Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x

Loving my new camera so far
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I received my SX10IS in the mail yesterday and have been playing with it since. I am not a pro my any means, but I knew I wanted to upgrade to a better camera that takes quality pictures. I was thinking about buying an SLR until I found the Canon SX10IS and did my research. This camera has so many options, a fantastic zoom, is very user friendly and takes beautiful pictures. Like many reviews have said, if you don’t want to go the SLR route yet, this is the next best thing. Now, I really feel like I’m working with a “real” camera that is so far proving to give me the pro-like photos I want to achieve. I’m also very determined to learn how to use this camera correctly. I have been reading the manual and researching online so I know how to set my camera to the appropriate setting to achieve the desired look I want. Out of the box you can set this camera to auto and shoot away for great photos, but I believe that understanding how the camera works and its settings are going to give you the best quality shots. I’m not going to lie, I don’t have it all perfect yet! Today I tried setting the self-timer and taking a few shots of the myself and the sun was really glaring on me in the photos, so I do have to work with the setting to perfect this! Lastly, it’s only been two days, so I have a long way to go, but so far I’m very satisfied with my canon. Some of the pictures I’ve taken are just gorgeous and look like postcards! The price is also fantastic for this camera. I remember paying more for my little point and shoot three years ago and the photos don’t even compare!

Farrell’s Review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought the camera for my wife for christmas and she loves it. Easy to learn and takes top quality pictures.

The Best Alternative to your Hum-Drum Point and Shoot!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have a simple Cannon point and shoot which I love but I was searching for something beyond that. I found this Digital SLR and once I received it, I knew I made the right choice. It has all the niceties of point and shoot with the added bonus of facial recognition, image stabilization, serious zoom in capabilities and a rotating review screen. Basically, it’s perfect for the weekend photographer or someone who’s just getting into photography. The picture quality is crisp and sharp with easy to use features. I didn’t even read the owners manual and I had no problems getting everything set up.

BEST CAMERA ON EARTH!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the best camera on earth. I bought this camera to create beautiful memories of my daughter growing up. I’m mainly leaving this review for people with kids who are wondering if this camera can keep up with taking quick fast shots, without missing out on precious moments.

Fast Camera!!!

This camera has NEVER missed a shot and she’s a very quick and fast little two year old. I’ve captured every single quick smile, precious pose, and all of her active moments. I do this using the sports mode. In this mode, the camera actually takes the picture the very same instant you press down on the button (no delay whatsoever). In this mode, when she’s running, there is no blurryness.

Great Indoor Camera!!!

This camera also takes GREAT indoor pics as well. It is a bit heavier than the little camera’s out there….but if you want to sacrifice qaulity and performance…go for a little one.

Outstanding Detail and Zoom qaulity

I wanted something that was powerful, and something that my husband can take to football games, basketball and other sporting events. That’s actually how I sold him on the idea of purchasing this camera. The zoom capability is out of this world. For example, we went to the park the other day and I was able to get pictures of the ducks from the OTHER SIDE OF THE LAKE….and in very clear detail. Now that’s powerful.

Easy to use!!!

The minute this camera arrived, I took it out of the box and started using it. I didn’t even read the instructions…that’s how easy it is to use. I’m more of a beginner type when it comes to camera’s. I popped the batteries in, and went crazy taking pics. The video mode has a dedicated button so you can video events very quickly without fussing with dials.

No Regrets!!!

I hope I’ve helped someone out on making their purchase decision. I get compliments all of the time on how fast the camera is and how wonderful the pics look. I love this CAMERA!!! I can tell you that you won’t regret this purchase.

Happy with the SX10 IS
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera replaced my old Olympus C2100, a formidable 10x zoom camera introduced 8 years ago that started the mega-zoom race. Have played with the SX10 IS for a week now and very happy with it.

Below are what I like:

-It uses regular “AA” batteries. Never buy a camera that uses specialized batteries no matter what people may tell you. Updated 6/27/09: this camera is so power efficient that it can take 600 photos on a single set of AA rechargeable batteries according to a leading consumer magazine (no other camera can even come close, non).

-It has a useful 28mm wide angle lens. This means you can include a whole group of people in a picture without standing too far back(such as in a small room). Most cameras (I say 90%) do not have lens this wide.

-You can zoom (optical & digital, with audio) while taking movies. Many cameras do not allow optical or audio during movie taking.

-It takes SD memory cards which is most popular (plentiful, cheap). Do not settle for cameras that take any other type of memory cards.

-It has a rotating LCD display.

-It is quick to take (and view) pictures and movies.

-Picture and movie quality (with stereo audio) is superbly competitive to any other high quality cameras.

Below are what I don’t like:

-No grip: this is one slippery camera. I like its size and weight but its grip needs to be designed accordingly.

-The LCD display is very easily scratched. Do not wear this camera with a neck strap with the LCD facing out, because your shirt buttons will scratch the LCD. Immediately put a protective screen on this LCD first; there are several protective screen or tape products available.

-The lens has no thread so you can’t put on a lens filter to protect it from smears and dust.

-The lens cap has no tether or tether hole so there is little you can do to attach the cap to the camera. Canon, what was you thinking?

-I wish it can record movies in widescreen 16:9 VGA. It does not have HD movie feature but I don’t need HD, I only wish widescreen VGA.

Currently there are several 20x zoom cameras available, such as the Olympus SP-570UZ and SP-565UZ, Casio EX-FH20. I’ve tried all of them, and eventually chose the Canon SX10IS as I think it gives you superb features and quality for an unbelievable price.

Perfect Camera for Us
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Did a lot of research on which was the best camera for us and I am very please with our decision to buy this one. Do not buy this camera if your first concern is size, but other than that it is awesome.

Sooo happy
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I needed a better camera for my trip to Panama, especially one that would take decent pictures inside as well as out. This camera was a little intimidating at first as it has lots of functions, but after a little time with my daughter in law, who is a photographer- I found that it is really easy to use for basic picture taking. I learned the basics and will build on that over time. It is a great buy for a great camera.

You can take some amazing photos with this camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R2ZS3APKV5JUHQ I have to admit, I’m a point and shoot type of person who likes a small digital camera that I can carry in the pocket of my jeans or in my purse so it’s always handy. I didn’t want to spend a whole lot of money on a camera and have to spend hundreds on extra lenses. My Casio camera serves me just fine in many circumstances. I take a lot of people pictures and pictures at parties and get-togethers. But there were always those times when I was in a beautiful location and wanted something that would do a good job with pictures of mountains, lakes and other landscape features. Or I wanted to take a photo of our Christmas tree at night with the lights in a dark room and I just could never really capture the shot. I often wanted to take pictures of the squirrels or a woodpecker on the tree but with a 3x optical zoom you just can’t get “up close and personal”. This camera will do all that and more. It will also do automatic, point and shoot photos, just like my little point and shoot camera.

I hate to read manuals and instructions. But with this camera it’s something you just have to set aside some time and pretty much read through the well organized little manual that comes with it. It’s easy enough reading and well organized with references to page numbers describing each feature and cross referenced well. Perhaps someone with experience on other SLR cameras or more complicated cameras would find this camera intuitive, but I had to sit down a study a bit before really getting into all the features. Once I had the camera set up and tried the different features and settings it was easy enough to do, but there is a little learning curve. The good news is there are many more things I can do with this camera than I ever imagined.

With other cameras I’ve owned I could take macro photos of things like flowers or food. With this camera I can take a super macro of not only the flower, but the bee on the flower and the hair on his legs! With other cameras low light photos were just so-so. With this camera you can take photos in very low light which I find myself using more and more, now that I have a camera that will handle it. The 20x zoom is nothing short of amazing. This is great for taking photos of outdoor critters or spying on your neighbor’s gardener. It’s almost like having a pair of binoculars and being able to capture it on digital film. You can take great movies with stereo sound. It’s so much easier than getting out the video camera every time you want to take a short movie of the dog doing something cute or your neighbor’s kid doing something stupid. There are some special scene settings that are a quick way of setting up the camera for different types of photos. I’ve had very good results using these and look at all the different circumstances they cover: You have settings for portraits, landscape, night scenes or snapshots, sports, indoor, sunsets, foliage, snow, beach, fireworks (can’t wait to try this one out), aquarium, ISO 3200, color accent and color swap.

The flip-out and rotating 2.5-inch LCD screen is a feature I love and I haven’t seen it on any other camera in this class. It makes it simple to see what you’re taking from any angle and is nice because you can tilt it out of the sun. I find all the buttons, built in flash and controls easy to use and I can re-set it quickly for different types of circumstances. I really like the stitch assist for taking panorama shots that I can later stitch together on my computer into one wide panoramic image. There are so many more settings and things that you can do, just too many to list here.

The camera will definitely not fit in the pocket of my jeans but the weight and size aren’t bad. I bought the Carrying Case / Shoulder Bag for the Canon EOS Digital Rebel XSi, PowerShot S5 IS, Powershot SX1 IS, SX10 IS case which is perfect for this camera. I’m posting a short video showing the case and just a few features of the camera. It’s too bad I couldn’t use this camera to take the video. The close-ups would have been a lot clearer than what I could do with my video camera. I thought of including some photos taken with the camera on the video, but with the compression needed to fit the videos on this website the wouldn’t do them justice. Even the photos posted by other reviewers on this site, as amazing as they are, look even better when you see them on your own computer or printed.

I did a lot of research on cameras and then I hesitated for a long time, wondering if I would use it enough to justify the cost. I shouldn’t have waited. This is an amazing camera and one that will keep me happy for a long, long time.

Canon Power Shot SX101S
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized ZoomThis camera showed itself to be hardy, reasonably weather resistant, capable of numerous actions that I never used before. It does not take B&W, but changes a color shot into B&W. 20x is a little far for it, or for me to keep it really stable. Fine for views, but not as good for birds, which turn out to be fuzzy at that distance. It worked hard for me and did an excellent job within my parameters. I would recommend it for any sincere but not into changing lenses photographer. It does not collect dust inside! I am still learning all the things it can do (have had it for a month).

Top-notch enthusiast point-and-shoot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Much has been said in earlier reviews so I’ll limit my review to subjective feedback. This is my 7th digital camera, including use of a Canon XSi. I’ve had limited shooting opportunities with this so far, but am VERY impressed with how capable it is. I’ve shot several shots now at the full 20x zoom and am very surprised by the high level of detail captured by this lens (see sample photo of a shore bird on the beach). Video quality is likewise superb and is one reason that this is my take-everywhere camera. The fact that it has a hotshoe allowing you to add a pro-level flash (e.g. 430EX) adds to the versatility of this camera. Also appreciated is the swivel LCD. This is a carry-over from older models. Few cameras offer this now. For most shooting, I prefer the optical viewfinder, but you’ll be surprised how many uses you find for an LCD like this.

Is this camera for you? That all depends on what you’ll do with the camera. The zoom feature (including wide angle), combined with excellent image quality, is really what pushes this camera over the top for me. There is very little you cannot do with this camera. The downside is that it is not a pocketable camera. It is fairly large and heavy. But if you don’t mind the bulk, the camera will reward you with some great shots and video. It is worth a serious look.

I AM A BELIEVER!!!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have owned 3 Sony Cybershots H1,H5 and H9 prior to my purchase of my Canon today. I was about to purchase the new H50 and decided that the quality, the functions, extra shooting modes and 20x zoom were the clinching factors in my switch.I have only shot about 100 pictures i am seriously happy as a novice photographer. Incidentally the lens cap can be attached to the neck strap.

Big Zoom disappointing pictures
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Am I the only one that noticed the picture quality looks overexposed with little detail nor proper color levels. I’d try and find a S5IS which is a superior camera in regards to picture quality. I think the advantages of the “super zoom” are also part of the downfall. Looking through a tunnel, and you’ll get pictures that reflect this aspect.

Take your time and look at the picture samples taken from the S5IS versus the XS10IS – base your decision on your taste, not what you read.

I am not a professional photographer, however, I take professional shots with this camera.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I highly recommend this camera. I purchased it just before my trip to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii this year. The camera really rocks. Easy to use, plus it takes great shots.

Great camera !!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is amazing. If you want to have 20X optical zoom and zero cm for macro this should be your camera of choice. I am using digital cameras for 15 years now and had the first Canon “pro90 IS” which was 10X optical zoom and I must say that this one is state of the art at the moment.

Pictures are in high quality and Image Stabilizer works great.

I added UV filter to keep the lens from scratches.

I recommend this camera as additional to your compact camera.

very good camera!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
It was really hard to choose between this camera and a more expensive DSLR ….and all that entails…but I wish i’d made the jump…

But that’s just my personal take…

This is without doubt a great camera, with features galore for the enthusiast.

Or those willing to become one…:)

The main reason for my purchase, beside the manual controls…

is the great swiveling LCD…once you’ve used one you don’t want go back (sort of like dial-up vs cable

And there’s that big zoom lens…

Most folks will find the wide angle more useful than extreme zoom, but the long zoom is fun to play with.

It’s an excellent camera…you just have to learn how take advantage of it’s strength’s

and you will experience a learning curve…it’s one you will HAVE to play with, read the user guide, refer to frequently… and then perhaps love to play with

It is a a great feature-packed, photography enthusiast imaging tool that produces excellent images, and it FEELS like a real camera, solidly built

The features and price points sort of blur when you can get a camera like this with so many features and control options versus a DSLR…

with a better sensor…that is a consideration, indeed…$

otherwise,it’s a good buy IMHO!

I think the SX10 offers an outstanding value for photographers that want extended control over the camera, and are willing to put some time and effort learning how to do so…without breaking the bank…

but there’s that darn DSLR looming….

Bottom line,

I love this camera,

not everyone will,

it loves to have it’s buttons pushed, just so you know where YOU are…

or where to lead you..

And you must read/refer to the manual

It’s definitely not a point&shoot except on A

upgrade to better digital camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I wanted to upgrade from my not-too-old digital camera to one that had a super zoom on it. I had spoke to various folks at camera stores, and they ALL recommended this camera. I have not used it a lot, and there is a big manual to read, but so far, I am enjoying the expermentation. I definitely recommend reading the manual as it gives you some fine tips on taking different types of photos. A little heavy, but the zoom makes up for it. I plan to take photos at my daughter’s wedding.

Super Camera – Super Seller – Great Buying Experience
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this for my son for Christmas to take on a trip to South America. I had done my research and knew it was a great camera.

My Review is about my buying experience not the camera.

I went online, found the best price at one of the NY camera houses only to to told a few days later that the camera & instruction book were the Japanese version. For another $30 I could get the English version. Needless to say I cancelled.

I placed the order a second time with another camera house only to be told the camera was not available. They tried to upsell me – once again I cancelled.

I had just about given up on the camera when I went to search one more time.

This time I found the camera here on Amazon. With the free postage the cost was only about $10 more than the least expensive I had found to date.

I placed the order and had the camera in 8 days.

My son trekked around Patagonia and took wonderful shots both at close range and distance using the 20x zoom. If it is not the best camera in its class out there I don’t know what is.

The MORAL here is save yourself the aggravation of dealing with the NY camera houses which are known for somewhat questionable tactics. Just order it from an Authorized Amazon seller!!!

Ewald Wiberg

author of The Perfect Vacation: One Couple’s Adventures at Sea With and Without the Kids

I’m Enjoying This Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After using this camera for nearly a week, and taking close to 200 photos, I’m satisfied. My zoom lens works just fine, I’m getting use to the controls and reading the manual. And I’ve taken some incredible shots. I’ll be sharing some on this site soon. If you want to move beyond simple and inferior pictures, this camera is the right one. Yes, I’ve had problems with the lens cap, but that can be solved by buying an attachment for it. Securing it onto the lens is best done by just holding one end as you snap it back on; squeezing both ends of the cap creates a difficult time of trying to get it to stay on right. My lowlight handheld results have come out just fine, even without a flash at 800 ISO. Of course I’ve always known that it means steadying yourself. I’ve owned several Nikon SLRs in the past, so the weight isn’t an issue either. Only if one is only use to carrying nothing but compact digitals. I’m keeping it and can’t wait to see continued superb results. But you have to study the manual, as with any advanced equipment.

Wonderful Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a wonderful camera. I wanted to start learning more about photography with a camera that was better than just a little point and shoot. It takes gorgeous pictures even on just Auto. I took our family Christmas pictures in our back yard with a tripod on the manual setting and they turned out looking professional. Definitely a good buy.

Great Super Zoom
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great little camera…. already have 3900 shots on first one…. bought a 2nd camera as back-up.

I am hand-holding 1/8 second at 560mm, 800 ISO & getting over 50% good photos….amazing I.S. system. I frequently get good results on ISO 80 at 1/15, 560mm.

I shoot everything at minus 2/3′s stop under exposure with great results….with bracketing by locking exposure in different areas of frame.

Digital noise at ISO 800 is terrible though.

Plan on adding rubber grips in (3) different places for right hand …. camera surface is real slick. Use 3M safety tread with PSA adhesive similar to material used in bath tub strips.

Also, plan on buying the filter adapter from Lens Mate which allows full use of 58mm filters……use a 58mm aluminum screw lens cap after installing the filter adapter & filter. (available from B&H.)

Don’t believe the 1 star dummies on the review list…. I bought two of the things !!!

Sample photos can be viewed on [...]

Rich Barger

Good Camera for the Price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I like this camera. I was debating between this camera and 12 MP Canon SLR, and went with this one because it’s cheaper and the lens is longer. It has a nice feel to it.

Very Good Camera for the Class
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just bought this camera and took some shots. It’s an excellent one. I am the owner of both S3 IS and EOS XSi, so I can easily judge the quality of the SX10 IS. For $400, it’s definitely a good buy. It’s bigger than S3 IS, almost the body size of Xsi.

Image quality is very good, correct color rendering (surely, not as good as Xsi, however, but its sharpness is better than Xsi).

The only thing I don’t like is the EVF. When I move camera around, the view is not smooth, rather jumpy, make my eye uncomfortable. Again, for the price, what you get is a lot.

Great Camera – Versatile
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is the cat’s meow! Has all the features I like–super zoom, flip screen, photo stitch, color accent, image stabilizer, etc., etc. I have a Canon xSI and I love it but it’s heavier and changing lenses is a hassle so I suspect I won’t be using it as much as my SX101S. It’s user-friendly and easy to learn.

Dramatic disappointment
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I already own a Canon S3 and bought this camera as an upgrade in focal length. I like to shoot nature photography. I took the new camera to Monte Vista, CO to shoot the sandhill cranes that stop over on their migration north. I shot about 1000 pictures and if I got 20 in focus it was good. Nothing in the frame is in focus in most pictures. Not the mountains, not the trees, not the birds. I read the instruction book cover to cover, studied the settings, made changes. After 3 days of shooting I came home very disappointed, packed up the camera and returned it. If you are looking for the added focal length forget it. The photos are uniformly soft which I guess is good for something, but not for me.

Review of Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
What can I say? This is the best digital camera I have ever used. For the money it must be one of the best there is.

Canon with Movie mode
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I spent a few years waiting & researching & asking others with Sonys, Nikons, etc., concerning digital cameras that would suit my needs, basic indoor, sports & wildlife in Yellowstone (all times of day & night). This camera has a lot of zoom, enough pixellation to enlarge pics w/o losing quality, and a movie mode. I had been using an old Sony camcord with a Sandisc card to snap photos & make movies, I wanted the same options with a digital camera. I can film movies and can snap stills at the same time.

Other advantages: it runs on 4 AA batteries that seem to last forever which means no battery pack (or expensive lithium batteries) to run low just as a herd of antelope shows up. Very easy to download pics into computer. It’s not tiny but it isn’t heavy or awkward. Only dowside, the lens cover is easy to lose (I tied a thread to it so it’s now attached to the strap). Price is very reasonable. Took a few years but I feel I made the right choice.

Compared to other brands that offer much of the same (except Movie mode, which few seem to have) I’d recommend this Canon SX10.

First Impressions- Canon s10is: First Update
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have had the Canon s10 for less than 24 hours, so these are my first impressions. I will update later. Assuming you have read other reviews, let me add some different information. Specific points.

1. Comments about the lens cap are absolutely true; it is awkward and does not fit easily. You wind up dropping it frequently and sticking your fingers on the lens. This is not good.

2. After inserting the 4 AA batteries, it is very hard getting the cover correctly shut. I am guessing that it will break easily, if that task is not done very carefully.

3. The feel of the camera is great; it fits my older arthritic bulky hands very well.

4. I didn’t know until I read part of the instruction manual, that the camera has a control that allows you to vary the loudness of separate functions of the camera; shutter, turning on, menu opening, etc… PLUS, there is a button on the top left of the camera that enables you to MUTE ALL sounds of the camera if you press it as you are turning the camera on. I think this sound adjustment feature is very handy, although my poor ears have difficulty hearing anything…

5. The pictures I have taken have been very good and sharp for me. I was coming from an older Panasonic point and shoot.

6. I am really, really having to read the manual to learn all the different capabilities. If you get this camera, plan on spending some real time with the manual. For example, it is not intuitively obvious how one changes the size of the desired image from 10 to 1 megapixel. It took real manual reading to figure that out.

7. Despite my nit-picks, I am loving this camera. It is absolutely doing what I wanted. Namely giving me some really good manual and varied functions in a premium point and shoot without the expense of a DSLR.

My plan, if I continue to use this and enjoy photography, then I will upgrade to a DSLR, but right now, I have lots to learn, and enjoy with the Canon S10.

Nick

UPDATE: 16 Dec 2008

Still love the camera, but still learning. You MUST read the User Manual, and study it, in combination with playing with the camera. Good way to spend a couple of hours at Star$$s. The manual tells you specifically how to make certain changes in settings; however, it does NOT tell you when or why to make the changes. You need to study it and THINK. If you want a camera just to take simple, quick snapshots, this camera will do it, but that would be wasting this cameras terrific abilities. Spend a lot less and get a regular Canon or Sony P&S.

If you want a camera to learn how to do manual settings, like aperture and shutter priority settings, and others, WITHOUT spending the big $$$s needed to buy a DSLR, then this is the perfect camera for that.

Specific points:

1. The built in flash is not very strong at all. I will need to get a Canon external flash, probably the 430ex model, to make it as strong as I would like.

2. Figuring out how to change the image size, from 10 M to 8 or even down to less than 1 M for a 640×480 pixel photo is NOT intuitively obvious. You have to read the manual and learn that it is necessary to push the Function button while the camera is in take photo mode and then look down the list of items and choose from: 10M, 8M, etc…

3. The lens for this camera isn’t the world’s greatest. When it is dark it will only open up to 4.0 and that just isn’t fast enough; then with a low power flash, your low light shooting is compromised yielding “noisy”/unsharp images.

4. I haven’t found a camera bag that suits my taste for this camera yet; still looking. I want something that will carry the camera, an external flash, a spare set of batteries, and little nit-bits. I am sure they exist, just haven’t found the right one. But then, searching for photography stuff is always fun… I AM loving the camera, but would still leave the rating at four stars.

Great pics, versatile
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera offers so many options for the user. I’m able to use the manual settings to satisfy my more creative moments and I can set it to auto when I’m looking to get the quick, no hassel shot. Even handed it over to Mom (hates new tech) to take a few shots and she had very little problems. Still playing with the features, but it’s easy to use and menus are easy to navigate. The zoom makes for great printed pics.

Best all around camera I have ever owned
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
You will not go wrong with this camera. It is the most versitile camera on the planet earth. You will not believe the zoom on this camera and how well it works with the image stabilization. You will not need to carry a set of binoculars on your hike. This camera is simply amazing. Very high quality pictures at the maximum zoom even without a tripod.

Canon SX10-IS, best in its class
Rating:5 out of 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.

Sorry Canon – just not quite there yet!
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Another one returned! Sorry Canon, I really like your products, but KEEP UP WITH THE TIMES for goodness sake!!!! (Excuse the rant) I’ve tried just about EVERY point and shoot that takes some kind of video, plus countless other digital cameras over the years. The HD P&S’s I’ve tried are: Canon TX1, Panasonic TX5, several flash drive camcorders that also take still pic’s, Sanyo HD1000 & HD700, Samsung HV24HD, and ALL the Kodak’s that take HD Video. Plus there has been other camera’s – too many to mention (i.e. Canon 550, 770, etc.)

Anyway, I just bought (and returned) the SX10. I really wanted to love this camera, but will stick with my Sony T500 for now (check my review of the T500 – that little baby is a keeper).

To keep it short, the still pictures are what you would expect from a Canon, but actually, I think my old Canon G7 takes better pictures. But here are the grips (I prefer the cons in a review more than the pros) in no particular order.

1) The Camera is BIG. Easy to hold but BIG. Love the flip screen – but the camera is BIG. Great lens – but BIG. I guess what I’m trying to say, the damn thing is BIG, almost as big as a DSLR. This is something that you can not just slip in your pocket and run! I guess I would put up with the BIGness of the camera if the video was better (see below).

2) Battery: some might like it, but I did not. Four “AA” batteries! I had to buy a rather expensive charger and rechargeable batteries. Come on, what’s going on here! Now adays with all this new technology, Canon couldn’t come up with a small battery that holds a decent charge! I know the Sony T500 has poor battery life, but at least the camera is small – you would expect that! Who wants to schlep around 4 extra “AA” batteries – not me! This one was my fault, I did not ever read about the batteries before I bought the camera, but like above, if the Video was better, I could look the other way.

3) Video: This was pretty important to me (again check out the T500). What is up with only the small video format when EVERY other camera company is opting for new 16:9 widescreen format? Again, my old G7 takes just as good “small” video and I can play/edit it with anything! Actually, the video from the SX10 is not all that good, except the fact that you can zoom all the way in (actually that is pretty cool), but not worth keeping it. I was hoping that even though the SX10 was not widescreen 720/1080, it would take decent “HD like” video with the new .MOV video format. Why Canon did not bring the SX1 out first I’ll never know; because then if the videos were good – I might have kept the Canon. As many other reviewers have mentioned, I just don’t understand these companies or their marketing plan. If they need any help, all they have to do is ask a few geeks like me – I’ll tell em’ an ear full!

So all in all, I’m keeping the Sony T500 – even if the pictures are not quite as sharp. That little camera is all I need – “right now”! Just my opinion Canon lovers.

Very nice camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great camera. I wanted a great zoom lens and it certainly has that. It is a well built camera with great features. The picture quality is fantastic. It is everything that I expected.

Downloading pictures is a bit more cumbersome than with my old Kodak camera, however.

Be patient and experience the learning curve
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The camera is awesome! The flexibility to allow for a wide range of ‘modes’ is exceptional and not found on most point and shoot cameras. There is a learning curve for those of us who have not had a Cannon digital but given time I have managed to become capable of using quite a few different modes.

Patience is the key to becoming proficient and productive with this very powerful camera. Cannot be beat in its price range!!!!!!

It is defintely a Powershot + More
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
i just bought my Powershot on tuesday gone and so far so good. This camera is so user friendly it’s a crying shame.

love my camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Outstanding camera. Great telephoto and easy to use. Saved about $100 by buying online. Came fast and in excellent condition.

Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera!!!

The telephoto is better than expected and the low light capabilities are really impressinve. Several other features are fun, but the main reasons for my choice – long distance wildlife shots and quicker shutter speed – are great.

this camera take great shots with or without me.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this camera! It does everything I need it to; and more. I have not been able to figure out what I’m doing wrong inabling me to NOT use the videa feature, but lets talk about still photos. And still pictures of moving things. Amazing. Brilliant! effortless! This camera does have some complicted choice you can make, that is for sure!!! I try to think of is as giving me room to grow; I expect many years of advancing skills on this one. But for now, I will just use auto, take great photos and ohhhh, BTW, the editing softwear that comes with the camera is VERY good indeed.

Canon Powershot camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
awesome camera…love taking video and pictures with ease. uploading to my mac’s iphoto is so easy. i made the best choice EVER with this camera… but then, it is a CANON and they’re the best!!

Excellent camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just love this camera. It takes great pictures and movies. And it’s easy to use, even for a beginner photographer. I would not hesitate to recommend this camera to anyone looking for a great point-and-shoot camera. I have purchased Canon cameras before and once again this company does not disappoint.

Love the camera, hate the flash.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’ve been very happy with the many features of this camera so far. The only let downs have been figuring out the new video format and the flash. Right up super close it seems to be OK. But if you are taking a picture in just a room in the house, you’ll want to consider the optional flash upgrade. I have not decided which one I am going to get yet. Thought it was a smoking deal on a camera, but with the flash it is getting to be more spendy.

Versatile, excellent super zoom camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this camera a few months now and have been able to run it thru it’s paces. This camera has performed quite well in a variety of situations. Landscapes are probably it’s strongest suite with vibrant colors and sharp images. Even when zooming in at 20x the images still look respectable. It’s only weakness would be the builtin flash It’s somewhat weak past a few feet and harsh up close. I reccomend an external flash. The camera is full of features that I’ve yet to master, in fact it can be too complicated at times to use. Also, the viewfinder is digital, which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5. An optical viewfinder would of made this camera perfect. If you want the versatility and quality of a DSLR and don’t have the need for multiple lenses, save yourself alot of money and get this camera. So far, I love it.

A Fantastic Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Having previously used the Canon S2 IS, I looked forward to using the SX10 IS, and I was not disappointed. The SX10 IS is all I expected and more. I’ve looked for things to be critical of, and can only find two minor ones; the door covering the USB connector is a tad loose after first use, and the movies are stored in MOV format rather than the AVI format that was used by the S2. As my video editing program (Pinnacle Studio) won’t accept MOV files, a conversion step is required. There are plenty of free conversion programs available that can be used to solve the second problem (I use “format factory”). The 20X optical zoom, 10 megapixel resolution, comfortable “feel”, and long battery life (with rechargeable NiMH batteries) makes this a tremendously versatile camera, and it’s all there without the need for interchangeable lenses. The quality is what I’ve come to expect with Canon cameras. I recommend this camera for any serious amateur photographer, and it just might do it for beginning professionals.

Cannon Power Shot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The camera does exactly what I hoped it would do. The pictures are awesome. Delivery, however was very slow. Next time I’ll choose UPS

two days.

Nearly There
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The Canon SX10 is an outstanding camera sold at a fair price. The highly literate nature of some of the reviews gives a good clue as to who is buying it.

I am depriving it of one star because of one inept design decision – albeit one that the user easily can remedy.

As designed, the camera cannot take filters which would be a serious defect in a camera of this class. My guess is that some marketing person did not want the SX10 to compete with Canon’s more expensive SLR’s, a marketing strategy that has been tried, unsuccessfully, by other companies in the past.

The fix is easy. The SX10 comes with a sunshade that attaches to a fixture built onto the barrel. Lensmate sells a well-made ring which uses that fixture and which holds 58mm screw-in filters. Of course, while it is attached one cannot use the sunshade, but for about $7 one can buy a screw-in sunshade that works just as well and that can be used in conjunction with the filters.

Flash is not automatic and Lens cap does not has fixture
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
The flash of this product is very tedious to set.It is not automatic.

The lens cap provided does not have proper accessory to hang it to the Camera.Not sure, if the product does not provide it or if Amazon didnt provide it.

Otherwise Camera is pretty normal and good like other Canon Digi Cams

Great Versatility!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a wonderful camera. I wanted to replace my Canon G2 with something a little better with more range. I missed having wide angle and telephoto capabilities. I stumbled across the Powershot SX10IS which provided great features: 20x Zoom and 28mm Wide Angle in one package. No need to carry heavy lenses. I went on a trip to Alaska and got some really beautiful shots including the Mt. McKinley, Moose, Grizzly Bears, Lynx, Caribou, and Dall Sheep walking the Mountains in Denali.

Caveat: The camera uses up alkaline batteries pretty quickly so I recommend 2 sets of rechargeable AA batteries. I had good luck with the Sony 2500 mAH rechargeable batteries which lasted 3-5 days depending on use. (Your mileage may vary from mine!)

Pretty neat camera, but has a few glitches.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The photographs are fine. Handling the camera is a bit of a problem for me.

When the neck strap is attached, you cannot hit the Power button easily. However with the strap off, it is heavy and bulky to hold because of all of the batteries. It takes wonderful videos, with incredible sound when you play them back on your computer. But for the price, I think I can live with it happily.

disappointed by lack of dynamic range
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I’m sad that I’ve had this camera for too long to send it back to the store. It has a very limited dynamic range and if there is any sunlight in the picture, light-colored objects in the sunlight have no detail. If I change the exposure, the shadows become impenetrably black.

Excellent first step
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am very happy with this purchase. I am entering into a new field, having no photography experience, and needing to take good pictures for my website, [...]. I needed “easy,” and that’s what I got. I spent an hour or so familiarizing myself with the manual. Then, I started taking pictures. It took about an hour’s worth of pictures to begin to understand the simplicity of the functions. Using the auto function created good pictures. Since then, I purchased a “gray card” so that I could properly set the shutter speed for hopefully even better indoor pictures using a couple of light stands. We’ll see how that works out. All in all, the pictures in general, really good. I just had to learn to press the button down half way and allow the picture to autofocus, which takes a second, then 99% of the pictures come out perfect. The only issue, shooting black objects or white objects. I still have a lot to learn about how to take those pictures. But, I’m very happy with this camera.

Seems Perfect for My Use
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’m in first days so can’t give detailed report but I can say it is a big step ahead of my Powershot A620, that was a very satisfactory camera. But the 20x was a big inducement since it will help me in kind of shooting I enjoy. There are many more controls than I am used to, and it will take time to make full use of all. But I am already benefitting from such controls as iContrast. Today I was trying to photgraph a waterfall and was frustrated by a shadow in the center because sun not exactly as I would have liked. I turned on iConrrast and took the shot. The shadow was gone and the rocks it was hiding were clearly seen. I don’t think I could have done better if the sun changed position. I have also taken photos with the zoom and achieved results far superior to what I was getting with previous camera.

I think there should be threads on end of lens so that I could use filters, such as a polarizer. However, Lensmate is fabricating an adapter that will permit the use of filters. But the absence of threads is one of reasons I gave it a 4 instead of a 5.

This is definitely a camera anyone who wants an advanced non-SLR camera should consider. For me, it seems to be the perfect camera, giving me many of the controls of an SLR but without need to buy and carry lenses.

UPDATE

I have taken several hundred photos since writing my first review so can now say it is perfect for my use.

Some reviewers complain a bit about the weight; I like the weight. It weighs noticeably more than my Powershot A620, but I like the substanial feel when I use it. I don’t shake more with this camera, if anything less, and the image stabilization lens takes care of that.

Some have commented about the camera being slippery. I have not noticed that. Don’t know why, but to me the SX10 is not a slippery camera.

I am really pleased with the wide angle lens, something I did not have on the A620. I didn’t know what I was missing. Likewise the 20x zoom. What a difference compared to the 4x I was using. This is great for distance shots, I am also using it like a macro lens.

I know now that I made the right choice. I have most of the options I would have if I purchased an SLR, but at a much lower price.

The camera isn’t perfect, but no camera is. I’d like threads so I could use a polarizer, and I don’t like the wheel used to change the aperture value or shutter speed. It works, but is more time consuming than the way it was on the A620.

I like the camera so much that now I feel as thought I was nit-picking when I rated it 4 instead of 5.

It’s the best camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Esta la mejor cámara que he tenido en mi vida.

es impresionante su tecnología de punta y todo lo que puede hacer con esto.

claro que hay mejores cámaras más profesionales pero sin duda esta trae muchas satisfacciones a los que nos gusta la fotografía por afición.

The best of the best.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Have always been a fan of Canon, will always remain a fan as long as they make such wonderful products.

Recently had a chance to experience their fabulous customer service too:

Still have the PS A95 that bought 4 years ago which works perfect but had a bug (ccd malfunction) and they repaired it free of charge and even renewed most of the outside appearance. the warranty had already been expired 3 years ago. even Apple does not honor such a generous service as far as i know.

Big mistake of Canon
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
It’s Continuous shooting rate in sports mode can only reach 0.8 fps. Less than one frame per sec for a burst mode. You must be kidding me. It is a downgrade from S3 IS which has 2.1 frames/second.

Also the size is bigger.

No expert photographer, but still disappointed
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
After owning an old Sony Cybershot for over 6 years, I thought it was time to upgrade to something with a few more bells & whistles. A high zoom camera seemed to fit the bill – I didn’t have the time, nor inclination, to learn all the ins & outs of a true DSLR, but I wanted to have a few more options in a basic point & shoot with a good zoom for taking close up shots of my little guy. I did considerable research, and was impressed with all 300+ reviews for the Canon Powershot SX10IS on Amazon. I also read (& re-read) reviews from some well-respected digital photography websites, many of which gave this camera their highest ratings. After hemming & hawing for some time, I bit the bullet & eagerly awaited the fabulous pictures that this Canon would produce. I knew it was possible; I’d seen the examples on Amazon – all 500+.

The evening that my purchase arrived, I took my time, reviewing the manual (rare for me as I tend to do first, then read) & learning about my new camera. Then a test drive. Disappointment followed. Almost nothing I did – not putting the IS on continuous, not raising the ISO, not tweaking the aperture or the shutter speed, nothing short of using the flash – seemed to fully eliminate camera shake. But, I thought, it’s nighttime & I’m indoors. Tomorrow I’ll try again.

I awoke to a beautiful sun-washed morning, grabbed the camera, & started shooting pics of my 18 month old son playing in natural light. Same problems. I get it, taking indoor pictures means making some compromises. Either a little on the dark side or maybe a little more noise; things which can mostly be cleaned up by editing. But the quality of these pictures was horrible. The camera was constantly registering camera shake unless the flash was up – even in clear, beautiful, morning sun. Crushed.

I had some reasonable good luck when taking shots outside, but nothing that seemed to warrant the high praise written of this camera. My 6 year old Sony Cybershot, with only 4mp & 6x zoom, has given me reliably excellent photos even in the dimmest of light, something I would think this newer technology could easily provide. Not so. Color me disappointed.

Great camera!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I want a camera that takes excellent pictures but really don’t want to learn all of the intricacies of photography. This is the camera for me. The set up was relatively easy following the simple directions, and the camera setting is for “Auto” and probably will never be changed. I have been practicing before our vacation with all different kinds of pictures and they have come out awesome! I love this camera and will be enjoying it for many years to come!

All-around semi-professional camera.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After one month and over 3000 pictures later, I can happily say I love this camera.

The fun part is figuring out what it can do. With all the available settings, it can be a bit intimidating at first. My first photos – especially of my 19-month-old son – turned out a bit blurry.

However, with some practice I’m now catching the little guy more consistently.

Playing with the macro has been the most fun. I’ve caught some amazing photos of insects and flowers. As for the zoom, I’ve taken pictures of high-flying birds and planes, many of which turn out surprisingly clear.

My only gripe is I can’t get closer to my macro subjects. However, with the purchase of a macro lens — which I plan on purchasing soon — will fix that.

It’s also fairly easy to upgrade. With the purchase of an adapter from lensmate, I can now use filters, and of course with the hotshoe I can add an external flash.

If you’re looking for a versatile camera, but don’t have the cash for a DSLR, this is the camera for you.

DON’T FORCE A FILTER ON THIS GEM…..
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Heys guys, this is indeed a sweet camera. Great features which have been covered in other reviews already. This is to simply provide an alternative to applying a filter on the end of this unit. It was not designed to carry one as is. But there is a solution. Amazon does not allow links in these reviews since mine was removed. But the company’s name is Lensmate. They do have a website. This company has come to our rescue, knowing how important a protective filter is. So voila! An adapter which will accomodate any 58mm filter or step ring. I bought mine I also got the lens cap and a UV protective filter ring from this company. A god-sent for sure. Now lets get to shooting some serious pictures without the worry of scratching our camera lens.

Cordially, Manny from Tampa

canon camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the best camera i have ever owned. Beautiful pictures,you can easily grab and hold it well, and not worry about it falling out of your hand.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My use of this camera to date has been somewhatly limited. But so far the camera has been exceptional. All of its many features work and work well. I have read a lot of reports about the cameera being big, bulky and heavy. Well it is all of those, but I find these things to be an attribute. It makes it feel adequate rather than flimsy and cheap.One thing I am not too happy with is battery life. So far I have used only the AA alkaline batteries, which are used up rather soon. In the past I have used NiMH batteries and found them to die from not being used instead of wearing out from use. Which is worse. Your total number of shots is still limited. This camera has an abundance of features and uses power accordingly. The camera has features that are not well covered in the user manual. Trial and error is the answer. All in all this is a very good camera, and I am very happty with it.

Unbelievable
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The zoom on this camera is unbelievable. This is an awesome camera with so many features I still have not mastered! I upgraded from a pocket digital that I felt I had outgrown. I love this camera! On the downside, I highly recommend an additional flash if you intend to take night photos. The built in flash works well until about dusk.

The perfect camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My wife and I purchased this camera due to the Canon name and the long reach zoom. It has been everything we expected and more. If you are looking for a small compact camera with all the benefits and advantages of an SLR with out the weight or having to change lenses continually, you will love this camera.

Best of everthing price and performance
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
A great shopping experience. The camera is wonderful. I wish the type in the hand book was larger.

sx10iscanon
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
instruction book writen very well.takesgreat pictures.i do wish it would have a uv filter to fit it.

great camera/great pictures
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really liked the ease of use, right out of the box! pictures are really good. It has so many options, I’m still experimenting with the camera but it’s a lot of fun!

Best Bridge Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have owned manual slrs, digital point and shoots and auto slrs. I take pictures everywhere I go, for pleasure and work. I previously owned the powershot elph cameras which I liked and found functional. I wanted to upgrade to a digital slr, but the price was too high for me at this time.

This camera does everything a digital single lens reflex does, but without the ability to change out lens. But who needs to with wide angle, macro, supermacro and 560mm zoom capability? For a slr equivalent the weight is actually lighter because the lens is more compact. It handles well. I really like the flexible view finder and how it pivots, but most of all I like the versatility of the picture taking experience. The macro is perfect for close ups. I recently zoomed in on the statute on top of the US Capitol and could clearly see the details. The video is easy to use too.

This camera does everything and at an affordable price. I enjoy taking pitures with this camera and take it with me all the time.

Good Upgrade from older camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Received this as gift for Christmas, and was excited! Been using 8 year old point and shoot and was wanting to get something nicer. Easy to use and has lots of functions which I am sure if you like to tinker then you like this one. Like the video mode and the zoom.

An expensive doorstop!!!!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Ok,let me first say I am a fan of Canon products and purchased this one for the great reviews. This camera is awful! I was deciding between a DSLR and a ‘point and shoot’ and opted to go with the point and shoot. Even though the DSLR would have been nice…all I really need the camera for is taking pictures of my daughter. The fatal flaw of this camera is that it cannot take an action shot to save its life. Try telling a two year old to stay still every time you want to take a picture! All of my pictures come out blurry…in a series of about 20 pictures maybe 1 might be actually usable. I have tried setting the dial to the “action/sports” setting and it is no better than any of the other settings. I have also tried the custom settings to get it to work…but that kind of defeats the purpose of the point and shoot…not to mention it still doesn’t work. My $100 little pocket camera takes better ‘real’ pictures than this. The camera is nice for taking pictures of still shots…but that’s it. Not a good value for the money. Either upgrade to the DSLR or downgrade to a good point and shoot.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Canon Powershot SX10IS is great. This is the third Canon Powershot SX I’ve had because Canon keeps adding new improvements. The controls are easy to use and understand. I take wildlife picures out my diningroom window and at 20X zoom it’s like they’re right outside the window. The pictures are clear and bright. I would highly recommend the camera to my friends.

Small complains
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this as an upgrade to my trusty old Canon S2. Based on 3 days experience, the photographic aspect of the camera is great – better than the S2 particularly the 28mm wide angle. However, I have a few little complains on the ergonomic side.

(1) The cammera is significantly larger and heavier than the S2. And it is bit of a pain since I cannot reuse my old S2 camera case.

(2) The SX10 comes with a clip-on lens cap which is pretty finicky to put on in comparison to the S2 plastic lens cap which I can easily and quickly slap on to the lens housing. Furthermore, while the S2 cap comes with a string to be attached to the camera body. That is not the case with the SX10. So I can see losing my lens cap pretty soon.

(3) The inside grip on the S2 is kind of sanded so it can be gripped firmly. The grip on the SX10 is smooth and a bit slippery. It does not offer me as firm and confident a grip as the S2, particularly when the camera is heavier. May be it will become less slippery with time.

Other than the above, good camera.

Very Good but Low light performance is a major weakness!!!
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I recently upgraded from an S3 IS to the SX10 IS. Canono has made a lot of improvements (more optical zoom, better display with more information, higher ISO, higher pixels, better face detection). The list is quite long and I must say that some additions really add value to the camera and improve the perforamnce. I won’t go into too much details as they have been amply covered by other reviewers.

The pictures are generally sharp outdoors and are comparable to other point and shoot cameras with super zoom. Without being too technical, I can say that the camera’s value for money is very good in its own class.

My only complain is the low light performance, especially the video. I tested the camera indoors during a school concert and I was surprised to find that the camera struggled to keep the subject in focus during video recording. I have never experienced that with the S3 or the S2 that i owned previously. Moreover, still pictures taken in low lights also are affected by the camera’s weak autofocusing. I was prepared to live with the conversion from the AVI to the MOV format but the low light performance is really a turn off for me.

A major strength of the IS series was the excellent movie mode with zoom and stereo sound and I did not feel the need to carry my camcorder for recording movies.

If you own an S3 or an S5, I would recommend not upgrading rt now. I am on the verge of returning the camera after christmas primarily to the Poor low light performance.

Update (12/27/2008)

Returned the camera today. Extensively tested the low light perofrmance and flash results but its not worth spending 400 bucks for such a performance. Am seriously considering the XSi DSLR as my next camera.

Great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It took only two days for me to get the camera. This is really a great camera with reasonal price, I can try a lot of staff.

A great option for the serious amateur
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Having owned a Canon Powershot S1 IS for several years, this camera had many familiar touches. There are some differences, too, so there is a bit of a learning curve. However, the more I use the camera, the more I appreciate the changes. For example, to set the self-timer, I push a button on the back of the camera instead of one on the front top. The view finder is much more clear and the LCD screen is significantly larger than previous models – and very usable when I choose to not use the view finder. What I like about this over many cameras in its price range is that it has multiple automatic settings and it has manual settings for the serious amateur who wants full creative control over what the camera does. The ONLY down side I have found is that the camera really does not support lens filters. I have been able to gently screw the 52 mm UV filter from my old camera in place, and I have not had any problems doing so. But I can tell the few threads on the lens are not really intended for this use, so I won’t be changing filters any more than absolutely necessary. If Canon would make that one change, I would say this is the perfect camera for someone who does not need the step up – in both price and weight, as well as cost – of a full DSLR, but who wants to do much more than point and shoot.

i like it
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I couldn’t wait to get my new canon Powershot Sx10is, This is my first camera like this and I am having fun alot of the pics are turning out good, I still need to play more and learn some of the other setting. Iam having some troubles with night shots turning out blurry. went on vacation to the beach and those pics turned out the best. I love it and like I said I need to play with it more to learn all the other settings.

Great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Before my new Canon SX10IS camera I had a small digital. There is no comparison. We were just at the beach for a week and I could zoom in on boats out in the Gulf of Mexico so clearly you could read the name of the ship. When you put it into macro you are zooming in at 80x when at full zoom! It is wonderful! I am only 1/3 thru the instruction manual and can not believe what all this camera can do. I would recommend it 100%!

Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
(+) Upgraded from the 6MP model, which I loved. This camera meets all expectations. Similar easy-to-use format; a few minor changes for the good. And, yes, you can see the craters on the moon with the 20x optical zoom. But I prefer using it to bring objects 6 feet away to within inches. This model also features a hot shoe for an optional flash. The Zoom-Browser software has been improved…good for maintaining files and simple photo fixes.

(-) Had to buy a lense cap tether. Sometimes the auto-focus has trouble if you are zooming in too much on close-ups. (That’s just a matter of getting used to the camera’s quirks.)

Best $300-$400 Camera on Market,Period!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the best advanced compact on the market. Very easy to use. Great results. Powerful zoom and many controls.

Great Point and Shoot
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera has been a joy to have. You can take great pictures with auto set and fantastic pictures with the manual controls. This is a great starter camera for the money.

Use the camera for my hiking adventures and it has never failed me yet. Camera is solid built, easy to handle and the rotating LCD screen is fantastic!

Canon SX10 IS Review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great purchase! For those looking to get into photography and don’t know a whole lot, like myself, this is a great “gateway” camera. At the very least, it improves your regularly taken picture’s quality. Can’t say enough about this camera.

Great overall camera.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Im in love with my new camera. It has so many features i cant tell, picture quality its excelent, video quality its great.. and beeing able to shoot a picture while recording and full zooming whatever you want IN and Out without having to stop the video like in some other cameras its just amazing. The 20x zoom with image stabilizer exceeded my expactations, it works great.. i just went to a concert the other day and got great pictures and video from very far away.

I think this is the best camera on the market in its class and most of all in PRICE .

The only disadvantage i see in it its the fact that it works on 4 AA batteries wich you can solve with buying an rechargable batteries kit.

A must have

Love love love this camera!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I absolutely love this camera! I am not a professional photographer, and this camera is perfect. I am still learning all the different things it can do. I like that there is so much to it, but you don’t need to know how to use all the extras to take nice pictures. The LCD screen did get a small scratch on it already, but I am extra careful with it to make sure that doesn’t happen again. And the lens cap is easily misplaced, so you need to be cautious of that.

I am still learning how to use this camera. It is taking a while, because I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old, but I use the camera all the time.

I love it
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I simply love it. This is the best camera in this price range. A good starting point for learning about photography as well.

Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great camera and I consider a good investment. The cost was great and the pictuer quality is fantastic. What a great camera…..

Good camera, fair software, horrible manual
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This is a good camera. I am a forensic scientist and have to take photos for a lot of my work. Overall I am pleased. It has a little trouble capturing the focus under lower light conditions. The software is not great, but if you learn its quirks, it get the job done (some menus are “concealed”- only accessible by pressing an obscure series of buttons- it you do not have the secret sequence you won’t find the menus). The manual is really really bad- Example: Hmmm, how do I operate the self timer? OK, thats in the index- go to the page- it tells you it can be operated in several fashions -BUT DOES NOT TELL YOU HOW TO ACTUALLY DO IT! Frustrating on an otherwise good camera

Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Lot’s of features for the money. I’m a NIKON person myself but I like this better than the average point and shot camera. No tripod necessary even with 10 MGP because of the image stabilizer which is why I bought the camera. It has a 20X zoom, a micro setting, a huge view screen that swivels for your convenience, takes movies with sound (3 mics). And these are just some of the features. Be sure to purchase a 4Gig memory card if you want to take advantage of the movie setting so you can shoot for 20 continuous minutes. Instead of packing up my NIKON gear I now take this camera with me almost anytime I go out. You can take very good pictures with it with just a little bit of practice so you will remember to change your distance settings to capture the “right” depth of field. I would recommend this camera to novice and serious amature alike. It’s GREAT! If there is a drawback it’s that you can’t use filters with it. To me that is not important with this camera.

A great camera, period!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera to replace my older point and shoot Canon because I have recently gotten into racing photography and graphic design for my business. I needed something a little more high end without going the full digital SLR route. Honestly, most people that carry around the SLR’s and 4 lenses are total overkill anyway. The shots from this camera I can almost guarantee you, are just as good as theirs.

This camera has totally exceeded my expectations in both picture quality and ease of use. The manual adjustments on this camera make it really easy to adjust settings for various environments, including racing photography. The size of the camera is perfect and I love having the flexibility of it without having to buy or carry around 10 different lenses, flashes, etc.

I have tested this camera out on all sorts of different subjects and it really produces great shots across the entire spectrum. For the money, I really don’t see how this camera can be beat. Unless you are some stalker paparazzi type of person, this camera should fit most any photographic need you have, while still being a simple camera to operate.

I find the layout of the buttons to be quite nice, contrary to other reviews. The screen on this camera is also really nice, but I rarely use it.

My only negative for this camera (as others have mentioned) is that the lens cap needs a string on it or some way to keep better track of it.

Overall, a great camera that I am extremely happy with. I have purchased Canon products for the last 10 years and will continue to do so.

What a Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If you want a professional camera for less, this is your option, the best in the market for begginer and sure for professionals, this is incredible, i love it. Its a bargain…

Good enough just got better
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been using manual SLR’s all my life and was reluctant to go digital. Amazon of course had the best price, but was I ever surprised regarding quality when I began using this camera. It really does have all the functions a fancy SLR does but at a fraction of the cost. For prior Canon EOS users, this is almost an exact replica. You can still manually focus and manipulate shutter speeds and F-stops. The picture quality is UNBELIEVABLE-even better than my fancy Hadsselblad. It’s small enough to carry anywhere and easy to use. Memory card is only $14 at Best Buy. The photo manipulatin software that comes with it is great too. You can doctor up any image and make it perfect. You will need an extra flash on the hot shoe if you are shooting from very far away in a dimly lit room but otherwuse the one the camera comes with does the job.

I LOVE MY NEW SX10IS CAMERA!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I couldn’t make up my mind what type of camera I wanted to purchase; an SLR or a point and shoot. I knew what features I wanted, but up until recently I couldn’t find a camera fitting all my needs. I decided that for my purposes of taking travel pictures I wanted something easy to use, but an upgrade to my present camera, a Canon PowerShot A610. I really liked the shape of the camera, which is easy to hold with one hand. Then one of the best features was vari-angle LCD. After searching different cameras I was thrilled when I found the SX10IS which had most if not all the features I had been looking for. I wanted at least 18x optical zoom and this has 20x; I definitely wanted the vari-angle LCD for taking pictures either higher or lower than a comfortable viewing level. (It sure saves on backs when wanting to take a close up of a flower and you can turn the viewer up and hold the camera down at arms length to get a great picture). It also has the easy grip like my older camera, however I find there are more buttons that I sometimes push inadvertantly, and get out of the mode that I want to be in. As I get more used to the camera I don’t mess up as often. The pictures come out crystal clear and I can zoom in when viewing on my computer and still get great pixel clarity. The finished photos I have had processed have come out close to studio quality. Recently I took portraits of guests at our Christmas party and had rave reviews of the finished product with many ordering additional prints to send to family and friends. Also, I was extremely pleased when taking photos at the Tournament of Roses parade last week.

Most electonic gadgets have more features on them then one will ever use, and this camera is no exception. Slowly, I am trying to learn more to take advantage of more features. On the other hand, if you want ease of use then with this camera you can be out taking pictures as soon as you put in your batteries and memory card. Speaking of memory cards, you will want to buy a high speed card to take advantage of the continuous shoot feature. This is great when taking pictures of moving objects. Another feature I haven’t mentioned is the great video (with sound) that you can take with this camera. Having a high capacity memory SD card helps. I always carry extra cards, but with my new 8 GB card I won’t be using the extra cards very often.

Face recognition is another feature I haven’t used before. It is an interesting feature and new tool when taking group shots.

I could go on and on, there are so many good things I could say about this camera. I really don’t have any negatives other than accidentally pushing buttons when I don’t want to. As I had read in another review, the controls are “touchy” and you have to be aware of where your “fat fingers” land.

I’m a senior citizen who loves to take pictures and have thousands of photos on my computer. I enjoy viewing slide shows of all the pictures of our travels throughout the USA and also abroad. If you want to take a step up from the compact point and shoot then I would highly recommend the Canon PowerShot SX10IS. It has features you will appreciate for taking photos both indoors and out.

Amazing ZOOM and Stabilization
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
If your pictures aren’t turning out, you’re probably doing something wrong. Small changes make a huge difference. Especially simple things like the White Balance/changing the light source. Take a picture of a cut open watermelon and watch the red heart go from auto bland to a bright juicy red. You can even set the Red in the Colors menu. But just changing the light source makes all the diffence in the world! The most amazing thing with this camera is the Stabilization!!! You can free hand all the way into the digital zoom and have your pictures come out clearer and better than they even look through the lcd. I’m constantly amazed at how stable it is. That’s what made me choose this over the Nikon with 20x optical zoom and the rest of the competition. Just zoom out in the store and watch it find and track Faces from 10′ to 100′. It even seperates the Facial Recognition pic.s when you download into it’s own file, just faces.

Just for the hell-of-it, when I registered this camera, I let CANON know that my 4 year old A75 PowerShot stopped working. It blurred out with purple vertical lines. They said to send it in and they’d fix it for free if it was one of those that got a bad CCD. Ten minutes ago the Fed Ex guy brought it back and it’s fixed!!! FREE, new CCD and adjusted and cleaned! Amazing. Just that alone makes me glad that I picked the Canon. What other company would pay shipping and fix a 4 year old camera for FREE?! NONE!!! Very Impressed with Canon. They’ve made me a loyal customer for life. They probably fixed it because I just bought this SX10IS. But, they didn’t have to. I never expected them to do this. I was just curious to why my A75 went bad and if it was worth fixing to use as my work camera. Anyway, I never write reviews, but no one’s ever fixed a camera that’s years past warranty for free and had it back in under 2 weeks!!! My next camera will be a Canon, and the one after that, and after that… When I was researching for the SX10IS, the main complaint was that the lens cap gets lost. Mine hasn’t and they make caps with a lanyard for like [...] bucks! What it comes down to is, shake all you want, your pictures will still come out butter smooth, even a mile away!!!

Great for the Money / Would Rather have had SX1 IS
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The Powershot SX10 IS is the best overall camera you can purchase for the money. Money saving features are as follows: AA batteries, SD Card, 28mm to 560mm lens. Batteries are a big thing. Rechargeables will not last forever, they wear even if you aren’t using them. When you need batteries, at the last minute, you can use Alkaline AA. For your typical tourist activities the lens will be more than enough. The SD cards are the cheapest around.

The one additional feature the camera has is the menu/picture review screen. The screen works much like the screens on Digital Camcorders. It allows moving the camera overhead and around corners or is just convenient for use when taking self-portraits on a timer. You can rotate the screen around to point in the same direction as the lens.

No other camera, other than the SX1 IS w/CMOS, combines all these features. Since the SX1 IS is currently only being sold in Europe and Asia, at the time of this review, and any warranty work would be problematic this leaves out this camera. It’s an extra $300-$400 extra the same price as a SLR, but you still have AA batteries and SD card.

The picture quality is great, the addition of full manual control, VHS quality video and a High Speed ISO makes this camera a great buy and a bargain.

awesome camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I tend to stick with Canon video cameras. I have been wanting something with high res. and a good zoom. This one fill the bill. You can get really close, takes great pics and I love the facial recognition for a timed photo.

Review for the Canon SX10IS camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a great camera. I bought it on the recommendation of a friend who has one, and it does everything I want it to. The 20x zoom is perfect the the sports mode which I tried out at the beach, works perfectly. The only thing I do not like about it is that the lens cover is not attached. My Kodak had a string attached to the lens cap so it could never be lost. This cap doesn’t and is supposed to clip on the strap but fell off. It is also difficult to attach. Other than that, the camera is perfect.

One of the better cameras I ever owned
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
It’s not a DSLR but it comes pretty darn close. What doesn’t it have that a DSLR does?

1. Well the obvious is you can’t change lenses but with such a large zoom and super macro why carry around all that stuff just to take hobby shots?

2. The sensor is never going to be as great as the higher end cameras, but it does a darn good job if you know how to work your settings and use a tripod.

3. You can’t shoot raw. Again this is for the person who likes to take photos rather than switching out lenses, cleaning innards of the body, and sitting in front of the computer tweaking all day.

That being said if you’re looking for a more “professional camera” go for the new Rebel (I believe the new one has live view that the older models don’t and that is a real plus.)

Okay so shooting at anything above 400ISO gets noisy. My solution – use a tripod for longer exposures at a lower ISO or use flash when possible.

The zoom is great and though you do lose some quality there is an image stabalizer, you will get shake — again use a tripod or monopod.

The thing is so easy to use, I never even read the instruction manual. It’s all right there on the camera, you just have to play around with it.

Burst mode is kinda slow, but again it’s under $400 camera — there are going to be some trade offs for the all-in-one-point-and-shoot.

USE the scene settings, they are marvelous, and can actually help train you on how to set the camera manually. The indoor mode is fantastic at setting the white balance.

The best situation for any camera is lots of light so expect noise, blur etc in darker settings. Get yourself a flash — Speedlite 430ex or better if you have the cash. I am still waiting for mine, but if you like to bounce flash off the wall behind you do some more research on it. Get a diffuser and/or bounce the crap out of it. Experiment and play. Once you learn the camera and its nuances, you will be able to get the most out of it.

Spend the money and get a fast memory card with a lot of space.

This camera is now my baby and I have used the Olympus Camedia 3.2 MP for quite some time and I have taken a lot of great photos with it. I had the older rebel, hated that it didn’t have live view and didn’t have the money to buy fast telephoto lenses. Sold it. I recommend you keep yours if you have one though… they are great cameras.

I will be shooting intimate events (baby showers, small weddings, birthday and holiday parties) with this one and using my friend’s rebel as a backup. LOL imagine that!!? I figure I can make some of my cash back maybe even enough to get the new rebel.

If you want something that is easy to use, has a great zoom lens, takes great photos and is under $400, this is the camera for you. It’s a canon and the resale value should stick should you want to upgrade in a year.

T-

canon sx10IS
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I only have this camera for less than 1 month and only used it once. So far, it gave me excellent pictures. I have to learn more about it before I could give it a higher rating

Nhut

Excellent choice!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Excellent camera and is the best I’ve ever bought. This camera has brought my photography to a whole new level.

Caution is the word for this camera
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
You get what you pay for, and I evidently down-sized in some unanticipated ways from a Panasonic FZ-50 to this Canon, hoping for the added benefit of the extra zoom. Just beware of this camera’s limited capabilities in low light – and without bright light – the problem of uncertainty of focus at maximum zoom. When you change the ISO to 200, you pick up discernible noise, inapparent when you check you pictures on the LCD. I should add that the “wheel” which manages ISO and other changes is cheaply made and awkward to use and that both the view finder and the LCD are – frankly – not quality. By the way, the video button, which is easy to get to, is in fact awkward to use and I find I have to push down. I will say I have no problem with the rechargeable battery solution – though its a nuisance – and an obvious way of Canon controlling costs. Do know I spent much less for this camera than for the Panasonic when it first came out, so I understand I got what I paid for. There are some interesting bells and whistles, but these compensate for the shortcomings in the basics. My hunch is that this is the case with the SI 20 as well. But with any luck Canon won’t have me as a consumer again.

I love this camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I want to preface and say that I am not a professional photographer, but an amateur amateur photographer. I like to take quality pictures without having to go thru alot of hassle. My previous camera was a Kodak Easyshare C875, which is a great camera and allowed me to take some pretty awesome shots…but I knew i was ready for more. I take my friends’ kids’ pictures in every season…again, its really just for practice for me, and she reaps the benefit.

So I do my homework and read reviews on this camera, and pretty much everyone who uses it likes it. I get it in my hands finally and i LOVE the way it feels….it is a little bulky, but I like the weight in my hands. I love the swing out LCD screen, which also doubles as a protective measure for it too. The pictures I have taken so far with this camera have been of amazing quality, and print out fantastic. I like that this camera is great for people of all abilities too….as I learn more about photography, I can do more with the camera. But someone could even “point and click” with this camera too. I cant wait to be able to get more out of this camera. I love it!

Fantastic Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just received this camera after months of research.I narrowed it down between the sx10 and the fx28. I now know I made the right decision with the sx10. Any bad reviews on this product can only be for three reasons.

they are canon haters, they dont know how to operate the camera, or they received a defective camera. This camera focuses spot on quickly in light or dark areas.The picture quality is close to dslr quality. The movie mode is as good as my sony digital handy cam.The camera feels great in your hands and there are so many options that it is a great camera for photo enthusiasts. It is also a great point and shoot camera if you dont want to get into all of the options. The purple fringing everybody talks about is absent on regular size prints. If you blow them up the pictures look beautiful, with vivid scrumptious quality. If you purchase this camera make sure you buy the 4000 leather case made by canon for it. they go well togeather. Like I said dont listen to the negative feed back. True it doesnt have raw, But I know it will be available on wiki soon for a download. Dont hesitate get it now Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoomyou wont be disappointed.

Canon Powershot SX10IS Digital Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Quick delivery! I’m still learning how to navigate the menu options. It’s very different from from Kodak Easy Share, which seemed more user friendly. Love the video option.

best ever
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
if you want a camera thats not too big and not too small then get this one. it is the BEST ever! it takes out-of-this-world pictures and high quality videos. this camera can meet all of your photography needs. it even takes great pictures at night. it may be a little on the pricey side, but it is well worth it. trust me and just get it.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been using digital cameras for a while now, & I am impressed with this one. I am a “use to learn” type of person, so I am enjoying finding new options on my camera as I go. I occasionally review my manual if there is something I must know right away, but all in all I really am enjoying learning my way around this camera.

What a great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
First let me say I am not any kind of photography expert. I have owned a 35mm Canon rebel and a Minolta SLR. The rebel took decent pictures but the Minolta was terrible. So needless to say I never really learned to use them. I was alway a Point and SHoot gal. This camera takes AMAZING pictures straight out of the box. THe large zoom really focuses well. I still haven’t taken the time to learn about all the features but so far I am loving this camera.

Powershot
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The first Powershot I got was DOA…Amazon was lightning quick about replacing it and the 2nd one was far better EXCEPT PLAN on replacing the batteries IMMEDIATELY! I am still learning the immense capabilities of this camera and love that I can take movies as well as still shots.

Canon SX10 IS Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Purchased this camera as a gift and checked it out first. The first camera had some defects and I returned it. Amazon was great in their response, had the replacement shipped before I could return the original unit. Second camera was terrific. Felt good to operate, and focusing and shutter release responses were great. Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom Excellent product and terrific service from Amazon. Joseph G Shimandle

Love it – but purple fringe still there
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I adored my old Canon S2 IS so much that when it got dropped in the ocean there was really no question about replacing it with another Canon superzoom. I take a lot of wildlife pix, and the availability of a 560mm lens in a small, light, inexpensive package made the selection of my new SX10 IS pretty much a no-brainer.

The trick new features like evaluative color balance and the histogram-in-viewfinder are easy and intuitive to use, but it’s that incredible lens that really makes the package. It’s not perfect – any lens that’s so compact has to have some chromatic aberration: there’s purple fringing visible in high-contrast areas of the images. It all depends on how closely you look, and how picky you are. But it’s a fair trade, considering that the long lens allows me to capture images that I couldn’t even consider with the average DSLR. Not to mention that the size, weight, and cost of DSLR’s means that they stay home on most casual outings.

Go ahead and price a stabilized 500mm lens for your SLR, and after you recover from fainting, you’ll appreciate how much this little guy offers for the price. Amazingly, I paid exactly the same for my new SX10 IS that I did for my S2 IS several years ago.

Downsides: I miss the time-lapse feature, or “Intervalometer.” The package is heavier than my old S2 IS. And there’s that fringing visible in outdoor shots.

Upsides: 20X, low price, fast & intuitive controls, and zero shutter lag. It’s also nice to use SD cards and AA batteries.

Easy to learn in a pinch
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My 11-month-old Olympus died just before I was scheduled to leave for a three week visit to England. Olympus would not honor their warranty and I refused to pay nearly $200 to repair a $300-camera and ordered this one instead. Free shipping from Amazon got it to me the day before I left so I had no time to become familiar with it, something I was apprehensive about since I’d never owned a Canon but it was not difficult to use at all. I bought a 16GB memory card in London so I would had lots of space available to practice but found I really didn’t need it. I got some great shots and some very good videos of my friend’s birthday celebration with a minimum of deletions. (I also use it to take photos for newspaper articles I write.) Definitely not disappointed and I give this one a huge thumbs up for quality and ease of use and to Amazon for quick service.

a good cam
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
a good cam, don’t listen to the low light stuff, just learn how to use “M” mode. It’s a tool, and ya gotta learn how to use it, read the manual and take lots of test shots. Its big, but that makes it stable, and the view finder lets you use your head as a tripod. Vibrant color setting makes a difference, and IS set to shot makes a difference. Use the highest image quality setting, spend the [...] bucks and get a 8 meg card. Shoot with the lowest ISO you can get away with. I think my pics rival my brother’s D50 dslr in quality. The 20x zoom lets you play around and get some cool background/foreground in/out of focus shots. The stereo video is cool too. The wheel thing is fine once you get used to it, would have been better if it was like the sx110, which is also a good cam.

Perfect Camera! So glad I picked the Canon SX10IS!!!
Rating:5 out of 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!

Amazing
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Canon Powershot SX10is is probably the nicest digital I could ever want to use. The pictures are clear and crisp. I love that you can take pictures WHILE taking videos and the features are OUTSTANDING. It is an easy to use digital with all the bells and whistles that one could hope for in its price range!Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Best Digital Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital camera is by far the best digital camera I’ve ever had… and I haven’t even touched the surface on all the things I could do with it. It’s easy to use and the zoom is unbelievable!

Highly recomended
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I think this is an Excellent camera y highly recomend it. I am no pro in picture taking and this camera makes me feel y am an excellent photographer. The definition is great. It has an awesome zoom. Easy to use. The cons i see is it is a little bit heavy and bulky compared to a pocket camera and the pick up flash is not automatic. It has excellent colours and a good dispay even though I would have liked a little bigger one as some of the competition cameras.

Keeps getting better & better
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been a (more or less) serious photographer for almost 70 years, and an earlybird with practically every technological advance in photography since then. In other words, I’ve seen ‘em all.

Digital is the great revolution — nothing in the past comes close to that leap forward. I migrated to it 10 years ago, have owned a dozen or more cameras, and haven’t looked back since.

Disclaimer: I’m not a professional photographer. What photos I sell might cover my expenses plus a little (13″ x 19″ prints take lots of expensive ink). I don’t have to produce near-perfect work day in and day out in a studio or on assignments. Those who have the talent and energy to do this work should have whatever equipment fits their needs. They earn it.

I, on the other hand, am among the legions who have the luxury of picking and choosing when, where, and what to photograph. I can make as many errors as I do without damage except to my ego. I can play around with subject, setting, lighting, color, mood, and all those little things that differentiate photography from cellphone snapshots. I don’t pay penalties for my goofs.

I’ve had my Canon SX10IS for a only a few weeks, but I can conclude that its value for the money is simply incredible! Whatever nits I can pick (and there are a few) are more in the realm of digging through its scores of features and trying to decide which to use; not in the overall quality, which is simply outstanding.

That said, I have to object to what appears to be an ongoing undercurrent of disdain for anything-but-SLRs that keeps coming up in product reviews. Aside from larger CCD sensors, I can’t find anything significantly better in most SLRs than in the mid-range non-SLRs such as the SX-10. After decades of lugging several bodies and a half-dozen lenses around in multiple suitcase-sized bags, missing shots because it took so long to screw everything together, while paying many thousands of bucks for the inconvenience, I’m absolutely liberated from the SLR and hope I never have to use one again. The SX10′s incredible 20x wide-angle optical zoom eliminates any need I might have for multiple lenses — I’m not a telephoto zealot. The ease of use eclipses any extra features the SLR might have. The historic SLR advantage of an image seen through the taking lens has been made obsolete by the electronic viewfinder and LCD screen that see through the lens. All that’s left for the SLR is lens super-quality and interchangability, more light-gathering ability, and snob appeal. Most of us won’t improve our non-professional results much, if at all, with these technical advantages. (I can use Tiger Woods’ $10,000 golf clubs and not take a stroke off my score. But he can take my $750 set and shoot under par right out of the bag.)

There are mossbacks out there who cling to the notion that if it ain’t film, it ain’t photography; and that if it ain’t an SLR, it ain’t a camera. Nonsense. It ain’t the equipment, it’s what you do with it.

Oh, and by the way — the best camera is the one you have with you. For me, it’s my Canon SD-1100-IS that’s always in my pocket; my SX-10-IS is now the one that rides around with me in my car; while my SLRs and bags of lenses languish at home in the closet.

These are serious cameras for the rest of us. Bless you, Canon

GREAT CAMERA
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased the camera a few days before my trip to the Caribbean. I didn’t have much time to get the feel of it but took it anyway. It was quite user friendly and took out superb pictures. All my friends were amazed by the clarity and detail shown in the pics. I would recommend this camera to anyone who wants to snap some professonal style pics without having to purchase a $800 plus camera.

The product met my expectations
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is very good. Zoom is very big for semi-professional cameras. The product met my expectations.

Excellent Buy
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Wonderful, amazing product. Superb results. You can’t go wrong with this one.I am no professional, but having used a canon digital box camera earlier, this is a big switch & makes you relize that you have been living a stone age life so far. The zoom is excellent. There are few places you won’t need to travel to view them, coz’ this powerful zoom will bring those things much closer to you. Even night results are great, although if shooting with subjects in front, you have to be cautious of the distance as too close or too far can make or break a great picture.

The only downside is the battery pack, which you need to change often. For example during our last vacation with a whole day road trip planned which included sight seeing, the batteries hardly lasted us for the whole day & if you are making movies, then it’ll eat it up even faster.

I would strongly suggest to carry extra batteries at all times.

If canon can replace this for a lithium battery pack, then that’ll make this unit flawless.

On the whole i’ll still give it 2 thumbs up & definitely suggest to others to buy.

I like it.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’d looked for a camera to amateurs, sporadic jobs, hobbies, etc. with some goodies and semi-professional works. When I saw this model, I thought that’s my camera. Now I try to know its capabilities, and let me tell you, its a lot. I’ll never imagined its versatility and functionality. I like so much, and even learn all about, because its necessary. If you are seemed as me, I recommend you this camera.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The camera has lots of functionality and is worth the price. It is a little on the heavy side but with the super zoom it’s worth it.

Excellent Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have experimented with the camera in multiple settings, each time it has performed wonderfully. As an amateur, I find the basic settings of the camera easy to use. I look forward to learning more about it. Highly recommended!!!

great camera, a little bulky
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera is easy to use even for an inexperienced photographer. It is a bit bulky, but has a great range from telephoto macro.

The best long zoom Point & Shoot?—–Probably is.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is our second Canon Powershot. The SX1 IS was terrific and after 25,000 saved images, the focusing gears were literally griding. (The time spent taking photos in a desert sandstorm may have contributed!) The SX10 IS is terrific because–it has low shutter lag time, excellent face recognition focusing, is solidly built and fits the hand well, 20X zoom, very effective image stabilization that allows frequent use of the long zoom in surprisingly low light, has 10 megapixel resolution and uses normal AAA batteries, We always use rechargables and get several hundred photos (without flash usage) between recharging. The swivel screen is a major aid in taking closeups of flowers, insects and small children. With 7 grandchildren and living in the beautiful Northwest, it rarely cools off!

As close to professional as you can get.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera to take photos of some collectible items for a magazine. The camera is simple enough to figure out straight out of the box, but has numerous features that make this camera great for most situations.

I don recommend that you read the book to get a better understanding of the uses and you will need to buy a stronger flash if you plan on taking photos that require the camera lighting from more than 20feet away.

Very impressive product
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Bought the SX10IS recently. Had done a lot of research prior to this decision as I was really conflicted whether to invest in a DSLR or a prosumer camera. In the end, given my usage, I think I made a very wise decision.

The range of this camera is fantastic. Like most canon products it is very technologically advanced and it did take some time to figure out options. It probably has more than I will ever use.

Got some good results in very low lighting and it was not as large or heavy as I expected it to be. The zoom lense is simply unbelievable but a tripod is required for really exploring the distance.

This is second camera and again a Canon. I had waited for Digital tech to reach a point where it becomes worth investing. This camera fit the price, quality and feature equation perfectly. In my view, its a better buy than an entry level DSLR.

Best in features and quality
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I upgraded from the S2 IS, an excellente camera.

To see an extensive and deep review of the superzoom cameras check this:

[...]

If you are looking for a digital camera with more zoom than 5X, the SX 10 IS is the one. You will have 20X, Video mode in just a button, snapshot while filming, zoom while filming. Picture quality is superb, a lot of modes, like Auto, you just point and shoot, Manual, you perform your own scenario, and a lot more. If you like to make close-ups, the Macro mode is unique, you can put the object at the lens 0cm, and works perfect.

If I had to change something, I would give the lens more aperture, it comes with 2.8-5.7, I would like 2.8-4.5.

Go for it.

Danny

Canon SX10IS Digital Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Wow, what a piece of equipment! I am still getting used to all the settings on this camera! There is so much more capability than a point & shoot style digital camera I just graduated from. One thing I do not care for is the fact that this camera does not accept filters, I am a big fan of polarizers. But, as Canon has explained to me, you correct your exposures with the editing software included with this camera. I love the zoom range, the lens is perfect for all photo opportunities & situations. This is a great camera if you like to dabble with settings and exposures like you could with the old film SLR’s. And the price is way below the digital SLR’s. If you just want an easy camera that you can pick up & shoot, this may not be the one for you. It requires some thought about what setting you need to use. But if you are a discriminating photographer, there’s probably features that are not available on this camera. It’s a good middle of the road camera with SLR body styling.

Nice design, Two non-fatal flaws – depending…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I upgraded to this from a simpler Powershot A70 (if I recall the model correctly) that “fried” after 2500 photos on a study tour at desert archeological sites last year. I wasn’t ready for carrying and swapping multiple lenses and larger bags whether climbing through tight quarters in ancient temples or over slippery rocks and trails in rain forests. So the SX10IS was a logical move with the easy for a non-power-user interface, what was the most powerful zoom at the time for the price range, and 10MP. So far the photos have been pretty good, with only a few blurred. Colors appear clear and bright. Battery life appears to be pretty good. And I like the movie mode that runs as long as I have power or memory left. However, it has two flaws a new buyer should consider. The lesser is the very blurry optical viewer. It is only good for aiming the camera at an object and trusting the auto-focus to get the shot. It usually does a good job of focusing if given enough time for the autofocus to engage. The digital viewer works great though. The bigger issue is with the time it takes to refresh in between shots. If you need to take a series of shots within 3 seconds, forget it. Refresh rate is very slow. Use the movie mode instead. I am adjusting my tactics to get the images I want around these two flaws and overall I still like the camera. The pluses outweigh the minuses for my use. But be informed before making your decision.

A great bridge
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera because it is large enough to hold on to and has many features of SLR – without the price. So far I have loved using it. It has a few buttons (diaopter) that are a little hard to use because they are small. Over all it makes a great addition to the canon line which I have always loved.

All you expect a Canon to be
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am extreamly happy with this camera, it does everything I wanted it to do. Great zoom, and Great macro. Perfect for all types of photos.

Canon Powershot -powerpooped!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Camera failed after only 2 months of sparing use! ( I don’t think I took 20 pic’s ) Went to erase photos and keep getting “busy” signal. Would not erase. Then I took shots and camera said “no image”. I would not buy a Canon digital camera ever again nor would I recommend one.

Fantastic Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Let me start by saying that I’m basically a point and shoot kind of camera user, from time to time I get creative and do a little bit of macro photos and B&Ws but that’s it.

I upgraded from the S2 IS and I must say that I’m really happy with my new camera, it feels less clunky that the S2, the black body color is definitely nicer that the old silver and the bigger screen is a superb improvement.

The IS works pretty well and you will notice it the most at full zoom. Another really nice thing is the wide angle lens, no one is left outside the photo in confined spaces (like small rooms, or cramped restaurants) anymore.

I’ve been reluctant to buy a SLR because of the wider selection of lenses and the investment that it demands, with this camera so far I can cover all my needs and postpone the jump to a SLR even further.

Bottomline, if you want an all around camera with a super zoom and wide lens then this is the camera for you…

GOOD BUT A LITTLE SLOW TO USE THE TIME TO flash
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
EXELENTE CAMARA DE VERDAD DE MUY BUENA CALIDAD LAS IMAGENES QUE SE OPTIENEN LO UNICO QUE E NOTADO ES QUE SE PONE UN POCO LENTA AL MOMENTO DE USAR EL FLASH INCORPORADO PERO NO ES ALGO DE GRAN RELEVANCIA.

CON RESPECTO L TRATO DE AMAZON ES EXELENTE FUEON PUNTUALES EN SU ENTREGA Y EL PRODUCTO LLEGO EN OPTIMAS CONDICIONES.

DE VERDAD LOS RECOMIENDO..

good for the price
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a very good camera for beginner photographers to learn all about cameras and their different settings , but you won’t get photos as good as a dslr camera like the canon rebel xs for example , but it has everything you need and the zoom range is awesome but if youre looking for something more of a professional type i suggest a dslr camera

digital camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I absolutely love the camera. It is easy to use and takes great pictures. Gives me the ability to zoom way in without having to change lenses.

Great camera, still not SLR but close
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a great camera for a point and shoot. The zoom lens is nice but still gets blurry at times. The camera is heavy and made of good quality. The dial is similar to SLR dials so it seems to be a good stepping stone to a SLR. However, the clarity is not quite as good. The nice factor is being able to carry around one camera with the lens attached instead of having to carry around multiple lens, etc. The red eye feature is one of the best I have ever seen. I was able to capture beautiful close up pictures of flowers with vibrant colors, as well as capture fireworks scenes, and sunsets. The features are nice. The camera is easy to use and learn. Seems like a good starting point before a SLR purchase.

Rec. camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The camera was easy to use from the start. More time is needed to use all the features to their fullest. The zoom range is excellent. It is easy to take to a variety of activities, especially for a camera with these features.

Good camera quality, disappointed with video!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I purchased the SX10IS because I really liked my S3IS but I wanted the 10MP so that I could print out large high quality prints of my wildlife pictures. I haven’t had a lot of time to test the camera out, but one thing that I have found that I really am disappointed with is the new video format. The old AVI format is much more compatible with my programs then the new MOV format. Also, the SX10 only offers two video qualities, both at 30 fps. The S3 offered 5 different video capture settings. I made full use of the video mode on my S3, so I was really upset to see the changes. The 20X optical is really nice, unless you need more zoom, because you are not able to attach a telephoto lens. I have a telephoto lens that attaches to my S3 which really gives me the extra zoom that I wanted (about 36X optical), however it needs a lot of light to produce good pictures and takes up a lot of room in my camera case. The SX10 does have threads that accept a 52mm UV filter or polarized filter, even though canon won’t admit it. It is bigger and heavier than the S3, but not enough to cause problems. Both the S3 and the SX10 auto modes are a let down in low light conditions, however for the amateur wildlife photographer the auto modes will allow you to quickly take good quality pictures without any adjustment from the user. In low light conditions a tripod and manual camera adjustment are a must to get good pictures.

Conclusion: For the $$$ it appears to be a good buy for 20X 10MP camera. I would have liked to see the same video settings as the S3, especially the lower resolution 60 fps option and the cameras auto focus doesn’t do as well at full zoom as expected. Maybe I should have waited for the SX1 to get down to a reasonable price, or just purchased the S5IS.

Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve only had this camera a short time, haven’t even had time to play with it beyond the basic functions, but already am thrilled with it. Still shots of birds on the far side of the back yard are amazingly clear and focused. The most amazing is the close-ups, both still and video. After taking many pictures of a flower spider, and cropping and enlarging some, I saw incredible details that I hadn’t noticed, even with my face 6 inches away from the real thing! The translucence of the skeleton, copper-colored markings, hairs on the legs… If a camera can get me this excited about a spider, it’s got to be good!

Awesome!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The only thing that I can say negatively about this camera is that the camera lens isn’t connected some way. I just know I will lose it. Other than that, it is fantastic. I recently took it to Aruba and the pictures are amazing. I have always been disappointed in the past cameras I have bought with the zoom. I took a close-up from my balcony of my husband in the pool. It was fantastic. There are some complicated features but with a little practice, they are easy to master.

Good !
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Overall okay.

Good things:

- Fully manual controls.

- 20x zoom (560mm).

- Macro!.

- Swivel Screen.

- DIGIC 4.

Bad things

- The large amount of noise even at low ISOs.

- The low brightness lens needs a lot light.

- Many chromatic aberrations.

Best Bang for the Buck
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom The Canon SX10 IS is just what I was waiting for in a Canon point and shoot camera. Pro’s are is the 10 megapixels and the long 20 X zoom. The price won’t rob your wallet either. The photos I have taken are great, sharp and clear. The con’s I have to mention is that it doesn’t accept filters but I believe a company is working on making something fit. I’ve read on line actually that some folks are using a 52 mm filter but Canon says it wasn’t made to be used with filters. Also the program to download photos to your computer are not as easy as my Canon S-2 or XTi but that is not a big deal. You will be impressed with the pictures it takes.

Best camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve had Canons for years. Most recently, the Rebel XT and the PowerShot 880IS. I have loved all of my Canon cameras, but this one is the best ever. The 20x optical zoom is spectacular. In shots I took of Big Sur over Christmas, the rocks on the beach are very visible and bright even at full zoom. The movie button rocks — it’s convenient, and it lets you take still shots while filming video.

Nice Image Quality, Image stabilization, Video quality ans amzing Zoom
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my first ultrazoom camera.

I have used in Macy’s thanksgiving parade.

Pros :

-> Image Quality is good even in max zoom, Low light

-> Image Stabilization works fine taking pic in max optical zoom

-> Auto focus work fine.

-> If you have understanding of Shutter speed and Appeture, it gives nice manual Control, if you dont know – Auto mode will take care of everything.

-> I like flipping LCD, which helps me to take picture with raising my hands it helped me take pics in too crowded area where i was not able to see parade, taking my pic with flipping LCD at 180 degree.

-> Video Quality is realy nice, and I was surprised by very clear Sound Quality which it capture with two microphones infront of camera.

Cons:

Little bit bulky.But you have to pay prise for getting alle this above nice features.

Conclusion : Superb Camera with all Nice features..!

Excellent Camera & Easy to Use
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased the Powershot SX10IS a couple months ago and am thrilled

with it. I was a little nervous at first with all the bells and whistles

this camera provides, as I’ve been using a very basic/simple point and

shoot for a couple years now. Surprisingly, I got the hang of how to use

the camera very quickly. The dials and zoom features are all right where

you can easily reach with your thumb, so you don’t miss the shot you

want trying to get the settings set up.

My favorite feature by far is the 20x zoom lens. The zooming is simply

incredible. I had been used to close up photos looking a little fuzzy,

but not with the Powershot! You can take very detailed, up close photos

that come out sharp and in focus. The sharpness is amazing.

I am glad I splurged and bought this camera.

Canon Powershot full power
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera as a replacement and love it. It’s 2o x optical zoom takes you right into the action with little to no loss of picture quality.

Love it
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera does exactly what I wanted it to do.

I take a lot of pictures at car shows and cruise nights.

Cars are usually packed in tight or up close to a wall or fence

and with my old Canon I could never get the whole car in the shot,

but with this new Canon with the wider angle lens I get the shots I need,

I love it. Plus it is as easy to use as the old Canon.

Rich

Jack of all trades
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve only had the camera for a short time but I’ve been very impressed w/ it’s performance. From Macro shots of flowers to telephoto shots of the moon it’s done a really nice job. You sacrifice some image quality compared to a SLR but for the price it’s a great deal and a great way to capture quality images for a good price!

Awesome!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera! I was looking for a camera that was easy to use with easy to follow features. This was the perfect upgrade for me; not too fancy, and reasonable. This camera is exactly what I wanted.

My Favourite Camera ever
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really love this camera. Used it for my year end trip in Dec 2008 and shot in various conditions.. Night/Rainy/Sunny as well as Cloudy condition. The results are just awesome.. specially the night shots.. though it is not very fast… but serves my needs.. zoom is excellent. I was able to take pictures of distant objects at full 20x without tripod… and pictures came really nice.. did n’t notice any blur…

one small thing I miss though.. the lens cover is not having any kind of tag to attach it to camera.. every time i take it out I need to put it in my pocket..

Absolutely worth the money!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera after a great deal of research. The camera (if you take the time to read the manual) is user friendly, and takes great pictures. I especially like the image stabilization, and the viewfinder outlining the faces for proper alignment. Though a bit heavier than some of the competition, the body is solid and I believe it will last.

Super Savery Bad Delivery by Amazon
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This review is a critique of Amazon’s change in the way it delivers items to the purchaser. I selected the super saver option and the item has historically arrived within 5 business days. Typically less. I ordered this item and it has been two weeks and it still has not arrived. Amazon needs to communicate changes to shipping policies and not let me find out by items not showing up in a timely manner. I will not order from Amazon if that is what is going on and I recoment that you purchase elsewhere.

LCD monitor scratches easily, paint wears off
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I used the Canon SX10is daily over a period of two months on a trip to Peru, and shot around 600 images during that time. I would call this “normal” use. The LCD monitor on my camera appears to have an anti-reflective coating which resists fingerprints. The coating on the LCD monitor on my camera wore through in less than two months of normal use, and it scratched easily. The paint on the “function set” button on the back of the camera also wore off in less than two months, which I considered an unacceptably short time. This is not covered by the Canon warranty, according to Canon customer service. I had expected better durability. If you buy this camera and intend to have it hanging around your neck and brushing against your shirt, be sure to buy a plastic screen protector to protect the screen, or else turn the vari-angle screen inwards anytime you’re not shooting. I don’t know what to say about the paint on the buttons wearing off, so I’ll just mention that it happened on mine and recommend that Canon use a more durable paint in the future. Otherwise the camera performed about as expected, although it went through AA batteries very quickly. If you buy this camera, also buy 8 rechargeable AA batteries and a rapid charger, and carry 4 spare batteries with you if you anticipate a full day of shooting.

Wonderful Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
We purchased this camera to update our existing Canon S2IS just before our first trip to Israel. Overall, this camera was excellent and consistently took great pictures. I shot about 1,300 pictures, some under very challenging conistions. The menus and operation were somewhat similar to our old S2IS so there was very little learning curve.

Modes used: I shot most pictures using the “P” mode which allows some manual settings such as ISO, white balance, flash strength, and exposure adjustment. The remainder I shot in manual mode.

What I liked: The old S2IS often took a long time to lock focus. This camera focuses very quickly allowing me to get a lot of “just now” shots. The image stabilizer, like the one in the S2IS was phenominal. With still subjects, I could consistently get clean, well focused shots at 1/8 second, and I have a slight hand tremor. Sometimes I could get good shots at slower shutter speeds. This really helped indoors where flashes were not permitted, or the subjects were distant. It also helped a lot at night. Another huge feature is the range of the lens. It goes from slightly telephoto at 28mm to 560 mm (20X zoom). I was able to get shots of things I could hardly see with my naked eye. I was also able to get close ups at great distance. Many of my best shots were at high zoom. With dslr’s you often have to change lenses and these shots would have been missed. The manual settings were generally easy to use and really expanded the pictures we could shoot. Generally, I used shutter priority. I really liked the electronic viewfinder. It saves battery power and accurately shows how a shot will be exposed. It also has a diopter adjustment. The flip out and twist tilt screen was also a help with crowd shots. The flash was strong and can be enhanced. In addition, there is a “hot shoe” for an add on flash. I did not have an add on flash, but I can see how it would be useful in lower light conditions. I discovered there is a “mute” button on the top left that suppresses all noise. This is handy when you can’t be obtrusive. To turn sounds back on, you have to go into the menu. Battery life was also very good. I used rechargable nmh batteries that when fully charged would handle the almost 200 shots per day without indicating much use on the battery level indicator. Overall the camera provided well focused and well exposed shots in a variety of conditions, with plenty of adjustments and clever features.

What could be better: Occasionally the autofocus would be fooled in low light or with objects intervening between me and the subject. I would revert to the manual focus mode, but it was a little awkward to use. In shutter priority mode, you spin a wheel on the back of the camera to adjust shutter speed. The change in shutter speed did not respond predictably to my thumbing of the wheel. Not a major problem, but I noticed it. In cloudy lighting (much of our trip in December) some shots were a bit overexposed in “P” mode inducing me to use shutter priority. To be fair the shots would often consist of brighter sky, and darker buildings. The camera does have several exposure algorithms to choose, but I stayed with the default. And since this is a point and shoot, and not a dslr, shooting at higher ISO’s resulted in somewhat grainy pictures. The highest ISO I used was 800, sometimes at night and sometimes in caves so the “noise” was not all that relevant to the picture quality.

I gave the camera 4 stars because it was excellent, but not perfect.

Update June 17, 2009: I have happily used this camera for family and school events since my last review and I am very pleased. I also shot an Ultimate Frisbee tournament that my son participated in and was held indoors. With indoor lighting, I was not able to capture very many good shots, even when overiding shutter speed settings and shooting at 800 ISO. I ended up taking most of the pictures using a dSLR from my son’s school newspaper. There was a world of difference in quality. The better sensor of the dSLR was able to handle the lower light with no problem. I am still very pleased with the SX10IS, its fine overall picture quality, and many features, but recognize the limitations of its point and shoot sensor.

Almost
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is more than a point and shoot and less than a SLR. Moderate wide is most useful; super tele occasionally will find use. Close to ideal for general candid travel and family photos. Limited by sensitivity for low light and high motion shots. Controls more complex than necessary for 99% of people/shots, but nice for the other 1%. Excellent value for the dollar.

Canon has done it again!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had the S1 & S2. This is a worthy upgrade. I did not think they would be able to imrpve the 10X optical zoom on the S1 without stepping up into a SLR model…then they came out with the 12X optical(S2 & S3).

I also love the wide angle lens. I can take a picture of a group of people in a living room without stepping way back! As far as I am conerned this is the best camera you can get without going to SLR.

The only thing I am bummed about is the size. It still is the same size(roughly) as the S1,S2,S3. I guess you can’t have your cake and eat it too. How else can they pack a powerful lens in a small package. If you want a pocket point and shoot, this is not the one.

Fantastic camera for many situations
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is one of the most feature packed little cameras I’ve used. The first hint is the nearly 300 page manual. It really requires reading at least twice, with camera in hand, to get a grasp on which functions are ones you will use and which ones are of lesser interest for your style of shooting. From focus bracketing to overlap assisted panoramic mode to in camera image editing, the SX10 IS will amaze you with its capabilities. If you aren’t interested in spending some real time to learn what this camera can do for you, buy a simpler camera with a fully automated mode and save your money. This camera is geared toward the person that uses a camera frequently and can remember how to access its many helpful features. Of course, it has a fully auto mode if you want to hand it to a person to snap away for you, without having to know what every button does.

Next comes the most important reason for buying any camera – image quality. Again, this camera can hold its own. This is a very small sensor camera. There is not a camera on the market with this size sensor that is going to produce high ISO, low light images that amaze you with beautiful, highly enlarged images. You’ve got to step way up in size and money for that kind of shooting. Otherwise, the SX10 IS will really surprise you. I’m astounded by the great images I can get up to ISO 400. Even ISO 800 shots are more than acceptable in decent lighting situations.

Combined with a Canon 580EX II, you can get some fantastic flash photography. Admittedly, this is a huge flash for such a small camera, but I already had one so I use it. You don’t give up the best features of the flash with this camera. Many cheaper cameras won’t use many of the features of the high end flashes. Not so with this combination. Things like high speed sync that allow very short shutter speeds are supported.

And of course, there is the main reason most people will even consider a camera in this league, the ultra long focal range. Combined with the easy portability of this camera, the lens makes this a great camera for doing it all. You can really stretch out there with a 35mm equivalency of 560mm focal length. The camera’s IS feature allows you to hand hold the camera and still get good shots at this focal length in good lighting. The 28mm short end of the lens is quite good too.

As you can probably tell, after several weeks of using the SX10 IS, I am excited over this camera. To say it has replaced my Canon DSLR for casual shooting is an understatement. It has become my preferred camera in situations I never dreamed it would be used. If I don’t need extremely short depth of field or very high ISO, super low noise images, this is the camera I pick up. It comes as close to a “do everything” camera as I have found.

This Is A Really Good Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this camera from Amazon about a week ago. Aside from using a simple cheap point and shoot camera, I’m new to photography. I bought this camera because I wants something that took video and pictures. This camera takes very good pictures and very good video (NOT HD). I’m new and I am amazed at some of the shots I can get with this camera. I now look for shot as I drive and go out to take nature photos. I will say that you need to read the manual. Which I did right after getting the camera. There is a lot to learn with this camera. It can be as point and shoot or as manual as you want it. My dad liked my camera so much that he bought a camera based solely on messing around with mine. This is a very good camera. Check out some of the photos I uploaded for this camera. There are some aspects of the camera though that I can see that aren’t the best. The higher ISOs gets grainy, I wish it was a little faster, like to have a better flash, and I wish there was a better way to manually focus. The dial wheel that some people complain about isn’t that bad as far as I can say. I haven’t had that much of a problem using it. All in all this is a veery good camera.

Camera I Never Received !
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
On (March 18) I ordered a Canon Powershot SX10 camera from “Annattna” a Amazon sponsored vender. It is now (April 18) and I still NEVER received this item, I have sent 4 emails to Amazon and Annattna and never even got a response back. I had to cancel my order. Just a warning to all, DO NOT ORDER FROM ANNATTNA, you will never receive the item and you will have to jump through hoops the get your money back.

Disappointing
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I was a long time user of the Canon EOS SLR’s and I loved them. I say that only because readers should know I am an experienced photographer. I make this review after using this camera for about six months. I’ve had plenty of time to put it through its paces in various situations.

First let me say that I’m not comparing the SX10IS to an SLR but rather to my Panasonic DMC FZ20 with 12X zoom Lieca lens. The Panasonic is an excellent camera, by the way and I recommend it highly.

The Canon SX10IS camera has been a big disappointment. It was purchased mainly for wildlife photography. The 20X zoom works fine, but its bad points far outweigh the one good feature this camera has.

1. First the lens. The images are soft, not as sharp and crisp as the ones from the Panasonic. This could also be the auto focusing mechanism. Near, far, where ever the subjects are, the focus is soft.

2. Camera design is poor. Buttons cover every available surface of the camera’s body. My small hands just cannot hold the camera without pushing one of the numerous buttons that cover the camera’s surface.

3. I wish they had not attempted to cram every conceivable feature into this camera. More is not always better. The menu is a nightmare to navigate. No changing settings quickly to capture a bird in flight. Thankfully they left out the wash and spin dry feature but that is the only thing missing.

4. The optical viewfinder, which you need to use when shooting wildlife (especially if you are a former SLR user or if you wear glasses), is very poor. The view is fuzzy and the viewfinder is very small.

5. The camera body is cheaply made. Handle it very carefully. For example the door to the memory card is hinged with cheap material that will easily break with much opening or a slip of your fingers.

6. When holding the focus at 20X waiting for a subject to turn just the right way the camera makes a chugging sound and the image jumps. That can’t be good.

These are my main complaints about this camera. Some advice: Don’t just order this product online. Hold one in your hands, do some trial shots. Try to use it as you would in your everyday photography before you purchase it. Look at other camera models and compare before you buy.

All of that I waited
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have this wonderful camera only two weeks in my hand and I must to learn many of their functions, but until now the pictures and videos that it produces seems to me superb.

I’m very happy with this purchase and also I’m sure that with practice, the results will be better.

Nice camera……..
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Other than being just a bit heavy, this is one great camera… It takes a little time with the manual, but then you figure out a bunch of very cool things you can do, and the photos are wonderful. My wife uses it too, just points and shoots in the auto mode. I recommend it highly.

Canon Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We purchased the Powershot SX101S from Amazon and not only is the camera fantastic, but the delivery was just as good. I would recommend this camera for an amateur or something with camera experience. The photos are great, small and convienent in size and the price was the middle of the road. Just Perfect!

Glad I Did!!!!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I get great photographs right out of the box with this camera. It has some things I would like to see to be easier to use, but if I read the manual carefully, I can get amazingly good photographs. What’s not to like? Product and service as advertised.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After lots of thinking (only because I still have/had a perfectly working digital camera, although already somewhat outdated) finally decided to buy this camera, and after the first minute all doubts were gone. Compared to my old camera (also a Canon), everything is so much improved that I should have bought it much earlier. For me, the perfect combination between a DSLR and a compact camera.

Great All-purpose Camera!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am very happy with this camera. I was looking to replace/upgrade my Canon SD600 and significantly increase the zooming capability without getting back into the SLR realm. My current photography requirements call for a flexible point & shoot camera, and I did not want the bulk of another SLR system. This camera fulfills my needs perfectly. Although it’s too large to fit in my pocket, the SLR-like capabilities it comes with make up for the larger form factor. Several friends who are new digital SLR owners were all impressed with the SX10′s zoom range.

I have shot almost 900 pictures in the four weeks I’ve had the SX10, but am still learning many of its controls and capabilities. I’ve discarded about 5% of the shot I’ve taken due mainly to poor exposure or focus, but have learned how to aim the focusing points and exposure metering properly to eliminate those problems.

My previous cameras were: Nikon FM2, Canon RebelG (35mm), Canon A70, Canon A75, and Canon SD600. The SX10 reminds me of the RebelG in terms of flexibility and ease of use.

I like Canon’s use of AA batteries and SDHC memory cards, both of which are inexpensive and readily available. I was able to get a pair of Sandisk 8gb Extreme II and 3 Sandisk 4gb Extreme III SDHC cards for under $25 each during Black Friday sales, which should be more than sufficient for any future trips I take.

I would strongly recommend this camera to anyone looking for a feature-packed point & shoot that is willing to sacrifice camera size for capability.

Great Product Great Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera is great!! Love the optical zoom it is amazing. The only downfall is the batteries are not lithium so it takes 4 AA batteries which have to be changed often. Otherwise great product!!

Canon SX10 IS Digital Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera in Jan., 2009. Takes great outdoor photos (haven’t used very much indoors).

Upgraded from the Canon S3. I think the S3 takes better photos and is more user friendly for the every day, non-professional photographer.

I’ve had problems with blurry and grainy pics, especially if anything slightly moves. I feel as though this may be from a wrong setting.

I still love this camera! Have had for 8 months and still trying to learn the features.

I purchased the step-ring and UV filter to protect the lens, 2 sets of (4) AA rechargeable batteries. One set of batteries takes about 400-600 photos (without flash). I also purchased Bert’s photo cheat sheet and the Short Course in Canon Powershot SX10 IS Photography book.

I take a lot of cemetery headstone photos and it works great!

Still learning!

great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The camera was recieved quickly and as ordered. I have used the camera on a number of occassions. The pictures are clear and the camera is easy to use.

All the features without the hassle
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is what we were looking for. We wanted one camera with the versatility to capture everday life. This camera is great for taking pictures at a distance, like shots during the the school play or on the ball field. Without changing a lens you can zoom in on the detail shots, like a butterfly landing on a vibrant flower or fish under water. I was going to wait and pay more money for all the same features as the new PowerShot SX1 IS. I am glad i didn’t. This camera has been worth every dollar. Previously we had a sony cyber shot and this camera lacked in quality and capability when compared to this camera. No comparison! You actually feel like your holding a sturdy camera not a toy electronic device. I just wish it came with the power cable for down loads. You have to buy that seperate and Canon recomends using one for downloading.

A big raspberry….
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Not what I had hoped. I have yet to get a picture of the grandkids where some part of the picture is not blurry. I’ve tried every setting. I’m going back to my Fuji.

DIGIC 4 Image Processor has arrived
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So many things in one relatively small camera, wow!

Let’s start with the lense. Very wide angle, careful to keep your foot out of the picture all the way to 20X zoom. Stood on the beach shooting an island a mile away and zoomed to people on the island beach not visible with the unaided eye without changing lenses. You are looking through the lense in this DSLR with diopter control if you wear glasses.

The DIGIC 4 is the computer chip that arranges pixels from the 10meg digital CCD. Even most triple priced DSLR cameras do not have this next generation digital chip yet. They have the DIGIC III (3). Want to change colors in the picture or black and white pictures with or without one color? It will take some time to learn all the composing powers this SX10IS has to offer because of the DIGIC 4 chip.

Needs 4 AAs instead of two like my other “pocket” cameras. That adds to the size and weight putting the SX10IS into a heavier catagory BUT way lighter than most DSLRs. Easy to hold with one hand. Four batteries means the right handed grip protrudes more with a nice little lip for your second finger to fit into to leaving your first finger on the picture button.

Several hundred pictures down the road with many armchair reviews in the 2 1/2″ LCD that pulls out and swivels no battery change yet. AAs are cheap and available everywhere. Won’t even bother with rechargeables because one set lasts so long the rechargeables will run down waiting to be used. Two and half inch LCD and not highly detailed but adequate. Zooming in while reviewing taken pictures nice. I suspect that DIGIC 4 is helping too.

SX10IS is not a pocket camera in size or weight. Last trip to Mexico took the 590IS which is pocket size along with this one but never used it. 20X and wide angle and other features were so nice to have. Generally I do not try to carry a camera ALL the time. Like to carry with one hand and wrist strap. Never around my neck.

Smallest quality bag that fits is the LowePro Apex 100AW roughly 3 1/2 x 4 1/2 by 6″. That is pretty darn small. Plenty of room for batteries. Too small for instruction book. Tossed the neck strap and cut the water proof bag off to gain storage. I carry bag with built in handle. Usually just carry the camera without the bag. Think I bought this from Amazon. Might also fit in shoulder bag where you carry other things.

Settings for special picture conditions like night, or action, or many many others extensive. “Auto” seems to come pretty close to compensating for most pictures. And you have all the manual choices too. If you shoot a lot of pictures in specific lighting conditions you can set ISO, shutter speed, etc then record that group of settings along with multiple others as custom choices easily selected again later. DIGIC 4 again?

Easy camera for no-brainer shots. If you are a technocrat that likes many composing elements here is a camera that offers choices you never imagined. Movies with sound and zoom, yes! Panorama 180 or 360 degrees………..or just pick it up and shoot.

I would suggest this camera is an excellent choice that fits above point and shoot and below much bigger much more expensive, change the lense, type cameras. Moms that just want a simple, small, light camera, might find SX10IS more than they wanted………..unless you want a close-up at the other end of the soccer field when your little hero kicks a field goal. It is just not an easy walk around, carry it all the time, type of camera. It is a super-power camera of picture choices that will look spectacular in you large digital picture frames.

P.S. Just noticed Consumer Report gave this camera a “78″ rating. Among all the other digital camera categories only one had a 78, Nikon D300 which is in the “advanced” section and costs $1600 before you buy lenses. No other camera of any type rated as high. Type of personal usage still determines which is best. Multiple photographing choices make up for being a little larger than a point and shoot for me.

I love this camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is awesome. This was an early christmas present from my boyfriend. I took it to the Nebraska vs. Oklahoma football game. Our seats were in the North endzone and I was able to get a clear picture of midfield during the cointoss and of Coach Pellini. I was also able to get some pretty good action shots with the sports setting. That’s really the only thing I have used the camera for at this moment. If you are looking for a camera that takes really good sports photos or any photos, I would recommend this camera. Once I figure out how to post a couple of pics with this post, I’ll post some.

Great for the price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Pretty awesome camera for the price. Its really hard to find a good automatic camera with this many features. Definitely not the point and shoot regular camera. This is for people who want awesome quality.

Canon Powershot SX10 w/image Stabilizer
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Very happy with my purchase. Great pictures and when I learn about the technology other than AUTO, I should have some great photographic results. Easy to use and other than clunky, a great buy with all the features it has for the money.

Excellent camera at a budget price!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great Camera at a great price! It has very good feel to it although it’s a little bulky, has excellent picture quality, lots of features and excellent zoom capability (20X). I don’t think you can ask for anything more from a lower end digital SLR quality camera. However, to use all it’s features and capabilities do take time to go through the instruction manual.

Canon Powershot
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I think this camera is awesome, the only reason I didn’t give it a 5/5 is because you have to manually lift the flash to use it…other then that I am very happy.

Canon SX101S Digital Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this camera. My photos are definitely sharper than what I got with my previous camera. Plus, I love the larger zoom. Its easier to get macros. Overall, I love this camera!

Great but get a back up lens cap!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I received this camera on Thursday and three days later I have already lost the lens cap, which had no tether. I ordered a compatible 52mm cap with tether [...]. Other than that it takes awesome photos! I was concerned about the weight, but that is not a problem and I feel my shots are more stable due to the weight. Lots of nice features at a great price.

Good Camera – Made my trip everlasting!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am by no means a photographer! I picked this camera for the 20x zoom and optical image stabilizer. I have a Konica-Minolta with a 12x zoom and no stabilier and knew I wanted more for this year’s vacation. It was my 25th anniversary/second honeymoon. A trip to Africa. We went on several safari’s and this camera gave me the ability to point and shoot without a great deal of fiddling around. Although grainy at full zoom (without a tripod) I still took over 2500 pictures and at least 1500 or more turned out beautifully.

The basics were easy to pick up and made the camera easy to use right away. Low light and night shots were pretty much a bust but I have to contribute at least part of that to my lack of general knowledge of trying to take pictures in those conditions. And, of course, being a man I must also admit to not reading the directions! If any readers have tips, I would be interested – THANKS IN ADVANCE!

End result, I didn’t miss a lion, giraffe, cheetah or elephant because of the camera. The bad shots were often my inability to hold the subject in frame at a high zoom level and of course, there were many moving targets! All in all, this camera allowed me to have pictures that I will cherish the rest of my life! Who knows, before the next big adventure I might even get someone to show me how to use it properly!!

Great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
LOVE THIS CAMERA! I don’t use any of the manual functions, but I love all the other options that this camera offers!

Very nice camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
You should read the more in-depth reviews first, but I just wanted to add my voice and say that this is a really nice camera.

If you are on the cusp of getting an SLR but not quite sure you want to delve into it (as I was), this is a good choice.

I really like most aspects of it and don’t have any major complaints. Getting it to focus properly in the environments I used it in (I was photographing performers at music events) was pretty frustrating at times, but once I got to know it well enough it was better. The built-in flash is fairly useless for low light settings where the subject is more than a few feet away. Also a problem with the built-in flash if you plan on using it: if you have the Lens Hood attached, there will be a shadow along the bottom of your photos because the built-in flash does not project far enough over it.

I also got this for the video capability but was very annoyed by the sound recording. In loud environments, even on the lowest input-volume setting, it will record with lots of distortion. I didn’t understand this because friends of mine have older and lower-model PowerShots and in the same environments they could record without distortion. You’d think this would be possible on the better model, but apparently not.

Other than that, a very solid product all around.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera just in time for our Disney vacation and the camera was wonderful. It takes amazing pictures! Night shots, action shots, aquarium shots, fireworks shots you name it, it took it and did a great job. This camera has so many features I’ll never be able to use them all! I am very happy with my purchase.

Point & Shoot great pics
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this for my wife who was frustrated with the quality of pictures of our old point and shoot camera. She wanted something that could take good pics of the kids for her scrap booking projects. Of course I’m thinking SLR, but she needs something that is simple to use. After reading all the reviews, this camera undoubtedly takes top honors.

The 20X tele-zoom and auto focus makes portrait pictures of the kids easy and they turn out awesome.

After using the camera for 2 weeks, I’ve noticed the tunneling on some modes. I’m not sure if this is caused by the lens shade, but its no big deal if you crop your pics. Also, my thumb always seems to hit the selection dial on the back. Finally, the lens cover should be attached to a lanyard on the camera. I’ve misplaced it twice, but luckily found it. I’m certain the third time, I won’t be so lucky.

Great camera for big hands, great pictures, great price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My wife wanted a new camera so we did some shopping and she liked this one at Best Buy. She has large hands and now-a-days everything is made so small and compact. She was happy to find this one and we have had Canon’s before. Did some research and it got good reviews so went online and saved like $75 buying it from Amazon. We love it. Takes great pictures, is fast, startup time is a little slow but not bad.

Excellent Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera makes taking good pictures very easy! The zoom feature is one of the best features.

Great Camera, but disappointed by image quality
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera after a series of other Canon p&s camera (PowerShot series). I was very happy with Canon for the past 5+ years using either the powershot IS or the ELPH series cameras. Lately, I had a need for extra zoom for taking shots of kids at school stages, etc., so I reviewed several ‘super zoom’ cameras.

Pros:

o Zoom is great, although some reviews do not like that the camera shutter speed slows down as you zoom further out (at 20x, the fastest you get is 1/500)

o LCD vari-screen is quite helpful (as opposed to the fixed LCDs in P&S), specially when taking low shots of kids or birds, etc.

o I didn’t miss many of the automatic scene options I got used to in prev Canon cameras

o I like the ‘super macro’ feature a lot. I took some close up shots of a basket of oranges – great professional focus on the near orange surface, with short depth of field, and blurred background!

Cons:

o In automode, I’m just not seeing the image sharpness in the ‘normal’ zoom range. The camera takes great shots of close-up pictures. Great details can be found when viewing on screen. But try something 5-10 feet, and the AF just doesn’t lock sharply. Same in face-detection mode, even as the face is framed well. I compared very similar shots from powershot and this camera. It just doesn’t look consistently sharp. Ocassionally I’d get one or two sharp ones, but then I’ve had to work quite hard to do that – several adjustments of aperture, speed, etc. like some very old SLR shots without any auto features.

o Images are very grainy, specially on the black colors even at low ISOs

o The highest resolution is 10M, then next down is 6M, which leaves a big gap on resolution. I’d prefer 10M, 9M, 8M, etc.

o The flash doesn’t ‘auto pop’ in any mode. I’d have preferred that in ‘auto’ mode that it pops up (like one old SLR I had), to retain the feel of a P&S when needed

o I’d prefer a rechargeable battery. I take many pictures, so what is better to carry around, a large box of batteries or a charger?

o The sport mode is disappointing! I put it in sport mode and took several pictures of birds, some of my fish in the aquarium – not a single sharp shot! Yes, I have steady hands

I’m somewhat happy with the features and superzoom and Canon’s reputation. But, I’m not able to decide whether to try another camera before returning this. Some symptoms indicate I may need to learn a few techniques, but I think at least the automode and scene modes should do as expected from sub $200 cameras! I’ve had it for a week and taken shots in many situations, and I’m thinking of returning it.

SX10IS has it all in an aim and shoot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Cannin Oiwershot SX10IS can do everything a high end professional camera can do with the ease of aim and shoot. How easy can it get?

A Comparative Review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I own two other Canon cameras, A Digital Rebel Xt DSLR with two zoom lenses and a Power Shot A720 IS. The DSLR is used for serious photography and the A720 for informal family pictures and things like fishing. As I am getting older I am finding that the DSLR outfit is getting harder to carry so I was looking for a lighter outfit when I did not want to carry it. At first I thought that getting auxiliary lenses for the A720 would do the job but found it too bulky and inconvenient. Then Canon came out with the SX 10 IS. I got the first one my local dealer got in. It is far more versatile than the A720 but only slightly larger. It covers the complete focal length range I need for almost all picture taking needs. The quality of the pictures is slightly better than the already very good A720 at most ranges. At the extreme telephoto end it loses some as expected. Of course it is not as good as the DSLR but how can one expect a camera that sells for under 400 dollars to be as good as one that was over 1000 dollars? I was able to get close to the DSLR quality with a little help from my Photoshop Elements.

The camera is light for what it does and very convenient. I like the variable angle viewing for odd angle shots as close to the ground and the electronic viewfinder for bright situations. The electronic viewfinder is best for telephoto use as you can hold the camera steadier. The image stabilizer works all the way out to the 560mm equivalent but I recommend taking several pictures just in case. I like the fact that I don’t have to carry extension tubes for close ups. The camera has too many other useful features to mention here. I have used it for over a month now and feel I got more than my moneys worth.

What a RIP OFF! Camera has NO DATE/TIME STAMP feature or capability! DO NOT BUY!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera to upgrade from my Cannon A560 because I needed more zoom and battery capacity.

The camera features are very good BUT the SX10 is DOES NOT have the capability to put a DATE/TIME STAMP on the pictures.

I just got off the phone with Cannon Tech Support at 1-800-385-2155 and the Tech Support person assured me there is NO WAY to make this camera mark a date/time stamp on the pictures. Not only this but the Cannon SX1 is does not have date/time stamp capability either! I hope the tech support person was wrong but it appears not.

I cannot believe cannon would produce a camera in this class without date/time stamp capability! The Date/Time stamp is a very common if not universal and standard feature on nearly ALL digital cameras.

This is tantamount to manufacturing automobiles with no seatbelts or windshield wipers!!!!!

I was better off with my Cannon A560. Cannon used to make the best line of camera’s on the market in my opinion…….. apparently Cannon is taking notes from American manufacturers and throwing quality and common sense out the window.

A camera with NO DATE/TIME stamp feature that is selectible is of NO USE to me. I am EXTREMELY disappointed in this camera.

Pleased
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Like that it still has some of the same options that my S2 had, wish that download was the same but it is not that much different. Haven’t used it much, but am impressed with it so far. I would recommend it for an advanced amature.

Forget it for shooting action
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I own the S3 and really wanted the 20x zoom. I so wanted to love this camera and the features are nice and the zoom is awesome. BUT, I shoot 90% of my pics as action such as swim meets, cross country, triathlons etc. I was soooo disappointed in the lag in the camera. I took it to my son’s swim meet and couldn’t even get a shot off before he entered the water. My S3 I can get about 2-3 pictures between the start and him entering the water. I tried sports mode, manual with high ISO and nothing made a difference. So it is going back to the store I am afraid.

Excellent for wannabes (like me)!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Like:

Quick startup/setup

Lots of customization/tweaking

“Flippy” LCD screen

Incredible zoom feature

Option for flash attachment

Solid construction

Don’t Like:

No ability to use filters (yet)

USB access has an awkward plastic cover

AC adapter not included

Impossible to clean dust off the sensor

———————————————————————-

I was considering a DSLR for a while, but I wasn’t really planning for the full commitment that DSLRs require. I wanted the convenience of a point-and-shoot, but the abilities of a “pro camera.”

I’ve used a Canon Powershot before (I can’t think of the model), and I’ve grown accustomed to the ease of use and quality of the photos, so I picked up the SX10IS because it had the features I was used to, and the features that I wanted.

I am not disappointed. After taking some trips to the baseball stadium (Go Giants!) and a couple hiking trips, I’ve been able to take — from my perspective — some really incredible shots; ones that I couldn’t have otherwise done with the Powershot I used to use.

My only complaint regards some mild, dark spots in my photos, especially in my zoom photos. I’ve cleaned the lens as much as I could, with no results. After doing some research on the internet, it appears that the sensor may have dust on it. Since this is a “closed system,” I have no way of getting to the sensor to dust it. It’s a mild annoyance — I can clean it up with a computer — but enough of one for me to bring it up.

I’m very satisfied with this camera. Once I bought a bag for it, I intend to take it everywhere and learn all its features.

not a good choice
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I have had this camera for a couple of weeks. I wish I could sent it back. I don’t like the swingout LCD. It is always in the way. (even on a tripod.) And you can’t see through the viewfinder very well. AND it eats batteries faster than anything. I had a Nikon D40, and have a Kodak Easy Share 712 and NEITHER ate so much power. I am taking pictures for a wedding and I don’t want to change batteries every 75 or so pictures. (these are rechargable).

This camera has more settings than even the Nikon D40.

Just not happy with it. That swinging LCD is trouble.

Review of Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an excellent camera in my opinion. I owned an earlier version digital Canon which I liked also but its servo motor gave up the ghost after 3 years so I was in need of a camera. The features I really like are the 20x optical zoom (improved from 12x) and the 10 MP quality (improved from 5MP) and face detection ! I’m impressed. I just hope the motor holds out !

All I can say is WOW!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was able to run this camera through it’s paces at my son’s lacrosse tournament this weekend. I mostly used the sports mode to capture action shots of the games, and what shots they were. At the full 20X optical zoom the photos were clear with no motion blurr, many photos with the ball or player in mid air. The focus tracking mode is an excellent feature as it allowed me to select a player, follow them and automatically keep the frame in focus until I got the shot I was waiting for. I took 235 action photos and not one was out of focus.

I used a Fujica AX-3 35mm outfit for years but did not want the hastle of carrying around numerous lenses etc… This camera allows me to play in manual mode, and my wife to snap away in auto and both receive great results. My sunpack flash even works on the hot shoe if I need some extra umph in low light.

Canon Powershot SX 10IS
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I got this camera for my wife for her birthday. She is always wanting to photograph things that are just too far away for her point and shoot camera. Our first adventure with the new camera was a whale watching tour in the San Juan Islands. I shot my 20D with Canon’s 100-400 IS and she used her new Powershot SX10IS. The images she got were great and perfect for travel snaps, but not of the same quality put out by the 20D outfit. The versatility of the Powershot’s wide angle to telephoto had me borrowing it once in a while then the shot called for a wider perspective and my other lenses were back in the car. All in all a great camera for someone that doesn’t want to pack around a big SLR but wants a long telephoto to record the moment. The SX 10IS will not replace a SLR with good lenses.

All controls are easy to find and use. Very little learning required. The movable video screen makes it easy to shoot and view photos. I found the eye piece video hard to use with glasses so never used it. It was like sitting too close to a TV screen, everything was fuzzy. The camera is perfect for smaller hands yet works well for those with bigger mitts as well. The lens comes with a shade but be careful that you don’t knock it out of position or it will show up in your wide angle shots. Threads are a little light and it does seem to move too easy. I’m tempted to glue it in place. So far we haven’t used to video record feature so I won’t comment on that. Didn’t buy it for doing video. Get a rechargeable battery kit if you buy this camera. Would like to have seen a better battery package like those used in other Canon cameras.

a lot of fun and quality
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m not an expert in photography and yet I’m impressed with my pics. Very good quality and still a lot cheaper than the SLR cameras.

Great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had this camera for only 1 week and still trying to learn about it, but what I have done so far with it, I love! It’s my 4th digital camera in about 17 years, the last 3 were sony’s. I decided to try a different brand this time and was sold on the features and reliability of this particular canon model. The only little thing I don’t like is that the lens cap is not attached as is with the sony’s. I am experimenting with macro photography and this does a great job!

Horrible image quality, don’t buy!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This camera produces images with TOO MUCH NOISE!

Here is what you can expect from this camera:

[...]

The noise is abysmal!

Here is what an OLD Canon A620 7.1M camera produced:

[...]

Much better, from a 4 years old camera!

Don’t buy SX10IS!

If you can’t afford a true DSLR…
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This class of camera came about in order to satisfy the dreams of those who would have a digital SLR… IF they could afford it and the lenses they’d like.

The image quality of the Canon SX10IS is pretty good but you always give up some image quality to gain such a large zoom range so there is a small bit of chromatic aberration, purple fringing, in the extreme zoom ranges.

The one thing that I do miss is a remote shutter release, I like to do night photography. The 2 second self-timer setting helps a bit to overcome this oversight. Also the operating temperature range is a bit limited, 32 degrees F. Anyone who likes to take winter photos may have to keep the camera under cover, against their bodies when not shooting. I haven’t tried it in below freezing temperatures yet so I don’t know the practical limitations as yet.

If even this price range is too much I’d strongly suggest the Fujifilm Finepix S1000fd at less then half the price. It has most of the features though less zoom and no external flash hotshoe. I bought the Fuji as an early Christmas present for my girlfriend and she’s quite enjoying it.

March 9, 2009 UPDATE:

This has been a very good “consumer” camera but there are two things that bug me about it so far.

The first is that the Command Dial (I think that’s what they call it) is not very responsive at all. You’ll see other people complain about it as well. If you are using the dial to make exposure adjustments or if you are selecting “Scene” settings then jerk the dial in 1/4 turn increments. Simply using a smooth dialing motion won’t work. Secondly, it really sucks for manually focusing! It is really hard to manually focus this camera. *so sad*

Secondly… because this is a consumer level camera the CCD sensor, the chip that senses the light in place of film, is a smaller sensor then pro or semi-pro cameras. This has the very sad side effect of creating “digital noise”. This is the equivalent of higher ASA/ISO film having more grain and in some ways is to be expected BUT if you can afford one of the higher priced DSLR cameras then I’d go for that as the larger sensors have less digital noise.

If you want to get a little better image out of this smaller sensor try using the “dust and scratch” removal settings in your photo editing software. Try a 2 pixel setting first.

Overall it is still a great camera. If you move up to a DSLR later then keep it as a backup.

Sharp Pictures
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was tired of getting soft edges on the details in my pictures, so I bought this camera.

I am more than pleased with the pictures I get. It’s easy for a camera dummy like me to use.

The camera is bulky; it’s too big for a pocket, but it comes with a neck strap. It fits in the glove compartment.

I am not a good photographer, but now I can take good pictures. I like that very much!

Good Camera , but has excessive nosie even in good lighting
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Pros.

Excellent zoom

Decent Low light performance

Cons.

Noise in pictures

You may need an external flash

I bought this camera to replace my 6+ year old canon S50.

I was expecting the out door 10MP picture would have been noise free. Unfortunately the AUTO mode picture created significant noise.

Surprisingly My old S50 5MP picture has less noise than the new SX10.

Other than that this camera is excellent

Update: 5/6/09

Had some research why this camera has more noise that my S50.

The pixel density SX10(35MP/CM2) vs S50 (13MP/CM2) – Means the sensor in SX10 is packed tightly than in S50

can’t use without memory card
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I can’t evaluate the product. I would expect that a memory card would be included in the pkg. The main reason for buying on line is not to have to hunt from store to store. However, the camera came without a memory card which means I still have to either wait for another order specific for memory card or go to a store. Since I am unable to drive, this is a difficult situation for me. Once I am able to get the memory card and can begin to use the camera, I would be happy to do a new evaluation.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I traded up from the S3 IS to this one because of the 20x zoom. Love it. The only thing I dislike is how the zoom works. There are two levels and you must select between the two in the menu area instead of it being automatic when you press the zoom button. But, othewise it is the same GREAT CANON Camera.

Not impressed with the image stabilization
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I am not impressed with the image stabilization on this camera. I had better results with my Canon A520 without image stabilization!. Alot of expense and hoopla for a camera that just doesn’t come close my expectations or what they say the camera will produce.

Try something else. Save your money!

avoid Powershot cameras
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I bought the Powershot S2 Is

S on amazon just over a year ago.. worked fine till just out of warranty, then all the pictures began to come our overexposed. I sent it into Canon and they want 157 dollars to repair it or replace with a refurbished model. It cost 259 new! I wrote them and told them that I expected a lightly used expensive digital camera to work more than one year, but no dice. I’ll never buy another Canon. Beware!

Great camera – a whole new level for me
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve been using the PowerShot A710IS for more than a year now and come to love this package for the workhorse service it has unfailingly provided. When I read about the SX10IS, I jumped at the chance to upgrade at an incredibly affordable price. I didn’t look around too much — I’m brand faithful and would go Canon anytime.

There are so many detailed reviews here that I would never hope to match them. As an “avid amateur” though, and after using the camera for about three weeks, I have only praise for it.

I’ve shot hundreds of pictures, indoors and outdoors. I experimented with shooting video. The results were always more than five-star in my book. The camera feels “positive” and “points naturally.” Yes, it is on the heavier side, but the strap does a good job of helping you carry it with no problems. Minor complaints are the absence of thread to allow using filters and the annoying little plasticky cover of the USB hookup. However, the filter problem should be solved soon: check out this site [...] And don’t underestimate the GREAT practicality of the SX10IS running on 4 AA batteries — no proprietary rechargeable, AC adapters, and all such to lug around. Just buy batteries at the drugstore or, better, get a couple of sets of AA rechargeables with your own little charger and you’re on, no sweat and tears.

This is a super package at an unbeatable price. And it carries Canon quality. Statistically, you can’t go wrong.

great picture quality, slow frames per second feature
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a great camera for taking high quality, better than your pocket digital camera pictures. Good value. My only complaint is that the frames per second feature is slow. I have kids in sports and would like to be able to shoot images more quickly.

ZOOM ZOOM BABY!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It is awesome!!! All I can say is zoom zoom baby. You can get any picture anywhere no matter how far. It is amazing. The zoom works really well and with the stability thing I think the pictures come out great for its class. This is no DSLR don’t think it is. But for its class this is worth it.

You also can get amazing close up group shots with the 28mm wide angle built in. All I can say is I will never ever buy a camera without that wide angle again. It is perfect.

It is a bit bulky but worth it for the crispy zoomed pictures you get. And you get use to the bulk and the grip and I have small hands so no problem. It is probably bigger than you are use to, this is not ELPH. But with the 20x…

It runs on double AA’s but if you get some nice rechargeable they should last you long while. I was on a recent trip in Peru and used some sanyo batteries and they lasted for 3 days of continuous picture taking.

the one annoying thing is no lens cap tether! but you can buy one for a buck and do that yourself.

one of the best things is the flip out LCD it helps you take really hard to angle shots.

I found the wheel a little annoying and I had to use the book a lot when I was trying to figure other controls in the beginning, but if you want to just up and go with the camera you use the auto functions and get great pictures.

So picture takers who want ZOOM take this camera and go!!!!!

Buy your own memory card!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love my new camera for all the same reasons other reviewers have mentioned. My one squabble is that it does not come with a memory card!! I was shocked! (Probably should’ve read the “what’s in the box” print more closely.) I simply assumed that for the price I’d also get at least a small card. I feel a bit nickled and dimed. So learn from my mistake…. buy a card along with your camera so you really can use it right out of the box. Oh, yes, get some rechargeable NiMH batteries, too. You’ll go broke buying alkalines. All things said, I still love my camera and would buy it again in a heartbeat.

Bryan Odie
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this camera for Christmas last year, so I have a year of experiences and thoughts to share… nonetheless, I’ll try to make it worth your time!

First off, I recently read another post that said “All choices of cameras and lenses are compromises, involving size, ease of use, cost, weight, lens quality, and more,” and I need to say I couldn’t agree more. If you’re looking for DSLR quality images (due to the larger sensor size) or super-fast burst rate for shooting sports, or even great low-light performance, this camera will provide you with basic functionality but leave you always looking up-market (and wishing you had the cash to satisfy your desire!). Alternatively, if you’re looking for a great little camera that takes terrific shots and which you will always have with you because it’s easy to carry around and fits in your back pocket, this camera will have you gazing admiringly at the never-ending onslaught of point-and-shoot ads coming your way. So, you need to recognize that whichever camera you buy, you’re making a compromise, because camera manufacturers have not yet figured out how to make a DSLR-quality camera that slips easily into your pocket or purse.

Why choose the SX10IS then? I’d say start with this premise: great photos are more a function of the photographer (and his/her use of composition, use of light, and editing software!) than the technology at his disposal. I’ve taken some great – really interesting – shots with my iPhone because the opportunities presented themselves and that was the only camera I had available. But having taken those shots and been encouraged by them, I wanted to explore what I might be able to do with a more powerful camera at my disposal. The SX10IS has been that camera.

As a novice, the most amazing features of the camera will be the 20X zoom and the image stabilization. I’ve taken photos of my wife and son at least 100 yards away at the top of a sled run, on full zoom, where their faces came out clear as a bell. I’m told this used to be absolutely unheard of without a tripod. Similarly, I’ve taken some beautiful panoramic pacific ocean sunsets and then zoomed in from a mile away on a fishing boat where I can see the fisherman working on pulling up his net in profile – all while sitting in the exact same spot! Absolutley amazing stuff… never discount the power of image stabilization for improving your pictures, especially if you’ve suffered from blurred photos in the past, as I have.

Some other thoughts: this camera has just about all of the manual settings you’ll get on a DSLR, so if you want the opportunity to grow and learn, this will allow you to do so, at a fraction of the cost. Also, the pre-set “scene” modes should not be overlooked. I was trying to take pictures of my son’s soccer games on Auto mode and not real happy with them, when I remembered the “Sports” mode on the dial. I switched the dial, and suddently I was able to catch the action with the players in mid-stride and the ball frozen mid-air, just like the pros (well, not “just like” but pretty good, given I didn’t have the super-fast burst mode they do).

I will say that the user manual is a pain to follow, which has slowed my progress in learning the manual features.

All in all, I have to give this camera two thumbs up: it met my needs for cost (got it for only $325, with free shipping and no sales tax!), while feeding my desire to learn more and improve my photographic skills. Do I still wish I could get Canon 40D-type quality and specs in the body of a Canon S90? The answer is a definitive Yes (the Canon G11 might be the another great compromise, like the SX10), but short of carrying around multiple cameras, the SX10 is definitely a camera that can be recommended.

Happy shopping and happy shooting!

Amazon’s Canon SX10
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Amazon needs to lower the price of this camera. Best Buy and Walmart have you beat. Their price is 20 to 30 dollars less than Amazon’s price, and you don’t have to pay shipping. And I am a regular Amazon shopper. Wake up amazon.

Perfect hand full
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera represented an upgrade from my old Canon S3 IS and, boy, am I pleased. Image sharpness is very important to me and the SX10 delivers. The faster shutter response and quick focus is wonderful. Low light level conditions result in far less noise and I find I’m using my flash less as a result. The camera fits my hand better than the old S3 but both were/are a bit slicker than I like. And yes, the lens cap sucks; it’s hard to remove quickly and I’ve already lost it once. Ah, but the camera itself is great!

Almost professional grade
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Firstly, I’m not a professional photographer by any means. However I do know several people who are, and having run it through their tests and mine, can say that this camera is great for the price point. I say almost professional because you won’t be getting photos in National Geographic with it (unless you’re really good). For a wedding photographer, “lesser journalist”, or professional “Ebay-er” it meets and exceeds what one requires. It’s also just fun to play with. Alright let’s talk features. The 20X optical zoom does not disappoint, with sharp focus corner to corner. Add in an additional 60x digital zoom for a whopping 80x that allows for stunning close-ups with suprisingly low distortion/color noise. With the very aggressive tremor reduction it’s possible to get clear pictures of the moon without a tripod! The ability to lock the focus by holding the shutter button halfway is another standout feature for un-cooperative subjects. Additionally the burst shooting mode works well, with low lag. It can get some immpressive action shots when combined with the 3200 ISO high shutter speed mode. Let’s not forget the plethora of packed in modes and tools. Photos can be resized, cropped, and colors tweaked directly from the camera without navigating 15 menus. The latter color editing is merely choosing from optimized presets, but works well enough for a pack in. Shooting modes range from fireworks to aquarium, are readily accessed by spinning a dial and are genuinely useful. Some of the more artistic and interesting ones are the color swap/color accent which swaps a color you pick from whatever’s in the viewfinder, and the more striking color accent which renders the whole image slightly greyscale except for a user selected color. It looks really cool when used to highlight trees/plants/flowers. Speaking of the viewfinder, it sports a mini LCD with crisp image and bright backlight. The main LCD is equally clear, if sometimes too bright to accurately judge whether you got the colors/lighting you wanted. My advice, use the big LCD to show off your pics or as a reference. When in doubt check the viewfinder and trust it over the exterior screen (lower res. but better contrast, besides real photographers use the viewfinder!). The external LCD has a neat feature of rotating the image as you rotate the camera to keep it upright. If you take a pic sideways the camera will automatically straighten it out while preserving the taller aspect ratio, a nice time saver. I could keep going for pages but these are just a few of the things that really sold me on it. To cover a few gripes for good measure, the manual is HUGE and some kind of awful confusing. Best bet is to skim it to find out what buttons do what and then put it away and experiment(You were gonna do that anyway right?). The included software is clunky and boring, but you probably knew that. The flash works well enough, but to Canon’s credit it features a hotshoe for remote flash which I recommend. The battery life is not terribly immpressive either, typically a fresh set seems to last 4-6 hours. Closer to 6 if you judiciously hide the big LCD. If you like to show off your work, get a battery pack and recharger and prepare to use it ALOT (That goes double if you use the flash often). All taken into account this camera is literally THE BEST you will find without taking the plunge into $700+ professional territory. A great investment, or a fun toy if you have disposable income.

great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
It arrived in good conditions. The camera is exellent! I still have to study all the functions it has.

Canon SX 10 IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an outstanding camera, replaces my Canon S2. Takes great shots & the video is also very good quality

Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera takes awesome pictures but has many features to remember. Not a point and shoot camera. You will need to get farmiliar with the product before you are taking “Pro” shots.

adequate
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera 2 months ago, I had another point and shoot Canon, powershot sd 1000, which I still like, but I was interested by the powerful zoom.

Overall, the camera is a bit of a disappointment, and I think I take better pictures with better contrast with the sd 1000, especially in low light situations.

you really need a tripod with the zoom at maximum power or with low light, or most of your pictures will be blurred, I should have spent a little more and bought a digital slr, but I will keep this camera, it is versatile enough, has a lot of features and is easier to carry around than a SLR with its different lenses.

Thumbs up after 1000+ shots
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just got back from a weeklong vacation, with over 1000 photos on this camera (having just gotten the camera a few days before the vacation). I would not say that any of the bad photos were because of the camera. Quite the opposite, I think it rescued some that would not have been very good on my older camera.

The clarity and color on the photos is very, very good. In all kinds of lighting, from bright sunlight to normally lit rooms. Indoors I used the full manual mode a lot, with ISO 800 and 1600. I haven’t tried printing anything, but on a 1920×1600 screen things look great.

I also took about 12 minutes of video of my son’s middle school orchestra, needing to shoot at ISO 1600. The sound quality was more than adequate from the rear of the auditorium. Definitely good enough to show the relatives.

Overall, the camera has a lot of strong points – LCD is bright and the swivel helps get a lot of shots that would be impossible otherwise. Previewing manual mode shots is very good. The zoom is very quiet, and with all the sound muted (I’m not into having my camera make cute little noises) the camera is silent. Manual mode is easy to control with the scroll wheel. Super macro mode is great for flowers, etc.

Cons – the lens cap has no tether. The lens hood will obscure the corners of wide angle shots. It’s going to put a strain on my storage space, going from 1MB photos to 4MB photos (not really a con, but worth realizing). I’m not fully comfortable with the manual focus mode yet.

I had dithered a lot about whether to get this camera or a low-end DSLR. In the end, the lower price and the convenience of not having to mess with changing lenses won out. After seeing the first photos, I’m happy I went with this camera.

Terrific Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Although the flash did not work on the camera, I did return it and exchanged it for another – no problem! The camera has met and exceeded my expectations! On of my primary drivers in choosing this camera was the 20X zoom – it is absolutely wonderful. The photos are crisp and the settings are many – haven’t explored them all yet. The camera is somewhat heavier than I’m used to so I do have to steady my hand in taking shots. I would highly recommend it to others, especially those interested in the zoom feature.

Very pleased with this purchase
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am happy with my new camera and it takes very good pictures. I recommend it to anyone that wants something more than a shirt pocket camera and less than a SLR camera. Only 2 small criticisms, I wish it had a lens cap attached on a tether and threads on the lens so I could add filters.

Sticking with the S5… the SX10 Deal Killer
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
Greetings everyone!

I waited so long to buy my canon s5 just waiting for the sx10…just in case I wanted to get the most recent model. So I wanted to love the sx10. I mean what would there be not to love with a 20x zoom.

Well alot and I am really disheartened after testing it out and I will be sending it back to amazon as soon as I receive one of the last s5′s sold by costco. I bought mine last night and today they had taken them down from their site. So I got lucky.

So I was willing to compromise on alot to keep the sx10 because I really do appreciate huge zooms especially one with a nice wide angle.

I was willing to live with the mov format over the avi because when I viewed it from my laptop the quality is not too much different than the avi though a little more complex to process for some people.

I was willing to live with the bulkier lens yet for incognito purposes like concerts the s5 without lens adapter can pass for a point in shoot while the sx10 really looks like a dslr almost the size of my Nikon d40.

Now since I have a dslr you might ask why I wanted the s5 when clearly the images can’t come close to the d40. Well, I really love the articulating screen for when I’m doing blogging or making some kind of how to video for youtube where I can watch what I’m filming while I’m basically filming myself.

I mostly want to keep the s5 for the video capabilities because it’s very good in low light even in an aquarium setting. Which brings me to the deal killer of the sx10 it is just terrible in low to medium lighting when using the zoom.

I was outside in fairly good light filming my airedale playing soccer and the lcd grew dark when I zoomed in. At first I thought, oh defective camera until I realized it was just the change in fstop.

If canon had been able to keep the same f stop range as the s5, I would have tolerated everything else for the nice wide angle and telephoto zoom which I do love and for the ability to use a higher iso with less noise. But high iso cannot compensate for it’s poor performance in anything but strong sun lighting. But with the change in control dial which is tedious and the inability to add filters and the terrible low light performance…I’m forced to pass on this upgrade.

I did discover in my testing if you put a 55mm polarizing filter over the lens it will stay put and if you carefully twist the polarizing ring you can can take pictures with it but you have to be very mindful and this would probably prove tedious in a real world photo session. And I for one really love using a polarizer.

So those are my frustrations and I am disillusioned after having such high hopes for this camera.

So what I’m left grateful of is that I have the s5 to fall back on for when I want to use an articulating screen for picture taking and a really high quality, low light ability of the video.

Warmly,

Laurie

Good camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is an all-around good camera. The one complaint I can think of is that when photographing birds in a blind near my feeder, I have trouble focusing on a little bird. I have to use manual focus, which necessitates knowing the lens to subject distance. I can get around this, but it takes a little doing. I am very pleased with the picture quality.

Canon Powershot SX10 IS Digital Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This difficult to find camera is the perfect digital high-end camera for both a beginner and camera professional. It is a point-and-shoot for the beginner but allows the user to learn by overriding any automatic function and practicing till the desired pictures can be captured. I do not yet have an external flash, but the built-in flash works well. The camera has a built-in viewfinder; however the digital mini-screen on this camera is unique and more usable than on other cameras I looked at. The unique swivel feature allows for use at any angle to capture the expected picture. I am still learning about the features of this camera including the excellent zoom capability but I am extremely please with the relatively compact size and features the camera possesses.

Weak replacement for the S1IS
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
My S1IS went back to the factory for a faulty image sensor on a recall a couple of years ago. A few months later, the lens retraction mechanism got stuck. Despire thousands of complaints about this problem, Canon never recalled the camera. After hours of trying to fix it myself (or pay 90% of the value of the camera for a repair?), I trashed it. Hesitated to try Canon again, but bought the SX10IS anyway.

It was a mistake. Image quality in Auto mode pales compared to the S1IS. Low light? Forget it. Without a flash, you get unacceptable grain in even decent light levels. I wanna cry when I look at my old S1 images compared to the 10. The S1 was an incredible camera. You would never know it was only 3.2MP by looking at images it produced.

The SX10IS is bulky and heavy for the feature set. The LCD is bigger, which is nice, but that’s not a good tradeoff for the weight. The USB port sits behind a plastic door that does not open all the way, making it awkward to connect a cable. Menu settings are inconveniently organized, making it difficult and time-consuming to try to adjust settings to compensate for the inadequate Auto mode.

It’s beyond me why Canon still has not provided a lens cap with a string to keep the thing attached when you’re shooting. Worse, the clip on the cap is poorly designed – it doesn’t stay on.

I have all sorts of Canon products in my home and office – scanners, printers, old SLR’s (my 1984 A-1 is still my favorite camera – a work horse). I have always recommended Canon products. That’s why I gave Canon the benefit of the doubt and replaced the S1 with the 10. Big mistake.

When a $400 digital camera won’t take a really good, quick snapshot on Auto under good light conditions, the camera design is poor. I gave this camera more than one star because it’s got some redeeming qualities, including a nice face-focus, but it’s not worth half the price I paid. Too bad. It has dimmed my opinion of Canon dramatically.

In closing, I’ll add that I’m not a pro, but I’m more than a novice. I read the manual cover to cover to find settings that helped the image quality of my photos. The results still don’t come close to my old S1. I can’t recommend this camera. Wish I had time to go research a good replacement…

Very pleased with this camera – outstanding in every way!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My dad has resisted updating his digital camera for several years. I finally convinced him this year and this was the camera I chose for his Christmas gift.

It is simply outstanding. The camera is full featured and offers all of the controls that the DSLR’s have when it comes to aperture and shutter speed settings and manual controls. But the real test is how it shoots in full auto, because that is when the camera has to make critical decisions.

This camera succeeds wildly. We were at a Christmas party and I had my Canon 30D DSLR in full manual mode with a 550EXII flash mounted and my dad had his new Canon Powershot SX10IS. When we got home we compared pictures and he fared very well against my shots.

The flash is surprisingly strong, but doesn’t wash out close shots. It can light up a big room from far away. The focus is good and fast. The colors are OUTSTANDING and the 20x zoom and 28mm wide angle are features that offer the best of both worlds when it comes to handling a variety of situations.

On top of that, the Image Stabilization works very well and makes the 20x zoom usable.

Plus, my dad has now retired his old video camera as well since you can get image stabilized, 20x zoomable, 640×480 stereo video at the press of a button. This camera is really the best featured and easy to use camera out there and at a price that is unbeatable. Add an inexpensive 8Gb memory card and a set of four rechargable AA batteries and you are in at under $400 for everything you need.

I highly recommend this camera as the best ALL-AROUND camera you can buy right now when you consider price, features, size and image quality.

For the $$$ — Wow!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I wasn’t expecting very much because of the price. But boy did I get a great surprise!

Especially after looking at all the new, and great, point and shoots out now by Canon, Leica and Panasonic. But I noticed that the newer models are leaving off the viewfinder! That was not acceptable to me.

I was missing my old SLR and was willing to carry a larger camera if I could get better shots.

So I ordered this camera, half expecting to send it back. But now I totally love it.

The viewfinder on this one is not perfect but it’s fantastic when I need it.

I took a trip right after I got it, so had to use it without reading the manual. And it did fine. It’s very intuitive, but reading the manual does help a lot.

Everything is better than I expected, even the battery life — I use rechargeable. The swivel LCD is fantastic! Now I can’t imagine having a camera without one.

Two things I don’t like are 1.- Using the flash. But then I never like to use it on any camera. And I do need to get better at shooting in low light without the flash. And 2. – Dealing with a loose lens cap. But am getting used to it.

There some minor technicalities that aren’t perfect, but they’re not important to me.

I’m very happy with this camera.

And Amazon as well — for allowing me to research my options on this site and sending it just in time for my trip!

You can see photos I take with this camera here (since August 15) — http://2bnmaine.com/blog/

Incredible Camera for the Price!!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This Canon camera is awesome. I wanted to take a set up from the 5MP Sony Cybershot I used for years. Having 10 MP and 20X Optical with this Canon makes a world of difference. It’s great having the ability to tilt the viewing screen. I’ve recommended this camera to all my family and friends.

So far so good
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been watching this camera for a few weeks and finally decided to purchase it. I’m not a power user yet, although I plan on getting to learn on how to use all of its functionality. I have only had it for a few days but so far I’m very impressed.

Pros:

1. Fantastic zoom

2. Great image stabilization

3. Auto mode works well

4. Lots of scene features (fireworks, sunset, etc.)

5. Very impressed with the stereo sound when recording video.

6. I like that you can mute the camera..good for taking pictures of birds or other animals that may get scared by the camera’s “natural” noises.

Cons:

1. Although the video recording lets you zoom in and out, I found that once I uploaded it to my PC the outcome of the video was very “jumpy”. I will try again with less zooming.

2. The instructions, although clear, go on forever. Thus I purchased the “Canon Powershot SX10 IS CheatSheet” from Amazon. I’m happily waiting for it to help me start using the cool features faster than if I read through the entire manual.

I did do my research via Cameralabs.com where they have live video showing you how the camera works.

Overall…5 stars!! I’m excited to take it on a trip to the Grand Canyon in a few weeks.

Back into photography
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am pleased with my purchase. Still learning how to make the best, most effective use of the hardare and the software it contains, but have taken some very nice shots. I live in an area of spectacular natural beauty. I want to take advantage. This camera graduates me from film to digital. Yes, I know I’m a little late. In another, earlier life, I made a living with med/surg photography. This camera, features, lensing, help me get back into some semblence of what I once did. It works for what I want to do and is affordable.

Magnificent “almost SLR” camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Coming from an amateur who couldn’t imagine himself benefiting enough to justify a $4000 SLR, this camera gets you pretty substantial high end functionality for it’s price point, and fantastic pictures too. I’m able to create some of the same kind of light effects and adjustments that pros do with SLR’s for a fraction of the cost. Don’t get me wrong, if you’re looking for a professional camera, this is NOT professional grade, but if you are an amateur looking for high end features, great lens capability, and/or a stepping stone to learn how real photographers do what they do, this is a GREAT buy.

Great camera!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera to upgrade from a basic point and shoot without going to an SLR. It fulfilled my requirements and I have been quite pleased with it. The features are easy to use and the pictures are clear and bright. I can change all of the settings to my specifications, yet the auto feature works great and I can pass the camera off to someone with little experience and still get a good picture. I do wish that the lense cap was attached. I have almost lost it a couple of times! I use the camera mainly to take macro shots of jewelry (the supermacro setting on this camera is great!). [...]

Exceeded Expectations
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m beyond point and shoot, but didn’t want to go back to lugging a huge gadget bag with SLR and lenses. The SX10IS fills the gap — very nicely. I don’t think I’ll ever need another camera.

Poor “Ergonomics” …..and eratic “Wheel”…
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
After waiting over five months for what I thought was going to be a terrific camera to hit the shelfs, I simply had

to send it back after having it for only two days….

Now, I’ve had over eight (8( digital camera’s and I do love them so!…The reason I bought this camera was for its “Movie” capabilities. My hobby is creating “slideshows with music”, and I’ve done many of them. So, I had planned to use not only photos in the slideshow, but also some “video” also, just to have the slideshow flow with a bit more variety.

I’d also like to add that I”m stricly a Canon person. Yes, I’m sure there are other super cameras out there, but I know and understand Canon cameras,so, I”ll just stick with them.

What I find a bit strange here is that since I’m a Canon person, why did I rate it only One (1) star?…

Each Canon camera I’ve had in the past I’ve loved!. Here was the problem: The “Wheel” on this camera simply didn’t turn well at all. It would “hesitate” and move just when it felt like. And, the Movie mode ergonimics was

what I felt “Clumsy”…

Of all the eight (8( Canon Camera’s I’ve owned, I’ve never ever returned one!. And, the ergonomics on ALL of those cameras was superb!.. My very first Canon camera was the S330 Elph, some eight years ago, and right from the box, it took me no time to set it up!. And so were all the other Canons that easy also..

And, the Audio on this camera’s supposed to have great stereo audio? When I played back the movie that I had taken with it, the audio sounded pretty bad to my ear.

[...] I’ve purchased other cameras from them in the past, and have never returned anything to them, buy even though their delivery was super fast, I got the camera in 48 hours. But, you can be sure I’ll not be buying another camera from them simply because of their restocking charge.

To be fair, after I had rated this camera a One (1) star, I realized that I had rated it incorrectly. When I then went to rate it for Three (3) stars, the Amazon interface or whatever, would not allow me to change the one star to a three star.

I’m sure that this camera will be just right for many people and my dilemma with it will most probably not be similar to others who have this camera or are going to buy it.

Great Camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
As someone that takes pictures as a hobby, this is a wonderful camera. Still learning all of the functions. But compared to my Point and Shoot this is 100% better. What I noticed right away is the color is true, there is not alot of adjusting I have to do in my editing program. I also love that the screen flips out and turns around for self portraits so there is no guess work to where you are at in the frame. I used the movie mode a few weeks ago and the picture and sound were great. The Macro feature is great for flowers and close up shots, And the 20X Zoom for distance shots. Very happy with my purchase.

Wonderful – I’d never buy anything but Canon again
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am beyond pleased with my purchase. While I took a few Photography classes in college I’m by no means a professional and I feel as though this is the perfect camera for my needs (higher quality family snapshots, travel pictures, etc). I do recommend taking a half hour or so to read through the users manual for a complete understanding of all the settings, but the camera is far from complicated. I am in awe of the stunning crisp images and amazing zoom. However, what has impressed me most is Canon’s amazing technical and service support. My camera wasn’t 48 hours old when the shutter was scratched. I had the camera around my neck with the lens cap off when I noticed that an 11 month old relative had put a pebble from the driveway in her mouth. When I rushed to make sure she didn’t swallow it the camera grazed the ground, scratching it quite badly. Customer support was extremely helpful (and sympathetic). I sent the camera to their service center and within a few days they e-mailed me to say that they were fixing at no charge and would return by FedEx to me. It is so rare to call a large company and find a friendly and helpful person who speaks English on the other end of the line. I will never buy anything but Canon again.

Excellent Product
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I haven’t had a chance to put this camera to much use yet, but so far it seems to be exactly what I was expecting/hoping it was.

Some minor quibbles, overall a terrific camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have been looking forward to the “S6 IS” coming out this year (after skipping out on the S3 and S5), and now it’s out, with the name “SX10 IS”. I think Canon wanted to show that this camera is a huge leap forward from the S5 IS, and it certainly is given the new specs.

Compared to the S2 through S5, the zoom is now 20x optical starting at 28mm instead of 12x starting at 35mm (much wider shots), as well as a 10MP sensor, up from 5-8MP, and Digic IV (instead of Digic II and III) for improved shots.

I tried out the demo model in the store, and some differences I noticed were:

- The camera is much taller and deeper to accommodate the huge lens, and does not feel as good in my hands as even the S5

- The body of the camera is very smooth compared to previous models, but it feels bulky compared to the S5

- The button layout is COMPLETELY different, there are no buttons on the front of the camera, MF and macro buttons are located in the back, you now press a button to turn the camera on and off (instead of turning a jog dial), the 4-way directional pad has been replaced with a clickable scroll wheel, also to enter playback mode you must press a button instead. I do not like this layout, but it does offer the advantage of being able to enter macro and MF mode using your right hand only.

- After taking a shot, you can view very detailed information about the shot (ISO, aperture, histogram, etc) which is a nice add-on

- The lens is marked on the top with approximate zoom levels and focal lengths

- Unlike the S5, the battery compartment is again separated from the SD-card slot, which is good

- The picture quality is better, thanks to improved high-ISO quality, so the pictures come out less blurry than on the S5. The sharpness and auto-focus at 20x is very good, with no visible distortion at any zoom level

I did not see the intervalometer function in the menu, so I assume it is still gone as it was removed in the S5, also no RAW support, and there is no custom firmware available for the SX10 (since it is Digic IV), look for that in the future. Movies are in .MOV format instead of .AVI, still 480p, and still one of the best “camcorders” around.

The MSRP is also $100 lower than the S5 was at launch, making this a terrific bargain for a 20x superzoom with Canon’s great quality. My only concerns are with the size of the camera and the button layout. However, the huge zoom lens makes up for it, and the fact is it is still much smaller and lighter than a D-SLR plus wide-angle and telephoto lens. Overall, you can’t go wrong with this camera, the quality is superb.

GREAT point & shoot camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this camera to use on a visit to a game reserve in South Africa. This device is far more than a camera for “party pics”. A serious photographer would aim higher, though you can capture serious images with the SX10IS. Between those boundaries, I found the convenience, flexibility, and image quality of this camera to be a marvelous combination. At $400 US retail, what a value! I enjoyed the balance and feel of the camera in my hand. The zoom made full frame shots a breeze. The video feature is easy to use, and the image is of very good quality. I took two 8 gig cards. In four days, I almost filled one. I bought a brick of batteries, but changed batteries once. The image stabilization works very well. On the long zooms I used a monopod for additional stability. If you want to shoot five or ten frames per second, spend four times as much. If you’re happy to snap every 1.4 seconds, save your money. The microphones work well. They do pick up the sound of the zoom lens operation. I’m gifting one of these cameras to a friend. I find I’ve taken more pictures in the last month than I have the past year. This camera is great FUN.

dead eye
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Canon PowerShot SX10 IS – digital camera

I purchased this camera recently and found it to be a very good and user friendly. The 20x zoom works very well with sharp images at this level.

The 10MP is good for photo enlargement. I have been a photographer for 40 years.

Great starter camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
My son and i went on a 12 day hike in the northern New Mexico mountains and i wanted a good camera to take pictures. This model performed flawlessly. It’s a bit more in weight than an avid ultralight backpacker may want but the features you get make up for the additional weight. Also, if paired up with Eneloop rechargeable batteries, you can leave the extra batteries behind. I took >650 pics and some video and still had plenty of battery life. The zoom on the camera is exceptional and very easy to operate. This is basically a digital SLR without the detachable lens. All the features of an SLR (assuming you know how to use them) and the ease of use make this one great camera. Highly recommended.

Almost perfect
Rating:5 out of 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.

Canon PowerShot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I recently bought this Cannon digital camera and I love it.

I had planned on purchasing this, but Consumers Report convinced me because of their high recommendation.

I find it easy to use with fingertip controls. I’ve used the zoom alot and photos are really, really good.

I highly recommend this product.

Great camera for those with no patience for lenses and tripods
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was the proud owner of a Canon S1 IS very soon after it was released. I loved the compact size, additional lens attachment, and zoom capability. Its quality was nice for the time but soon the megapixel race was on and 3MB images were left in the dust. I opted next for a Canon Rebel XT and spent $$$$ on lenses, flashes, memory, bags, tripods, etc. Don’t get me wrong… I love my DSLR, but when I heard that the SX10 IS was available I did not hesitate to purchase it for my wife who was beginning to be a photo-junky like myself. The 20X zoom lens reaches from 28mm (wide angle)to 560mm (very long range) and is incredibly compact. The body is about the same size as my XT. It has the bells and whistles of a more sophisticated DSLR yet can operate as a point-and-shoot for those with less complicated needs. We love Yellowstone so this will be a magnificent addition to our arsenal of photo gear. Forget the time setting up a tripod since it has built-in image stability. Forget changing lenses for the scenery shot versus the distance shot. The image quality is very good, has more megapixels than my Rebel, and even fits in my wife’s purse (though bulky). I give this camera an A+ for what it was designed for. My wife’s only complaint is the need to keep up with a lens cap that was connected by a strap in earlier versions (S1-S5). Way to go, Canon! Buy it! I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. I would even recommend it for the novice to intermediate photographer who is traveling and does not have the space for all the extras that a DSLR requires.

CANON Powershot SX 10 IS – Exceeded My Expectations
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I absolutely love this camera. I have only had the SX 10 for a little over a month and i wanted to be fully familiar with it before i wrote a review on it. I decided to get the SX 10 for several reasons. Cost, Quality, Functionality, and Ease Of Use. I have been using Canon cameras for many years. I love Canon products, they have never let me down. To me this camera is the best of both worlds. I do a lot of landscape and nature photography and so i really need the wide angle and the telephoto reach. The macro and supermacro modes are outstanding. To me the 5.0-100.0mm (35mm equivalent: 28-560mm) Lens is the most amazing thing about this camera. The lens on this camera is truly amazing. You can really reach out and touch somebody with this bad boy.

The Canon SX 10 IS is a excellent choice if you don’t have the money for DSLR. I am still learning and this camera is certainly a great one to learn with because you have many of the functions of a good DSLR. The Auto mode works really well and you can get away with most shots by simply point and shoot. But for the shots that you cant pull of in Auto you have the ability to go full Manual Which i love. There are way too many great functions on this camera for me to list. I didn’t buy this camera for the video but the video is fantastic as well. I was actually shocked the first time i the recorded a practice session of my friends band, the audio and video quality are truly awesome. The SX 10 really is the one of the closest things you can get to DSLR without having to spend thousands of dollars.

A lot of people seem to think that you can’t use lens filters with the SX10, but they couldn’t be more wrong. Just google Lensmate SX 10. I got the Lensmate Adapter 58mm, Hoya UV filter 58mm, an extra Lens Cap 58mm to fit the UV filter, and a Hoya HMC Circular Polarizer 58 mm and a few other goodies. I leave the Lensmate Adapter and the UV filter on the SX10 at all times to protect the main lens. This is the perfect addition. You can have a lot of fun with a Cir Polarizer. They are very useful for Landscape Photography because they help make the skies blue and the clouds white as they should be. The Polarizer is also great for taking the reflections off of water or glass.

My only complaint with this camera is Canon or actually Myself. I bought this camera about a month ago and about two weeks later Canon sent me an email saying that the Canon Powershot SX 20 was about to be released. That really struck a nerve ha. I really don’t know how they could improve this model very much but i would have definitely loved to have had a heads up about the new SX 20 IS. Oh Well i guess that’s what i get for not doing more research. I am certainly very happy with the SX 10. And with this model i can use the Canon Powershot SX10 IS CHDK Hack to unlock many more functions and capabilities such as RAW Image Format, Time Lapse, Remote Shutter Release, Motion detection, Bracketing, DOF Calculator, ETC ETC.

This was my first purchase from Amazon.com and i am extremely satisfied with Amazon. I ordered this camera late in the afternoon around 3:00pm or 4:00pm on a Thursday and it was at my house by 4:00pm Friday, ready for the weekend abuse.

The Canon Powershot SX 10 IS is an excellent choice for beginner as well as advanced photographers. The Quality and Functionality of this camera greatly out weigh the cost. I would recommend the Canon SX 10 to anybody looking for an excellent all in one type of camera. Go ahead and pick one up you won’t be disappointed.

I think it is great
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I had the s3is and decided to up grade. The canon seems to be great and all I want in a camera. Like the canons point and shoot better than the SLRs because it is quite a chore to lugg all the lenses. If you do not take all of them the one you don’t take is the one you need. With the sx10is and the s3is everything is there. Might loose some image quality but not enough to to make up the inconvience of lugging the lenses. This is my fourth digital camera.

Wow. Just wow.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After being in the Sony camp with its DSC-F707 for almost seven years before it finally died, I was going to stick with the company, but when others came out with 20x zoom I gave in to diversity (since nature photography is a big thing for me the zoom is a godsend). I purchased a camera from another company only to send it back because it never seemed to focus when it said it was focused, so I wasn’t sure what Canon could do in its place.

Boy am I glad I gave them a try. I have yet to find anything wrong other than no lens cap tether (but it clips onto the strap so I’m not crying or anything yet). Even at the far end of the zoom (yea, even in the digital zoom) the pictures are great. It’s hard to keep a subject in frame in the high end of digital zoom unless you can keep the camera REALLY still- the image stabilization keeps adjusting for your slightest twitch, but that was expected. I stumbled on great subjects on my first trip out with it (heron chicks, kingfisher in midair) so that probably helped. I can even take better self-portraits since the rear screen revolves out and around so you can check your framing while being in front of the camera!

Something tells me I’ll have this one for as long as it’ll have me. Good job, Canon!

Notes for the aspiring photographer
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Flexibility is this cameras strong point. I bought this camera as my first foray beyond point-and-shoot, and have been using it to learn more serious photographic techniques. I am mainly interested in landscapes, but also do macros, wildlife, product photos, family and pets. You can do almost any type of photography with it with as much or as little automation as you need, and get very good results. It is hard to beat that zoom lens short of a DSLR, but there are limitations. If these issues are important to you, there are cameras by Cannon and others that may be a better match for your needs, but without the very handy zoom.

Camera Modes

I tried fully automatic, and though it was far and away the best full automatic I have ever tried, I never use it. I use manual mode almost exclusively because the results are far-far better still. I especially like the C mode, where it remembers the settings I like best.

Depth of Field

Shallow depth of field is not possible. As with all cameras in this class, the sensor is very small. If you check a hyperfocal chart, you will see that the range of focus is always very broad regardless of aperture. While you can focus on a flower within millimeters of the lens, you won’t get that nice out of focus background even at f2.8. Comparing test photos of landscapes with objects from 12″ to infinity, at every aperture between f2.8 and f8 (the full available range), everything was in focus almost equally. P&S people probably would consider this an advantage, but the aspiring photographer would not.

Speed vs. Resolution

If you want to photograph birds, animals and action, you need strong light. While the speed of this camera is excellent, short of a DSLR, balancing between low ISO for sharpness and fast shutter speed for eliminating blur can keep you turning dials instead of watching for that special moment. I haven’t gotten a good bird shot yet.

Light

Using a tripod I have gotten many beautiful shots between 80-400 ISO. Hand held shots up to 1/32 second are not a problem with the stabilizer. Indoor shots with ambient light are good as long as the subject is still and there is contrast to focus on. The live histogram can be way off under low light conditions, but the playback histogram is a good guide for proper exposure. The spot meter and +/-2 stop indicator works great for the Zone system. Detail falls off quickly at about +1-1/3 stops but holds down to about -3 stops, so erring on the under-exposure side works best. The aperture does not go down very small, so long exposures for blurring waves and waterfalls requires very low light or ND filters.

Other

This camera has no RAW format. You have to buy its stable mate at +$100 to get that. 52mm filters can be screwed in, though the lens isn’t actually threaded for them and it is fussy. A third party adaptor for 58mm filters is available, which makes filter changes much easier. Vignetting is the same either filter size and starts when 2 filters are stacked at full wide angle. Lens flare shows up in my photos frequently, so I bought an oversized aftermarket lens hood and screwed it to the 58mm filter adaptor.

Overall I would say the SX10is was a good choice, given that as a beginning photographer I had little real basis to make a decision. I needed a safe, jack-of-all-trades to gain some experience and learn with. Though I have found some limitations to the camera, I will be the greater limitation to its potential for quite some time. In 2-3 years, digital cameras will be even better, and the potential of a more expensive model will not have been wasted on my meager skills.

Probably best in class, worthy upgrade
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve owned each new version of this camera since the Powershot S2IS. For me this is a worthwhile upgrade over the prior version, the S5IS.

I’ll start by saying that I am not a digital camera “power user”. I just want good quality photos without a lot of hassle. This camera provides that, yet also provides a lot of room for growth with plenty of custom settings that I can use if I want to learn how to use them in the future (for example, aperture priority).

Pros:

- In initial testing, the face detection technology seems to work well. I can take a self portrait now and the lighting comes out very good. I think the technology has gone from buzzword marketing to true usefulness.

- One side benefit of the face detection technology is that it enables the camera to intelligently take red-eye out of pictures without using the red-eye reduction lamp.

- The flip-out and rotating viewfinder has always and continues to set this camera apart from its peers from other companies. It allows for less intrusive candid photos and has many other advantages.

- Thankfully, the SD card door is separate from the battery door as it was with the S3IS. Thank you Canon! There are times that I just want to take a few pictures, and now I don’t have to open the battery door to take the SD card out and put in my PC’s card reader.

- Low battery warning. I think this is the first version to have that and it’s very welcome.

- 28mm — I will never get another camera without wide angle built in. I have the Canon Elph 880IS too, which is a very powerful “pocketable” camera that complements this one well.

- Sharp 20x zoom. Pictures turn out very good even at high zooms. In an indoor-lit apartment, I can read fairly small print from a photo taken all the way across a room — it truly is amazing.

- The picture quality is better at higher ISO’s than previous models. Each model improves on this and this one definitely continues that. I haven’t tried out the “I-Contrast” setting (on vs. off) but I can say that in some outdoor pictures that I have taken detail is good in shadow areas.

- Finally, a standard lens-cap. It doesn’t have a tether, but you can buy a cap attachment from a camera store that sticks on the front of the cap. The one that I got has an elastic band that goes around the base of the lens. I also got a better lens cap which can now be done since it’s standard.

- Controls … I like the new placement of the controls such as dedicated on-off button and display button. I don’t think I will like the scroll wheel but time will tell. For those not familiar with this camera, there is a dedicated video button so that you can take video quickly without having to mess with the controls.

- Weight and shape. I liked the shape of the S5IS a little better. This one seems too “boxy” and the grip seems too abrupt. It’s bigger and heavier but not in a way that matters. It’s expected with the new lens.

The only thing I would have liked to see improved is the size of the rotating display. It’s usable, but the 3″ one on my pocket SD880IS is much better, and competing cameras offer a larger display. In order to get a larger display though the electronic viewfinder would probably have to be eliminated which is something that many wouldn’t like. I’d rather have a larger display.

I don’t know if the compressed movie mode results in less quality because I didn’t take movies with prior versions of this camera because the file size was larger. I like that videos take up less space now and I will use the video feature of this version.

Canon released a camera similar to this with HD video capabilities but it’s not available, as far as I know, in the U.S. Check the Canon website for more info. if you want to research that.

There is not a way to screw filters on this camera as there was with the optional lens adapters available for the S5IS. It seems that Canon could have easily done this by threading the end of the lens but maybe I am missing something. I anticipate that Canon or some other company will come out with an adapter that will allow filters. My main use of filters was simply to protect the lens.

I don’t know if the software is improved because I don’t use it. If you want date / time stamps on your photos, you need to do it via software.

If you like this camera and are interested in a great pocket-sized camera to complement this one, check out the SD880IS. It has many of the same features such as the Digic 4 chip, face detection, wide angle, I-contrast, and in addition it has a beautiful 3″ display.

Update 10-26-08

- I previously commented that I thought the shape was too boxy” and the grip “too abrupt”. After using the camera for a while I have grown to like the shape because it helps keep the camera more steady and helps prevent dropping it. There is a ridge below where the index finger is, and above the other 3 fingers holding the camera. That helps keep a good grip on the camera which makes it steadier while shooting and helps prevent dropping it while carrying it around.

Serious camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is much more a serious camera than we are accustomed too but it is turning out to be a great investment. There are so many options to learn about but it is easy to use. It is a little heavy around the neck for long periods of time. I would definitely share this purchase with family and friends.

Great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is a good jump for beginning photographers looking to step it up to the intermediate level. The camera has a magnificent zoom, and the quality of the picture is perfect even at full 20X zoom. There are multiple options for you to choose from with reference to how you want to shoot. The settings are not hard to learn if you take a few minutes to skim over the manual. Overall a nice camera for me, as I move out of the compact camera stage.

Camera is very good with a very good zoom
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The Camera is very good, except for Lens cover which should not be kept as a loose piece

Cannon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
After having never owned anything other than a point and shoot digital, I decided to upgrade. I received my camera a few days after Thanksgiving and have really enjoyed its options and possibilities. Although I’ve had some foopaas, which was not the equipment, but the operator, I’ve gotten mostly positive results. Of course, I’m still learning and practicing.

The zoom power is what I was looking for – its great. I find the handling of the camera comfortable and easy. I have been using a tripod for some shots which gives it great stability for portraits and nature shots. I took it to a Hank Williams concert and only got blurs. I think I need a bit more practice and understanding of the operation of this camera. If you are just stepping up to a better quality camera with more possibilities than a point and shoot, I recommend this one.

Great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased this one soo that I cant buy an DSLR. Its very nice choice I made and I really like it.. I live 35 blocks south of sears tower,from my home i can get a very good pic of the top of sears with very good quality with the zoom and the quality of image I got was great whn i used in morning and night. If u take fireworks u can expect much frm it..

If u take landscape and wildlife pics also..its good for the moeny u pay.. u will not regret.. DSLR is great but u can use this if u dont have money to buy DSLR. I use this during my graduation and I liked all the pics I take. its great. I even took pics during Chicago air show and it came perfect… The video is also great and I took some great pics when I shot video using this…

I will recommend this to any 1 who want to buy this… very nice 1 to start b4 u move to DSLR.

May be the last camera you’ll ever buy
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The SX 10IS in not just your average camera, but a movie maker too. The lens on this camera is amazing. Equivalent to 300 mm in focal length, it’s not removable from the camera body. This is great because you’ll never contaminate the CCD in this gem. It has a well thought out selection of pre-sets, but still offers ease of manually configuring settings yourself. With the SD 16 gig Extreme III Card, (the only one you should buy for this camera) in good lighting, it can snap off 3.5 frames per second of action in continuous shoot mode. Canon’s Digic II processor and Face recognition auto focus, make this camera well worth more than you’ll ever pay for it. This camera is feature rich, well built, and has too many extras to mention here.

Altho the lens will not accommodate filters, I managed to fit one on and found the camera takes much better photos with out it.

I was recently surprised after taking hundreds of photos, and finding the next day had battery power for hundreds of more using standard AA batteries.

Just behind the flip-up flash, is a hot shoe for a more powerful flash, if you think you’ll need one. But I’ve found the flip-up flash adequate for anything within 40 feet in total darkness. The infra red focus assist in darkness is a priceless, well though of, feature. Normally the camera uses its brain to focus in light on the subject, But if it can’t see the subject or object in the dark, the infra red kicks in and gets the job done.

The software included with the camera is compatible with my Mac OS 10, and Canon customer care is the best in the USA. I really don’t think it’s possible to find a better camera for the price. As each day passes I keep falling in love with how well this camera helps me share what I see with others.

Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This is a wonderful camera, but it was delivered broken. It would not receive the memory card, so we had to return it.

Halfway there
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Even though is not a Reflex camera it behaves pretty well, if you like photography and want to take it to a new level, but you are not an expert or you are afraid to try a pro camera, this one is for you.

Behaving still like a compact camera it has some of the goodies you find on a “big guy”, the lenses let you even take super macro pictures (to put the camera as close as you can, even less than 10cm to obtain amazing results). You can attach an extra flash, even a remote controllable one, so that you can experiment with image results.

The only “drawbacks” are its weigth, and the use of batteries, but considering the size of the lenses weight is almost impossible to overcome.

first real camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This purchase was an impulse buy. I saw 20X zoom and decided I wanted it. I think I made a great choice.

I’ve had this camera for about 5-6 months now. I think I’ve learned a lot from this camera, and about photography in general.

The picture quality is great in good light, and having 20x zoom is very useful. I noticed noise at ISO 200 in decent light, although that was viewing at 100%

There are a lot of settings in the menus, but the nice thing is that you can make your own menu. I have only the functions that I use often, which is a great time saver.

The swivel LCD is awesome. I can take low and high shots w/out having to be at eye level w/ the camera.

I noticed that the lens cap tends to get “stuck.” This causes the cap to fall off easy. All you need to fiddle w/ the ring on the inside of the cap to make it circular (when it’s stuck, it would be oval).

I don’t like the wheel in the back that much. There’s no tactile feedback, and moving it too slowly sometimes doesn’t seem to register when using it in manual focus.

Also, be careful if you have the lens hood on backwards before turning off the camera. If you’re holding the camera like you would a DSLR, you may pinch your fingers, or prevent the lens from withdrawing all the way (which may ruin the lens motor).

Although this is a great camera, I’m considering getting a DSLR for a few reasons:

1) Low light performance is a lot better

2) Changing the aperture changes depth of field…doesn’t really work in this camera

3) Faster continuous burst (didn’t think it was important at first)

4) Faster more reliable autofocus

5) Better manual focus (100% zoom in live view and focus ring on lens is probably (hopefully) better than the wheel on the SX10 IS.

6) More durable build

I’m still planning on keeping this camera though, as it is a small, lightweight camera that I can carry around w/ me at all times that also has a great range lens.

The reviews say that this camera is one of the best super zooms out there, and although I don’t have any other camera to compare it to, I still have to agree.

Chris

Camera Review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Absolutely love this camera. Takes great pictures, AWESOME zoom. Havent had many digital cameras, but this one is the best by far. Great price. I was worried about being overwhelmed with too many features, but it is so easy to use. Takes great action shots, especially of kids on the move!

I have zero complaints about this camera. 100% satisfied.

Everything I expected
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I wanted a point and shoot with a 20 zoom and this camera is everything I expected. I researched this on [...] and like the ease of use and quality of the photos. I compared photos at a sporting event with a friend who is really into taking photos and cameras and he said he was thinking of picking one of these up to add to his collection.

Nice, but some drawbacks
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
Nice colors. Great zoom. Quiet & smooth zoom operation. Decent view finder with diopter. Lots of functions. Decent low light performance. Improved video performance. Pictures are sharp and clear up to 400 iso. After that, typical noise visible. Stereo sound. Uses 4 AA batteries instead of 2 thank goodness. Too many buttons in places where accidentally pushed too often & too easy. Easy to block the auto focus beam with your finger. Autofocus has been inconsistant. Especially indoors, or in lower lighting situations. I’ve had blurry pictures where I didn’t have before or shouldn’t have. I’m no pro but, I do take a lot of pictures. Some were published by the College where I work. I like the camera but, I find the inconsistant autofocus cause for concern. My powershot A710is is more consistant in autofocus. Also experiencing inconsistancies loading pictures onto the computer using Canon software & attaching the camera/computer via the cable supplied. Sometimes pictures load ok, other times, the process stalls. I found that using a card reader works better for me. I tried uninstalling and reinstalling the software, but no change. All in all it’s a nice camera. For me, focus lock & patience is a must. It just doesn’t focus quickly/easily everytime indoors or in lower light situations. (like i’m used to)

UPDATE 11/09

Had to return this camera to Canon for repairs. I started getting “lens error restart camera” message. Canon fixed it and returned it to me promptly as it was under warranty. So far, I am unimpressed. This camera gets glowing reviews everywhere I look. Guess I just got unlucky. I won’t buy another super zoom. I’ll go DSLR first. If i’m going to invest, then I just will invest more in the better camera.

It’s really a shame because when the camera is right, it’s awesome. I’m hoping that since Canon got it back on the repair bench, that just maybe they found some problems created at the factory, and now have this camera on the right road. I really like the features. What I also discovered was that the mov files are not compatible with windows vista. I had to buy a third party software to convert the mov files to either avi, mpeg or wmv should I want to make movies. Here’s hoping…..

UPDATE 12/7/2009

Just got back from Walt Disney world. I put this camera through a lot of use with stills & video. As long as light is plentiful, the stills & videos are very clear. The autofocus was very good. It’s under poor lighting where the autofocus really stumbled often. I get better results with my A710is in poor lighting. It’s just hasn’t been a good night camera for me. I tried the 1600 iso, but the noise was just awful. Forget 3200. I don’t know why Canon even bothered putting it there. In my stills, I used the “vivid color” setting outdoors. I loved it. The colors were vibrant as I like personally. I shot outdoor video in “vivid” also. Those too looked better for me. The colors were richer.

I still hold my opinion of this camera as 3 stars. For the money I paid for this, I expect better performance from the autofocus. I understand that this is a glorified point & shoot with a boat load of features, and those features are useful. I’m under the impression that the objective of a point and shoot is simplicity, not constantly fussing with manual settings with almost evey picture taken under lower lighting situations. Any camera can take decent day pictures (providing the user sets the camera to its best settings). The autofocus system on a camera of this price should hold up under tougher lighting conditions better than this. Just my opinion. I still like this camera because of the huge zoom but, I think a huge zoom on a point and shoot is a mistake now. I think (suspect) the huge zoom is the entire cause of all the autofocus issues I have with this camera. Too much glass for the image to pass through. The lens is a good lens for point and shoot but, it’s not an SLR lens……..

If most of your picture taking and or video shooting is done under decent lighting, then this is a great camera for people. Their pictures and videos will please them greatly. The pictures are clear and sharp. The videos are also quite good. The camera with the MOV format zooms cleany while shooting video. You can brighten the video if need be while shooting. Just expect issues under so-so lighting.

My next camera will be a dslr.

Very happy wife
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got the SX10Is to replace an SX4IS my wife has been using for the last few years. She is very, very happy. She loves the greater zoom, the new features and the faster write times. Mostly though she loves the fact that it is essentially the same operationally as her old SX4 and it still has the flip out screen. A feature she uses regularly, but Canon is removing from more and more of their cameras. I had considered a G10, but it does not offer a flip screen. I still love my old G5, but it has a flip screen.

Almost 100% satisfied.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So far I have taken around 600 pictures with the SX10 and have only one complaint. I am having trouble fine tuning the ‘selecting ring’in SCN mode. I turn the dial and nothing moves and then all of a sudden it moves quickly to a selection I don’t want and I have to begin again. I’m just not in control. However, the 20x zoom exceeded my expectations. I had originally wanted an Canon SLR just to use my measly 200mm zoom from my 35mm film Rebel, but this is much better for me (560mm w stabilization works well). I was also waiting for Canon to up their ISO ratings and by using the 3200 setting I was able to get some nice photos of Hula dancers and hope to do as well with indoor sport pictures. The 28mm wide angle lens is a plus I didn’t know I needed until I began using the camera. I was able to properly frame many more single pictures than previously.

Canon Powershot SX10 IS
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Great product! I did a lot of research and this seemed right for me. I didn’t want to step up to a DSLR yet, but didn’t want a limited point and shoot.

Pros: Zoom range, clear screens, image stabilization, two zoom speeds, tilt and swivel screen, manual controls, etc.

Cons: The eyepiece is a bit uncomfortable, it could use some extra padding.

Great camera for anyone who wants to learn photography with a lot of the controls of a DSLR, but the ease of use of a point and shoot.

Cannon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I spent a good deal of time looking at reviews on cameras, this Cannon camera seemed to have the best user reviews. I am very pleased with the camera. I have not had a chance to use it too much, but what I see I like. It has so many options that I will be finding new ways to take pictures for a long time. In the reviews many users had issue with the larger size of the camera and they are right. It is bigger than many of the cameras on the market, but it does many more things than those other cameras do. I will take the larger size to have the extra options. My previous camera had the same feature to focus the camera, which is hold the shutter button down half way to focus then all the way down to take picture. With this camera it is easy to find the half way making sure you have a good focus. My previos camera was very difficult to find half way which resulted in out of focus pictures. I would highly recommend this camera. I know I will enjoy exploring the many features it has.

Reality check
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
REALITY CHECK! I am a “camera freak,” I just love the things. I own the SX10 (and previously a stack of other digital cameras … starting with that SONY MAVICA with the 3.5″ diskettes a LONG time ago), and love it. I previously owned the S5, and it was also excellent. I bought the SX10 for the awesome LENS CAPABILITIES, and have not been disappointed whatsoever. It takes magnificent pics, has that enormous range, is COMPACT, and has that “heft” to it that gives it the feel of a “serious” camera. Now: for the REALITY CHECK: I just bumped into the Canon 40D and 50D models at a local store. You’ve seen them: big, hefty, big lcd (without the cover the SX10 has … can already visualize the SCRATCHES from shirt buttons, etc.), big lenses with those ridges on them that seem to beg you to pick it up and zoom in/out. Then I remembered: I bought the 30D some time ago. Bought all the lenses, external flash, cards, batteries, case, etc. Took it home and, after the battery pack was charged, went into the picture taking drill. I was shocked! A cheaper camera that I had took brighter/clearer pics than this EXPENSIVE get-up I just bought! I took a stack of pics with both: same result. I brought that set back to the place where purchased and that was that. There is no doubt that the 30D was worth the price, to demanding pros, but not to me. And this is the point I am trying to make: for the AVERAGE ‘JOE’ or ‘Jill’, you probably don’t need all the bells ‘n whistles these advanced DSLRs certainly deliver. If you are NOT a pro, NEEDING to manipulate a zillion settings manually and exchange lenses to match what you want to accomplish, this SX10 is probably gonna be PERFECT for you! You will not have to buy an array of EXPENSIVE add-on lenses (read the reviews for the 50D, for example, and you will see that super camera is, in the end, “lense dependent” … that is: the end results will depend on the quality of “the glass” you have attached. This can get to be a VERY expensive proposition for all but the very serious pros). If you, like me, just want GOOD PICTURES without all the fuss, then … in my very humble opinion … this SX10 is probably all you will need for the remainder of your time on the planet (I will admit, after putzing with both the 40D and 50D, I found it hard to walk away without buying one/the other. It’s almost impossible to not be overly impressed with their great appearance, obvious wealth of options, and “heft” value. But, remembering my experience with the 30D, and the fact I obviously was not ready for multiple lenses, and the complexities involved with high-end cameras, I walked away). You can read the attached excellent reviews on the SX10 to find all about batteries, external flashes, bags, etc.

Wishing to add a comment/two about certainly real concerns that run through these reviews: LOSING THE LENS CAP and DROPPING THE CAMERA. For the initial concern: go to RITZ CAMERA, for instance (AMAZON probably also sells this), and buy the QUANATRAY LENS CAP LEASH. It affixes to the lens cap and the camera body, problem solved for $1.99. As far as DROPPING the thing … DON’T!! I use the CANON WRIST STRAP (bought mine via EBAY) and really like it. A thin over-the-neck strap came with the unit (which I don’t particularly like), USE IT! But, do ensure the LCD SCREEN is COVERED when walking around with that neck strap to not scratch the lcd with shirt buttons, etc.

UPDATE: 2-17-09: I’M BACK … again. I could not resist the urge to get another SLR. I bought a real GOOD one, bought more lenses, flash, etc. AND, just like the one I brought back before, I BROUGHT THIS ONE BACK! The BOTTOM LINE is: THE PICTURE. This expensive array did NOT take better pics than the CANON SX10IS! I am sticking with this GREAT Canon FOREVER! It does EVERYTHING … and in a wonderful small package. No lenses to lug around and have to change as the scene demands … just zoom on from 28mm to 560mm(!) without missing a beat. Super camera!

Regards.

love it
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My husband and I bought this camera when we had a new baby. I have been blown away by how great the pictures turn out and also all the features. I still have a ton to learn but I’m so pleased we went for this camera vs. one of the cheaper ones we were looking at.

Very close to perfect
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
When choosing a camera for my travel and scenic photography, I looked at reviews of many. This Canon won mainly for these reasons:

My style of shooting demands a 28 mm equiv. wide angle lens.

My style of shooting also demands use of a polarizer filter. This is possible with the excellent [...] adapter ring.

I prefer AA battery power. Lots of chargers and inexpensive backups are always available.

Upon close scrutiny of the many photo samples available thru online reviews, Canon’s seemed the sharpest to me. There is a little purple fringing on contrast edges, but same with most cameras.

Overall, the camera is quite a bargain for the solid build and features.

All that is good and would rate 5 stars, but this camera is a little frustrating in daily use. The exposure compensation is fussy to activate… the little selection wheel has no feedback feel and WILL cause you to use curse words more than once. Also, the controls that come up first in the function setting menus are organized badly. It isn’t hard to use this camera if you like Auto or Program modes, but the deeper settings for those who like to use them could be set up better. Also, I have no idea why Canon offers such a serious camera that doesn’t take filters without an extra adapter ring.

Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
What can you say about this camera other than spectacular value probably the best buy out there on the market today.I am convinced that you won’t find a camera out there with this impressive feature set with canon quality and world class imaging technology in such a compact package for this very reasonable price.When it comes to advanced point and shoot cameras the powershot line is the benchmark by which all others are measured.In fact it is a misnomer to classify this camera as just a point and shoot it is capable of producing excellent images with an astounding 20x zoom range and a feature set that is incredible period.However with that said entry level DSLR’s are closing the gap with aggressive pricing stratagies squarely aimed at this segment of the market.This might be something to consider if you have contemplated making the jump DSLR’s still produce the best quality images because of the sensor size and type(CMOS)very low noise levels even at high iso sensitivities.If your not ready to convert this camera would be the perfect bridge,solidly constructed with built in image stabilization for shooting long zoom shots and an array of settings that cover most any situation you will encounter.I highly endorse this product I think you will be delighted with it’s performance and amazed at it’s versatility.

Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Vary good camera for the average photo taker, the user guide is a little hard to follow but once through it you can create some great pictures, also the video mode works vary well.

Needs powerful computer
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’ve been trying out this camera for a few days. I haven’t used it much, but I have already run across one major problem for me: Movie playback requires a computer with at least 1.66 GHz, and neither of mine is up to that level. I’m going to have to return this for a simpler one, with fewer features, but which will play back on my computer.

An Excellent Journeyman Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I originally bought this camera when it first came out. I was a strong Canon fan due to two other Canon digital point and shoot cameras in our household.

This time I was ready for a more DLSR camera and shooting experience. I was hesitant to invest thousands of dollars like I had with a film based DLSR years ago. One of the things that lead me to get this camera was that I remembered I did not often use my DLSR since it was a logistical hassle bringing all the lens, flashes, and equipment around. Once I realized this self truth, I looked to see what my options were. So when I saw the impressive specs on this camera, I had to try it out. Good choice on my part.

I could not believe how much of a powerful and clear zoom lens this camera has! This camera is pretty fast in terms of frames/second and startup time for such an “entry level” camera.

The macro capability was quite impressive, as was the depth of field capabilities. These were two features that I was missing in other point and shoots, and I could not be happier with the quality in this camera.

Dark environments are usually well captured, and I find that most pictures in the 400-800 ISO range to be quite usable as long as there is reasonable room lighting and no extremes of motion.

An added bonus was the video camera with stereo sound. I did not buy the camera for this feature, but I was delighted to find it so excellent. It easily equals my old Sony DV camera in all ways except night vision capability.

Unfortunately, my wife tended to use it so much that I felt she should have it. I bought a replacement camera that did not work out quite as well as this Canon PowerShot SX10 IS camera. Even though the replacement (Nikon Coolpix P90)was similar in feature sets and functionality. The Nikon P90 is a very nice camera, but having both in our household, I just like the Canon considerably better.

I ended up buying another PowerShot SX10 IS to replace my replacement Nikon P90. After using this Canon camera for awhile after using the Nikon, I will simply state that I am a full=fledged Canon enthusiast.

Reasons I like it (and why I think it is better than my Nikon Coolpix P90):

* Better (and more natural) clarity and color

* When using auto-focus, I find the pictures quite Good!

* The telephoto can be used in all lighting environments (even if it is grainy at high ISOs)

* The macro feature is really tremendous

* Stunned by how good the NTSC 640 x 480 video and sound is (just wish it was HD)

* Slightly more intuitive menus and functionality

* Better flexibility with LCD screen (though the Nikon is a nicer screen)

* Much fewer blurry pictures in various manual modes and/or auto modes

* Image stability function is better on this camera

This is one person’s impression. Is it a perfect camera? No, but I truly believe that the Canon PowerShot SX10IS is a truly GREAT camera for new or experienced photographers, who want good flexibility, convenience, and excellent image results.

When it gets RAW capability and true HD video (1080p) then it will be perfect (for me) and called the “Canon PowerShot SX30IS”, or the Canon PowerShot SX1 IS minus $100.

Finally in love with a camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I tried out way too many cameras before I finally found this one, and it is definitely The One. The picture quality is amazing, and crisp, the colors are very vivid. I love the display screen that I can turn around to keep closed when my camera is in my bag to avoid getting scratches on it, and the way the screen flips over has been really useful in taking pictures of yourself grouped up with friends when no one else is there to do so, instead of just guessing if your all in the frame you can actually see it.

The self timer and face self timer function lets you take up to 10 pictures and instantly recognizes your face and has let me take incredible pictures on top of mountains and in remote areas on my travels in Turkey and Europe. You can just set up the camera and when you get into range look straight at it and it begins taking pictures clicking away 10 times,or less depending on your setting. You can keep the volume up so you can hear when its taking a picture or keep it low if you are indoors and don’t want the sound to be heard. This is an incredibly useful function.

The panoramic assist function and the zoom browser stitch software have let me put together incredibly stunning views of entire cities on my journey that I have been able to take from high locations by hand without they use of a tripod.

The zoom on this thing is incredible. If you are thinking, do I really need 20x zoom? I was thinking the same thing, but traveling around when I am inside a building with huge domes and high ceilings the zoom lets me stand in one place and get close up to all the incredible details and capture them perfectly, the zoom is incredible, and allows you to shoot wide shots or get very close up to the tiny details you wouldn’t even be able to see otherwise. I was able to take pictures of the moon with the super zoom and without a tripod, and of sunrises and scenes as well as indoor shots of details inside of high domes and all have come out stunning with little effort from me.

The video function on this camera is also very good and has allowed me to get some great videos of interiors of buildings and outdoors too. The wide angle lens is incredible for capturing ALOT of detail a big scene or the large facade of a building. This camera has great features and great picture quality and is incredibly easy to use, even for the beginner and has enough flexibility that you can work with the manual controls if you want to be more creative.

criticisms:

The lowlight pictures could be better, they do tend to get grainy in extreme lowlight so you have to watch the iso, I guess this is what the manual settings are for so if you are good with that sort of thing you can probably change it around to get much better results. I haven’t been able to master the settings yet but I havent had to I have been getting great pics on the go throughout.

My other criticism would be that sometimes you have to watch what batteries you buy because even if your batteries are fully charged they wont be recognized by the camera. I had some trouble because the camera would not recognize my rechargeable energizer batteries which I bought with a charger for my travels so the whole thing went to waste and I had to keep buying duracell batteries wherever I went. It does recognize duracell and a few other types though, you can google it to see the best type. As long as you have the right kind of battery on had it lasts for awhile without giving you trouble but just beware of investing too much in a battery and charger that wont work for this camera.

neither of these are fatal flaws though. This camera fits great in my hands and the pictures are pure magic. Take a look at the ones I uploaded and judge for yourself. I would highly recommend this camera and completely love it, I’ve finally found what I’ve been looking for.

Totally AWESOME!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great shots, easy to use. Able to take dramatic, detailed photos. We have a close-up of a bumble bee gathering honey. You can see the lace of the wings, the fuzzy edges of the black & yellow stripes, and the fuzzle-stuff on the legs. Totally Awesome!

Best camera I have ever bought
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The only con to this camera is that the flash could pop up automatically but that really isnt that big of a deal. Easy to use and love the color changing features!! Try a black and white with bright blue or red they look incredible!! Amazon cheaper than anyone in town even the big box made in china superstores plus free shipping and no tax…ZOOM is amesome too..better than my Canon 20D SLR. Great pictures with no altering required.

Powered zoom system too fast
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’m an experienced photographer who grew up with SLR, medium format, and view cameras while working as a pro in the military and commercially afterward. Today, I shoot only for some business and recreational needs. This is a really good compromise camera for someone wishing to avoid the bottomless cost of and SLR, along with the additional weight. My one beef is the electrically powered zoom, which reacts way too quickly. My last camera was a Minolta Dimage, which is no longer made. It, too, was a super zoom, but the lens barrel had to be manually twisted to zoom in/out. This allowed much, much finer adjustment of the zoom at a speed of the users choosing. As an all around compromise camera, this is a good value. There is always some degradation of image quality that’s a given with a superzoom camera, and that is evident in this product.

Amazing Camera! Great Buy!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am so pleased with this purchase. I originally wanted the nikon p80 when i first started looking at megazoom point and shoots and when I finally played around with it, it just seemed dinky and the pictures weren’t great. I waited and came across the canon sx10 is, I am so glad I did some more research because it is a world of difference from the p80. I have taken a lot of pictures with this camera and the image quality may not be quite as sharp as a dSLR (just slightly lower) but the color is absolutely awesome. When I heard about the p90 (12.1mp 24x zoom) coming out I thought maybe it would have had the edge over the sx10, but after reading reviews comparing both of them, the sx10 still beats the p90 in image quality. I am thoroughly impressed with the canon sx10 is. I would highly recommend it. You cant beat a 560mm zoom lens for the price. If you are wavering between cameras, stop, this won’t disappoint.

GET THE EXTENDED WARRANTY
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
This camera is the latest in the PowerShot “S” model line. As one of the first buyers of an S3 – I fell in love with my S3. BUT today my love has soured, after 2 1/2 years I got a lens error message and the lens keeps moving in and out until I shut it off. A quick internet search will show you that this is a common problem. My camera has never been abused, dropped, or used in sand. Since, my camera is out of warranty it will cost $150 to fix (provided it does not need additional parts) – roughly a 1/3 of the price of this camera. None of the suggested fixes from the various websites corrected the problem. I still like the camera but had to resort to my trusty AE-1 film camera for holiday photos! I’ll probably get it fixed but my word of warning is that since this camera is in the same “family” of Canon digitals – you might want to consider an extended warranty.

Canon SX10 IS Powershot Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am very pleased with this camera. The camera arrived in a very short time and the seller was very accurate in his description of the product.

A++ Compact DSLR
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The good:

Speedy performance with solid battery life; articulating LCD; comfortable shooting design; can zoom during movie capture.

The bad:

No HD movie capture or raw support; a few annoying design quirks; frustratingly narrow lens aperture at maximum zoom.

The bottom line:

A nice evolution of the megazoom, the Canon PowerShot SX10 IS delivers some improvements over its predecessor and provides an attractive option for megazoom shooters.

Though a 20x zoom lens may be yawn-inspiring in these days of 24x and 26x lenses, I think 20x is plenty, and perhaps even a bit too long given the difficulty of making a good lens that can cover so broad a focal range as the Canon SX10 IS’ 28-560mm equivalent. The SX10 offers some significant upgrades over its predecessor, the S5: in addition to a huge jump in lens range, from 12x to 20x, it also bumps up a couple megapixels to 10 from 8. The latest generation of Canon imaging processors, Digic 4, adds tweaks to face detection, Servo AF, Face Detection Self-Timer, and Intelligent Contrast Correction.

Keeping a mostly similar design to the S5, the SX10 follows in its footsteps as a very comfortable to hold and shoot camera, retaining perks like the articulated LCD and four AA-powered operation. It’s a little heavier, 1.5 pounds, which makes it feel like a dSLR, but the big grip gives you plenty of holding room. While it offers the same set of manual, semimanual, and automatic controls, they’re differently designed and laid out. Gone is the multifunction power switch, leaving a plain old button in its wake. Now you have a more traditional button to jump into review mode; it sits near the indented thumb rest on the back, joined by the exposure compensation and focus area selection buttons. Unfortunately, the labels, light blue on gray, are pretty difficult to see in dim light and can be obscured by the glare off the iridescent plastic in bright.

I Would not trade this camera for anthing else.

canon powershot sx 10 IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Excellent camera. Great telephoto pics. Can’t get better for the money.

Best price on the internet.

Speedy service.

Great Camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am very happy with this camera – I do not have a lot of uber camera knowledge and really just use a ‘point and shoot’ camera. But for the price this camera really does it all – the video is awesome and easy to use – clear, great picture and being able to use the 20X optical zoom (which you cannot hear at all when used!) is a huge plus. Also, for someone like me (not a camera expert) the macros are easy to use and the picture quality is great. For the price you can’t beat this camera.

Its a great little camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The Canon Powershot SX10is is a great little camera. Its lens is amazing going from extreme wideangle to extreme telephoto (in 35mm equivalents 28mm to 560mm). The ten megapixels enables you to digitally zoom out even further to 80 power.

I am a birder, and I wanted a handy camera to take picture of birds that that will yield a picture good enough to “prove” that I saw a particular bird. It is so nice not to be chained to a heavy tripod and a heavy birding scope in order to photograph birds.

My pictures don’t match the best pictures made by serious bird photographers with expensive outfits with long telephoto lens and converters, but it gives me surprisingly sharp pictures.

The only criticism I have is one that I have read in other reviews. The camera has a “wheel” to select a feature that has to do with ISO or sensitivity to light, or in SCENE mode to pick what type of picture (fireworks, sunsets, etc) that you might want to use. It can be frustrating to get to the feature you want to use.

The second frustration is the way you call up a picture you’ve taken by pressing a button “way over in right field.” I do like the ease with which you can take movies.

John Lindfors

Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Have not had this camera very long but know that I will like it. Love the zoom lens. Photos with the tele-converter are clearer than with a digital zoom, so the actual length of lens available is more than 560mm. Clips in movie mode have been clear and of good quality (30fps). It more difficult to set the ‘scene’ options than on other canon cameras, but think this will get easier with practice. At the widest angle of the lens (28mm) the lens hood gets into the picture so it has to be removed before shooting.

Best Camera I Have Ever Owned
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased the Canon Powershot SX10IS a few weeks ago. It’s a great camera and I highly recommend it. I’m a novice when it comes to photography. Despite my lack of experience in photography, I needed a new camera for a food blog that I was starting. Specifically, I needed a camera that could take decent up-close (macro) shots. As with most digital cameras in this price range, the SX10 shots are a bit noisy at ISO400 or greater. It’s really easy-to-use and there are a lot of great features for the price. If you want to see some actual images shot with the camera, do a google search for “Cooking Ventures”. All images were shot with the SX10.

Great camera but must read the user manual!
Rating:5 out of 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.

All Auto Functions is excellent. All Manually Functions is not very bad.
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is my 6th digital camera and 3rd from Canon.

This camera is not for everyday using (size and weight).

This is “weekend-camera”.

General characteristic is in the title.

Few rivals among digital cameras
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Canon SX10 IS is a very impressive superzoom camera.

The ergonomics of the SX10 are excellent. The camera feel substantial but not overly heavy in the hand, and the fingers wrap around the grip very naturally and securely, leaving thumb and fingers well position for the controls. The menus seem very intuitive to me – almost all the settings are where I expect to find them. (This may be partly because I have owned several A-series cameras and know the Canon menus system, but I recall thinking with my first A-series camera that the menu distribution made a lot of sense.) The menu settings include a customizable menu list that can be set to include the users most frequently accessed menu items, edited to the order of the owner’s choosing, and, if desired, set to be the default menu on initial access of the menu functions – overall a means of truly customizing the camera to one’s own particular needs and uses. Many users will join me in applauding the presence of focal-length markings on the lens barrel – a nice feature that means a lot to more experienced photographers but is notably lacking on the models of most other manufacturers.

The range of capabilities of this camera is remarkable. Begin with the lens: 28 to 560 mm equivalent in 35-mm terms. This means that, from about 12 feet away, I could on Christmas morning make one exposure that encompassed the room, all the decorations, and the day’s several celebrants, and without moving, fill the frame with a single ornament on the tree on the other side of the room. Both are remarkable in their own way. One of the things I have missed in moving to compact digital cameras from high-end 35mm cameras was a seriously wide angle lens. A 28 mm lens gets a lot of wear and tear in the kit of a serious 35mm shooter, begin used both indoors and out to capture wide expanses. Having a 28 mm short end of a zoom is vastly different than calling 35 mm “wide angle.” On the other end of the scale, 560 mm is a lot of lens, and one would seldom attempt to hand-hold that much lens with a conventional 35 mm system. Image stabilization, however, allows sharp shots hand-held with the long lens. Image stabilization is said to allow a gain of 2 stops in exposure latitude. The usual rule of thumb is to reach for a tripod whenever your shutter speed is slower than the inverse of your lens length (i.e., 1/30 sec for a 28 mm lens, 1/60 for a “normal” 50 to 55 mm lens, 1/250 for the long end of an ordinary zoom in the 210 to 270 mm range. With practice, photographers can often beat that rule by one stop, but with IS I have beaten the rule by 3 to 4 stops with tack-sharp results.

The reason that Canon digitals attract a lot of gray-haired photographers with extensive 35-mm experience is because most of their cameras have easy access to shutter- and aperture-priority modes and a fully manual mode in addition to the several programmed modes on the dial. There are times when us old geezers look at a prospective shot, identify potential exposure problems, and solve them by selecting a specific shutter speed or aperture value, or sometimes both. Such settings remain easy to access and manipulate with the SX10, and the other specialized program sets are well-conceived, if rather standard, and equally easy to access with the control dial. The control dial also has a setting that can be customized to give quick control-dial access to a set of features and settings that the owner anticipates using frequently – thank you, Canon, for recognizing that your customers have brains of their own.

The software has some pretty gee-whiz features. Face detection seems to work very well, and the camera can pick out all the faces in a frame and it allows you to select one to be highest priority in focus and exposure. Even more remarkable is a delayed exposure option that counts the faces in the frame when the shutter button is pressed, then recognizes when a new face (the photographer’s) shows up, and fires two seconds later. I am not sure how often it will be used, but the very capability is a remarkable bit of intelligence to be present in a camera. Focusing can be set to face-detection or a defined-zone system that starts with a central square and can be shifted by the photographer. Exposure options include evaluative, full-frame center-weighted, or spot metering, and the spot meter can be linked to the focus frame. The focus frame can be blown up either prior to shooting or in review to check focus. (I found this feature to be a bit distracting to composition, so I turned it off in the menus but I can imagine situations in which I might reactivate it.) Auto focus can be set to continuous or shutter-button activated; servo focus off or on. The flash is activated to raising or lower it; auto and forced flash is available; a red-eye lamp is pretty ineffective and can be turned off, as can the focus-assist beam; flash can be synced to first or second curtain. Stitch assist includes not only the usual left-to-right and right-to-left options, but also top-to-bottom, bottom-to-top, and a four-shot two-dimensional rectangle. I can go on about the settings, but the reader can access that information by reading the owner’s manual at the Canon website. The key point is versatility – you can set and override darn near everything on this camera.

Picture quality is quite good. Ten megapixels is a lot to cram onto a small sensor, and some folks have reported some chromic aberration, or purple fringing. Chromic aberration is worst at sharp edges of high contrast. I have made deliberate attempts to produce chromic aberrations, and have been inconsistently successful, having produced the dreaded purple fringe only on some shots, and visible only after extensive enlargement. I have not yet had a picture that I thought was significantly affected by chromic aberration when viewed at a reasonable magnification.

So is the SX10 a perfect camera? No, but it is awfully good; its capabilities rival the best 35 mm cameras in many ways, and its digital capabilities allow it to offer features impossible with 35 mm cameras, like stitch assist, creative color options, and contrast controls. I would love for it to have larger sensor, but we all know that the manufacturers are going to protect their D-SLR lines, and the technical aspects of designing lenses small enough for a compact camera that still serve larger sensors are said to be quite formidable. A wider range of aperture settings would be nice – I am sure that everyone would like a little more speed, and that would allow further narrowing of the depth of field for portraiture, but my appeal would be for another stop or two on the smaller side, so that the 28-mm setting can be used with knowledge of depth of field for foreground-to-infinity sharpness in landscape works. (Few people realize these days that Ansel Adams worked mostly with f-stops of 64!) But, all of you old 35 mm devotees out there please admit it – if you were ever crazy enough to dream of a 28-560 zoom with this good of an optical quality, you would have killed to own one, and you would have expected to mortgage your house to be able to afford it.

So overall – extreme versatility in hardware and software, very good image quality, and a highly user-friendly design make the SX10 difficult to exceed in a single-lens camera. Multiple lenses and a larger D-SLR body add some image quality and perhaps some additional capabilities, but the additional abilities will be quite esoteric for most users, and the difference in image quality will seldom be justified by the expense and, more important on most days, the extra bulk and weight of a multi-lens system. The SX10 should receive serious consideration from anyone desiring a high quality digital camera but reluctant invest in a D-SLR system.

Just what I wanted
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
After reading other reviews for tis and other cameras, I purchased this over a month ago. I have taken it on trips to Vermont and the coast of Maine and found it to be excellent for scenery. The zoom is great for birds which is one of the reasons I bought it. I am still learning the camera. The auto setting is about all I have used so far. I look forward to taking it to Florida in the fall to photograph the flora and wildlife!

It ia a bit complicated to use but doable.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great camera for anyone. Lots of features. Simple to use and at a great price.

Far exceeded my expectations!
Rating:5 out of 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.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera Feb 2009 takes the best pics seems like too you can get a lot in one pic which is great. I am glad I purchased this camera its really all you need and will last you for years its everything you need and taking moon pics is great. I would say go out and buy this camera also I have posted some of my pics on here check them out.. Rocking camera! Thanks Canon…

Great for historical/architectural work
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am a historian and my main use for the camera is taking photographs of documents (mostly medieval manuscripts on parchment in lousy lighting without a flash) and building interiors (mostly churches with abysmal lighting without a flash). This camera has worked wonderfully for both of those – and, naturally, exteriors in daylight look fabulous, too. The image stabilization and the articulated LCD were huge selling points for me, since the former allows me to photograph documents without dragging a camera stand or tripod along with me, while the latter simplifies taking pictures at strange angles (which happens often). The built-in flash is tremendously powerful, as is the zoom, and I could not be happier with this camera! (Also great is the fact that it takes AA batteries – my research is all in Europe and those are always available, whereas special batteries make me nervous…between losing them, having the right adapters to plug in the charger, and forgetting to bring a spare, AA’s are much simpler.)

More fun than my old Canon A1 film camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I haven’t had this much fun with a camera since my “ancient” Canon A1. I really like the ability to switch between aperture (Av) and shutter speed (Tv) priority. And I find it’s much easier to use the viewfinder than the LCD screen (so it was important to me for my digital camera to have a viewfinder). And until I looked at the differences (in the manual’s appendix) between Auto and Programmed modes, I wondered why have both … now I’m glad I looked.

One of the first things I did was to turn off most of the camera’s “helpful” settings. I am a big fan of fixing things like contrast or red eye AFTER downloading the photos to my computer … not having the camera pretending to know what I want better than I do. And I usually only want to target a portion of the image … not the entire image that these helpful settings attempt to fix.

Others have complained that the lens cap is easy to lose … but I got so used to putting my Canon A1′s lens cap in my pocket as soon as I took it off (it didn’t have a lens strap either) that I just kept following that practice with my new SX10IS.

One of the things I like the most is the fact that it uses standard AA batteries. My previous digital camera (a Nikon – because the lens is what matters when taking a photo) used a proprietary battery that was difficult to find at times (even the store where I usually bought the battery was occasionally out of stock).

The popup flash allows me to place a loose fabric over the flash to reduce the flash brightness (something next to impossible on the Nikon with its flash built into the housing). I haven’t yet upgraded to the Canon Speedlight flash … but it’s nice to know that I have that option.

For me, the biggest drawback is that the shutter release button is placed a bit too far forward for my tastes … but that’s a small problem. Not everyone has the same requirements for a digital camera as I do … but I’d say this is one of the best (unless you opt for the hugely expensive DSLRs). Read all of the reviews and see if what people say matches your requirements … but I can say that I’d recommend this camera for anyone who is even a little serious about their photography.

You can do a lot with this camera before you run into an option you wish the camera had.

Press button – vuala – picture
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera as an upgrade from my 3-1/2 year old Panasonic 5MP 12X zoom. The main reason I chose this cannon over the Panasonic FZ-28 is that it uses cheaper more widely available AA battery’s which I have a box full of rechargeables and also uses SD & SDHC memory cards. Battery life is not an issue I use 4 AA NiMH rechargeable battery’s and they last quite well. I have not yet reached the limit they have not gone dead while shooting yet, over 200 pix on several occasions and a lot of shorter uses where I shoot 20-30 pix throw it back in the case and get it out later for more shots. I’m not sure what the limit is but it has lasted all day with a lot of turned on time w/LCD on and over 200 pix.

Pro: Sunny outdoor shots are sharp and have great color, 20X zoom, image stabilization is adequate, battery life.

Con: The camera has a lot of settings and adjustments, in my opinion its more complicated than it needs to be. The preset dial has a lot of settings but does not have an indoor light setting, my Panasonic had setting for incandescent and florescent lighting which made it simple. I get a lot of blurred shots with the Cannon SX10 indoors or in low light conditions even with its night shot setting. Of course I have a more difficult learning curve with the SX-10 over the Panasonic and I hope that once I master the controls I’ll have better results.

Given the same situation/options I would buy the SX-10 camera again. However I see that Panasonic has just released new models and I would have to have a better look at their new FZ-35 offering.

My expertise level is about 7-8 out of ten, better than most but not professional.

excellent but with features overkill
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Resolution is excellent even at the longest zoom. LCD Monitor is large and easy to read and navigate. However, in both the camera and software there are way too many features to wade through in order to get the basics. The camera was delivered promptly but with unrechargeable DEAD BATTERIES dated 2005. Cheap shot on the part of Canon. I had to buy new batteries.

Great family camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I researched for a camera for a while and ended up buying this sx10 is and have no regrets. Takes very good pictures and is fairly easy to use. I took a picture from my couch with the zoom pointing through my front door and storm door at a bird sitting on a tree branch and it looked like I was outside standing next to it. The only down fall is the owners manual, it doesnt explain things very well.

Great camera for the $$
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
My old A series powershot died after 3 years so I decided to get a more powerful camera with better optical zoom than the 3x I had previously. I love this camera for the price. The cameras need to fit the purpose and mine was to have a powerful zoom without losing the ability for video which is why I did not upgrade to a SLR type. I mainly take pictures of my kids. I like the shot to shot speed of this camera and I can get the kids in action while having great clarity, focus and no jitter. I especially like the fact it uses plain AA batteries. I wish the lens cap would attach to the camera but that’s a small con to the many pros. I didn’t read any instructions and was able to figure out where and how to operate the main functions of picture review, delete, video settings/volume, flash, and ISO within 15 minutes of turning on the camera. The pictures and video is great to view on a computer or tv. I do like the flip out screen because my old one had scratches from being exposed where this screen is protected by closing inward. Modifying zoom while taking video is also a nice feature to have. I am very pleased with this camera and purchase…now I have to find a case.

GREAT IN-BETWEEN
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
SX10IS IS A GREAT IN-BETWEEN A COMPACT POINT AND SHOOT AND A SLR. MANY OPTIONS FOR ALL PHOTO SHOOT. 20X OPTICAL IS SUPER. CANON TECH SUPPORT ARE ALWAYS AVAIABLE TO ASSIST YOU. THE PRICE FOR THIS CAMERA IS VERY REASONABLE. JUST A GREAT PACKAGE.

It’s a Canon plus it’s the best you can get for under $400
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is my tenth digital camera, the second one from Canon. The first one was the Canon S1 and it was also a great camera. The zoom is ultrafast, so is the autofocus and colors and picture quality are outstanding.

While in Alaska, the Face Detection technology even detected faces when taking photos of a totem. That was kind of impressing. But obviously that’s not so important so I’ll tell you more about my experience. I enjoy taking wildlife and outdoor pictures very much and my Alaskan landscape pictures also came up great. I even went on a whale watching tour and my pictures were sharper and with better exposure than those of the gentleman next to me on the boat that was using a Nikon with 24x optical zoom.

I tried Panasonic and Kodak in between my last 2 Canons just for having a less bulky camera and the Kodak was cheap even performance-wise, the Panasonic was quite good but this one is by far the best of it’s category. The Vary-Angle LCD is a great plus even though I use mostly the viewfinder to extend battery life. I’ll definitely stick to Canon and maybe next year will buy the Canon S20 so I can have HD movie capability.

For those that don’t want to put the lens cap in your pocket, just buy a lens cap string attachment for $3.99 in Radio-Shack or even from Amazon.

Wrapping things up, you can’t go wrong when buying Canon and this is definitely the best camera I’ve owned and that you can find in this price-range.

Mom wanting great shots of daughters
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I am an amateur at best & was wanting great pictures of my infant. My canon powershot A75 was great for my now 4 yr old but it took 3 or so seconds to take the picture & I was missing that 1 second smile my infant would give before she looked away. I read reviews on this camera plus many other cameras & decided to go with this one, instead of the Nikon. The single most important thing to me was getting the best quality picture! I’m not concerned with how it works with the computer or the video aspect of it, so if you are buying it for that, my review won’t be that helpful.

Pros: This camera definitely has crisper pictures with a softer look & snaps photos quickly, one right after another which is great. I haven’t had to change the batteries yet & have used the camera a lot. The lighting is spectacular, even indoors & it wasn’t even on the indoor setting. The manual was easy to read & provides much information on how to get the best shot in all situations. (Personally, I can’t remember it all & only focus on how to get the best still shot, action shot & indoor shot).

Cons: The on/off button. I keep hitting that instead on taking the picture. Canon should have put it in a different place. The flash; it isn’t automatic but it tells you to put it up when necessary (by then your one & only shot may be gone). When using the zoom at its max, the pictures are blurry unless your hand is perfectly steady (not mine! & I try really hard). I would suggest a tripod. It is a little bulky & bigger than my previous one.

I give 4 stars because even if I have to snap 6 pictures in 5 seconds, one at least turns out & I just delete the others whereas I missed the shot entirely with my other camera! My pictures are great. I need to work on action pictures so they are not blurry but I just read up on it last night & haven’t had the chance to experiment yet. So, if you are a mom like me & want great pictures of your little ones, I suggest this camera! (Nikon may be nice too but if you already own a Canon, the features are very similiar & you’ll adjust in no time).

What’s not to love about this camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I love this camera. My previous was a Canon S1 IS and I loved that one also. The images with the SX10 IS are fantastic. I love the 20x zoom capability and with the 10 mega pixels is a great improvement over the 3.1 on the previous camera. I love the swivel LCD screen and use it quite often. I personally like the bulk of this camera – I have a real problem with the thin pocket size cameras being able to handle them properly. It will take me a while to become proficient with all the new features on this camera as it would with any new camera with so many extra features. For someone with limited financial resources and who simply wants to take snapshots, there would be better choices but if you are wanting to take more than simple snapshots and have the resources available, you won’t find a better camera with tremendous features and value for the money. I couldn’t want any other camera as much as I love this one. Only one small complaint – the digital connection cover is awkward to open and awkward to insert the cable to connect the camera to the computer. Fantastic images.

Great camera for the money
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great Camera. The pics I took on vacation at the coast turned out great. Quality I haven’t experienced since my days of using Canon film camera. The only disappointment was no threads for adding filters but Lensmate makes an adapter that allows you to add a filter. I bought one for each filter I use.

Great digital camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
We purchased this because we needed a digital that could do very close macro shots, and this delivers. It takes great pictures almost touching the subject. I believe you could set the camera lens directly on a piece of paper, and it would still photograph it clearly, except for the lack of light. Be aware, it uses two “AA” batteries, and it goes through them fairly quickly, so rechargables may be a consideration. Overall, we are very satisfied with this camera, and would recommend it to anyone!

Best bang for the buck!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Canon’s SX10IS is great! Here are the things I like the most from this SX10 IS:

Pros:

1. 20X optical super-zoom with IS and USM: its focal length (5-100mm) covers most of the ranges practically needed; IS & USM are definitely positive additions;

2. Lots of manual options available. If you really like digital photography, then you know what I mean. Like the AEB feature, allows you to compose your own HDR photo, etc.

3. Design (including its weight): The design is just right, not too high profile, not too humble. Hear some complaints about the weight, but for me that is part of “quality”. It is still much lighter and portable than a SLR, isn’t it.

4. More…

Coms:

Only some small things I dislike: lens cap — they should use a small string hooking up with the body; Neck string: don’t use it. Material of the string is kind of rough, it will bother you big time while hold the camera.

Overall, if you have limited budget and still want a decent (not just an entry level), rich featured with more manual options digital camera, go for SX10 IS!

Great deal!!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I bought two machines at Amazon.com (one for me and one as a gift) and, well, no complaints about the shipping and absolutely no complaints at all about the machines.

I’m not a pro but I always wanted a cost-effective deal that would allow me to take better pics of landscapes during my trips. This machine has good and firm grip, crispy quality pictures, awesome movies with the zoom capability and great sound. It isn’t a portable camera, so you better consider buying a nice case (not the Canon one) for the camera itself and all the stuff you might need (extra batteries, memory card, cables and so on).

I suggest anyone that is interested in buying this camera to check first for some serious review before going ahead. It is good to know that a new model is now available (SX1 IS) with new features.

no more lousy pictures
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have always taken lousy pictures , I now know why I used lousy cameras!

After deciding to upgrade to a new ultra zoom I researched and found the canon sx10 to be higly rated. After buying I seee why my pictures are fantastic crisp clear, just what I was hoping for, would definitely recommend if you are tired of lousy pictures.

Excellent Digital master piece!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just love this camera…

EXcellent piece! tremendous capturing and processing speed,and the 20x optical zoom adds the cherry on top!

I just have one small suggestion for this one….they should make some arrangement for hanging the lense cover to the camera itself…

all and all its an amazing camera!

awesome
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
pictures are awesome with this thing…almost too real. Did have some problems with automatic settings around dusk or in darker situations where I don’t want to use a flash. Also I seem to pick up a lot of reflection from brighter colors like some yellows whites etc. Hewever from a novice point of view this is the next best thing to an slr. WIDE ANGLE ROCKS!!

SX10
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The SX10 is a very good camera. I am still learning some of the advanced features. The Automatic mode works well, but some of the deer pictures work better using other settings due to the low light level when they come out to eat.

The pictures that I took of a water ski show also turned out very good and may become part of the promotional photos for the future.

Great camera for the price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Canon SX 10 IS is a great little camera – very versatile and capable. Controls are pretty easy to master, and I love the long zoom. I still have to refer to the manual, there’s a lot to master about the little bugger. The fold-out LCD window can be a distraction, I tend to just leave it in the back of the camera. Takes great pix. I intend to get an external flash, the built-in flash is too severe for good interior evening shots.

Highly recommended.

Very pleased
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had this camera for 2 months now. Have used it in every circumstand I can think of. I have been very pleased.

1) battery life. Alkaline battery life is only about 100 pics for me. I use Rayovac Hybrids and I can easly take 400 pics with these. I imagine with Lithium you could reach 600.

2) picture quality. It isn’t an DSLR but sure is close. Qualtiy is very good in any lighting conditions. You should be able to print any picture any size you want.

3) Zoom. Amazing. I have taken pictures zoomed all the way with out a tripod and they are almost as clear as if I was right on top of item. The image stablaization worked perfect everytime. (I do not use the digital zoom)

4) Video – Love the dedicated button for video. I have had many cameras where I always wished they had something like this. The qualtiy is not HD and you can buy their model that has it for $200 more but I don’t know that it is worth it. The video quality is great in my opinion. If you really want an HD video camera I would suggest buying a seperate HD video camera.

5) features – lot and lots of great features. The color swap and where you can make everything black and white except one color is pretty nice.

6) ease of use. Everything seems really intuitive to me. Everything is right where it should be.

I don’t think you can go wrong with this one. I did a ton of research and dpreview.com and digitalcamerareview.com before I bought this utla zoom camera. Thought about getting a DSLR but I really wanted the zoom. You can get this great camera that would probably meet your needs for under $400 or easliy spend $1200 to get a comprable DSLR with this zoom capacity.

Very pleased!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Purchased around Thanksgiving 2008 for a good $50 less than in stores. Very impressed with the camera, easy to use and makes me look like I know what I am doing.

Best all around “Super Zoom”
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’ve had my SX10 for about a week and am very impressed with it’s versatility. I tend to read all the user reviews I can before making a purchase and did that with the SX10. I also tested the camera with my own card in a local store and compared video and stills on the same card to the Pany TZ28. I am very interested in video and was attracted to the Pany because of its HD video. However, in testing, the SX10 was overall very superior. It has excellent color, unbelievable IS, smooth zoom, very nice stereo sound, and fool proof autofocus. I found the Pany to be weak in all those areas. I prefer the better “all around” video to the HD of the Pany.

Initially, I was spooked by the reports of a slow lens during medium to max zoom, 5.6 to be exact. I read enough reports to be convinced that the slow lens would not be especially restrictive for me due to compensation in ISO and speed setting, made possible by the excellent image stabilization. I have found the lens to be just fine, even at max zoom. I also found that the lens is fast enough for indoor non flash photography. I even tested the “ISO 3200″ setting, which requires a lower mp setting. I printed these out at 3×5 and the pictures were very good.

At first, the LCD seemed dark. After I turned up the setting to bright, it was better. After using it awhile, it seems fine. The EVF is large and bright, the best I’ve seen.

When the professional reviews come out, there will certainly be knocks on the slow lens. In my opinion, this is more of a theoretical limitation than a practical one. If you like the camera, don’t be spooked by the slow lens comments. If you’re not sure, buy from Amazon with their excellent return policy.

One really solid feature is the wide angle of the lens. This was not a feature I thought I wanted or needed. Now that I’ve seen the wide angle, I’ll never have another camera without it.

There are many other features that most will enjoy, including the dedicated video button, AA batteries, custom settings etc. I think average and very serious photographers alike will be happy with the SX10.

Very Good!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Pros: Its made in Japan!, not China, shell feels better than older models…. more zoom, more pixels.

Cons: a little bit heavier.. the plastic that covers the lens its a real problem every time you’re taking a picture…

Thats why I reated 4 stars.

Very satisfied with SX10
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was lured to the SX10 after 3 years of great satisfaction with the Canon SX2 IS. Many of my photos are taken indoors at church events. I prefer to avoid flash so that I can be as inconspicuous as possible, but occasionally I require it. With ISO 1600 capability and a hot shoe for external flash, the SX10 fits the bill.

Canon made all the right tradeoffs for my applications. AA batteries are preferable to proprietary lithium ions because of their widespread availability and low cost. Having 4 AA’s instead of 2 is a good tradeoff that provides longer battery life at the expense of size and weight. The vari-angle LCD lets me take photos from all angles. I prefer point and shoot to DSLR because the cameras are less expensive and more convenient to carry and use. Like its predecessors in Canon’s S-series, the SX10 lets you record audio for each shot which is a great convenience for documenting landmarks during my journeys. 10 megapixel resolution is more than adequate for the online pictures I mainly use and even for my occasional enlargements of 16×20. The controls are very convenient to access. The video quality is excellent. It seems like Canon thought of everything.

I haven’t decided yet whether to buy a Canon flash for maximum compatibility or a different brand for less cost at the expense of reduced compatibility. Since I use flash infrequently, I can wait to make that decision. In a little more than a week I’ve taken 500+ photos to experiment with the camera. I’m very satisfied that the SX10 provides the improvements I sought.

Brilliant Camera but a couple DUMB Mistakes by CANON
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I brought this camera recently. It takes amazing photos, so i would highly recommend it.

I won’t go much into all the positives, because that has been well articulated by others.

I love the swiveling LCD SCREEN, manual adjustments, the powerful zoom, face detect feature, and the crisp pictures it takes overall.

Hower, HOW DUMB can CANON engineers be to include some rather foolish poor designing in such a classy camera.

Let Me Start:

Number 1: You can use either the viewfinder, or the LCD Screen. So if you are using the viewfinder, and you take a shot, the recorded image will not show automatically on the lcd screen. Thus you have to tediously press the playback button to see the image, which leads me to my second point. (Note, on viewfinder mode, the shot imag shows in the viewfinder only)

Number 2: Given the importance of the playback button, given Canon’s initial bad choice one would have thought that the PLAYBACK button would be well designed. Not at all, the playback button is rather small, and in a slight sink, requiring a certain degree of effort to depress. What careless engineering!!!!!

Number 3: The right hand grip creaks slightly when grasped. I am not sure if others have this issue as well. It is very very very minor, but should not be there anyways.

These are my gripes with the camera so far. Despite this, i am very happy with the camera and would purchase it again. especially if those 3 flaws are fixed. I would strongly recommend it to those wanting a rugged point and shoot, or the advanced power user wanting full manual control.

Amazing and Life Changing
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Pros: Easy to use, superzoom, outstanding clarity & quality, long battery life

Cons: I find it gets heavy, but I have a fanny type camera bag that seems to help with that.

I am a complete rookie when it comes to photography. I wanted a point and shoot camera that I could grow into. The x20 optical zoom does truly take fantastic pics of the moon. This camera allows you to point and shoot and take fantastic photos. However, there is also the manual and program sets that will allow you to create custom settings. (This is where the “grow into” comes in.)

The photos I’ve taken have been tremendous and have changed how my family lives their lives, lol. Always ready to pose for Mom or stop the car for that “shot”.

At this price (at the time of this $380 min) is a valuable investment. I look forward to using this camera for year and years to come. I have graduations to capture=)

Why pay so much more…
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
DON’T DO IT! DON’T BUY AN EXPENSIVE, HIGH TECH CAMERA THAT DOESN’T PERFORM! THE SX10is IS ONE OF THE BEST ULTRA ZOOM, AFFORDABLE, ADVANCED DIGITAL CAMERAS MONEY CAN BUY. FOR THE BEGINNER, STRAIGHT AND FORWARD VIEW SCREEN PROMPTS GUIDE YOU THROUGH THE CAMERA FUNCTIONS. FOR THE ADVANCED USER, ALL OF THE NECESSITIES OF HIGH QUALITY, PRECISION PHOTOGRAPHY ARE BUT AT YOUR FINGER TIPS, PLUS SO MUCH MORE. DID I FORGET TO MENTION THE MASSIVE 20X ZOOM, FACE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY, AND 28mm-560mm RANGE TO NAME A FEW. CANT WAIT TO SHOOT ON MY CRUISE MAY 09. CANON SIMPLY OUT DID ITSELF!

Love this camera, but want an upgrade
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve had this camera for a little over six months. I’ve taken thousands of pictures and love it, but I will try to sell it for something more hands on. I love the swivel viewer. I carry this camera everywhere. I wish the lens cap attached to the camera. I’ve dropped it in the lake once, luckily it didn’t go too far.

canon
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is awsome. Would like a string to hold my lens cover. Minor problem, but may want to see if I can order a few extras for when mine gets lost as I know it will.

Other than that, it is a great camera, with lots of features and no need to change lenses to get up close shots.

Love This Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is easy to use, easy to download to my computer and overall a great buy.

A perfect mid size PS camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Nothing bad to say about SX10 IS. Bunch of features, more than good picture quality, relatively inexpensive. I got one several months ago, no complaints.

Fantastic camera.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I got this camera after returning a less than stellar Nikon L100 and it has not disappointed me yet. Working right out of the box with very minimal reading of the manual, great pictures of my pets and kids in action, lots of scene modes to chose from. My only complaint, as mentioned in other reviews is the scroll wheel is VERY sensitive and often bypasses the mode I am trying to get into. I can forgive that with the overall quality of the camera.

If you are on the fence about this camera, it is great. A little large, but I do not mind that.

Canon SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Very Nice Camera! Great Zoom! I have had an S3, S5, and now the SX10. All three cameras were great. The S3 had better movie clips than the S5. The SX10 has better video than the S3 and S5. You are limited on video according to the size of your memory chip. I have had this camera for two months and have not had any problems. Great Camera..

Love it, Love it, Love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera has so many cool features! I really love it. The only issue I have is that since it has so many features, if I don’t use the features often, I forget how to access them. But once I read the instructions again, it is easy to figure out. Takes great photos! I would recommend this camera!

Versatile Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am very happy with this versatile camera. I was thinking about buying a camcorder and a still camera but this camera meets all my needs. The audio is good even though you cannot connect an external microphone. Battery life is good, zoom range is good, picture quality is very good with auto focus and auto exposure. I like the panorama feature that allows me to stitch multiple shots together. This camera is a great value.

Previous S3 IS owner – this one is OK, I guess
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I owned and loved my PowerShot S3 IS for several years. The S3 IS was a great camera and I really enjoyed it – that is I *liked* using it. I enjoyed taking pictures with it. It was a great camera.

Then I sold it to a friend and “upgraded” to this SX10 IS. Frankly, I generally regret parting with my venerable S3 IS.

In comparison:

* The S3 IS was smaller. Physically, if you measure, the ruler says that the SX10 is not that much bigger — but the feel of the SX10 is heavy and clunky.

* The controls of the S3 were much easier to manipulate by touch (i.e. I’m looking thought the eye-piece and changing settings by feel) — this SX10 seems much more difficult to do the same thing, I and find I have to look at the controls more.

* The lens cap on the S3 IS was tethered – attached – and I could flip it off with the flick of one finger and know I’m not going to lose. Whereas, the lens cap of the SX10 is NOT tethered and attaches differently making it hugely inconvenient for the “quick-shot” you might try to capture. In my experience, more often than not, the lens cap falls off as I’m taking the camera out of my camera bag and is prone to fly off and get lost. VERY annoying. My intension is to attach a thin string somehow.

* Frankly, I see almost NO difference in the Digic III processor in this SX10 than I did in the Digic II processor of the S3 IS. IF the SX10 dropped fewer frames when snapping a pic during movie mode, that would be great – but I see no difference.

There are many other small annoyances between the S3 and the SX10 that I won’t belabor here.

On the plus side, I will admit that the 20x Zoom is nice.

Summary:

IF you are contemplating upgrading from an S3 IS or an S5 IS, my advice is to give this one a pass and keep your current camera UNLESS you really want the 20x zoom.

Cannon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Canon Powershot SX10IS is a versatile mid range camera. The swival lcd screen is a nice feature in addition to the 20x optical zoom. A good fit in between the Elph point and shoot and full size Canon Digital 30D.

This is an EXCELLENT camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is an EXCELLENT camera! I highly recommend purchasing it if you’re in the market for a Mega Zoom. I just can’t say enough about it. It offers several pre-set photo options. The zoom is incredible. Picture quality is also excellent. It feels good in your hands.

I suggest that you study the manual to become familiar with the camera features. It’s an easy read. Plan on burning the provided AA batteries becoming familiar with the camera (comparing the manual to actually testing them out on the camera). It’s worth investing the time to truly realize the camera’s benefits.

I purchased rechargeable AA batteries rather than continually buying traditional alkaline batteries. AA battery vs. a proprietary rechargeable battery was a feature I was looking for in this type of camera. It doesn’t burn through the batteries.

Again – it’s a great camera for armature or semi-professional photographers. Good luck!

Fab camera, but battery lid broke
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is providing terrific pictures. It’s easy and intuitive. The automatic setting is very smart. The camera is light. The zoom does amazing closeups and distance without the greater weight and lens-swapping of the big boys. I’ve been told it’s in demand by pros as an alternate camera because the price-to-feature ratio is so good.

Cons: 1) After 5 months, a tiny plastic piece broke off inside the battery door and it won’t stay closed (must send camera to Canon), 2) No lens cap tether, 3) Can’t seem to find a polarizing filter for it, possibly because this is not an SLR camera with live viewfinder?, and 5) Does not shoot in RAW format.

I would still rate this camera best in its class, absolutely. The next step would be a much more expensive DSLR.

Nice camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have had this camera for a month and I really like it. Although I am still learning how to use it, so far it has been great. I like the zoom distance as we are going to be doing a lot of traveling in the near future and it will come in handy. It has a lot of features that I am not use to but most of the ones I looked at have more than the average person would ever need. It is a little heavy but I rigged up a hand hold to steady it pretty good. I would recommend it to anyone who doesn’t want to mess with changing lenses all the time.

canon powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera takes great pictures. A friend of mine has the canon powershot

before this one and i fell in love with it. When they came out with this one I decieded to purchase it. The 20x wide angle zoom gets closer than the recent lens i just purchase, the 70-300 for my canon rebel. This is a good camera to have just in case you want to take a small light camera instead of a big camera with a heavy lens on it, will still take the great close-up pictures.

Great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera as a gift for my son. He did the research on it and I ordered it for him. He said it is user friendly. He has taken some awesome pictures! He is very happy with this camera. I would highly recommend it.

Powershot SX10IS
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Very nice camera… This is the best PS camera I have used so far.

Pros: Very good picture quality.

Picture quality is still amazing when fully zoomed.

Does very well with moving objects.

I have not had a single picture with Red Eye yet.

Cons: No camera bag!

Lens cap is a snap on that isnt connected to the camera making it very easy to lose.

Camera sometimes takes a little bit too long to focus and snap shots.

Overall I feel this was a great buy and would buy it again in a second. As stated above, the picture qaulity is amazing and must be printed to see. If you dont want to break into the DSLR catagory then this is a very nice alternative at the top of the Point and Shot lines.

Great Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is fantastic. It has a lot of great features and takes great pictures. It’s amazing how far away you can be and still get a close up picture. Definitely great for any kind of animal photography and sports photography. While you can us this camera on “auto”, it definitely isn’t a camera for someone who doesn’t want to read the manual. Amazon was really great to deal with for purchasing this camera and had a really great price.

FROM AN ELPH TO THE SX10 IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was fed up with pocket cameras. After reading many reviews about many cameras I chose the CANON SX10 IS. Right out of the box just point and shoot. I have found this camera amateur friendly. My dogs tend to be black or white… Westies and Labradors. No longer do I get just a profile outline of my Lab, or a white blob of my Westie. Gone are the green ghoul eyes. The video is as crisp as the photos. The sound recording on video is clear, too. Important if you want the sound of your little puppies at play. Most important is how silent the camera is to operate. My dogs no longer hear the camera come out of the bag, power up, focus, and shoot. Even the flash doesn’t disturb them. Portrait photos of family are priceless. I can’t wait to start photographing wildlife.I live in the Blue Ridge Mountains where “teaming with wildlife”is an understatement. Turkeys, deer, birds, geese, ducks, wolves, cyotes, mountain lions, lynx, bobcats,etc. have appeared in my side, front,and backyard. A positive for a budding wildlife photographer… a nightmare when walking the dogs. “GET OUT OF HERE!” doesn’t exactly intimidate timber wolves that appear on the edge of your yard while walking a six month old Labrador. Having lived here all of my life, however, I do know how to stay safe, the agricultural biology degree doesn’t hurt, either.

The LCD screen is big enough for me, especially with its flexibility. A rubber eye piece (eyepieces@cheltenhamas.com) makes the view finder VERY efficient… highly recommended. The ease of use of the automatic controls to the ability of full manual control, with the ability to add attachments using a converter ring (52mm-58mm)and the hot shoe for an additional flash makes this camera limitless. I don’t mind the lack of HD recording. Honestly, if you’re that into video recording, shouldn’t you be looking at camcorders? The CANON SX 10 IS is the best of three worlds for me: automatic, manual, and video in one.

Good camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
So far tried just a few shots with this camera. The macro is very impressive, the white balance is good in all conditions I tested (and I did try some hard ones), the 20X zoom is mind-blowing. In good light focusing was fast and sharp, good improvement over the S5 IS. Image processing was very fast too, thanks to the Digic4 processor.

Cons. In low light, the performance is limited, just like any powershot-range camera. Because of densely packed pixels on the sensor, any ISO over 200/400 is unusable. This also limits your zoom at low light, you will need to keep it steady for long exposures. If you plan taking loads of shots in low light consider something else (may be the long-promised Panasonic G1?).

Canon SX10 IS User Review
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera replaced Posershot S3 as a walk around. I haven’t been able to use all the bells and whistles, but it has proven to be, not only a worthy successor, but also much more.

Deceptive picture
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
This upgrade from S3IS and S5IS has some very good improvements, but also some degraded features. I took the picture at full optical zoom with an S3IS and SX10IS and compared them side by side. Of course the SX10 will show more details because of more zoom and more pixels, but there is more noise, so the enhencement is worth only about a third of what the number should make you expect :20X and 10 Mpixel.

Movie is very grainy in moderate and low light.

I returned the camera and bought another S3IS (mine had been stolen).

Three stars, because other similar cameras seem to be with defects also.

It is like choosing a car, technically a car with have it all should be available at a reasonable price – it is just marketing so you keep searching and buying. Just like XP – Vista – WIndows 7 …

Lots of bells and whistles…but also very basic when needed
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I think overall I would recommend this camera to people.

My review is based on comparison to the CANON S2 IS;

Pros:

Good night images.

Image stabilization is good.

Flash is very good.

Zoom amazing.

Moving object photography is good.

Overall image quality is good.

Cons.

Bulky.

The camera lens cap is not attached…very bad. Therefore can get lost easily.

Pleasant surprise
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I was hesitant to buy since my S3IS and S5IS both disappointed me with regards to IQ. I was very surprised to see the results from the SX10. I took about 20 identical shots with it and my G10, same settings, both jpeg. Even at the pixel level I was unable to see a difference in quality. I’m impressed.

Great camera, needs upgrade
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I purchased the Canon PowerShot SX10IS shortly before our vacation last month and I had a lot of fun learning its features during our trip and took many, many pictures and lots of video. I am not a camera expert nor a big photo person but I found the camera easy to use (reading the manual from time to time was important). I especially liked the ability to zoom in and out while taking video. I would recommend the camera, great value for the price, but it does have a couple deficiencies and an ease-of-use problem that need correction. I hope you are listening, Canon.

First, the lens cap will not stay on. We finally gave up and did without it, which probably limits the camera’s life.

Second, the battery life is limited. During those days when I used the camera alot, I ran through a set of four alkaline AA batteries in one day. Be sure to have lots of extra batteries on hand! (Especially of you review your pictures at the end of the day, this seems to eat up lots of energy, so we stopped doing that.)

Third, as other reviewers have noted, the control knob is difficult to learn how to use. Thankfully one of the other reviewers here on Amazon gave me some insight. I am now able to adjust shutter speed, aperture, etc. See the comment from Robert Hughes below.

Overall I love using the camera.

Very Satisfied
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After a year of researching/foot dragging on making a commitment on a replacement for a busted Kodak, I finally took over from my wife & purchased this camera. I ordered it on the sly hoping to receive it before July 4th and a big 50th anniversary event for her best friend’s parents. I was shocked when the camera arrived 2 weeks earlier than promised and I was able to surprise her with the Powershot SX10IS as an early anniversary present (in front of her visiting sister). The camera has been easy to understand and use from that point on. The girls were very happy with the action shots at Dollywood’s water rides, the great color renditions and overall crispness. I used it extensively at the 50th anniv. party. I particularly like the swing away view screen which allowed me to take more unstaged /unaware photos of people at the party. This camera fills many of the possible needs we were thinking we needed a DSLR for, at a much better price. The only downsides so far are trying to keep up with the lens cap, and inability to place a protective lens on the front of the lens. The 20X zoom is awesome!

Excellent zoom
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Very good camera, nice pictures even in dark. The LCD tilt feature is really cool..

Very Pleased With Purchase
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I ordered this camera in December. I was at first not happy with how long it would take amazon to ship the product, but pleased that it was shipped quite a bit earlier than the estimated date. It was well packaged and everything was in the box, and in perfect condition.

I love the camera, even though I still have a lot to learn about it yet. It seems to have many features that I at least seem to be impressed by. The zoom is great and works very smooth. Batteries seem to last quite a while, I think even better than my older smaller Cannon. Picture quality is very nice. Camera seems to focus really well. I noticed when you zoom in close though you need to wait a couple of seconds longer before it focuses in. I love the flip out LCD screen. The movie feature is great too.

I was at first interested in an SLR camera, but since I am not a professionl I am happy with what this camera does for what I will need to use it for. Maybe someday I can become a professional at photography

Great Trip
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Over the last few years, on trips, I have alternated the use of a Canon Digital Rebel SLR and a Nikon Coolpix 7900 point and shoot. I found that the Canon Digital Rebel became a real problem in the point and shoot arena. It was heavy, required lens changes, was hard to conceal in the rain, and bulky.

The Nikon was really too small, the settings hard to read, it was sensitive to vibration, had a fairly low resolution, and did not have a long enough zoom lens.

In December, I bought the SX10IS, because it seemed to be the best of both worlds. AND IT WAS! On a trip around South America, we encountered every conceivable situation and this camera exceeded in every category. It is lightweight, small but not too small, has a great zoom lens, great resolution, image stabilization, no lens changes, can be hidden under a rainsuit, and produces superior images.

Recently, a lens adapter has become avialable that accepts 58mm filters.

I would highly recommend this camera as a great all-around winner.

Finally, a High Quality Super Zoom
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Many picture buffs like myself are torn between the weight, expense and size of many digital SLR’s, and the increasing power and convenience of the near SLR portables. Hardcore travelers like myself know the convenience of throwing a camera in a case or backpack, and the hassle that the weight, care and feeding of an SLR can pose on such trips.

Fortunately, what I’ve seen so far is that the high quality of zoom shots is setting a brand new standard with this new camera from Canon. Earlier “super-zoom” models, or those with zooms in excess of 10x or 12x, suffered from image quality problems as long zooms strained the limits of the tiny processors needed to capture light and reduce the effects of vibration. All these negative effects increase exponentially with each increase in zoom power. It used to be that only the large lenses and higher sensitivity power of expensive SLR’s solved this problem.

Processor sensitivity has finally caught up with the portable 20x optical zoom. Finally 100mm zoom power, without SLR expense and weight.

wow
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
bought this great camera about a week ago, first shots were of the snow in las vegas at 20x, crisp and sharp, bought this camera to tag along with my nikon d50, pictures are almost as sharp and the ease of use and the size are just perfect, i agree with other reveiws that the function wheel needs work- keep ending up in manual or macro focus, all around a very well built and easy to understand camera, lcd is the best i have seen on anything in this price, the nikon will be in moth balls for any long trips to europe because this camera does it all- buy it you will like itCanon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Canon SX10 IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom The best pricing was through Amazon from Crutchfield. The delviery was to be 3-5 business days and it arrived on the 6th, which meant I did not have the camera for a planned trip-poor planning on my part too. The camera replaces a Canon digital that suddenly broke and was too expensive to repair. I have had the camera for 3 weeks now, and I am happily impressed with the features and results. I am an amateur who likes to take close-range and distant photos but without the hassle of changing lenses. My old Pentax retired years ago. Surprisingly fun is the ability to take videos, almost like a cam corder. Also fun, is when the memory card can be put into the Panasonic TV slot and the photos make a slide show on a 50″ plasma! I think this camera offers great flexibility and results for the amateur; with the need for more performance, but not the need to spend money on a camera or lenses that are rarely used. I am a “professional” complainer and critic so it is rare to report that I am recommending something.

The best camera I’ve ever purchased
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have bought pocket size as well as 35-mm based digital cameras through the years. After a friend bought the Canon Powershot SX1 and was raving, as well as showing some fantastic prints she had created, I did my own research and determined the few features that were different between the SX1 and the SX10 were minute and not anything I would need for almost $200.00 difference in price. Also some of the reviews had the SX10 having less noise or graininess in the zoom shots. So, after much debate, I bought the SX10.

I am so pleased with my decision. So far, I have only just “played” around with it, but I have taken shots in low-light, bright light and distance and each one has all the quality I could ask for.

After going on vacation in July, and forgetting my Sony’s battery charger (and spending quite a bit of time locating a replacement charger – finally found at a Radio Shack), it is nice having a camera that takes AA batteries. Available everywhere!

I have only just begun to examine all the features, but the real test is coming — in December we’re going to DisneyWorld! Unless you have some extreme need for the high quality video feature (I buy cameras for photos, not video) this is the best buy.

This is a Great camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a Great camera!

I love using the 20x zoom lense and the camera has great auto and manual functions. The display screen is amazing and the picture software it comes with is excellent. I highly recommend this camera!

Overall, so far, GREAT!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am in no part a camera expert, nor a novice, but so far I love this camera! The zoom works great, the macro is amazing, I like the versatility of all the different functions. I am still working out how to do everything but so far the pictures I have taken have received great compliments. It is a bit on the heavy side (and quite large) and I wish that it had a cap to cover the flash thing on the top, but other than that I have no complaints. I think that you want to shoot movies, you should buy a camcorder. The lens cap has a clip to attach it to the strap.

Great intermediate camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
An excellent camera for those just getting into photography, or someone not ready to spend a fortune on a pro camera. Tons of features that are easy to figure out, and make picture-taking a breeze. The zoom is wonderful for getting in close to your subject quickly and quietly. Haven’t had it for very long, so I haven’t used all it’s features yet. But, what I have used has made my shots better and more professional looking. Like someone who knows what they’re doing! Would recommend this camera. Great features for not too much money.

Canon SX10 IS is a hit!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great pix in a simple to use camera! Got wonderful zoom pix of petroglyphs in Nevada, that I could never climbed close enough to enjoy.

Now I need to read the manual, and find out what other wonderful magic can be done with this hefty little camera! There are complexities to be discovered!

Canon Powershot SX10IS Digital Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I LOVE this camera. It is the best camera I have ever owned and I am 65 years old. It is easy to use and makes perfect photos and movies. In fact, it is so good that I have stopped using my Canon DVD Camcorder DC220 to record videos. The SX10 does a better job and is more convenient.

Exceeds Expectations
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Wow! I am very pleased with the Canon Powershot. I am (was) one of those people who resisted on converting from film cameras to digital. After a lot of research, time, and many questions to people whom uses digital cameras I finally decided to purchase one.

What I wanted was a digital camera that was VERY easy to use and would take GREAT pictures of my very active Grandchildren. The Canon Powershot exceeded my expectations.

The Canon Powershot can go from the box to taking great pictures in just minutes. No special camera batteries needed, which who keeps them on hand, it takes double A. I can and have recommended the Canon Powershot to my family and friends.

Canon does it again!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Just got this camera and am still playing with it. So far, the pictures are outstanding and the zoom is unbelievable. In fact I brought it to work and several people immediately went to Amazon and ordered it.

Pros: ZOOM! AA batteries (you would have to be on Mars to not find those readily available), LCD display

Cons: Like everyone else has said, no filter capabilities. But if you go to Lensmate Online, they have just made a filter adapter that works like a champ. It changes the lens diameter to 58mm but it is a great fit.

.MOV – sorry, I am use to using Windows Movie Maker to edit movies. So I had to download software to convert to .avi in order to edit. Just doesn’t seem right.

Overall, I love this camera!!!

Good value for me.
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have the Canon S2 IS which has served me very well since it was released. Over 10,000 images and it has been a pleasure.

I bought the SX10 a few weeks ago. It is a keeper for me. The 28mm equiv wide angle is great, and the 20x optical zoom has been enjoyed many times.

The EVF is very bright and large.

A lot of good features which I will not repeat.

Rich

Best Non-SLR out there
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is awesome. I have had about 4 cameras in the last 6 years. Usually I get it play with it and donate it to family when I get a better one. This is my latest addition. I already took it on some trips and it was very good. The controls/options are something to get used to for the novice, you may need to review what AP and shutter speed do to a shot, but if you already know…you will love the camera.

It is also a camera that my friends have made comments about too.

I reviewed this camera on all the sites and almost all the sites have this one listed highest. “best non-SLR camera on the market”

Perfect “all around” camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I wanted a camera that would be convenient to carry and would take great quality photos and video. This camera has met every one of my expectations. I think it’s absolutely fantastic. It’s easy to use, takes regular “AA” batteries, and is easy to carry. It’s perfect for my uses.

received fast
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera arrived quickly in good shape. I was able to try and take some pictures and the results are good. My daughter also tested out the video part of the camera. She is having fun checking it out.

Canon Powershot SX10IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera has an amazing zoom on it. We chose this camera over the Rebel because of the zoom. The only flaw we have discovered thus far is the lens cap is a little difficult to get on. Great camera!!!

Good solid camera – spectacular lens!
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Although I own several Nikon SLR digital cameras along with numerous lenses, I decided to try out the Canon SX10IS for a recent trip in stead of logging all those heavy lenses along. I was not disappointed. When by chance I came upon a large crowd of parrots devouring tree blossoms in San Francisco, I was able to capture the phenomenon with this camera hand held. Several other professional photographers present expressed envy, since they were crouched in various contortions with their 18-inch lenses on tripods, only to get the same results I did.

The numerous direct-control features on this camera were also a welcome change from the command menu layers one normally will have to content with on most equipment of this type.

But many of the controls and menu items are quite confusing, requiring extensive reading of the manual. In other words, they require a good deal of preparation. They are not naturally logical.

Even so, this is a most capable camera and well worth the price.

Amazing zoom
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Amazing zoom lens. Amazing part is the vibration reduction, even without a rest. Down side is resolution may only be 180 dpi, not good enough for magazine print. Doesn’t tell you that anywhere.

Haven’t used all the modes yet, but even auto is fine. See my photo in the photo review section.

Canon Powershot SX10IS – Amazing Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the most amazing camera I have ever owned. To be fair, I have only owned 2 previous digital cameras – an ancient Canon Powershot, and a Sony. This camera, however, is as close as you could get to a DSLR quality image, while still being a point and shoot.

I was going back and forth deciding to buy this camera, or the Canon G10. While the G10 boasts 4 more megapixels, I am confident that this is a far better purchase. The price is FAR lower, and the image quality, I find, is the same, if not better. What really makes this camera knock the G10 out of the water is the zoom. The zoom is absolutely incredible. I researched both models for weeks before buying, and I just cannot find any real justification for the enormous price difference between the two cameras.

The rotating LCD screen on this camera is a huge plus as well. Especially when taking a self-timer shot, I like to rotate the LCD screen to face me while I position the camera. And when shooting in macro, you can tilt the screen up to face you so you don’t have to get down on the ground and use the view finder (like when shooting flowers and plants that may be low to the ground).

It’s fairly easy to learn how to use, though I still haven’t gotten the hang of taking good indoor and night time photos. For that, I’m sure, a tri-pod would be of good use.

Read the manual, it’s very helpful.

I have gotten so many compliments on the shots I have taken with this camera already. The macro and supermacro modes are outstanding, as is the portrait mode. They both produce beautiful clearly focused images with a nice blurred background.

The color options are fantastic as well – I love shooting in vivid colors and sepia tone.

This camera is a MUST BUY.

AWESOME!!!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
All I can say is AWESOME camera….I love the zoom abilities & all the other options are extremely easy to work, especially for somelike me who isn’t techno savvy.

Canon Powershot sx10is
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Have not had this camera very long put I am very pleased with it so far. The zoom is great and pictures are good. A little heavier that I am use too but not a problem. I had a Sony cyber shot before and have always had a Sony camera but decided to try a Canon and I like this Canon better. I am not a photo expert so for my needs this camera is good.

Great camera, Bit overpriced, Not so great in low light, but great pictures in daylight with superb zoom
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a very good camera for both beginners, intermediate and advanced users. Canon has given great features in this hybrid camera giving a 10MP and 20X optical zoom. The image stabilization is pretty good and even if you are moving (hands not stiff as well) the picture comes out great. I bought this and have taken 300+ plus photos and except for 10 photos taken in low light this has come really good.

The stitch assist feature is pretty neat, you can take perhaps the grand canyon as a single snap (kidding).

I suggest getting the sony batter charger and battery for this as it can last really long. The .mov files should not bother much and its clarity is also fine.

Overall this is a good camera with loads of features, if only they had reduced the price a bit more to say $330 or so.

digital superzoom camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I graduated from a point and shoot to this incredible camera. There is a learning curve for novices but there is very little this camera can’t do. It has received rave reviews from friends some of which plan to get the same camera.

Good camera, bad manual
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Like the camera, hate the manual. I think someone who knew the camera far too well wrote the manual, and assumed that everyone reading it was a pro photographer, rather than someone who just wanted to move up to a camera with a little more capabilities from the simple point and shoot they owned and was used to. I am learning more about the camera from website reviews of it than I could from the manual.

As soon as I got it, Kodak came out with their new one with 24x zoom. I wish I could have compared it to the Canon since I had a Kodak before and loved it.

So far, I am getting very good pictures with the new Canon, and I love the zoom and stabilization. My old camera was only 4mp, so with 10 I am able to crop pictures much more with good results. Great video, but such high resolution that only very short clips are emailable.

Better than the Nikon P80
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I got the Canon SX10 because it seemed to be better than the Nikon P80. But when I brought it home, it frustrated me that I couldn’t zoom in and focus on someone’s eye while 5 feet away. (the P80 couldn’t either) I also didn’t think it did great in poor lighting without the flash. The files were a bit grainy, and sometimes it didn’t focus.

So I returned it and got the Nikon P80. I fell in love with it because of the ease of use, the manual was so easy to understand, everything seemed wonderful. But when I compared the pictures side by side with the Canon pictures, Canon came out ahead. I took pictures with both cameras of the same things, at the same times and settings. The Canon images were more true to color, they were clearer, and flash didn’t dominate or change the lighting. It performed better in almost everything, and it’s a much more solid feeling camera.

THE VIDEO AND SOUND QUALITY WERE MILES APART!! The Nikon video was very grainy and not too focused. When I played it back on my computer, the mono sound was so hollow. But the Canon video was so clear I could see my reflection in my daughter’s eye! And the sound is truly in stereo! There is NO comparison. You can even take still pics while doing a video with the Canon, but not with the Nikon.

Nikon is definitely better at taking sharp, clear images in poor lighting. But in the zoom, Canon is slightly ahead.

I don’t really like the design of the Canon, specifically the location of the three buttons where my thumb likes to hold the camera. One of them is the DELETE button! I keep accidently pressing those buttons! They should not be there. There should be a rubber grip like on the Nikon, and nothing else.

Also, I like the lens cap better on the Nikon than on the Canon, but for the quality of the pics and especially the video and stereo sound, who cares about the cap!

Well, I went back to the store and asked for my Canon. They still had it in the same place when I had returned it the day before. I’m loving it now. I will learn to grip my camera wider so that I don’t hit the buttons, and I will zoom out just a bit to get that perfect shot.

There is yet another thing. When I looked at the “details” for the files, the Nikon ones recorded at 300 dpi, and the Canon ones were only at 180 dpi. So I don’t know what’s going on there. They were both set at the highest, largest, superfine settings. Oh well. I still think the Canon SX10 performs better than the Nikon P80.

I’m impressed, bet you will be too
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really enjoy using this camera. It has helped me to grow in knowledge of photography without being confusing or intimidating. I continue to be impressed with the color and clarity of the shots I have taken with the SX-10 – sharp and clear without use of a tripod. I love the zoom lens, especially nice when I can’t get as close as I want for one reason or another … it brings the subject to me. It’s especially useful for wildlife and nature shots.

I want to highlight how useful the articulated screen is. They aren’t available on many point and shoot cameras any more (if they ever were) but they are a real plus! They enable you to take photos from all sorts of awkward, odd angles – even over your head – and still see your viewscreen clearly to compose your shot. Additionally, the viewscreen has excellent resolution/clarity, making it invaluable, and there is a pretty decent viewfinder for those times only a viewfinder will do. The camera’s flash is adequate for typical uses and a standard external flash connection is built in, which is a real plus.

The SX-10 is a bit heavier and bulkier than other cameras I have used or have now but it is surprisingly easy to hold, with a “natural” handle built into the design. Additionally, it’s a real plus that it runs on AA batteries. I’ve found that battery life is good. I find the line-out connection a little difficult .. and the cover a bit loose but it’s a tiny irritant in such a fine camera. All in all it’s a great specialty camera, an exceptional value for what it can do, a worthwhile investment!

Excellent Camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
We purchased this camera as a step up from the point and shoot canon that we previously used. We have used this camera in some outdoor shots that have turned into some wonderful pictures. The product manual is a bit imposing but once you start to actually use the camera the photos turn out pretty darn good! I can see taking some photography classes in the near future in order to get the most out of this camera. It is a great buy!

Very nice all around camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been carrying around two cameras since each one had its strengths and wanted to be down to one camera that did it all. After careful study I picked up the SX10 IS and can’t be more happy. It is fast and has image stabilization so it can replace my Canon A710 IS in most cases, unless small camera size is important. It is 10MP,has a 20X zoom, fast flash recycle times and a nice sunset mode, so it replaces my older Nikon Coolpix 8700 and exceeds its specs. Last evening I went to a concert and by setting the ISO3200 Scene mode I was able to get usable photos without flash from the back of the room at full zoom. Yes, the colors were sometimes washed out and the size was down to 1600×1200, but faces came out well and the photos looked fairly good. This camera keeps surprising me and I am very happy to have it.

SX10 1S Canon
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So far, I’m really happy with this camera. Great zoom, good low light, uses AA batteries. I accidently hit buttons I don’t mean to hit at times, and the 20Xzoom seems to take a few seconds to focus – but may be the operator, not the camera’s fault. Still learning how to use it. Very pleased with it and would recommend.

Excellent Upgrade
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Update (08/12/2009) – This camera is still working! I have had an issue with transitioning between an point and shoot to this (portability). I just can’t bring it everywhere as it is not pocket friendly. However, with that said, 9 months later, this camera is still taking phenomenal pictures!!!.. I could not recommend any better camera for those who like the convienence of a point and shoot.. while having the power, quality, and option of an SLR

I purchased this product to upgrade from a simple Point and Shoot. I read about the comparisons between this and another camera in the same range; however, if you are adjusting from a beginner point and shoot to not exactly a DSLR, this IS the camera for you.

I ordered this for Thanksgiving, and read a quick lesson in the book about how to get some of the features running. Not a single shot has disappointed me. Granted, I am not a professional camera person, nor do I intend on going into details about pixels.

All I wanted to know is: Does it produce good images? Answer: For Sure! Does it produce good PRINTED images? Answer: I printed 8×10, 5×7, and 4×6 and all of them come out excellent.

I have an niece that is only 18 months (just walking) and this camera took phenomenal pictures of her. I have had this camera a little over 2 weeks and it has yet to disappoint me. It is great to find a good camera and that has the LCD screen that rotates!

It comes Highly recommended

Mixed impression with disappointing image quality.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I’ve been using this camera for about 6 months now. I wanted to replace my old Minolta F200 for better quality images. Honestly, it was not better if not worse. I was actually surprised that my old F200 was as good as this camera concerning image quality.

First, there was so much noise in the image. As a natural result, many of my pictures were not clear and I had to painfully discard them. I don’t like grain in the picture and it was the main reason for replacing the old F200, but obviously SX10IS didn’t satisfy me. Second, on ISO 80 in aperture priority mode (no zoom), I changed aperture from f/2.8 to f/8 and got blurrier image (surely I used tripod), which is counter-intuitive to me, because with f/8 and with its tiny sensor, theoretically, I had to get virtually infinite depth and sharper image. What’s wrong?? Am I missing something?? This problem made me feel that this camera might have some fundamental flaws in its optic design. Third, focus is very bad. It is very difficult to auto-focus on anything including side view of face in medium or low light. Focus during movie taking is more terrible. It goes back and forth between in-focus and out-focus. Very bad.

Of course there are many good points (that’s why I decided not to return it). I really like the full manual mode because finally I can apply many basic photography concepts. I also like the external flash mount, which most point-and-shoot cameras don’t have. It is a big positive point for those who want to learn lighting. Finally, 20x zoom is a very good addition, because I don’t have to purchase expensive and heavy lenses (the biggest reason I stay away from DSLR cameras) and I actually got some good out-of-focus images.

Overall, if you want much better image quality in a similar body size (at around $700, without 20x zoom, and potentially additional lens purchases), check out Panasonic G1 (micro 4/3). But if you don’t really mind the picture quality so much (in fact, with a tiny little sensor, it is physically very difficult to get sharp images), this is a very good camera. Almost everything you can find in DSLR is in this camera without heavy weight and lenses. So, for those who are not very serious in photography but want many functions in an inexpensive body (like me), I recommend this camera.

Not happy with it.
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Greetings– since the release of this camera I have been following all the user reviews on Amazon and the consensus seemed to be overwhelmingly positive. Based on the user reviews and other research that I did, I pulled the trigger and bought one. I was really excited about getting this camera because it sounded like the next step up over what I currently have.

When I received the camera I began running it through it’s paces. Very soon into it I began to see issues with the camera. Moving beyond those though, I started taking test pictures using all of the different settings available. I then loaded the images to my PC and began looking at them. What I viewed was very disappointing. First off, the images were not sharp. Secondly, the colors seemed muted and they were not very accurate to what the actual scene looked like. Lastly and on closer examination, I was stunned to see large amounts of purple fringing. This is a problem I would expect on earlier generations of digital cameras, but not now and not on a Canon. What is really sad is that purple fringing is most common in high contrast areas; with my test pictures high contrast scenes were not the case. The purple fringing explained the lack of punch, sharpness, and color accuracy. Thinking I may have received a defective camera I did some Googling. To my surprise I found other people were reporting the same problem with this camera.

I have to tell ya, prior to this Canon purchase I had used a Kodak Z650. The images I get from the Kodak blow away anything I got out of the Canon. Needless to say, the Canon was returned for refund. (I want to thank Amazon for the quick and painless processing of the return.)

Here are some other issues I found with this camera:

1. The selector wheel that is used to navigate within the menus did not translate properly. I found myself spinning it around several times before it would begin moving the cursor. Along with that there was a stickiness to it. It would stick and you’d have to apply more pressure for it to turn, this in turn caused the cursor to jump father than you wanted to go. It was frustrating to use. You can get around all that by pressing the dial down in the corners for the direction you want to go. That seemed to translate well but it is more time consuming. One click equals one position in the menu. If you want to reach the end of the menu you’d have to click your way through one position at a time.

2. I feel the menu layout and functionality was poorly designed and not very intuitive. There are too many layers to navigate through and too many ways to get where you want to go. Here again, my Kodak does a much better job in accessing the options and settings. And just to be clear, the Kodak has many of the same SLR functions to choose from. My point being, it’s pretty much an apples and apples comparison. The Kodak is extremely easy to navigate and very easy to learn. Canon could take some lessons from them. I’m not trying to sell Kodak here. The Kodak has it’s own issues. The one main thing going for the Kodak is that it is capable of producing some stunning images, and that is the very least I’d expect from a camera.

3. The camera is pretty heavy as others have reported. It’s not a problem for me but I think it is worth mentioning again.

4. I found that the lens cap falling off was not a problem for me, but taking it off was. I found this primarily true when you are using the lens shield that Canon supplies. It was difficult for me to fit my fingers between the inner lens shield wall and the lens cap where the releases are located. It was very clumsy and difficult to squeeze the tabs in order to release the cap.

I would have overlooked notes 1 to 4 if the image quality had been there. Sadly for me it wasn’t.

Canon SX10IS v. Nikon D700
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I shot the same scene, at 60 mm, using “Auto” for the Canon and “P” for the Nikon. (The Nikon lens was 24-70 mm 1:2.8 ED.) The photos from the Nikon were a little sharper and a little more pleasing in colors. BUT not worth the c. $4,000.00 difference. Victor G Zilinskas

Very Happy
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Great camera. Far more than a “point and shoot” package. I’m very happy with the product.

Great camera, great pictures, movies.mov turn me down
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Just came back from a trip to Disneyworld (the main reason I upgraded to that Canon) and it did not dissapoint me… great pictures outdoors but also very good ones indoors, by night, fireworks, the parade… really good. Thing I can’t understand is this .mov movies it records… unable to work with that in Windows Movie Maker and if I convert it from .mov to .avi the quality loses A LOT… and the size of the videos are huge… All in all, I’d buy it again for the pictures but if you’re big in making movies, you might consider a camera that records .AVI, like Sony…

Excellent Camera for the Prosumer
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great camera. It has met every expectation I had; and I am very difficult to please. The zoom and image stabilization capability alone make it worth its relatively low price. The amount of functionality contained in this product is amazing. I read the manual, but I doubt I’ll ever use most of the functions; it’s like a laptop inside a camera.

The only negatives are: the larger size (I’m used to a Cybershot that drops inside my pocket, but this is a reasonable trade-off for the power of the camera); the fact that it didn’t come with a memory card, rendering it unusable out of the box (c’mon Canon, you couldn’t include a lousy $4 memory card?); and that a rechargeable battery isn’t designed into the unit (battery life is very good, but this isn’t a particularly green product).

A Pleasant Surprise
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/R23L3JQ0SH4U45 I’ve had a S3IS for about 3 years. I received my SX10IS on January 8, 2009 and I shot this video the next morning at a local park. It was cold and windy and I was only carrying a mono pod. I read a complaint about short battery life but it doesn’t ring true for me. I’ve shot a 2.5 minute video and a 26 minute video and about 400 images in 3 outings and I still have the same NiMH AA cells in the camera. It looks like it’s going to be a fun camera to carry around. It’s a bit larger but that’s a plus for me. I’m glad they returned to putting the memory in it’s own compartment because when shooting videos on a tripod it’s very convenient not to have to take everything apart to change memory. The video is a bit shaky. It’s at full zoom and the fox is about 100 yards from me. Thanks Canon for another great little camera and thanks Amazon for selling it at such a great price.

Fixing problems that didn’t exist!
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
I have owned and loved every S series camera since the S2 and so I was very apprehensive when I learned that they had made dramatic changes to the next iteration. The size is bigger, the zoom is longer, video files more compressed and the button layout has been switched around a good deal.

It’s not that I resist change, I just believe that if you’ve got a good thing going – DON’T MESS WITH IT! But I had already promised my photo-loving little sister that I’d give her my S5 when the new one came out so I figured I had to at least give it a try, so I went ahead and ordered it.

I was most worried about the new video format as that was my favorite feature of the previous cameras, so as soon as I received the SX10 I ripped it out of the box, threw a 4gb extreme 3 memory card in and hit the record button. 4gb provided a little more than 45 minutes of the highest quality of video on the new .mov format, while on the S5′s .avi, I got a little less than 30 minutes, but I’ve never been one to complain about the size of the files – just the quality! I walked around, trying to test it in as many ways possible, bright light, low light, wide open, fully zoomed, inside, outside, etc. I could tell that this camera had a more difficult time staying in focus when I zoomed in and out than the previous S cameras, but it wasn’t appallingly bad, and I figured if that was the worst thing, it would still be a wonderful camera. So I watched the video on my computer and even though I was annoyed with having to use quicktime and found it a little less convenient (.avi files are displayed in windows with a picture of the first frame, making them very easily identified, whereas .mov files just show the quicktime “Q”, meaning I would have to come up with catchy titles for all of my many video clips), I had to admit that the video quality was still quite good, and I think the audio is even a little better (that might just be the camera though).

At this point I’ll talk about my impressions of the body handling. It is definitely larger than the S5, but still not nearly as large as any SLR I’ve ever handled – it still has a relatively compact feel, expecially considering it zooms all the way to 560mm! The grip in the right hand does feel a little weak and slippery, but I didn’t ever have a problem with it slipping. In the left hand though, it actually feels quite nice as the larger lens protrusion gives you something to hold on to, including some very functional ridges along the bottom. So I’d say the ergonomics are very decent. The buttons are placed fairly well (I’d switch the play button with the function button) and they all feel nice. The wheel I hated, but I’ll get to that later.

So it barely passed the first test, but I still wasn’t convinced and I cleared 6 hours from my Saturday to really give it a thorough examination. I also brought my SD1100 just to have something to compare the pics and vids too.

I tried testing every limit of this camera as I stalked a crane, observed an ant colony, tried (unsuccessfully) to catch fish as they sprang from the water and just enjoyed a wonderful day among nature. Within the first five minutes I had come across two fairly serious issues. The colors and exposure of the viewfinder were terrible; things that shouldn’t have been blown out were, and I had a difficult time composing a shot as nothing looked nice! The second problem came when I switched to manual (my preferred shooting method) and realized that the wheel had actually made things more complicated as now you have to adjust exposure and shutter speed on the same wheel and switch between them by pushing a button, whereas before up-down (on the 4 way selector) did the exposure and left-right did shutter speed. The interface has been improved but that was little consolation as I found this to be very frustrating.

But even all of this could have been forgiven if everything else was great. The flip screen was as good as ever, so I pushed on.

When I was finished I was actually feeling pretty good. I really enjoyed the extra zoom on this camera and I thought it handled very well. I had my reservations still, but I felt like I could get over them and learn to really love this camera. Not to mention I was really excited about some of the pictures I had taken and wanted to get back to my computer and see how they really looked.

This is when things got ugly, pun intended. I’ve read all the other reviews and I know some people say this camera produces sharp pics, throughout the entire zoom range, but I have to disagree, strongly. At the long end of the zoom, pictures look like there’s a slightly filmy sheet of glass in between my subject and me. Any bit of cropping and this becomes very pronounced. The NR on this camera is very strong and any high-contrast, straight lines were severely deformed. Almost like the mirage effect only more blocky. Wide open, the pictures just had no detail and looked just… bad. I’m so glad that I brought my SD1100 because I was really convinced when I started looking at my comparison shots, that the SX10 needed to be returned. The shots out of my 165 dollar point and shoot looked really sharp and pretty, while the same exact shot out of the SX10 looked completely emotionless and stale. I couldn’t believe it. I double and triple checked that the nice shots were actually the SD1100 but I assure you they were.

In all fairness I did get about 8 really nice shots with the SX10, but that was out of more than 200, and I know had I been using my S5 I would have had a much higher percentage.

So now I don’t know what to do. It seems kind of silly to buy a camera that I just gave away and right now I’m kind of disillusioned with Canon. I might try the Fuji S100FS. I hope this helps and if you do decide to get this camera – good luck.

Almost exactly what I was looking for
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I have had a bunch of digital camera’s that have treated me right… Sony, Casio and Canon. However this one is has almost everything I would want in a NON-SLR camera.

PRO’s

* Excellent camera for the price

* Support SDHC

* Uses standard AA batteries

* Flash hot-shoe

* DIGIC 4 delivers excellent image quality

* Lens is awesome

* Love the rotating screen.

* there’s more but those are the main points

CON’s

* Little bit bigger and heavier than the market competition camera’s but it is not a huge hinderance

* The menu’s let you do a lot of cool things but it takes some getting used to and it not the most intuitive.

* Built in flash is crappy but you cant expect the built-in flash to be great. It’s good for emergencies.

* As in other reviews the scroll wheel feels a little “off”, not enough to be a problem but it could be designed better.

Overall I am very pleased with this camera. I previously bought a Fuji S1000 – 10 Megapixel camera and it was a completely piece of crap compared to this one. I am very glad I returned that and spent the extra money on this one. My father is a pro-photographer and he has always used Canon, even in the film days. I will also stick with Canon from this point on, because it works and works good.

Amazing but….
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
…heavy and complicated! This camera was on my wish list for quite a long time. It’s a gorgeous camera, all the features are amazing but the camera is too heavy and complicated!

It gives you a bunch of buttons and a diverse menu that you will never use. I like the camera, I have tryied many times from a friend and I decided to buy a nikon P80

Nikon is a very comfortable camera in size and features menu. All the features are in a click of a button, easy to understand and the pictures are amazing good as the cannon. Nikon is a little bit cheaper, lite, comes with averything you need if you buy from amazon.

The big difference between this too that I really miss is that cannon has a rotate image when you turn it around and the batteries are AAA. The nikon does not turn the image ( We don’t need that anyway) and the battery is rechargeble, but the amazon package comes with an extra one.

So…If you do not need professional camera, and you decide to buy one like that, I would go for NIKON P80.

I hope my enaglish is not that bad! ) Good luck to you all

JM

Mobile DJ/ Photo Enthusiast Review: Absolutely OK.
Rating:3 out of 5 stars
I had to send my Fuji S9000 in for repairs so to get me by, I bought a Fuji S2000HD. Well, I was soooo dissapointed with the colors and lack of depth, faces washed out, horrible. I wanted to wait for the faster SX1is but I went back and bought the Canon SX10is instead.

The Canon SX10is is very well built and feels solid, impressive lens, zoom in all the way and grab some blur-free shots you won’t believe! Grab birds out of the sky! I don’t know how I made it without Image Stabilisation all these years. I like the “common sense” menus, the AA batteries (I use 2900MAH NiMh) and they last all day.

The zoom has two speeds, Fast to get to where you want it and slow to “fine tune” the zoom. During Video, only “slow zoom” will work (makes sense). The grip could be bigger but I have large hands. Auto does very well, but sometimes I want to customize the flash settings and It does that well. My Fuji S9000 has almost NO shutter lag or delay, when I pre-focus before the shot, It’s INSTANT. With the Canon there is a 2-4 sec delay (with flash) but it can be reduced a little through the Menu settings. You can set it to “P”, “Force Flash” and It will pull off continous shots at around 1.5 seconds one after the other.

For a P&S up against other P&S’s I give it a 4.5 stars but here in the real world up against cameras that are also within reach, Nikon D40, Lumix G1, It’s a solid 3.5. I am glad I own this camera.

Canon Powershot SX10IS pleases
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I am a novice to this type of camera. My older camera is a Canon A80 which I like. Naturally I found this Canon SX10IS to be a little confusing and intimidating. However, I found the cure for this was, and is, practice and study.

I first tried pictures of the moon which were disappointing. The focus was not good (just a fuzzy yellow ball) and the digital zoom was set “on” from the factory. This meant that the zoom was 80X. Even with a tripod it was difficult to keep the moon in the camera sight. I set the digital zoom to “off” and I recommend that it never be set to “on”. If you want a closer image you can crop the picture later. This is all the digital zoom does but which a lot more fuss. I then set the focus to spot and got a great picture of the moon.

The 20X zoom is especially nice. I live at the ocean and can photograph fishing vessels just off the coast or seagulls sitting on a post in the harbor. Distant mountains are drawn up and the foreground foreshortened. This can produce very wonderful pictures that you cannot get with a lesser zoom. A tripod helps to keep the camera steady on many occasions.

I tried the “SCN” setting (on sunset) for the first time and got dramatic results. I tried the same picture with the normal setting and it was just okay. With the SCN setting some people said that I should sell the picture commercially.

Pictures in the camera can be viewed without turning the camera on as it to photograph. This may seem like a small thing but I found it to be useful and battery saving.

The camera uses 4 AA size batteries. I believe that prior versions of this camera used the speciality lithium battery which is a major reason I didn’t buy it before. I have known too many people whose photography during a vacation was cut short by a depleted battery. AA batteries can be purchased anywhere in the world and in my limited experience so far battery life appears excellent.

I am enjoying the camera. It is just darn fun to use and try new things. I can get results in it that I never could get with my Canon A80.

great camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
nice camera does everything i wanted so far meets expectations. a little big, heavy and expensive compared to others, but you get the 20x zoom and excellent pictures. i am not a serious photographer, but i like the ability to get the shot i want and this does it for me. the video is adequate, nice camera

I love it!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I really love this camera. I was coming from a Cannon sure shot, little thing. It is biggger and heavier, but the pictures are AWESOME! I feel like a professional. The flash on it works nice, but I even purchased the hot shoe flash and wow… I just want to take pictures all of the time. The only thing is I don’t know what to do with the lens cap. I wish it was on a string. One I take it off, I try to attach it on the neck strap, but it usually ends up in my pocket!! I have been very pleased with the camera. Features are awesome, too. I love the red eye reduction, and the options of cropping right from the camera (so now computer needed.)

Canon Powershot SX10IS 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom

Love It!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I just wanted a good digital camera. Instead I found a replacement for my 35mm SLR, my Sony MiniDV Camcorder, as well as my 3 year old digital.

‘Nuff said.

Great camera for more experienced person
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is a great little camera, but more than I needed. I couldn’t understand all the settings and wanted something simpler. I am so greatful that Amazon will take returns and refunded my money with no questions asked. I now have the SX110IS and love it. It is just right for me. Thank you again, Amazon.

canon sx10is
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Outstanding product. Its all good. I replaced a Kodak 712 that had failed. The Canon does more and its Easy to use. I can’t say anything bad about this camra. I am very happy with the Canon SX10IS.

Phil

Fantastic camera for the Money! Everything in one Pkg. It does take a 52mm uv or polarizer lens
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Contrary to other reviews, you can put a 52mm UV or polarizer lightweight lens on the end of the zoom They fit, I have done this with mine.

t takes great pictures and I bought it as a upgrade to the Cannon S5 IS (that you have to use converter lenses to attain what this SX10 IS already has built into it). The only carry over that I can use from my Canon S5 IS, with the SX10 IS, is the Speedlite 430 flash for the external hot shoe. The manual and other reviews state that no lenses can be attached. They are wrong!!! I have numerous step up and step down rings from my other cameras and lo and behold, found that the end of the SX10 IS can take a 52mm ring or in other words a 52mm polarizer or uv lens etc. can be attached to it. This is true because I now can attach them to mine. Also, I do not like the lens cap that came with it., even though it can be attached to the strap. I had another cap from another camera that was a 52mm with a cord that was attached to it and I put this cap on my new camera instead. Just Google 52mm lens cap with a string and you can purchase one for under 4 dollars. I also use 8gb or larger SD cards and the new 2900 MIH rechargeable batteries (nothing lower than 2900) that last all day. This is the camera that I will be using for a long time. It has everything built into it with no need to carry additional heavy lenses. I highly endorse it. The flip out lcd is another plus.

dont buy this camera!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
it only emits jpeg, not raw. you need raw for computer processing, which is a BIG deal. 4 years from now, you have this amazing image that needs say HDR processing. Your image is in jpeg. awwww!

Wait for the slow mfrs to offer raw, or find one that does.

I’m happy with my purchase
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
So far most of my photos have been of the birds in our backyard, and the quality has great. The zoom gives me the close up shots I’ve wanted for a long time. I’m still becoming familiar with all the settings, but so far they have been easy to understand. I’ll be going to London this spring and I’m really looking forward to bring this camera with me. I would recommend this to anyone looking for the features of an SLR, but the ease of a point and shot.

Outstanding compromise camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The most outstanding features of this camera are its rather incredible potential focal length (i.e., 20x zoom), its high resolution (10MP), and its rather open configurability.

In my own case, the SX10 replaced a Canon S3 IS, a marvleous 6MP camera with which I obtained quite amazing photos. The SX10 is just about the same form factor, though deliberately a bit easier to grip, but delivers sharper images at all focal lengths, far longer focal lengths, and somewhat greater and much more easily accessed control of the settings for individual shots. Like its predecessor, the SX10 does not allow for saving shots as .RAW files, which is probably a good thing for Canon, because if they did the rationale for buying their mainstream digital SLRs would be less compelling.

I like Canon equipment very well and was inclined to upgrade into their product line, but compared the SX10 with as much of the competition as reasonable before biting the bullet. THe cameras I fussed with the most are the Canon G10, which adds .RAW files but has a much more limited optical zoom capability, and the Panasonic DMC-LX3. I nearly bought the latter, in fact, because it has much higher resolution video available, but at some cost to picture quality. Ultimately, I decided that I’d use a video camera for videos, and hence picture quality won out.

Aside from its limited f-stop range (endemic to its competitors), and its rather odd failure to include .RAW files, the limitations of the SX10 show up in comparison to digital SLRs. Aside from a comparatively circumspect range of f-stops, the focusing alternatives tend to be more restricted, the photo quality above about ISO 400 deteriorates pretty obviously, and the time between photos at maximum rep is actually lower than for the venerable S#. So if you spend a lot of time taking action photos, or shooting pictures at very low lighting, then consider the G10 or its competitors. If 90% of your shots are taking in reasonably lighting without lots of action, as are most of mine, then you will be VERY hard pressed to find a better compromise camera. It’s not perfect, but that’s not the point of a compromise, is it?

Canon Powershot SX101S 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stabilized Zoom
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Canon Powershot SX101S 10MP Digital Camera with 20x Wide Angle Optical Image Stablilized Zoom is the kind of digital camera I always wanted. I love the fact that you can use SD/SDHC memory cards to take the pictures so it gives you the flexibility and freedom to take the memory card and send it to photo developer for prints or you can download the software that comes with the camera to store and print your photos. I love the fact that it has a wide angle lens and optical Image Stabilization for improved speed and great zooming. For me, I love taking landscape shots when I’m traveling and I just love shooting a subject with landscape as a backdrop so this feature is very handy. I also love the movie snap mode which allows me to capture high resolution still images while shooting a movie. I also love the fact that for a very sophiticated,and technologically advanced camera it is very user friendly. The user’s manual is very straightforward and easy to read and comprehend. There are so many features on the camera that makes it virtually impossible to take a bad picture and if you aren’t satisfied with your shot you can delete the photo from the memory card and retake the photo. It is really fantastic and I would recomend this camera who is a novice to an avid photographer. I’m like a kid in a candy store.

mpls review
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
Awesome Camera!

It is packed with features, and the software is great!

It shoots great video too…

Only one problem–the lens cap doesn’t stick on. I will need to get a replacement.

SX10IS Powershot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have been using the SX10IS for over a month. I will only echo the positive reviews already posted. I’m still in the process of exploring and expermenting with the special features of this camera. The result has been some very excellent and beautiful prints.

The only two negitive things that I find annoying, is the unattached lens cap and the instruction manual. Other reviews mentioned the lens cap problem. I wish there was a better way have this cap less likely to be misplaced. The manual presents a good amount of information in a very compact booklet. After several days of using this manual it broke apart into several loose pages.

I do not have any negitive comments for the camera. I am very happy with the features and operation of this product. I would recomment this camera to anybody that wants the ease of use of a point-and-shoot model and the many features that are available to you for photographic creativity.

delivery was defective with not working
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Hi guys,

I had done pretty good research before buying this product. seemed the best in my price range and configuration. however on using it seems auto mode is not functioning correctly. i don’t see flash working, aperture control is not as expected, i find image blurred in case of movements

would be returning the product soon

thanks

New Canon digital camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This camera replaces my working Olympus 3MP digital camera. I wanted a camera with more mega pixels, with Optical image stabilization and a much greater zoom.

My new Powershot SX10IS appeared to meet the above requirements fully and my so far limited use confirms this completely. I’m impressed with hand held pictures taken at the extreme telephoto range. The optical stabilization appears to do a very good job.

Any person buying this camera should expect to spend some time reading the included manual. The camera has many buttons to control the various features.

Of course, you can do like I did and just use it as a point and shoot camera at the beginning. However, I want to learn how to use the many options available.

I downloaded and printed the full manual. It is very large at about 300 pages. However, in a loose leaf notebook it is easier to navigate than using the smaller in size manual included with the camera. I also printed out key pages showing the many buttons and controls which I keep in my camera bag. My new camera bag doesn’t provide space for the Canon furnished manual.

All in all, I think I will be well pleased with this purchase.

perfect!!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
simply perfect!! 20x its a looooot.

if you dont have it, buy it!

Affordable, Packed w/ Features, I LOVE This Camera A++++++
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I researched cameras for weeks to finally purchase this one. We bought this one at Sears for much more money but it was still worth it. I have had it for months and still haven’t learned everything it can do but my pictures come out beautiful and I have recommended it to everyone.

Sweet Big Little Camera (Updated April 29, 2009)
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
This is a second update. It comes after several months working with an SX10 IS.

SHORT LIST

Pros:

Excellent resolution

Very good noise control

Image edge and corner sharpness

Less than average color fringing

True wide angle and phenomenal telephoto

iContrast for highlight/shadow

Vari-angle LCD

Focus frame size adjustment

Brightness, contrast, sharpness and color settings

Great movie mode with stereo sound

Hot shoe

Lens hood

Cons:

Slow f5.7 maximum aperture beyond 100mm

Tendency to overexpose (though this can be an advantage–see below)

Low light autofocus issues

Minor lens distortions and color fringing at either end of zoom

Tedious control dial

LCD hard to see in bright outdoor light

Zoom sounds audible in movies

IN DEPTH

A semi-pro photographer with 30+ years’ shooting experience, I am respectful yet rigorously demanding of my photo equipment. I push parameters, often absurdly so, but the SX10 doesn’t seem to mind it one bit. For its price point, features and class, this is a stellar offering, and I highly recommend it.

The camera is solidly built and, although hefty for a point-and-shoot, feels well balanced in the hand. Controls are intuitively placed and easy to find with your fingers–no need to take your eye off the LCD or viewfinder when you’ve become acquainted with their positions.

Performance is excellent in all but low light, where autofocus and shutter lag are sometimes at issue. The camera powers on and is ready to shoot very quickly. Image recording time is swift, especially with a Class 6 card, and in reasonable lighting focus is both swift and accurate. Resolution is superb; image stabilization is best in class. And the sheer zoom range–wow!

Point-and-shoot capability is great. Open the box, install batteries and memory card, and fire away. It’s so easy, kids can do it. And given a little time and tinkering, in its creative modes the camera really shows its chops.

In this review, you’ll see several references to existing-light photography. It’s my personal preference; I only use flash when I must. So I’ve spent a lot of time working out the angles for that sort of shooting. What you won’t see is anything more than a cursory remark about action photography. It’s not something I’ve used this camera for just yet.

In this model Canon addresses several issues inherent in the “S” series–most notably noise and dynamic range. Though still noisy at ISO 800, about half the images I’ve shot at that setting have been okay for prints, and nearly all are very good at ISO 400. Pictures taken between ISOs 80 and 200 are clean and excellent. Noise reduction at higher ISOs does degrade saturation and details a bit (more noticeable at the longer end of the zoom, especially in low-contrast lighting) but not enough to abandon the higher sensitivities altogether.

Both edge and corner sharpness are very good at anything but widest angle and full zoom, and even here sharpness is much improved over the S5 at ANY focal length. In truth, no zoom lens of such wide range has edge-to-edge sharpness at its focal extremes.

Color fringe is a mixed bag. Depends somewhat on the focal length, ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Overall, fringing is not that bothersome. At both the widest angle and full telephoto ends you’ll see some colored edges, most noticeably in areas of high contrast. Bumping the zoom lever once or twice makes all the difference.

Some barrel distortion occurs at the wide end as well, though not too bad. It’s only noticeable where there are obvious vertical or horizontal lines (again, a bump or two of zoom, and lines strighten right up). These issues can of course be corrected in most photo editing programs, although not in Zoombrowser EX, the camera’s supplied software.

Achieving focus in certain lighting can be iffy and sometimes fails. Changing the focus frame size will usually remedy this. When it doesn’t, manual focus feature comes to the rescue. Fortunately this feature is improved in the SX10. The autofocus issue seems linked to extremes in contrast, whether low or high, rather than actual light available. Low contrast, low light situations present the most difficulty, but a couple of times my copy has struggled and failed in high-contrast, intense lighting, too. Lowering the ISO helped.

If you prefer existing light photos and stay at ISO 400 and under, at focal lengths beyond 100mm you’ll need to reduce shutter speeds due to narrowing apertures, and action shots get tricky. For stationary subjects, though, the camera can be hand-held at speeds as low as 1/6 sec to produce sharp images without flash–phenomenal. This works best with image stabilization set to single shot rather than continuous.

It IS a good idea to carry a mini-tripod or monopod. The SX10 tends some toward overexposure, though, which works to your benefit; an increase in shutter speed not only balances exposure but also results in fewer blurry hand-held shots. So, although it’s a good idea to have one handy, the tripod probably won’t be needed too terribly often.

The camera’s built-in flash is quite good to about 17 feet. There’s also a hot shoe for dedicated external flash; and with flash employed, the playing field broadens significantly. I’ve not yet encountered a situation where I couldn’t get a picture when working with flash. A few times manual focus has been necessary, but by golly, I got the shot!

That big lens does zoom–boy, does it ever! Furthermore, digitally zoomed images are surprisingly detailed. Image stabilization is so effective that in good lighting sharp, hand-held shots are VERY doable at maximum magnification–a whopping 80X. The hardest thing about shooting at that length is just keeping the subject in your viewfinder!

Canon’s vari-angle LCD is thoroughly spoiling–it cooks. There have been many times when I simply wouldn’t have gotten a keeper without it. An articulating LCD not only offers the flexibility to shoot no-hassle self portraits, overhead, ground-level and other awkward-angle pictures, but it also gives an extra measure of stability in composing your pictures. Just fold out and tilt the LCD and hold the camera close to your body with your elbows tucked in. It’s a much steadier stance than the traditional arms-out, eye-level method. Makes for some good stealth photography, as well as opening up new perspectives (think children and pets). And it’s a real boon for tight spots and macro work. My only quibble about the LCD is how difficult it is to see in bright sunlight. (Fortunately, the electronic viewfinder is excellent, so you can shoot, no matter what.)

I really appreciate the ability to reduce the focus frame for capturing little details (it’s nice to have a camera that “knows,” for instance, that you’re going for the antennae of a moth and not its entire body). Better yet, you can zero in on the eye as the sharpest point in the frame, making for stand-out people, bird, wildlife and pet photos. Pictures are so much more arresting with this capability.

About iContrast: while dynamic range does increase some, it’s not a magic wand. With it turned off this camera does pretty well (though not d-SLR well) at highlight and shadow details. At least in my copy, pictures shot with iContrast are sometimes processed with a dull, gray-blue cast that no color or white balance setting offsets. So I keep iContrast disabled during shooting, unless the lighting is pretty extreme (the user guide suggests this approach). I’ve found iContrast of greater benefit, editing images in Review mode. Colors are more vibrant this way; the pics don’t get that gray-blue cast.

SX10 pictures are not as contrasty as those from Canon’s previous ultrazooms, especially at longer focal lengths. This is not a design flaw–you now have the option to adjust contrast as a custom function. It’s found in My Colors. Options for adjusting sharpness, saturation and skin tones–as well as red, green and blue channels, are available there, too.

Often pictures lacking in contrast are simply the result of overexposure. If you’re using one of the camera’s built-in My Color settings, in average to bright light exposure compensation frequently helps, adding vibrance to your images and upping highlight details. The exposure compensation button makes this easy. On the other hand, photos captured in overcast and other low-contrast lighting conditions nearly always lack contrast, regardless of how you adjust exposure or which iContrast setting you’re using. I personally don’t mind this, as contrast can always be boosted in post-editing.

Even if you’re a seasoned photographer, I can’t stress enough: READ THE USER GUIDE even if you’ve owned one of Canon’s previous superzooms. While the SX10 is very similar to its predecessors, there are also some big differences. When I got mine, I didn’t actually look at the guide for almost a week; until I did, I grew steadily more disappointed. And just knew that Canon had lost their marbles.

If you’re a full-auto kinda person, you’ll probably love the camera without reading through the whole manual–that is, until you make your first movie. If you haven’t read the advanced instructions for video capture, here’s where you’ll probably encounter dissatisfaction. Be sure and read the advanced guide for movies on pages 87-90 (English version). For instance, you can lock the focus–very nice–no more fading in and out. But the thing I think you’ll really want to know about is a way to brighten movies when zooming. (More on that in a bit.)

It’s when you move beyond point-and-shoot into the creative zones that an in-depth look at the advanced guide gets essential. The good stuff is in there all right, just waiting to be tapped, but you’d practically have to be psychic to know how to work it. It’s not a hard camera to control, but some of its features and the procedures for using them aren’t exactly transparent. You’re paying for a pretty amazing, feature-rich camera. Instead of bashin’ or smashin’ the darn thing, do yourself and the SX10 both a favor. Read up on how to use it. It’s well nigh impossible to get the best from it til you do.

In its auto modes, the camera selects ISO, aperture and shutter speeds which almost always work very well, although you may occasionally bring home noisier images than you’d like, and the white balance can sometimes be just a tad off. It also means employing the flash indoors fairly often, so if you prefer point-and-shoot, existing light photography you really may want to consider a different camera.

About Movie mode, in my estimation the only down side is the lens noise it records–an audible clacking sound during zoom. In every other respect, movies are outstanding. Before I bought the camera I had read user complaints about dark videos, and that concerned me. Sure enough, when I got the camera and gave it a whirl, my movies were just bogus beyond the 100mm tele mark.

Then I read the advanced guide–duh. And found that Canon has made provision for the lens’s narrowing aperture as you zoom in. When you notice the image growing dim, you can increase the exposure–during recording! It’s very easy–a press of the exposure compensation button and a twirl of the control dial is all it takes. Works like a charm. And that’s not the only new enhancement (earlier I mentioned focus lock). Before beginning a movie, you can also set preferences for white balance and color. With stereo sound, volume adjustment, a wind filter and such enormous focal reach, the Movie mode is a great addition to an already magnificent camera–why, it’s just gravy.

If anything ever fails on my copy, it’ll probably be the control dial. Learning to use it was pretty trying. The dial is thin and slippery, and the mount is too shallow, almost flush with the FUNC/SET button it surrounds. The knurls on the dial are barely palpable and provide little traction. Worse, the dial tends to slip while it’s turning. Applying enough pressure to engage it can inadvertently change the ISO setting or switch the camera to Manual Focus or Macro mode. My touch has improved with time and practice, but it took way too long to get the knack, and it’s still not surefire. The thing’s just plain tetchy!

Despite its idiosyncracies, I’m very glad the control dial is there. The SX10 is a camera that offers many adjustment options for making the very most of its incredible abilities.

If the dial were more easily engaged, and the zoom were silent during video capture, this camera would earn my resounding five-star rating. It probably deserves one anyway. If I didn’t use the creative modes almost exclusively, the control dial wouldn’t be such a bother. And if I weren’t so persnickety, the lens sounds in video probably wouldn’t be an issue, either. The dial needs improvement, though. Because this camera falls in the “advanced” category, aimed at the photo enthusiast/advanced photographer, and because it is one of the most-used and important features for that kind of shooting, I can’t rationalize away its mediocre design and just love the dial anyway. Canon simply MUST improve on future iterations of their SX cameras, and I expect they will!

Awesome Camera!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera as a Christmas gift to myself. I’ve had it for a little over a month and it is by far been the best camera I have ever owned. I have owned your typical point and shoot digital camera (all Canon’s), but this one is much more. The zoom is amazing and the quality of the pictures are very crisp and clear. If you’re a novice like me, I strongly suggest that you read the manual before using. All in all I am very happy with my purchase!

sorry i bought it
Rating:2 out of 5 stars
CANON POWERSHOT SX101S 10MP DIGITAL CAMERA PHOTOS ARE GREAT, ZOOM IS GREAT BUT THE LENS CAP IS NOT ATTACHED AND IS TOO FLIMSY TO ATTACH WELL. IT KEEPS FALLING OFF AND I ALMOST LOST IT TWICE. THE CAMERA IS TOO HEAVY AND FAR TOO SENSITIVE IN THE HANDLING. YOU HAVE TOO BE VERY CAREFUL HOW YOU HANDLE THE CAMERA BECAUSE IT CAN INADVERTANTLY CHANGE SETTINGS WITHOUT YOU EVEN REALIZING IT. I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN A CANON USER BUT THIS ONE HAS PROVEN TO BE DISAPPOINTING.

I DID NOT REALIZE THESE THINGS BEFORE I BOUGHT CAMERA. I ASSUMED INCORRECTLY THAT THE LENS WOULD AUTOMATICALLY CLOSE WHEN SHUTTING CAMERA OFF. ALSO THE BULKINESS OF CAMERA DID NOT MAKE HANDLING CAMERA EASY.

excellent camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m a techologically-challenged grandmother, but even I was able to get awesome shots of scenery and wildlife on our recent trip to Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. I even got a good closeup of a family of mountain goats that were at least 300 yards away. We traveled by train and bus, and when traveling at lower speeds I managed to get some good shots from a moving vehicle. Shots taken in less than optimum light even came out quite good.

Love the camera!

Great pictures…easy to use
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is the best digital camera I have owned hands down. I’ve had a series of Kodak easyshare point and shoot cameras, a Pentax DSLR, and now this Powershot. This camera is worlds better than any camera I have owned. Pictures turn out crisp and clear, timer feature works incredibly well. Action shots and still shots alike are clear. I love this camera!!!

THERE’S A NEW KID IN TOWN
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
JUST RECEIVED MY CAMERA TODAY AND DID SOME SHOOTING. AS THE OWNER OF THE CANON REBEL XT AND XSI I HAD NO PROBLEM WORKING THE CONTROLS OF THE SX10 IS. BUT EVEN IF YOU HAVE NEVER OWNED A DSLR – NOT TO WORRY. THE INSTRUCTION MANUAL IS CLEAR AND PRECISE. DON’T TRY TO LEARN ALL OF THE ADVANCED FEATURES UNTIL YOU HAVE THE BASICS DOWN FIRST. THIS WAY YOU WILL GET TO ENJOY THE CAMERA AND GET THE FEEL OF IT BEFORE ADVANCING.

THIS CAMERA IS AMAZING. THE MACRO PHOTOS WERE CLEAR AND SHARP. THE 20X ZOOM WAS A WOW!!! THE VIDEO IS TERRIFIC TOO.

I KNOW I AM GOING TO ENJOY THE FREEDOM OF CLOSEUP AND ZOOM WITHOUT CHANGING LENSES.

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A CAMERA WITH ALL THE CONTROLS OF A DSLR WITHOUT THE HASSLE OF CARRYING EXTRA LENSES THEN THIS IS THE CAMERA FOR YOU.

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE ALMOST LOST THE LENS CAP JUST ADD A CAP KEEPER AND THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM.

THIS IS A GREAT BUY FOR THE MONEY AND YOU WON’T BE DISAPPOINTED.

Excellent results for the price
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
First I was a little skeptical about SX10IS but the price got my eyes stuck on this camera. I had been looking for an SLR but could not justify the price for occasional photography. I found the picture quality and camera quality surprisingly amazing. It is easier to use. The only reason I am giving it 4 stars because of the built-in flash. It is not an automatic pop-up flash. Instead if the flash is needed a message appears on the screen and you have to manually rise up the flash.

Great “Gateway” Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I bought this camera overseas while I was in Israel because I didn’t think my $50.00 point and shoot from 2005′s deployment was going to do the Holiest City in the world justice. I had no idea what CMOS sensors or DSLR’s were, and at $400.00 it was the most expensive camera I’d ever bought. I figured for $400 it was bound to take great photographs, and I was really impressed with the wide angle to telephoto zoom it had… with the limited selection at the store this was the only real option I considered and I’m really glad it worked out that way.

I took over 1000 photos with it over the next two days and quickly found myself becoming the “hey could you take my photo and send it to me” guy in the tour groups we traveled in. Over the next 4 months I easily took over 5000 photos of pretty much everywhere I went. I suddenly found myself carrying a camera all the time, and purchasing “how to” books about photography. Every week it seemed like the camera became less of a “point and shoot” and more of a DSLR as I figured out feature after hidden feature that was on this thing.

The more photos I took the more hooked I got to the hobby, and now 6 Months later I’ve upgraded to a Nikon D300 and a 24-70mm f/2.8 lens… somewhere around $3,500 worth of gear. Despite the awesomeness of that camera and lens, I still keep the Canon with me as a back up and I usually let my friends use it so they have something to do whenever I say “hold on let me get a picture of this.” I’m finding that the camera is having the same effect on my friends as it had on me, and several of them have either purchased this same camera or they’ve taken the plunge into the DSLR world and picked up Nikon D90s or Canon 40/50Ds.

My point? This is an AWESOME camera that caters to pretty much anyone that’s only carried around those little cell-phone sized point-and-shoots or disposables and they now want to try out something a little bit better. It’s a great way to get your feet wet as you take your first few steps into the world of amateur photography.

Aaaaargh!
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
I received this camera 3 weeks ago. The first problem was that there was no memory card included with the camera. So when the start-up section of the instruction book said to take a picture to check the operation of the camera, it said it couldn’t store the picture because there was no memory!

The next problem happened when I recorded movies on the memory cards which I had to run out and buy. The ZoomBrowser software was unable to transfer the movies to the computer. Canon’s tech support solution was that I either could go out and buy a new computer because I needed both a lot more memory and a faster processor or I could leave the movies on the memory card and hook the camera up to a TV and watch them that way, thus tying up my memory cards. At $50 a pop, that’s a pretty expensive solution. If you want a lot of frustration, buy this camera.

As close to a 35mm as you can get and still be point and shoot
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
For many years I was a 35mm SLR format photographer. 5 years ago switched to to Canon S50 point and shoot 5MP. Had excellent results. I did miss some of the features and picture clarity of the 35mm but wanted to retain conveniences of point and shoot. This new Canon is the best of both worlds. Having had lots of experience with Canon previously, I found it very easy to use. Going from 5 MP to 10MP-results are astounding. I’m getting results from this that I previously only got from 35MM SLR. Definitely recommend it. The snap a pic while taking a video is the icing on the cake!

Awesome!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
After going through many smaller cameras, this one is a welcome improvement in picture quality and the zoom is marvelous. Dealing with a slightly larger camera is worth it!

Canon does it again
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This is another great Canon camera. I purchased

it for the 20X optical zoom and image stabilization.

It’s the real deal. Easy to use and great for

outdoor photography. One can capture a squirrel’s

whiskers using just a steady hand, no tripod.

I haven’t tried the video yet. Multiple “scenes”

selections make for quick and easy adaptation to

special situations.

Canon SX10 IS
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I have owned the S3 and the S5 before buying the SX10.

So far, the camera is excellent although I would like a remote control.

I have owned Canon products for the last 50 years and have always been pleased with the quality.

Awesome
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
The Canon SX10IS is superb all around. Both pictures and videos are excellent quality. Definitely worth having the video and 80X digital zoom.

Sunsets and beach shots are postcard perfect. Best camera ever owned.

Fantastic camera for the price
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I’m a bird watching freak and wanted a camera that would allow me to get closer to my subjects and capture fast motion (birds in flight). This camera does not disappoint! With the 20x optical zoom, I can get as close as I need to without sacrificing picture quality. I received it yesterday morning and went out the birdfeeder to practice with it. In 30 minutes, I managed 10 of the best bird photos I’ve ever taken. I also went over to Lowe’s garden center and photographed new spring flowers and am very happy with the colors. A butterfly made an appearance and became an unknowing subject thanks to the 20x zoom. The pictures are just gorgeous! I really love this camera.

Easy to use – beautiful photos!
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera has taken amazingly beautiful pictures. There are many options I have not used yet – wish there was a book to buy on these features but nonetheless you place it on auto and the photos are wonderful.

Lens Cap
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I’ve emailed Canon about the absence of the string to the lens cap on this camera, and they said it wasn’t incorporated because it would not work well with the lens hood featuring this model. Otherwise, it’s a great mega zoom

My other camera
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
The appeal of the SX10IS was its super-zoom lens. When carrying my regular cameras might be too cumbersome and awkward, I’ll just slip the SX10IS into my dashboard compartment and feel I can cover most sudden desires to snap a few shots. The camera’s performance comes close to excellent.

Definitely 5 Stars
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
Let me start off by saying, the last time I bought a digital camera 3.1MP and 3X Optical Zoom is what you got for the same price as the SX10 IS. I’m still learning myself, since I bought my previous camera I was just describing over 7 years ago, so I’m by no means an expert or any authority. I’m still getting used to this camera. When I first bought this camera, I never even heard of shutter priority, apertures, white balance, ISO speeds etc. It all seemed overwhelming really, almost made the camera seem too complicated to use on anything other than Auto. But I read up on that stuff, and quickly understood it. Once that happened, putting it all into practice was easy.

I finally decided it was time to upgrade, and on paper the SX10 IS looked like it would last me quite a while with all the features it offers.

This is a LARGE, heavy, DSL like point and shoot, with all the mode and options you’d find in the lower end DSLR’s like the Nikon D40 etc. I was able to figure out the basic operation just by playing with it, but the manual is helpful. I STRONGLY urge you to read the manual.

I just have to mention the Face Detection. Playing around with the camera the day I received it, I was pointing it at the TV while watch Law and Order or something like that. And wouldn’t you know it the Face Detection was going nuts. Every person’s face who was on that TV screen, no matter how brief, no matter if it was one face or 3-4 faces, the camera detected their faces and put a white bracket around it.

Macro, and Especially Super Macro mode are amazing. This was one of the things that drew me to this camera. Being able to put suck a sharp focus on something so close it could be touching the lens is amazing.

Like I said previously, before I got this camera I knew nothing about shutter priority, apertures, white balance, ISO speeds and all that. With that said, after about a week of owning this camera I take almost all my pictures on either Auto, or Full Manual (50/50). Its just great to be able to fine tune your pictures before you take them. One of the other things I was worried about when buying a camera is having to rely on software to make the pictures look the way I wanted after transferring them to my PC. With full manual control, edits like that are almost unnecessary.

A word about the “wheel”. I guess to some this is a departure from the conventional type of digital camera controls they’re used to. I’ve never owned a camera like this and with no prior experience I can’t really comment on that. I can comment on the wheel though. It is a little tough to use, takes anywhere from a 1/4 to 1/2 a turn, probably even more, just to get it to respond. I suppose that delay in response was probably to prevent setting changes if you accidentally touch the wheel or something. Either way, it takes some getting used to using.

Also, after having this camera for just a week, I have to say I don’t know what I’d do with another camera that didn’t have the swivel LCD screen. Its one of those things that you never knew you needed, until you have it and you wonder how other people get by without it. Definitely handy for macro shots and when using the camera at weird angels.

Don’t Waste Your Money
Rating:1 out of 5 stars
Canon should be ashamed of the (lack) of quality with this product. I have already had to send the Powershot 10IS back twice. When it came back the second time with a problem in the zoom lens getting hung up, I wrote to Canon directly. They sent me the newer version of this camera the 20IS. I haven’t had it but two weeks and already it is doing some of the same things, zoom lens getting hung up, quality of the picture is poor, and the focusing is hard to manage. I would not recommend this product at all!! Of course, they are not calling me back after the second go round. I will no longer be a Canon fan nor recommend Canon to anyone. I am semi-pro. I had a Panasonic Lumix that was a far cry better than this one.

Happy with my decision: aware of the drawbacks
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
I purchased a SX10IS through Amazon – process and delivery was perfect. Wanting an advanced Point-and-Shoot for wildlife and wanting to avoid interchangeable lenses, I researched this camera thoroughly. It looks as though Canon has tried to overcome the shortcomings of the SX10 with changes in the SX20 and SX1 but went backwards in image quality and viewfinder definition. I needed wins in both these areas so I went with the older SX10. There must be a reason that they keep it in the lineup even after its replacements have been brought to market. Being my first serious digital camera, and coming from a film SLR background, I find I use the viewfinder as much as the LCD. I will grow into the LCD use I am sure. I was concerned by the reports that this camera does not take good pictures. I find it is very sharp right out of the box. It can not stretch the envelope with low light, way out zoom, ultra slow shutter speeds, but within these limitations I have been producing some very credible pictures after only a few days. They will only get better as I learn about this tool and get a tripod. I have not tried the video feature yet. Rigth out of the box, I set this SX10 up with a Lensmate filter converter, a 58mm protective filter, Eneloop recharge AA batts, 8 gig SD card and a LCD screen protective sheet. All set for a walk in the woods or shots into my backyard. I am very satisfied with my decision.

Good camera but dislike the DVF
Rating:4 out of 5 stars
I was so enamored by the reviews of this camera I couldn’t wait to get it. But the reality was such a disappointment I’m returning it to Amazon tomorrow.

If you’re accustomed to using an LCD or digital viewfinder for shooting pictures, then you’ll probably love this camera. I’m not, and I don’t like them one bit. I had no idea optical viewfinders are becoming obsolete. Is this really technological advancement? I took dozens of shots with this camera, but couldn’t even see my subject clearly. (Yes, I adjusted the diopter wheel.) All the photos either came out blurry or the subject’s head was chopped off. I’ve been a photographer for many years and have even been published several times. I’m no pro, but I’m not a novice either.

Sadly, the digital viewfinder was a deal-breaker for me. I’ll have to pay a re-stocking fee and a fortune in shipping costs, but thankfully I can return it. I learned the hard way. I suppose one star is harsh, but I can’t tell you how disappointed I am, just two weeks away from a month-long trip to the Himalayas.

[Update] OK, I’m eating a lot of crow. I jumped the gun on this review. I decided to keep this camera and took 740 photos in Nepal last March. I had to use the auto settings because I hadn’t learned to use the camera fully, and STILL don’t know how to use manual settings, mainly because I’m happy with the shots I get on auto. It has turned out to be a great camera. Some of my photos are so good I’m going to enter them in contests. I’m upgrading my review from one to four stars. I still don’t like the DVF, but I’ve learned to live with it. It’s a great camera for the price, probably one of the better point & shoot cameras currently available. Someday I may get an SLR, but in the meantime, I’m very happy with this camera. The zoom is astonishing.

Super Camera
Rating:5 out of 5 stars
This camera is super! Couldn’t be happier. It is metal not plastic which is a personal preference to me, seems more solid. Takes nice photos and is easy to use, easy to move the photos on to my PC. It is my second digital, I actually wore out my first one (I have small kids) and this one seems pretty tough. The only thing I have at all to say that is negative is that the lens cap does not have a cord which attaches it permanantly to the camera. I will lose the cap. My Kodak digital just had a little string so the cap could not get lost.

I researched this for weeks and this camera is probably the best digital camera you can buy before going to the type of digital that you have to change the lenses around.

This is a very nice camera.