The PowerShot G10 is the 8th generation of Canon's lovely G-series PowerShot cameras, and is a great choice for any user wanting superior control in a point and shoot that stands out as much for its styling as for its images. The G10 has dials which change the exposure mode, exposure compensation, and ISO setting, as well as a Canon 'quick control' dial on the rear which mimics the familial control of the EOS SLR cameras. These traits are certainly unusual in the point and shoot world. And at less than 2" thick (46mm) and weighing about 12 ounces (350g), it is a camera to take on a long journey without fanfare.
Responsive, stylish, and capable of great imagery, the PowerShot G10 is an excellent 'bridge' between the best of SLRs and point and shoots.
| Camera Type | Advanced Compact Digital Camera |
| Imaging | |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 14.7 Megapixel (4416 x 3312) |
| Sensor | 1/1.7" 15.0 Megapixel CCD |
| Bit Depth | 36-Bit RGB |
| File Formats |
JPEG RAW RAW+JPEG |
| File Size |
18.8MB (RAW) 6.4MB (JPEG) |
| Color Spaces | My Colors (Vivid, Vivid Blue, Vivid Green, Vivid Red, Neutral, Sepia, Black & White, Positive Film, Lighter Skin Tone, Darker Skin Tone, Custom) |
| Image Stabilization | Yes (Optical Image Stabilizer) |
| Crop Factor | Not Applicable |
| Optics | |
|---|---|
| Lens | Canon Zoom Lens |
| Zoom | 5x Wide-angle (6.1-30.5mm equivalent to 28-140mm) |
| Lens Mount | Not Applicable |
| Focus Type | TTL Autofocus |
| Focus Range |
Normal: 19.7" (50cm) - infinity Macro: 0.4" (1cm) - 19.7" (50cm) wide |
| Accessory Lens/Filter Mount | 58mm with Optional LA-DC58K Conversion Lens Adapter |
| Shooting Controls | |
|---|---|
| Sensitivity |
Auto ISO High ISO Auto Selectable ISO (80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600) |
| Shutter Speeds | 15-1/4000 second |
| Metering | Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot |
| Exposure Modes | Program AE, Special Scene, Shutter Speed-Priority AE, Aperture-Priority AE, i-Contrast, Manual; AE Lock, Safety Shift, Auto ISO Shift, Exposure Compensation (±2 stops in 1/3-stop increments) |
| White Balance | Auto, Preset (Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Underwater), Custom1, Custom2 |
| Mirror Lock-Up | Not Applicable |
| Burst Capability |
Normal: 1.3 fps AF: 0.7 fps LV: 0.7 fps (Large/Fine) |
| Self Timer | 2 seconds or 10 seconds |
| Interval Recording | No |
| Remote Control | No (camera supports remote operation by PC when tethered) |
| Flash | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Flash | Yes |
| Effective Flash Range | 1' (0.3 m) -15' (4.6 m) |
| External Flash Connection | TTL Hot Shoe |
| Dedicated Flash System | Automatic E-TTL Flash with EX-series Speedlites |
| Max Sync Speed | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Memory | |
|---|---|
| Built-in Memory | No |
| Memory Card Type | Secure Digital (SD/SDHC) Memory Cards |
| Still Images per GB |
RAW: 47 JPEG:153 (Large/Fine) |
| A/V Recording | |
|---|---|
| Video Recording | MOV (Image: H.264) with Audio |
| Video Resolution |
VGA (640 x 480 @ 30 fps) QVGA (320 x 240 @ 30 fps) |
| Video Clip Length | Record up to 60 minutes or 4GB |
| Audio Recording | Linear PCM (Monaural) with or without image |
| Viewfinder/Display | |
|---|---|
| Viewfinder Type | Real image optical zoom viewfinder |
| Viewfinder Coverage | 100% |
| Display | 3.0-inch TFT color LCD (461,000 pixels) with wide viewing angle |
| Connectivity/System Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Connectivity |
USB 2.0 Hi-speed Video Out (NTSC & PAL) Audio Out (monaural) |
| System & Software Requirements |
Windows System
Macintosh System
|
| Environmental | |
|---|---|
| Operating/Storage Temperature | 32-104°F (0-40°C) |
| Weatherproofing | No |
| Durability | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Power | |
|---|---|
| Battery Type | NB-7L Rechargeable Lithium-ion Battery |
| Power Adapter | ACK-DC50 AC Adapter Kit (optional) |
| Physical | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 4.3 x 3.1 x 1.8" (109 x 78 x 46mm) |
| Weight | 12.3 oz (350g) |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
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Most Liked Positive Review
So Far, So Good
I brought this camera after a recent trip to the snow and found my Olympus U725SW seriously lacking through the lack of a viewfinder. I didn't want to lug around an SLR, so had ...Read complete review
I brought this camera after a recent trip to the snow and found my Olympus U725SW seriously lacking through the lack of a viewfinder. I didn't want to lug around an SLR, so had to squint and cross my fingers while trying to frame up the shots.
When I first picked up the Canon G10 I was amazed at how heavy it felt. Not like a brick, but solid. This is one serious camera. The finish is excellent and it is well balanced in the hands. My wife picked it up and said "Wow! Can I have this camera?" She was particularly impressed when I plugged it into my Canon printer and produced a high quality print straight from the camera, shot in RAW. I know this is not new, but it is the first time I felt that this function is relevant. Shooting with a DSLR. the images are shot with a purpose or image in mind, so adjustments in Lightroom and Photoshop are almost mandatory. Shooting with the G10 is fun and spontaneous, which are the images most suited for adding to the photo album.
I haven't had a chance to put the camera through its paces yet, and I am still waiting to try out some of the new functions, particularly the i-Contrast. What I do like is that this camera is just like picking up a Canon DSLR. The menu, controls and functions are almost identical. It was a very comfortable feeling to grab the camera and almost instinctively know how it all worked. The screen size is huge, and the information it displays is complete, without taking over the screen. The display showing the aperture and shutter adjustments pure genius.
What I like most about this camera is that I now have a professionally built compact with a great zoom range, RAW, and heaps of Mpx that I can take almost anywhere. It fills the space between my wonderful little underwater Olympus and my superb but bulky DSLR's. Not only that, but with all of the Auto settings, it is a camera my wife and kids can use as a point and press. (The first time I haven't been grilled over a camera purchase)! Watching the green square on the screen that follows the faces around to focus is amazing, and the green beam that is emitted to pre focus with the flash is like something out of GhostBusters!
I'm looking forward to trying out all of the other myriad of features, such as the movie mode, custom settings and the self timer for group shots. For the life of me though, I can't ever see myself coupling up my twin flash macro system.
I'm pleased to say that this camera has lived up to my expectations, and apart from the lack of a CMOS sensor, I can't foresee any reason to upgrade for many years to come. This is a beautiful piece of gear and is well worth the money.
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Most Liked Negative Review
A great camera -- except in low light
I have three other Canon cameras: a 30D, a 50D and a 5D Mark II, and I bought this camera to have something I could carry easily in my pocket. The G10 is ...Read complete review
I have three other Canon cameras: a 30D, a 50D and a 5D Mark II, and I bought this camera to have something I could carry easily in my pocket. The G10 is well-built, flexible, and has a good lens. It should be top-flight point-and-shoot. However, it takes great pictures at ISO 80 or 100 but digital noise begins to become noticeable even at ISO 200. The 25.3 Mpx/cm2 pixel density of its small sensor is the problem. I wish Canon had resisted the marketing appeal of more megapixels and instead concentrated on image quality at higher ISOs so that this camera would be more useful in low-light situations. I had also hoped to use the G-10 (and the LA-DC58K lens adapter) for digiscoping with a Swarovski scope but discovered that it would not work because of severe vignetting when coupled to the scope. Eventually I decided to return the camera.
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 303 customers
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
Best Camera of this class Canon has made. Outstanding features, rugged, good battery life. Acceptable noise even at 3200. Every serious photographer should have one of these in his bag, for ease, back-up, and convenient shooting.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
I knew there were limits to this but barring them its great for what it was created to be.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
i wanted to step up from my past point-and-shoots. this G10 gives you a lot of control of your image, or simply place in auto mode and let the chip decide.
the case is metal and is rock solid. controls are also tight.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
I purchased this camera for use on business trips and for other times when using a larger film or digital camera was inconvenient.
Image quality is very good at the base ISO but degrades quickly at higher settings.
The controls are well placed although the menu structure is a bit complicated.
The camera seems to be very well made and robust but I've only tested it briefly.
All in all, it seems to be a good choice for the intended purpose.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
This is my second G10 -- quickly replaced it after original was stolen (along with my Nikon DSLR) by a thug in Denver.
Powerful camera in a compact package.
Durable, solid build. I've taken the G10 with me on trips to the Dominican Republic, Iraq, and Korea, and used it as a backup at Yellowstone and Grand Teton.
It's bigger than many point and shoots, and doesn't easily fit into a shirt pocket. But, it has great battery life, excellent image quality, OK (not great) low light performance, and is a perfect all-around travel camera.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
You can get amazing photos in a great resolution using Canon G10.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
This camera is outstanding. I love the ability to carry something smaller than my Nikon D300 and still work with RAW files. The wide angle and telephoto is sufficient for all my point & shoot needs. Plus the availability of a waterproof housing made by Canon specifically for this camera was the straw that said I needed this camera. I struggled over this model or the new G-11. This won out. I saved the extra 4 megapixels at the minor expense of a little more digital noise when used at higher ISO's. Not worth the loss in my opinion and professional reviews have since convinced me that was the right decision. I also added the Canon 270EX flash and that corrects the weak flash output that all point & shoot cameras have.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
This is my first 'own' camera, but have been taking many many photos with friends/ families cameras for years before. I wanted, and still do, a DSLR, but decided to go with a little less mainly because of costs. After much research this is what i came up with, for a camera with similar DSLR power, w/o expensive interchangeable lenses. I am extremely happy with this camera. It is small enough to bring along anywhere, yet large enough for that substantial, confident feel. Low light is slightly lacking, with a little more noise in higher iso than I like to see.
I have only shot about 10 out of 700 pictures in auto, and I love the ease of changing settings in manual mode (with the scroll wheel and easy navigation) compared to with many compact digitals with annoying menus set up mainly for the "auto" user.
The colors and quality of the images are amazing!! I havent shot as many action shots as I would have liked to yet, but the scenic pics from fall time have been amazing.
The std. wide angle on the camera is great when shooting in tight spaces. I plan to get the tele converter later down the road for outdoors. The std tele is ok, and the digital zoom clears up wonderfully, but I do find that in some instances I wish it had more tele, mainly when shooting RAW and dont have the digital zoom back up.
Very solid build and construction, I am extremely protective of my gear, and I like not having to worry about every time I set it down. The strap slot should be bigger to accommodate different strap clips.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
When I was looking for a small camera for our radio news department, (news images for website) I wanted a high quality camera with options for myself as a pro and also be usable for amateurs.
I contacted a former colleague who is a longtime photojournalist and recent winner of the Pulitzer Prize. He said that all the pros he knows carry the Canon PowerShot G10 when they want to make high quality images but don't want to lug around a lot of gear. That was all I needed to hear. I've been using it for 2 weeks and it's a great piece of equipment, very solid feel and great design.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
It's very similar in function to a digital SLR.
The biggest downside is the struggle with handshake.
Capturing people in motion or in low light is challenging.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
OUTSTANDING POINT AND SHOOT CAMERA. VERY HIGH QUALITY CAMERA WITH HANDS ON ANALOG CONTROLS MUCH LIKE ARE OLD 35MM. IMAGE RESULTS ARE EXCELLANT,SOFTWARE SET UP AND USAGE IS EASY (NO REALY I HATE THE DIGITAL AGE)VERY HAPPY AS I WANTED A HIGH QUALITY POINT AND SHOOT WITH OUT BREAKING THE BANK. SIMPLE TO USE AND ALSO HAS MANY OTHER FEATURES IF YOU WISH TO USE THEM. 14.7MEG FOR ABOUT [$]. [...] VERY BRIGHT VIEW SCREEN AND ALSO HAS A BUILT IN VIEWFINDER. VERY WELL DESIGNED CAMERA. HIGHLY RECOMMEDED.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
I find this camera really good, the functions are intuitive and clearly explained and the photos taken are of grat quality. The dimensions are ideal as the camera is not too big and doesn't encuber movements. The zoom is powerful.
all told a top quality buy
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
Quick access to all the 'mechanic' functions, like shutter and Iso, but the features on the dispaly are not immediately available. The flash works very well even in outdoor. The zoom is good and the 28mm wideangle allows almost perfect panoramas. The 14,7 mp sensor is great, but the camera is pretty heavy.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
I bought this for my wife (well, and a bit for me :)) and she loves it. It's definitely got a bit of a learning curve for her as she would like to learn the manual settings, but for those times she just wants to shoot photos - the green AUTO setting is there.
Photos turn out well and it's quite the step up from the old Nikon Cool pics. Turns on and it ready to shoot in seconds, and very little wait time for the next shot (one of her biggest gripes about the old p&s). We've yet to really take it out, most shots just shooting around in the yard, but thus far it's a great camera.
A touch bigger than a lot of p&s, but the weight is nice and it feels a bit more 'professional'. Controls are great, easy to access and quick selections with the jog wheel and quite intuitive.
Would recommend to anyone in the market for a great point and shoot.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
Raw files. This is big for me as a stock shooter.
Easy to change ASA settings. Easy to change exposure and see the effects. Not menu driven. Real knobs that turn and give you what you want. A very professional camera in a small footprint
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
I'm an amteur photographer. G10 is a great camera and can be used for any purpose , travelling , hobby , proficiently. Easy to carry on , battery lasts for ever,. Great quality
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
* camera is user friendly and easy to navigate the controls
* has great features and tools to increase creativity and control of the picture
* is not too small but is compact enough to carry around easily
* very long battery life so far
* takes excellent photos
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
I'm not a professional photographer, but I am an artist and graphic designer by trade. I wanted a camera I could use both professionally for projects and to take quality personal snaps. This camera is the juice. Easy to travel with. Can carry in a coat pocket (too big for pants pocket) and included shoulder strap is a nice bonus.
Picture quality is high and settings seem vastly adjustable. Built like a tank.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
I am an amateur photographer who recently broke my point-and-shoot. I was looking to upgrade, but could not afford to get into the DSLR "game." I solicited advice from three good friends, all of whom are professional photographers. The first recommendation given by all three was "Canon G10". It has proven to be a perfect median between point-and-shoot & DSLR. The image quality is excellent & it offers the option to manually adjust most camera settings. It is easy to use, small, lightweight, & a perfect camera for an amateur/hobby photographer.
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Comments about Canon PowerShot G10 Digital Camera (Black):
I am a pro and I love to have this camera in my bag or car at all times. It takes great photos and is VERY advanced.
If you read the manual you will be astounded at all the bells and whistles.
The quality is very good for a powershot.
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