Overview
The Canon Powershot D10 is different to any other digital camera. To start with it is waterproof to a depth of 10m. Next it is shockproof to 1.2m and freezeproof to -10 degrees centigrade. It is also dustproof. When it comes to looks it has a distinctive, fun design that makes it stand apart from any other digital camera on the market.
More standard features include 12 megapixels, a 3x optical zoom lens and image stabilisation.
Why Buy The Canon Powershot D10
If you would like a robust digital camera that will stand out from the crowd take a good look at the Powershot D10. It takes a good snapshot and is easy enough to use.
Main Features
Megapixels:
Zoom:
LCD Screen:
Dimensions:
Weight:
12
3x
2.5 inches
103.6 x 66.9 x 48.8mm
190g
Macro:
HD Movies:
Manual Controls:
Batteries:
Memory Cards:
3cm
No
No
Lithium ion
SD/SDHC
Image Quality - See Sample Images Below
Outdoor Scenic Shots in Good Light
The Powershot D10 starts off with a shot that is full of colour. Sharpness is as good as I have come to expect from Canon digital cameras. There is a problem with glare from the sun though. This causes a loss of detail around the boats and other light areas. There is also a small degree of purple fringing showing.
As with the first shot sharpness is above average. This is a distant scene, but the camera does well to bring so much of the shot into focus. Colours are strong here too, with a powerful blue sky.
With the Powershot D10 you do not get quite the ultimate picture quality that you do with other Canon models. With some digital cameras I have seen a haze around lighter coloured objects and this happens here around some of the boats. To be fair you are unlikely to notice this with smaller prints.
You can clearly make out the individual bricks if you blow the photo up. As I have found in my other tests focusing is sharp, but there are some minor issues with purple fringing and a slight hazy look in places.
Portraits
The colours in my outdoor portrait test have a very natural look to them. To help achieve this I have used a white balance setting of cloudy. This can help to give a boost to the colours if you are taking photos on a cloudy day or in a shady place.
Lighting from the flash unit is well balanced. I also feel that about the right amount is used too. This produces even lighting across the photo. Skin tones are a little pink in places.
This is not a bad effort, but it underlines just how much light is required to create a noise free and sharply focused photo. You will need a lot of window light to be able to take indoor shots without resorting to flash.
Macro, Colours and Noise
My guess is that the main reason for buying this camera is likely to be for use in and around water, plus the fact that it can withstand the occasional bump. Therefore it is a bit of a bonus that it can also take good quality macro shots. I found the sharpness and detail of the photo to be some way above average.
I like the colours produced by the Powershot D10. They have plenty of power. This can help to produce vivid scenic shots. I was also impressed by the more natural colours showing in my outdoor portrait.
Noise levels are fairly standard. As mentioned above noise soon creeps in when lighting dips unless you use the flash.
Summary
The Powershot D10 does not quite hit the heights other Canon digital cameras manage, but picture quality is still above average.
Style
This camera is hard to describe. It is almost like a bloated rectangle. It has a large bright blue section on the front as well as a large silver one.
Shutter Lag Times
Single Shot
Five Shots
Single Shot With Flash
Five Shots With Flash
Turn on Time
0.33 seconds
9.87 seconds
1.05 seconds
17.26 seconds
1.92 seconds
Ease of Use
I found the camera easy enough to use.
Points I Like
Picture quality - robust features - very fast turn on times
Where it Could Improve
Can lose detail in light areas in bright sunlight
Verdict
There are not very many digital cameras offering these robust features. The good news is that as well as being a tough camera the Canon Powershot D10 can also take a decent snap shot. If you are interested in this type of digital camera the one stands up well against the competition.
Product Shots
Front View
Back View
Top View
Sample Menus
Top Rated Cameras in this Category
Sony DSC TX10 Rating 84/100
The Sony Cybershot DSC TX10 has a great range of features, but picture sharpness can be slightly disappointing in certain situations. If you are not planning to make large prints then the issues with picture sharpness are unlikely to unduly trouble you. If on the other hand you can envisage producing larger prints of landscape style shots you may find the soft focus detracts from picture quality. Response times are very impressive.
Read Review: Sony DSC TX10 Review
Panasonic DMC FT10 Rating 82/100
The Panasonic Lumix DMC FT10 is waterproof, freezeproof, shockproof and dustproof. It handles most photo opportunities with a minimum of fuss. I like the picture quality on offer and I also found the camera easy to use. It has 14 megapixels and a 4x zoom lens.
Read Review: Panasonic DMC FT10 Review
Canon Powershot D10 Rating 82/100
The Powershot D10 has a distinctive, fun look that means it will not get mistaken for any other digital camera. It has a number of robust features and is waterproof, shockproof and freezeproof to varying degrees. It takes a good snap and is well worth a close look.
Read Review: Canon Powershot D10 Review
Related Pages
Canon Powershot D10 Review Canon Powershot D10 Specification Canon Powershot D10 Sample Images Canon Powershot D10 Features Canon Powershot D10 vs Olympus MJU 8000 Canon Powershot D10 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC FT1
Review Date
June 2009
