Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
by Canon
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Customer Review: Far exceeded my expectations!
Summary: 5 Stars
I typically shoot a Nikon D50 SLR, but for my recent trip to Hawaii I bought this camera so I wouldn't have to lug around any lenses. No camera bags or the like at Pearl Harbor so it's a pain to lug around extra lenses for the SLR but you want to have a nice long lens at the same time since Pearl Harbor really is an all-day visit. This camera solves the problem and then some. This allows for manual settings, as well as aperature and shutter priority that are typically only on SLR's. I was a bit skeptical if I would really like this camera since I'm used to SLR's - I love it! Simply stated, my shots were fantastic! I couldn't have done any better with my SLR (and this maybe did a better job than that - yikes). The resolution is astounding - I got such tight shots at the Pro Bowl with it too and I was no more than 10 rows from the top of Aloha Stadium. People can't believe I actually got the shots I did with this camera - I almost can't even believe it! My 52mm UV filter from my Nikon fit this nicely, but my 52mm circular polarizer (made by the same company as the UV filter) did not. It didn't matter - I got such beautiful shades of blue in the sky and water without it, though sometimes it is nice to have the creative control that the filter offers. At the Pacific Aviation Museum I was able to shoot crisp, clear photos indoors without using the flash or a tripod when I put it on the Tungsten setting - outstanding results that exactly captured the Museum's lighting.
I still prefer my SLR for more formal portraits and macro work, but for nearly every other type of photo the SX10 IS will likely be the one I reach for first. I'm recommending it to everyone I know who's looking for a camera that's more advanced than a typical point and shoot, but who doesn't want to get into the SLR realm. An enthusiastic 5 stars and kudos to Canon! Well done!
My suggestions for making the most out of this camera:
- The rechargeable batteries promoted by the bunny with his drum work very well with this and last a good long time, even with moderate to heavy use. I have the 15 minute recharger that has a car adapter too, which is handy for people like me who travel a lot. Consider a second set of rechargeables to have ready at any time or at the very least keep 4 AA batteries on hand as a back up. Overall, don't go on the budget plan for your rechargeable batteries for this great camera - you'll get what you pay for.
- If you want to keep your charger with your camera then don't buy a bag online - they probably won't have the capacity to hold both the camera and the charger unit. Go to a local retailer and pick one up there.
- Get a 52mm UV filter, blower brush, lens cloth and cap keeper while you're at it. They should total no more than $25 and are well worth the small investment.
- Consider picking up the laminated cheat sheet that an Amazon retailer offers. I found it by typing the camera's name under the "books" menu. It's about $15 with the shipping, but less cumbersome than the manual. If nothing else it helps you locate where in the manual to look for some of the more advanced settings.
Customer Review: Canon SX10-IS, best in its class
Summary: 5 Stars
After many weeks of research and reading of reviews on multiple different brands and models of cameras, trying to find a replacement for my Sony P72 which I was unhappy with before it broke, I settled on purchasing the Canon SX10IS. Checking out some review sites that showed pictures taken with the differnt cameras, the pictures taken by the Canon SX10IS were better than any pictures taken by other superzooms in the same conditions and settings. Besides good picture quality, it also has all the features I was looking for in a digital camera: full manual controls, a camera that wasn't small and easily lost, AA batteries, and good macro and wide angle capabilities. When I was looking for the camera I didn't realize I actually desired a good zoom capability as well. In my first actual use of the camera at a baseball game where my son's class sang the national anthem, I found myself thanking myself for having gotten one with 20x zoom. I was able to get good pictures of him by home plate while I sat in the outfield nosebleed cheap seats. I'm loving the outstanding zoom capabilities.
In all of my tests and real world use of the camera I've not been let down. It performs just as well as the reveiwers said it would. I switched to rechargable AA batteries, but I wasn't able to drain the four alkaline AA batteries that came with it, before I replaced them before the earlier mentioned baseball game, and I took about 150 shots with the alkalines. I've taken video and about 200 shots with the recharables and haven't yet drained them. I do have a backup set of recharable batteries for when I really get to some extended photo sessions, but I don't see needing more than the one extra set. I have no complaints about its battery life.
I was also very pleased with its image stabilization. I was able to take pictures at extreme zoom that I know I wouldn't have been able to take clearly without it. I also took some macro photos without using a tripod, hand held only, and got some very clear results.
I'm glad it didn't come with a small memory card like some other people complain about. My old Sony came with a 16MB Sony card which was all but useless, as I could only get 12 or so pictures on it. Nobody has a use for that small a card. The SX10-IS not coming with one allowed me to get one of the size I want and not have to be saddled with a wasted card.
My only complaint is that it is fairly heavy and you'll definitely want to use the neck strap. You won't want to hand carry this camera around for long periods of time.
I do not regret for an instant purchasing this camera. I know I would have been unhappy with other models had I chosen differently. It's my first superzoom and with its similarity and functioning similar to a DSLR, it has me seriously thinking about taking the plunge into the DSLR realm at some point in the future after I improve my photography skills. In the mean time there are some third party add ons that can expand it's capabilities to be more DSLR like until I decide to take the plunge.
Customer Review: Almost perfect
Summary: 5 Stars
This camera is almost perfect. I'm not going to be able to add much to what the other reviewers have stated: I agree with all the good points (type of batteries it uses, easy to hold, great lenses that adapt themselves to shooting almost anything, doesn't weight too much but, at the same time, feels solid, easy to use, the rotating LCD display, etc.).
I cannot comment on the filming angle of the camera since I do not use it for films. I expect that, if I do use it to film something, it will be along the lines like the use of the camera that my cellular phone has: as an emergency measure only. If I need to film then I'll get a film camera.
Getting back to the camera: I've had mine for a bit over a week by now and shot over 400 photographs.
I'm definitively NOT a power user, but I do know a bit or two regarding what constitutes a good photograph: if I like it then it's a good one!
This machine makes almost all shots look like good ones. If you don't want to bother about anything, just select the AUTO function and zoom to the point of getting in the picture what you want. Period.
If, like me, you like to tinker a little (or a lot!), it has almost all the functions that you might wish for (and, perhaps, some more that you didn't know existed).
When I say that it's close to perfect it is because:
a) The shutter cannot be programmed for a lapse greater than 15 seconds. If you want to shoot stars or some other night pictures, this might be a bit of a concern. I would have liked the shutter to be fully programmable up to infinity.
b) The low battery alarm only comes on when you're dangerously low on power. By then it might be too late. I would have liked a battery level indicator that tells me at all times what the level of power is so that I can take precautionary measures (like buying some more batteries ahead of time).
c) The continuous shooting mode, when you have selected the 10 Mega pixel resolution, is slow. I was shooting a "corrida" here in México and action was a lot faster than what the machine was capable of capturing. Most certainly the 0.6 seconds that are specified need to be improved (perhaps up to 0.2 seconds or less). If someone tells me that I can get a faster response by lowering the resolution, my response would be: what's the point of getting a lot of low resolution pictures? If I'm shooting something it's because I'm interested in it in the first place!
If I had to resume this machine it would go along these lines: It has almost everything that you might want but doesn't force you to use it: it leaves you the freedom to be the type of photographer that you are.
Not much else that I can add.
Customer Review: Great camera but must read the user manual!
Summary: 5 Stars
I bought this camera and took it to Disney World where I had a chance to try out all the features in all kinds of conditions. This is one step down from the DSLR cameras where I don't have to change lenses and it takes great pictures. Overall I am impressed with it and I feel it was worth every dollar I spent on it. However, this is a must: READ THE MANUAL AND LEARN THE FEATURES IF YOU WANT TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THIS CAMERA! Here are some pros & cons :
Pros:
1. Clear pictures at full zoom as well as super macro mode even when the camera lens is so close it touches the object.
2. Many features to adjust for different light conditions (learn the features and make adjustments)
3. Takes good pictures in low light or almost no light conditions even without the flash (again, learn the features & make adjustments for it) but at very low light conditions I recommend putting the camera on a tripod or have very steady hands.
4. Records clear movies with stereo sound & zoom. .mov format can be played with QuickTime Player on Windows XP with no problems.
5. Flash power can be adjusted to how far you want it to reach so the background doesn't get washed out.
6. Swivel LCD for multi angle viewing.
7. The colors come out beautiful.
8. Wide angle lens. You can fit more in your pictures.
9. Batteries last a long time. I use rechargable Eneloop AA batteries.
Cons:
1. It's a heavy camera with the 4 batteries in it, even when it's hanging around my neck.
2. It's a rather bulky camera for a woman. Women have smaller hands and sometimes it's hard to get a good grip on it.
3. The lens cap. There is no string attachment for it! It has a piece of plastic on the back of the cap to attach it to the camera strap but it doesn't work. It doesn't clip on strong enough so the cap falls off anyway.
4. The Fireworks feature is useless especially when there is another lit object around the fireworks (expl: Magic Kingdom castle with fireworks around it). The camera asks me to make adjustments (which it shouldn't since it's a set feature), but no matter how I tried to adjust it, it didn't work. Instead, I used the Sports feature and that worked just fine. All other features work well.
So overall I give it 5 stars for the money spent but I can't stress enough that this camera will only do the tricks if the adjustments are made for it. It also takes great point-and-shoot pictures but if that's what you are planning on using it for most of the time, I recommend buying a less expensive camera. This is my 4th Canon camera and I find them to be excellent and very durable.
Customer Review: Perfect Camera! So glad I picked the Canon SX10IS!!!
Summary: 5 Stars
Before purchasing the Canon SX10IS I did about three months of looking over reviews, going in stores to actually hold different cameras, and constantly changing my mind from Canon to Sony to Panasonic and back again. As you know there are plenty of diehard Canon and Sony lovers that have reviewed their particular purchase. I have not been brand loyal when it comes to digital cameras. I have had mostly Sony's, a few Canon's and some lower end Kodak's. So when I finally made my decision to push that order button on the Canon SX10IS it was because I felt it was the best camera for me.
I was in a heated internal battle between the Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H50 and the Canon PowerShot SX10IS. Both cameras have great ratings and reviews on Amazon and other electronic sites. One small thing to others was a big thing to me, the battery situation. I prefer to be able to use AA batteries over having to buy Sony batteries. Just for the ease of AA being handy no matter where I go. The other selling points for me were the flip LCD screen and the hot shoe feature for future use if I decide to get serious with my photos.
I have waited to post my review because I wanted to use the Canon a while before giving my final thoughts. I am by no means a top tier photo person and I do not know half of what my Canon will actually do (yet, still reading the manual as needed). However, I can honestly say the pictures are flat out beautiful that I have been taking. The 20X zoom is far more than enough for all my needs. The pictures I was taking so impressed the folks sitting next to me at a recent concert that they wrote down the model of the Canon so they could go home and order it from Amazon too! We were sitting in the middle of the arena and my shots of the singers are like I was in the third row. Not only are the pictures great because you can actually see who is on stage (unlike some of my previous camera's photos due to low zoom capability), but they are also so crisp. A major concern of mine prior to buying my camera was that there are not too many reviews that talk about concert photos. I give an A+++ on this bad boy when it comes to concerts.
The Canon SX10IS is a tad heavier than the Sony DSC-H50, but after holding both I liked the little extra weight. When we are getting to this level of point and shoot cameras, I liked the feel of holding something with a little more substance to it.
I hope this review helps you make a decision. On a side note, the shipping from Amazon was wonderful. My camera arrived two days earlier than expected!