Canon Powershot G10 14.7MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon Powershot G10 14.7MP Digital Camera with 5x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Customer Review: A great in-between camera
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm a hobbyist who long ago owned a Konica SLR and shot lots of slides. In the digital age, I've only owned point-and-shoot cameras and have become frustrated by their lack of flexibility and quality. I looked long and hard at SLRs but don't yet feel I can spring for the price. I also wanted something more easily portable. But I wanted complete control over shutter speed and aperture, and I wanted to be able to shoot in RAW for more post-processing flexibility. I decided to spring for the G10.
Since purchasing this camera about a week ago, I've taken about 2,000 shots. (I went a little nuts!) Here's what I've learned so far:
-- Although the auto settings produced very good pictures, this camera really comes into its own when you shoot in Manual mode. I was able to routinely get some vivid fall sunset scenes on a lake with beautifully saturated color and contrast by tweaking shutter speed and aperture settings separately.
-- I'd say that the noise at 400+ without post-tweaking is considerable, though nowhere near what I used to see on 400 ISO film back in the day. It was easily reduced post-processing using a noise-reduction program that works within Photoshop, and I ended up with some beautiful indoor shots with minimal effort. I even took some night landscape pictures with a bright moon at 1600, and was pleasantly surprised at the results after tweaking them afterward.
-- I was able to get extremely sharp photos in macro mode (closeups of bees in flowers, that kind of thing), again without a tripod. I'm still getting the hang of focusing on the exact part of the flower that I want; I find it more cumbersome to do it with this camera than I did with my old SLR (where you just turned the lens with your hand).
-- The camera did a good job out of the box at face recognition. The built-in flash on auto settings was just OK; it didn't hideously over-expose the faces, but it didn't look entirely natural either. Again, moving away from the auto settings and using fill flash judiciously helped me create some much more natural and attractive portraits. I would imagine adding a separate flash attachment would help even more. I found my favorite portraits were taken with no flash at all and some light tweaking with contrast in Photoshop.
-- The optical zoom met my needs well. I loved having the wide-angle capability for landscape shots, and I got some gorgeous, very clear pictures of a bald eagle at the top of a tree with the telephoto zoom. The camera clearly showed me when I was moving beyond the optical zoom into digital zoom, and my pictures of the eagle deteriorated accordingly. I will probably turn off the digital zoom.
-- The camera comes with all kinds of built-in scene settings (snow, night snapshots, sunsets, underwater, etc.), most of which I haven't yet found that helpful. I did get a couple of fun foliage shots using the sunset and foliage settings, but in both cases I could've gotten the same results simply tweaking in Photoshop afterward. If you don't want to mess with post-processing programs or playing with the camera's controls, I could see how these scene settings could be useful.
-- Photoshop CS3 can't open the RAW files from this camera yet. This is a big drawback for my purposes. I have opened the RAW files in the Canon software that comes with the camera, but it's not nearly as powerful or intuitive as Photoshop. So for now, I'm exporting the RAW files to Photoshop as TIFFs, and they're enormous -- 85 MG. The quality is marvelous, however, and I'm hoping that Adobe will quickly add support for the G10.
I'll try to add some photo examples to this review. I noticed they get a little washed out when saved for the web; the originals are much more vivid.
As point-and-shoots go, this is about as good as it gets for my purposes. I gave it five stars, though I'd like to give it a half-star demerit for the lack of RAW support in Photoshop (a problem I hope will soon be corrected). If you're not quite ready for the leap to an SLR but you want more control and quality than the common point-and-shoot camera, this is an outstanding choice.
Customer Review: best point and shoot I have ever owned
Summary: 5 Stars
This camera is for someone who knows what an F stop is, as well as aperture value. ISO speeds, RAW, exposure bracketing and more. If this is all Greek to you than move on, this is not the camera for you. This camera is for professional or amateur photographers who do not want to lug their big SLR with them everywhere. This camera has amazing quality and is very easy to use. It is also extremely flexible for people who know what they are doing. Exposure compensation, ISO, and shooting modes are all conveniently located on the camera with real actual dials. The camera looks and feels very classic. All black is beautiful. It's also metal and feels Hefty. Years ago when I used to shoot with real film cameras I could drop old Minoltas and Nikons and not be too worried. This feels like it might survive a small accidental fall. The design harkens back to some small miniature Lieca, Minox, or olympus models of long lost film models. James Bond might use this. It has a large battery and also a traditional viewfinder that even lets you focus it. The manual focus on the camera is it's weakest trait. You need to clumsily use the dial on the back. Had they only made the ring on the front adjust manual focus this would have been extra credit and A++. Still for a point an shoot to even have a manual focus option is great. This is a bit bulkier than the miniature card deck cameras available out there. It is still, in my opinion, small enough to put in your wife's purse, take to a wedding, and even place in ones suit pocket, minus the strap. You can buy add ons for this like a telephoto convertor and external flash. I guess if you only have this one camera and need as much flexibility as possible theses add ons could be helpful. I personally have a full frame SLR for all the times I need 100% flexibility, more lenses and such. I would only need the underwater case for this. Underwater cases for small cameras like this can be so much fun at pools and swimming at sea. All I need now is the Canon case, the underwater case and I'm set.
I am not sure why point and shoot cameras do not have the same frame proportions to current SLRs by Cannon. Perhaps someone can explain this to me. I am sure it has to do with sensor size, or printing sizes or something. Still, My 20 D and 5D Mark II both are wider while this and my older SD 750 have a more narrow, more square file format. This is a mystery to me. You can set this to current TVs 16:9 aspect ratio but that is wider than the traditional SLRs. This must be an industry thing. Also, it's not a huge deal. I can not criticize the camera for this since it seems to have it's origins in the industry or point and shoots in general. I only shoot with Cannons now so it remains true to other point and shoot frame file format size.
The rear screen is very big which is nice. You can also turn it off, which is nice too, especially when you are at a dark event where the lit up screen would be an annoyance to others. You can also disable the phony shutter click. For traditionalists who like that click, there are 3 versions to choose from. If only it had a photochemical darkroom smell. :)
All in all a great camera. The price here is excellent too. I overpaid at Best Buy.
I would like to add that Best Buy is charging $495.75 for this. They do not price match and on the phone a sales clerk lied to me and said Amazon sells only used equipment which is utter nonsense. Everyone please buy this camera from Amazon.
Customer Review: not one of the best? You must be kidding!
Summary: 5 Stars
well, other than the Lens error 1 star review (great camera till it breaks) I have to say, this is the best digital camera i've ever owned. I'm an avid amateur. I've owned the original Sony Mavica, a 2mp Toshiba, at least 5 Fuji's including an F30, F200EXR, F40FD, a Canon D40, Lumix FZ28, and now the G10.
I had the idea of getting a G10 a year ago but was deterred by reviews that harped on too much noise. I like night photography, so I was put off.
Then I started dating a fellow enthusiast and she had a G10. No matter what pictures I took, and how nice they were (with F30 F40FD, D40 and lumix FZ28 the G10 pics always looked better), so when I had a windfall a few weeks ago, I bought a G10.
Well.
Durability aside, (and you never know; one of my Fuji's had the same type of error) this camera is so good I sold all my fujis, lumix's and may unload my D40.
The feel is old time remarkable, like a real camera. Solid, easy to use, good layout of features. Picture quality is remarkable. I just took about 300 pictures in Old Quebec, in 6 degree weather, many at night, many hand held, some with stitch assist, some with tripod, one from a moving ferry. The color rendition, noise, resolution, are fabulous. I hope it lasts forever. Versatility, features are more than I want. Would I want something else? Are there nuances I like(d) better in other cameras? Maybe. OK, the owner's manual is a bit hard to figure and I bought a book to help me. Not sure how to use red eye reduction; it seems to be in post processing rather than with 2 flashes. Probably not a big deal. The quality of the pictures is SO much better than the Lumix 28 that it isn't funny. There's just no way they can compare. I bought it because of the super long zoom and the Leica name. NOT.
But low light, noise, feel, features, image quality, ergonomics are remarkable. Can you tell I love it? Worth every penny.
Well, i've had this for months and months now, and I recently bought an Olympus E-PL1 with the 14-150 Olympus Lens. The Olympus takes remarkable pictures and it may replace my D 40. But frankly, the G10 is still the best camera I own and if I HAD to take one camera it would be the G 10. First, considering the nonsense about the lens getting grit dirt, or sand in it - I had this at Michigan's Silver lake dunes last week, filming and taking stills, in driving wind and sand, and no problems. Second, this camera gives you far more flexibility than, say, the EPL1 - on the EPL1 for example, on "macro" all the settings are set. On the Canon, you can use macro mode in any setting. On the epl1 - not. Second, the viewfinder(s) on teh canon are vastly superior to almost anything else i've seen. The manual controls are indispensible and just so logical (eg. exposure control, ISO...The build is beautiful, solid, mostly metal. The pictures rival my Nikon dSLR and my Epl1. So much for large sensors being the only way to get great pictures. Flash is sync'd faster than the epl1 so you can take daytime pics @ 1/2000 and black out the background, nice touch for flowers. If the G11 is an improvement, then it is end of story. I know about all the hype about micro 4/3, about the new sony full size sensor, etc. etc. but the bottom line in cameras is the picture, and then features, and this one takes remarkable pictures. Look at the results and not the specs. It is a pleasure.
Customer Review: Closest Thing To A DSLR!
Summary: 5 Stars
I am a very enthusiastic new owner of a Canon Powershot G10. It's hands down one of the best high end compact cameras on the market today. I refrain from saying "point & shoot", because to merely point and shoot with this camera is felonious.
Once you start to explore the multitude of tweaks that can be made to an image with the G10, you will never just point and shoot again.
I rarely even consider grabbing my DSLR, and that huge bag anymore. (6 lenses, 3x 580exII speedlites, cards, batteries, etc,.).
The G10 rivals DSLRs in tweakability, features, and image quality. That makes me feel comfortable in most cases leaving the house with just my G10
I am shooting more now, because of not being burdened with a body, lenses, and everything else an enthusiast or pro is liable to bring.
I only use my Canon 20D, 40D, & 50D when I need faster focus, a brighter lens, or bulb for long exposures. Most times my G10 can handle whatever I throw at it. I use them to look more professional for paid work and alot of those jobs could be adequately done with my G10, wireless st-e2 transmitter, and a couple of speelites.
The Canon PowerShot G10 upgrades (vs the G9) include a sensor boost of 15MP versus 12MP, the new Canon's DIGIC 4 image processor, a wider 28mm optical image stabilized zoom lens and RAW mode.
The G10 has a 6X zoom (28-140mm equivalent). The wider-angle assists in capturing portraits, landscapes, and macros. The wide angle is great for cramped areas such as museums. On top of the camera is a control wheel exclusively for Exposure Compensation. An improved 3' LCD with better color depth and a wider viewing angle.
I was looking forward to the addition of Servo AF to track moving objects or subjects. It has worked like a charm so far. They say that the Face Detection is better at recognizing people, but I have not tried it out yet. Canon says you can use ISO 1600, but you are risking image quality after ISO 200. I would use ISO 400 in an emergency.
Another thing that drew me to the G10, is the Optical Viewfinder. Its very rare these days to have one on a compact camera. Its not a %100 view, but its better than nothing at all. And its great for shooting in a situation that requires stealth, so you don't have to use the bright, crisp,and accurate LCD.
I've purchased most of the accessories for the G10, including some that are not being distributed in the US.
I ordered the leather case (Canon SC-DC60A), from an Ebay seller who lives in Japan and ships them to the states.
The Tele-converter 1.4x TC-DC850, is a great tool to increase your reach to 198mm. but requires the installation of the Lens Adaptor LA-DC58K. You will need the lens adaptor for any lens accessories you purchase (i.e. fisheye, wideangle, filters, etc,.), so its a good thing to have.
I did not purchase the Waterproof Case WP-DC25, nor the Waterproof Case Weight WW-DC1. I don't do any underwater photography, so I want purchase this unless I plan a specific trip involving diving.
Customer Review: G10 exceeds expectations
Summary: 5 Stars
The G10 is an amazing camera. I bought it two weeks ago based on Michael Reichman's (luminouslandscape website) and Thom Hogan's (bythom[...]) reviews. I am an advanced amateur/prosumer -- I sell fine art landscapes, and have been photographing for about 35 years.
The G10 is heavy at about a pound, but I like the heft. It is quite compact (at least from my perspective) -- the lens fully retracts and it will fit in a large jacket pocket. I have a medium-large Zing pouch I put it in and carry in my backpack, or alternatively put the Zing pouch on my belt loop.
I'm astonished at the image quality and functionality offered by the G10. I haven't shot any jpegs, only RAW (using DPP to process RAW; the RAW images will no doubt be more malleable with other software when they support the G10 -- DPP is fairly limited). In RAW, at ISO 80 on a tripod, I think the detail rendered by the G10 exceeds or at least equals the Canon 5D. It may have a weaker or virtually no AA filter.
The lens on the G10 is fantastic. There is very little resolution fall off, even wide open, edge to edge and into the corners.
In my mind, the closest equivalent to the G10 is a Fuji 645 medium format rangefinder (remember the small zoom range Fuji 645 compact?), but the G10 is better in almost every way. The G10 is far lighter and more compact, offers a great zoom range (and is sharp throughout the zoom range) and image stabilization, and has enough resolution to produce fine art quality prints, up to 18" or 24" in the long dimension without stitching.
I think the G10 is opening up a whole new world of landscape, street photography possibilities, and what about the incredible macro versatility?
There is a substantial drop off in image quality from ISO 200 to ISO 400 on the G10, but ISO 400 is still very very good (again shooting RAW), much better than the panasonic LX3 that I tried for a week or two at ISO 400.
I must be crazy. I can't believe a compact with such a small sensor can render detail this well. I'm seeing the G10 as a whole new tool that will open up different possibilities and different ways of seeing (and have different limitations than a Canon DSLR). I haven't been this excited about a photographic tool since I purchased my Canon 5D over 3 years ago.
The Canon G10 offers "automatic" settings that I haven't tried. For an advanced photographer it offers a wealth of manual controls and customization, which I'm still learning. One very nice touch is that the custom settings on the top dial (there are two) allow you to save the zoom settings and manual focus setting -- so I have one saved at a 35mm focal length equivalent and another at a 50mm equivalent. This allows quick, street shooting, similar to what one can do with a Leica rangefinder, though the G10 has a much different look given the virtually infinite depth of field due to the small sensor.