sizes.
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14.7 megapixels |
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Min Focal Length (35 mm equivalent)
The 35 mm equivalent focal length is a measure that indicates the angle of view of a particular combination of a camera lens and the sensor size. The term originates from the time when the vast majority of photography was done with 35 mm film. On any 35 mm film camera, a 30 mm or less lens is considered a wide-angle lens.
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28 mm |
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Max Focal Length (35 mm equivalent)
The 35 mm equivalent focal length is a measure that indicates the angle of view of a particular combination of a camera lens and the sensor size. The term originates from the time when the vast majority of photography was done with 35 mm film. Larger max focal lengths make distant objects appear more magnified.
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140 mm |
| Image Stabilization Type | Optical (lens shift) |
| Manual Focus Available | Yes |
| Min ISO Setting | 80 |
| Max ISO Setting | 1600 |
| Aperture Priority Mode Available | Yes |
| Shutter Priority Mode Available | Yes |
| Full Manual Exposure Mode Available | Yes |
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Face Detection Available
Face detection technology will try to set the focus, exposure, and color balance so that faces appear sharp, well-exposed, and with the proper color.
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Yes |
| Viewfinder Type | Optical |
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LCD Screen Size
The LCD Screen Size is the length of the miniature LCD monitor measured diagonally.
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3.0 in. |
| LCD Screen Resolution | 461000 pixels |
| Battery Life | 300 shots |
| Size (W x H x D) | 4.3 x 3.1 x 1.8 in. |
| Weight (with batteries) | 13.8 oz |
How It Works
You tell us your budget, intended uses, and desired features. We show you personalized recommendations from unbiased experts to quickly identify the best digital camera for you.
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